Jonah and Gabby in a hot tub

Be Jonah.
A massive heatwave hit and everyone had been suffering through it for days.
Then, you got a message from Inco and Anon, saying they had taken the opportunity to go to the beach with Mikey and Lucy.
They sent pictures.
Wow...
They looked like they had a nice time chilling by the sea.
So, you naturally ask Gabby if she would like to head on down to the beach too.
Plus the thought of maybe seeing Gabby in a swimsuit like the others had been wearing in those pics...
Her answer however, was not what you expected.
"It sounds like a fine idea Jonah, what with this heat, but..."
But what?
"I've realised that recently we've been lacking in a very important area."
?
She has a serious look on her face.
"With all the streaming you've been doing for our show, and all the trouble Francis has been getting you into, well..."
"We've been neglecting your bible studies."
Your jaw drops.
Bible studies? you stammer.
I'm not a kid anymore, and surely that's something we could do at the beach just as well as here...
She crosses her arms and fixes you with a very stern look.
"I'm sorry Jonah, but as your guardian angel it's my job to see to your spiritual wellbeing as well as your physical safety, so this really can't wait any longer."
It seems her mind is set, so there will be no beach for you today.
You could possibly try arguing the point, but you know that look.
As your memories of childhood slowly came back in her company, you rember her giving you a very similar look when she caught young you trying to eat a particularly tasty looking glob of paste.
You hadn't been able to resist that look then, and you couldn't now.
So bible studies it was.
The day went slowly in the oppressive heat, but not unpleasantly.
No time spent in the company of Gabby, in all the time you had known her, could ever be described as anything less than a joy.

You had hoped that when this day of study was over, you could convince Gabby to still head on down to the beach tomorrow.
Fate it seemed, had other ideas.
The weather forecast joyously announced that tomorrow there would be the breaking of the heatwave, heralded by a mighty outpouring of rain and possibly even some thunder and lightning.
There would be no beach day for Jonah Whitman.
At least by this evening the temperature would drop a fair bit...
When you told Gabby, you swore you saw a shadow of relief flash over her features...
"I'm sorry Jonah." she said at last.
"I know you had your heart set on going and I hate to have disappointed you, but this really couldn't wait any longer."
With that your day was over.
There was nothing more to be done but retire to the shower for a cooling wash and think about what could have been...
You were so deep in your disappointment that you didn't even notice little Francis waddle by.
Didn't see him in a little yellow hard hat, clutching a spanner in his little hand.
Nor did you see the little salute he gave to Gabby as you left...

After your shower you wasted some time on the computer, fiddling with some of the settings for a future stream and redirecting some of the incoming emails to a certain badger's inbox.
So it was dark outside by the time you noticed something was off.
It was quiet.
Too quiet.
By now you would have expected Gabby to have come and called you for supper.
She liked to batch cook some vegetable dishes sometimes at the start of the week so that you weren't left cooking for three every night like when she and Francis first arrived.
But the house seemed empty.
Curious, you head out to investigate.
Your attention is drawn by a strange noise as you approach the kitchen.
The back door was open, and it sounded like something was bubbling.
Or was it boiling?
A sudden flash of memory hit you, a scene from an old movie you'd watched a long time ago.

A big pan of boiling water.
Inside a bunny left to boil...
You rush forward, irrational fear suddenly gripping you.
But there is no pan, or anything in fact, on the hob.
The bubbling is coming from outside the door.
Looking out into your meager garden you see it.
Bathed in your old porch light is a bubbling, steaming hot tub.
All wood panelled and smart looking, a contrast to the yellowing dry grass in your scruffy yard.
What in the...
"Ah, Jonah, I was about to call you."
Gabby's voice startled you.
She was standing just off to the side of the back door, holding some fresh folded towels and dressed in her usual robe.
Gabby? What is this?
She smiles at you sweetly.
"Well, I felt bad about disappointing you earlier, about the beach trip you wanted, and thought perhaps if we couldn't go for a pleasant dip in the water then perhaps it could come to us."
You were amazed.
I know you're an angel and all, but an entire hot tub? Out of thin air?
She giggled, her big pink nose crinkling up cutely as she did.
"Not out of thin air Jonah, and not all by me."
You raise an eyebrow curiously.
"I bet you didn't know that Francis was actually a dab hand with a hammer and pipework did you?"
Francis? you ask incredulously.
"He's been studying for a plumber certification don't you know."
You wonder just who might want to hire a talking badger plumber, but are quickly overtaken with other concerns.
It had gone a bit chilly outside as the weather prepared to turn for tomorrow, and the hot tub was beginning to beckon.
Well, I guess I should go get my swim shorts then.
To your surprise, Gabby then presented them to you from the folds of the towel with a little flourish.
"Already taken care of." she said happily.
"All you need to do is go change."
Taking the red shorts you do just that.
Considering you last remember seeing these in your undies drawer, you have to wonder just how Gabby knew where to find them...

A quick trip inside to change and you're ready to go.
You head on out and over to the waiting hot tub, eager to climb in and feel the bubbly goodness.
There's no sign of Gabby though, other than the towels left neatly folded to the side.
Gabby?
You hear her answer from around the side of the house.
"I'll be there in a minute, so climb on in."
So you do.
Despite the heat earlier today, you find the warm bubbling water to be entirely pleasant, and vow to thank that noble badger later for his masterful plumbing.
Then you see Gabby.
She walks slowly into the porch light, now no longer wearing her normal yellow robe.
Instead, she's wearing a cute little two piece blue swimsuit.
The top covered her modest chest, while the bottoms left her ample furry hips (complete with cute little 'freckles') charmingly exposed.
"Well?" she asked, her voice low with an uncharacteristic shyness.
"What do you think?"
It took a second for you to get your mouth and brain back in alignment.
You look... stunning.
You were sure you caught a blush from under her white fur, before she suddenly gave a flap of her wings and hopped into the air.
Within a second she was sat in the water with you, on the other side of the tub and settling in.
You noted that there were seats set inside the tub at varying heights, some lower for someone your size, and some higher.
Gabby settled comfortably on one of these, her head and shoulders just poking out of the water.
"I'm glad." she said with a contented sigh.
"After seeing the pictures the others posted from the beach, I really wasn't sure if I could find something to wear that was as... suitable."
Something clicked in your mind.
Gabby? you ask carefully.
Was there perhaps another reason you maybe didn't want to go to the beach today?
Her ears, having flopped down to her shoulders as she relaxed, suddenly sprang back up to their full height.
"Whatever do you mean Jonah?"

You knew that Gabby and her sister Mikey had a bit of a rivalry going on.
It had been one really strange weekend when that had come to a head...
It wouldn't have mattered to me what kind of swimsuit you took to the beach, you know. you begin.
If those pics Mikey sent-
Gabby's wings suddenly started to flutter angrily, splashing water up and over the sides.
"It is of no concern to me what SHE gets up to on the beach with her ward!" she huffed, her normally soft blue eyes blazing.
"I hadn't realised that you were paying that much attention to those pictures..."
You were sure the temperature in the tub had just risen by a degree or two...
Time to backpedal.
No Gabby, I didn't mean that, it's just-
She looked ready to jump out, her shoulders tense and her wings still fluttering.
I didn't want to go to the beach to copy Anon, or to see gold swimsuits (lord forgives small white lies, right?) I just...
I really just wanted to spend some time with you somewhere nice, where we could relax, and just be 'us' for a bit, that's all.
She seemed to relax a bit.
"Oh, I see."
Emboldened, you continue.
If you would rather have not gone, then that's ok, you just had to say so, I would have understood.
Her wings stopped flapping and folded back behind her.
"I'm... sorry, Jonah." she said quietly, her anger fading.
"I'll admit, my relationship with my sister is a little strained right now, but I shouldn't let that come between us."
"It's true, I did feel a bit self conscious about going out to the beach with you, I fear I have taken some her jibes to heart..."
She had wrapped her arms almost protectively around her chest now under the water.
You smile.
You really shouldn't worry about any of that stuff.
You reach out across the tub, and pull the surprised angel over to sit on your lap.
Then you hold her in a tight hug.
You are beautiful, angel Gabby, and exactly perfect the way God created you.

"Jonah..." she whispers quietly.
You are perfect in every way that matters to me, and I want you to remember that. you whisper back.
You place a kiss gently on her big pink nose, causing her to snort in surprise.
You forgot that your beard could tickle her nose sometimes.
"Oh you big silly man..." she sighs, and snuggles up to you a little closer.
The two of you sit there like that for some time, looking up at the stars and enjoying the warmth of each others bodies mixed with the gentle stream of bubbles.
There was no beach trip today for Jonah Whitman, and no swimsuit pics to be shared with the others.
But instead there was a little island of serenity on a normally hectic sea of happenings.
Just two people taking time out from the world to spend solely with eachother, in a hot tub of dreams built by a handy badger.

End