Disclaimer: Please refer to previous chapters for the disclaimer.

A/N: The next chapter is here! Yay! I hope you like it. I hope the story will be more appealing after this. The fluffy parts were before but now we'll get into a little more danger. I hope it works. Any reviews you can give to me would be most appreciated! Thank you!!

Chapter Eight: Reuniting

I didn't know how it had happened but the people on the TV screen were those of people I loved and have been longing to see for five long years. I ran through the city, recognizing where they had disappeared, I raced through the streets and alleys. I didn't know where they would be heading. This world would be very different than what they were used to. I was starting to get desperate when I saw a familiar face down an alley. I walked down the alley, staring at the figure. As I got closer there was no question as to who it was.

"Bors!" I yelled. He turned and saw me. His face lit up and he ran towards me. I did the same, running at top speed. I threw my arms around his neck, the breath being knocked out of me from the force of our impact. "Bors! Oh my god! I am so happy to see you!" I said and kissed him hard on the lips. "What the hell are you doing here?" I asked him. "Gawain!" I said and kissed his lips, hugging him tightly. "Galahad! Arthur! Guinn!" I said hugging them all. "I am so damn happy to see you!" I said wiping the tears of happiness from my cheeks. "Oh my god!" I said hugging Bors again. His arms felt so good around me.

"I've missed you so much." Bors told me, taking my head in his hands.

"I've missed you too." I replied rubbing his arms. He kissed my forehead and pulled me against him. "How did this happen?" I asked him.

"Merlin." Guinn smiled at me.

"How though?" I asked her.

"It's been what, five years?" She asked. I nodded. "He's been working on it ever since you left. As soon as you were gone we all demanded that he find a way. He finally did."

I hugged her again. "It's so nice to have my best friend back." I told her.

"Mine too." She grinned.

"But, did he do a spell, was it pure luck, what?" I asked.

"Spell." Arthur said pulling a piece of paper from his armor. "All we have to do is say it again and it should take us back." He told me. "It was far beyond his power but he managed to study and learn from his people and found a way."

"I don't care how he did it. I just can't believe you're here." I smiled and hugged him. "You have no idea how happy this makes me."

"I think we can." Gawain said and pulled me against him again. "You've all I've been able to think about." He smiled and kissed my forehead. "And now you're right in front of me."

"I've missed you." I told him. "Vanora? The kids?" I asked Bors.

"Here…" He said handing me a piece of folded parchment.

It was a letter from Vanora. It was short and sweet. She wished me well, telling me that nothing had been the same since I had gone but that things were good for her and her family. It also told me to be sure to slap the back of Bors's head. I laughed and folded up the letter before doing just that.

"Hey, what was that for?" He asked.

"I don't know. Vanora told me to do it." I grinned.

He sighed. "I wouldn't let her come with." He told me.

"That's okay. Just seeing all of you again is amazing." I said and basked in their glow.

I just stood there and looked at them. I didn't know what else to do. I took Bors's hand and Gawain's hand in mine and just looked at them. I laughed and put my arms around them again. I was just too stunned to see them I wasn't thinking straight.

"Stop smiling." Bors told me.

I tried but failed miserably. "I can't." I laughed. He pulled me into a hug again. "I'm just so happy. I've thought about this moment ever since I left. I've missed you all so much." I said looking at them.

"Do you want to come home?" Gawain asked me.

"Ye–" I started but stopped. I looked at them and sighed. "If you asked me six months ago I would have said yes in an instant. But today things have started to change for me." I told him. "For five years I lived a secluded life, staring at the pictures I have of all of you. Wishing that I hadn't left. Wishing that I knew a way to get back to you." I said looking at them. "But then a man came into my life and I've found love again. After five years of holding on to Tristan's memory, I've found a man that makes me feel alive again. More alive than I had since I left all of you. I'd love to go back to Britain, but I can't abandon him." I said and my mind drifted to Tristan. "He's lying in a hospital bed as we speak, waiting for me." I finished as I crossed my arms.

"Do you love him?" Gawain asked.

I looked at him and smiled, putting my hand on his cheek. "I love a lot of people." I said and kissed his cheek. "Come on, we've got to get you all some less conspicuous clothes." I told them.

I linked my arm with Gawain's and we took the alleyways till we were close to a clothing store. I stepped out of the alley to see if the coast was clear. We had passed a few television vans and I didn't want them to spot us. I didn't know what their fascination was with my friends but I didn't want to draw any unwanted attention. When I thought the coast was as clear, or as clear as it was going to get, I ushered them into the store and to the back by the dressing rooms. I grabbed the nearest worker and told her that I needed something for the five of them and quickly. She agreed and looked at each one before going and starting to pull stuff off of the racks. I sat in a chair and watched as she took each one into a room with several articles of clothing, closing them in. I waited and soon Guinn came out in jeans and a nice black blouse. She looked magnificent. I flattered her before she changed again. She had gone through three outfits before anyone else emerged. Arthur came out next in dark jeans and a black button-up. He looked damn sexy. Guinn thought so too as she started to fondle her husband. I laughed and then Galahad came out with a similar look. I grinned at him.

"You look so sexy." I said walking up to him. He blushed as I laughed. I knocked on Bors's door. "You coming out any time soon?" I asked him.

"How do I look?" He asked opening the door, leaning against the frame in a sexy way.

I stared at him with his jeans and flannel shirt. It took me only a moment for me to burst out laughing. He looked ridiculous in that shirt. "Take it off." I laughed and grabbed a dark green t-shirt from a hanger. He took his shirt off, revealing his nice body. I tossed him the shirt and he pulled it on. It was relatively tight, more so in the arms than anything. "Much better." I smiled and ran my hand down his chest.

"Thanks." He winked and kissed my cheek.

I laughed and moved to Gawain's door. "How's it going honey?" I asked him.

"I don't think these clothes are for me." He replied.

"What's wrong with them?" I asked.

There was silence before I could see his feet as he came closer to the door. "I can't get them on." He replied.

"What do you mean? How hard could it be?" I asked him.

"Paige…" He said annoyed.

"Let me in." I replied.

"I don't think that's a good idea." He replied.

"Open the door before I crawl under it." I told him sternly.

The lock clicked and I opened the door enough for me to squeeze in. He was only in his underwear and I couldn't help but ogle him for a moment before snapping out of it. He was fighting with the jeans, trying to put them on backward. I laughed and turned them. He got embarrassed immediately but I just smiled at him. While he pulled them up I looked at the shirts that the girl had picked out for him. I couldn't decide which one would suit him better. He looked good in his old clothes. I took a red long sleeved shirt off of its hanger and told him to put it on. It was figure fitting and it showed off his body nicely.

"Perfect." I grinned at him.

"Are you sure?" He asked, looking at himself in the mirror.

"Positive." I said with my hands on his chest, gently pecking his lips.

"Why do you do that?" He asked me.

"Sorry?" I said, my smile faltering.

"You say you're in love again but you kiss me, and you kissed Bors."

"It's just a friend thing. I know you well enough to feel that I can without it having to mean anything. Same goes for Bors. Does it bother you?" I asked him.

"No." He replied. "Yes. I have feelings for you and I know that I can't have you."

"Gawain…" I said looking at him.

"I could have been there for you after Tristan died. I could have been what you needed if you only had let me in. I have waited a long time to see you again, hoping that my waiting was not in vain." He told me.

"I'm sorry Gawain." I replied. "But once you meet him you'll know why I can't be with you." I told him. "But for the record. If my guy didn't exist, you wouldn't have waited in vain."

"That's something I guess." He said looking at his feet.

"I love you. You know that right? I love you so much. Just not in that way." I told him, hoping he understood.

"Seeing you again is all that matters." He said pecking my lips before opening the door.

A sudden guilt filled me. A guilt that was clouding my mind. I pushed it away and went out to see the new looks on all of my friends. They all looked relatively the same. They looked normal, which was the look I was going for. They all had jeans on and a figure fitting shirt of some kind. I loved it. They looked great. I picked out a few other things for all of them before going to the check out. I was waiting for them to scan everything when I noticed a nice leather jacket in the men's section. I walked over to it, feeling the fabric.

"Bors, come here." I called. He came over and I helped him put it on. We walked to a nearby mirror to see how it looked. "What do you think?" I asked him.

"What do you think?" He retorted.

"I think it's great." I smiled at him.

"It's too much though. You've already done so much." He replied.

"That's what friends are for." I said and took the jacket off of him, adding it to the pile.

We were walking through the halls of the hospital. I had been away from Tristan too long and now I had brought another shock for him to absorb. I stopped outside of his room and turned toward them.

"Just give me a few minutes before you come in. Don't act too shocked and please don't stare or ask a bunch of questions. Okay, I'm going to go talk to him and then I'll call you in." I told them. "Okay?" I asked them.

"Why are you being so secretive?" Bors asked me.

"You'll see." I said and kissed his cheek before going into the room.

"Where the hell have you been?" Tristan yelled at me when I walked in.

"I'm sorry." I said kissing him.

"Don't butter up to me. I've been lying here for hours worrying about what happened to you. Are you okay? What happened? Did you find them?" He said quickly. I laughed and kissed him again. This time he kissed me passionately. "So?" He asked.

"So, I'm sorry I was gone so long. I found them and had to get them different clothes in hopes of keeping them hidden from the crazy camera people." I replied. "And I'm fine. Better than fine." I said and kissed him again.

"You seem happier than when you left." He stated.

"I am happier. My friends have time traveled to see me and my boyfriend is going to be fine. I couldn't ask for more. So, do you want to meet them?" I asked him. "Are you ready to see the men that your uncle called brothers?"

He just looked at me. "They're here?" He asked. I nodded. He took a deep breath and nodded.

"Bors!" I called and they slowly filed into the room.

I smiled at them and looked at Tristan. He looked like a little boy who just got his first puppy. I looked at the others as they looked at Tristan's descendant. There was a feeling of tension in the room as they all looked at each other.

"Tristan…" Arthur said airily.

"This is Tristan." I told them, sitting on the bed next to him. "But not the same Tristan. This is Tristan's great nephew. He got his name from our Tristan and his looks, obviously, but he is a different Tristan. Does that make any sense?" They all nodded. "Tristan…this is Bors, Gawain, Galahad, Guinevere, and Arthur." I said making the introductions. Still no one said anything. "Somebody please say something." I said trying to break the silence.

"He's the spitin' image of your husband." Bors stated.

"I know he is." I replied.

"How did you find him?" Guinn asked.

"I didn't. He found me." I smiled at her. "I wrote a book about you. All of you. I wrote about Rome and what happened there. I wrote about my experiences and my love for the land and its people. I wrote it all down and it got published." I explained. "When the book was released, Tristan was there. He freaked me out the first time I met him. I even fainted. His physical appearance is almost identical to our Tristan. And I've fallen for him. Just like I fell for my husband."

"Doesn't it get confusing?" Gawain asked.

I gave a short laugh. "Only when I try and explain it." I replied. Everyone was quite for a long time. "How are you all doing?"

"It's just…he looks so much like him." Galahad told me.

"I know. You get used to it." I smiled at him. "This Tristan is actually a history major whose main focus is the Sarmatian Knights' of Legend. After he learned that he was related to my husband he sought me out, knowing that I was technically his aunt. It was weird at first but I got over it. Now I'm just me and he's just Tristan."

"Wow." Bors said staring at him.

"Mm-hm." Gawain agreed.

"Tristan, how do you do that?"

"I aim for the middle."

The memory washed over me and I smiled, looking at Gawain. He saw and smiled back. I looked down at Tristan and grinned wider. Things seemed right, like this was the way it was supposed to be. I found chairs for all of them and we sat down. First it was quiet. No one was saying anything and I couldn't think of anything else to say. I was just about to make one last effort when the silence was broken.

"How are you feeling Tristan?" The doctor asked as he came into the room.

"Feelin' fine." He replied.

"You gained some company I see." The doctor smiled.

"Yes I have." He smiled back. "When can I go home?" He asked.

"Tomorrow morning." He replied. Tristan groaned. "Just one more night of observation and I'll be happy."

"Like I have a choice?" Tristan grinned.

"You really don't." The doctor smiled. "I'll see you in the morning."

Due to the lack of conversation and the ever growing unease in the room I took my group of friends into the nearest waiting room. I didn't have anywhere else to put them and I wanted them nearby. I told them that I had to be with Tristan right now but that I'd check on them. I got them some food from the cafeteria and magazines and such to occupy their time. It seemed useless but I didn't have any better ideas.

"You didn't say much." I stated as I sat with Tristan.

"What did you want me to say?" He replied.

"I don't know. I thought you'd have a few questions that you'd like to ask." I told him.

"I think there is still time for that. Once I'm out of the hospital." He said gently rubbing my leg.

"Okay." I said and kissed his head. I gently ran my fingers through his hair. "Are you okay with them being here?"

"I don't know. You seem pretty buddy-buddy with all those men." He said looking up at me with a smile.

"Oh yeah." I told him with a raised brow. "I could have them all in a blink of an eye."

"Trying to make me jealous?" He smiled at me.

"I don't know. Is it working?" I smiled back.

"Maybe a little." He replied and kissed me, his hand gently gripping my chin.

I made him lay back against the pillows, telling him to rest. He protested, as I expected, but I laid with him, making it easier for him to sleep. As soon as I heard his steady breathing I quietly left the room, joining the others in the waiting room.

"There she is." Bors smiled at me.

"Hey." I said sitting next to him, running my fingers through my hair.

"You look tired." He told me.

"I am." I said resting my head on his shoulder. "I've been awake for nearly two days, I nearly lost another man in my life…" I explained. "Then you all come back into it. So much has happened in such a short amount of time."

"Sleep." Bors said putting his arm around me.

"I can't. If Tristan wakes up I need to go be with him." I replied with my eyes closed.

"You don't need to be strong around us. You know that." He replied.

I looked up at him and smiled. "You're right, I don't." I said and tears slowly filled my eyes.

"Paige…" Bors said pulling me against him.

"I don't know where this is coming from." I cried into him. "I just…" I said and stopped.

"Shhh, it's okay." Bors said gently caressing the back of my head.

I calmed down and leaned away from him. "Sorry." I smiled.

"Don't apologize." He told me. "Feel better?"

I looked at him and laughed. "Yeah, actually I do. I've just been carrying around too much pent up emotion. I finally come out of my shell. Finally tried to live in the world again and this is what I get. Tristan comes into my life and then he almost dies and then you show up and…" I said before stopping myself. "Just a lot to take on when I've been alone for so long."

"It's okay. We're all together now." He said and kissed my forehead.

I nodded and let him pull me into his arms. I laid across him, his arm moved around me and I rested my head on top of it. I meant to shut my eyes for only a moment but sleep took hold of me and when I woke up Tristan was kneeling in front of me.

"Morning." He smiled and kissed me gently.

"Who let me sleep?" I frowned at him, closing my eyes again.

He laughed and kissed me again. "You needed to sleep." He replied running his fingers through my hair. I opened my eyes and looked at him. I put my hand on his cheek and just looked at him, tracing the lines of his face. He kissed me repeatedly before smiling at me. "Are you ready to go home?"

I grinned at him, "Yes."

I sat up and he pulled me up into his arms. I wrapped my arms around him, so happy to feel him against me.

"Am I interrupting?" Gawain asked from the doorway.

"No." I smiled at him. "Let's go home."

It was weird driving home. It took us a few hours. Guinn and I sat in the front with Galahad and Gawain in the small backseat of the truck. Arthur and Bors agreed to sit in the box of the truck as long as they promised to stay low and not move around. None had ever been in a car before and didn't know the dos and don'ts. I drove, not wanting Tristan to and by the time we finally got there I was so tired it was ridiculous. It was a quiet ride and there was an uncomfortable silence that lingered in the cab. After what Gawain had told me I was afraid Tristan might sense something. There was no threat but at the same time I didn't want there to be any issues. This clash of two worlds may prove to be a little more difficult that I originally thought.

"Finally…" I said as I dropped my bags. "Ludo!" I grinned as my dog slid into me. "How's my boy?" I asked him as I stroked him. "Hi Carol. Thank you so much for doing this." I said and hugged her. "I didn't mean to be gone so long."

"As long as everyone's okay. And who are these people?" She asked looking at my friends.

"Oh, these are friends of mine that came to support me." I explained.

"Names?" She asked.

I didn't want to tell her. The fewer people who knew who they were the better. I looked at her and sighed. "Gawain, Galahad, Guinevere, Arthur, and Bors." I said introducing them.

She didn't seem to make the connection right away but when she did she looked at me, smiling, but with a clear expression that she wanted to talk. I shook my head and went upstairs. Ludo followed me and I went to my room and sat on the bed, Ludo jumped up next to me and laid half his body in my lap. I kissed the top of his head and hugged him tight.

"Hey…" Tristan said leaning against the door frame.

"Hey." I replied. His dogs were all surrounding him. "Everyone's happy to have us home." I smiled at him.

"Are you okay?" He asked. "You've been so worried about me. No one's been worrying about you."

I smiled. "Bors has been worrying. He does that a lot." I replied. "But I'm okay. I am just so tired. And I smell like something rank."

He laughed. "You do not. You smell like you and I love you for it." He said kneeling in front of me.

"Why?" I asked.

"Why what?" He said, still smiling at me.

"Why do you love me?"

He smiled and gently caressed my face. "I love you for everything you are. I love the way you look at me. The way you feel against me. The way you kiss my hands and look at me like I'm all you can see. I love the way you smile, the way you handle yourself. I love that you love me in a way that no one has ever loved me before. Your hair is fantastic and your eyes lure me in every time I look into them. They are mesmerizing and beautiful. I love you because you are like no one I have ever known. You are my everything and everything that I've ever wanted. You make me happy." He said and smiled. "Do I need to go on?"

I smiled at him. "No, you can stop."

"Why do you love me?" He grinned.

I laughed at him, running my hand down his face. "I love you for all the reasons that you love me. I love you because you showed up and made me live again. You helped me come out of my shell that I had put myself in after I lost my husband. You saved me, Tristan. You saved me from being alone. And I thank you for that. I can't say that it hasn't been hard. It's been really hard. But when you're with me I feel safe and I feel like everything is going to be okay, even when it's not. I love you for your persistence and your kind heart. I love you for so many reasons I can't explain. It's just a feeling that draws me to you in every way. I just love you." I grinned and shrugged. "And I always will." I kissed him ardently. "I'm just happy that you're okay." I said with my forehead against his. "I love you." I whispered and kissed him again. "I left everyone downstairs. I better get them set up." I said standing up.

"I'll take care of them." He told me. "You go jump in the shower." He said kissing me again. "If it doesn't take too long I'll come join you."

"Okay." I smiled and pulled my shirt off. Tristan stopped and looked at me. "Go." I grinned at him.

He left, leaving me alone. I couldn't help but feel like I could finally relax a little. It had been a long few days and I needed a little alone time. I got into the shower and as the water came down I realized something that I'd pushed aside till now. Demetrios Doukas tried to kill Tristan. I finished quickly and put some comfortable clothes on. When I went downstairs Carol and Tristan were talking while the others stood in the den. I stopped in the doorway and watched as they stared at the drawings I had of them. I walked up to Bors and took his hand in mine.

"Hi." He smiled and pulled me against him. I smiled up at him. "I forgot you had these."

"Me too." Guinn smiled. She had her fingers on the one of Lancelot. She put her other hand on the one of Tristan. "They are deeply missed."

I nodded and rested my head on Bors. "We have a problem." I told them. Tristan and Carol came into the room. I looked at Tristan and he frowned at me. "Tristan's accident wasn't an accident. He was nearly killed because a man named Demetrios Doukas tried to kill him. He intentionally ran his horse into Tristan's, knocking them into the river. After Tristan was revived I saw him leaning against a tree, grinning at me. He winked at me and left. He wasn't with us when we returned to the ranch. I don't know who he is but there was something about him. Something that just felt off to me. I don't know what it is but we need to find out everything we can on him. You might come in handy if we need to track him down without him knowing." I told my knights'. "I don't know what he has against Tristan but we need to figure it out. I'm not willing to lose anyone else in my life, meaning I am going to track this guy down and put him in an early grave if I have to. Can I count on you to help me?" I asked them.

"We're here for you no matter what." Bors said immediately.

"Just tell us what you need." Gawain added.

"I'll kill him for you." Arthur smiled.

"I'll help." Guinn added from her husband's knee.

I grinned at them. "Gal?"

"I'm with you." He said nodding.

"Carol?" I asked turning to my friend.

"I'm going to regret this." She said and looked at me. "Of course." I smiled at her in thanks.

"Don't I get a say in this?" Tristan asked.

"No." I told him flatly. "I refuse to lose you. I'm exhausted. Let's get some sleep." I told them.

I set up all the couches and the two spare rooms that I had. One of the couches pulled out, making it so that there was plenty of room for everyone. Carol decided to head home but promised that she'd do her best to find some information on Demetrios. I thanked her again and paid her for watching my animals before walking her out of the house. After she drove off I turned to my barn and walked toward it, my dog at my side. I opened the barn doors and the familiar smell filled my nostrils. I love that smell. I took a deep breath before flipping on the lights to see both horses looking at me. I smiled and walked up to Mathias. I stroked his neck as he nudged me gently. I told Ludo to go say 'hi' to Diesel. He put his front paws on the stall door and licked Diesel's nose when he came to smell the dog. I laughed and switched with him, giving Diesel a little attention before returning to the house. I made sure everyone was settled in before going upstairs to bed. Tristan was already in bed waiting for me. I crawled in next to him and he pulled me against him. I kissed him gently before resting my head on his chest. I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. He gently put his fingers through my hair putting me to sleep, that and the rise and fall of his chest. I had been afraid for him and I never wanted to be afraid for him again. I was going to hunt down the bastard who tried to kill him and put him in the ground.