*theatrical sigh* Well, this is the part you've all been waiting for…um, maybe. Nao has already read this chapter, so I don't think I'll get anymore reviews *sweatdroplet* Hehehe. Raven. Thomas. Funny business in bed. And it's so hard with people in the room!!!!! (Please note that Plink is still a virgin, she is most definitely a girl, and has an overactive imagination. All three of which she is not afraid to admit. There's nothing wrong with celibacy.)

Chapter 20: You'll be given love

The sun went down gently, and the two watched it, both quietly wondering why. What was the fascination with the moving of a great big ball of gas? It wasn't poetic if you called it that, however, but it was somehow soothing for them.

"It's getting cold. Want to go inside?"

"Yeah." Raven's hand didn't leave his as Thomas led him into the warmth of the room. How many times had he watched the sun set and wished someone was there to share it with him? Enjoy the warmth and the growing cold? The way the light changed over the clouds?

"It's going to rain soon."

"It should storm. Poetic justice."

Thomas stared at his companion in amazement. "Storm? Poetic justice? Since when do you play the dark smouldering romantic?"

"Since I met you." Raven's smile was genuine, and warmed Thomas' bewildered heart. He hugged him tightly, burying his face in the Imperial's shirt.

Thomas caught his injured hand and stared at the scar across his palm. He bit his lip and felt a sudden surge of anger towards Van – couldn't Van see what he had been doing to Raven, all this time? Hurting him? No one had the right to hurt him…and if they did, they'd have to suffer the consequences. "Raven, let's do something stupid." He whispered.

"Blow something up?"

"Not exactly what I had in mind. You see…I…I want…" He couldn't find the right words for it.

Raven touched his face, running his thumb across Thomas' lower lip. "…Not here. It's not right."

"But there is no 'right' place." Thomas responded, and bit Raven's thumb, very gently. "No such thing. But any place for me is right as long as you're at my side."

Raven smiled. "No one cared about me enough to say that. I love you so much…This has got to be a dream. This can't be real."

Thomas kissed him, with a little more skill this time - after all, they'd been practising. "I'm real. I'm very real. And…I want you to be my first."

Raven blushed. "Really?"
"Of course. Right now I can't see anyone else out there for me. I'm here if you want me…and at the same time, I'm not so worried if you don't, because…because I love you."

They stood there for a moment, still, as the world moved around them in the endless dance of life. With careful fingers, Raven undid Thomas' buttons, the slight touches of both warm fingers and soft material making his skin tingle. He slipped it off and to his delight, Raven kissed him again, longer, deeper, and so much more intimate.

"This is your first time, isn't it?" Raven asked.

"Of course. Can you possibly see me with anyone?"

"Your brother maybe." came the calm reply.

Thomas stared at him in amazement and some horror. "My brother? Karl?"

"A…joke…going around the Republic side, seeing as you two are close off duty. Don't worry about it." Raven's hands moved downwards, over Thomas' jeans, and the blond gasped at the way his body was reacting. Warmth had spread from his belly downwards and his jeans were feeling tighter and tighter…

"Oh-me-oh-my." Raven murmured. "I'm impressed."

"I…uh…sorry."

"For what? You're not putting the fear of Thomas* into me, but somewhere close. Come on, onto the bed, I'm not doing it standing up." Raven's smile was dark, seductive, and Thomas allowed himself to be pushed down onto Raven's bed. The dark haired mercenary slid over him, straddling his hips, and they kissed again. "I'm going to enjoy this…"

"Wh-what are you-ooh…"

Raven's tongue danced against his skin, moving downwards, trailing light kisses that both aroused and terrified the lieutenant. "Shh, Thomas…"

Thomas waited, feeling the light tug of his belt being undone, and then the growing coolness as his lover undressed him – Raven was curiously gentle for one so violently minded. Fingers touched and played across sensitive skin, soft moans and whimpers freed from his lips.

"Now…" Purred Raven. "As much as I love…"

"…Ahh!! R-Raven!"

"…Being the dominant one in bed…" Raven's caresses of his member made his vision hazy. "…You're a virgin in both senses…so I don't mind if you…" He didn't finish the sentence, simply smiled as Thomas writhed beneath him, his blond curls around his head like a halo as Raven's touch became more intrusive, hungrier. Raven carefully undressed to avoid hurting himself from the half healed wounds, revealing his own stiffened manhood, anxious to be touched and released, and the two kissed again, Thomas' hands moving of their own accord to his lover's hips. He jerked him closer, wanting it to be easier to kiss. Wanting Raven's tongue to slide into his mouth, make if feel so good…

"Easy Thomas…" Raven murmured, nibbling his ear before he moved back again. "I'm not used to playing uke, so…"

"…Anything…I can do?"

"Down, tiger." Raven laughed, a sound that was so beautiful to Thomas' ears. "You'll be doing a hell of a lot in a minute. Just have to…limber up…as it were."

Thomas closed his eyes and felt pressure as Raven moved over him, and then tight, hurting heat around him that became beautiful pleasure. "Raven!! Oh god!!"

"Mmm…" Raven moved gently out of respect for Thomas – he knew how hard it was. He clutched the bedspread beneath them hard, and hung his head, delighting in the forbidden lusts that now howled within him. "Forgot…how good…this feels…"

"Harder…do it…harder!!!"

Raven responded, and Thomas lay tortured beneath him, not know what to do. The pain lessened and the pleasure increased, as the pressure built up inside. His fingers tightened on Raven's hips and he heard the younger man laugh with delight as Thomas gave in and began to thrust upwards, trying to match his lovers' movements.

"I…I can't hold…Raven!!!" His back arched and he gasped, unable to speak as the orgasm ripped through him. His cheeks red from the work out and his own shame he managed to pull himself up onto his elbows and stared at the impish face before him.

"…Hmm…going to have to work you hard, lieutenant." Raven ran his fingers through his tangled mess of hair and leaned over to kiss him. "A lot harder."

Still blushing, Thomas managed to pull himself up as Raven slid off of his body and stretched with the casualness of someone who knew more than they let on. "I…I'm sorry…"

"Sorry for what?"

"Your bandage for one…"

"Shit." Raven said, astonished at the fresh blood dribbling down his side. "I forgot about that. Ow."

"And uh…you…"

Raven looked down at his nether regions. "Oh. That. I don't mind, 'cos you have a lot to learn, and it will all come in time. As will I."

Thomas giggled at his joke, and then looked away from Raven. "I…"

"Cuddle me…." Raven was suddenly close again, kissing him, and Thomas felt unbelievably happy.

"Sounds…fun…" Thomas allowed himself to be touched again, and slid his fingers across the drenched skin of Raven and lifted him up and onto his body, kissing him again, and the silky smooth sensation of Raven's fingers as they slid through his hair and the kiss deepened.

And all thoughts of Fiona left him then, now and forever. There was no guilt, no pain. This was where he was meant to be.

~ to be continued

*Okay, in case you're wondering what the whole fear of Thomas thing is about, it stems from a passage from the book Red Dwarf. There's a part where…well, it would ruin the story a little for you if I told you why, but the characters return to earth and find themselves heroes. One of them, Rimmer, is a hologram. Now, he develops the technology to create bodies and so on, and keeps getting…upgrades. Let's just say he has to dress from the right AND the left respectively.

Onto the author's notes: Phew! *Loosens her shirt* Yeowza, as my BF would say. I found out something disturbing the other day about him – he's written a hetro/yaoi threesome before. Dude! It got nicked offa him in his tafe class, and the two chicks who read it liked it. A lot. Unfortunately I think he got rid of it after that…damn! Fingers crossed he doesn't find this one, yes? *giggle*

Oh yes, before I forget, happy birthday, auntie Jackie. 17 Feb was the date I finished this chapter…her birthday ;) Hope you're NOT reading this, auntie Jackie…*whistles innocently*