Chapter Four:

The sun rose brightly over a sleeping Maxville. Sunday dawned slowly, although for Warren Peace, the day had started much earlier. He lay quietly in the bed of his boyfriend, Will, watching on as he slept peacefully, unaware of the mess of emotions running through his boyfriend's mind. It had been just over two weeks since they had discovered the body in the woods. Will's parents had been very busy since, investigating and flying all over the globe to meetings and inquiries. Will and his friends didn't see it, but Warren knew it meant something big.

Christmas was just over a week away, and although it was nice to be spending more time with Will, he was still troubled by what was going on. Since Will's parents were so busy, Warren had virtually moved in. His clothes lay scattered on Will's floor, begging to be cleaned, and Will's book shelves now contained actual books.

Will murmured quietly in his sleep and rolled over into Warren's arms, snuggling his face into Warren's chest, before waking up suddenly. He stretched out slowly and let out a slight yawn, which caused Warren's heart to melt for only a moment.

"Hey." Will said quietly, his throat scratchy and deep from sleep

"Hey"

"You're up early. Usually I have to kick you for ages until you wake up."

"Hmm"

"What's up?"

"Nothin' baby. I just like to watch you sometimes, that's all." Warren purred quietly. "We should get up."

Will cringed "Why!"

"Because. Its eight days until Christmas and how many presents have we gotten?"

Will shoved his face into the pillow and mumbled something inaudibly

"Sorry?" Warren said, suppressing a laugh "I didn't quite catch that Eliza"

Will looked up and smiled at Warren "Zero. Also, good call on the my fair lady reference. That was quick"

"Gotta be quick with someone as mischievous as you."

Will giggled and kissed Warren on the forehead before leaping out of bed suddenly and dragging Warren into the bathroom.

"Shower time."

-

"Steve come on, we have to tell them." Josie said quietly as they stood on the doorstep of their home, taking a moment to prepare themselves for Warren's usual questioning glances.

"Tell them what Josie?" Steve replied calmly "We still don't know anything ourselves."

"Oh come on. You know just as well as I do that the injuries that girl had couldn't have been made by anyone else. I mean god; she was completely burnt internally. You know only Barron Battle could do something like that."

"I'm just saying, lets wait until we are certain... and it's Christmas soon... I don't want to ruin it."

"You're right. I guess it is their first Christmas together. They shouldn't have to worry the whole time." Josie agreed.

"So uh, about that."

"About what Steve?" Josie asked, rubbing her temple lightly. There was a cold breeze, and flying in that kind of weather usually gave her ha slight headache.

"Christmas."

"Steve? What?"

"Warren."

"Yes?"

"Warren is going to be here?"

"Of course, he's practically family. I mean jeeze, he and Will have been together for long enough now to consider him like a son."

"So... we have to get him a gift?"

"Oh... I see what you're saying."

The pair looked at one another uncertainly, both silently wondering the same thing. What does one buy Warren Peace for Christmas?

-

"Ok. So, shopping done right?" Warren asked as he juggled the large amount of bags Will had piled into his arms. "Also, super strength. You do know what it means right?"

"Sure."

"Then maybe you could..." Warren said, gesturing to the bags with his eyes.

"But I like it when you're all tough and manly."

"Yeah yeah, lame Will."

They walked silently down the street for a little while, Warren staring off into the distance, as he usually did. Will watched him quietly as the walked. He was worried about Warren. They had been together long enough for Will to notice the subtle differences between his usually stoicism and when something was bothering him. And right now, Will was sure something was bothering him in a big way.

"So um, about that girl." Will began tentatively. "You know the one we fou..."

"I know which one." Warren interrupted.

"Well, my parents don't seem to be figuring it out do they?"

"It's hard to say I guess. Why would they tell us?" Warren said, surprising Will once again with how much older he seemed. He always seemed to see things in a different light to Will and the others.

"Right. Well it's just, it's been kinda bothering me a lot, and I thought maybe we could go back to the place in the woods, maybe do a bit of investigating ourselves?"

"What makes you think we would find anything if your parents haven't?"

"Umm... Well you did all that investigating with your dad that time... you know about the time you went to jail." Will said, and at seeing Warrens glare added "for which I'm still sorry"

"Hmm. Maybe. I'll think about it k?"

"Ok baby. Thanks." Will said. "So... you got me a present yet?"

"Why would I do that?" Warren teased, earning him a punch in the arm."

-

AN: Beleive it or not, I have some sort of a plan. Hmm, the christmas thing., Well, thats confusing. See, I started writing in time with the New Zealand school year (because im nuts) so if any of it is like "what? how is that, they have school!"... Leave me alone, im a fool :P

...or just you know, use ur imagination.

I know not much has happened and a lot of people are reviewing and waiting for stuff, but im taking this one slower. I have a semi-plan as well, which makes a change.

love--- Dylan Stratus