'From the Heart'

Finally pulled my finger out and this is my first fic, be gentle and please review!
Thanks to Jenn for helping me out and beta-ing for me, I owe you one honey!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters (sadly) they're just on loan! Heh.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As the black limousine pulled into the driveway to Croft Manor, Lara looked out of the window up at the house they were approaching and sighed. She was home.

Now back from Kenya, Lara was glad, more so to be home than she had been on returning from any other previous trips.

The car stopped outside the main doors to the house at the end of the vast drive, and Lara stepped out of the car. Surveying her home, she stood relishing the feeling of how good it was to be back. More clicks of the car doors behind her signified Bryce and Hillary exiting the vehicle also. They had never joined her before on one of her trips, but she must admit, she felt rather comforted having them around.

"Bloody hell is it good to be home!" exclaimed Bryce loudly. Lara laughed.

"I'm shattered mate." He said to Hillary. "Dunno about you. Don't worry about my bags...being as it were we were held at gunpoint before we left, I can't say I got the chance to pack anything!" And with that he marched off in the direction of the grounds towards the rear of the house, where his caravan was situated.

Lara turned to face Hillary. "It's been a long trip."

"It has indeed." he replied. "I'll make a start on some dinner once these bags are put away." He motioned to the luggage the driver was now unpacking from the boot of the car. He looked back across at her as she sighed, her eyes closed, smiling.

"Glad to be home, M'Lady?"

"Like you wouldn't believe Hil." she answered. "I think a stiff drink is in order after dinner. In fact, several!" she laughed, as they made their way to the front doors of the house.

This particular adventure had taken its toll on Lara, for one, because it was the longest she had been away for quite some time. She was also exhausted from all the physical exertion; the flying, driving and running, as well as the constant battle to keep her life!

A nice long, hot shower was in order, she thought. That would help ease the pain in her muscles for a start. How she longed just to collapse onto her bed as she walked through her room to reach the bathroom, but Hillary was going to the trouble of making dinner, even though he must be exhausted himself. She couldn't possibly let him down like that.

Whilst under the hot spray, Lara thought back to how good it was to see Hillary and Bryce out in Africa with her, granted though at first it was not under the best of circumstances. But afterwards, once the Cradle of Life had been destroyed, she had finally relaxed. She had enjoyed spending time with them away from the business at Croft Manor, Hillary in particular. She had, she realised, never spent any time with him away from his duties there, and so when she saw him out in Kenya with herself and Bryce, he was totally at ease. That was the real Hillary, not the formal Hillary who must act so due to work dictations. He was different away from his work at Croft Manor - this was a side of him she had not really had the chance to experience, and yet decided she really enjoyed spending time with.

After her shower Lara slid on a pair of black silk pyjamas, clothes being too restricting in her tiring state. She padded down to the kitchens where Hillary was just serving up dinner.

"Smells gorgeous Hil!" she inhaled the delicious aroma. "I'm hungrier than I realised now, I think!"

Hillary carried a tray with the food up to the dinning room and placed it on the laid out space for Lara.

"Why don't you join me Hil?" Lara asked him. "Save us both eating alone, won't it?"

"If you don't mind M'Lady?" he inquired.

Lara smiled over at him whilst sitting herself down. "...Of course not! Don't be silly! Bring up a bottle of wine - I think we deserve it after everything that's happened!"

Hillary poured them a glass of wine each and they settled down to their meal. Lara, although desperate to see the side of Hillary she had glimpsed in Kenya, suddenly found herself at a loss for what to say to him. They ate mostly in silence, but after 15 minutes or so, the wine began to loosen Lara up a little.

"Bloody hell!" She exclaimed. "What on earth is the matter with us?!" She started to laugh.

"M'lady?" Hillary enquired, looking at her with a slight amused expression at her outburst.

"We're never usually short of conversation Hil." She looked over the table at him.

"I'm sorry Lara," he sighed. "I guess the journey home has worn me out."

"What did you make of it all? First time you've had a first hand glance at what I get up to when I'm away really..."

Hillary paused, and took a sip of his drink before answering. "Yes."

He paused again.

"To tell the truth I don't know what I expected really. It certainly opened my eyes. You get thrown straight in at the deep end and I've been none the wiser in the past about what happens. True, I have always feared for your safety - but it's going to be more so now when I know what sort of danger you are likely to encounter in future expeditions. It scares me to be honest."

Lara smiled coyly over at him. She felt so touched by this man's compassion and worry. He really cared, not just as a butler, but also as a friend; his true nature towards this now confirmed.

"Don't worry about me Hil..." she reassured him. "...I'm a tough girl!" Lara grinned cheekily trying to lighten the mood somewhat - she didn't like to see her friend worry too much.

They decided to move their conversation to one of the sitting rooms, and locating a comfortable enough looking sofa, Lara promptly collapsed onto it.

"Come sit down Hil, take a load off. Heaven knows you must need it." She looked over to him standing across the room.

"That's very kind of you Lara," he replied. "Thank you." He sat down at the opposite end of the sofa to her, before refilling both of their glasses.

Their conversation became more relaxed and intimate as the evening wore on, each leaning in closer to the other, eager to hear more of what they had been up to before Lara's archaeological adventures and Hillary joining Croft Manor.

Lara found that she was so engrossed in what Hillary was telling her about him, that she didn't realise at first her hand was touching his arm now and then as he spoke. She was also watching his face closely as he talked, taking in and studying his kind and gentle features.

It was around this time Lara realised she was starting to feel the beginnings of being drunk. She became aware of Hillary resting his hand against her leg as he leant forward to pour them yet more wine. When he settled back he turned to look at her and smiled. Something in that smile made Lara's heart melt. He was completely at ease in her company, more so now that the wine had relaxed them both.

"I wonder," thought Lara...

"...No! Where did that come from?!" She scolded herself, and pushed the thoughts to the back of her mind.

But in her alcohol induced state, Lara wondered how far she could take this for a bit of fun...

-------------------------------------