Sandry blinked awake. Hmmmm. Why does my ceiling look like a sky at dawn? she thought. She was still a little out of it after her long sleep.

She stretched. Or rather, she tried to stretch. What really happened was that she realized her limbs wouldn't move. She looked down and realized that she was covered in plants. It took a moment for that knowledge to sink in, and when it did, she gave a short shriek and struggled to sit up.

Beside her, Briar jolted awake. "What are you doing?!" he demanded. "You're hurting them!"

Sandry's memory returned. Getting lost . . . finding the garden . . . she blushed as she realized that she fell asleep outside. "Sorry," she said sheepishly. "I forgot where I was. Are any of them broken?"

After concentrating for a moment, he answered "No. But next time, watch out, okay?" He grinned, a slow smile that made her stomach flip over.

"Okay," she muttered, annoyed with the way she kept reacting to him.

The plants rustled, momentarily covering both of their bodies as they flowed back to their respective places in the garden. Briar and Sandry sat up.

"Oh, my Gods!"

They whirled around. Kel and Daja stood there. Daja was slack-jawed, staring at them in disbelief. She was the one who had just spoken. Kel laughed.

This is baaaaad, said Briar to Sandry.

"What are you doing?" Daja bellowed. Before either of them could answer her, Kel elbowed Daja in the stomach.

"Oh, come on, Daja, we should probably leave them alone. They look like we just interrupted them."

Now Sandry's jaw dropped. "What are you talking about?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Kel grinned wickedly. "The leaves as a cover?"

Briar sat up, looking very goofy with his hair still sleep-tousled. "Okay, come on now. I don't know what the big deal is. Sandry and I just fell asleep out here last night after we left . . ." he trailed off, realizing how this wasn't making the situation any better.

Kel giggled some more. "Come on Daja, obviously we're not wanted. Let's leave them alone for some private time." She pulled Daja away, a feat that made all of them realize just how strong she was. Daja turned around and glared at them while mind speaking. I can't believe you! said her voice, white-hot and confused in their minds.

Briar and Sandry winced. Ouch, they said. Watch it, Daj', you're hurting. Wait until you cool off to talk to us.

You can bet I will talk to you later! How could you do this to all of us? This will change everything! she shouted before shutting them out.

"Why is she so mad?" asked Briar in a hypothetical question sort of way. "It's not like anything happened." 'Even though I wish something did,' he mentally added, then scolded himself for thinking such things.

"They don't know that." Sandry's voice was morose. "Now there'll be rumors flying everywhere!"

"Yeah." Something in the tone of his voice made her look up, straight into his jade-green eyes. She froze, staring into their depths, until a shiver ran through her and she was able to move again. She looked at her lap, knitting her fingers together.

A tickle by her ear made her jump. She whirled to the left to see a plant tendril easing itself from the foliage beside her. The plants continued to wrap themselves around her. She looked at Briar. Plants were all over him as well, curling around his body.

Sandry looked at his hair and laughed out loud. "You are desperately in need of a brush," she told him, and reached over to smooth it with her hand.

"As if you don't? Your hair is just as mussed as mine, I bet." Briar reached out his own hand to fix her hair.

The feel of his hand against her face created little shivers of happiness that flowed through her body.

"Your hair won't flatten," she said breathlessly.

"Sandry." She looked at him again. He stared deep into her eyes, searching for the answer to his unspoken question. Briar smiled crookedly and said, "Forget about my hair. But leave your hand there anyway." And with that, he leaned over and kissed her.

Sandry felt a wave of warmth spread outward from where their lips joined. She curled her fingers through his hair, just as he stroked her face with one of his own hands, twisting the other around her back and holding her tight against his body. His lips were soft against her own, and Sandry relaxed in his embrace. She moved to meet him with her own mouth, opening it slightly as they kissed. Sandry felt plants weaving themselves over her body, and she smiled against his lips.

Briar pulled away. "You're lucky they're not watching anymore."

Sandry laughed. "You bet I am. And where did you learn to kiss?"

"I don't tell you girls everything, you know," he retorted, looking devilish. "And what about you? When did you learn to kiss?

"I don't tell you everything, you know," she copycatted.

"Oh, shut up." He pulled her back to her lips. He eased his mouth over hers, smothering her breath with his own and sending shivers down her back.

They lingered for a while (everyone deserves a little privacy), until Sandry pulled away, smiling up into his eyes.

"We'd better get back to the delegation," she said. "Daja has probably already started spreading rumors . . ." At Briar's questioning glance, she amended, "Well, I guess they aren't really rumors any more."

He kissed her nose and both cheeks before returning to her mouth. "Can't we just stay here?" he asked plaintively, breaking their kiss. "It's so comfortable!"

"I know," she said. "But we have things to do. And besides," Now it was her turn to grin wickedly. "We'll have plenty of time for this later."

"I guess." He slung an arm around her waist and made a gesture with his free hand. The plants above them parted, allowing them to climb out of their private area.

"Do you think we should tell them?" Sandry asked as they walked away.

"I don't know," Briar answered. He kissed her again, but she whacked him on the shoulder. He gave her an incredulous look.

"Not in public! Someone might see!" she hissed.

"So?" he asked defiantly, then sighed as she glared at him. "All right, I won't give our secret away. But —" he landed a swift peck on her lips. "Okay, that's all."

"Good. We'll tell them soon, just . . . not now. When we get home, to Emalen." Sandry stated.

"Fine by me. But for now, we keep it secret."

Sandry kissed him again. "Right."

A/N: So it got a little mushy . . . who cares! Sandry and Briar are cute. Well, that's the end! REVIEW PLEASE! it makes me feel loved. :)