I do not own any of the characters, all is owned by Naughty Dog. Please read and review ^-^

Chapter 1

Torn sighed heavily as he walked into the palace's kitchen. He was exhausted from his long day on patrol. But he was also exhausted from doing the same routine everyday. Ever since the Baron died, nothing really happened in the city. Maybe a punk kid shopliffting once in a great while. But the excitement had fissled, and died.

"Why so glum handsome?" Ashelin asked as she appeared in the doorway. A grin was stretched across her full lips. She leaned against the frame, and kept her head tilted in a sexy fashion. Torn smirked slightly as he approached her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and yanked her forward. He bowed his body with hers, and gave her a firm kiss on the neck.

"You look just so..." Torn trailed off as he looked into her eyes. Ashelin blushed slight as she threw her leg up around Torn's waist, and pressed against him.

"Sexy? Hot? Radient?" she teased. Torn ran his fingers through her hair, gripped at handfull of it at the roots, and pulled her head back to get full access to her neck.

"I was thinking beautiful...but all of those fit well to." he led a slow trail of kisses up to her jaw line. Ashelin let out a small gasp, and wrapped her arms tighter around him. Torn suddenly scooped her up into his arms, and placed her on the kitchen counter. He pulled her to the edge of it, and his fingers fumbled with her belt clip. Ashelin swatted his hands out of the way, and unbuckled it for him.

"Slow down or I'll have to undress you and myself." she grinned at him.

"And how is that a problem?" he kissed her lips forcefully, and he slipped her jacket off of her shoulders. Ashelin lifted her arms up so Torn could pull her tube top up over her head. She laid back against the counter and closed her eyes. She absorbed the feeling of Torns lips trailing down her chest to her bellybutton. But she was soon struck out of her bliss when Torn's communicator let out a sharp ring. "What?" Torn snapped when he answered it.

"Torn, where are you? You were supposed to be here twenty minuets ago."

"Shit. I'm on my way. Be there in about five minuets." Ashelin propped herself up on her elbows, and pouted at him. Torn eyed her body up and down. "Damn...sorry babe. I promised. We can finish this tonight." he kissed her lightly on the lips.

"I'll be waiting." Torn threw his jacket on, and happed in his hellcat to meet Jak for drinks at the Naughty Osttel.

Jak and Torn sat in a booth laughing loudly. They both a few drinks in them, and were beginning to feel really good. Jak sighed heaivly, and shoved a small box across the table to Torn.

"Damn! Look at that rock!" Torn gasped when he opened the small box. "Sorry Jak. I cant marry you." Jak laughed messily as he took another gulp from his drink.

"No. Its for Keira. I'm going to ask her to marry me tonight." Torn stared at Jak.

"Seriously?" he sighed as he closed the box and handed it back to Jak. "I cant work up the balls to ask Ashelin. I dont want to ruin what we have. I want it to be perfect."

"Torn, your sensitive side is exposed." Jak whispered while grinning.

"Tell, and I'll kill you." Torn growled. But his sensitive side did tend to slip out and show itself when ever he spoke of Ashelin. "I have the ring for her...just need to give it to her." Torn heard a loud laugh from the booth behind him. A couple of Crimson Guards were completely drunk, and were having trouble controlling the volume of their voices.

"Damn that Ashelin Praxis. She was lecturing me today about some saftely drill, and I was lucky I had my mask on. I couldnt stop staring at her chest. Looked very nice today. dont even get me started on her ass." Torn glared at the table and clenched his fists.

"Just let it go Torn..." Jak whispered.

"I saw a man sneaking into her room every once in a while...I've heard her to. Knocking the boots if you catch my drift. She must be one hell of a lover. I wish I could sneak into her room like all of those other men." Torn's jaw dropped. Since he was not in his right state of mind, he couldnt think logically. He threw his glass to the ground, and let out a harsh scream as he slammed the bar door closed behind him. Tess ran towards the broken glass and began to sweep it up. Jak got on his knees to help her clean it up. The small osttel looked up at Jak confused.

"Why did he do that? I've never seen him that upset." Jak's faces fell into a grimmace.

"Torn heard that some men have been sneaking into Ashelin's room lately." Tess looked even more confused. She shook her head.

"No...those men...its Torn. Only him. The guards dont know about Ashelin and Torn's relationship. She's trying to stay professional until she gets promoted to her full rank. Then she'll let the squad know."

"Oh my God..." Jak looked at the door and knew that it was to late to stop Torn. He would be at the palace doors by now.