The next morning Maya awoke in AJ's arms tangled up on the couch. Her first reaction was to tense... but then she remembered, smiled, and snuggled in, instead. The previous evening had been spent kissing, talking and laughing. He really made her feel... accepted, wanted.
The bus was stopped: they must either be arrived or just resting. She slowly edged her way out of his sleeping arms and went to the front of the bus to do her four count stretched. "Hanna dool set net..." There was a knock at the door of the bus, and Maya walked up, smiling when she saw Billy. "Good morning!"
"Morning, Ma'am. We have trouble: the bus is broken down, and the other busses are too far ahead to collect us."
Allona came padding quietly down towards the front of the bus, pulling her robe around her. "Broke down? Huh?" she mumbled, still rubbing her eyes and pushing her mass of auburn curls from her face. "I need coffee..." she grumbled.
"We've broken down, the bus that is," Maya informed her. "And the others are too far ahead."
"Ick. It's WAY to early to be dealing with any of this," she sighed as she looked out the door of the bus to the rest area they'd managed to pull into. "Too far my ass. Tell them to turn around and come get us anyway," she griped as she turned back to the tiny kitchenette to find the coffee pot.
"Well, isn't she a ray of sunshine in the morning," Billy laughed. "Maybe we should put HER on the phone to the others and let her repeat her message herself."
"That's my partner," Maya shrugged and laughed. About that time they heard movement towards the back of the bus.
"Sounds like the guys are up," Billy sighed. "They aren't going to be happy, but such is life," he continued, making his way past Allona towards the two guys.
"WHAT? Oh damn...." they heard from the back.
"Well, he said they wouldn't be happy," Allona shrugged, continuing on with her tasks.
"Mornin Cherry," AJ growled annoyed. "Make enough for all of us - please," he added. A smile curled the corner of his lips when he saw Maya standing of the front of the bus, still working on her four count stretches.
"Hanna, dool, set net..."
"What's that mean, Rumple?" Said AJ sitting down and pulling he ponytail lightly.
"Counting. Hanna, one, dool, two, set, three, net, four."
"Hanna, dool, set, net."
"Very good!" said Maya with a smile, reaching up and stretching out her sides.
"Coffee." said Allona holding the pot and looking around.
"Look at that. It's sick. She just woke up, she hasn't had her coffee, her hair's a fright, and she looks like a painting by Titian. It's not fair." groused Maya, taking a cup of coffee from a Titian-like Allona who stuck out her tounge.
"I don't know, I kind of prefer the Rubenesque school, myself." said AJ.
"That's it. First lesson, grappling." Maya shouted a fierce "hai!" and threw herself into AJ tumbling him to the ground. They were rolling around, laughing, when Howie came up with a dark look on his face. Allona held up the pot of coffee, and he practically kissed her feet, stepping over the grapplers as he got his mug.
"You are a saviour!" he winked to her, a smile finally appearing after his first sip of the steaming black liquid. He looked down to where AJ and Maya had finally stopped rolling around. "My aren't you two fiesty this morning?" he picked.
"Lesson number one - grappling," Maya giggled as she looked upward.
"If that's lesson number one, I want Allona as my grappling partner," he said with a chuckle.
"No way - I DON'T grapple. None of that kung fu stuff for me thank you. I might break a nail or something," she rolled her eyes before breaking out into laughter. "But seriously, I'm a klutz, I'd hurt something. So I leave the rough stuff to Maya," she pointed out.
"Oh yes, that's right. We don't want to hurt those wonderful hands," Howie smiled, taking her free hand and kissing it sweetly. "At least not until they get done with me..."
"Oh no...not that again."
"Oh yes, you are not getting off the hook. By the way, where's the chocolate? I didn't see it in your bunk..."
"Ah ha! Snooping already? I hid them. At this rate, you are going to have all your payment eaten before I get around to finishing you off. If you think you've got lower half left, I figure you've eaten enough of that chocolate that I only have to do one leg later....." she trailed off as she ticked off in the air the number of pieces he'd eaten.
"Dream on Cherry....you aren't getting off the hook that easy," AJ laughed. "Howie never forgets anything.."
"Damn," Allona mumbled under her breath. "Well, now that I'm all caffeined up, I'm going to go change." She headed to the back and pulled on a pair of leggings and an oversized t-shirt, knotting it at her waist. She slipped quietly out of the bus and found a nice, quiet spot of grass under a huge tree where she sat and began her morning meditation with just the sound of the birds around her.
Howie looked out at her and wanted to give her a big kiss... but he could see she was meditating and let her be.
"Hey, Howie, I'm going to need your help with something." said Maya pouring another cup of coffee and stepping nimbly to the side as AJ tried to tackle her. AJ did a belly-flop on the ground and groaned. "Never try to sneak up on a black belt." said Maya.
"Sure, Hon, what can I do?" said Howie.
"I want Allona to take the lessons with you guys. She's all into peace and love and gentleness, which is great, but it won't help her if she's jumped in an alley. I want her to learn too." As AJ tried to struggle up Maya placed her heel on his solar plexus, pinning him to the ground. "So, do you think you can help?"
"I give up!" gasped AJ. Maya put a hand down to help him up, and kissed his cheek. "You'll learn, my son."
"Sure! I'll convince her." laughed Howie.
"Thank you." grinned Maya, "Somehow I think your convincing will be more effective than mine."
"Gimme more of that sugar!" said AJ pulling Maya into a hug.
Howie laughed. How weird was it that Maya could throw AJ around and snuggle with him the next instant? Somehow Howie sensed that Maya and AJ filled each other's needs. Maya was a cool lady, but sure not AJ's usual type. But he could see the sappy look of devotion in AJ's eyes. He'd love to inspire that look in Allona's eyes. Looking out the window he saw her doing a complicated and graceful series of Yoga moves. She was the lovliest thing he had ever seen.
~~~
"Hey, I think she's coming in now Howie, here's your chance," AJ smirked at him. "Go get her!"
"Geez AJ, be a little primal there why don't you?" Howie groaned. "I kissed her last night, but I think she was too shocked to respond," he smiled thinking back to the previous evening. "Either that or the girl totally isn't into me," he sighed.
"Don't count on that," Maya giggled. "Allona is just....too work oriented I guess is a good way to describe it. But deep down......" she smiled mischievously.
"Deep down what?" Howie said, narrowing his eyes at her.
"Sweetie, I could tell you stories about things she's said about you that would make YOU blush for once," she admitted.
"Oooh...do dish some dirt baby," AJ sat up, intrigued.
"Oh be quiet AJ. Allona would kill me if she thought I told you anything!" she exclaimed, making a zipping motion near her lips.
"Just one little thing...work with me Maya. You owe me if I'm going to convince her to take those Hapkido lessons. Now hurry up before she gets back!"
Maya looked out the window at Allona, then at Howie, then back at Allona.
"Ok. Just because I know the tension between the two of you will just keep
building and the two of you will implode if I leave it up to her," she
sighed. "She has one weakness she's always talked about where you are
concerned dear Howard. Whenever we'd see you guys on TV, she would always
go on about how fine you'd look with your hair down. That's all your
getting. Use the knowledge wisely, and if you tell her I told you,
well....use your imagination..." she trailed off with a giggle.
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