Author's Note: And here it ends - A Splash of Colour is finished! I'm shocked it took me this long to post it up, but eh. I got there eventually. Many thanks to BlackAsEbony for letting me vent when I needed to! And merci readers for reviewing and being here for the whole journey! Hopefully, my next 5D's book will be started in early January. Happy New Year!
Much love, Princess Kanako x

Title: A Splash of Colour

Author: Princess Kanako

Pairing(s): Trudge/OC

Date Edited: 26/12/14

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's or any of its affiliates; they belong to Kazuki Takahashi

Claimer: I do own Scarlett, a few plot ideas, and any OCs that pop up along the way.

Genre: Drama, Romance, Suspense, Humour.

Summary: Officer Trudge's life was grey, bleak and meaningless. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw it. Something bright. Something warm. Something he'd almost forgotten about. A splash of colour. (Previously known as To Trudge Towards The Light)

"I can help you get warm," Trudge murmured, delighted with the darkening of her eyes as his hands caressed her silky skin. "We start like this," he pulled her close into his arms, dipping his head to brush his lips across her mouth. The light kiss turned into something much more passionate, leaving them both breathless when Trudge's mouth left hers. He watched as her eyes fluttered open slowly, their golden depths almost ochre in the dim light. Scarlett licked her lips, feeling his body tense beneath her exploring fingertips.

"That's very nice, but before we go any further, I…have a couple of questions."

"What questions?" Trudge's voice was husky, his warm lips nibbling the sensitive spot near her neck and shoulder. "I don't want to spend all our time together talking."

"I don't think there is much danger in that, but I do have to know that we won't be interrupted this time." She felt his chest heave against her with silent laughter. "I'm serious! I don't think I can take another interruption when we have...plans. I might have to do something rash like give your phone to Rosie for safe keeping." This time she felt him smile against her skin.

"Okay, Lottie. You've got one minute. What do you want to know? And for the record, my cell is on the couch where I'll make sure to ignore it for the next several hours," he answered her, forcing himself to take a deep breath and concentrate on what she was saying.

"Everyone is safe, yes?" Trudge nodded, his eyes never leaving her face as she trailed a finger down his neck and across his chest. "There will be no emergencies to take you rushing away from me in the night?" Scarlett slanted a glance up at him as he shook his head no. "Are you expecting any calls?" Again he indicated no, and asked his own question after a moment.

"Are you expecting any calls?"

"Nope. I spoke to Dave's parents today. They'll have the boys for the week. Anya doesn't have access to a phone and John and I spoke earlier today. I'm a free woman." Scarlett leaned forward and brushed her lips across his.

"Good," he murmured, returning her kiss. He moved quickly then and she found herself on her back, Trudge's arms on either side of her. "That means no interruptions tonight," he told her huskily, one hand stroking her hair back from her face.

"Hmmm, may I remind you, darling, you ended it the last time."

"Well, it was your grandmother who needed my help," Trudge murmured, brushing another kiss across her mouth while stretching his body out alongside hers.

"But, you didn't tell me that she was in danger or that she was helping you with a case," Scarlett murmured, his nearness suddenly making it difficult to concentrate.

"She didn't want you to worry." Trudge slid one hand along her flat stomach, his eyes travelling over her body. "Enough talking, Lottie. I want to love you. We've waited long enough," he added, his lips moving across her skin towards the shadowy hollow that had kept the towel in place earlier.

"I've got one more thing I have to tell you Chris," Scarlett murmured, her fingers sliding through his dark hair.

He sighed softly, asking, "Can't it wait until morning?"

Scarlett set her cup of tea down on her desk, looking in dismay at the stack of paperwork and files that had appeared since she'd left yesterday afternoon. It looked like at least a couple hours of work, she thought, pulling up her calendar. A glance at the screen told her she had several care meetings later this morning and one staff meeting after lunch. Before she settled into her paperwork, she pulled out her phone, noticing the new email icon in the upper corner. The thought that it might be from one of the twins' teachers had her scanning the list quickly. She didn't see anything from the elementary school, but she did recognize one from Domino and a certain Security Sector Captain. Before she could tap the tab to open it, a knock sounded on her door, and she dropped the device into her desk drawer.

"Come in," she called quickly, pushing the sudden image of a certain dark-haired Captain with her beneath the sheets of a bed out of her mind as the door opened. She felt her heart stop.

"C-Chris..." she whispered as he stepped into the room.

"Scarlett," he answered, his eyes intense.

As their passion slowly ebbed away, Trudge brought Scarlett close to him, feeling her breathing slowly return to normal. She was dozing, floating in and out of a woozy reality, when his warm lips lightly brushing hers brought her lashes sweeping upward to find him looking at her in the moonlight filtering through the window.

"Are you okay?" he asked huskily, his hands caressing her silky skin beneath the sheets. She nodded contentedly and he felt her body stretch against his.

"Perfect."

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked her softly, his thumb stroking her lips.

Shaking her head, Scarlett whispered, "I didn't think it mattered."

"Of course it matters," he answered her, stroking her hair from her face.

She misunderstood. "I didn't … know how you'd feel about…" Scarlett stumbled and found she wanted to hide her hot face in his shoulder.

"I would've taken it slower if I'd known. It would've been better for you." He dropped a kiss on her lips, his dark eyes soft.

"No darling." Scarlett felt suddenly shy of him. "I…it was wonderful. I wouldn't have wanted you to have done anything different."

"It'll be better for you next time, I promise." His voice was a rough rumble in her ear, and she felt his warm lips trailing kisses along her shoulder.

"There'll be a next time?" she asked innocently.

"Of course there will," he answered her, his fingers idly tracing her wedding band. "Why would you think anything else?"

"I just thought…" Trudge didn't let her finish, his mouth covering hers in a deep kiss that promised many more nights spent in each other's arms.

Fin~