So starts another Spader/Bobby fic. That's boy with boy love, so if you're against it or don't like it, you probably won't like this fic much. Be warned, but do enjoy if you choose to read.

This takes place after the battle for Halla (but, um, was written before book 10 came out). But, some spoilers for book 9.

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Chapter 1: Sweet Vacation

Bobby sighed happily, propping his head up with his arm. Mark, Courtney, and him were all visiting Spader on Cloral. Spader had been perfectly right; the three from Second Earth really did need a vacation. Not a vacation to a nasty cloudy watered/dirty/polluted beach either. They needed a vacation to Spader's daily life—paradise.

Bobby opened his eyes and smiled as Spader sat himself on the tabletop, smiling brightly. "Are you mates okay? You really do look beat."

Bobby, Mark, and Courtney all nodded. "Trust me, Cloral has helped a ton and we've only been here a few hours," Bobby replied. Spader gave Bobby a confused look at the term "hours," but he decided to brush it off. He nodded and looked curiously across the tavern. Spader had learned to stop asking the small questions, it had taken a ton of training from Bobby, but he'd learned.

Spader stood up, walked away, and Courtney laughed. "He can't stay still very long, can he?"

Bobby smiled. "You two know Spader, of course he can't. He probably feels left out of the action not being the center of attention at the front bar."

Spader came back soon enough, much to Bobby's dismay carrying four mugs of sniggers. Bobby immediately stood up to help, but got Spader's foot pressed to his stomach, gently coaxing him to sit back down. "Relax mate, I'm not going to drop them," he laughed softly, "I can balance twice as much."

"You make me nervous when you carry breakable objects," Bobby groaned softly, thankfully taking a mug of sniggers.

Spader stuck his tongue out at Bobby and Bobby quickly adverted his eyes, blushing slightly.

"Spader, is Cloral doing good after everything was sorted out?" Mark asked curiously.

Spader gave a quick nod. "Yes, my home is much better now that I can finally be here to protect it." Courtney and Mark sunk down in their seats nervously and Spader quickly held up his hands, "Mates, I don't blame you. I was needed on Eelong. It was just the way it was meant to be. Did it ever occur to you how the flume only collapsed on Eelong—not Cloral or Second Earth when you used them? Gunny and I were meant to be there."

Courtney looked at Spader nervously. "I've been feeling so guilty about getting you stuck there. I would have thought you hated me. I'm really sorry, Spader."

"That's all the credit I get?" Spader scoffed, "I'm actually a little insulted. Why would I hate you? I've only hated a few people my entire life, and you're not one of them."

Courtney blushed, "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that, Spader; I know you're really sweet and you'd never hate anyone, but I just, what I did to you was awful-"

"Save it," Spader chuckled softly, "I've heard it enough."

"What did Saint Dane even do to Cloral?" Mark asked curiously.

Spader swallowed hard and lowered his eyes. "Saint Dane wasn't completely wrong; the balance here is very gentle. Faar was an amazing discovery, but it also ended up being a main part of his plan. The Faarians are very… uh, cocky? No, not cocky, very… they have a superiority complex. He used them to turn against Cloral. He also split aquaneers and vators apart by making the aquaneers feel superior. Everyone else usually took the vators or aquaneers side. So there were basically three groups… The Faarians had the biggest heads, but they aren't really dangerous in anyway. When the vators split up, well, who grew the food? That started a war, and who are the ones with the weapons?"

Bobby immediately reached out, gently taking Spader's hand. The aquaneers were the ones that handled the weapons on Cloral. The Cloran Traveler smiled weakly to show Bobby that he okay, but his smile didn't last long. Spader was quick wiping away small tears. "My own mates… it was… the others were helpless… it was a massacre," he whispered softly.

Mark and Courtney both lowered their eyes and Spader stood up, leaving. "Bobby, is he okay?" Courtney asked softly.

Bobby nodded. "It's really hard on him that his territory unfolded that way. But, technically it never happened after we managed to set the territories back in time. He's the only one who knows that it did happen in another time. Oh, and Yenza. He actually didn't know it was happening at first, because Yenza refused to let him know. He was stuck on Eelong, so she decided it was pointless to have him hysterical over Cloral."

All of them were silent for a while. When it started to get late, the tavern started to empty, and Spader still hadn't returned, they decided to head back to his place. "Bobby, I feel awful. We're getting a vacation but we've already put Spader in tears."

Bobby sighed and smiled, "Please, Spader loves having us around. I'm sure he even had plans to be a showoff and make us an amazing dinner. Things just unfolded a bit weird. Let's not bring up anything to do with Saint Dane, okay?"

Mark and Courtney both nodded. When they reached Spader's home, Bobby knocked softly. When he didn't get an answer, he walked inside the dark apartment and quickly flipped the light on. "He even cleaned. Unbelievable."

Courtney and Mark were a bit more timid when entering, but Bobby didn't seem to care. He walked across the main room and toward Spader's bedroom. He knocked again and entered without waiting for a reply. He flicked the lights on and walked toward the open window. "Spader, can I join you?" he called up toward the roof curiously.

"Of course, Pendragon," came Spader's quick reply.

Bobby shakily pulled himself onto the windowsill and even more shakily onto the roof. He took in a sharp and very thankful breath when he managed to pull himself up without falling. "Thank Halla I've got taller, or I was doomed for sure," he sighed.

Spader was laughing softly and he smiled. "You've been up here with me before Pendragon."

"Yeah, with your help. Anyway, you okay? I mean, besides the fact that I'm taller then you."

"And you're stronger after Loor kicked you into shape, but I can still get on a roof and you can very barely. I wonder what Loor would have thought," Spader teased.

Bobby rolled his eyes and gave the aquaneer a shove. Spader laughed playfully and smiled. "But, I'm fine. Just a little lost in thought."

Bobby smiled. "That's why you're up here?"

Spader nodded. "I'm always up here when I want to think." Spader's stomach suddenly growled and he looked up at Bobby in embarrassment. "Sorry."

"Have you eaten at all? Mark, Courtney, and I ate before we left."

Spader nervously adverted his eyes. "I kind of forgot. I had a piece of fruit this morning before I left for work, though," he offered.

Bobby rolled his eyes. "It's late, but you should really eat at least something."

Spader gave a nod and he sighed softly, letting his eyes fall closed. "Don't you love the night air, Pendragon?" Bobby smiled and nodded when Spader's eyes suddenly fluttered open. "Do you want to go on a walk?" he asked curiously.

Bobby's thoughts turned toward Mark and Courtney but he decided they could survive a few minutes. "Sure."

Spader smiled and stood up before walking toward the edge of the roof and jumping off. It was only one floor high, so Bobby quickly followed suit. "It's always really warm in the day, it's almost surprising how chilly it gets at night," Bobby explained as Spader led him down the deserted streets.

"The seasons are getting cooler, but I kind of like it. It's nice having a cool breeze washing over you and making you shiver." He sighed happily, letting his eyes fall closed.

Bobby blushed; Spader looked rather appealing in the silver moonlight, his long black hair like the curtain of midnight. Spader's eyes open again and he smiled tenderly. "Tomorrow there's supposed to be a big storm in the north. It might reach the habitat, but not with enough force to do any damage. I'm going to leave early and help secure things in the docks, but once I'm done I want to take you with me. I'm going storm riding with a bunch of my mates. I'd prefer if the 3 of you wouldn't get in the water, but it really is fun to watch—you'll be safe on the boat. Would you like to come?"

Bobby tilted his head curiously. "What's storm riding? It's dangerous? Are you going to be in the water?"

"Well, of course! It's dangerous if you've not practiced enough, hence why I don't want you, Mark, or Courtney doing it. As for what it is, guess. You'll find out tomorrow."

"Spader, I don't want you to get hurt," Bobby replied softly.

Spader froze slightly in mid step and looked back at Bobby, a light blush hinting his cheeks. He gave a quick thanks to the heavens above that his skin was too dark to see the blush, and spoke nervously, "It's okay Pendragon, I've done this about 12 times and I've never been hurt before."

Bobby nodded and sighed, looking up at the moon. He'd learned it was the Cloran's primary source of telling time even though they did have clocks/watches. When it was daytime, they usually went by the sun. "I guess if you're leaving early in the morning, then I should let you get some sleep," he explained.

Spader smiled tenderly, "I don't mind spending more time with you."

Bobby blushed and lowered his eyes. "Nor do I with you, but Mark and Courtney are probably freaking out."

Spader sighed softly and had to nod in agreement, so they started to head back to Spader's place. Bobby was surprised by how far they'd traveled.

"I kind of forgot Courtney was a girl," Spader suddenly spoke up, sounding a little upset. "I should have asked Yenza if Courtney could spend the night at her place." Bobby looked at Spader curiously and the aquaneer explained. "She's going to get my room and you, Mark, and me are going to end up sleeping in the living room. I'm the host, so I should take the floor, but…" he sighed softly, "I really don't want to be stiff tomorrow and I'm really going to miss my bed…"

Bobby smiled. "Is it too late to throw Courtney at Yenza's place?"

"Eh, not really. It's kind of mean to dump that on Yenza now though. She's probably already asleep."

Bobby shrugged. "We'll tick Courtney off and make her feel like she's weak so she'll sleep on the floor to prove she isn't. I can have the couch, you can have your bed, and I guess Mark cold share the couch bed with me."

Spader smiled, "The couches don't turn into beds on Cloral like they do on Earth."

"Oh…"

"You could sleep with me," Spader offered softly, sounding relatively embarrassed.

Bobby blushed and both of them lowered their eyes. They both arrived at Spader's apartment and Bobby's blush deepened. Mark was on the couch and Courtney has curled up on the floor, unbelievable.

Spader slipped off his shoes and removed the belt around his waist as he stepped into his room. He came out a few seconds later with some pillows and blankets. Bobby smiled as Spader gently draped a blanket over each Mark and Courtney and then gently somehow managed to slip a pillow under both their heads without waking either of them.

He looked up at Bobby, but nervously lowered his gaze, walking back toward his room. Bobby blushed and even more nervously followed. Spader slipped off his shirt, but left his pants on. Bobby removed his shoes, belt, shirt, and his pants. "It's not like we've never slept in the same room in just our underwear before," Bobby offered.

Spader smiled and slipped his pants off, starting to close the door. He quickly hesitated though. "Um, would you feel more comfortable with it open?"

Bobby shrugged, gulping slightly, "Go ahead and close it, Courtney doesn't need to see us in our underwear."

Spader nodded and clicked the door closed, crawling into his bed. Bobby nervously followed suit and was surprised just how comfortable Spader's bed was. He was about to comment but Spader turned the light off on his nightstand and the room went pitch dark besides the moonlight.

"Night," Spader whispered softly.

"Night," Bobby returned, surprising himself just how easily he fell asleep.

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