Author's Note: I know, I know. It's been awhile. I'm sorry. MAJOR writer's block and lack of time for any writing

Kevin: you found time to write about that game and that American immortal.

Author: That's different. TF2 is a new fandom for me and the story is a collection of drabbles. As for Jack Harkness, that's being co-written. I can't get writer's block with Carolin to help the inspiration flow.

Theresa: Chill out, Kevin. Let's get on with the story.


"T-talk?" Theresa choked out in between gasping for breath, then cleared her throat as her breathing returned to normal, "I said there's nothing to talk about. Why won't you leave me alone?"

"Because there quite clearly is," Kevin replied, taking a step towards her before leaning forward and resting his hands on the work surface on either side of her, effectively trapping her between the sink and himself, "and I'm not letting you run away this time"

"I'm sorry if I hurt your pride"

"My pride isn't what was hurt!"

"Sure, I believe that," uncharacteristically Theresa stuck her tongue out at him rudely before she continued, "You're just upset I'm not begging to get into bed with you!"

"I know you don't mean this attitude! You're just frightened!"

"What do you want, Kevin?"

This was unexpected…but the words that'd been simmering in his subconscious for months now were out before he could even think about it.

"I want you to say again that you love me." This came out quieter than he'd hoped for, but they were said…and Theresa'd finally stopped trying to break out of his hold (admittedly only to stare at him as if he'd asked her to let him wear Banksy's collar, but at least she'd stopped)

"What?"

"Tell me again that you love me…" he repeated, sounding surprised at himself

"There are plenty of girls who shout that they love you on a daily basis, Kevin"

"But you like me…for me. You've said before…you like ME. Not Kevin Mask the wrestler…you like…"

"…plain Kevin Mask…"

The next thing that happened was that his mask hit the floor with a loud clang as he all but tore it off and quickly pressed his lips against hers, his heart racing like crazy but he didn't make the effort to try and slow it.

"Tell me you love me," he murmured, kissing from her mouth to her right ear and back again, "tell me that you love me, Theresa"

"I…" she swallowed and started again, "I hate you, Kevin," she whispered huskily against his mouth, but continued before his heart could sink to low, "I hate you because you make me realise that I am mostly human," she finished by kissing him again and closing her eyes.

That said, and his pride not sure whether to be happy or sad, he tried to break away but her fingers tightened against his skull and Theresa all but hissed, "If you stop kissing me right now, I will yank your hair out, Kevin Mask!"

"…right," was all he got to say before getting lost in another kiss

Sweet. GOD! How the bloody hell did I survive without this for over a month?!

"…need air…" one of them managed to gasp out eventually, though neither of them could really tell which one of them said it. It didn't really matter anyway as they broke apart, both panting slightly and Theresa silently, with a facial gesture, conceded to loosen her death-grip around Kevin's neck on the premise that Kevin then stopped gripping her hips so hard.

"This is crazy!" Theresa said eventually as she clawed her fingers through her hair a few times, "absolutely, completely and totally crazy!"

"I know"

"I can't do this…"

"What?! But we just-!"

"I can't do this in Micky's kitchen," she interrupted gently, "for one thing I'm afraid his mum'll catch us and she's the biggest gossip this side of London. For another, the blinds overlooking the garden are open and I'm no one's peep show."

"Ah…So…what do we-?"

Theresa sighed hugely, "I think we need to talk, before we go any further…come on, the front room's down this corridor. Everyone's outside so it'll be quiet."

"The living room?"

"It's that or the basement and Micky's dad doesn't like people going down there."

"…do I dare ask why?"

"Mr Dolenz is a mortician. The basement and the two front rooms are where he works and conducts business respectively and I think he's got a client in the works right now but it's pretty quiet down there too so we could always sneak down there and-"

"You know what? The front room will do just fine. Lead the way. Please"


The living room…well he could say this, it had character…even if that character seemed to be schizophrenic. Photos and knickknacks, one framed tapestry, none of the furniture matched and the stuffed, mounted moose head, staring blankly ahead at nothing was creepy.

Theresa sat down on the green chintz sofa and looked at him expectantly, a moment later he sat down next to her…damn but this sofa was the ugliest thing ever created…comfortable as sin though…He glanced at Theresa, trying to get his thoughts back on track…she looked tense.

"Are you still with that band?"

She blinked…then shook her head, "No. That came to an end."

"I'm sorry"

"Why? It wasn't permanent; my time playing with them came to an end naturally because their regular player came back from his leave of absence and I wasn't needed anymore. It was fun though, I'm better for the experience, lots of good memories…but that's not what we're talking about."

"Right…"

Awkward… his mind supplied unhelpfully, where do we go now?

You tell me!

"Do you wish you'd never met me?"

"No! No…I don't," she looked down at her hands where they were clasped on her lap, "I'm richer for the experience…I'm just wondering…why you'd want to be with me? Why's it important?"

"You like me."

"And?"

"Does there need to be more?"

"Indulge me. I'd like to know if there's more than just that I like you. Lots of people like you, a lot even worship you."

"But they don't know me. You know me, and you like me. I'm…" Kevin paused, how to word this without sounding too vulnerable? Damn!

"I'm not just a wrestler to you, I'm not an icon, and you don't worship me or idolise me. You just…like me. You treat like a normal person. I've never had that."

"Never? Really? You've always been on a pedestal?"

"All my life," he admitted bitterly, "I wasn't a person to anyone; I was always a…project. To my father I was something to be moulded into his exact image, to the DMP, something to be used as vengeance. As for the fans…I'm something to be worshipped or fantasised over. To none of them I had any personality or anything outside of their own ideals…and then there was you"

"Me?"

"You. Who didn't know me, who treated me in a friendly way, well, AFTER you thought I was stalking you and you tried to set Banksy on me. You know I've never had friends"

"I remember…you told me at the park," Theresa went quiet, a small smile flittered across her face, no doubt as she remembered that night but then she sobered again and looked at him, "so that's the only reason you like me? Because I don't worship you?"

"No! It's not the only reason! It's…it's just the main…Damn it, Theresa! WHY are you making this so hard?!"

"Because I don't WANT to be in love, OK? I don't want any of this! Gods, it's so horribly complicated I can't even express it!" she raked her fingers through her hair in apparent frustration, "I…" she took a few deep breaths before continuing, "Yes, I think that I love you and that I would like to be with you…but I'm terrified, OK? I'm scared to death!"

"Because of your parents…"

"Pretty much. I don't trust blokes as a rule."

"You trust Micky and James"

"First point: I've known Micky since we were little. Second point: He's gay. And James is my Gramps, if I can't trust Gramps then really there'd be no point in trusting anyone, would there?"

"This comes down to your father again, doesn't it?"

"Pot-Kettle-Black, Kevin" she flopped against the back of the sofa, her head falling backwards, "this isn't getting us anywhere. We're going around in circles and need to find a way for this déjà vu to end somehow."

More silence stretched out, the only sounds were the muted noises from the garden, the ticking of the clock on the wall…and the stare of that bloody moose head on the wall.

"Go out with me," Kevin said finally

"Come again?"

"You," he pointed at her with a gloved index finger, "go out with me," he pointed at himself

"Just like that?"

"Just like that."

"Please…just tell me you're not just playing with me," she told him, "I think my heart might bleed"

"Does it look as if I'm joking?"

Theresa considered this…really, what did she have to lose anymore?

Your heart

I think he might have that already…

Your self-respect

How can something that makes me happy make me lose myself respect?

What if you get pregnant?

Not going to happen. Not yet. Besides, there's always the contraceptive implant…right?

OK, fine. If you want to get hurt, you go ahead but I warned you.

I'm tired of fighting this…if I get hurt, then I get hurt. At least I can say I tried it.

"…OK." She said finally.

"OK?" Kevin blinked at her. She'd really given in that easily, after all that

"Just like that?" he echoed her earlier question

"Just like that," she nodded, a slight smile curling one corner of her mouth, "But if I decide I don't like it, I get to leave without a fuss, right?"

"Of course" (he wasn't too pleased with this proviso but if it made her feel better about the whole thing, then he supposed he'd have to live with it. And that in itself was a new experience.)

"Good." She took a deep breath, "Alright then…ask me out again"

"What?"

"Humour me, ask me"

"Alright…Theresa Chappen, will you go out with me?"

"Yes," she nodded, "I'll go out with you, Kevin Mask"


Author's Note: No, the story's not done. I've an epilogue in the writing. THEN I'll be done. And possibly able to work on a sequel.

Kevin: Oh no! No more prying into my private life!

Author: Oh go on, you like it really. I gave you a non-Mary-Sue girlfriend to date, didn't I? People likely want to see how nice you are with her.

Kevin: I refuse!

Theresa: Oh go on. We've come this far, I'll even make it worth your while (leans up and whispers something)

Kevin:…………(looks at her) Really?

Theresa: (nods)

Kevin: with malt vinegar?

Author: Do I even want to know?

Theresa: I said I'd make him proper fish and chips from scratch.

Author: Oh, that makes much more sense than what most of the readers were imagining, I'm sure.

Musical References: Again, mostly sacrificed in the name of plot, but there's a few obscure ones……I'm ashamed to admit there's a vague 'spice girls' in there. Always be there, I think. (going around in circles tell me will the déjà vu never end), there's also a line from Guns n Roses' 'Sweet Child of mine' and 'My Paper Heart' by All-American Rejects. The title from His Name is Alive 'Here Forever Always Now'