I'm baaaaaaaack! Yes, after a 3-year (!) hiatus, I've decided to make my way back to the cathartic but deeply troubling world of fanfic (Care Bears? CARE BEARS? Seriously?)

Thought I'd jump straight into some W&L lovin'. I've been reading around to see just how much this 'M' rating lets me get away with. I'll let y'all be the judge of whether it's too much (or too little, for the more seedy-minded among you). Comments, criticism and reviews very much appreciated!

Don't own any characters yadda yadda yadda

January 1st

Dear Diary,

I know it's been years since I last wrote. But last night something really strange happened that I just have to get down on paper. Well, not strange, I guess. It's sort of been coming...

Linka frowned down at the words scribbled in the Cyrillic alphabet on the yellowed pages of the leather-bound book she'd hastily pulled out of a trunk. She hardly knew where to begin explaining the previous night's events but she had to try. Her mind flashed back as her pen flew furiously across the page:

They were all stumbling barefoot through the sand towards their cabins.

"So, babe, that's gotta be your best New Year's party, huh?" Wheeler grinned.

"It was pretty wild!" Gi answered for Linka, coming up between them and nearly falling over.

"Easy there, Gi!" Kwame laughed, helping her up. "I have to say, partying in Miami was a perfectly acceptable way to seal the year."

"Too bad I didn't get to enjoy all that free champagne like you guys clearly did!" Ma-Ti shot. He was walking slightly ahead of the others, the only one with a steady gait.

"I'm sorry, buddy," Wheeler said. "But you're underage anyway and somebody had to be designated driver for the Cruiser!"

As the group laughed together, Linka stumbled over a stray coconut husk. Losing her balance, she grabbed the nearest thing to her, Wheeler's arm. But he, too, was unsteady on his feet and she only succeeded in bringing him crashing down with her. He laughed harder than ever.

"Wow, looks like someone has had too much to drink," he teased, grinning down at her.

"How dare you! I'm not –I haven't", she tried to argue, but the words would not form properly in her mouth. Instead, she tried to push him off her but found her usual fierce energy gone.

"It sounds to me like you have, babe!"

"Wheeler, shut up! Get off me, you big, stu-," she began, struggling feebly against his torso.

"Oh God, let's get out of here before they ruin the night!" Gi's voice came from somewhere above them.

When Wheeler and Linka looked up, the other Planeteers had melted into the night. The sound of cabin doors slamming shut moments later confirmed they were alone. Wheeler got to his feet and extended his hands to help Linka up. She ignored him and stood up, somewhat shakily, on her own. Dusting the sand off their hands and clothes, they finally turned to each other. Wheeler spoke first.

"They're right: we shouldn't end tonight on a bad note. It's the start of a brand new year. Truce?"

He held out a hand. Linka eyed him suspiciously but finally shook his hand. Immediately, Wheeler pulled her in close so that their bodies were touching. When she didn't move away, he leaned his face down to hers.

"I didn't get my kiss at midnight," he breathed.

"I didn't promise you one!" Linka replied, fighting not to be overwhelmed by his suddenly intoxicating aroma. She forced her eyes away from his.

"We kind of have a standing order, babe," he whispered. Before she could even react, her face was in his hands and he had pulled it up to meet his. All resistance melted from her as her lips touched his. She felt a warm liquid sensation spreading through her body and her knees seemed about to give way from under her.

"Steady on, Lin," Wheeler laughed, pulling away. "Maybe we should get you sitting down!"

It's not the alcohol, Linka thought to herself, as she fought against the giddiness. She allowed him to lead her by the hand towards their cabins, the two furthest to the left of the Crystal Dome.

"Wait, wait, Wheeler! Didn't you break a glass here today?" Linka stopped in her tracks. "Let me put my shoes on." She fished into her bag and pulled out the slinky silver heels. As she bent to pull them on, she felt herself swaying and only Wheeler's arms on her waist stopped her falling over again.

"Never mind that," he said. In one smooth move, he had swept her off her feet into his arms. Instinctively, she placed her arms around his neck. "Now you don't have to worry about your precious princess feet!"

"I wasn't-"

"I was just teasing you, babe," Wheeler grinned and planted a kiss on the crook of her neck.

Linka wondered if he felt the little shiver that ran up her spine.

As he carried her the remaining steps towards the cabins, he whispered into her ear.

"How about a nightcap at my place?"

Linka had to pull herself away from the sensation of his warm breath tickling against her nape.

"A what?"

"Come to my room for a drink."

She hesitated for a second.

"Do I have a choice? You're my only means of transportation!"

"Good point! All right, reach down into my pocket and grab my keys."

Linka lowered her hand obediently.

"Wheeler..."

"Those are my keys!"

She couldn't help herself and started to laugh. It was infectious and by the time he had managed to open the door with her still in his arms and kicked it shut behind them, they were both consumed by laughter. As he made to put her down, Wheeler stumbled over a pile of clothes on the floor and fell forward. The momentum catapulted them onto his bed, him lying on top of her. They lay for a few seconds, catching their breath.

"I know you did that on purpose," Linka murmured finally.

"Maybe I did," Wheeler grinned playfully down at her.

It was the smile that did it. She could usually fight it but on this night he was simply irresistible. Now, she was the one who brought her mouth to his. As his lips moved hungrily against hers, Linka felt the giddy sense of abandon returning. But no, I can't! Think about what you're doing, Linka! She moaned softly as Wheeler's hand slipped under the silk of her dress and ran up her thigh. Before he could reach the last triangle of cloth barring his path, she pulled away.

"What happened to that night hat?" she whispered.

If he was disappointed, Wheeler didn't show it. He rolled off her and headed for a little cupboard and pulled out two glasses.

"That's a nightcap, babe. What'll it be?"

Linka stood up, too.

"Anything you dare, Yankee."

She didn't pause to register the look on his face as she made her way to the bathroom. Closing the door behind her, she leaned over the sink. What's going on? What am I doing? She looked up into the mirror, expecting to see a dishevelled mess staring back at her. Instead, she saw a glowing, beautiful face. She looked, dare she say it, sexy...Ok, then...let's see what happens. She unpinned her hair and fluffed it around her shoulders. As she stepped out of the bathroom, Linka felt like she was going over a precipice. But it was not fear that gripped her heart, just uncertainty. She looked up to see Wheeler watching her from across the room, a glass in each hand. In a few strides, he was beside her.

"Babe, did I tell you how fan-fucking-tastic you look tonight?" He handed her a glass of amber liquid.

"100 times at the last count!" she replied blithely, taking the glass. "And watch your language."

"Sorry. Well, here's to 101!" He raised his glass to clink against hers.

Time seemed to fly by as the two Planeteers sat cross-legged on the bed, talking about every topic under the sun, each conversation less coherent than the previous one, as the contents of the bottle diminished. Before they knew it, there was nothing left. Wheeler took the glasses to the bathroom to rinse and when he came back out Linka was rolling her head slowly from side to side.

"You ok, babe?" He walked back towards her, discretely flicking a switch to dim the cabin lights.

"I'm just sore. Must be you falling on top of me all the time!" She gave him a half-smile.

"Well," Wheeler grinned back, plopping on the bed beside her. "I feel like the least I can do to make up for it is to give you a massage."

"I won't say no to that," Linka replied. She was trying to sound as calm as possible but her heart was beating out of control as she positioned herself on her stomach, her arms folded above her head. She could smell traces of his citrus shampoo on the pillow as Wheeler's warm hands moved against her own flushed skin. He unzipped the strapless dress slowly and gently pulled the silk as far as he dared down her back and then began to knead gently.

"Ow! Wheeler, you're massaging my bra clasp into my back!"

"Sorry, but I can't help it so long as it's on..."

She hesitated less than one-tenth of a second.

"Well, take it off, then!"

She wondered whether the ragged breathing was hers or his, as she felt his fingers unhook the clasp. She raised herself slightly to let him pull the garment out from under her, missing the look on Wheeler's face as he caught a brief, tantalising glimpse before she lay back down. He resumed the massage but after a few seconds she noticed that his hands wandered further and further to the side, till they were almost on her stomach, her ribs, moving up to the swells on either side...and suddenly, it was not just his hands. She felt warm breath tickling her back as his lips traced a pattern against her shoulder blades, down her spine, lower...She gasped and clutched the pillow tightly. Her back muscles clenched as she fought to control the little rivers of excitement coursing up and down. When he stopped suddenly, it was all she could do not to cry out for more.

"Black lace underwear, hmm? You clearly had something in mind for tonight!" Wheeler's teasing tone came from above her and she felt his hands finally pull the dress the rest of the way down.

"Don't flatter yourself," she murmured into the pillow. All she wanted was for them to continue but she was hardly going to beg for it.

"Oh really? Are you telling me the thought's never entered your mind? Of you and me... together?"

"I wouldn't say never," Linka conceded, her face turning red. She couldn't bring herself to turn around and face him, feeling suddenly self-conscious. "Ok, I've thought about it quite a lot..."

There was such a long pause that Linka finally had to sit up and look at him. She grabbed the sheets around her to cover herself before she turned to him. His face was as flushed as hers felt and he had a strange, uncertain look in his eyes.

"What, Wheeler? Is something wrong?"

"Linka, I'm going to suggest something but I don't want you to think I'm some kind of pervert..." he began, looking slightly hesitant but unable to control a surfacing grin.

Linka frowned and pulled the sheets tighter around her. "What if you and I..."

"What if we what?"

"What if we were friends with benefits?"