Sitting with Gayle on the patio of a nice restaurant that evening, Steven Walton couldn't help but feel like he was somehow doing something wrong. Gayle hadn't spoken to him in an hour, and she was focused entirely on dinner. Sure, she could just be hungry, but the look on her face told Steven there was something else. Something more going on. He just didn't know what it was, didn't have the heart to ask and was, quite frankly, scared to find out. Steven sipped his drink as he watched Gayle cut another sliver of fish off with her fork and, after spearing it, lifted it to her lips.

"Is it good?" Steven asked, and Gayle nodded, still not giving him eye contact.

Steven sighed and looked around. This had been a recommend restaurant by the free local culture magazine, and he thought since they rarely had the chance to go out when at home - considering her busy work schedule - that she might appreciate it now. Yet, she didn't appear to be, or if she was, she was certainly showing it in a funny way. He didn't even want her to appreciate the offer, he just wanted her to be happy. To have fun. Gayle always seemed like she was lost in her mind, probably thinking about work since she couldn't be working. The woman worked far too much, and it was a habit he was intent on breaking her of.

Steven sighed again and leaned back in his chair, looking around at all the other couples; all happy, laughing, enjoying one anothers company. He hoped his daughter was having a better evening than he was.

                                                                            ***

"Is there anything you wanna do?" Hannah asked, as she and Laura lounged on the couch in the suite while Jasmine sat on the floor and looked through her favorite storybook for the 9th time in a row. Laura shrugged and plopped more chips into her mouth, chewing noisily.

"They wanted me to babysit, so that's what I'm doing," Laura said, "thanks for coming to keep me company though."

"It's spooky being in a hotel room by yourself," Han said, "always feels like you're about to be murdered."

"You watch too many horror movies," Laura said, Han nodding and laughing.

"I can't deny that," she replied, taking the chip bag from Laura and shoveling some into her hand to eat.

Laura didn't mind babysitting. She knew her father appreciated it, and she was always handsomly rewarded for her efforts, plus she loved her little sister to death. But still...this was vacation. She shouldn't have to be babysitting on her vacation. Or was it her parents vacation and they were just along for the ride? She didn't know. Regardless, at least she had Hannah around to pass the time with. Han flipped through the TV channels - the television on mute so it didn't bother Jasmine, but with the subtitles on so they could follow something if they wished - and finally stopped on a home shopping network to admire the jewerly. This particular set were emerald rings of different cuts and sets.

"Emerald is the best gem," Hannah said, mouth full of chips, "I think I want my wedding ring to be emerald. Forget Diamond. Diamond is so overdone."

"Emerald is a pretty good choice," Laura said, nodding in agreement, "I'm partial to Ruby's myself, but Emerald wouldn't be a bad choice."

"Okay then it's settled," Hannah said, "you get me an Emerald and I'll get you a Ruby."

Laura blushed and looked away from Han, confused.

"Wh...why? What for?" she asked meekly.

"Duh," Hannah said, "that way whoever we wind up marrying we can still get the rings we want!"

Laura felt her heart drop. She nodded, going back to being quiet. The answer was never what she wanted it to be.

                                                                        ***

Steven and Gayle, now walking arm in arm down the street in downtown shopping district, still weren't speaking. As they walked, Gayle window shopping as Steven looked off in a far away gaze, it was obvious there was a clear tension between them. Gayle stopped, pulling away from her husband and looking into a window, admiring something. Steven smiled and came back to her side, sidling up beside her.

"What is it, what do you see?" he asked.

"Look at this camera," Gayle said, pointing at an old photography camera that looked to be from the 40s. Steven smiled again. He'd always known she had a passion for photography, and in fact, had she not fallen into the line of work she had, she wanted to be a professional photographer. He'd always supported that; Gayle bit her lip and shook her head, "it's so fucking pretty. Look at the shape. All the chrome."

"You want it?" Steven asked, and Gayle looked at him.

"It's 300 dollars, Steven, I don't think-"

"I don't care, do you want it?" he asked again, and she blushed, nodding. Steven told her to wait right there, then headed inside and purchased it. When he came back out and handed her the box, she was almost crying. She got on her tip toes and kissed his cheek.

"Why did you-"

"Because you've been so busy with work lately I wanna see you do something fun just for you," Steven said, before adding, "plus, we're gonna need pictures of this vacation to remember it by, aren't we?"

Gayle nodded, looking down at the box in her hands as they continued to walk down the street. She started thinking about what he'd said, and she knew he was right. She had in fact been working way too much lately, and much as she enjoyed it, she also really did hate how much time it was taking away from her family, Laura especially. She knew Steven was fine, she knew Jasmine was well cared for, but Laura she could sense was going through something, and it killed her to know she wouldn't tell her own mother what it was. But, she thought, that's what teenagers do.

"So what's the first thing you're gonna photograph?" Steven asked, and Gayle thought for a moment.

"My ass, obviously," she said, the both of them laughing.

"It is a fantastic sight, one of the great wonders of the world," Steven said, both of them cackling.

                                                                         ***

"Do you think she'll be okay here?" Laura asked, standing by the door.

"She'll be fine, we're just going to another floor to get drinks," Han said, "she's engrossed in her book. We'll be literally right back."

Laura nodded, but she was still hesitant. She hated leaving Jasmine alone, even for a moment, but Hannah was right. They were only going down for a minute. As she and Han exited, Laura tugging the door shut behind them, Laura knew Hannah was right and she had nothing to worry about. Heading down the hall, side by side, Laura was scared to say anything. She was afraid she'd say something stupid, or expose herself in some unexpected way. She was always this way around pretty girls.

"You know," Hannah said, stuffing her hands in her windbreaker pockets, "next time you need to babysit, we should be dropped off somewhere. There's a really cool small zoo nearby, and they have an awesome butterfly dome where you can go inside and just be surrounded by butterflies, it's so beautiful."

"That does sound really neat," Laura said, hugging herself as they walked, her sweatshirt sleeves hanging past her hands, "but...so...you'd wanna come along with us for that?"

"Well it's my idea," Hannah said, laughing as they headed down the stairs and to the floor with the drink machines, adding, "besides, why would I turn that offer down? I love going there! I brought it up cause I wanted to show it to you!"

Laura blushed as they turned the corner and saw the drink machines off in the distance. As they arrived, Hannah started digging through her pockets, looking for the money her father had given her to use for snacks. As Laura waited, she heard the sound of another door in the hall open, and saw a woman in her thirties step out in a nice black dress with sleek heels and long dark orange hair. She stopped and waited momentarily, then was suddenly joined by another woman of the same age, this one in a white blouse and a black pencil skirt with yellow flats. They made sure the hotel door was locked, and then - and much to Laura's surprise - they kissed. Just right there, in the hall...where anyone could see them. After the kiss ended, they noticed Laura watching them, and they both waved at her, and she politely waved back, smiling, before turning her attention back on Hannah and the drink machines.

Laura suddenly felt different, like...like maybe there really was nothing to be afraid of. There were older women, happy women, in love, who felt just like she did. She could grow up to be just like that too, she thought. Laura suddenly, absentmindedly, slipped her hand into Hannah's as Hannah used her other hand to continue buying drinks. Hannah glanced at Laura and smiled, Laura blushing. A single word didn't have to be said. Whether Hannah felt the same way Laura did didn't matter to Laura right now. What mattered was she had a friend she could be affectionate with.

Vacation's are all about new experiences after all, she thought.

                                                                          ***

"I can't believe it came with film," Gayle said, as she popped open the back then shut it again, lifting the camera to her eye and scanning the horizon.

Steven and Gayle had stopped on a small bench right on the beach, looking out towards the water. They had gotten ice cream cones and had seated themselves on the bench to eat them; Gayle was now finished, but Steven was still eating his and he watched his wife play with her camera, her joy warming his heart. As he finished his cone, he stood up and went to get them an iced coffee they could share. Stopping at the nearby cart, in line behind a few other people, he suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see Erin standing behind him.

"Oh hey!" he said.

"Hi, what're you doing down here?" she asked.

"Wife and I had dinner, now we're just relaxing, taking in the view," Steven said.

He and Erin looked towards the ocean, and then Erin scoffed.

"It's not much, is it?" she asked, and he shook his head.

"I've seen better," he replied, the both of them chuckling as he added, "what about you? What brings you down here? Do they let you leave the hotel for extended periods of time or did you have to tunnel your way out with a spoon?"

Erin laughed hard and shook her head.

"Naw, I come down here every night," she said, "I like getting coffee from here."

"You work the night shift and need the caffiene?"

"Nah, I just like seeing her," Erin said, pointing to the barista manning the cart, and Steven smirked.

"I get it," he said, "she's pretty."

"Okay," Gayle said, approaching them and tapping the camera, "I'm gonna take your photo Steve. Just stand there and we'll see how it comes out. I think I've got it all figured out. These older cameras take a bit of time for me to remember how to use cause I'm so used to those modern monstrosities with a million buttons that I have to remind myself about simplicity."

Erin threw bunny ears up behind Steven as he smiled for the camera, Gayle snapping the photo and smiling afterwards.

"Do we know you?" she asked, looking at Erin.

"She was our bellhop," Steven said, "remember? She helped bring our bags up to the room?"

"Right!" Gayle said, shaking Erin's hand, adding, "it's so good to see you again!"

With that, it was suddenly Steven's turn to order, but he let Erin go ahead of them, just to be nice. The last thing any of the Waltons had expected to do on this trip was make friends, and yet here they were.

                                                                            ***

Lying back on the couch, Hannah's head in Lauren's lap as they continued watching the TV on mute - Jasmine now asleep curled up on the floor as she liked to do - Hannah shook her head in disbelief as she took another bite of her candy bar, one arm gesturing towards the television.

"See, who needs designer purses?" Hannah asked, "now that's a waste of money. It's a BAG. You're buying a glorified BAG. I don't mind the jewelry or even the weirder stuff like swords, but purses is where I draw the line."

"You're really gonna die on this hill?" Laura asked, and Hannah nodded vigorously.

"I am! I'm gonna die on the hill and then roll down it and take everyone with me! Look, I guess I get, if you have literally so much money that you have to spend it on something, then why not buy designer purses, but...I don't know. I'm not even agaisnt high fashion! I like fashion! I guess I just think purses is where I have to take a stand."

"But it's just an accessory, just like jewelry, why does one get a pass and one doesn't?"

"Because...because it...it just does!" Hannah said, the both of them laughing, then trying to hush up so as not to wake up Jasmine. Hannah finally sat back upright on the couch and looked at her cell phone, realizing that it was getting late. She finished up her candy bar and then, still sitting on the couch, looked at Laura, who was watching her closely. Hannah turned and pulled her legs up onto the couch, crossing them and putting her hands in her lap, Laura doing the same.

"...um," Laura said, stammering, feeling nervous, "...thanks for babysitting with me tonight."

"It was fun! I got to wash all the trash TV I wanted," Han said, "plus you're fun to hang out with. Super chill. It's nice."

Laura blushed deep, and looked down at her hands, but when she looked back up, Hannah was smiling at her still, which only made her blush deeper. Laura reached out, waiting for Hannah to take her hand, but as soon as their fingers almost touch the door unlocked and swung open, Steven and Gayle entering, Laura quickly pulling her hand back in shock.

"Hey," Steven said, "sorry it's so late, guess we lost track of time. How was your night, girls?"

"Not bad," Laura said, stuttering, terrified, "um...um what did you guys do?"

"Had dinner, bought your mother a camera, boring adult stuff," Steven said, "Hannah, your folks are probably worried about you, you should get going."

Hannah nodded, climbing awkwardly off the couch and heading out. Laura scrambled to follow her, telling her parents she'd be right back, and shut the door behind her quietly. She knew they'd be occupied with unwinding and putting Jasmine to bed properly, so she had a little bit of time. Standing in the hallway now, Hannah zipping up her jacket, looked back at Laura, who was completely flushed.

"Are you okay? You look like you're sweating to death," Hannah said.

"I just...I didn't...expect...they came back so suddenly," Laura said.

"I'll come see you tomorrow, yeah? We'll do something way more fun than this," Hannah said, before suddenly leaning in and hugging Laura, patting her back, whispering, "sleep good."

With that, she turned and headed down the hallway, leaving Laura glued there, obsessed with the affection she'd just been shown. She never wanted that hug to end. The door opened again and Gayle exited, watching Hannah leave and patting Laura on the shoulder.

"It's nice you made a friend while here," Gayle said, smiling, continuing, "you should come and see the camera your father bought for me."

Laura nodded and began following her mother back into the room, but all she could think of was Hannah, and their promise to buy rings, and the older women kissing in the hallway. Laura hated herself. She was going to ruin everything, she just knew. But she'd worry about that another day. Tonight she was, nervous yes, but also on cloud nine, and she wasn't about to let her usual teenage angst ruin what had been a literally perfect night. And she'd see Hannah again tomorrow.

And who knows.

Maybe tomorrow would be perfect too.