Copyright Danny Antonucci and produced by a.k.a. Cartoon. All band names and lyrics Copyright of their respective owners.

Today was officially six months since Marie and Double D started going out, so they decided to celebrate with a movie. Through overly complex mind games that not even she fully understood, she convinced Double D to watch a horror movie with her; Psycho. Double D was still hesitant about watching it, but he decided to tough it out and watch it anyway; he had as much respect as love for Marie, so there was little he wouldn't do for her. Double D was holding onto Marie for most of the movie.
"Double D, I really hate to say this, but, you kind of smell. I know you sweat when you're really scared, so I know that's from the movie, but still. I'd like to get close to you again sometime today. So yeah..." Marie said in a low voice.
"You want me to take a shower after watching THAT movie? I don't think so." Double D scoffed.
"Please? I really need some closeness after a movie like that." Marie asked sweetly.
"You know I'm a sucker for a pretty voice." Double D agreed and turned to go to the shower.
"And I'm a sucker for... Hey, are you going to get a change of clothes? It's kind of cold not to." Marie asked.

"Although, I wouldn't mind if you didn't" she teased. Double D went and got a change of clothes, then headed to the shower. Marie listens to the shower running for a few minutes, then has an idea.
[Oh, this is just terrible. But I want to do it.] She thought as she went into the kitchen. She got one of the big steak knives from the knife rack and went to her room; passing by the bathroom, she noticed the door was not pushed closed. [Oh, now I have to do it.] She thought as a smile crept across her face. She looked up the shower murder theme from Psycho and turned up the speakers. She hit play and walked to the bathroom; [he's going to hate me for this, but it is so worth it.] she thought as she waited for the music to start. There was a few seconds of silence while the song buffered, and then it was show time. Waited a few notes, and then started raising the steak knife slowly while creeping towards the shower. She was about to take a third step when she heard an ear-splitting scream, followed by a body collapsing in the shower. [Maybe that was a bit much. Still worth it, though.] She thought as she pulled back the curtain to check on Double D. His eyes were almost popping out of his head; he was shaking and didn't appear to be conscious. She turned off the water and carried him into her room, laying him on the floor.

"You planned all of that, didn't you? I don't think I deserved that." Double D mumbled weakly when he came to.

"I'm sorry. I just couldn't resist. I'll understand if you don't talk to me for a few days." Marie apologized.

"Honestly, I am kind of angry with you for scaring me like that. But I'm not going to last even 5 minutes without talking to you. I think sometimes you take advantage of the fact that I can't stay mad at you for more than 5 minutes." Double D admitted.

"I'll be sure to make it up to you later." Marie said in a flirty tone and winked at him. [It's a bit cold in here…] Double D thought before realizing he wasn't dressed. Double D made a "yip!" noise and bolted into the bathroom. He finished his shower and went to his room to get dressed. [Times like this, I'm not sure whether she is just having fun or trying to kill me via heart failure.] Double D thought as he lay on his bed. A few minutes later, he slipped into a dream.

Double D and Marie were getting ready for a big dinner they were invited to. They had spent almost 2 hours preparing clothes, cologne, and everything else possible to look their best. Marie went to take a shower while Double D was finishing his suit layout.

"There. I don't think I can possibly make any more improvements." Double D stood back and admired his work. [I'm going to go check on Marie and her…progress] Double D thought with a smile and walked to the bathroom. He very quietly opened the door and got undressed. [I hope Double D is ready. He was still messing with his suit when I went in for my shower.] Marie thought as she was rinsing her hair. She was about to reach for the handle to turn the shower off when she felt two hands cup her and gently pull her to a warm body; she blushed and froze in place.

"Guess who." Double D whispered into her ear.

"D-don't do that. You scared me. Are you- oh…" Marie started to ask him if he was ready when she felt something unusually warm poke her thigh.

"w-we should be getting ready." Marie said weakly. Double D started to say something, but there was no sound; the scene started to slowly dissolve until there was just a black void left.

Double D woke up feeling very hot and starting to sweat. [My body is starting to really raise hell because of my dislike of physical contact.] Double D thought as he lay in bed, thinking about the dream he just had. He decided to go tell Marie about it; he knew it was late, but also knew she would only be glad to see him climb into her bed on his own. He slowly climbed into Marie's bed and got close to her. [I'm awake again… I blame Double D. he's always so 'omg you're naked!' or 'omg I shouldn't be touching you like this!' and I'm starting to think I'm not good enough for him, even though it is only subconsciously. He's told me count-] Marie's thoughts were interrupted by the feeling of a hand sliding over her bra, followed by cold fingers touching her warm skin; the high contrast of temperatures made Double D's fingers feel like needles when they touched her. Marie's heartbeat quickened significantly and she felt her face start to get hot.

"I had a dream about you a few minutes ago." Double D whispered.

"w-what h-happened in it?" Marie asked; she was shivering from the sudden cold, intimate contact.

"We were getting ready for a big dinner party, and you were in the shower. I decided to go see how you were coming along. You were almost like jello in my hands, and then I woke up." Double D gave her the basics of the dream.
" so after waking up sweaty and aroused, you thought you would share the feeling?" Marie asked; she was slowly starting to feel hot herself.
"Wasn't my original intention, but I have no problem with that being a side effect." Double D gave his best flirty tone, but it came out a bit awkward.
"Aw, you're trying to sound flirty. I appreciate it, but I think you should stick to more...physical gestures." She whispered as she ran her hand over his. Double D gave no response.
"Did you seriously fall asleep already?" Marie asked as she lightly jabbed him with her elbow; still no response.
The next morning, Double D woke up a few seconds before Marie; his hand still on her in the same position.
"Mm, good morning to you too." Marie mumbled in a voice that was a mix between seductive and half-asleep.
"I love you a lot, but if you snuck into my shower and felt me up like in your dream, I would probably kill you." Marie admitted.
"Such is the price of dying happy. Almost worth it, except for the fact that I won't get to see you again afterwards." Double D teased. Marie got up and went to wash her face, brush her teeth, and make breakfast. [I have got to grab the proverbial bull by the horns and get over this fear of touching people. Marie will most definitely thank me for it.] Double D thought as he laid in bed for a few minutes. Finally, he got up and quietly walked to the bathroom. He snuck up behind Marie and slowly slid his hands up her shirt; discovering she wasn't wearing a bra. Marie sprayed water all over the mirror; she was rinsing her mouth from brushing her teeth and Double D's sudden presence startled her. He saw her face turn bright red as she swung at him; he narrowly dodged it, and was starting to have second thoughts about grabbing this bull in particular.
"You idiot, I could have choked!" Marie shouted.
"Sorry! I tried to be open like you want me to be, but when I noticed I was in over my head it was too late." Double D apologized in a panicked voice.
"It's... It's ok. It's the thought that counts." Marie smiled; her blush seemed to be fading.
"Part of me wants to think that you tried to scare me into choking just so you could give me mouth-to-mouth." Marie teased.
"I wouldn't risk my most valuable treasure like that when I can just do this." Double D smiled warmly as he turned her towards him and kissed her.
"Oh, wow...I hope I don't find you unconscious in your room after this. I might have to take advantage of you." Marie mumbled dreamily as she walked off to make breakfast and Double D went to lie down for a couple minutes; Marie wouldn't find him unconscious in his room, but his head was spinning from the encounter in the bathroom. [How can I do that more readily? And more importantly, how can I do that without getting dizzy afterward?] Double D thought about the bathroom encounter as he laid in bed. He was slowly making progress, but he felt that he should be further along by now. He randomly got the idea to look to his Magic cards for an answer; a lot of them had seemingly philosophical names, so why not? Dealing with Marie definitely felt like a Magic tournament match sometimes. He walked over to his desk and opened the drawer. He picked up his deck and started shuffling it; he wasn't really expecting an answer, he was just curious what he would come up. He finished shuffling and drew a card; Force of Will. [That's it! It all comes down to my own will. If I don't actually go out and do it, I'll never just 'get used to it'. Although it does come at a cost, it is well worth it.] He thought as he put the card back into his deck and the deck back into his desk drawer. He went to eat breakfast, and then to run some errands that gathered over the last couple days. [Double D is coming out of his shell. I know I wanted this, but at the same time I wish he wasn't; I like being the one in control of our encounters. Well, not even as much control as just I show him some skin and he blushes and stops moving. Or I put his hands on me and get the same reaction. It will take a little getting used to, but I think I will like it in the long run.] She thought as she finished eating; Double D ate unusually quick and left to do his errands. [Now that I think about it, him walking into my shower doesn't sound too bad; I hope I haven't scared him off from that idea.] Marie smiled as she cleaned up the table.
Double D returned about an hour later, but didn't say anything and just went to his room. Marie decided it was just "one of his days" and continued watching TV. [Ok, I've got to get something done.] She thought as the show she was watching ended. She went into her room and started to organize and clean up her closet; she had been kind of lazy during the week, so there were some shirts and a pair of pants on the floor. About midway through the cleaning, Double D came into her room, but she didn't notice him. She was deciding what to do with a shirt she picked up off the floor when she felt Double D gently lean against her and kiss her neck; she dropped the shirt she was holding from the wave of prickles Double D had sent through her body by kissing her.
"Oh... Wh... What's this for?" Marie moaned softly.
"It's time I made up for the lack of attention you've gotten from me." Double D whispered into her ear; Marie could feel her cheeks slightly blush. Double D's hands slid down her body and stopped at her waist, unbuttoning her jeans. The sound of her zipper opening spurred her to talk.
"D-Double D... I have a confession to make. I secretly liked you being shy when I made you touch me or got undressed around you. I liked having a sort of control in our encounters." Marie admitted and gained a few shades of red from doing so.
"I think I can lead for once. I've got a good teacher." Double D teased as he slowly took off her pants.
"I... I've..." Marie struggled to talk; having someone else in control was a new and slightly awkward experience for her. Having that someone be Double D took it to another level. Double D gently laid her on the bed and lay down next to her.
"So what is it like to have someone else in control for once?" Double D asked as he slowly slid his hand up her shirt.
"It's something to get -hmm!- used to." Double D's cold fingers touching her warm skin caused a short moan to escape.
"Why do you always have cold hands?" Marie asked.
"My circulation in my hands is bad. I'm warm where it counts, though." Double D teased.
"I think I will take off my shirt. Your fingers feel like needles when you touch me." Marie told him and slowly slid it off; it was a little cold in the room, but they would soon fix that.
"My hands have to get warm somehow." Double D whispered into her ear as he put his hand on the inside of her thigh. Marie yelped and tried to throw him on the bed but Double D hugged her tightly.
"Just... Be gentle..." Marie said timidly.
"You really have to tell me? It's taken me 8 months to even get this far and I'm still nervous but forcefully ignoring it. If anything, you'll want me to be less gentle." Double D scoffed. [Well, he's got a point. If he's still nervous after all the advances I've made towards him, we might have some problems.] She thought as he reached to unhook her bra.
"A-are you ok with this? I hope I'm not making you uncomfortable. You're kind of quiet." Double D asked nervously.
"If you ask one more -ah!- stupid question..." Marie grumbled as she slid his hand into her underwear: the chill of his fingertips pierced through to her soul and forced out a sharp moan. Double D didn't say another word.

It was just another day living at Double D's house, but he was acting very strange today.
"I can't find my phone, can I use yours? I've got to call May to ask her something." Marie asked.
"No, it's not about you." she teased. Double D hands her his phone and walked off to his room; Marie thought this was a bit odd but dismissed it as him giving her privacy. She dialed the number and hit 'send'.

"Hey, Double D. what's up?" May answered.

"Hey, It's Marie. I couldn't find my phone so I asked Double D if I could use his." Marie explained.

"Oh. How are you two? Last I saw, you two didn't exactly look like you were on good terms with each other." May asked with concern in her voice.

"We've actually been a couple for almost a year now. We worked out our differences." Marie said as she smiled; she knew May couldn't see it, but just saying that made her smile.

"Well, you let Double D know that I'm here if he ever needs someone to talk to." May said with a smile on her end of the call.

"Will do. Well, I'm going to let you go. I think Double D and I are going somewhere." Marie completely forgot what she originally called her for. [That's a bit weird… what does she mean by "needs someone to talk to."? He's got me...] Marie thought as she ended the call. As she pulled the phone away from her face she noticed there was a notification about a multimedia message from Kaylee. [Oh, this I've got to see.] She thought as she opened the message; Marie usually respected Double D's privacy, except for the occasional time when he is in the shower and hasn't given her much attention that day. The message opened and played a video of a completely naked Kaylee pleasuring herself. Right as the video ended, Double D took the phone out of her hand and said he was going to go run some errands; before she could say anything, he disappeared into garage. [Ok, this just got a whole new level of weird. No. It's not what I think. It can't be. It's not. I refuse to believe it.] Marie pushed the thought out of her head.

Two hours had passed, and no word from Double D; she texted him a couple of times, but still no answer. A few minutes later she called him and it just rang until the voice mail picked up. [This isn't happening. He always answers. Sometimes in the middle of the first ring. No. he must have forgotten his phone in the car. Or maybe just didn't hear it because he forgot to turn it off of silent. We've been together for almost a year. He wouldn't just throw it away for some crazy pair of boobs he met through a hallucination. No. he will come home and clear everything up. I'm just getting worried over a questionable sequence of events.] Her mind was racing and she couldn't seem to calm down. Finally, she heard the front door open and Double D walked in.

"Double D! I'm so glad you're home! I've been worried sick!" She sobbed. Double D walked over to her and hugged her tightly; Marie felt a bulge dig into her hip as he did so.

Her sadness instantly turned to anger as she moved away and slapped him across the face.

"You bastard! How could you? First you say you're going to 'run some errands' and then you come home and dare hug me with your errand hard-on!" Marie shouted as she stormed off to her room and slammed the door. [I don't know what that was about, but I better go explain where I was right now.] He thought as he briskly walked to Marie's room. He only had time to take a couple steps inside before he was met by Marie charging at him. He wrapped his arms around her and held on tightly; she struggled furiously, but he didn't let go.

"Marie! Listen! It's not what you think!" Double D tried to explain.

"You got a video from Kaylee pleasuring herself with an old cell phone, and then you disappeared for two hours and didn't answer any of my calls. To top it all off, you came home with a raging hard-on and hugged me like nothing even happened!" Marie growled.

"Hold on a minute! Kaylee sent me a video of her doing what? And no, I haven't had any activity down there all day today." Double D asked; he couldn't believe what he was hearing. Double D pulled out his phone and looked at his texts. Sure enough, there was a 15-second video of Kaylee, lying naked on her couch, holding a cell phone between her legs; he could hear a faint buzzing noise throughout the whole video. Double D blushed.

"I had to call a few people from that phone. That is so gross." Double D said in a disgusted tone.

"Marie, you're the only person who can truly turn me on and keep me up for more than just a couple seconds. I thought you knew that already." Double D told her in a calm voice.

"Well, we will just see about that." Marie grumbled; she still sounded angry, but she stopped struggling so Double D let go of her. Marie got a closer look at what she felt earlier and saw that the bulge was actually off-center from where that kind of bulge would usually be. She reached into his pants pocket and felt nothing; the surprise of feeling nothing caused her to linger in his pocket for a few seconds. Suddenly she felt something warm slowly brush against her fingers; she blushed slightly, and felt slightly relieved. She reached into his jacket pocket and felt a strange material that was firm yet fuzzy to the touch. She pulled it out and saw that it was a ring box; Double D turned a light shade of red when he saw what Marie pulled out of his pocket. She opened the box and saw a beautiful white gold ring holding a diamond. She stared at the ring for a minute as her face turned bright red and tears started to well up in her eyes.

"You don't even have to ask. I'm sorry I ever doubted you." She sobbed as she hugged him tightly.

"You have no idea how happy this makes me." She said in a quivering voice.

"I guess that goes for both of us." Double D also felt his face getting hot and tears slowly starting to gather in his eyes as he put his arms around her.

After much hardship, sadness, and lonely nights, Marie was finally truly happy. Her life had begun a new chapter and she couldn't ask for a better co-author to help her write it.