Disclaimer: I do not own Ranger's Apprentice or any of its characters

The deal here is I wrote like two chapters of this when I got the idea so I've been going through and fixing a few things up. Don't think I'll be updating every day or anything, I'll do what I can. Don't mean to sound mean there...Anyways, without further ado, I give you, THIS!

The late afternoon light shone through the blanket of leaves above Halt's perch in a fork in a tree's branches. It wasn't uncommon for him to be here, he found he thought best while outside and away from everything. Normally he found himself in a tree when he thought about Ferris but now it was something completely different. Now his mind was stuck on Pauline and himself. It had seemed so complicated at the time but, now that he looked back, it was fairly simple. All he'd needed was a little time to get around the mountain. He'd told her that when everything in the Corps had calmed down they could give it another shot but now it was almost a year after the war and everything was as settled as it was going to get. Yet he still hadn't made any move to welcome her back. No doubt, he wanted to. He just wasn't sure how to go about it. He was different now and it wouldn't feel right trying to pick up where they'd left off. Besides, he'd waited too long. Rumors drifted about of her involved with another man but Halt hadn't been able to confirm any of them. That was why he was in the tree right now. It was said that her partner was to be making a visit to Redmont this week and he didn't think he was ready to face the fact that he was the past and had missed his chance. It made him angry really and he just needed to think.

After a while it became apparent that he was getting nowhere with trying to think. He simply wasn't focused. He couldn't stop thinking more on who it might be than how he should move on. Deciding it was pointless to stay in the tree when he had other things to be doing, Halt began his descent.

Just as he touched down on the ground, he heard laughing voices not far away. Silently, he moved through the lengthening patches of shadow until he arrived at the edge of a small clearing. He stood still and watched as two people, a man and a woman, made their way into the clearing. They were laughing and the man had his arm draped across the woman's shoulders. Halt went to leave but stopped as a familiar voice reached his ears.

"It wasn't that funny," Crowley said with a large grin. Halt's blood ran cold when he saw the woman with his friend. Crowley had known about his feelings for Pauline and he couldn't believe what was happening. Halt froze and seemed to fade into the tree as he watched what was going on. "Let's stop. It's nice here," Crowley said and sat down with his back leaning against a fallen log. Pauline curled up so her head was resting on his chest. Halt felt his easy temper growing. If he'd gotten the courage faster, that would be him right now with Pauline curled up beside him. As it was, he felt the need to burst in and slap Crowley. The sensible part of him told him his anger was ill founded but his temperamental side gave him reasons to be angry. Like most people, Halt found it easier to be angry than to be forgiving and fine with the situation.

"How long are you staying?" Pauline asked softly after a while. Crowley stroked her blond hair and thought for a moment.

"I have to talk to Halt about a few possible missions and then check in with Arald. It'll be a while before I have to go back to Castle Araluen though," he said and hugged Pauline close to him. "I won't be long with either of them, a day at most and then we can have about a week together. I imagine Halt will let me stay at the cabin," he added.

"What will you tell him when he asks why you're staying?" she asked worriedly, dropping her usual professional demeanor.

"I think I should tell him," Crowley answered softly. "It's been about six months now and I don't feel great about not telling him. Especially since, you know, you and he had a thing," Crowley said a bit awkwardly. Pauline nodded.

"I don't like lying to him either."

"Then it's settled, I'll tell him tomorrow," Crowley said with a smile. Pauline tilted her head to smile up at him and he closed the distance so their lips were connected.

"You won't need to tell him tomorrow, he's right here," Halt said in a barely controlled voice as he stepped out of the shadows. His anger was almost overflowing; the kiss had barely been anything but it had pushed his limited temper overboard. Crowley jumped up, releasing his hold on Pauline. "Having fun?"

"Halt! I...you…how much did you see?" Crowley stammered, shocked. Pauline stood as well and looked at Halt a bit apologetically and guiltily.

"Everything," Halt said darkly. "From when you entered the clearing to when you started getting comfortable with each other."

"Halt, I didn't want you to find out like this. I swear, I wanted to tell you when it started but I didn't know how you'd react," Crowley said quickly. Halt crossed his arms. "I'm sorry Halt," he added.

"Don't be angry Halt," Pauline said and his glare swung towards her. "I told him not to tell you. I didn't want you to get upset about it," she said carefully.

"I'm not upset about it," Halt snarled though he really was. "I see you've gotten over me," he spat as an afterthought.

"It's not like that! I swear Halt; we didn't expect this to happen! It just did! We really did want to tell you but figured it be best to wait seeing as you still like her," said Crowley.

"I don't like her," Halt lied angrily. "Just shut up," he said. Crowley looked a little hurt but Halt was too cross to care.

"Halt, calm down. We can sort this out," Crowley said and started towards his friend. "Pauline, go back to the castle, I think I'll speak to Halt," he added. Pauline looked reluctantly at the two but left anyways. Halt glared after her.

"What the hell Crowley?" Halt said in an accent as he spun his head back to face the commandant. Crowley looked at him helplessly.

"I know we should have told you-"

"Damn right you should have!" Halt was almost yelling. "You knew I was getting over Ferris trying to kill me! You knew that I couldn't have her until I got over that and the war ended! So what do you do? You go and make her yours!" he yelled. Crowley shook his head.

Perhaps he was overreacting but Halt felt as if he were cheated. He'd been chased out of Hibernia; the throne he'd never wanted had been taken from him then and now this. Now something else that he had thought his was being taken. The only difference being he actually wanted this.

"It's not like that Halt! Yes, I knew you were still getting over what happened in Hibernia but I didn't mean for this to happen! Even if I did mean for it, it'd been six months Halt!"

"Just shut up," Halt said as he turned away from Crowley. The commandant tried to stop him with a hand on his shoulder.

"Halt-"he started but the other Ranger spun around and slammed his fist into Crowley's jaw. Crowley recoiled and stumbled back a few paces. Halt just glared at him. Crowley's jaw was throbbing and his anger was a bit high. He lunged forward and tackled Halt. "I wasn't trying to hurt you!" he yelled as they struggled. Crowley had the upper hand for a few moments and tried to hold Halt down. He was angry but he didn't want to fight his friend. Halt struggled and managed to get a hand free. With that, he punched Crowley in the nose and a fountain of blood began to run off the commandant's face. Crowley rolled off of Halt and staggered to his feet.

"That worked out well didn't it? Six damn months and you didn't tell me," Halt snarled as he stood up as well. Crowley tried to stop Halt from leaving but the other Ranger just kept walking away from him.

"Halt," he started. "Listen to me."

"Just leave me alone," Halt snapped and left the clearing, leaving Crowley hopelessly trying to stop the blood.

I know Halt wouldn't have gotten that ticked now or anything but I always imagined younger Halt to be a bit more easily angered and maybe a tad bit more stubborn.