A/N: Fellow CP fans, greetings! I'm giving myself chapter "prompts" from the endless songs on my playlists, just to get some fresh inspiration (see, aren't you glad I love music? :p). I'm going with a lighter tone on this one, but do expect lots of romance and maybe a laugh or two…

Chapter 1 - Tired

I'll undress you 'cuz you're tired

Cover you as you desire

When you fall asleep inside my arms

"The Cure" - Lady Gaga, from Joanne

It was rare that she felt this exhausted. She was almost wobbly on her legs, as if her weight had suddenly become too much for her to bear. Muscles all over her body were howling with pain, some in places unknown to her before.

As the door opened before her, she shifted to her other foot, clutching the few items she was carrying closer to her chest. For comfort or simply out of habit, Linka was too tired to care by that point. Her mind was unfocused, it was too difficult to even reason.

Wheeler answered the door in his boxers, as if this were the most natural thing in the world, and a slight smile tugged the corners of Linka's lips upwards. Lazy yellow light flooded the doorstep, warm and enticing. The American was quite a sight to behold at what could only be close to midnight of that eternally long day/week (the blonde girl was no longer sure what the heck time frame it was anymore). One hand was placed on the door handle, while the other was clutching a towel used to manually dry his red hair. Wheeler had just stepped out of the shower, his skin glistening with a few drops of water here and there. Linka was painfully aware that she was staring unabashedly. His physique, which consisted of broad shoulders, a muscular chest and just-barely visible abs, was something, and she blushed like a fool when he raised an eyebrow at her. Damn it, he was amused! Pleased, actually, by her intent scrutiny. His little smirk told her so. She knew he'd probably bring it up later, when he would no doubt have her prisoner in his strong arms. She would try to deny it like she always did and he would kiss away her lies. She was looking forward to letting him, actually. It was a most precious little game. They knew each other well from years of being colleagues, and their recent development to "go steady" was only deepening their bond. Lame!, Linka's thoughts were echoing, flying every which way inside her brain. She was so out of touch with the dating world she had lost the vocabulary for it. Go steady, woo, court, date, be one's beau, be an item, what was the right term for it? Linka scrunched up her features and decided that it was way too late an hour to have that ludicrous conversation with herself.

She watched as Wheeler continued to examine her silently, questions in his eyes, and she reminded herself that she needed to explain what the hell she was doing out there, when all each of them had so desperately needed and dreamed about had been to shower and sleep. The missions to "save the planet" (from pollution, anyway) had all taken one horrible, never-ending turn recently, and the five Planeteers had been plowing through for days and days. Infinite physical labor and emotional strain, over-time style. The fun never did cease in the life of a Planeteer!

"I do not have any hot water," Linka mumbled a little, and felt something like the sting of tears clawing at her eyes. It had taken all her remaining crumbs of energy to get dressed all over again since the disappointing discovery, gather a few things and head to his hut. She had looked as forward to her shower as one does a beach vacation in Hawaii. In her mind, she was as covered in goo as the monster from the swamp in that movie, even though she tried reassuring herself that it could not be that bad. The shower had been more of a psychological need to cleanse herself from work, and not having it at her immediate disposal had nearly caused her brain to short circuit. Linka was not even sure why she was here, knocking on Wheeler's door, when Gi's hut was so much closer to hers. Subconsciously, she knew that she desperately needed reassurance, to feel all right, whole, and no one was better at making her feel that way than her American sweetheart. That was the trait she loved best in him. The list was becoming longer as of late, and she felt a warm glow pulsating inside her. Especially now, as he readily stepped aside to give her space, adding in his brilliant smile as a bonus.

"You're welcome to use my shower, babe. I'll have a look at yours tomorrow, see what the problem is."

Linka nodded like a fool, not trusting her voice, for he'd caused her to fall just a teeny bit more in love. His warmth hit her full force like a tsunami, shaking up her foundations. His comforting tone was acting as a disinfectant on her wounds, but her brain was so jumbled up with fatigue that she chose to put aside all thinking for tonight. In short, she had to stop thinking all together, really, because none of her reasoning seemed lucid. Or sane. But whatever. She brushed past him, hurrying off to the bathroom, and closed the door behind her. The blonde began to strip down for the second time that evening, a little grumpily.

Only when the hot water started hitting her skin full on did she let out a breath of relief and satisfaction. Her muscles finally relaxed and the attack on her thoughts ceased. Heaven! Linka decided that for this time, she would forgo the 'maximum-10-minutes' shower rule, and she leisurely lathered up her hair and scrubbed her body, happy as an elf. She could not remember if she had actually whistled through the ordeal, so great was her joy.

Feeling clean and temporarily re-energized, the Russian girl wrapped a towel around herself before wringing out her long hair. She walked over to the sink, moving aside Wheeler's shaving things, and picked up a comb to run through her hair. In her haste, she had forgotten her brush by her bedside, so this would have to do. She hadn't brought that many things along, except for her shampoo and fruity body wash, and she smiled slightly at the thought that Wheeler's bathroom now had a floral, girly scent to it. At least she knew he wouldn't mind, since he was always going on about how exquisite she smelled.

The knock on the door caused her head to turn, and her thoughts refocused. Wheeler entered. He had put on a shirt for her benefit, and he was offering her something to wear, as well, since she hadn't thought to bring anything along. Linka felt anything but on the ball that evening. It wasn't like her to be so inefficient, forgetful, but the exhaustion was winning the battle against her best qualities.

She smiled at the redhead and he turned around, gentleman-like, as she ditched the damp towel and pulled on the T-shirt he had brought along. It was big on her, acting like a mini-dress that brushed her thighs, but it was clean and comfortable and at that point it felt very much like a hug against her skin.

Linka did not miss Wheeler's appreciative glance as it slid over her body clad only in his shirt. Apparently stuff like that drove guys wild, seeing their girl wearing their clothes, among other male fantasies. She had yet to figure out why, but a warm shiver travelled through her at his meaningful glance. Wheeler had the kind of eyes you could easily drown into if you let yourself, Linka had always thought. The clear blue reminded her of ocean waves, calm and soothing. Sure, his eyes were often alive with mischief and mirth, but they deepened in color when he became angry, or when desire passed through them. He looked at her like that often, even more so as of late, and she could not deny that she enjoyed the effect she had on him. Feeling desired was probably every woman's secret thrill, reflected the blonde. For once, it didn't feel anti-feminist to feel like that. It felt glorious, actually. She'd always been indifferent to men's attentions, uncaring. But with Wheeler, it was turning into a neat little game she could not help but enjoy, especially as their feelings for each other grew more deep. It was becoming very easy lately getting completely lost in his kisses or his warm caresses on her bare skin, not to mention craving the gestures intensely whenever they got separated somehow. Thankfully, the American understood and respected her need not to be rushed into anything. Linka was like a sunflower, slowly basking in his warm attentions, but not fully his yet. She knew it was only a matter of time before he would claim her completely because she herself craved more of him as time went on. He wasn't all jokes and gratuitous lounging when they were alone together. Wheeler could be serious and sweet and vulnerable when it was just the two of them, holding each other, and that really warmed her heart. The fact that he trusted her enough to be himself was touching, and she had let her guard down around him, as well, as a result. Linka had learned to be more relaxed and carefree in private, and she loved that he laughed at her jokes and found her funny. It energized her, made her feel like a robin at springtime, ready to take on anything.

"Do you want help drying your hair?" asked Wheeler, already reaching for the hair dryer on the shelf beside the mirror. His tone was bathed in quiet kindness, and Linka nearly cried for the second time that evening. She wasn't sure what was wrong with her. She felt like there was a damn waterfall inside her, bubbling up, all of a sudden. It was just immense relief, and gratitude, that washed over her, and she decided that being overly tired was turning her into a mushy, tearful baby. Wheeler's little ministrations were making her feel loved and protected, and even she wasn't stoic enough to overlook the majesty of that sentiment.

Linka nodded without speaking, for fear she would actually spill some tears and then feel mortified as a consequence. Even though she had opened up to Wheeler considerably in the last few months, she had yet to cry in front of him, and she doubted she would anytime soon. It was just that she was very averse to tears. Some people were intolerant to gluten, others to milk products; Linka felt very sensitive around crying. She was sure Wheeler could relate, since he never even slightly teared up for something like excruciatingly sad movies. Maybe overcoming so many struggles in life left the well kinda dry, she mused. All cried out, no more to give. Neither one of them was excellent at externalizing their feelings, but showing physical affection had never been a problem for Wheeler. He was the first to take her hand or stroke her cheek or kiss her in public, and Linka was slowly learning how to follow his lead. It did not come as natural to her as it did to him, and she knew it had to do with how warm of a person Wheeler was. Plus, he'd always been a lot more confident than she was to begin with. Her quest to show him she cared was a work-in-progress for her, but Linka was glad to know that she'd come a long way. Publically, she was a great deal less shy about being tied with him, and in private, well, she was doing her best to break down her walls, piece by stubborn piece.

Linka closed her eyes at Wheeler's gentle touches on her head. The hot hair was blissfully soothing as it travelled to her hair and over her neck. The Russian girl felt extremely sleepy, lulled by comfort, but she forced herself to open her eyes slightly. Surely, the bathroom was no place for a nap, and she concentrated on Wheeler's reflection in the mirror, instead. He was focused on the task at hand, his face a mask of concentration as he moved the dryer over her golden tresses, and she felt a softness for him that invaded her core. Only the Yankee would offer to do such a thing when they were both beyond exhausted. She shouldn't be too surprised, either. Wheeler was selfless when it came to helping out, far exceeding her own efforts. She studied the firm line of his lips and nose, the soft red hair that brushed his forehead, and felt admiration towards him. Wheeler did the majority of the physical work involved on missions. He was the one most likely to haul things or people over his shoulders, move heavy objects, dig things out of every situation, or fix mechanical equipment. Linka would often be caught staring at his strong physique as he worked; in those instances, she would remind herself that she could freely admire him now that they were a couple, and this would fill her with secret delight. She was partial to watching his toned arms flexing, the well-defined shape of his shoulders as the muscles shifted this way and that…

Linka bit her lip to keep the flow of her thoughts under control. She was trudging on inappropriate territory. It was really not the place, and definitely not the time, for little fantasies like that. It was way past bed time, in fact. Like a couple of days overdue, actually.

It took Wheeler considerably less time to dry her hair than it would have taken her to do it herself, and Linka was eternally grateful, since the next step would be sleep. Amazing, warm, seductive sleep… her mind was already filled with its luxuriousness. She had never been happier to simply sleep, it was ridiculous!

Wheeler turned her around to face him, running his hand through her hair before gathering it and placing it delicately behind one shoulder. Linka blinked up at him, resting one hand on his forearm as the movement brought them closer together.

"There, all done," the American beamed down at her proudly, and she smiled back with genuine undertones.

"Spasiba."

Wheeler leaned his head down to capture her lips in a brief but tender kiss. The fresh scent of shaving gel on his skin clouded Linka's mind, and without fully realizing it, a content sigh escaped her lips. Another thing she was very partial to was the way Wheeler kissed her. It was… well, near damn the most fantastic thing she had ever experienced. She could not help but feel like an idiot for even thinking it, but to her, his kisses tasted like romance. Something like roses and clouds and teddy bears. Linka had always deemed people who described such things as utter fools, and now she had become one of them. Airy-fairy, romantic saps, she had once snickered, before joining their team. She knew she would simply die if someone acquired the ability to read her mind. It was so silly to have those thoughts! But anytime Wheeler's mouth was on hers, the delicious heat of it, the way he always found a way to coax a response out of her… well, it was safe to say she turned to putty in those instances. Useless, glorious putty. God, the Yankee was dangerous. Lethal. Linka felt completely out of control when he kissed her. Her mind became like a swamp, murky and messy, and logical thoughts were nowhere to be found. It was all goose bumps and warm shivers, butterflies in her stomach and the aching desire for more…

"Wanna crash here with me tonight?" Wheeler was asking in a low tone of voice that played havoc with all her senses. How could she find the strength to resist such a proposal when her reservoir of energy and logic was completely gone? The mere thought of heading back to her own hut seemed like an impossible task, it would no doubt take superhuman strength. And it was so cozy and warm here already, the bed was enticingly close, and sleeping inside Wheeler's arms was exactly what she wanted right now. Like a soft, dreamy blanket of love enveloping her. Was it crazy, was it wrong? They hadn't really slept in the same bed yet, just little naps on the couch here and there, for example, after watching a film together. That boundary had yet to be crossed; it was a hazy boundary, really, and Linka often thought more about it than she probably should. It was just easy to find herself on that mined territory with Wheeler, although, never as alarming as she had initially assumed it would be. Being all wrapped up with her Yankee was more amazing than she could ever voice aloud.

Linka blinked up at him, thinking that it really didn't have to mean anything was progressing between them. They were both just seeking comfort from the brutal days gone by, and it wasn't going to lead anywhere… saucy. Plus, over-thinking things like she was currently doing was not helping her poor, frayed brain at the moment.

She nodded wordlessly again, closing her eyes against the emotions threatening to explode inside. Who knew that being so tired would make her so emotional all of a sudden? She felt like an out of control volcano, ready to erupt with its many layers of lava. A feeling she was definitely not used to. But if she was heading for a meltdown, she was glad that at least it was in Wheeler's presence, the one person she trusted completely.

Linka heard Wheeler chuckle a little and the next thing she knew, he had lifted her up in arms, cradling her against his chest as he made his way out of the bathroom. For once, the tried blonde girl did not object in the slightest.

"Let's get to it before you fall asleep on your feet, babe," Wheeler murmured close to her ear, amused, and she could not help but feel like a satisfied child who was being held warm and close. The bad things of the world could no longer touch her, and she sighed, content at the sensation of feeling protected and cared for. Her Yankee was very good at that, often acting as her own personal hero.

With great care, the redhead placed her on one side of his large bed, and Linka unconsciously reached for him, arms outstretched, when he made to move. Through heavy-lidded eyes, she watched as he took off his shirt before crawling in next to her. Wheeler pulled the blankets over their bodies, before taking Linka in his arms so that the two of them were crushed together, tangled comfortably in one another.

Linka realized she was smiling. Her head was positioned on his chest and her hair sprawled neatly all over his upper body; her muscles finally began to relax little by little. Wheeler was rubbing her back with soothing motions, his fingers working magic on her tense shoulders and neck. The blessed boy!

Blinking the sleep away so that she could enjoy his touch a while longer, Linka suddenly became very aware that she wasn't wearing anything under the borrowed T-shirt. Nothing, not even one tiny piece of flimsy undergarment to safeguard her modesty. So, technically, not considering the now-too-short shirt she was donning and Wheeler's boxers, it was like they were stark naked against one another.

Linka had never been so thankful for darkness before. Blessed, discreet darkness that covered all. At least, her blushing cheeks would go unnoticed this way. But hell, the Russian girl couldn't fool herself and say that it wasn't nice sharing such an intimate embrace. She could feel the strong muscles on Wheeler's arms about her, holding her in place, his regular breathing against her forehead, the beating of his heart synchronized with her own. Linka had to admit that it was pretty damn amazing. Definitely something to write home about, along the lines of "Dear so-and-so, guess what? I'm eternally, ridiculously in love! Tee hee!".

The blonde beauty stifled a giggle at her thoughts and rubbed her cheek against Wheeler's solid chest, instead. Yes, she could definitely get used to sleeping like this, it was a hundred times better than the cold, lonely, dull bed that awaited her in her hut. She still didn't know how Wheeler had managed to get a double bed when the rest of them all had singles, and attributed it to some sort of charm he'd worked on Gaia. The New Yorker was pretty damn convincing when he wanted to be, and the worse thing was that he was fully aware of it.

"Are you very tired, baby?" Wheeler whispered to her, his warm breath on her neck causing her to shiver lightly. His syrupy tone, mixed with the feathery strokes on her skin, were like filling up on cuddles after running on empty for a while. The sweetness of it was newly making Linka's eyes tear up, and she bit her lip to get herself in line before answering.

"I did not want to say anything in front of the others, but the thought of crying did enter my mind when we took on the last mission. I could not believe it was still not over. I think my body was considering going on strike!"

She saw Wheeler's features harden in the dark, his bottom lip jutting out a little like it always did when he was considering something carefully.

"You should have said something. I wanted to suggest that at least you and Gi sit that one out, but then I didn't want to deal with the feminist wrath that would surely come my way."

Linka gave a little chuckle. Yep, he knew the two female members well! They prided themselves on being as tough as the boys. Wheeler shrugged a little before continuing.

"Hell, I'm fine with being a chauvinist pig if it means that I don't think girls should have to do that amount of work. It's just insane! I'm sure one of us guys would have ended up cryin' had there been another mission."

"So, Gi and I should have stayed on the Island cooking and cleaning, whilst awaiting our soldiers' noble return?" Linka could not help but take a jab, but not really minding his words. She understood what Wheeler was saying; it wasn't a question of being sexist, it was just concern over their well being. All the same, she loved teasing him, and giggled when he groaned aloud.

"No! I just meant that girls should be cherished and revered. Y'know, the old princess treatment."

Linka could not help the smile that spread on her face as she lifted her head to meet his eyes. His words rang true and passionate, and she liked the nature of his thoughts. The American was noble-spirited like that, and his values were all in the right places. Despite his upbringing, or perhaps due to it, he was often sensitive to a lot of matters they encountered. Maybe his unfortunate family situation had taught him what to avoid in life. All in all, Linka found that when she encouraged him to explain himself and open up, Wheeler was really a very decent guy. And when it came to her, especially, he was an incredible softie. She could not deny she loved his little attentions.

She moved her lips over his softly in a brief kiss, before sighing and resting her head in the crook of his neck once more.

"But seriously… do you think we should talk to Gaia? I do not know how much good any of us are in these conditions. I am not one to complain, but lately the Eco-emergencies are just… unmanageable."

Wheeler took to tracing patters on her arm and echoed her previous sigh.

"It feels like ages ago that we had a day to just chill on the beach. Or sleep in. Man, I miss that."

"Or read a good novel," Linka piped up, her tone whimsical.

"Maybe Gaia needs to recruit some other Planeteers," volunteered Wheeler. "You know, like shift work."

"Uhmm, you just want to see if any cute girls make the team," Linka rebutted, biting the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. She wasn't sure why she found such pleasure in tormenting him, then wondered if it was reassurance she was actually seeking. It wasn't hard for her to fall into the trap of jealousy when he was concerned. Her own insecurities fed into that, but mainly, it was Wheeler's charming nature and women's response to him that did it. Girls loved to check him out, and whenever he flashed them that confident smile of his, the girls in question would promptly lose I.Q. points at the speed of light, blushing and giggling irritably, making a spectacle of themselves. A real collective embarrassment for the female species, thought Linka, choosing to ignore that she had acted like that in front of Wheeler, especially recently. Well, you are entitled to it, since he is yours, a little satisfied voice remarked in her head, hushing all other arguments inside her.

"Nah, I already got my cute girl," Wheeler whispered with a little chuckle in her ear, and Linka hid her face in his shoulder to keep him from seeing the grin on her face. A moment, and Wheeler shifted their position so that he was hovering over her, seeking out her eyes. Linka's heartbeat picked up its beating automatically as his face came closer to hers.

"Besides, with my luck, Gaia would choose a guy. You know, some cultured shmuck who works out, maybe a swimmer. Oh, and he'd probably have a British accent and write poetry in his spare time, when he's not baking scones, that is."

Linka laughed heartily, her body shaking with the movement.

"Bozhe moi, Jacob, what nonsense!"

The Russian girl smiled delicately up at him, linking her arms around his neck in order to bring him closer. His eyes dwelled into hers even in the darkness, and she ran a hand through his hair affectionately.

"Besides, you know I prefer Yankee accents," Linka teased with a little smile, and it was his turn to laugh.

"And I happen to think you are just as fit as a swimmer. Oh, and I have heard you making up lyrics when you are playing your guitar, so that is kind of like poetry. As for baking… nyet, you are hopeless at that!"

The young pair laughed together, comfortable with each other and their proximity. And when Wheeler leaned in to kiss her, Linka readily offered her lips to him, and soon, she could no longer say she felt tired. Instead, a glorious energy took a hold of her, igniting her core, and she recognized it as desire. She guided Wheeler closer, his body now pressed up into hers, and soon they were lost in each other. The Russian girl's thoughts were gone with the wind as the American all but entranced her, his lips moving freely over her cheeks, neck and collarbone. Readily, she was producing purring sounds, all but cheering him on. God, he was good at that, and soon Linka was craving his hands on her skin like she was doing with him.

"Babe," Wheeler was breathing unevenly, and she heard the warning in his voice. It had come out as a plea, almost. But she chose to fully bypass it, and pulled him down for a deep kiss. Linka was not sure what was different about that night, but all she knew was that she was sick and tired of inhibitions and fears, limits and buffers. Something was awakening inside her. It was inevitable; they were both falling fast.

Linka did not allow for any more words to be spoken. Instead, she ushered in a new form of communication between them, following Wheeler's lead. And so far, it was incredibly, splendidly, fantastically magic.


A/N: Love it, hate it, just let me know how I'm doing so far! And thanks for reading, as always. Quiz time! Anyone that can tell me where the first part of the title of this fic comes from, you get my "awesome/epic" award of the year (come on, there's gotta be at least one person out there that remembers 2Gether! You know, early 2000's, MTV parody? Anyone? Please?) *crickets chirping* All right, then! Moving riiiight along…