Chapter 29

Acey1: Nope, this fic isn't quite over. A couple more chapters yet.

Reiven: I'm the first one? Wow. I feel special now. :D And your first decent scene? How so?

MyHeartBleeds: Stalk Panas? Feel free. Annoy him for me. :p And I hate writers block too. A curse, it is. And I won't tell Gary... yet.

HimekoSukie: Finally 'one' indeed. :D

animeandraia: This fic is actually almost over now, so not really many more turns to take. Just a couple of sub-plots to round off and then it's all over.

DranzerGirl: I didn't think anyone would pick up on the 'stay inside' thing, prolonging the 'oneness'. Glad you liked it.

Ashla: Fluff? Not really. More spikes. Well, maybe. Never know. :p

KuronekoHikage: I went looking for the AMV and found it at the main AMV site. I'm now on probation... gotta wait two weeks before I can download. ((sigh))

lilmatchgirl007: Yes, I wonder what Kai would have done if he had to do something drastic...

Padfootlet: Clueless? How so? And it's not over yet.

Cat in the web: Nope, not the end. Still a couple of chapters to go. It's not over til I say it's over.

Jay Kamiya: What about Tala's declaration to Bryan? Did you like that as well?

Lady Snowblossom: I take it you wanted someone to threaten them. :p And pointless how?

Chaco and Lily: Plots are a curse, but they make it more rewarding when it happens, yes? ;)

GemGemJoo: I take it you like.

Kappy Locks: Only a few chappies left, no comment on the sequel, and no comment on Boris. See, answered quickly. ;)

The next morning…

Disclaimer: See first page

A morning glow crept into the room uninvited, Tala groaning softly as it fell across him, rousing him from his pleasant dreams. Tala moaned, rolling onto his side and reaching out, sitting up abruptly as he realised he was alone. Sapphire eyes darted around the room, seeking out the other but finding no sign. Tala sighed, biting his lip as it dawned on him that it might have simply been one of those dreams, that everything was still the same. That nothing had changed.

"You're cute when you're worried."

Tala whipped around, spotting Bryan leaning against the doorframe of the en suite, robe pulled around him. Tala's eyes narrowed. "I thought I was dreaming."

"Dreaming?"

"That you came back. I thought I had dreamt it and that you were still missing."

"A dream, eh?" Bryan moved toward him, lavender eyes sparkling as he sat on the edge of the bed, reaching out to run his fingers through Tala's hair. "How do you know if you're awake? Maybe you're still dreaming. Maybe this is a dream."

Tala closed his eyes, smiling ever so slightly. "If it is a dream, I never want to wake up from it."

Bryan chuckled, leaning down and pressing his lips to Tala's, Tala looping an arm around his neck and trying to coax him back down onto the bed. Bryan smiled against his lips, pulling back as his lavender eyes shone with amusement.

"You're certainly frisky."

"Can you blame me?" Tala shrugged, smirking. "First I denied I liked you, then we were chained up, then you refused to sleep with me, then we fought, then you left, and now you're refusing to sleep with me again."

"I slept with you last night."

"So once is enough?"

"It should be."

Tala groaned, dropping back against the bed. "You always have to play hard to get, don't you?"

"Of course. It's fun." Bryan smirked, leaning down and pressing his lips to Tala's. "Besides, I enjoy rubbing you the wrong way."

Tala raised an eyebrow. "You wouldn't mind rubbing something else while you're at it, would you?"

Bryan rolled his eyes, pushing himself up. "Now I know where Ian gets it from."

Tala laughed, sitting up and brushing his hair from his eyes. He slid closer to Bryan, kissing him on the jaw. "There's nothing wrong with innuendo, Bry. Besides, I missed you. Not to mention it is way too early to be out of bed."

"I had to go."

"You always have to go."

"Like you're always in the shower."

"At least I'm not always being antisocial."

"Better than always whining about every little thing."

Tala's eyes widened. "I do not!"

"Point proven."

"Jerk." Tala caught Bryan around the waist, flipping him back onto the bed and straddling him before he could move. "You just can't be nice, can you?"

Bryan raised an eyebrow. "Nice is not what I do."

"So I realise." Tala kissed him as his long fingers tugged at the robe's sash. "What I said about you changing. I take it all back. I like you just as you are."

"And how am I?"

"A jerk." Tala shrugged, nipping playfully at Bryan's neck and shuddering as he felt sure fingers trail down his spine. "Don't you ever sneak out without saying where you're going ever again, okay? At least leave a note next time."

"Oh sure. 'Hey Tala, I've gone to the toilet. Be back soon.'"

Tala laughed, pulling back and spotting the playful smirk. "Okay, so maybe not every time. I don't like waking up to find you gone, that's all. Don't think I'll ever like that."

"Not even if I've snuck out to get your breakfast in bed?"

"Bryan?"

"Yeah?"

"Stop being an arsehole."

"It would appear your opinion has improved yet again." Bryan tossed him a wink. "First a jerk, then a prick, and now an arsehole. I'm getting good at this."

"Shut up."

Bryan sniggered, sliding his hands down Tala's sides and circling them back up, spotting the small smile playing over Tala's lips. "I think you're liking this."

"Mm." Tala's sapphire eyes sparkled as he looked down at him. "You're a tease."

"I most certainly am."

Bryan slid a hand behind Tala's neck, drawing him down into a soft yet firm kiss. Tala shifted, returning it as he trailed his fingers through Bryan's hair. He moaned softly as he felt a feather touch on his thigh before he broke the kiss, smiling slyly as he shuffled back, ignoring the pain as he lowered himself onto Bryan.

"Just couldn't resist, could you?"

"Was my intention all along."

"Why does that not surprise me."

"Bryan?"

"Mm?"

"Shut up."

"Strange. I thought you'd want to hear me moaning."

"Jerk."

Well, everything's back to normal. :p