''Cool calm and collected. I can't picture you being stressed, and I certainly can't picture you being angry'' he laughed. ''No, I can only see you in serene contemplation, maybe that's something only a lucky few are allowed to see. Maybe the rest of the Gaian's know a very different Carol to the one who now sits next to me. Now if that were true, there would still be one aspect of you, that wouldn't change at all'' He said smiling at her, letting his head drop against the tree once more.
His eyelid cracked open just a little for him to see her, his wry smile bursting into a fully fledged beam as he sat up. He risked his next move, taking her hand gently and giving it a slight squeeze before replying. ''The most obvious aspect of them all of course. Your beauty.''
''Costs nothing to speak the truth every so often'' he said. He surprised himself by noticing that, dispite the risk he still held on to her hand. Taking his luck a little further, he kept hold of it. ''How do you feel?'' he asked, himself unsure on what he hoped to gain from the question.
- How do I feel? - she repeated the question, thinking of an answer. She was still smiling a little. - I feel incredibly flattered. - Caroline too noticed they still held hands. She decided she didn't mind, her attention focused more on observing John.
He glowed inside. Sparing a thought for how odd and strange the current situation was, he mused over her being a Gaian, thinking how calm she was throughout the hold thing. It was either a very cruel plot against him, or it was her looking past the uniform. But in present moment, he cared little. He gave her his attention before continuing. ''Well I am glad you are flattered. Now, tell me, what would you like to do. Simply sit for a while? or..what?''
- I'd like to just enjoy our time here. I believe it is already too late to see the lakes today. - she said, her mind thinking over this entire situation - Perhaps you could show me the rest of the gardens?
''Good Idea'' he said standing up, finally letting go of her hand, as much as he wanted to keep holding it. ''Come, the daffodil's will be in bloom now I think'' he said leading her down a twisting dirt path, past various other shrubs and bushes.
![[Image: K21Vaai.png]](https://i.imgur.com/K21Vaai.png)