How to Overcome a Fear of Flying

He heard her mutter beside him, "A few bumps... Fucking pilot doesn't have the decency to be honest that he's gonna shake us around like a paint can."

"They don't control the weather," he replied, wondering why he was bothering to open his mouth.

"Well they should... fly around it or something," she said petulantly.

"They're well-trained pilots, they know what they're doing," he said, reassuring himself as much as her.

"What do you fucking know them personally or something?" she asked sarcastically.

He glanced over at her son behind her, surprised at her level of profanity.

"I'm keeping my voice down, and he's not listening to us anyway," she said, with a slightly guilty look to her eyes.

He shook his head and told himself to ignore her again.

Suddenly the plane lurched forward and his heart nearly leaped out of his chest. He grasped the armrest between them tightly and gritted his teeth. Just as suddenly, her hand was clasped on top of his. He opened his eyes in surprise and saw that she had her eyes closed tightly, mouthing 'fuck' over and over.

"We're moving! We're finally moving!" the boy said in excitement looking back only briefly before gluing his face to the window again.

Her fingers interlocked with his as she bit her lower lip and whimpered softly, her mouth contorted in terror, then finally let out a long shuddering breath as the momentum of the plane evened out, and opened her eyes. She looked down at the armrest and pulled her hand away, looking embarrassed but letting out another shaky breath as she cleared her throat. She rubbed her hands on her thighs and sat back. He took his hand off the armrest, noticing that he was surprisingly calm now. She grasped the armrest again, but seemed to not be able to sit still. She rubbed her hand over it and let out a sigh.

"These stupid things are always annoying," she said and lifted the armrest up and away.

Her soft shoulder came up against his, and he was more aware than he felt he should have been at the lack of barrier between them. She looked nervously out the window and then back at her phone, her hand still shaking slightly.

She was even more afraid of flying than he was. Great. He thought bitterly.

"Earbuds for purchase?" the stewardess asked?

She jolted up from her phone in surprise and put her hand on her cleavage, catching her breath. "No," she said angrily.

He simply shook his head politely. The stewardess gave him an apologetic smile and then a sour glance at the woman before moving on.

"No I don't want your shitty overpriced earbuds," she muttered.

"I mean, everyone thinks that, but she's just doing her job," he said.

"Well maybe the pilot can do his fucking job and not shove the plane forward like that,"

"Yeah that took me off guard too, but I... think that pretty-much happens every time."

"Have you flown on this airline before? I'm starting to wonder what their record is like. I mean they were cheaper, but now I'm wondering if they were TOO cheap and..." she trailed off, looking around the plane, her eyes seeming to glint with moisture.

"Well no I haven't but... it's a major airline that's been around for years. All the major airlines have strict quality control measures and regulations," he said, reciting the websites he'd read again. "Both the maintenance of the planes and the performance of the pilots an-"

"Ladies and gentleman please fasten your seat belts and make sure your seat backs and table trays are in the upright position, as we prepare for take off."

The plane sped up slightly as it turned on to the runway and made it's way to the end, with the roar of the engine sounding louder. His heart jumped again and his palms felt instantly sweaty.

"Oh God..." she whispered, closing her eyes tightly again. "Oh God Oh God Oh God," she rubbed her hands on her thighs more and more quickly, and then suddenly grabbed his leg tightly, making his whole body, including his cock, jolt in surprise. "Do you have a pill? Please I need a pill to relax, just one I'd do anything, please, you have to have one I need it please."

He stared at her in awe for a moment, "I... no I don't, sorry."

"Are you sure?"

"What? Y- yeah I'm sure. I don't have anything like that," he said. A few days before, he had considered going to a clinic to try to get some, but had decided against it.

She looked up and started to say more loudly, "Does a-..." her words stopped abruptly and her lips quivered and suddenly tears streamed down her face. "Fuck, listen to yourself," she whispered, barely audible. "Three years clean, you're three years clean from that shit, and look at you, you're fucking begging. Get it the fuck together."

"We're actually gonna blast off this is so AWESOME! Hey mom, are you okay?" her son asked, finally looking at her.

"Yeah sweetie I'm okay. I'll be okay. Thanks, just look out the window. I love you, okay? Whatever happens," she said with a gulp.

"Okay." the kid shrugged, then looked over at him. "My mom's scared about flying but she doesn't take pills anymore, but she's flying with me anyway and my auntie's super proud of her, but I think it's really exciting, and I want to be a pilot when I grow up."

The boy turned back to stare out the window before he could think of a reply.

More tears streamed down her face as the engines roared slightly louder and the plane turned down the runway.

"He's a sweet kid," he said, suddenly feeling a lot more empathy for this woman, and trying to redirect her.

She opened her eyes briefly to give him an appreciative pained smile and nodded, "Thanks, I know. I just... I've been really stressed out, cause I have this stupid fear."

She put her hands on her knees and let out a long slow shuddering breath and then another, clearly going through a breathing exercise of some sort. She almost seemed to be calming down when the pilots voice came over the speaker again, indicating for the crew to prepare for take off. The engines grew louder.

She stomped both feet on the floor, losing her focus again and shaking her head from side to side.

He started to grow more concerned for her, "Hey, hey look, is there anything I can do to help?"

"Get me the fuck off this plane?" she whispered with a soft bitter chuckle. "Yell out a bomb threat so they don't take off, make a scene?"

He laughed softly with her, "Well I kinda have a really important job interview tomorrow that I have to be at, so I kinda need this flight to go."

"Yeah.. yeah I've got a... yeah I was just kidding. I don't know. I don't know what to do."

"Well the breathing thing seemed to be helping,"

"No it wasn't."

"Look, I'm scared of flying too, a-''

"Oh fuck off, no your not, look at you."

He had to admit he was far less worried about himself at this point. "Well I am a bit at least. I've read some things that might help. Like, closing your eyes is good but you gotta imagine something other than a plane."

"...okay," she said softly, leaning closer to him.

"Are you afraid of boats? The water?" he asked.

"No, I love the ocean."

"Okay, good. Well this is more for turbulence, but it might help now, to um, imagine you're on a boat instead. A big one if that helps."

"Yeah. Yeah okay," she nodded briskly and suddenly her hand was clasped in his.

He gulped at the feel of her soft hand and wondered if he should let go, but instead he squeezed back, finding it supportive for himself as well.

The engines roared suddenly louder and they began to creep forward.

"This isn't a boat. It's a fucking plane," she whimpered, starting to panic again.

"No it is, it's a boat, keep your eyes closed," he said, and found himself doing the same, going through the thought exercise he had already planned to help himself, but now saying it out loud for her sake. "It's a... a big speedboat, a super fast yacht. The engines on this baby are incredible, we'll be powering away from the dock in a moment, so you better hang on, the acceleration's top notch."

She let out a nervous but hearty chuckle and suddenly let go of his hand only to move her arm to interlock behind his elbow and clasp his hand again, grasping his bicep with the other and pulling his arm against her massive soft breast. "Okay I'm hanging on. This boat's so big and powerful,"

"Yeah it's crazy, like thou- uh, millions of dollars, so many... horsepower," he chuckled at himself as he flew by the seat of his pants through the fantasy.

"Where are we going?" she asked breathily, pulling herself closer and locking her fingers in his.

"To my um... private island," he said, too nervous to think of why.

"Ohh, of course, you're a... playboy millionaire, sweeping me away," she said playfully, but with a shake still to her voice.

"Y- yeah, you're gonna love it, just you wait."

"Oh I can't wait," she said, with her shuddered breath reverberating through her chest into his arm..

"You ready?" he asked, hearing the engines roar louder.

"Ohh fuck, I don't know if I'm ready," she pulled him tightly against her and the sides of their foreheads met as they whispered through their shared fantasy. His heart started to race as well, and he wondered if it was just the sound of the plane that was doing it. "Keep talking," she pleaded, digging her nails into his bicep and squeezing his hand tighter.

"It's okay, the engine on this boat can be scary, but we're in a hurry, we gotta get to the island before sunset."

"You'll keep me safe right?" she shuddered against him and her hand slid up and squeezed his shoulder.

"Yeah, yeah I'll keep you safe. Don't you worry."

The plane suddenly accelerated forward, and he felt the G-force pulling them back in their seats.

"AWESOME!" her son yelled out beside them.

"Ah!" she exclaimed, and her chest heaved against his arm as she breathed. "You've got this boat under control right?"

"Yeah girl, I know these waters like the back of my hand," he said, more calmly than he felt, as his guts sunk and his heart raced.

She giggled nervously, "The vibrations feel good -oh!" she pulled him even tighter as the plane lurched into the air.

"Fuck," he muttered to himself, then got back into character for her, "That was just a really big wave, don't worry. Waters are a bit choppy here, b-" his stomach rose into his chest as the plane suddenly lurched down, "But we'll just ride the waves, this boat can handle anything."

"Oh my God..." she panted and almost started to panic again, Suddenly her teeth were biting down on his shoulder, his mouth opened in surprise, and his already mostly-engorged cock was suddenly like a diamond.

"It's okay," he whispered into her hair, taken by the pleasant smell.

"I can see all the buildings! There's so small!" her son exclaimed, paying no attention to them as he stared out the window.

Her other hand massaged his bicep and then caressed over on to his pecs as her teeth eased off a little but stayed on his shoulder. He looked down at her, holding his hand and caressing the side of his chest, and couldn't help but focus on the feel of her wide, soft breast pressed on his arm, and wondered if he could almost detect a firm nipple.

The plane jolted downwards again and they both swore under their breaths.

"Just choppy water right?" she asked, squeezing his hand a few times, sounding impatient that he wasn't talking.

"Y- Yeah," he said, getting his mind back into it, hoping the tent his raging cock had pitched wasn't too obvious, but no one was looking. "These seas are rough but that's why the island is so isolated and um, private."

"Just our little paradise?" she asked, breathlessly.

"You got it,"

"I can't believe this, this is so AWESOME!" her son said.

She let out a nervous giggle, "Thanks for letting my son come along."

"Oh of course," he said, "He's such a good water skiier look at him go."

She then let out a husky chuckle and her breast bounced against him, then she let out a blissful sigh. Her hand traced along his pecs and her fingers reached his collar bone and he felt tingles through his neck. She lifted her head and panted against his skin, he turned his head and did the same, not sure whether their heavy breathing was from fear anymore.

Then they slowly relaxed as the plane rose above the clouds and its ascent evened out. After a few minutes of silent smooth flying, she cleared her throat and moved her hand slowly away from his chest, then finally leaned away again. She opened her eyes and they shared what felt like a long stare before the kid broke the moment,

"The clouds look so cool up here!"

She turned as if only remembering her son was there and where she was. She gave a more embarrassed look and turned back to her serious, half-annoyed expression that seemed her usual, and sat back. He let go of her hand and she hugged herself for a moment before sighing and relaxing entirely again.

"Thank you," she said flatly, not holding his gaze.

"Um, yeah, no problem."

"That was... a lot more pleasant than the takeoff the last time I flew anyway, and I think I'm good for now."

"Likewise," he agreed nervously.

"Don't get any ideas," she muttered, crossing her soft thighs again.

"Wouldn't dream of it," he said with a gulp, and thought he caught her eyes dart towards him with a disapproving frown for a split-second, then diligently ignore him again.

"They're like marshmallow clouds. Like I could bounce on them! Except I wouldn't. I would fall through, and then be all like aaaaaa splat!"

"WHAT did I say about talking about that stuff?" she blurted at her son.

"Sorry. Can I have the ipad now? You said once we were flying I could."

"No. The seatbelt sign is still on."

"Oh right. Where's the seatbelt sign? Mom where's the seatbelt sign?"

"Ugh. It's that one. She said, pointing quickly."

"Which one? Mom? Which one I didn't see. Mom?"

She looked like she was about to flip out and he suddenly spoke up instead, "Hey dude, it's the one with the two yellow things and the red arrow in between."

"Ohh... the two snakes with the weird heads."

He blurted out a laugh, "Yeah no, those are seat belts."

"I think they're snakes. Hey wouldn't it be crazy if there WAS snakes on the plane? Do you think there might be?"

He chuckled, "No bud, this guy named Sam got really tired of them being on the plane and kicked them all off."

She finally looked up with an exaggerated roll of her eyes and shook her head while he chuckled at his own joke. The kid was looking out the window again.

"Sorry, I'll stop talking to him if you want," he said, realizing what he was doing would normally be a little intrusive.

"No it's fine," she said with an almost endearing smirk. "Just that I'm the one who's 36 and you're the one telling the really bad dad jokes," she teased crassly.

"Got enough of that going on at home already?" he asked without thinking.

Her head turned toward him, giving him a very obvious side-eye before finally responding, "Do you see a ring?"

He didn't, and also had no idea why he had asked that question, but part of him felt a twinge of satisfaction hearing the answer regardless. He detected the bitterness in her voice though and simply cleared his throat and pulled out his phone.

To his surprise she asked, "What about you? Your girlfriend starting to get baby-crazy and you're trying to get some dad-practice in or something?"

He frowned at her, taken off guard, "What? No. I... got nothing like that going on I just, don't mind kids. I don't get annoyed with them like some people do."

She crossed her arms and looked up from her phone, "Some people?..."

"I didn't mean..."

"Yeah you did,"

"Well..." he sighed in frustration. "I know you're on edge cause of the plane, but still you should cut the kid some slack"

"It's not cause of..." she sighed and pivoted, "What would you know about it? You think it's easy? You gonna try raising him and seeing how hard it can be?"

"Of course I know it's hard, but if I was his-..." he stopped his train of thought in its tracks. "Just... getting angry about things doesn't make them any easier."

She let out a bitter laugh and shook her head. "Careful, you almost sound like my last two 'boyfriends' who each told me I'd be prettier if I smiled more."

"That's NOT what I... I'm not stupid enough to say THAT to a girl," he defended.

She smirked in satisfaction at his discomfort, "I know it's not what you meant. Just watch it with the patronizing advice, you're too young for that."

He opened his mouth to respond but closed it again as she raised an annoyingly sexy eyebrow at him, and her alluring eyes seemed to hold him helplessly until she chose to turn away.

She continued, "Though I think they both wanted out once they realized I had a kid."

He couldn't help but scoff, "Then you deserve better than that kind of asshole," he replied automatically.

What the fuck was that? Just shut up and stop talking to her. He told himself.

She narrowed her eyes and looked thoughtfully at him again until they both turned back to their phones and sat in silence.

He wondered when they'd start to serve refreshments and considered getting a drink, but reminded himself he was trying to save money on this trip and decided against it. He tried to focus on the documents he'd downloaded to read about this job he was interviewing for, but he had pored over them more than once already. He decided to open his novel instead, but found his attention still slipping to the woman next to him, trying to decide what to make of her. His thoughts were interrupted by the stewardess.

"Ladies and gentleman you'll notice the captain has left the seatbelt sign on, as we are expecting some additional turbulence over the next few minutes. Please remain seated with your seatbacks and table trays in the up position."

He closed his eyes and muttered "Goddammit," to himself.

He opened them to see her eyeing his reaction and hadn't moved other than to hug herself lightly, but she seemed slightly embarrassed.

"It's okay you don't have to... do what you did, every time. So don't worry," she said.

It took him a second to realize what she was thinking, "No I wasn't angry that I'd have to help you I-... I just really don't lii-iike turbulence," his voice faltered as the first few shakes hit them.

"Oh come on, you're not... Wait, you really weren't just saying that to make me feel better?" she asked doubtfully.

"No, I'm not gonna lie to you. Planes freak me out."

"But, you were so..." she scoffed in annoyance and hugged herself. Her lips starting to tremble, despite the cold annoyance otherwise on her face.

"I was just keeping it together for your sake," he said, and took a long breath out as the plane shook again.

"Well... keep it together again, you're freaking me out now."

"Oh it's my fault now? Not the plane?" he said through gritted teeth as he closed his eyes again.

"Well until just now I was feeling better cause I had y-... You know what forget it. I'll be fine."

"Me too."

"Good."

He cracked his eyes open and saw her hugging herself, leaning forward with her eyes closed. Her son was oblivious, his eyes glued to the flight map on the screen in front of him.

He didn't think his boat-fantasy had calmed him as much as her, but clearly it had. This turbulence was nothing compared to the take off. His whole body flexed as the plane suddenly dropped and he heard her give a whimper, and a few other people around them make surprised comments. Okay not nothing. He admitted to himself. Still, he couldn't help wanting to do it all again with her. Not even because of her soft skin and softer breast on his arm or her breath on his neck; though the memory of that made his cock sneak a twitch in through the anxiety. It was... being there for her. Stepping up and knowing he HAD to be strong for her sake. It had filled him with a purpose he hadn't remembered ever feeling before, at least not in a long time.