Chapter Twenty-four

The Meeting Room

Smee could stand it no longer. Though he was enjoying his final kisses with James, tears poured from his eyes like a streaming waterfall. For all the pleasure the taste of his love's sweet mouth was granting him and the fleeting joy it gave him to think that James could still lower himself to kiss him, the knowledge that this moment could never last and that James wasn't kissing him because he truly wanted to pained him to no end. He began to shove against him, whimpering like a wounded animal against his lips.

James began to wonder if he was doing it right. Shouldn't Smee have given in by now? He always had before, and yet here he was, still talking about bitches! Gods, the bitches were going to drive James nuts! He had to get to Smee! He had to make his love see that he was the only one James wanted! He was desperate and failing again!

With one hand on each side of Smee's face, he forced Smee to look at him. "Only once in my life have I ever looked at a bitch, and I was under a damn spell, Smee! Why can't you understand that?! I never wanted any other! There has only always been you! You have been a wonderful mother to our bois! No one could have ever done better! And you are the only one I know who's ever been able to handle me! Through all of my many moods, good and bad, you've been there by me! Why would I ever want another when you grant me my fondest desires?"

He wondered if Smee was even listening to him. He prayed that he was. He lifted up his right hand and gently wiped away Smee's tears, replacing them with kisses that were as gentle as a dove's wings. "Smee, listen to me!" he pleaded between kisses. "You are my one and only, and there will never be another! Stop shutting me out for it breaks my heart every time I try to reach you and you scream bitches in my face! I feel as though I am standing with my finger poked in a dam, trying to keep the river back, and the water is seeping around my finger. Come back to me, Smee; love me for that is truly all I ask!"

He wanted to believe him. He ached to believe him, and that ache raked his body with quieted sobs. He looked into the eyes of the man he loved with new tears in his eyes. "Why?" he demanded, his voice trembling and filled with tears. "Why do you insist in trying to get me to buy these lies, James? Don't you have any respect for me at all? Don't you care at all, or do you just want to see how badly you can hurt me? The man I love would never act the way you've been acting, but I've seen you with my own eyes and heard you with my own ears. You say no one else could be a better mother to our children, yet upstairs, you promised that bitch she'd be their mother!"

"Love, the only bitch I have talked to today is Elvira, wherever she's at. I haven't even been upstairs since the meeting began! I was upstairs earlier, telling every one about the meeting, but since that time, I've been down here on the piano. No one dared bother me until Elvira got it up her crawl to take my damn jacket! I wouldn't give it to her, 'cause it's not proper to be seen in public without one's coat! She almost bit me! But she's the only one I've talked to, and I damn sure wasn't promising her to have the bois as their mother! You're their mother! I know how much you love them and they love you!"

His voice grew sadder. "I know how much I love you, but I fear you do not love me any more. If you did, you'd stop thinking of bitches! You'd stop pushing me away! I can't bare to let you go, Smee! I'd die if I lost you! Do you want me to go away?" His tears choked him so badly that he could barely get out the words that he was bursting to say. Smee had to hear those words and he had to believe them, or else all was lost! Without his Smee, there was no reason for him to live!

James did not even realize that his impassioned pleas had caused tears to come to his own eyes. Some of them slowly were running down his mustache, falling onto Smee. Smee was his world, and inside Smee's love had been their boys, as well! James had always thought he'd done a Hell of a job with their boys. Thank Gods they hadn't turned out like himself! Neither of the boys had a temper that overwhelmed their thinking capacity.

How many people had James killed, he wondered, over the years, in a fit of anger? So many he couldn't even remember. In fact, he had come very close several times to leaving them stranded without a crew. Yet, until Smee had been overcome by this fixation of bitches, he had never once seen Smee lose it to the point that his anger took over. He often had been the only thing that had kept James sane in an insane world. He was proud his boys had turned out a lot more like their mother than himself. He continued to lay over Smee, holding him to the floor, refusing to let go, and waiting for his love to answer.

He had not known he could feel this way! He was burning alive in flames hotter than anything he'd ever felt before! No woman had ever made him feel this way, not even a single one of his natural kind, but the wondrous female in his arms set his very soul aflame! He had to have her! But . . . But he could not dirty her, he could not taint her wondrous beauty with his lowly hide! Or could he? After all, if she wanted him as badly as he ached for her . . . "Janeesa," he moaned her name against her lips, "stop me now, fair one, for soon I shall be unstoppable . . . " His arms were wrapped tightly around her lithe body, and he had drawn her so close that he knew she must be able to feel the full arousal of his steed. Yet she had yet to balk!

Janeesa felt herself turning into molten lava even as his kiss deepened. She burned for more. She had never once seen a mating ritual and wasn't sure how it worked but knew that he had to know. Stop me? he was saying. Nay! She'd never stop him! She wanted more! She wanted to be part of him! She nibbled at his lip. "Never stop, Rian! Do to me what you will! I want to be part of you! I burn for you!" She did not realize that her whole body trembled and that her whole life, she had been waiting for just this moment and just this man and only he could stop the turmoil that was driving her insane!

He moaned again against her lips. "Be sure of this, my most beautiful lady, for there shall soon be no turning back." He kissed her again, their passion growing ever more, and his tongue always trying to find deeper areas of her sweet mouth to explore. His blue eyes darted around the room. He had to find something to lay her upon! Even if she dared lower herself to be touched, especially in that most intimate of ways, by a mere mortal man, he would never allow her luscious, white satin skin to touch a grimy floor. He turned suddenly away from her, drawing his sword as he did so, and slashing out.

Janeesa watched as the curtain slowly settled to the floor. She felt bereft because his touch was no longer upon her. She moved in closer to him and dared to lick the base of his neck. She could not believe that he had thought of everything to make it more comfortable. What would happen next? she wondered. How did one do the act? "Make me yours, Rian," she breathed and nuzzled him again.

She liked the taste of him, salty yet at the same time sweet, unlike anything she'd ever tasted before but a taste that she could savor forever. She felt his steed strong, touching her through his clothes, and her hand timidly touched him. He didn't flinch so she didn't pull away. She stood on tiptoes to reach his mouth, her hand still touching him there. Somehow, she knew, she'd have to ride him, but how it worked . . . Ah, that was a wonder to behold! She deepened the kiss, her tongue dueling with his, her body burning even more.

His entire body had jumped forward when her tongue had licked the back of his neck, and a yelp had sprang, unbidden, from his lips. He had whirled around and, upon seeing her again, lost all further thought except for the burning desire to be one with her. If they did not soon become one, the fire inside him might well consume the both of them! He had tossed his weaponry to the side and wrapped her again in a heated embrace when she had dared to touch him. He had not thought it possible, but her delicate touch made his sword even harder. By Gods, how the pain of his member thrusting against the fabric of his pants made him feel as though he were about to burst, but oh, the joy, the pleasure . . . ! He moaned again, took her hand, and stepped backwards onto the curtain.

He kissed her again. In each kiss, they found stronger passion, deeper pleasure, and hotter heat. This time, he dared to raise a hand up to cup her breast. His fingers stroked the fabric that covered it first, tenderly massaging her breast as he led her onto the curtain, and his lips moved from hers to start a blazing trail of kisses down her neck and onto her shoulder.

She arched upward to meet him, pulling his head even closer to her breast, wanting his mouth to be there. She could almost feel him getting there. Her hand moved slowly back to his member, and she caressed him through his clothes again. She didn't know what her body was crying out for, only that she wanted it desperately and felt as though she would die if she did not soon get it. She wanted his mouth on her, doing to her unspeakable things! Her mind was almost exploding with the pleasure! She breathed deeply, never realizing that it made her breasts even more perky.

Oh, the scent of him! she thought. Such a wonderful aroma! She could not describe it, but it set her senses to tingling even more. Part of her screamed out for him to hurry, but the other part savored each and every second he spent working on her body. She didn't think she could get any hotter, not without burning the both of them up. She prayed for a moment that they would have the coolness of water and the sensations of the water caressing their bodies.

She wanted to take him there, under the water, and show him the delights of not only her body but also of her world. She had never wanted to take any one home before. That was a strange thought. She'd finally found her true mate, and she knew Daddy would have a fit! She banished her father from her mind immediately. He had no business being there, not when Rian's mouth was almost upon her! She gave herself up to the sensations she was feeling, arching into him even more.

The Meeting Room

Piper walked beside Cole, her godmother's, mother's, and grandmother's words echoing in her mind. They had always been so adamant that she protect her sisters, and now she saw the same determined protection coming from Brendan. Though he had not said anything, she sensed that Cole wanted her to stay behind, as well. She stopped at the doorway and turned to face him. "Be careful." Her eyes searched his for reassurance.

He leaned down and kissed her gently. "My heart aches for those two," he whispered to Piper. "I don't know when the boy's going to get a hold of himself and believe. If he doesn't believe, it's never going to work. I won't be gone long, love. Stay here. Be safe." He kissed her again before letting her go.

He longed to tell her just how much the look in her eyes meant to him. He could see the love in there. No one had ever loved him before. He knew Piper loved him, and that was worth more than all the Earth's gold. He loved her, and he hoped that love would be enough to see them through until he could actually lay claim to her. No White Lighter would get his woman, and neither would any one else! His mind began to make plans for how he would ask for her hand as he wanted to spend eternity with his beloved.

Piper watched Cole go with a soft sigh. She ached to be with him, but she knew her place was with her sisters. She had to protect them, but oh, how she wanted to be able to protect him as well! Not that he needed her protection, she chided herself silently. He could more than full and well protect himself. Her lips still burned delightfully from his gentle kisses as she sent a prayer upwards for his, and the others', safe deliverance from . . . what? Her forehead creased and she had to stop herself from calling out after them as she realized that she still did not know just exactly what had caused the roof to cave in as it had. She unconsciously rested against the door, too worried to realize how tired and hurt she was.

Carl came to stand beside Piper. Though nothing had been said aloud about the Wizards, he knew where they were headed . . . and he understood the complications of their enemies' presence. "I'll watch over them, guys," he called assuringly. He reached out and reassuringly touched Piper's hand. He grinned up at her. "They'll be all right. The two of them could take on an army."

Piper glanced down at him, and then her eyes returned to following Cole. "I hope you're right, Carl; I hope you're right."

The Meeting Room

Katrina, Tom thought, taking a step back and staring down at the object he'd just stepped on. "Lex," his voice sounded odd, thick with worry and fear, "didn't Faith promise you her sword?"

"Yes." Lex looked worriedly at Tom. "Why?"

Tom scooped and gingerly picked up the weapon. His eyes met Lex's, and he missed the note falling to the floor.

"Jasmine, wait!" Katrina called to the blonde. "I have to check on Faith first!" Katrina's eyes saw something fluttering toward the floor as she came back. "You dropped something, beloved," she told Tom. Katrina's gaze went worriedly toward where the Wizards were. The fight seemed to be fully under sway, but also, there seemed to be a major love-in going on. "What is going on? You need to go check on it," she told Tom. "I've got to find Faith, and I have a feeling she's in the midst of the Wizards."

Despite Lex's protests, Clark was getting to his feet. "She is," he announced, shaking his head sadly, "and she doesn't plan on making it out."

Tom picked up the note. "I didn't even know she could write," he commented, the tip of his tail twitching nervously, "but it says To My Family."

"Read it to us, my husband." Katrina was very worried about her little sister and thought that she had perhaps bitten off more than she could chew. She prayed that they would not be too late to help her.

Kurt's eyes darted quickly around the room. He saw Kitty on the attack, and he had not found a single thing under the rubble. Traces of tears had ran down his beloved's face, and he figured that he had failed yet again. She thought he was nuts and did not want him, yet he could not release love he felt and banish it from his cold, lonely heart. She filled every inch of it. He had been rather surprised at the attack on the Wizards and had managed to keep himself out of it. His God, Hercules, had been busy healing those in the room who needed healing and was not paying any attention to Kurt. Therefore, Kurt could not ask him any questions.

He gazed intently at Kitty while she did a jump maneuver and scissored Albus' neck, trying to kill the Wizard. She had gone crazy, just like every one else in the room. He had to get to Kitty and get her off of Albus before Snape, who was busily fighting the Werejaguar, could turn his full attention on to her. Even as he thought that, he had to duck, because Snape was using his wand frantically, trying to fend the cat off, and the wand was shooting everywhere uncontrollably. He definitely didn't want to get hit by it; there was no telling what it would do to his blue, fuzzy fur. Without a word to Herc, he bamfed to where he could see his beloved Kitty. "Lebchien, whatever are you attacking Albus for? Vou and I must talk."

Kitty could barely hear Kurt, but she looked in the direction his voice came from. Even now, his sensual German accent caressed her ears, but she could not give in to whatever it was he wanted to talk about. Considering the fact that he had waited until she'd attacked Dumbledore to finally decide to break his long silence toward her, he must, for whatever bizarre reason, have decided that they shouldn't be attacking the Wizards. Had his invisible God told him not to attack them? she wondered. That thought brought a new, completely unexpected question to her Captain's mind: Could one of these lowlifes be his supposed God? Was that why he believed he saw this being, and yet none of the rest of them had -- because they kept themselves shielded through magick?

"KURT," she yelled back, squinting at him through eyes that her bangs and sweat fell into, "NOW'S NOT EXACTLY A GOOD TIME!" She continued to squeeze Dumbledore's neck with all the strength she could muster. His ancient hands were clawing at her legs and feet in a frantic attempt to free himself, but as she felt one hand leave her foot, she knew he was heading for his wand. She grabbed a knife and threw it at the hand he moved. She reached for a second even as Albus screamed in pain and Snape roared his anguish.

"Lebchien, it is time zat ve talk of love, ze love zat feels mein heart, and you can't hang from another man while you're talking to me! I must have vour undivided attention for this charade has gone on long enough and I can't ignore vhat is going on in mein heart! I vill take you away from zis place to a place where we can be alone in safety and I vill show you mein love! You have to get off of Albus, though, for I refuse to take him as vell! I am to be the only love of your life! Lebchien, do you hear me talking to you?"

The girl seemed to be deaf! "You really must listen to me for mein need is great and you are the only one who can fulfill mein need!" His eyes had not left her face. He'd have to steal her away somewhere quiet, definitely not around the Wizards. Then would be the only time she would listen to him. He prayed that she would listen to him and that her heart would find favor with his. He glanced around, hoping to find something that would help him to appear to be heroic. He certainly wasn't going to attack the Wizards! Why, what would Hercules think if he attacked the Wizards?!

A bitter laugh barked from Pryde's throat. She shook her head and looked away so that he would not see the betraying tears in her eyes. "DO YOU HONESTLY THINK I'M STUPID ENOUGH TO BELIEVE YOU'D JUST HAPPEN TO COME TO ME TO DECLARE YOUR LOVE AFTER A MONTH OF RUNNING FROM ME, TURNING AWAY FROM ME, AND GIVING ME THE COLD SHOULDER WHEN I'M ATTACKING A WIZARD, ONE YOU CLEARLY DON'T WANT ATTACKED?! WHAT IS IT, KURT? DID YOUR GOD TELL YOU NOT TO ATTACK THEM?" There was another bark of bitter laughter, but then her words were tight with emotion and barely-held tears. "CHARLES XAVIER WAS LIKE A FATHER TO ME, BUT AFTER WHAT HE'S DONE, OR AT LEAST ALLOWED TO HAPPEN, I WOULD HURT HIM JUST AS I'M NOW DOING DUMBLEDORE! HECK, IF KAT HADN'T'VE ALREADY GOTTEN HIM, I'D BE ON HIM NOW! LOCKHEED'S . . . IN . . . IN BAD SHAPE . . . !" He wasn't dying, she told herself. He wasn't!

Kurt closed his eyes for a moment. Dear Lord, please heal Lockheed. He's a little, purple dragon somewhere lost in ze crowd. Mein Katzchen zinks he's dying. Please don't let him die. "MY GOD VILL NOT LET 'HEED SUFFER," Kurt told her. "HE VILL HEAL HIM. I KNOW YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN HIM, BUT HE'S ZERE JUST ZE SAME. ONE DAY, YOU VILL SEE, MEIN KATZCHEN."

"I ZOUGHT YOU HATED ME, SO I HAVE STAYED AWAY FROM YOU SO AS NOT TO ANGER YOU MORE. IT VAS A VERY HARD ZING TO DO, BUT EVERY TIME I LOOKED AT YOU, YOU LOOKED AT ME VITH EYES OF HATE. MEIN POOR HEART COULD NOT ZAKE MORE, BEST TO STAY AWAY. BUT TODAY, I ZAKE MEIN STAND! ZODAY, I DECLARE MEIN LOVE, AND I'LL BE DAMNED IF I VANT A VIZARD INVOLVED IN IT!" His eyes had finally spied a hanging curtain rope, and he knew just how to get his Katzchen.

"HOW CAN YOU SAY I LOOKED AT YOU WITH HATE?!" Kitty's mouth was open to say more when something hit her. She did not know where the blow came from but heard the Wizard with the slick, black hair, whose name she vaguely recalled as being Nape, Snape, or some such, yelling something along the lines of that there was more where that came from. He screamed shortly thereafter, and that scream was met with a roar.

Before Kitty knew what was happening, Kurt ran forward, grabbed the rope, and swung, plucking her from Albus. He swung with her to the balcony before letting go the rope and scooping her up into his arms. He raced with her to the bedroom. Once there, he laid her on the bed. "Now ve zalk. Nein interruptions, and nein Vizards!"

Wolverine had almost made it to the kitchen when the door swung outward and almost knocked him down. He saw Brendan and Cole walking out. They both looked like they were looking for a fight. "What's been going on in there?" he asked, hoping that one of them would tell them. "Are the girls all right?"

Brendan nodded. "They're okay . . . for now." He added as an after-thought, "No thanks to their so-called new White Lighter."

"Sam do something wrong?" Wolverine asked with concern in his voice. He hadn't seen much of the man, but he had liked what he'd seen.

"Sam's gone. They assigned them a new one." Brendan paused, daring a glance at his father before looking away. "We," he cleared his throat, "sent him packing."

"We don't need no stinking White Lighters," Wolverine told them. "We have enough healers, although I think I'll miss Sam. He was a good guy to have around in a fight." He glanced at Brendan's hand. "I see you hit him pretty damn hard. Maybe you killed him?"

Brendan shook his head, his eyes searching for the Wizards. "You might say I saved that for some one else, if it comes to that." Though he talked big, he knew he could never take a Wizard down by himself, but he would die fighting, if necessary, to protect his family. "Where's Jack? Is he all right?" Hadn't he seen him hanging up near the roof in nothing but his tiny underwear?

"I'd say your brother's doin' 'xactly fine for himself right now, but I still haven't found 'Ro and I need a healer. Vang's down. If I don't find some one quick, he ain't gonna make it."

Cole looked at Wolverine. "Paige may be through with Lorne in there. She should be able to heal him."

"I'll go an' get her, and then I'll join ya guys. Save some of 'em for me."

Cole nodded and continued walking.

Brendan turned to look at Wolverine. "Dad . . . " He waited until Wolverine's eyes met his and then looked at him with extreme urgency and secrecy. "Do you know about . . . Prue and her sisters?"

"Know what, son?" Wolverine asked Brendan. "I know they're mighty fine, beautiful, young ladies, and you boys are mighty lucky to get 'em, just like I'm extremely lucky to have 'Ro. Something I should know? If so, 'Ro sure hasn't told me anythin'. Prue tell you something?"

He shook his head. "She doesn't know. Hardly any one does." He paused long enough for that to sink in. He knew he wouldn't have to tell his father not to spread the news for Wolverine was the best there was at keeping secrets. "They are extremely powerful. Extremely. More powerful, probably, than any of the other Sorceresses. They don't know it, but the Wizards would."

"And this worries you? You're afraid Prue's going to turn on you or something?"

Brendan's fingers curled; he resisted the urge to slap his own forehead. Why wasn't his father reading between the lines this day? "The Wizards will want them, Dad, for their own uses."

"If the girls are that powerful, the Wizards aren't going to be able to touch them. Did you say anything to the girls about it?"

"No. Until they come into their power, their full power, they don't need to know or, at least, that's what Ororo and Kyna both think."

"Ah. So you were listening without 'em knowing! You'd better hope they don't find out, Brendan. They might try some of that mindwiping stuff on ya."

"I wasn't listening on purpose! Wolf ears pick up things in the dead of the night! I can't help it!" He shook himself. "But that's beside the point. I'm not worried what they'll do if they find out I know, but I am worried about the Wizards going after them. Watch out for them, especially Paige as she'll be out here."

"Have to find 'Ro," Wolverine told him. "None of those Wizards are a match for her. I'll protect Paige. Give 'em some o' the ol' claw. You be careful, my son. Your brother's not in the fighting right now. I don't want to have to go out there and dig ya out of a pile of mess, but I will. Leave Jack out of it. He's . . . well, I dunno the best way to put it, but Will's kinda busy with him. If ya ask me, it's well past time. I just never knew Jack to do it out in the open before!"

Brendan blushed but grinned nonetheless. "I wondered about that underwear . . . " He blushed even deeper and shook his head. "That's good, though. He doesn't need to be any more involved in this than what he already is, but we have no choice, Dad. You know that. You know what they're here for . . . who."

"If it comes to that, you can count on me. I'll fight 'em tooth and nail before they ever lay a paw on one o' my family. Just lemme get in to the kitchen an' get Paige ta help Vang an' I'll join ya once I'm sure she's safe."

Brendan nodded. "Be careful, Dad," he said before turning and running to catch up with Cole.

Though James had always been a fine actor, Smee had always been able to tell the difference between his role and his real self, yet now he was lost. Was his love truly only acting, or was he speaking the truth? If what he said was true, then why had he seen him upstairs with that bitch? It had been James. Smee knew that beyond a shadow of a doubt, or so he felt. He'd never mistake his own beloved, after all. Yet the tears that rolled down James' face broke Smee's heart even further. As he pondered the mournful look on his beloved's face and the words he'd declared so passionately and, as far as Smee could tell, truthfully, he dared to reach up a hand and touch James' face. He began to slowly wipe James' tears away, his touches ever so gentle and cautious. He fully expected James to pull away from him or even slap his hand away, but his love did neither.

For the first time in a long time, Smee did not back down from the eye contact James made with him. Instead, he kept his gaze, though he quivered and shook uncontrollably against James' length. "The last thing I want you to do," he told him in a choked, hushed voice, "is to leave me, James. I love you! I always have, and I always will! I can't live without you, but I also can't live with you loving a bitch, whether or not it's in plain sight or behind my back. I just can't!" he cried.

"You insist that there's no bitch, yet I saw the two of you with my own eyes!" Another great sob raked him. "And it's not like I can blame you, not really . . . I love you, but . . . " Words were failing him, and so it was that Smee dared to turn to a method of expression that he'd not turned to in well over a century.

"Please baby can't you see
My mind's a burnin' Hell
I got razors a rippin' and tearin' and strippin'
My heart apart as well
Tonight you told me
That you ache for something new
And some woman is lookin' like something
That might be good for you

Go on and hold her till the screaming is gone
Go on believe her when she tells you
Nothing's wrong
But I'm the only one
Who'll walk across the fire for you
I'm the only one
Who'll drown in my desire for you
It's only fear that makes you run
The demons that you're hiding from
When all your promises are gone
I'm the only one"

Jack melted, the sword falling to the floor. Will was kissing him! Maybe he should have made him Captain a long time ago!? He deepened the kiss.

Will's tongue pried for permission against Jack's lips, and once it was granted, it dove deep into his waters. His hands cupped his face, his fingers caressing his skin before sliding upwards. He paused at about the place he would have normally encountered Jack's hair and found he had to go further. He caressed even his ears before at last finding his ebony hair and beginning to run his fingers through his silken strands.

Jack trembled at his love's touch. He wanted to pick him up and carry him away from there where he could have his way with him. He had waited for what seemed like an eternity for Will to want him again, and there was no way that he was going to let Will get away from him until he had proven to him just how much he did love him! His hands caressed Will's muscular body even as his tongue dueled with Will's. The flames shot higher, and Jack began unbuttoning Will's clothes, covering the exposed flesh with enflamed kisses. He paused for a moment to slip back into Will's mouth and then move on to the next exposed area.

Jack's kisses were melting Will steadily; even his very bones felt like sloshing water. He moaned in pleasure as Jack kissed each new area he exposed, but then his hands moved to stripping out of his jacket. He threw it carefully over Jack's shoulder and kept an eye on it as he recaptured Jack's lips with his own. He stepped forward, watching as the jacket settled. His hands had already been moving all over Jack's body, caressing each area they came across, but now he moved them to his chest. He caressed him and kissed him again with even more passion. "Lay down," he murmured against his soul mate's lips. "Please, love, lay down and let me show you how much I've missed you!"

Jack couldn't wait to hit the floor! This was a new and very exciting Will! In their other encounters, Will had been more passive than Jack, and now Jack marvelled at how aggressive Will had suddenly become. Maybe he had missed him as much as Jack had missed him? He could hardly wait to see just how much Will had missed him!

As Jack laid down, Will paused a moment to enjoy the breath-taking scenery, then followed suit. He straddled Jack, each knee to either side of his beloved, then took his mouth with his again. He kissed him passionately, his tongue diving deeply, but then pulled away. He began to blaze a trail of heated kisses that led over Jack's incredibly smooth chin and down his neck. As he reached his shirt, he bit the collar and tugged slightly before moving on to take each lace in his teeth and slowly undoing it. His hands, meanwhile, caressed other parts of Jack's body: each and every spot they could reach.

Jack's body trembled in response to Will's aggressiveness. He definitely liked Will passionately attacking him! He wanted more! His hands reached every part of Will that he could and caressed him. His eyes glazed over with passion. He looked up into Will's eyes. "I love you! I've missed you so much!" he told him and pulled Will down with a kiss.

Will lovingly caressed Jack's face as he returned his kiss in full and more before lifting slightly up. His breath washed over Jack's mouth as he whispered back, "Oh, Jack, I love you too! I've never stopped loving you! But I thought . . . " He looked shamefully away. "It doesn't work any more."

Jack quirked an eyebrow. "Could've fooled me. It's stiff!" he said as he reached out to caress Will's sword. "Release it; let's see if it will stay stiff."

"It won't," Will told him sadly, "and I can't do that, Jack, not now. I can't disappoint you again! Please," he dared to meet his eyes again, "just lay back and enjoy? I've wanted to give you pleasure for so long now, and I finally know how I can!"

"Then come, my Captain, love me," Jack told him with a sexy grin on his face. He didn't know what Will had in mind, but whatever it was, he was more than willing to go along for the ride. As long as he could keep Will with him, he knew that there would be a chance that he could prove to Will that yes, he, too, could be given pleasure! For now, he waited, almost holding his breath to see what Will would do to him.

Will grinned and kissed him again.

Xena pulled her hands back from Gabrielle's head wound and stared in amazement as the separated skin drew closer together. Although blood was everywhere, it was actually knitting itself back together again. Her eyes went up and glanced around the room. Could the Wizards be doing the healing, she wondered, or was it some one else? She didn't see any one in particular looking their way, but she did see a golden glow going around the room. It could have been caused by the Wizards. She turned her love over and called to her softly. "Gabby? Wake up, darling. The Wizards have come."

Gabrielle moaned as she came around. Her eyes were not even open yet when she heard her beloved's words about the Wizards. "Hades," she moaned. Her eyes slowly fluttered open, and she looked up at Xena. Somehow, the woman she loved seemed to grow more beautiful with each time she saw her, and she simply lay there for a moment, admiring her with a weak smile.

"It's wonderful to have you awake again, darling. I've been so worried!" She brushed her beloved's face with her hand very gently.

"What happened?" Gabrielle asked, relishing in Xena's touch.

"A no-good, lying traitor amongst us hit you with his morning star! I thought at first he had killed you; I attacked him in return. I would have killed him, too, but the roof fell in!"

Gabrielle eyed Xena questioningly. Though she loved Xena with all her being and nothing would ever change that, her love had been acting rather . . . strangely as of late. Her mind flashed back to earlier that morning, when Xena had almost lost complete control and given in to her thoughts in the midst of battle. She would have not of been reminded of that moment now, however, if she had not seen the roof in tact far above Xena's head. She hid her moment of uncertainty by gently grasping Xena's hand, bringing it to her mouth, and lightly kissing her wrist.

"I know it doesn't look like it now," Xena admitted, "but the roof really did fall in. There has been so many things going on in here I hardly know where to begin! The roof came down but returned itself to its normal being. Captain Jack and Will almost got caught up there next to the ceiling and couldn't get down. The Wizard, Snape, helped him down, but Jack doesn't look like himself. He was up there next to the ceiling in some skimpy underwear, and there's no telling what he's up to now!"

She thrilled where Gabby kissed her. Her blood quickened at her love's touch. "Do you feel like you can stand, if I help you? We must be ready in case the Wizards are out of control . . . " She really dreaded having to attack the Wizards. It had been a while since she had made a stupid mistake like that, but with some of the Pirates doing unmentionable things and others of them attacking the Wizards, she would wait for Gabrielle's wise advice. She'd listen to her heart. She had began to doubt her own judgement lately with the voices that had been playing through her head and the flashes of memory that tried to wipe out her own smart thinking.

"Yes, I can," Gabrielle answered. "I feel . . . oddly . . . fine," she admitted. "Tired but okay other than that." Her eyes finally moved from the roof to look back at Xena. Despite her sweetheart's claim, she could find no sign of the roof having been damaged. Her hand slid down Xena's until their fingers grasped.

Xena helped Gabrielle to get to her feet slowly. She was prepared to catch her if she fell. It was then that she heard voices that she recognized and turned to look in Kyna's direction.

Captain Pryde's Bedroom

Kitty was dazed, and her head hurt like Hell as she looked up from something soft she'd suddenly found herself sat upon. Her enemy was gone, and instead she was looking at Kurt . . . She squinted. Two Kurts? How could there be two Kurts? She shook her head and grimaced at the pain. Pressing one hand gently to her head, she queried, "Kurt, what's going on?"

"Vhen and vhat do you mean, Katzchen? Mein heart beats overtime for you, and you can not leave your mind off of those Vizards for one minute?!" He reached out, took her hand, and placed it on his heart. "See? It beats for you!" he repeated. "Do not vorry vour pretty head about vhat's going on vith ze Vizards. Instead, look at me and tell me that you love me. Can you not see I bleed for you? I go down on bended knee for you to ask you to love a poor Demon for I am lost vithout your love!"

"Kurt, I . . . " How could she possibly deny him when he looked at her with those rich, yellow eyes that she fell into so easily? "I never stopped loving you! I thought you hated me!"

"I could never hate you, mein Lebchien. You are ze very breath I breathe! Mein only hope for life!" He kissed her hand, nibbling softly at her fingers. "Misunderstandings between us have gone on too long. Zey end today. Ve vill always talk, from now on. Nein silence between us. It only makes a big hole bigger until you feel you can drown in it. I know not how to court a woman. I have never vanted to until I met you. All I can say is zat mein poor humble heart I lay before your feet. I ask only zat you love me. Save me vith your love," he pleaded. He felt himself drowning in her eyes and knew he was babbling. He only hoped his beloved could make some sense out of what he was saying.

His words threatened to stun her. Between his awesome declaration, enchanting eyes, and loving look, Kitty had to struggle to think. "I wouldn't have blamed you if you had hated me, Kurt. I didn't; I blamed myself. I don't know what came over me in those trials! I . . . " She shook her head slowly, tears slipping down her bruised face. "I almost lost every one I ever loved in that damn trial! Hell, I almost lost myself even!"

"But you ask me to save you?" She reached out and took his handsome face in her hands. She had wanted to feel the silky fuzz of his fur for so long now; she couldn't resist pausing a second to enjoy its texture as her fingers caressed him. "Sweetheart, you just took me away from doing just that!"

"Killing Vizards is not ze answer, mein love! I burn for you, and it's got nothing to do vith zem! I need you! I desire you, but most of all, I love you vith all of mein being! I need you!" he repeated. He felt himself lost in her eyes. He didn't want to think about the trials. He would never have condemned Kitty for what she had almost done. It was more temptation than any woman should have to withstand. How could a woman look at his disgusting self and have a choice of two gorgeous hunks and not make the choice of the hunks? He would have forgiven her for that, but he didn't know how to tell her. "Love me, mein Katzchen. Let ze others deal vith ze Vizards. I need you desperately!"

She stared at him, tears sparkling in her brown eyes. How could he ask her to now? Though she burned to be one with him again, how could she abandon what was left of her crew, her family, Lockheed?! Did he really expect her to? Would he understand? "Kurt, I . . . " Her eyes searched his. "I love you! I do! But I just can't . . . " She shook her head. "I can't abandon my family, our people. You gave Sean your word, remember, that you'd be there for him and Emma? They need us now more than ever before!"

Kurt did not know how to answer Kitty. In his heart, he felt it was wrong to attack the Wizards, and he did not want her to. "'Heed vill be all right. Herc vill take care of Him. I promise." She had said that she loved him, and he believed her. He knew he did not have the right to keep her away from her family, yet he needed her badly too. He was fighting with himself when there came a scratching on the door.

To Be Continued . . .