Pern Belongs to McCaffery. I'm just playing in it.

Two seven days passed. During that time Alec had dinner with T'zair seven times. They danced three times. Once T'zair surprised Alec with a picnic lunch. They played strip dragon poker with several other blue and green riders once. Twice they went for a long walk on the beach. Three times Alec fell asleep in T'zair's weyr out of sheer exhaustion after a long night of just talking. T'zair only fell asleep in Alec's weyr once. He seemed to take special care not to stay too long in Alec's weyr but to always make him welcomed in his own weyr. He never made any move on Alec either, but let the younger man curl up next to him of his own volition.

It was the end of the second seven day, a rest day, and T'zair was planning another surprise picnic. This time it was going to be a dinner at a cove that he knew about. There were some nice hot springs near by which would be fun to visit in the summer heat. Or they could just stay by the ocean and swim there. Alec, he knew, was endlessly fascinated by the ocean and it was such an easy thing to give him.

Having stolen a skin of wine from the lower caverns, T'zair felt that everything was ready. Brenith rumbled worriedly when his rider approached with the food and wine. "What's the matter?" the blue rider asked.

Ferlendraggaith's rider is not feeling well, she says.

"Not feeling well?" T'zair dropped the food and scrambled up Brenith's neck. "Where is he?"

I take you to him. The blue launched himself into the air and flew as quickly as he could to Alec's weyr. He landed on the ledge. As soon as talons touched stone, T'zair was leaping off his dragon's neck to bound into the weyr.

"Alec?" he called out.

"Over here," Alec said. T'zair found him on the bed wrapped in several furs. He had his riding straps out and was going over them with oil. He looked okay to him, despite being wrapped up in the furs. It was too hot to being doing that.

"You cold?"

"A little," Alec said with a shy smile.

T'zair sat down on the bed with a frown. "A little? How many furs are you wrapped up in?"

"Just two."

"Two! It's hot enough to cook on the rocks and you're wrapped in two furs. Are you okay?"

Rubbing his fingers he said, "Just cold. I feel like I'm between."

The blue rider reached over and touched Alec's hands. They were cold! Not very cold, but still, Alec was always very warm.

"Come on," T'zair said, "Lets go to the hot springs. That should warm you up."

"We don't have to go between? Do we?" Alec asked.

"No. We can fly straight. You can ride with me. Ferlendraiggith can follow."

Alec hesitated then nodded, "Okay." He struggled out of the bed, leaving the blankets behind him. T'zair watched as he found his boots and laced them up. He didn't say anything just watched the green rider, trying to see if he could spot anything else that was wrong with him. The younger man looked fine, though. From what he could tell.

Putting an arm around his shoulders, T'zair led Alec to his blue. He waited until Alec was secured and then climbed up behind him, wrapping his arms tightly, to try and warm him. Much to his delight, Alec snuggled against him.

The two of them flew straight, just as T'zair promised, the blue and green dragon flying so that their wings almost touched several times. It took a while to get there, but then again compared to going between everywhere took a while to get there. In this case it took about a half an hour. A half an hour of holding Alec tight against him and occasionally rubbing his arms to give warmth, it took. It was probably the nicest flight T'zair had. If he wasn't so worried about Alec.

The dragons landed on the beach of a secluded cove. The beach was small and the trees almost came up to the waters edge. Breneth stretched his wings out, dipping them into the warm waters before kneeling down to let Alec and T'zair off. Ferlendraggiath playfully splashed in the waters, causing Alec to laugh.

"Come on," T'zair said. "This way to the hot springs."

He led Alec down a fairly well beaten path, next to a running stream that led to the ocean. Lots of people came to the hot springs, but not usually in this weather. T'zair had checked around to make sure no one would be coming. He wanted to have time alone with Alec. Alone away from everyone.

Seven pools made up the hot springs. They were tiered so that two were up high and the hottest, then three and then two more down below before spilling down into the stream that they walked near. Flat rocks surrounded the pools making good places to lay clothes and other things. As he saw them, T'zair remembered that he forgot the picnic. Ah well, perhaps next time.

Alec leaned over one of the pools and tested the waters, giving a smile at temperature as T'zair started to take off his clothes. Alec watched him; T'zair could see that he was a little bit nervous. So he didn't make any deal of it. He just got the clothes off and slipped into one of the middle pools. Alec watched him for a few minutes before taking off his own clothes. His body was very lean and his chest was covered in thin scars. He gave a shiver before sliding into the pool himself. There his eyes closed as he soaked up the warmth and a smile played on his lips.

T'zair let him soak for a while before asking, "Better?"

"Mm… yes. So very nice and warm," Alec almost purred out. T'zair laughed and then splashed him playfully. Alec yelped and splashed back. This led to the inevitable contest to see who could drown the other man first. Large sluices of water sprayed all over the rocks soaking everything, including their clothes, but neither noticed.

T'zair dove under the water and popped up next to Alec, pinning him to the side of the pool. The two of them gasped for breath, staring at each other. "There. That'll show you," T'zair said as Alec squirmed playfully to get out of his grip. But he didn't squirm too much.

"Well, you started it," Alec said, protesting. He lifted his chin up, proudly defiantly.

T'zair kissed him.

Alec stiffened in shock but then returned the kiss. He tasted of the mineral spring water and sweat. T'zair pulled him closer, wrapping his arms around Alec, not letting up the kiss until he needed air. Pulling back he looked at the green rider worried that he might have gone too quickly. Instead he got a shy grin and a duck of the head.

"Sorry, I got a bit carried away," T'zair apologized. Alec leaned his head against him and gave a sigh.

"It's okay… I think," Alec admitted.

T'zair kissed him lightly, enjoying the feel of the two of them naked against each other, the water burbling around them. It was the first time since the flight that they had been this close. "I won't do anything you don't want me to," he said in a whisper.

"I just… hold me…?"

Not what T'zair was hoping for, but he'd take what he could get. "Sure." He leaned up against the edge of the pool and held Alec, touching him gently on the face and back, but never below that.

"I hate Between," he said softly after a few minutes. "It's too cold."

"But it's only for a few breaths. Surely you can stand that."

"I feel like I'm cut off from everything. Like I'm dying."

The blue rider ran his hands through Alec's hair. "I've never heard anyone describe going through between like that before."

Alec laughed softly, "I'm funny like that."

Kissing the top of the other's head, T'zair said, "I wouldn't have you any other way."

"That's nice of you to say."

"It's true."

The younger man shook his head at this.

"You don't believe me?"

"It's not that…" Alec protested, a tinge of fear in his voice.

T'zair ran his fingers lightly up Alec's side and the other squirmed. He was ticklish! T'zair smiled wickedly and ran his fingers up and down Alec's sides causing him to laugh and squirm.

"Stop it! T'zair! Stop!" Alec cried between gasping giggles. He pushed away and fell back into the pool, slipping under the water. Breathing deeply the blue rider glanced around the pool looking for his companion, but no one was seen.

"Alec?" he called out, stepping deeper into the pool. Only the bubbles from the spring greeted him. "Ale'zander…?"

From behind him Alec sprang up and leapt onto his back, wrapping his legs around him and covering his eyes. T'zair heard him laugh, as he stumbled through the pool, trying to keep his footing with the sudden weight upon him.

"What are you doing you wherry brained green rider!" he cried out, flailing.

All he got in response was Alec's laughter.

"I'm not a dragon for you to ride on!"

"Of course not! You don't have wings!" But he didn't let go.

T'zair took a deep breath and dropped down under the water. He heard Alec give a startled squeak, but then the rush of the waters clouded his hearing. He used Alec's startlement to twist around and grasp him. Pushing up, he lifted Alec with him. When they broke the surface he kissed Alec, pinning him to the edge of the pool.

"That was very naughty of you," he said when he pulled away.

Gasping and grinning Alec said, "Worth it!"

"You" Kiss, "Horrible" kiss "person" kiss, "you."

Alec just grinned at him.

"So what do you have to say for yourself?"

"I'm hungry."

T'zair looked at him and then pushed his head under the water. When Alec reappeared, gasping for air, he said, "Come one, I had a picnic packed, but it's back at the Weyr." He heaved himself out of the pool and picked up his clothes. They were soaked. Worthless for flying in. He scooped them up and started out towards the beach. There were flat rocks out there that he could lay them out on so that they would dry. Alec followed him, carrying his own clothes.

The blue and green dragons were lying partially in the water, their heads up on the sand, the blue's wing over the green, when T'zair reentered the beach. He shook his head with a smile at the two of them. They, at least, were able to cuddle, even if their riders weren't. Or didn't. Though from the closeness of the two dragons, he knew that it was something Alec wanted. And today… today had been the first time they had actually kissed. Perhaps soon they would be able to progress beyond that.

Next time: So what is up with Alec?