A/N: Oct 11, 2012: Another edit. Hope you're enjoying.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Lost World.

Chapter 11:

~ Two days later ~

The river had not been the smooth ride that Clark had been hoping for. In fact it was downright treacherous. The journey down the rapids had taken from them some of their baggage and nearly one half of the Maximoffs. Much to Pietro's relief they were able to rescue her with minimal injury and maximum soakage.

After that day long journey, they'd finally reached the mountains they were supposed to hike to reach the tunnels. But instead of pushing forward through the night, they'd decided to camp for the night, allowing everyone some much needed rest.

The next morning they ate quickly and got ready to go. The mountain wasn't very steep, at first. It had the feel of a hill. But four hours into the climb, they started to notice the increasing steepness. Pietro explained that it was steep for a hundred feet or so, then it flattened out again. Their climbing gear was pulled out and used for the next two hours of climb.

They decided to make camp there for the night. Some of their group had gained some nasty scratches that would benefit from some TLC right away.

Veronica and Roxton sat together, away from the big group. She helped him clean the cut he'd sustained on his forehead when a loosed rock, the size of a handball, decided to roll over him.

"I wonder what they are doing right now," he murmured.

"I have no idea," Veronica admitted. "But, I sure do miss them."

"Even Marguerite?" Roxton joked.

She smiled. "Even Marguerite…" She went quiet for a moment and then asked, "You think they'll be shocked to see us?"

"Oh, most definitely! We thought Summerlee had died and look at him healthy and safe at home," Roxton said happily.

"I guess you're right…" she said. "I hope they didn't forget us…"

The scramble of feet near them cut them off. Chloe appeared before them. "Hey, you two, I'll be taking the first watch, all right?"

"Fine with me," Veronica agreed.

"Get some sleep, if today was anything to go by, we've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

"Wake me next," Roxton added before she walked away.

Roxton and Veronica set their sleeping bags next to each other, around the fire, like everyone else. Good nights were said and soon all went to sleep.

"Another fine day of bug hunting," Malone announced sarcastically as they stepped off the elevator.

Challenger disappeared quickly, mumbling something about taking his specimens to the lab.

Malone turned to Marguerite who sat herself in a nearby chair, closing her eyes from exhaustion. He grabbed a nearby chair, placing it opposite to hers.

"I am not leaving the tree house tomorrow," she declared.

"Really? So just to be clear, if Challenger asks for assistance tomorrow I shouldn't offer your services?" Malone asked playfully.

Marguerite's response was a silent glare.

"Hmm… I'll take that as a yes… I'll just head down there and let him know that he's got two willing participants for tomorrow…" he continued, looking very serious.

When he started to get up, Marguerite quickly pulled on his shirt, halting him. "You wouldn't dare."

He pulled his shirt from her grip, a big grin on his face. "Watch me."

He was enjoying his exaction of revenge. Malone managed to take a few steps before she quickly got up and stood in his way. "All right, all right, what's it going to cost me?"

Putting a finger to his chin, he considered her question momentarily. "Let me see… how about you do all the cooking tomorrow…"

"Fine," she agreed speedily. "That's better than going outside."

"And…" Malone continued.

"And? What and? There is no and," she replied, shaking her head.

"A kiss?" he asked impishly.

She stepped around him, heading towards her room. She threw a grin over shoulder before saying, "I think you've had your share of kisses for today."

Marguerite disappeared into her room, leaving Malone standing there, laughing.

Sometime later, well after he'd written today's journal entry, he heard the flutter of his curtain. Turning, he found Marguerite, clad in a white nightgown, standing in his doorway.

She smiled at him and asked, "Can I sleep in here?"

Malone simply nodded, gesturing to his bed. He held the covers back for her as she climbed in next to him.

They each lay on their sides, facing each other. Marguerite gave him a small smile. Slowly, she reached her hand out, letting her fingers trace his cheek. And then, she was kissing him, once, twice, the second time deeper.

"I thought I'd gotten all the kisses I was going to get today?" Malone asked, surprised, but also pleased.

"That wasn't for you, it was for me," she stated.

He smiled; it was nice to know that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. He put his arm around her as she rested her head against his chest.

Sighing contently, Marguerite closed her eyes. Almost immediately, sleep came to her and with sleep came the dreams.

The dream was, once again, very vivid. It was as if was an invisible audience to a play.

It started off with Veronica and Roxton in a boat paddling up a river alongside three other boats. And then it sort of fast forwarded to a mountainside; she could see them climbing up a mountain. It was on this mountain climb where Roxton got hit on the head with a loose rock. She could see the blood oozing from the cut to his forehead and she wanted to yell out her concern. But she found, just like in the last dreams, talking was impossible.

She watched them get to the top, where they set up camp. Roxton and Veronica took their turns at watch. All this didn't seem very strange to her, other than the realness of the dream. It was when Roxton and Veronica were fast asleep that she got the shock of a lifetime. They were holding each other's hands. And then, the dream fast forwarded again, this time she saw Veronica in Roxton's arms, still asleep.

Marguerite woke up abruptly, muttering, "No, no…" over and over again.

That's it for this one. Drop me a line, let me know if you like or hate (lol) this story.