(O) Anniversary(O)
London, England 1914

He knew it would be easier if he simply fused with a winged monster and flew up her balcony, but attracting unwanted attention to himself stopped Yuri from doing just that, true, no one would probably notice him, as her room was located at the back of the hotel, but he is less conspicuous this way.

So, he climbed up a support pillar instead, curled his fingers in the filigreed ironwork of the balcony and hung suspended for a moment before swinging his legs up. Effortlessly, like an expert burglar if there is one, his heel caught the edge of the balcony and pulled himself up, easing his body over the railing.

The lights were still on as he peered inside the bedroom. He found her sitting before a dressing table, pulling a brush through her long, silvery blond hair. The sight brought a rush of pleasure through him, this is the first time he saw her hair down.

Alice Elliot, the woman he had rescued in Manchuria, China. He felt an instant attraction to her the moment he first laid eyes on her, and though nothing but trouble came up for him since her rescue, Yuri knew that he would never trade those days of traveling with her for all the gold in the world.

Hell, he even suffered the long voyage here from France, even though he believed he'll die on that ship. Well, every man got to have a weakness and it just happened that sea travel is his. He had vowed to protect her at all costs, even if it meant his life, and he wanted to face this Albert Simon with her, so she would stop running forever.

And for all his endeavors, she let him wait for her for nearly 3 hours in the square, without making an appearance!

What have he done now to deserve that? Yuri cannot recall any recent mischief he had caused, why he was really well behaved as far as he can remember.

Alice was conspicuously absent for dinner that evening, and she won't even answer the door when he knocked earlier. He was very much tempted to break down the door, but to do so would only embarrass them both, so he resorted to sneak up to her balcony.

God, how beautiful she is! Thought the besotted fusionist, hell, he didn't give a damn any more if he sounds so loony and lovestruck. Just looking at her pleases him, made him insanely happy.

He knocked at the French doors, seeking to draw her attention. But Alice deliberately ignored him, she just kept on brushing her hair as if he wasn't even there. Yuri didn't know if he is amused or irritated with the stubborn darling. What the hell is going on?

"Alice!" He said through the door, the sound muffled by the glass. "Alice if you don't open these damn doors I swear I'll break them down."

The slight hesitation on the movement of her brush indicated that she heard him. But still, she refused to acknowledge his presence.

"That's it!" Yuri said, he had enough of this game she's playing. He moved as far from the French doors as the balcony permitted, he will have to use his body as a battering ram, Yuri was sure that the momentum of his body alone would be enough to break down those damn doors. Thinking of ways to extract retribution from her, Yuri paused for a minute and then ran as fast as his long legs could carry him.

She chose that exact moment to open her doors, stood safely on one side even as the man gave a startled shout to find no more resistance to stop his velocity.

He stumbled and fell in an ungraceful heap just a few feet away from the wall that would have cracked his head if he had the misfortune to collide with it.

"Why the hell did you do that!" He nearly shouted at her.

Alice was unrepentant. She merely stood there and looked at him.

Furious enough to eat her alive, Yuri stood and walked to her. He towered over her, her head barely reached his chin, she looked so small and frail compared to his heavy, broad shouldered body. But Alice looked up at him without fear. Had he chosen to, he could break her neck as easily as if he was snapping twigs. But no matter how much she infuriates him, Yuri couldn't even stay angry with her for more than five minutes.

Instead he longed to kiss her senseless.

"Have you forgotten that we're supposed to meet at the square?" He asked, looking intently into her eyes.

Alice shook her head. "No."

"Then why?" He gasped in confusion. This isn't like Alice, no, not the sweet woman he met exactly one year this day.

It's not as if he actually remembered this day. He's not the sentimental type, but he celebrated each day he have with her, for each one is precious to him.

"I saw you and Margarete." Alice said unexpectedly.

Yuri looked even more confused. Thinking that he's playing dumb, Alice continued.

"You were both sitting at the patio this afternoon and she kissed you and you let her."

Oh, is this what it's all about? Yuri thought. Yes, he had lunch with Margarete at the hotel patio, Alice and the old goat Zhuzhen went out to bring some food to Halley and the London rats, so they were left all alone.

Margarete had been teasing him about his rather platonic relationship with Alice, to which he only smiled. Yuri knew that the other woman is interested in him, Margarete had made subtle advances towards him, and he knew just what kind of relationship the alluring spy wanted. A purely physical one, no emotional entanglement, no strings attached. To demonstrate her willingness to have an affair with him, Margarete kissed him, and what man won't appreciate the seductive charms of a beautiful woman?

But that's all there is to it. Alice, she had ruined him for life.

Once he would have pounced on Margarete's invitation without a second thought, but after meeting Alice…Yuri knew for certain, that no one but her will be able to satisfy him again, it's not as if he hadn't tried.

Once he'd gone to a discreet brothel, intent on venting the sexual frustration she aroused in him, but the experience only left him feeling empty, and…unclean. Needless to say, he stopped seeking other women.

This woman, this small, delicate woman turned him into a eunuch and this is how she thanked him!

"Are you sleeping with her?" Alice asked, her violet eyes flashing.

Yuri looked at her in amazement, where on earth did she get an idea like that? Then he realized that she was jealous. Oh God, the beautiful darling is jealous and he the besotted scoundrel is insanely pleased!

"Alice." He said, reaching for her.

She moved away from his reach, her eyes flashing a warning. No doubt she's ready to club him with her book, oh oh, not the vellum edition, it would hurt really badly.

"Well?" She asked, she looked like an angry kitten at that moment, a very adorable one.

"No." He said, though he was tempted to lie just to salve his male pride.

She gazed into his eyes intently, as if judging for herself is he's telling her the truth. Yuri met her eyes steadily, inwardly amused.

Her body seemed to relax a bit as she found her answer. Yuri walked nearer his arms outstretched.

"Can I hold you now?" He said

She was still a bit stiff when he drew her into his arms. Yuri kissed the top of her head, inhaling the sweet, sweet fragrance of her hair.

Alice sighed as the tension left her body completely. She knew she was acting very much out of character, but she couldn't help it.

Yuri entwined his fingers with hers and simply held her hand. Alice looked down at their joined hands and a very unpleasant thought filled her.

She had never allowed herself to think about Yuri's sexual experience—some other woman knew more about him than she did. Someone had taken his body over hers, inside hers and have known the sweetness of his kiss, the intimate glide of his hands on her skin. No, no, he is hers and it is excruciating to think of him turning to another for needs that she longed to fulfill.

Unconsciously her hands clenched against his shirt. The thought of him with another woman was unbearable. He is hers, and she won't share him!

"What is the matter Angel cake? It's just a kiss, Marge is a good friend, nothing more." Yuri murmured against her hair, she was all tensed again.

Alice shook her head. "I'm…I'm just…jealous that's all."

"Jealous?" Yuri feigned surprise, but it was impossible to miss the pleased note in his voice.

Alice wrinkled her nose and looked up at him. "How would you feel if I slept with another man, that he is holding me in his arms at night and—"

"I would kill him!" Yuri said in raw fury, his body was completely tensed, no longer gentle and relaxed. Though he knew that Alice won't do that to him, the mere image of her in another man's arms was enough for him to go on a killing spree.

"See what I m—" He muffled her voice with his mouth, kissing her furiously and she reveled in his untamed kiss. He lifted her effortlessly until her feet no longer touched the ground, urged her to wrap her legs around his waist, while he savaged her lips. Alice wrapped her arms around him, complied with his bidding.

God how soft her lips were, so achingly sweet, the kiss affected him like a lightning strike, immobilizing him for a moment as pleasure surged through him in waves. Then he became exquisitely gentle, tenderly exploring the secrets of her mouth, slowly filling her, his tongue mimicking the deeper, more intimate rhythm of possession as he teased her.

It was a mistake to draw her legs around his waist, oh but such a sweet, sweet delicious mistake. The feel of her warmth was quickly eroding his control, she feels insanely good in his arms, so good, so right. Her soft butt felt heavenly against his arm as he supported her, she was so light he barely felt her weight.

With a sound of a starving man he kissed his way down her throat, hungrily nicking the soft skin, sucking as if he wanted to devour her. She wore a different scent tonight, not the usual roses, but something sweet.

"Baby." He groaned as he nuzzled her throat again. "What did you put in your bath? It makes me want to eat you."

"Vanilla." She whispered treading her fingers between his unruly locks and pulled his face upwards to hers again. "Shut up and kiss me." She ordered huskily.

He gave a short burst of laughter before complying, giving her a soul deep kiss that sends shivers of pleasure coursing through her veins. She didn't care that she feels exposed and vulnerable right now with only the thin barrier of her silk underwear separating her from his body, neither did she protest when he cupped her breast through the crumpled satin of her night gown.

Yuri expected a token of resistance from her, finding none shocked him to the soles of his big feet. It also aroused him extremely.

Moments like these were precious few, they rarely have the time to be alone, not with four other companions and one of them still a minor! Yuri groaned, the gentleness of his hand as he molded her soft breast belied the raging fire burning him alive.

This got to stop now. Now or else she would be in that single bed of hers, beneath him before she can even spell out her name.

Alice protested when Yuri lowered her down. He was breathing rapidly, as if he had run for miles. She touched face, felt the rapid pulse of his heart thumping against her fingers. Yuri clasped her hand and brought her palm to his lips.

"Baby we've got to stop now." He said hoarsely.

"Why?" She asked, she had often wondered why Yuri would suddenly withdraw from her, just when things were really getting interesting.

"I promised I would come to you as your husband didn't I?" He said, surprised.

"That is a promise I didn't ask you to make." Alice replied quietly. She couldn't believe what she had just said, and neither does he it seems.

"What!" He gasped, unable to believe he heard her right.

To be continued...


A/N: So sorry I have to end so abruptly like that, I just remembered that I played SH exactly 2 years ago somewhere in march, and I thought that I would write a one shot to comemorate that happy occasion before my other 'interest' sweeps me away again.

Oh I've been trying to regain what little skill I have with watercolors, and with only a few days before the deadline, I still don't know what to do! Er, if you want to see my pathetic watercolors of Yuri and Alice, check out my profile page, the link is there. Now promise you won't laugh!

Happiness chap2 is rotting away Tigger me love! No, I don't mean to pressure you, it's just that I'm still not happy with what I've written and I can't improve it that's all...

I'm so happy many SH authors are popping up. More ficcies to read...later.

puffy.