Observant readers will have noticed that i've cranked this baby's rating up to an M and this is thanks to this lil chapter. Warning: contains lemons :P

This is my first go at writing such an 'action packed' scene so any comments will be helpful *blushes*

Anyhoo... enjoy!

DC

Rose wandered deeper into the forest, not bothering to flit, just enjoying the peace away from the late afternoon bustle in the Cirque. A light rain had just passed and since Rose hadn't bothered finding shelter, her hair and clothing was damp and clung to her slender frame. Drops of rain gathered in the centre of petals causing the flowers to bend and sway and daylight filtered through the tree's canopy, illuminating the wet, green foliage below. Rose moved silently through the rolling fog, following a forgotten trail and thinking about nothing in particular. Above her, a fat droplet of water rolled off the edge of a leaf and landed with a plop on her head. Rose turned her face skywards and glared at the tree. The tall, dark shape looming high above her did not even register her annoyance and several birds taking flight from it above her sent a shower of raindrops cascading down, only adding to her frustration. Now thoroughly wet and exasperated, Rose decided to sit beneath the majestic tree and allow her thoughts to meander. At first, they drifted back towards the campsite and angry feelings clouded her mind as Darren's words sprung to mind.

"Enemy!"

How dare he label her an enemy! He didn't even know her! Suddenly she wasn't as impressed by him as she had been when they were in the same class. Rose had often admired Darren though she had never actually spoken to him properly. He always made an effort to be friendly, punctual and responsible, usually handing in homework early and always getting straight A's in lessons. His teachers were delighted to have him as a student and although he was a little shy around girls, he was never turned down for prom. Although Rose was suitably amazed by his pleasant nature, she couldn't help labelling him as a bit of a goody-two-shoes and even his best friend Steve had thought the same. He had often made her laugh with his anecdotes regarding Darren's behaviour. For example, the one time he had managed to persuade the boy to skip class with him, he somehow attracted unwanted attention by breaking glass very loudly right outside their teacher's classroom. Suddenly Rose realized how typical that example was of Darren's character. He acted brave and bad but it was really a performance, designed to impress or protect his reputation or, in another case, deceive Rose into believing he was acting as a guardian of the Cirque and his friends but deep down he was just as afraid of her kind as Erva.

Rose sighed out loud, exasperated with herself for taking so long to figure out his out of character behaviour. Mr Crepsley obviously thought that by telling Darren stories about the Vampaneze, he was making him aware and conscious to any possibilities however he only served in frightening the boy who was already caught up in a twisted reality of his own. Shoved into the Cirque, Darren was only just struggling to come to terms with his own nature, making friends with freaks and learning to use new powers when suddenly Mr Crepsley was asking him to defend these new friends against a common 'enemy'. Rose didn't blame the boy for behaving over-protective regarding his new family. After just losing his old family, Darren was clearly afraid of a fiend like her taking his new one away. At her feet, a few droplets of rain joined the already growing puddle and Rose realized that it had been raining for a while now. Mist rolled in again, hiding the tree stump she was sitting on and standing up, Rose saw that the path she had been following had also been concealed.

"Might as well wait it out then," she grumbled to herself. Not brave enough to wander deeper into the woods to find shelter for fear she might get lost, Rose sourced shelter and protection from the wind and rain inside a hollowed out dead tree. Brushing cobwebs aside and chucking out dead and rotting leaves, she seated herself snugly in its abode and rested her head against the rough bark. She had not seen mist as thick as this since she and Steve had lost their path in a large forest on their way back from hunting a few months ago. She laughed somewhat bitterly as she remembered they had not been on speaking terms after a silly argument. Growing tired of the silent treatment but not wanting to be the first to break it, Steve strode far ahead into the forest at a speed which caused Rose to jog to keep up. Fog had partly hidden him from her and so she had been forced to call out his name against her will.

"Steve?" She had cried reluctantly, "Where the hell are you?" Steve had taken delight in waiting several minutes before calling back.

"Over here," he yelled unhelpfully. Rose had rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, waiting for him to come to her. Eventually she had heard his heavy footsteps pounding through the foliage before his figure finally appeared amongst the trees. His hair was clinging to his head, soaked from the damp mist, partially covering his ears and eyes. When he saw her, he had raked his fingers through it, causing it to stand up on end in devilish spikes. Seeing this, Rose's scowl had slipped slightly and she had smiled ruefully. Meeting her gaze, her companion had smirked and turned back the way he had come though he waited for her to catch up. To his surprise and slight annoyance, Rose didn't follow him and he was forced to turn around to see where she had gone. She was still in the same place, staring at him and trying not to laugh.

"It's this way," she pointed out. Steve, sceptical at first, soon noticed the path she was standing on was indeed the same one they had been searching for and unenthusiastically trudged over to join her. As soon as he was in reach, the girl grabbed his arm and looped hers through his to his astonishment and clasped them tight together.

"Come on," she had sighed playfully. Rose had been wearing short sleeves that day, a loose red t-shirt with a faded design on its front. It had clung to her slim frame from the humidity and moist atmosphere in the forest and so her friends' oversized jacket had provided warmth for her. Wrapped inside, she let Steve's arm guide her through the trees and towards home.

"You should have worn something warmer," he scolded but Rose only smiled.

"I would have stolen half your jacket anyway," she said, "you're nice and cosy!" She had playfully moved her arm around his back, resting it on his side and he pulled her closer to him and pecked the top of her head affectionately.

"I know you would have," he said, "even if you hadn't I would have put it around you anyway. You're small enough to lean on when I get tired!" Rose suddenly found herself struggling to support his weight as Steve dramatically fell on top of her.

"Gerroff!" She complained but the boy simply ignored her.

"I'm tired," he whined and the two fell about the forest's floor giggling and pushing each other out the way. After a while, Rose gave up. The boy was too strong and his weight pinned her to the forest's dark floor. She lay beneath him, panting heavily, enjoying his warmth. Steve turned his head till his cheek rested against hers.

"Got you," he whispered softly into her ear. Rose blushed and nudged his face gently away from hers but he turned to face her again. This time Rose didn't resist. Steve pressed his lips to hers gently letting his tongue explore her mouth as she parted her lips to allow him entry. Rose deepened the kiss, wrapping her arms around the boy's neck, pulling him closer. Her action forced an involuntary moan from Steve and she smiled at being able to tease him so easily. The boy responded by moving his hands around her waist, resting one behind her on the small of her back and the other on the ground to stop himself from crushing her. Rose gently pushed his supporting hand out the way so that he fell clumsily on top of her, too involved in the kiss to care. Using all her strength, she managed to push the boy away so that he rolled across the foliage and landed in the damp on his back. He looked over at her in surprise, his face mixed with embarrassment, hurt and confusion. Rose quickly amended her action by crawling over and straddling the boy, resuming their passionate kiss. To his delight, she recommenced with more enthusiasm than before and he grew excited under her touch. Taking a deep and slightly unsteady breath, Rose removed her wet shirt, tossing it aside, and untied her hair. Her brown locks fell about her shoulders in curls caused by the humidity and several tresses landed across her exposed breasts covered only by a damp black bra. Beneath her, Steve struggled to remove his top so Rose, leaning down, gently lifted it over his head and threw it to her left where it joined the rest of her attire. Distracted by the sight of his bare chest, Rose was easily forced onto her back by an eager Steve.

He kissed her lightly and smiled at the beautiful girl beneath him. Gazing into her anxious red eyes, he bent to kiss her neck, moving his mouth along her throat to her collar bone where he showered her with kisses, smiling at her moans of pleasure. Steve moved his fingers from their current position weaved through her hair and traced a line with his index along her collar, between her perfect breasts, down her stomach until his hand reached the top of her jeans. He looked up at her with a cheeky grin before sticking his bottom lip out as though asking her permission. Rose rolled her eyes, anxious to continue. Grinning mischievously, Steve took her hungry expression as an approval and quickly began unzipping her jeans. He moved aside to allow her to wriggle out of them before he clasped her tightly to him once more, unwilling to let her go.

The two were now both on their knees, pressed tightly together in the fading light, letting the mist grow denser around them. Neither felt the cold; their skin felt clammy and hot in the places it met. Rose shook out her hair around her and ran her cold hands over the boy's shoulders and down between him shoulder blades. His back arched and his chest rose to meet hers as she slid her hand down to meet his jean's waist band.

"Off," she ordered and watched eagerly as her lover complied. Waiting patiently, Rose sighed deeply as Steve finally cast off his black trousers. She smiled, though not in surprise, to see that he also had black underwear on underneath. Breathing faster, Rose resumed smothering the boy in kisses. Her hands, tangled in his mop of dark hair, tightened their grip as Steve returned her passion with as much fervour. Rose twisted one knee around the boy's waist and lent into his chest. Their cries of bliss echoed around the empty clearing carried further by the wind. Rose, now blushing furiously, pushed her boyfriend back into a more compromising position and slipped out of her remaining clothing. The air felt cold yet refreshing against her bare skin and her crimson cheeks matched her eyes as she winked cheekily at the gaping boy. Steve's mouth dropped several inches as he took in the girl's full beauty, his gaze resting on the more intimate parts of her body which were noticeably paler. He struggled out of his boxers, in a hurry to join Rose amidst the leaves on the forest floor.

Gradually, the mist began to thin and part so that the clearing was left to bask fully in the new moon's rays. Moonlight filled the wood's glade and the trees transformed into protective dark shapes around the two lovers, looming over them in the fading light and sheltering them from the wind. Leaves curled and small twigs snapped beneath the weight of Rose and Steve as they rolled around the dell, taking it in turns to pleasure the other and taking immense satisfaction from their partner's sighs of delight. Rose stroked the inside of Steve's thigh and smiled at being able tease the boy so easily. They had made love twice now in the moonlight's luminosity and yet he still breathed just as excitedly with the same wild look in his eyes as though this last time would be his first.

"Again?" she whispered huskily. Steve just nodded, too breathless to reply. Rose straddled the boy, lowering herself as she kissed him. She felt him respond willingly beneath her as she slowly rotated her hips, crying out in blissfulness. She stroked Steve's cheek as he tilted his chin up towards the moonlight, his eyes closed in ecstasy. He was so easily satisfied. Daringly, Rose began to grind harder in response to her boyfriend's moans. He guided her wordlessly with his hands, telling her what to do next. At last, they reached their climax and fell apart panting and laughing with delight.

"I love you," cried Steve, turning to face her. His face was cast in shadow but Rose could just make out his wild, manic grin.

"I love you too," she whispered. Rose snuggled closer to the boy, leaning in and breathing his musky scent as he placed a protective arm around her shoulders. The two spent the night together in the forest, kissing and sleeping in the caliginous forest beneath the bright audacious moon.

Rose looked up at the same moon now. Tears burned in her throat as she remembered the pleasure she had felt that night with Steve. She had known then that she really loved him and that he loved her and she had never expected to be so far apart from him and not only in distance. She had never felt so at home as she had when he placed his arms around her. Nothing could compare to that feeling of warmth and security or protection he gave her simply by smiling at her. The Children's Home, the Vampaneze's hideout, even the Cirque couldn't even come close to the sanctuary Steve offered her. Now they were apart and so angry with each other she felt worse than ever. Before her, the mist had mostly disappeared and the moon's light lit up the path back to the Cirque as clearly as though someone was shining a torch along it. Rose took it as a sign to return and stood up, stretching her arms and shaking the cramp from out of her leg.

Exhaling loudly, Rose made the decision to return to camp and march straight up to Mr Tall's tent to accept his offer. With Steve no longer in love with her, her only option was to seek refuge from anyone who would offer it to her ad currently, Mr Tall was the only individual mad or kind enough to grant it to her. She decided she would simply have to avoid Darren and Mr Crepsley as much as possible if they could not or would not get along with her. As for the freaks, they were simply going to have to share their home for a while!