Holly and I Only!!!

He smiled and blinked after thinking for a moment. "Hmm... I don't want to make you feel violated... Do you want me to get you a floaty?"

"A floaty?" She asked. "I'm not a little kid.

"Otherwise I have to hold you up. I'd have to touch your midsection. I wasn't sure if you'd be comfortable with that," he explained.

She shrugged. "I'd rather you touch me than look dorkey in floaties." She said.

He chuckled. "Alright. I apologize in advance if you get uncomfortable," he said and took her other hand. "Try to float on your belly," he told her gently. "Trust the water - don't fight it."

"Why the belly?" She asked. "I can't breath under water."

"Keep your face above water. Like this," he let her hands go and demonstrated floating on his stomach while looking up at her. He grinned and stood back up. "Do you want me to hold your stomach instead?"

She sighed, nodding. "Yes."

"I won't let you drown, I promise," he told her gently, standing beside her and holding her sides gently. "Whenever you're ready."

She nodded and sighed. "I don't think I can do it."

"I know you can," he told her softly. "Pretend you're laying on your belly on your bed, reading a book."

"But I don't do that." she said, looking up at him.

"Look up at the ceiling," he instructed gently.

She nodded and did as she was told, lifting her head toward the ceiling.

"Do you trust me," he asked softly, bringing one of his hands to her upper back.

She closed her eyes and nodded. "Yes."

He gently laid her on her belly in the water, careful to keep her nose from touching the top. "You're floating," he said softly, smiling. "I'm barely holding you up."

She opened her eyes, making sure not to move. At all. She smiled and started to relax but then Jedi came up, swimming and splashing. Water got in her eyes and she flinched, getting water up her nose. She gasped, making it even worse and started caughing at the water in her lungs.

Ryder quickly picked her up and patted her back a few times. "You alright," he asked gently. "Just sneeze it out, you'll be okay," he promised.

She sneezed like he said and then sighed. "I'd rather stay in the hot tub area." she mumbled.

"Alright," he said and walked into the hot tub with her. "You okay," he asked. Her heart was still beating fast from her panic.

She nodded as she sank into the hot water. "Yes. I've just never done that before. It scared me."

"I'm sorry," he told her gently, sitting in the hot water next to her. "I'll let you decide when you want to try again."

She nodded. "Maybe tomorrow."

He nodded. "Alright." He listened to her heart carefully. If it slowed down too much, he'd take her out into the hall to cool off.