A/N: Standard disclaimer, no rights of ownership, etc. etc. If you like this story, make sure to check out its sequels. There are a whole crazy mess of them now. Also view the accompanying fanart at my website, www.vejiitasei.com.

You can view this story in its un-chaptered form at my website, also. I went back and broke it up into chapters because I was getting complaints that it was too long. Sorry if the chapter divisions seem awkward in places, or if some chapters seem too short or too long. That's what happens when you write a story without chapter divisions, and then later chop it up.

Reviews are welcome!!

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Lina mumbled as her eyelids fluttered open, her head feeling as if a herd of elephants were thundering through it.


The swordsman isn't here, a voice said, and she forced her eyes to focus. Xellos was sitting on the edge of her bed.


Oh, it's you, she sighed, rolling over. How did I get here?


I brought you, he replied. I assumed that you would rather be in your own bed than in that inn.


Thanks, I guess, she muttered. Did you have fun last night?


I did for a little while, he said, voice strangely flat. Do you remember anything?


Not a thing. Wait- I vaguely recall Zel on the table. That's it.


I see, Xellos replied, looking at the wall.


Where's Gourry? Have you seen him?


No. I am sure he's fine, however.


She tried to sit up and immediately regretted it, grabbing her head and sinking down into her pillows. Oh man, bad idea.


Hangover, eh?


Bad. Don't you have one?


No, Miss Lina. I merely retreated home after the festivities.


Well goody for you, she growled.


I see you're in no mood for conversation, he said, standing. It's good that you rest while you still can.


What? What does that mean?


He smiled, seeming like his old self once again. That's a secret, he replied, and kissed her on the forehead. Before she could blink again he was gone.


a deep voice cried outside her room, and Gourry came thundering in, hair damp and flying every which way. Oh, thank goodness! He dashed to her side and began to take her into his arms, only to be clobbered for his efforts.


Watch what you're doing! she spat. My head is killing me and if you move me I'll be sure to kill you!


He settled for holding her hand instead, sitting on the edge of the bed and looking down at her. Are you okay?


Just a hangover.


I'm sorry. I was just worried about you when I couldn't find you at the inn this morning.


And what happened to you? Last I saw you were off dancing?


Gourry shrugged and grinned. Don't know. I woke up on the roof.


The roof?!


He blushed and scratched the back of his head with his free hand. Yeah, the roof. I guess I must have danced too hard or something.


Lina groaned. Just go shut the door. I don't feel like having any more company.


If you'd drink water the hangover would go away a little, he advised, going to the door and shutting it, driving the lock home.


Then why don't you bring me some? she growled from the bed, pulling a pillow over her head.


He did as she asked and took the glass when she was finished.


Well, I'm not thirsty anymore, but my headache is still there, she replied. Why is your hair damp?


Uh, well, the reason I don't have a hangover is because I pretty much threw up everything I drank. I took a bath before I came back to the palace.


Good thinking, she muttered, closing her eyes. She heard the rustle of fabric and suddenly the covers were lifted off her momentarily, a warm body sliding into bed next to hers. she breathed.


After a party like that I don't think we have to be anywhere for a while, he said, rolling her onto her back. She ran her fingers down his spine, stopping at the waistband of his underwear. He smiled and cupped her cheek, his guileless eyes studying her face with adoration. Something twisted in her gut at the beatific look on his face, but she ignored it in favor of gripping his bare skin.


Come here, you big lunk, she growled, and his smile turned into a grin as he leaned down and kissed her tenderly on the mouth. She sighed in pleasure as his large, swordplay-roughened hands carefully removed her clothing article by article. Soon they lay entwined, flesh on flesh, and her headache was soon forgotten.

he whispered against her ear an hour later, I never want to be without you.


She laughed softly and snuggled more deeply into his brawny embrace, closing her eyes and inhaling deeply of his scent, relishing the slightly metallic tang his skin took on from wearing armor constantly. His broad hand trailed lazily down the flat plane of her stomach, running up her breastbone and throat to grasp her chin lightly, turning her face to him. He kissed her gently on the lips and gazed down at her with so much emotion in his eyes that she thought he would overflow. She turned to better see him, lying as he was on his side, his blonde hair spilling over the pillows, his blue gaze soft and kind from where his face was half-hidden by the pillowcase. Reaching up, she let her fingers brush against his skin, wrinkling her nose in amusement at the golden stubble on his firm jaw. she said, voice low. It's impossible for us to be together all the time. Everyone needs a break from other people.


I don't. I just need to be with you, he replied, rolling onto his stomach and propping himself up on his elbows. His leg popped out from underneath the covers and waved lazily in the air as he glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.


She watched the movement of his toes in the air for a while, admiring the powerful calf muscles he possessed, then shook her head. Well, sometimes my studies are going to take me places where you can't follow.


Why not?


Because you don't have magic, dummy.


But how can I protect you then?


She bit back the remark that he couldn't really protect her at all without a weapon like the Sword of Light. Gourry didn't need to feel useless, nor was that her purpose. You'll just have to trust that I can take care of myself, she replied, gripping his shoulder and rolling him onto his back. A broad grin broke out on his face as she straddled his washboard stomach, a smile spreading across her own features as she felt the smooth skin of his waist between her thighs. She lowered her eyelids halfway and studied his face as she ran her index finger down the cleft between his pectorals and abdomen, letting her touch come to rest in his shallow navel. He closed his eyes and shuddered, tilting his chin to the air, and gripped her tightly about her hips. The slightly rough skin of his hands made shivers run the length of her and she bent down to press her lips against the artery in his throat, kissing where the pulse was the strongest.


he said hoarsely, gently moving her down to his groin.


You're gonna get it now, she growled, a devilish smile on her face, when there was a knock at the door.


Gourry sat upright, nearly knocking her onto the floor. She smacked him over the head with her open hand and scrambled away, shoving him off of the bed. she hissed, and he grabbed a miscellaneous blanket, disappearing beneath the high bed. Lina quickly rearranged the dust ruffle and slid under the covers, pulling them up to her chin. I'm not really decent, she called out. Give me a minute.


The door swung wide and her visitor entered. Hello again, Miss Lina, Xellos said smoothly, then stopped about three steps into the room. He looked about quietly, raising his eyebrow as he saw her in bed. Tilting his head a little, he seemed to be testing the air, and for a few moments Lina thought that her heart had stopped. For some reason she really didn't want him, of all people, to know what was under her bed.


Hi, Xellos, she mumbled, scooting down further into the bed.


Xellos opened his eyes for a moment only to narrow them again at the dust ruffle. For a second she thought he was going to say something, but suddenly his face reverted to its normal cheerful expression and he approached. You seemed very out of sorts when I spoke with you earlier, so I brought you something for your head, he announced, sitting down on the mattress and opening his hand. In his palm were several lozenges. Take one and you should feel better in half an hour.


She eyed them suspiciously, sitting up and tucking the sheets beneath her armpits, careful not to reveal any more skin to him than she had to. Picking one up, she held it up to the light. How did you know I had a headache? she asked.


I had one and I even had all night in the astral plane to heal myself, he explained. You also had twice as much to drink as I did.


She looked down at the shiny, candy like object she held between her fingers. What's in this thing? You didn't do anything funny to it, did you? Where did you get it?


He laughed, the sound light and melodious. Crossing one leg over the other, he rested his hands on his knees and smiled at her. It's a lozenge for your head, no I didn't do anything to it, and I obtained it from Master Zelgadis and Princess Amelia. It's just a mixture of herbs, Miss Lina. I promise it will do nothing but help your condition.


She raised an eyebrow, which was quite a feat considering how furiously she was scowling. I'm not really sure I have much confidence in your she mumbled.


Well, your head hurts, doesn't it?


Uh, yeah.


And you want it to stop, correct?


Of course. But it doesn't hurt badly, not anymore.


Xellos opened his eyes and raised his own eyebrow. he said. Well, if you're perfectly fine, I suppose I'll just take that back. He reached forward and tried to take the lozenge from her hand, but she snatched it away.


she growled, curling her fist around the medicine. Her head really was starting to pound again, now that her Gourry-induced endorphins were wearing off. I didn't say I didn't want it!


He leaned back again and shrugged. Then take it, he said simply.


She stared at him in silence for several moments, then opened her hands. I don't know, she murmured.


I'll make it easy for you, he said softly, gently plucking the lozenge from her grip and taking it between his gloved fingers. He lifted it to her lips and calmly pushed it between her lips, his fingertips lingering a moment on her skin. She could smell the clean fabric of his gloves as the flavor of honey flooded her mouth, and suddenly she felt a little queasy, her headache pounding away in her temples just as it had upon awakening. he cooed. Was that so hard?


Shut up, she grumbled.


You should try to get some rest, he said, placing his hands, which were surprisingly strong, on her bare shoulders and gently pushing her back onto the pillows. She stared up at him with wide eyes, not really understanding what was going on in his head. Then again, she never did understand him.


she said hesitantly, studying his smooth features.


You're welcome, he replied, then lifted her heavy hair off of her neck. She shivered and he leaned in close to her throat, close enough to kiss her, and her pulse began racing. Desperately she tried to remember that Gourry was just beneath her, probably very uncomfortable, and she needed to get Xellos out of the room as quickly as she could. She could barely feel Xellos' breath against her neck and closed her eyes in spite of herself. Then he inhaled deeply, smelling her, and she shuddered as she felt the small hairs on her skin rise. Suddenly he was standing away from her, looking at her with a strange mixture of fire and ice dancing in his bottomless amethyst eyes. Yes, you need rest. I suspect that you haven't been relaxing as much as you should have this morning. Good day, Miss Lina, he said, and immediately teleported from the room.


She let out the breath she didn't know she was holding, heart still pounding. How could she react like that when her lover was right below her? A few moments passed and she heard Gourry clear his throat. Lina, is he gone? Gourry whispered loudly.


If he wasn't he definitely would have heard you, Lina said, sitting up and rearranging her hair. There were some grunts and then Gourry appeared, bits of dust clinging to his hair. He held the blanked in front of his groin, which didn't hide anything else when he trotted over to the door and placed an ear to it. I can see your rear, stupid, Lina hissed.


Gourry whirled to face her and blushed. Oh, sorry, he said with a sheepish grin. Anyway, I think we're alone again.


I know we're alone again, Lina said. Sorry that took so long.


Gourry came over and sat down next to her. Xellos seems weirder than normal, he observed, a slight frown on his face. Do you think he's up to something?


He's always up to something, she muttered, bringing her knees up to her chest and examining Gourry's muscular back.


He didn't do anything to you, did he? Gourry said suddenly, the blue eyes he fixed upon her burning with concern.


Of course he didn't. He's been very nice to me. Besides, if he had you were right under the bed.


Oh, right, Gourry muttered, scratching his cheek.


She sighed and let her tongue play across the lozenge in her mouth. Well, you need to bathe again. You have dust in your hair. I need to get up, too. Zel and Amelia will be back soon.


Are you sure you don't want to tell them about us? Gourry asked, standing and gathering his clothes.


I don't think it's appropriate, Lina said quickly. I think there are more important things afoot.


If you say so, he replied. I still think they'd be happy for us.


Whatever. I just don't think it's a good idea.


Gourry sighed and tucked in his shirt, cinching his belt and pulling on his boots. So Lina, how did you get back here last night? Why weren't you at the inn?


Suddenly a hazy memory of the feel of heavy, silky hair on her skin invaded her thoughts. It's a secret, she replied softly, and angrily ignored the misgivings roiling in the pit of her stomach.