More intimacy, just a warning! Also thank you Arianna for reviewing! Enjoy ~Alice

CHAPTER 12

The meeting wasn't in Quinn's room this time. Usually it was used because it was conveniently located and comfortable. It was also fairly large, and enough room for everyone to sit in folding chairs or on the extra two beds that once belonged Creedy before he moved downstairs with Simone, and Barlowe, who slept in the tower exclusively now.

Quinn had thought that since he was now sharing with Amelia, they should use the war room out of respect for her. One more nod to his thoughtfulness.

The war room was an old dungeonous space with one stained-glass window, a large table that they used to draft building plans and blueprints for various projects like Jerry's sprinkler system; and a creaky metal gate that separated the back room from the front.

Amelia entered behind Creedy; her nerves jumbled and skittered under her skin like beads of water on a hot skillet.

Calm down, this is ridiculous. You know all these people.

"What's Amelia doing here?" asked Eddie.

Her heart dropped. She knew it. She knew they wouldn't accept her.

"I asked her to come," said Quinn and left it at that. Eddie shrugged and laced his fingers over his stomach.

Amelia let out a nervous breath and looked around the room as she took a seat at the huge table. In addition to Eddie, there was Ajay, Jerry, Frank, Cordelia, Obrien, and Jared standing behind Quinn. Always faithful Jared. Amelia smiled at him.

"So, I've taken inventory. I've spoken with John on how to stretch our bread makings. He's got some ideas on changing to breads with his sourdough. Our storehouses are low, but we can cut back somewhere between two and five percent for meals."

"My kids are hungry enough as it is Quinn," said Eddie suddenly.

"I know, I do," said Quinn in answer. "We account for calorie intake too. I know Devon's a big man; we're taking that into account for your boy."

Quinn was all business. So focused were his eyes and his voice was firm and commanding. Amelia heated up inside when he spoke like this.

"Also, I went to survey the gardens. If we hang on a little bit longer to harvest, I think we'll yield a better crop next year after the seeds germinate."

"That's next year though," said Obrien. "It's this year we need to focus on."

"We're playing the long game," said Creedy. "But yes, we're here because we need more ideas for right now."

Amelia noticed something interesting then. Not one person was contributing any ideas. They all looked to Quinn and Creedy to come up with the plan, and then criticize it. Was this how it went every meeting?

"I think we can make it till harvest. We truly can if we buckle down," said Quinn confidently. "We're down to three chickens, and I think we can incubate a few more."

"We barely have enough to feed them now," said Cordelia.

Quinn raised his hand. "I think if we organize another hunt, one more to search through that little town we found, maybe we'll find some feed or something we can use."

"We can set up a vine feed," said Amelia quietly.

All eyes turned to her suddenly, and she gulped at the sudden pressure, but continued her voice wavering a little.

"Yeah, my dad kept chickens, and he used to use them in tandem with gardening. I mean, it would take a season, but we could grow peas on stakes, and it would offer them shade, plus food." Amelia began to share how it would work.

Quinn stared at her, pride and admiration written all over his face.

"Yeah, maybe that would work," said Eddie conceded, and they nodded.

The conversation moved on and Amelia began to feel useless again, just staring at whoever was speaking at the time. Quinn hardly looked at her the rest of the meeting. She suddenly thought, maybe he was mad at her, but had to remind herself this was leadership mode, and he was focused.

"Alright," said Cordelia when they were coming to a close. "I feel good about this plan Quinn. What do you think Eddie?"

Eddie paused. "Yeah, we can make it. But I'm still concerned about those three new kids."

Amelia noticed Jared prickled in the corner.

"I'm not saying they don't deserve to be here," he continued when Cordelia shot him a look. "It just worries me."

"I know," said Quinn. "I know how you love your kids. Believe me, if I didn't think we could make it, I'd say so."

Eddie nodded, and didn't say anything else, though he looked as if he wanted to.

Quinn was just calling for a vote, when suddenly Frank who no one noticed had been silently becoming more red faced, couldn't hold it in any longer, and burst out in frustration.

"All this talk of percentages, calorie intake… It's enough to confuse even the most intelligent person! Spell it out Quinn, you're leading us to ruin!" he said blustering.

Quinn put his hands on the table and stared evenly at Frank.

"What are you on about?" asked Creedy derisively.

"You all are painting a picture that's rosy and bleak," continued Frank. "It can't be both, and you know that. Just speak plainly, we're not going to last the Winter!"

Everyone looked around the room at each other confused. They thought they were being as plain as day. But Frank was older. Older even than Jerry. Maybe he was just having a hard time.

Amelia put her hand on her chess rival's arm. "He's not saying that at all Frank," said Amelia gently. "We can make it. I've done the calculations with him myself."

Frank jerked his arm away. "I see you've been indoctrinated," he said angrily. "I'd thought better of you Amelia."

Amelia pulled back confused. Quinn bristled.

"Frank," said Eddie placatingly. "Calm down."

"I won't!" cried Frank. "I'm disappointed in all of you! Especially you Quinn. I'd never thought it of you, preying on a young girl like Amelia. You should be ashamed!"

Everyone in the room grew still and uneasy, either looking back and forth between Amelia and Quinn, or down at their hands on the table.

"Now listen here," said Quinn, leaning forward on the table, unable to hold back any longer. "I see this isn't about rationing."

"Quinn," said Amelia quietly, and Quinn looked at her. She gave him a tiny shake of her head and he stood back up crossly.

"Frank, I'm old enough to make my own decisions," said Amelia firmly.

"Not likely," Frank mumbled under his breath.

"This isn't the place," she cautioned. "You can stay after and we'll have it out, but I don't appreciate you trying to humiliate me in front of everyone. I believe you were going to call a vote Quinn?" she said. She was surprised the sentence had come out as calmly as it had, because her hands were shaking with rage.

Quinn nodded watching Amelia closely, then called for a vote. Frank at least had the decency to look slightly sheepish and raised his hand in favor. They would implement the plan and carry on unanimously.

"Back to the radio tower to spell Michael," said Ajay, jumping up and rushing out of the room awkwardly. In fact, everyone ran out quickly, including Cordelia who at least touched Amelia's arm and gave it a little squeeze. Everyone but Creedy and Jared, not wanting to be involved in Amelia, Quinn and Frank's personal drama.

Creedy glanced at Quinn with a Should I stay question in his eyes. Quinn motioned for him to go. Creedy took Jared's arm, and pulled him out.

Amelia rounded on Frank the minute they'd left the other room into the hallway and closed the door. "What the bloody hell is wrong with you?" Amelia cried.

"Amelia, I'm concerned. You're much too young to be in a sexual relationship. And Quinn, you know better! A young girl like this! Just because of the time we're living in, doesn't make it right."

"You're speaking about things beyond your purview Frank," said Quinn dangerously, but he cast his eyes down.

"How old do you think I am?" asked Amelia.

Frank assessed her face. "Aren't you about 16?"

Amelia sighed. "No," she said exasperated.

Frank looked slightly embarrassed now. "How old are you then?" he asked.

"Quite frankly, it's none of your business, and with how you've behaved, I'd rather not say."

"She's twenty-two," said Quinn, his hands in his pockets. Amelia shot Quinn a look and he shrugged.

Frank looked stunned and confused. "Love, I'm sorry. I just assumed."

"If you were truly my friend, you'd have talked to me instead of airing my business out in front of everyone."

Frank took her hand, as Amelia looked away.

"Forgive me Amelia. You're right, I'm ashamed of how I've acted."

Amelia looked at him, but she was too upset to say anything.

"Quinn," said Frank. "I'm sorry."

Quinn gave him a wary nod, his hands still jammed in his pockets.

Frank left sullenly. As the door closed behind him Amelia began pacing around the table, muttering.

"Who does he think he is? The nerve! The absolute nerve of the man. He's in for a thrashing our next chess match, I can tell you that. I'll show him a checkmate…"

"Amelia," said Quinn.

"Huh?" she stopped right in front of him and leaned back on the table. Quinn took a long look at her up and down.

"Go sit over there please," he said.

"Why?"

"Because you look a little too fetching right now all angry and ruffled, and I might end up boinking you on the table instead of talking to you like I want to."

Amelia was still angry, but she felt an electric pulse of heat at the thought of what that would be like. With a sigh, she marched to her chair and slinked down.

Quinn sat opposite her and folded his hands on the table.

"I was afraid this might happen," he said.

Amelia huffed and crossed her arms. "What might happen? Frank might think I'm a young girl and go off on you half-cocked in a crowded room?"

"Yes. Exactly," said Quinn. He ran his hand through his hair.

"What are you saying?" asked Amelia, lowering her eyebrows.

"I don't want you to be hurt. If that's the general consensus in the community…"

"It's not," said Amelia sharply.

"But maybe…"

"Maybe what?" She leaned forward, her hands flat on the table.

"Maybe we should consider…"

"What's going on here Quinn? Are you sacking me? Over one comment by a doddy old man?" She stood, her chair scraping on the floor.

"No, I only meant…"

The blood was rushing to Amelia's ears. She couldn't stay to hear more, she had to get out. Before the abandonment, before she was alone again. She stood abruptly and left the room leaving Quinn in bewilderment.

….

By the time she reached Simone and Creedy's bunk, she had become less angry and more ashamed of herself. Maybe she was too young to be in a relationship if she was going to start storming out of rooms like a sullen teenager. If only he'd said he loved her, then she wouldn't feel so unmoored.

They were on their bed; Simone was leaning back on her hands laughing and Creedy was cross legged telling her a story.

They both looked up at her surprised, and Amelia stared back. Suddenly she burst into tears and covered her face in her hands.

Simone pushed Creedy off the bed and down the hall and he ran up the stairs.

"Lia, sit down, tell me what happened," said Simone guiding her to sit.

"He's going to leave me. And I don't know what to do," she sobbed.

Simone wrapped her arm around her, as Amelia told her everything.

"First," said Simone, "you're right to be angry. No one minds that you are with Quinn. And he should know you are mature enough to withstand a little gossip."

"Am I?" asked Amelia miserably. "The first thing I do when he wants to have a serious discussion is throw a tantrum."

"You are. You were angry. And second, he won't leave you. He tries to act the Lone Wolf, but he needs you."

"But does he love me?"

"You know he does."

Amelia bit her lip.

"Go talk to him," said Simone. "Creedy and I get mad, we have our fights. But we work it out and move forward."

Amelia sniffed. "Easy as that?" she asked.

"No, not easy. Worth it."

She sighed. "Maybe you're right. This castle is too small to be mad forever."

"Precisement!" said Simone. She wiped the tears from Amelia's eyes, and blew into her face to help take the redness away. "Now go talk to your hunk." Simone pushed her off the bed and slapped Amelia's bum encouragingly and she yelped giggling.

"Ok, ok. Thanks Simone."

"De rien. You can do this Lia."

When Amelia got to Quinn'sroom, she could hear muffled voices coming from inside. She pressed her ear to the door.

"Don't be such a fuckwit," said Creedy muffled through the thick wood. Amelia froze.

She heard Quinn say something back inaudibly.

"You know that's not what I mean," said Creedy. "Anyway, it's a start. She'll melt. Just stop being such a hermit."

The craving to keep listening was strong but her anxiety was rising, and she needed to resolve this.

Amelia knocked and heavy footsteps clunked on the floor. The door swung wide.

"Amelia!" said Creedy. "Better?" he asked.

She nodded with a trace smile.

"He's in here," he said and let her enter, backing out the door with a wink at Quinn.

She stood there for a moment. "Hi," she said.

Quinn was sitting on the bed, staring at her with an unreadable look. God he could be intimidating sometimes.

"Hi," he said back. He waited a beat before he spoke again. "You know, you don't have to knock. This is your room now too."

"I guess I'm still getting used to the idea," she said. She let out a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" he asked.

"For running out when you were trying to talk to me." She lowered her eyes.

Quinn stood up, walking over to her and took her hands. "No, I'm sorry. For not standing up for you to that blighter." He gazed into her eyes tenderly and slowly coiled her in, holding her head against his chest.

"I can take care of myself you know," she said muffled against his Jumper.

"I know, but I like to take care of you. I want to. And this was our battle yeah? Not just yours."

She looked up and nodded.

"Listen," he continued. "I wasn't sacking you. I just wanted to see if you were alright. And if you wanted to keep going with me. You always have an out you know."

"No, I don't." she said firmly, putting her hand on his cheek. "I can't help but be in love with you. I want to be with you, always."

He placed his hand over hers.

"Really?" he asked, relief in his voice.

"Yes."

She noticed something out of the corner of her eye and looked over to see a small bouquet of wildflowers sitting on his desk. "What are those?" she asked curiously.

Quinn blushed a little. "I haven't kept up my bargain when I said you should be wooed. I haven't been wooing you, and when you ran off, I just thought… That's what the man does. He brings the woman he's with flowers when he's been a complete Tosser."

Amelia walked over to the desk and picked up the small offering of white buds that he'd tied with some twine and held it in her hands. They were pungent in a good way and reminded her of warm sunshine. She was so moved by the gesture, that she felt her insides liquify in a warm heat that almost hurt by how sweet it was. She suddenly realized that her cheeks were wet.

"Quinn, I…"

"Was that wrong?" he asked slightly panicked.

"No!" she said sniffing and wiping her eyes. "No, this is… this is perfect." She ran into his arms, planting her lips on his. "I just… I love you so much." They kissed for a little while before she moved to slip her hand under his jumper, but he caught her wrist before she could.

"Before we go there, I just want to finish up about Frank."

Amelia sighed. Her blood was hot in a good way, and the familiar throb of promised physical intimacy with Quinn was pooling in her belly. She didn't want to mar it with Frank's outburst, but she knew that it didn't take much to get there again.

"What about him?" she asked.

"The way you handled him was… impressive," he said cautiously.

"But?"

"But I know he's your friend, and I don't want you to stop playing chess with him on my account." It seemed that the quick conversation about Frank was almost over because Quinn was now undoing the tie in her hair. His face screwed up in concentration as he pulled at it with his fingers clumsily.

"I won't, I promise. I'll make up with him tomorrow."

"Good. You certainly took him down a notch." Quinn successfully undid the knot, and a cascade of soft waves spilled down her shoulders. "How could he ever think you were sixteen?" he asked. "You're all woman." He nuzzled into the strands with his face and hands.

"It's a mystery," she whispered, feeling lightheaded at his touch.

He leaned down and kissed her softly. So softly, it felt magic as he slowly moved his lips over hers. She was breathless by the time he slid his hands under her shirt behind her back to move his fingers over her skin. She loved the calloused steady pressure of them, so sure and purposeful. Just like everything he did.

"How can someone so tough be so soft?" he asked quietly.

"Me? I'm not tough," she whispered against his neck.

"Oh, but you are," he said moving his hands up taking her shirt with them.

"If you say so," she said, in no mood to argue now and opened her mouth to deepen their kiss.

He removed each article of clothing unhurriedly, which made her nerves bundle in anticipation and the throb between her thighs unbearable. He picked her up so she could wrap her legs around him. Her bare breasts grazed against his jumper, and she bit his lip in response. He groaned, tightening his grip as the urgency became necessity and they bumped into his desk. She sat on it, reaching her hands back to push the papers and books off in a loud thumping and fluttering.

He quickly discarded his clothes and pushed her backward onto the desk, letting his hands flow over her body. He bent, dropping kisses down her stomach all the way to that place where all the heat was pooling. She arched her back as his tongue slid along her folds.

"Oh Quinn," she said breathlessly. "You're magic, you're so good."

"It's easy when you're so delicious," he said removing his mouth. He pulled her back up. "I want to look you in the eyes," he said. "I want to see what I do to you."

She shivered. "You do everything to me," she said.

"Ready?" he asked widening her legs. She nodded emphatically grabbing him around the hips.

He started slowly and achingly at first. The scary weight of connection was heavy between them and she denied her instinct to look away from the intensity in his eyes.

"I need more," she said pushing against his legs with her heels.

That was all the encouragement he needed as he sped up, watching her reactions, responding to what he was giving her.

They fused together, shutting their eyes tight and Amelia cried out, her skin prickling with the tickle of pleasure overwhelming her and then melting away. They stared at each other for several minutes, foreheads together.

"That was everything," she said panting, and he nodded swallowing.

He put one arm around her back, and one under her knees. Lifting her, he laid her down and crawled in their bed beside her.

Quinn covered them with blankets and put his lips to her hair. She heard him take a deep inward breath of satisfaction.

"You were great today," he said muffled in the strands.

"Mmm," she purred. "And you were phenomenal. I'm now a fan of makeup sex." She stroked his neck with her fingers.

He laughed. "That too. I meant in the council meeting."

She made a face. "Oh. But I didn't do anything," she said.

"You did plenty."

"Like what?"

"Standing up to Frank."

"That had nothing to do with what we were talking about in the council though."

"No, but that vine idea was great."

"That wasn't much." She shrugged.

"And just you being there. It helped to know you were on my side."

"I don't always take your side Quinn."

"Believe me, I know," he said growing amusedly irked. "Woman just let me pay you a compliment. You're thwarting me with your stubbornness."

"But I want to earn the compliment," she said.

"I'm telling you; you did. You being there mattered. To me."

Amelia looked up at him. "Are you trying to tell me you need me?"

"Yes," he said.

It still wasn't ''I love you", but it was a step closer.

"Then I accept your compliment. Thank you. And you're welcome." She kissed him on his chiseled cheek and snuggled closer. "Quinn, do I vex you?" she asked.

"Yes," he said again yawning.

"Then why do you put up with me?"

"I like being vexed," he said.

"Quinn?"

"Mm?"

"I'll try to talk more next meeting."

"Just be Amelia," he said sleepily, and started dreaming, holding her close.