A/N: So, this is a Lockie Leonard story, based on the books by Tim Winton. This story is in the TV-verse, though. I wrote it after seeing the season two episode "Crimes Of The Heartless", but it's spoiler-free and set some time past that episode. This is my first attempt at a Lockie Leonard story, so I hope you enjoy!

Pair: Lockie Leonard/Vicki Streeton

Spoilers: None.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Lock 'n' Vick: Take Two


Lockie Leonard tightens his arm around his girlfriend, Vicki Streeton. They're lying on his bed at present – fully clothed, with the door open, thank you very much. No funny business here.

Vicki's back is pressed against Lockie's chest, his arms are wrapped around her, his fingers tangled with hers, his head nuzzled into her shoulder. His knees are catching the backs of hers.

He has this funny feeling of coming home, of everything being kind of... right, right now. He hugs her tighter, just to make sure it isn't one of those weird dreams he sometimes has.

"I love you, Lockie." She says in that quiet, certain way of hers. "I think I always have, even when I didn't want to. Even when I tried not to."

Lockie drops his head a little more, squeezes her hand. "I love you, too, Vick."

From her hiding place behind the doorjamb, Joy Leonard smiles to herself. Her little boy, her little surfing grommet has made a good decision – a brave decision. The right decision.

"I missed you, y'know." Lockie says, his tone off-handly matter-of-fact.

"I missed you, too." She enthuses, and her voice betrays exactly how much she's missed him, how hard it was to be apart. She pulls his arms more tightly around her, and by now he's pretty sure he must be bruising her.

"You smell like strawberries." Lockie says, his lips moving against her thin orange cardi.

She turns her head to face him, her grin bright and brace-less. "You smell like the sea."

They kiss then, the first time in five months or something stupid like that. It's just soft and sweet, just enough to remind Lockie what palpitations feel like. He likes it. Their foreheads touch and Vicki's eyes close; it only lasts a second before she turns around again and cuddles back into him. She kisses his hand – his fingers are still tangled up with hers.

"... So much." She mumbles, so quietly that he almost doesn't hear her.

"Huh?"

"Nothing." She says, and he can't believe he still knows the sound of her smile.

"Go on." Lockie teases, nudging her.

"You're going to get sick of me saying it." She scoffs, but she still sounds happy – content or something.

"What? That you love me?" He joshes affectionately. "I'll have to tickle you if you don't tell me."

"Yes, alright?" Vicki laughs. Even the threat of tickling makes her laugh.

Lock settles again once she's confessed. "Nah. I don't reckon I'll ever get sick of hearing that." He smiles gently and kisses her shoulder.

Vicki sighs deeply, and he feels her muscles relax against him. He thinks she might even fall asleep, even though it's only sunset, but then she surprises him by starting to sing quietly. "I should be so Lockie, Lockie, Lockie, Lockie; I should be so Lockie in love."

Lock laughs; it's an old joke, one of their oldest. He hasn't heard it in forever, and it's nice. Lots of things are nice: it's nice to be happy again, it's nice to be in love, it's nice to have his girlfriend back; this amazing young woman who has a knack for making him into a better person.

"Wish me luck, Lachlan Robert Louis Stevenson Leonard."

"Luck? What for?"

"For Lock 'n' Vick take two."

Lockie kisses the curve of her neck, it's all soft and warm; exactly how he remembers, but different, too. "We don't need luck."