Slowly, Gideon climbed up the shed, inching towards Fred's window. Thank Mithros he left it open even in the cold weather. It was so much easier to get in that way. Carefully, Gideon swung his feet into the room, pulling the rest of his body in behind. He waited for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. A hand reached out and covered his mouth from behind, a knife was whipped around to his throat. "Hey there little fella," the person said in a deep whisper, "Don't you dare make a sound. No need to be afraid as long as you don't make a sound." Gideon could smell the garlic and ale on the man's breath. He breathed slowly through his nose, letting his eyes adjust to the dark. A glance at the bed and the door told him Fred had yet to come in. He let his body relax, feeling the grip on his arm follow suit. Quickly, Up and back and then down with his foot, hitting his captor on his foot as well as his groinal region. At the same time, Gideon reached up with his left hand and grabbed the wrist of the knife wielding hand. Using his knee to press the man to the ground he placed the knife in his pocket. "Who are you?" he asked, digging his kneecap in between the mans shoulder blades. Silence. And then- "Where the hell did you learn that?" "Fred?" Gideon was confused. "May Mithros have mercy on ya if you don't get off me right now" Fred grunted. Gideon jumped off and helped his friend into a nearby chair. He lit the lamp. "What were you thinking?" Asked Gideon. "You should be thankful I didn't break a bone!" "How was I ta know you'd act like that?" "What were you expecting, that I'd give you my purse and cut my own throat? Fred, you're forgetting. We already lost one man in my family to such things. I wont have it again." Fred looked sour, then sorry, then thoughtful. "Sorry" he said, rubbing his tender spots. Silence filled the room. Gideon slung his coat over a trunk and rubbed his forehead, taking a deep breath. "So, are you're stayin' here again tonight?" asked Fred. "Yeah, if you don't mind" said Gideon. "Nah. For you, I never mind, but you ought to think about talking to your mum." "I know. Just, well, tonight has been, eventful." "Tell me about it! That brawl was sumthin' else! Did you see Molasses when we were through with 'im?" "No. I was leaving out the back." "What?" Fred cocked his head and raised his eyebrows. "Four chickens and six bags of flour were stolen. Tonight, while I was there. But it wasn't me. Rooks said he knew it wasn't but he told me to leave anyway. I was so angry and I wasn't paying attention and all of a sudden I ran into-" his voice caught and his mind wandered back. He was falling into those big honey eyes, hearing her laugh. "Goody!" Gideon felt a pain in his arm. Fred had punched him to pull him out of his daydream. "What did you run into that gave you that look on your face?" Gideon didn't know if he should tell him. "C'mon man. Tell me." "You know that girl we saw the other day? At the Broken Egg?" "Oh the one with the hair" he gestured with his hands, "and those rosy cheeks?" Gideon nodded. "The one with her nose in a book all the time?" He nodded harder. "You mean the one with the really high class" "Hannah." "Yes the high class Hannah. If that's what you want to call it." "No, no. Her name is Hannah." "Ohhhhh." Said Fred. He waited. "Yeah, I sorta remember. What about her?" "Well I ran into her on the street on my way here and I introduced myself. Kind of." "Yeah?" "Yeah." Another pause. "Well did you do anything else?" Gideon looked up. "Walk her home?" He shook his head. "Ask her to meet you somewhere?" He shook again. "Did you even get her name lad?" "Yes. Hannah." "Well thank Mithros you did something right." Finally healed enough to stand up, Fred began to undress for bed. The two friends continued in silence, washing and setting up a palette for Gideon on the ground by the window. Fred blew out the light and climbed into bed. The street outside was silent. "So you like her, eh?" asked Fred. Gideon nodded, "Uh huh." "Well, she must like you too if she's still talking to ya tomorrow" he yawned. "You think so?" asked Gideon, his voice cracking a little. He waited for a response, but all he heard was a snore.