History Main / LetsWaitAWhile

** Played for drama in the Marks' other comic, ''Webcomic/YouSayItFirst'': It was assumed earlier on that Kimberly wasn't ready for intimacy beyond hugging and kissing. When Kimberly tries to go further in Chapter 38 ("Date Night In"), Brisbane panics and begs off. leading to a fight that causes them to split for six weeks. They talk things out in Chapter 51 ("Good Morning"), both explaining why they acted how they did, clearing the way for them to actually take that next step.

[[caption-width-right:350:Did she just make not putting out sound sexy?]]

Compare GoodPeopleHaveGoodSex, ButIWouldReallyEnjoyIt, and ChastityCouple. Contrast NatureAbhorsAVirgin, EverybodyHasLotsOfSex.

** Timothy Drake, the third ComicBook/{{Robin}}. Prior to ''DetectiveComicsJamesTynion'' he was one of the few persons in the Bat-Family (and Franchise/TheDCU superhero community) who hasn't done it. The dude's had at least 5 girlfriends, and has been propositioned for sex ''thrice.'' It looks he and Stephanie Brown are finally ready to have sex at the end of ''ComicBook/{{Convergence}}'', but they took such a beating that neither feels up to it. So they settle for simply falling asleep laying with one another.

** Timothy Drake, the third ComicBook/{{Robin}}. Prior to ''DetectiveComicsJamesTynionIV'' he was one of the few persons in the Bat-Family (and Franchise/TheDCU superhero community) who hasn't done it. The dude's had at least 5 girlfriends, and has been propositioned for sex ''thrice.'' It looks he and Stephanie Brown are finally ready to have sex at the end of ''ComicBook/{{Convergence}}'', but they took such a beating that neither feels up to it. So they settle for simply falling asleep laying with one another.

** Timothy Drake, the third ComicBook/{{Robin}}. Prior to ''DetectiveComicsRebirth'' he was one of the few persons in the Bat-Family (and Franchise/TheDCU superhero community) who hasn't done it. The dude's had at least 5 girlfriends, and has been propositioned for sex ''thrice.'' It looks he and Stephanie Brown are finally ready to have sex at the end of ''ComicBook/{{Convergence}}'', but they took such a beating that neither feels up to it. So they settle for simply falling asleep laying with one another.

** Timothy Drake, the third ComicBook/{{Robin}}. He's one of the few persons in the Bat-Family (and Franchise/TheDCU superhero community) who hasn't done it. The dude's had at least 5 girlfriends, and has been propositioned for sex ''thrice.'' It looks he and Stephanie Brown are finally ready to have sex at the end of ''ComicBook/{{Convergence}}'', but they took such a beating that neither feels up to it. So they settle for simply falling asleep laying with one another.

[[quoteright:337:[[ComicBook/ScottPilgrim https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/100_8978.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:337:Did she just make not putting out sound sexy?]]

* Taken UpToEleven in [[http://www.somethingpositive.net/sp09232013.shtml this]] ''Webcomic/SomethingPositive'' strip during a marital preparedness course.

** {{Subverted|Trope}} in a flashback, Marshall and Lily decide to wait to have sex... and then do it ten minutes later.

Compare GoodPeopleHaveGoodSex, ButIWouldReallyEnjoyIt. Contrast NatureAbhorsAVirgin, EverybodyHasLotsOfSex.

* In ''Literature/TheEvolutionOfEmily'', Emily wants to have sex with August, but August wants to wait. He's the product of an accidental teen pregnancy, and doesn't want to do anything that might result in a baby until he's ready to start a family.

* In ''Film/SomethingWicked'' Christine is a virgin and made a vow to only have sex with her boyfriend until they're married.
* ''Film/{{Python}}'': Tommy and Theresa haven't had sex yet, to his dismay. They do come close at one moment, while their spending at her house before a biking trip and her mom is gone, but then her cat interrupts the mood, and he ends up sleeping on the couch.

* In the final act of ''Film/TheFoodOfTheGods'', Lorna [[MustNotDieAVirgin approaches Morgan for sex]], in case they don't survive the inevitable fight with the [[AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever giant rats]] outside. Morgan assures her that ''when'' they get through this, they can make love as much as they want.

* Dolores from ''Film/BeachParty'' doesn't trust herself not to give in if she's alone with Frankie, so she invites all their friends to stay in the beach house with them. She wants him to see her as a wife, not just another girl, and she doesn't think that will happen unless she saves herself.

* In ''Theatre/ALittleNightMusic'', the middle-aged widower Fredrik [[MayDecemberRomance marries 18-year-old Anne]], who even eleven months after the wedding, still wants to wait to have sex. This divide eventually drives Fredrik into the arms of his ex-lover and Anne into the arms of her 19-year-old stepson.

** [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Timothy Drake]], [[LegacyCharacter the third Robin]]. He's one of the few persons in the Bat-Family (and Franchise/TheDCU superhero community) who hasn't done it. The dude's had at least 5 girlfriends, and has been propositioned for sex ''thrice.'' Gotta love that guy.
** It looks he and Steph are finally ready to have sex at the end of Steph's mini-series in {{ComicBook/Convergence}}, but they took such a beating that neither feels up to it. So they settle for simply falling asleep laying with one another.

Occasionally paired with InsatiableNewlyweds to show that the couple weren't waiting out of prudishness.

** It looks he and Steph are finally ready to have sex at the end of Steph's mini series in {{ComicBook/Convergence}}, but they took such a beating that neither feels up to it. So they settle for simply falling asleep laying with one another.

* In ''ComicBook/NewWarriors'': Firestar, Nova and Namorita break Justice out of the convoy taking him to prison[[note]]He'd been convicted of manslaughter in the death of his father[[/note]]. After Vance [[SelfRestraint convinces them to let him face the music]], Nova, Namorita and the guards [[LeaveTheTwoLovebirdsAlone look the other way]] while he and Firestar "have a private goodbye." Angelica wants to, but Vance convinces her that their first time should be more special than a quick rut in the woods.

* In ''ComicStrip/NineChickweedLane'', Edda and Amos attempt the "abstinence until marriage" route. We find out about this after they apparently immediately broke that vow and Edda comically tries to convince Amos that [[AllJustADream he dreamed it.]] (Amos knew and played along, because he thought it was sweet she was thinking of his honour.)

* ''Fanfic/ACrownOfStars'': Discussed. Asuka and her best friend Hikari talk about Asuka's love life, who has just recently hooked up with Shinji after several years of BelligerentSexualTension, UnresolvedSexualTension, misunderstandings and a long forced separation. Shinji and Asuka started to have sex shortly after getting together, and Hikari -who has just hooked up with her high-school crush but has not had sex yet- is seeking advice about giving the next step or waiting a while, so she asks Asuka what she would have done when they were thirteen. Asuka replies what knowing what she knows now, she would not have waited.

* ''Fanfic/TheChildOfLove'': Variant. Shinji and Asuka got a one-night stand. As a result of it Asuka got pregnant and their relationship almost got destroyed. After reconciling Asuka said they were not having sex until Teri’s birth at the very least and they had to be very careful from now on. Shinji agreed.

* ''Fanfic/GhostsOfEvangelion'': Shinji and Asuka argue about their sex life several times: both are attracted each other, but their many psychological issues -which include Asuka being mentally and physically raped several times in the past- keep in the way of a healthy sex life. Sometimes Asuka just wants have sex so the matter is settled, but Shinji argues he's afraid of hurting her and they shouldn't force themselves.

* ''Fanfic/TheOneILoveIs'': Subverted. In an early chapter Rei wants to have sex with Shinji but he backs out because [[spoiler:he can not stop to think about Asuka.]] Not wanting to hurt Rei he lies, saying he has stopped because he wants to make sure things don't go too fast.

* Severus and Lily wait for their wedding night in ''Fanfic/ThePeaceNotPromised'' at her father's request. Lily would have been quite happy to brush it off since she's an adult, but Severus both wants to make a good impression on her father, and is very aware that [[PeggySue due to his time travel]], he's [[AgeGapRomance quite a lot older than her]].

* ''Fanfic/MyHeroPlaythrough'': Done by Izuku when [[Main/GladToBeAliveSex Tsuyu tries to seduce him after paired near death incidents]]. He gives her a list of reasons why they shouldn't, but also a timetable to discuss it again. She agrees.

* Brought up in the film adaptation of ''Film/LikeWaterForChocolate'' by Pedro to his new bride Rosaura. However, the marriage is not of love but simply to delay an uncomfortable marriage obligation (Pedro married Rosaura to be close to her sister Tita, his true love). Pedro throws in one successful excuse to why they should wait but eventually the deed is done (to produce a son).
* In ''Film/JumpingTheBroom'', after having a one night stand with a man who already had a girlfriend, Sabrina decides that the next time she has sex, she will be married. She eventually meets and gets engaged to Jason, and they decide they will abide by that rule.

* ''Film/{{Python}}'': Tommy and Theresa haven't had sex yet, to his dismay. They do come close at one moment, while their spending at her house before a biking trip and her mom is gone, but then her cat and interrupts the mood, and he ends up sleeping on the couch.

* Hershel and Mary from ''Literature/SuperPowereds''. They are by far the least noticable of the various couples in general, but they also seem to be the most stable. The situation is slightly complicated by the fact that thanks to Roy, Hershel has a huge number of ''memories'' of sex despite being a virgin.

* In ''Literature/MachoMan'' by Moritz Netenjakob, the protagonist's girlfriend Aylin tells him she wasn't a very "traditional" Turkish woman but she does find it romantic to wait for the wedding night to have sex for the first time. [[spoiler: In the end he seduces her when they get back together by showing how much he ''isn't'' a macho man after all by singing the smurf song to her.]]

* ''[[Literature/AmaranthineSaga Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox]]'': Argent and Tsumiko have been platonically sharing rooms and [[ThereIsOnlyOneBed a bed]] for weeks when Argent experiences a LoveEpiphany and attempts to seduce her. While initially receptive,Tsumiko puts a stop to things once she realizes how far he intends to go, due to her religious upbringing and moral convictions. Later, she's made aware that his words and actions were the Amaranthine equivalent of a proposal and consummating the relationship would be considered as binding as a wedding to his culture. It's implied she might not have stopped him if she had realized. However, by this time, she has already set conditions for their relationship, so the couple waits until after they have a more traditional wedding.

** Victoria and Ted planned to wait a month, but gets too impatient after the first two weeks.

* Brian and Alex decide to do this on ''Series/{{Wings}}'', after Brian is reminded by Joe and Helen that he has a habit of jumping into bed with women he's just met and then immediately losing respect for them. Brian being who he is, it's a definite moment of CharacterDevelopment for him.
* ''Series/GeneralHospital''. Jagger agrees to this when he and Karen begin dating, as she's a virgin. She's finally ready by prom night, but sadly ends up freaking out (she's dealing with repressed memories of having been molested as a child).

* ''Series/{{Friends}}'': Chandler and Monica decide to do the "engaged couple" version of this in the weeks leading up to their wedding. After a few days they're both getting frustrated so Chandler starts a fake argument so they can "break up" for a few hours and have sex. Monica's willing to go along with it until she remembers her cousin is staying in their spare room and will hear everything.

* ''Series/{{Intergalactic}}'': Drew says he's been with other women before, but Genevieve is the most special to him, so he prefers waiting before the pair have sex so they can built up their relationship.

** Viconia's romance takes a different approach. You can bed her fairly early on (and she will break off the relationship if you don't accept), but later on she considers it just a tedious duty ("Let's just get it over with"). You can respond by just having sex as usual... or offer to just cuddle, since she's clearly not in the mood for anything else. Viconia is very surprised at this un-drow-like option, but says afterwards that it wasn't bad.
* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', the romance option with Alistair plays out like this. [[spoiler: You ''can'' convince him to go to bed instead of waiting for him to feel ready and approach you, but the love scene doesn't play and he seems unhappy about it.]]
** The romance with Leliana has similar leanings, as she wants to wait until she's in love before agreeing to go to bed.
** The ''PlayerCharacter'' can invoke this in any romance, if the companion approaches you for sex first. Surprisingly, ''[[ReallyGetsAround Zevran]]'' takes it best. If you shyly state that you're not ready and ask to wait a while he's actually charmed, and welcomes you to let him know whenever you're ready. (True to his word, the only way to sleep with Zevran after that is for the Warden to approach him about it, as he doesn't pursue it again). By contrast, the other love interests honor your feelings but are clearly disappointed (and somewhat embarrassed) and lose some affection if you ask to wait when they approach you.
* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'': When a romanced [[GayOption Dorian]] approaches a male Inquisitor for sex, said Inquisitor can either agree to jump into bed, or ask to wait a while. If the latter, Dorian is shocked into silence, but happy to wait since he secretly yearned for a loving monogamous relationship with a man he loved, but was conditioned to think such things were impossible in his home country, where homosexuality is regarded as such a shameful secret that casual trysts were all he ever knew.

* ''VideoGame/StoryOfSeasonsTrioOfTowns'': The game actually has two occurences of this, surprisingly enough. But due to its rating, the game pulls off more child-friendly versions.
** [[DoesNotLikeMen Kasumi]] mentions in her penultimate love event that she isn't comfortable enough to kiss the farmer yet, but that holding hands is alright. Her final love event then has her try to kiss the farmer, but she stops herself, and says that they'll wait until marriage.

** Defied by Amy. Amy is disillusioned about a lot of things, romance being one of them. Therefore, she lets the protagonist go all the way with her at the first chance he gets, and initiates trying a lot of things that she’s heard about.

** The protagonist wants to hold off having sex with Amy, because he doesn’t want to screw up things for Melody.

* [[Webcomic/DominicDeegan Dominic and Luna.]] Dominic learns that Luna's first time was an (intentionally engineered) utter disaster, so she developed some serious hang-ups about intimacy on top her pre-existing self-esteem issues. It works out in the end, though (Three words: "Worth. The. Wait.)

-->'''Debra:''' Oh, we got married seven years ago, but Gary really want to wait until it's special.

* ''Series/{{Friends}}'' had the same situation with Monica and Chandler. Seeing as these are the two who declared they were the best the other had ever had, the decision didn't last long. Within a week, they staged a pretend fight to "break off" the engagement so they could sleep together again.