5 days. Silver rubbed his face sighing, He had been gone 5 days. Three longer than he expected to be. Adding to his bad mood was the fact he never found his merchant. Some say he up and left while others say he was forced to leave. Looking up at the stars he trudged in the house. Come morning he would send out a crew to find out what happened and reestablish the trade. Kicking his boot off at the door he hung up his jacket and hat before trudging upstairs with a box in his arms. Passing Jim's door he saw no light underneath, gently opening the door not to wake the boy he set the box down inside before backing out slowly. Glancing at the bed he paused. It was empty. Looking to the bathroom door he saw no light either. He flipped on the lights fully stalking over to the bed, the sheets were cool and tucked in, still made from when Mrs. Carrow made them last.

"Damn and blast. Jimbo? Jiimboo." He looked around the room to no avail.

Growling he took a deep breath in, Jims scent was faint but there was no one else besides Mrs. Carrow's. Cursing to himself he burst out into the hallway sniffing, Jim's scent was stronger here so he was still around he just hadn't been in his room lately.

"Jimbo? Morphy?" he paused. "Morph"

Lumbering down the hallway as fast as he could, he swung open the door to his room. Before he can say anything a pink blob is attached to his face. Pulling it away he scans the room and sees a lump in his bed. Sighing in relief he sags against the door. His heart is beating out of his chest, the last time he had been filled with this much fear was...well best not think of that now. Jim was safe. Taking a look at morph he smiles.

"Hiya Morphy. Feeling better I see." Morph swam around his head parroting "Feeling better, feeling better."

"At's a good boy. Gave us all a scare you did." he scratched under the shifter's chin till he melted.

"Alright, let's go check on the pup." pushing away from the door frame he walked slowly towards his bed, the rectangle of light from the doorway illuminated the sleeping man softly. Silver felt his heart clench but this time for a different reason. Running his metallic hand through the boy's hair he brushed it away from his face. Silver froze when Jim moved but instead of waking, he burrowed deeper into the blanket. Silver went to pull away but as his hand brushed the blanket he froze again. Looking closer he realized it wasn't a blanket at all. It was Silvers old coat, He had kept it stashed in the back of his closet for old times sake.

Letting out a small chuff he felt a mixture of pride and disbelief. The pup had been nosing around, yet out of all the things in the room, he had chosen to curl up in an ol' warn jacket.

Sliding into his bathroom he changed quickly into some worn soft pants and a sleeveless shirt. Slipping back into the room he went over to Jim in the bed. As gently as he could he slid his arms under the sleeping man trying not to wake him. As soon as he was lifted off the bed though the plan failed, Jim startled awake looking around. His eyes landed on silver.

"You're back!" Before Silver could respond Jim had turned in his arms and was giving him a fierce hug.

"Sorry to wake ye pup, I was just gonna move ya back to ya own room."

Jim whined. Which he would deny in the morning. "No, can I please stay here?"

Silver sighed pulling the man closer. "It ain't right Jimbo, come on off to bed with ye."

Jim pulled back looking chest fallen, he started to move back to being placed down when Silversighed and pulled him close again. "Alright, just this once."

Jim nearly burst of happiness. Silver sat him back on the bed making sure the jacket was still tucked around his small form.

Closing the door he took a deep breath before picking his way back over to the bed. Climbing on the other side under the covers he tried to keep as much space between them as possible. Turning his back to the boy he felt tense.

"I'm glad you're home." a sleepy voice said.

Silver let out the breath he was holding. "Me too Jimbo."

He closed his eyes and fell into a light sleep tensing at every movement.

Silver woke in the morning to find filtered light streaming through the window. Rubbing his eyes he groaned. Judging from the amount of light it looked to be late morning, yet he felt like he had barely slept.

Hearing voices outside he shook himself awake further perking up his ear. It was only Mrs. Carrow.

"Oh hello Jim dear, I see you've abandoned that Old coat. You've been haunting around in it for the last three days, someone would have thought it was a second skin. Not to worry boy, When Mister Silver returns we will get ya one that fits and we can throw that ol' nasty thing out. It's too large for you anyway, look like you're swimming in it you do."

"No!" Silver sat up some at the sound of panic in the boy's voice. "You can't throw it out."

"Come now Jim, that thing is falling apart and doesn't even fit you, goodness it's missing one sleeve and the other you have to roll up nearly in half just to use your hand."

"I don't care! You're not going to touch it!" Jim was nearly shouting by now.

Silver sighed and rolled out of bed heading towards the door.

"With how you're acting you would think it was made of gold." she sighed exacerbated.

When he opened the door he saw Mrs. Carrow holding her broom standing across the hall while Jim had his back to the door clutching a tray with white knuckles.

"What's all this racket?" He growled out looking between the two of them.

Jim jumped his tight grip on the tray the only thing keeping it from falling to the ground.

Mrs. Carrow looked surprised, "Ah Master Silver. I did not know you had returned. I was talking to this boy here about his choice of clothes. It's bad enough he's wearing the same clothes, no fault of his own. But the last couple of days he has been wearing this dreadful jacket around the house, refusing to take it off." she looked down at the boy showing her distaste for the garment.

"That is all Mrs. Carrow, thank you." after she walked off with a huff Silver turned to Jim. "That true pup? You been wearing me ol' Jacket?"

Jim blushed. "I'm sorry." I went looking for an extra blanket for morph and found it."

Silver rubbed his chin and hummed. "Is that so, see far as I remember the blankets are in the front of the closet, but I may be mistaken, they could have been in the trunk buried in the back behind everythin' this ol' mind ain't what it used to be." he tapped his head and grinned at Jim.

Jim blushed harder knowing he was well and truly busted. "Um well...I brought you breakfast?" he turned around and held out the tray with two plates on it.

Silver chuckled and backed back into the room holding the door open for Jim to follow. "Come on then, let's see what ye learned." as Jim passed him, Silver couldn't help but take in a deep breath.

He let out a groan. Stars, the boy smelt amazing with his scent blanketing him. Jim looked up in concern.

"You ok?"

"Yeah, Just these ol' bones stretchin' out in the mornin'. Aint able to jump out of bed to stop fights without a few aches and pains."

"I'm sorry." Jim looked down and slowly went over to the small table in the room.

"Stop apologizing Jimbo, ya ain't do nothin' wrong 'cept offend a stuck up ol' broad like Mrs. Carrow. She just wants ya to look yer best is all. And slouching around in me ol' coat ain't yer best."

Jim set the plates out and sat in one of the chairs. "I know. I just can't believe she wanted to throw it away. She had to know how much it meant to you."

Silver sat across from him and looked at the plate. He couldn't help the smile that came to his face when he saw Jim had made his favorite, Pancakes with a side of bacon. "She didn't know it was mine. By the time I hired her on I had already retired it for me new one, it never fit right with me new rig. The ol' one was so big and clunky I had to cut the sleeve off, but this one." he held it up to look it over. "Why it moves so well and fits like I never lost me arm in the first place. I can wear real clothes now, includin' a new jacket with both sleeves." he let out a chuckle thinking about it. "Had to get rid of half me wardrobe, but couldn't quite part with the ol' girl." He didn't add the fact it was cause he could still see it draped over Jim in the Galley.

"But 'nough of that, let's see if I managed to teach ya anythin'." He picked up his fork and cut off a big chunk of Pancake, dipped it in the syrup then brought it to his mouth. Letting out a pure moan of satisfaction he looked over at Jim. "I'll make a true chef of ye yet."

The blush on Jim's cheeks and the not-so-subtle movement of him scooting further under the table did not go unnoticed yet Silver just tucked it away. His Jimbo was getting more interesting as the days went on.

As he tucked away the last piece he patted his belly with a sigh. "I have ta say, that's the best breakfast I've had all week. Thank ya kindly Jimbo." as he finished his sentence morph dove past him into the small stack Jim had left off to the side. "Ah, I see the little Morph's feelin' better."

Jim laughed as morph popped out of the stack "better, better!"

"Yeah it was touch and go for a few days, I thought at one point he wasn't gonna make it. He just stopped moving and eating. I tried moving him into my room but he just went liquid on me so I moved in here. I hope you didn't mind." he looked down fiddling with his fork.

"Not at all, Gave me ol' ticker a workout last night though when I couldn't find ya. But I'm glad ya were here for Morphy. Oh, speakin' of. Come on." Silver got up and headed towards the door, hearing Jim scramble behind him. "I got somethin' for ya."

"You did?" Jim asked

"Aye, picked it up while I was out." Entering Jims room he motioned to the box

"How did you know I always wanted a box!" Jim exclaimed with overdrawn enthusiasm.

"Don't

play smart with me pup, I can always take 'em back." Silver pulled the lid off and set it to the side.

The box was about 2 ft in all directions and full to the brim with clothes. "I know ya don't have nothin' to wear so I picked ya up a few things. Don' a worry, if you don like anythin' I can give it to the lads."

Jim just stared at the box for a few seconds. Silver felt his smile drop. "If you don't want 'em we can always go out later and find some ya like."

That seemed to prompt Jim into moving as soon he had an armful of warmth. Jim wrapped his arms around Silver's neck and nuzzled into his shoulder. "Thank you."

Silver just chuckled and hugged the boy back, in the last month he had been hugged by the boy more than he had in his entire life. He wouldn't give it up for the world though.

"Anythin' for you Jimbo. Anythin'." he felt his eyes start to well and cleared his throat before taking a step back.

"Well come on then, try em on and give us a show."

"A show! A show!" morph chirped as he zipped in the box.

Jim laughed and looked after Morph. "Alright, what's first then."

Silver lifted the box easily and dumped it on the bed.

"Show off" Jim huffed.

Silver just smiled as he settled into one of the chairs off to the side. Jim rifled through the clothes seeming to sort them out. Holding up a set of brief underwear he raised an eyebrow at Silver.

"I figured ya only had one pair and a man needs a few options."

Jim just shook his head and threw them off to the side, Morph dove after them and zipped around the room with them on his head. "Too bad I wear shorts."

Silver felt something short circuit. Buying him things and knowing what he wore were two different things. "Well, then I guess Morph will have a new set of hats. There's some shorts in there too." he choked out

Jim looked at him before smirking and turning back to the pile of clothes. That had now managed to become three different piles.

"Hmm.." Jim picked up a shirt and held it up to look at it before pausing, casting a look over his shoulder he quickly set it down before stripping his shirt off sending it off to the side on the floor. Silver felt his breath catch as his eyes roamed the unmarred flesh of the younger man's back.

He almost whined in protest when one of the new shirts was pulled on. It was a tad big on his thin frame but he didn't seem to mind.

"I had to guess on your size lad, Guess I'm not that good at guessin."

Jim just sent a smile over his shoulder. "That's ok I like them big."

Silver crossed one leg over the other feeling something starting to stir. He knew the boy probably didn't get the double meaning but Silver's lower brain didn't care. His eyes snapped up as he heard the distinct sound of a belt followed by a zipper. Before he could open his mouth the lad had dropped his pants to the floor. This time he couldn't hold back the whine and all the blood left in his body rushed lower.

Jim looked over his shoulder again. "Something wrong?" he asked almost innocently.

"No..." he croaked out then tried again after clearing his throat. "No nothin's wrong. It's jus' perfect lad" he let his eyes wander a bit "Jus perfect." True to his word Jim did wear shorts yet these almost seemed too small.

"You said there were shorts in here? He dug through the pile before holding a pair up with a cry of triumph. As soon as his hands touched the pair he was wearing with the intent of pulling them down Silver was up and out the door.

Damn that boy, did he have no sense of self. Silver knew they had been toeing a line since he had gotten here but that was taking a long jump past it.

Escaping to the bathroom he was just pulling off his shirt when he heard a knock at the bedroom door, Twitching his ear he listened closer. Jim knocked again before sighing and walking away. Silver peeled off his pants tossing them in the hamper with his shirt. Starting the shower he didn't even wait for it to warm up before he got under the spray. Hissing at the cold he forced himself to stay under till it began heating up, hoping the cold had helped cool his blood he was disappointed to see he hadn't diminished.

Perking his ear up he tried to listen beyond the running water, not hearing a peep he took himself in hand.

~~

So much for resisting the boy. Silver sighed then growled in disgust at himself. Washing quickly he slammed the water off, grabbing a towel he dried himself quickly before wrapping it around his waist and heading to his closet to get dressed. After pulling on his clothes he glanced towards the trunk in the back. The lock was still undone, opening it he saw his jacket laying on top haphazardly folded. Bringing it to his nose he sniffed. Under his own scent, he smelled the sweetness that made up Jim. Holding it to his nose for a few minutes he just took deep breaths. Refolding it he gently placed it in the trunk looking at the lock in his hand he sighed and placed it on a shelf. If Jim had already been through the trunk he knew what other secrets it held. No use locking it now.

Ambling down the stairs he began his search for the young man. After looking in all the rooms and letting his crew know he was back he wandered out to the gardens. He found Jim sitting in the shade under one of the large trees throwing stones for Morph to chase.

"Ah, I see ye found my favorite tree." Silver spoke making the boy jump.

"I don't like the new prosthesis," Jim grumbled out slouching further.

Silver furrowed his brow, not exactly what he expected to be said. "Why's that?"

Jim threw another pebble "I can't hear you coming anymore."

Silver chuckled and motioned to the ground beside the tree "May I?"

Jim shrugged "It's your house, you can do what you like."

Silver felt his brow furrow again. Sitting down he leaned against the trunk letting his shoulder brush Jim's. "What's wrong lad?"

Jim shrugged again "Nothings wrong. Am I not allowed to come out and play with morph?"

"No, yer allowed to do that, hell you're pretty much allowed to do anythin' ya want round here." he motioned to the island.

"I guess." Jim threw a pebble a little too hard making Morph zip off.

"Come on Jimbo, out with it."

"It's nothing, really. I..."

"Jimbo..." Silver growled out. "Somethin's buggin' ya so out with it.

"I promise it's..."

"Jimbo I swear to the stars. You say nothing one more time and I'm giving Mrs. Carrow the day off and ye can clean the entire house."

Jim sighed. "Fine." he was silent for a while setting the pebbles down as Morph went off to have a nap in the sun. "Why don't you like me?"

Silver glanced at him. "I like ya just fine."

"That's not what I meant. Why don't you like me...the way I like you?"

Silver turned till he was facing the boy. "An how do ya like me Jimbo?"

Jim flushed and refused to meet the other's eyes. "I like you the way that made me sick when you didn't come back. It made me steal your old jacket and wear it just so I could feel like I was near you. It made it so my time at the Academy was hell, I wanted to run away and find you. It makes my stomach turn when you laugh and my chest burst when you smile at me. I like you more than I have ever liked anyone ever. And I know you're going to say you don't like me the same way, I don't expect you to. Who would want to be with someone like me, all I do is screw up." he wiped angry tears from his eyes.

Silver melted. "Oh Jimbo." he reached out an arm pulling the boy in close. "I like ya just fine. I didn' mean to be gone so long, I thought it would only be a few days. I may 'ave made a fuss but I don' mind ya wearin' me ol' rags, if it makes ya happy ye can wear it. But you listen to me and you listen well. I ain't no good for someone as pure as ye. I would move planets for ye Jimbo, but ye can't tie yerself down to an ol' space dog like me. Ye ain't a screw-up, yeah ye had a few bumps but who doesn'. When I was your age I was well on the path to gettin' these" he motioned to his mechanical parts. "Yer a good lad. But Ye need to chart your course, not become stuck up on some washed up spacer."

"What if this is my course?" Jim looked up at him finally.

"Aye, It ain't. Yer made for somethin' bigger." Silver sighed and ran his hand through Jim's hair tucking it behind his ear.

"Tell me about Riven." the request was so quiet he barely heard it but those four words dumped ice water and sent his heart plummeting to his boot.

"Please?" Jim curled closer.

Silver tried to put on a smile. "I knew ye did more than grab me coat." He sighed pulling Jim closer. "Alright."

Settling with his back fully against the tree he began his tale.