Creedy searched the grounds high and low for Rosie, until he saw a shape huddled in a cove in the castle wall. It was a spot he felt comforted by himself - from up there you had a great view of the landscape, destroyed as it was it was still breathtaking. He liked to sit there and watch.
Quinn noticed Creedy staring up and walked over to him, "Well." he boomed, making Creedy curse. "I think it's your watch now, only til 12... I'll come and take over from then. That OK?"
"Sure, sure," Creedy nodded, "if I can get my space back", Signalling with his head, Quinn followed the gesture of Rosie's huddled figure.
"Are the kids in bed now?" Quinn scratched his beard.
"Yeah, she just left them, they were hysterical!" Creedy started to walk toward the castle, "anyway I'll keep my eyes on the skies as ever."
Quinn watched Creedy enter the castle and hugged himself for warmth. Hunger gnawed at his bones and he decided to stop by the kitchen and see if Tina and Ma would feed him. Then he could get a few hours sleep before watch. With one last scour of the skies he headed toward the kitchens.

Rosie jumped as she saw Creedy walking toward her.
"How dare you steal my spot Rosie, I think you must be lying in wait for me, I don't take to being stalked! This is my place to sit and feel sorry for myself."
Creedy's eyes smiled down at her, and Rosie felt more tears brimming.
Scooting over she invited him to sit beside her, which he did, pulling her into a hug at the same time.
"It's not as bad as all that Rosie, it's really not. We're doing OK."
"Oh Dave, I just feel so stranded, where are we going, what are we going to do? The children don't even know what running around on a summer's day feels like."
Creedy pulled her to his lap and leaned back against the wall, she wrapped her arms about him and lay on his shoulder, both staring out to the skies.
"You know, when me and Quinn first found this place we just squatted here for awhile, then some half starved women appeared and we welcomed them. Since then Ma appeared, children ran here. We've had people trying to steal our food, kill us, ambush our home. We never expected such a close community to be formed within these walls. Yet suddenly we're all here, together and we have to make the most of that."
Creedy shifted around to face her, "These kids might not have grass or dogs or summer's days. But they have a sense of family, a sense of togetherness, and love."

Comforted, Rosie smiled and hugged him fiercely.
"Plus they have Star Wars, me and Quinn refuse to deny them that!"
Rosie's laugh echoed in the castle.
"Rosie sweetie, you're the rosiest of all the roses, and I've never seen you downhearted in the few short weeks I've known you. Nor have you ever ran out on the twins like that and scared me half to death, are you OK?"
Rosie's face dropped, "Oh lord, the twins!"
Rosie jumped to her feet, but Creedy caught her arm, "It's OK, I've put them to bed, they think you had a wash and an early night."
Rosie stared at Creedy. "You put them to bed?"
"Hey I'm not just an impressive superhero you know!"
Rosie smiled as he pulled her closer. "You're a fine figure of a man Dave Creedy. Thank you, you've said everything I needed to hear tonight."
Creedy lowered his face to hers. "And you are everything I need right now".
Again he stole a kiss, but this was reciprocated, it was long and deep.
Rosie pulled back and gasped, her whole body felt on fire.
"I've a good mind to tell Ma about this kiss-stealing habit of yours, and without asking, sir I find you rude and .."
Rosie gave up her joke and threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around him she explored his mouth with her tongue, pulling on his hair at the same time.
Creedy's hands grabbed her waist and rose up her back, causing her to tingle with anticipation.
Suddenly the hawk shrieked, Creedy and Rosie pulled away. Creedy's eyes turned cold as he spotted a dark looming figure in the sky headed toward the castle, on the floor he could see men running around extinguishing the lights.
Rosie was bewildered, Creedy recalled that the last time this had happened Rosie was being saved, she wasn't aware of how this worked.
Turning on her he held her arms and looked in her eyes. "Go to the nursery help get the children in the bunker, don't look back, don't waste time, get in the bunker and say there."
Rosie hesitated. "What about you, where are you going?"
Creedy began shoving her forward, "I'll follow you down, no more talking - just go, go!"
Rosie stared at him, he had never shouted before. But she did as she was told, the castle was almost empty by the time she reached the nursery. She saw Ma insisting the children hold hands and follow her. Rosie's eyes scanned for her twins. Unable to find them she screamed for them, until Ma grabbed her and dragged her to the bunker.
"Where are they, Ma?
"Someone else must have taken them, they will be there. Come on, we are running out of time."
The hawk's shrieks became more frequent, a sure sign the dragon was getting closer.

Rosie was lead to a hole in the ground, looking around wildly for her twins. The room below ground was huge. Littered with straw and beds it had clearly been designed for overnight stays. Glancing around she saw a smaller room leading off, in there were the children,. Many of them clearly used to this ordeal had already fallen asleep in the straw. Her heart rose when she saw A running towards her, but where was B?
"Where's your brother?" Rosie held the small child, "Come on now, talk! Dammit! Where is he? We need to find your brother – it's not safe out there. A - please talk to me!" Tears were streaming down Rosie's face.
A cocked her head and opened her mouth. "Creedy..." came a whisper.

At that point Quinn and several other men clamoured into the bunker. Creedy wasn't among them. 2 huge men were holding Quinn in his seat. He was clearly upset. "He's a damn fool, we need to go back for him."
Rosie ran over, "Where's Creedy? What's going on?"
Quinn stared at Rosie, "He's gone after that damn twin of yours" He then advanced on the woman who slept with the children. "Why was that boy not counted? He wasn't in his bed - Creedy spotted him frozen to the spot near the lookout point!"
One of the men interrupted, "We're not going back out there Quinn, it's too dangerous, and all we can do is hope and pray."
Quinn looked at Rosie whose world had clearly just been torn from her. Biting his rage and fear for Creedy he walked over and embraced her. "Creedy's a damn dragon magnet, but I'm sure he'll be fine. He knows this castle better than any of us, he knows where to hide if need be"
"What do we do now?"
"We wait, there's no sign of life out there now except Creedy and that boy, If they keep hidden the dragon should pass on. It's not worth thinking about the alternative."