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"Are you excited?" Moneypenny asked him, although the answer was clear. That infectious smile of his hadn't left him all morning. It was to be expected, this was something he had waited a lifetime to experience.
"Of course." James called to her from the bathroom where he was rubbing sunscreen over his arms. Stepping back into the bedroom, as his eyes fell upon her, he found himself speechless for a time. Her navy bikini highlighted every curve of her body, and the transparent wrap skirt added a touch of elegance. The fact that he could be with someone as incredible as her always surprised him. "You look radiant as always, my dear." Coming closer, he pressed a small kiss to her forehead and proceeded to make a displeased sound. "Tastes like sunscreen."
"Is that regret I see?" She said with a giggle, wrapping an arm around his waist. He merely looked at her with a smirk, like she had issued a challenge.
"No, I will gladly shower you with kisses." His lips were quick as they met all over, from the crown of her head to her jaw.
She halted his rain of kisses with one of her own, stopping him in his tracks as her lips gently brushed over his. "As much as I enjoy this, you need to finish getting ready. The beach awaits, my love."
"The beach awaits." His expression still held that same smile, but it turned more serious. She could see the emotions it held, the pure joy punctuated with the slightest hint of anxiety. He briefly dropped his head onto her shoulder, as if gathering his strength, before grabbing his things.
James' top surgery had been several months earlier. The recovery had gone well, besides the general pain, which was as expected. This moment was one he had wished for since he was so young. A wave of envy always washed over him as he saw the other men on the beach, shirtless, carefree. Finally, today he could be one of those men.
As he finished packing their bag, Moneypenny stood at the end of the bed, running a hand through her hair as she looked in the mirror. "It's getting a bit long." She mumbled to herself. She couldn't decide what to do with it.
After a moment, she felt hands smooth their way along her hips. His lips pressed against her bare back, causing her to shiver. "I can braid it if you would like."
"Please." She said simply, sitting on the edge of the bed so he could reach her. His hands, gentle and careful, combing through her hair soothed her. "I haven't been to the beach in years." Her mind wandered back to those days with everyone. Beach days always used to mean chaos. Fred would be building intricate sandcastles when Sebastian would fling him into the water. Albert would be peacefully sipping wine, cooling off under the shade of an umbrella. Louis and William would be casually strolling across the sand. Miss Hudson would be chasing Sherlock along the shore, usually screaming. She remembered those times fondly, savoring the memories with her loved ones.
"Neither have I. That was possibly the last time I was there as well." James hummed in response, recalling the events of that day. He had been sitting by Albert on a towel in the warm sand. He hadn't joined in on everyone's fun, choosing to simply watch them. Miss Hudson had tried to persuade him to join, but he was content where he was. He wondered if they all knew how much he cared for them. He wished nothing but love for every one of them.
James placed the finishing touch on her short braid, a little flower pin he had bought her as part of an anniversary gift. "The bag is packed, we put on sunscreen, we have towels. Everything seems to be in order." He ran a quick checklist as Moneypenny threw a shirt over her head and grabbed a pair of sandals.
Now that she was able to get a better look at his face, she noticed a small smudge of white. "Just one minute. You missed a spot." She ran her thumb over the still bright sunscreen along his jaw. "There, you're perfect. Just like always."
After slinging the bag on his back, he opened the door to their shared apartment. "That would be you, Sweetheart. Now," He proceeded to scoop her up in his arms, causing a gasp to escape her lips. "Away we go!" Carrying her out of their home, it was as if something opened inside him. It was overwhelming and beautiful, this love he held. He had never felt anything like it.
He insisted on carrying her until they left the building, even in the elevator. He noticed the way others eyed him, full of confusion and judgement, but that had never stopped him before. He was never one to care about others' opinions of him.
Holding onto him for stability, once they exited the complex, he carefully placed her back on her feet. The beach was only a short distance away. The water was the first thing that met their eyes as they walked hand in hand, enjoying the warmth tinged with a cool breeze.
Moneypenny's mind began to wander as she gazed at their intertwined hands. Her thoughts swirled with endless joy. Her life was happy. There wasn't much else she could say. This life was more than she could have imagined for herself. For quite some time, she had put work before anything else. She was determined and pushed herself toward her goals. Eventually, she succeeded, and now had the job she always dreamed of.
She couldn't recall what had led her to this point, but one day she had opened her mind to more relationships, both platonic and romantic. She was glad she pushed herself for her career, and now she had both. She realized that isolating herself the way she had in the past meant missing incredible parts of life. Her friendships with the members of their group held some of her most treasured memories, and it led her to James. She was surrounded by all different kinds of love, and she had never been happier.
The couple's peaceful walk was interrupted by the raucous crowds just before them, all enjoying this beautiful day. The rolling of the waves mingled with the laughter, creating a barrier of sound. "I've missed this." James dashed into the sand, kicking off his shoes, embracing the welcoming warmth of the sand on his feet. As he gazed out into the horizon, he wanted to make sure he remembered everything about this day. Every little detail.
Moneypenny quickly caught up with him and brought her hand to his face, cupping his cheek lovingly. "Are you ready?"
He took hold of her hand and quickly pressed a kiss on the top of her knuckles. "More than ever." After grabbing a blanket from their bag and laying it in the sand, he dropped the bag onto it. His hands, shaking in anticipation, fumbled at the buttons of his shirt. His heartbeat erratic, it pounded out of his chest. Taking a breath to steady himself, he resumed every painstaking movement until he could shrug his shirt off of his shoulders.
Staring down at himself, it didn’t feel real. As a teenager, only just realizing who he really was, this life seemed so far out of reach. James never imagined that one day this would become a reality, his reality. This was it. This was real. He got to exist like this, with this body. He had never felt more like himself than he had at this moment. The overwhelming surge of joy shot through him, as though he were gazing upon his flat chest for the first time all over again. When he looked at the still reddened scars that adorned his chest, he saw true freedom.
Tears were pooling in his eyes as he rushed to Moneypenny's side. His strong hands gripped her waist as he hoisted her in the air, spinning her around before carefully placing her back on her feet.
A laugh of surprise escaped her lips and she held onto his shoulders. While James was often a very excitable and happy person, this was something else. This was an air of ecstasy and pride that was unmatched. This pride wasn't smug in the slightest, and it was deserved. Looking into her lover's eyes, she wished for nothing more than for this euphoria to last.
"You look handsome, and I love seeing you this happy. May I?" She gestured to his chest and was granted a nod. Placing her hand on his chest, her fingertips delicately traced the marks, smiling fondly. Later, she thought, she would kiss all along them, grateful that they gave him a chance to feel at home in his body.
James had to suck in a breath as she did so, feeling the emotion take hold of him. She had felt his chest many times, often resting her head on it after nights spent enraptured by one another. Each touch was a precious memory. Compared to this one, however, the others paled in comparison. His mind was racing, overjoyed and full of love, feeling whole. All these thoughts and emotions, he wasn't sure how to handle them. All he knew was that he wanted to embrace every moment of this day, with her alongside him.
His hands held her close, arms wrapping around her, sharing this warmth. "I love you, Penny. Thank you for being here with me for this." He whispered, head dropping to her shoulder. Her hands traveled to his back, one stopping near his shoulder where she knew there was a little collection of freckles.
"I love you too, James, and I will gladly be here for these times." Pulling back briefly, she kissed him tenderly, reveling in this intimate moment.
"We should see if the group would like to join us sometime. Soon I hope." This burning flame of increased confidence raged within him. He knew he would no longer sit on the sidelines, wishing to be someone else. He could join in on their merriment. He could play beach volleyball with Miss Hudson. He could dunk Sebastian in the water, all without the dysphoria his chest previously brought. "But for now, it's just us."
"Just the two of us." Joining their hands, Moneypenny rushed off to the water with James quickly following, laughing loudly.
Their day was spent lost in their own little bubble, the crowd seeming to disappear amidst their delight. Their lives were sweet and endlessly bright, and they had never been more grateful.