A/N: Back on schedule!

Chapter Twenty One

Linka shrieked and dodged around the kitchen table but Wheeler was faster and caught her on the other side, brandishing a floppy leak and trying to put it down her top.

The Russian tried to fight him off, laughing helplessly and would probably have lost the battle if Gaia hadn't appeared just then, making them break apart with hast and guilty expressions. "Er… we were just, um…"

The Spirit of the Earth held a hand up to silence her, "I don't want to know." She turned to Wheeler, "Your mother is asking for you on the planet vision."

"Oh great, what's happened now?" He muttered, his good mood evaporating immediately.

"She seems in good spirits, and I can tell you that your father is fine." Gaia assured him, "I think it's just a social call."

He relaxed again, "Thanks Gaia," and without thinking about what he was doing leant over to kiss Linka's lips and hand her the vegetable. "Won't be long."

Linka blushed furiously but Gaia had already vanished so she brushed it aside and called after him, "Give her my love!"

A few moments later Wheeler entered the Crystal Chamber, "Hey Ma, how are you and Dad?"

"Jason, it's so good to see you, I can tell you're well." His mother beamed at him, "We're fine honey, we've had some good news… although I suppose I shouldn't say it's good, but it is."

Bemused the Planeteer said, "Oh?"

"Your great Aunt Matilda has passed away and since she has no family of her own everything reverted to us, including her house." She sounded rather smug as she added, "Guess what we found?"

Wheeler grinned, "Great Grandma Josephine's jewellery?"

"Yes! That…" She stopped herself, "Well you shouldn't speak ill of the dead, though I don't know why because she spoke ill of everyone when she was alive!" he laughed and she continued, "Anyway, Mom was right all along, she took all of their mother's things and then lied about it for years!"

"I know the story Ma." He said ruefully.

She grinned at him, "We're moving to the house by the way, so if there's anything you want from your room you and Linka might want to come and get it? How is she?"

Wheeler rubbed the back of his neck wondering if there was any point to telling her again that they weren't a couple, he wasn't sure he believed it anymore anyway. "She's fine, she sends her love."

"That's nice, please give her mine in return," Mrs Wheeler was clearly pleased, "Actually she's the reason I'm calling… or well, indirectly she is. Possibly." When he just gave her a confused look she said, "We wondered if you'd like Grandma Josephine's engagement ring? It's sapphire and diamond, very pretty and not at all dated. It would go beautifully with Linka's eyes…"

Her son sighed, "If you want Linka to have it you can give it to her when we come to help you move."

She crossed her arms and gave him a look that he was more used to seeing from the other women in his life than his mother, "You know very well what I meant, if you aren't ready to settle down you only had to say that."

Wheeler laughed softly, "Actually I just think there's more chance of her taking it from you."

"Why would you say that?" His parent frowned.

"She doesn't want that sort of relationship with me Ma, I've told you before, we're not…" He sighed again, "I don't know what we are."

Mrs Wheeler smiled, "That's not the impression I got from her."

"Really?" He sounded so hopeful she laughed and nodded.

"Why don't you think about it and when you come and help us move you can take the ring, and decide then." She suggested.

The Fire Planeteer laughed ruefully, "I don't really need to think about it, I just need to not screw it up."

Happy with the confession she'd wrung from him, Mrs Wheeler let the subject drop and they continued chatting about the house move and the other things his Great Aunt had appropriated until sometime later, when Linka entered.

"I do not mean to interrupt but I thought you would want to know that dinner is ready. Hello Mrs Wheeler." Linka smiled at her and put herself close enough to Wheeler for him to tuck her under his arm, which he did and she leant into him.

"Kathy dear, remember? Or Mom if you prefer," she pushed, making both Planeteers uncomfortable, but continued unabashedly. "You look very well, I trust that means my son is taking good care of you?"

Since that brought back visions of what they'd been doing earlier Wheeler cut in quickly, "Er Ma, look… we'd better go. I'll fill Linka in and we'll see you soon ok?"

"Is everything ok?" the Russian asked at once and was silenced by another kiss.

"Yes. Babe, I'll tell you over dinner."

"I think he's hungry, you had better go and feed him," His mother said, amused.

Linka nodded, "He is always like this when there is food, but if we are coming to see you?" the other woman nodded, "then we will catch up soon."

They said goodbye and Linka let her 'boyfriend' drag her back to the kitchen.

Curled in her companion's arms, Linka watched the sun set over the ocean. They'd gone for a walk along the beach after dinner and it was such a lovely night they'd stopped to enjoy the peace and quiet.

Wheeler kissed her hair and wondered whether, if he had had the ring his mother promised just then, she would accept him.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Linka asked, looking up at him with an expression so much like love he bent to kiss her lips. She chuckled when they parted, "Is that what you were thinking about?"

"Kind of." He shrugged, "I was thinking how perfect this is, how much I love spending time with you."

Linka smiled and rested her head against him again, "Me too."

He was just gathering his courage to ask her to make the arrangement more permanent when she shivered and stood up out of his arms.

The moon was high in the sky and the breeze was chilly but instead of seeking warmth the Wind Planeteer began to strip her clothes off, letting them fall to the sand before running into the water.

Wheeler watched her with a grin, not upset about having his declaration forestalled in the face of her spontaneity.

"Are you coming in?" She challenged him, treading water and watching as he disrobed and walked slowly up to her.

"It's freezing." He told her, pulling her into his arms.

Linka put her arms up around his neck, "I'm sure you will think of a way to warm us up."

"You need to warm me up before I get frostbite," he teased. "You wouldn't like it if bits started to drop off would you?"

Laughing she shook her, "It is not that cold Yankee, do not be a baby." Even though she knew that the hurt look he gave her then was feigned she couldn't bear it. She pressed herself close and buried her face in his neck, "Jason, do not do that to me, you know I will do anything you want."

The American squeezed her tight, "I want you to want me."

"I do, constantly." She told him, missing the point slightly but making him laugh when she added, "I sometimes wonder if it is normal to need you so often, how did I survive all these years when I can barely go a day without making love with you."

"By not knowing what you were missing, and I guess it's normal for us… I need you just as badly."

Linka shrugged, "But you already knew what you were missing."

They were drifting further out and Wheeler lay back to let the salt water lift him, taking Linka with him to rest on his chest.

"I didn't know. I suspected, but… I know it's hard for you to believe but it is different with you." He struggled to put what he was feeling into words. "Better, more… right."

"We are close friends, our relationship meant more to start with."

Wheeler chuckled, "What exactly are you trying to say about my past romances?"

No longer perturbed by his teasing she responded with, "Nothing that you have not said yourself, that there was no romance... except maybe with Trish."

The Fire Planeteer stared up at the moon, "That wasn't romance. I might have thought it was at the time but we were kids, what guy doesn't think he's in love with his first real crush? Especially, if she's as ready to believe it as he is."

"What we have is not exactly romantic either," She pointed out sadly.

He stopped their motion and let their legs sink, treading water for both of them. He looked into her eyes and spoke earnestly, "This can be whatever we want it to be Babe, it's real and it's special. You know that right?"

She nodded and kissed him, but though he returned her embrace, that was clearly meant to initiate their physical relationship, he couldn't help be oddly disturbed that she'd chosen to do that rather than continue the conversation. In fact his words had meant a lot to Linka and far from wanting to call a halt and thereby maintain the barriers between them, she'd wanted to show him how completely she was committed to him.

As was common when they were together however, their connection took over, soothing worries and bringing complete, if temporary, understanding.

After the first coupling they split apart to play in the water, chasing, splashing and finding new games that they would only ever play with each other. At last Wheeler caught her hand and guided her back towards the dock and the posts of the pier that were firmly driven into the sea bed. Pinning her against one of these he began a possessive exploration of her neck but she stopped him, gently holding him at bay.

Instead of explaining Linka took his hands and placed them on the post above her head. He gave her a questioning look but she returned it with a saucy one of her own and sank below the water. Her lips went first to his tattoo, reminding him again of everything they'd pledged and he relaxed, giving himself over to her care.

He was still panting, when she broke the surface for air, coming up between him and the dock. He wrapped his arms around her and the post, holding them up and together at the same time, "God, you're good at that… you're so not what I expected."

"What did you expect?" she asked warily.

Wheeler tilted his head to one side, regarding her thoughtfully, "Quiet passion I think. A warm welcome, but only for your husband, under the blankets, and at night."

She laughed, "I think that was what I expected of me too. I am not sorry that I can have more with you though."

"Good, 'cos neither am I." Then he added curiously, "How did you see me?"

Linka shook her head, "As you are I think, at least by the time I decided to ask you to help me… you have grown up a lot in the time we have known each other and I do not think I could imagine you as other than caring and considerate. If anything, it is when we are not making love that you surprise me."

"In a good way?" He sounded worried and it made her roll her eyes.

"Of course in a good way," she turned her head to the side, not wanting to meet his eyes in her embarrassment. "It really is getting cold out here, we should go back and dry off."

He agreed and led her by the hand back to where they'd left their clothes. "There's no point in getting dressed Babe, we both need a hot shower."

"You want to walk back to our cabins like this…?"

"Sure, why not?"

The lovely Russian shrugged and picked up her things, wondering how he talked her into being so reckless.

When they finally slipped under the covers of her bed however, they were unable to keep their hands off each other. Linka pulled him down on top of her, "Is this what you imagined Yankee? Because I could not want anyone more than I want you at this moment."

"Like I'm your husband?" his lips found the sensitive spot on her neck.

"Da." She sighed and pushed against him, "I want to pretend Yankee; tell me that you love me, tell me that it is forever."

He didn't wait, they were both too ready, but he replied, "Yes… forever, this is forever! Babe I love you, you gotta know I love you… please?"

Linka gasped and it wasn't just her body that welcomed him but everything she was.

"Tell me!" He demanded.

"I love you!" she sobbed, "I love you… Jason!"

They both cried out in unison, collapsing together in perfect harmony.

To be continued…