Roman and I walked around the small island for a couple of hours. It was so nice to just explore, talk, and see the sights. Nothing particularly special happened, but I knew it was a morning I would remember for the rest of my life. The blissful, picturesque perfection of it all. I’m sure if we ended up recounting the stories to others, though, we would omit the morning sex. Even thinking about it brought a heat to my cheeks.

Eventually, we made our way back to the same pier from the day before. I was so thankful I had mustered the courage to ask for a private lesson, glad that I wouldn’t have to worry about running into the same guy as the day before. Though I knew it was silly to even worry about. Who, on their vacation, would do the same activity back to back? After all, he had been in the group to stay behind and scuba dive the day before.

I shoved the thoughts to the side, reminding myself that I didn’t want to open that can of worms back up. We had private lessons! There was nothing at all to worry about.

The instructor put us through the same steps as the morning before. Handing us the equipment, explained the dangers and instructions, before giving us all time to gear up. The instructions were simple enough. Breathe steadily, equalize your ears as you descend, stay aware of your partner, keep an eye on the air gauge, stay calm, don’t touch anything for risk of poisoning or injury, and be sure to ascend just as steadily as you descended. Slow, steady, alert, and careful were all the key takeaways from the crash course. He also taught us some important hand signals so we could communicate if needed.

See him suiting up with us gave me some confidence in the dive. I was excited, but I think it was only rational to be a little nervous. It was new and my entire serval would be dependent on equipment I had never used before. However, after all the excitement of the year, I honestly didn’t think much could scare me aside from the thought of losing Roman.

"Are we ready?" the instructor asked with a big smile.

Roman and I looked between one another before nodding at the man. With that, we all took turns jumping into the water. Once in, we began the gradual process of diving. It took a while, and I constantly swallowed to make my ears to pop so I didn’t get ear damage, but I didn’t mind. It gave me time to get used to the equipment while I was still close to the surface.

By the time we were actually getting down deep into the water, I was pretty confident in the equipment and my body’s ability to carry it. We dove further and further. Soon, the coral was so close, it felt like we were swimming through a city. I had never realized, even when snorkeling, just how big everything was down there.

Schools of yellow fish swam by, camouflaged fish at the bottom made the ground look at though it was moving as they scurried about. Among the pale coral moved squids! Or were they octopuses? I had no idea what was native to the region and the creatures moved to swiftly for me to be able to take the time to count their legs.

I was so enthralled with the entire process that I found myself lost in it, forgetting it was even an oxygen tank I was depending on. Though every so often I would remember and take a glance at the air gauge. It was the only thing tethering me to reality. The rest of me was longing to get lost in the undersea world. It was breathtaking and everything my childhood self could have ever wanted. I longed to touch things, like a child would, but I knew better. The last thing I needed was getting scratched by something and getting some sort of mysterious disease.

We stayed down there, following the instructor, for as long as our oxygen tanks would allow us. After a while, the instructor signaled for us to head back. We swam up and toward the boat, which was surprisingly not far. I hadn’t any idea how long we had been down there, but it felt as though we had swam a great distance.

I checked on Roman, who seemed fine. His expression was impossible to read because of the mask and mouthpiece. I wondered if he had enjoyed it as much as I did, or if it had managed to somehow bore him. After we took our time resurfacing, we bobbed to the top and took off our masks. I looked to Roman and was ecstatic to see that he was just as liberated as I was. He looked like a little kid with how much wonder and joy radiated from him.

We swam our way to the boat and climbed aboard. The instructor was out of the gear in record time and by the time we were just starting to peel off the wet suits, the instructor was handing us beers. We shared a cheers and then finished undressing before relaxing once again on the side of the boat with our beers.

"Was it everything you thought it would be?" Roman asked sincerely.

I shook my head in the negative. "No. It was more."

I then leaned in and kissed him. We shared a smile and cuddled close as we drank our rewarding beers and headed back to shore. It was during this time that I realized we would leave the day after tomorrow. I wasn’t sure what time, but I knew the thought made be a touch sad. Sad that our time together, without interruption, would soon come to a close.

Savor it, Hannah. Savor it. Don’t get ahead of yourself, I found myself thinking.

I rested my head on his shoulder and soaked in the moment. I loved him and I loved the life we were embarking on. While we had been married for a while, it was really feeling like our first. It was such a period of change, of growth, of rebirth. It felt like we were just starting a true marriage and, in many ways, we were. It was the first honeymoon we had been on that we were taking in the name of love and union.

We shared a goodbye with the instructor before heading down the beach. "That was some of the most fun I’ve had in my life," I oozed to him.

"I’m glad," Roman grinned. "I think I’m inclined to say the same."

"We will have to do that anytime we travel," I suggested in my air of elation. "Think of all the coral reefs and such we can see! Though I have no desire to see caves. That seems claustrophobic."

"I think, once again, I’m inclined to agree," he chuckled and pressed a kiss to my temple as we kept walking.

"What should we do with the rest of our vacation?" I asked with a smile that just wouldn’t lift from my case. I was so enveloped with love and happiness that nothing of the past nor its lingering issues so much as crossed my mind. In that moment, there was only Roman and me.

"Anything we want," he shrugged and then looked at me with a curious look shining in his eyes. "Say something, anything, and we’ll do it."

"I don’t know," I laughed nervously. "I don’t know what’s on the table."

"Think on it, and tell me," he urged.

It was a bit uncomfortable, but I could see by the look on his face that it was only coming from a good place. Somehow, with just looking at him, I was beginning to understand he was wanting to help me be more comfortable financially in our relationship. The only thing I had done of my own volition had been to hire my pottery teacher. It had always made me feel weird to spend his money, but I knew there was more than enough to go around. After all, if there wasn’t, we wouldn’t have been able to take a private jet on a last minute trip to the Bahamas.

I thought of something I knew to take place there and that would be extravagant, knowing I needed to go big to make a point that I would be confident and comfortable financially in our relationship. Not just to him, but myself. I wracked my brain, unsure what was even possible. A spa day? That felt like something we could do back at home.

Then, an idea came to mind and for a moment, I almost denied myself from even saying it aloud. However, I straightened my posture and mustered up the confidence to say it. "How about a private helicopter ride around the islands? First thing in the morning so we can share another sunrise."

He hugged me to his side and spoke in my ear. "That’s more like it. That sounds perfect, babe."

It was one of the first times he had ever called me a pet name, and I would be lying if it didn’t give me a little thrill. I kissed him lovingly and shared in that moment before continuing on the walk. We were honest with ourselves and knew the time in the ocean had taken a lot out of us. We headed back to the bungalow for a nap. It still never failed to surprise me just how peacefully I slept at his side.