Chapter 3 – Hard Graft All Round.

A/N: The plot moves on, so see if, by the end of this chapter, you can answer this; what is that sneaky little foxboy up to? Is he out to disprove to everyone his relationship/crush on Cream? What do the reviewers think:

HHH – I have none of the systems necessary to play the Shadow game; I have a P.C – just my luck. Oh well, never mind; happy thoughts. Enjoy this chapter; we're about halfway through now (short but sweet story).

Ri2 – Don't worry, nothing as hectic as last time; even Thunderhawk's learn his lesson.

TH – More chapters for the Red Bull demon – keep her thirst sated or we're all doomed!

"I have to admit", Knuckles rubbed his head, not feeling any other ill effects save a mild headache following the marginal excess of the previous evening, "that went a lot better than I thought it would".

"And with any luck so will this" Thunderhawk answered as, finally, the lift into the hidden base of Haven juddered to a halt, allowing the two echidnas to exit into the hidden, ancestral home of the Brotherhood of Guardians. To Knuckles' surprise, there was no-one to greet them on arrival; his other grandfathers must have realised he was here, but apparently weren't concerned with the fact; or at least they're not as concerned as they were last time Thunderhawk went out on one, and dragged me along with him.

For a split-second, the guardian grimaced as he knew he always would following remembrance of that now legendary drinking spree and, more importantly, the infamous picture that had resulted from the aftermath, beamed up for all to see following his wedding to Rouge. Compared to that mind-breaking bender, the previous night had been a model of restraint; they'd gotten to a local bar, ordered a few rounds and proceeded to get moderately tipsy, nothing more than that. His vision had blurred, but Knuckles was almost certain he remembered the walk back to Wynmacher's flat and how he had fallen asleep in one of his chairs, Vector laid out on the floor in front of him with his head resting on the guardian's shoes. He certainly remembered waking up again, how this time the light had been bearable and the pounding in his brain subsided after a glass of water; what I wouldn't have given for it to do the same after my stag. He and the other two revellers had, however, been left behind; Wyn had tacked a note to the back of his door stating that he'd gone to work, they could let themselves out when they were ready as long as they shut the door properly. And it had been that getting ready that had landed him where he was now.

After washing his face in cold water, the guardian had taken a long, hard look in the mirror and, seeing a familiar face, subtly different from his own in manner and appearance, looking back at him he had known today would be the day he buried this hatchet. Having told Vector to get to the shrine and tell the others he'd meet up with them later, Knuckles had travelled back to Haven with Thunderhawk, and as that journey now ran to its conclusion, the guardian knew it was time. Nodding at his sixth-father, Knuckles waited a few seconds before his voice breeched the silence,

"He's in his lab, where he's been for a while now", the older echidna turned to look his descendent in the eye, voice solemn as he asked sincerely, "are you sure you're ready for this?"

"I have to be; I want to hear it from his own mouth"; and if he tries, or even inflects he wants to break this up; Knuckles felt his fists clench almost against his will; I'll nip it in the bud completely. Seeing his look and knowing there would be no reasoning with the other echidna, Thunderhawk stepped forwards and beckoned,

"Very well then; I'll take you to him".

XXX

Locke heard the knock at the door to his hybrid laboratory/workshop, but failed to do register it for a few seconds; it didn't seem important to him, at least not as important as this new machine was. The beam prototype was nearly ready, but there were still a couple of teething troubles; it had a tendency to shut machinery off permanently and that could be lethal in the case of the more heavily augmented Legionnaires. He moved his hands over the dully shined metal again, trying to see what was wrong with his creation. Maybe the power nodes are uncalibrated; the scientist thought quietly to himself, logically dissecting the problem and putting the most likely cause first; failing that, the refractory electromagnetic fields are out of sync, or…; there was a second crash on his door, louder than the first this time and he couldn't ignore it. Swearing under his breath that if this was Athair, who seemed to take delight in interrupting him to ask pointless questions about how he was feeling, he would personally invent a stasis beam that would freeze him completely, Locke downed his tools and headed to greet his new visitor.

"Hello…Knuckles?" His eyes widened momentarily; he wasn't so cold that he couldn't get excited about a visit by his son, but the excitement died as he realised why the guardian was here, "please, come in".

"Thanks"; he knows; Knuckles couldn't just read it from Locke's eyes; the knowledge was seeping from every pore of his being, radiating from him in a mist of depressing fugue. Still, it was too late to back out now; with a determined set of his shoulders, he walked inside, headed to the nearest clean space he could find and pulled himself up to sit on the nearest workbench. Kicking his heels idly for a few moments, he watched as his father shut the door and began to head back to what he assumed was his latest pet project; it was only when Locke reached half way that he managed to pluck up the courage to speak,

"So", he looked around, not quite able to meet Locke's eye as the older echidna looked around at him, "how are things in this mad-house?"

"Cut to the chase Knuckles", the tone was firm but not unkind; the words of a Mobian who knows what's about to happen next will be painful and doesn't need it dragging out, "I know why you're here".

"Good, then you know the question?"

"I do", Locke gave a small, vicious smile, "and I will give you the same answer I gave my father; I will do nothing to oppose this union, because by trying to stop this wedding happening, I would only hurt Lara more. That's something I can never do again Knuckles, for my sake as well as your mothers". The guardian nodded, trying to stop himself, but there was no choice, he had to ask,

"You, still love…?"

"Now, and always", Locke assured him, seeming to become colder, yet more removed as he offered some advice to his son, "you will never know what I, or your mother, have been through; Rouge already knows what is expected of a guardian and her love for you is too great to be broken. You'll never live through it and I am grateful for that, but don't try to offer help for something you have no idea about".

The last words weren't a threat, they were a simple statement; in them, Knuckles saw a truth he couldn't deny. There was nothing he, or in fact any of the Brotherhood, could do here; as far as he was aware Locke was the first divorcee in recorded history for the guardians; and now he has to sit and watch the woman he loves marry someone else. A sudden, spiteful desire to say this was exactly what he deserved shot up; the guardian crushed it instantly, ashamed it had even occurred to him now, after he understood the situation Locke had found himself in. He had been a coward, but there had been a reason for it, at least in his own mind, and he had tried to make up for his own mistake even if it had cost him a wound that had never fully healed. Knuckles didn't exactly like Locke, but he had to respect him for doing what he had done to ease his former wife's suffering, letting her go quickly and without restraint. And he's doing the same again now; Knuckles couldn't help but credit that and, realising there was nothing he could say now, nodded in acquiescence,

"Okay, you made your point".

"Good", Locke turned back into his work, "I'm not sure if Thunderhawk said, but if Lara and Wynmacher are willing to accept them, give them my regards and congratulations".

"He mentioned; they did say thanks"; his father's back was to him now, but Knuckles saw his shoulder dip and, understanding himself to be dismissed, the guardian gently pushed himself back to the floor, took one last look at his father's hunched shoulders and posture, and silently departed. It may just have been his imagination, but he almost thought he heard a muffled crash through the closed door, a sound not altogether unlike a thin metal bar being hammered into the edge of a heavy wooden desk.

XXX

So then; he'd had the news, but it left him with a poser of a problem; Tails considered it on the way back from his latest excursion; having just dropped off the passengers he'd shuttled down of a day-long trip to Station Square, Tails fiddled absently with the pocket that housed his mobile phone, still not sure what he was supposed to do now. Having just spoken with Lara again, the news delicious again, ensuring it was a summer wedding just as Mighty had predicted, the fox was left in a bit of a quandary; what the hell can I get them as a wedding present?

It had been a poser that had dogged him all day; Lara had been very quick to impose a strict limit that all she and Wyn wanted from everyone was something to help with the reception; their combined budget wasn't large, they were having to save up to go on a delayed holiday come the winter, but they didn't want anything big to mark the occasion – in Wynmacher's colourful jargon; just something to help the day go with a bang. But I need to give them something special; the fox ground his teeth, thinking over every time Lara had offered to help him, every time Wyn had helped cook up something delicious despite just having had a full day at work, the good food always banishing the hunger that affected him after flying too long. So he was stuck; he wanted to give them a present they'd never forget just after their wedding, but what could he give that would be really, really memorable?

He tried to think back to what had happened earlier in the year, when his two other friends had tied the knot, but that wasn't too much help; aside from bribery material to last a lifetime from Rouge and a coronary for Knuckles, he hadn't really done much there; the Brotherhood had footed the bill and anyway the two guardians couldn't have too much because of the life they led. But Lara and Wyn are both normal; Tails bumped his head on the steering wheel gently, frustrated as his normally sharp mind was blunted on this virtually impenetrable issue; what would a normal couple want?

The problem occupied him until he was coming in to land when, finally, his thoughts and ideas forced the breach; he virtually seized up, every molecule in his body going completely rigid, his fur standing on end as it hit him; a way to say thank you for everything they'd done for him and make sure the reception went with a really, really big bang. The Tornado lurched up into the air, almost a loop-de-loop as Tails had to slew his vehicle around to come in for another pass; he'd overshot the landing in this time in his sudden revelation. There was only one thing he needed to check and he needed to do it quickly.

Right, got it; cutting the connection, the fox stood up straight, crossing the room to his calendar, counting the days between now and the one day he'd highlighted in red with yellow stars surrounding it; he had about two months, and that wasn't long at all with the target he'd set himself. But he could do it, and would do it; come hell or high water, as he remembered both the fiancés saying the same words, Tails made that solemn promise and almost immediately began acting on it; I've got some phone calls to make, some extra orders to do…; his eyes fell on a date not three days away and a small jab of disappointment touched his heart; …and sadly, someone to let down for a while.

XXX

"Thank you sir, see you again"; Amy watched as the customer disappeared with a wave, then hopped back off her box, stretching her legs with a groan. Wriggling her toes, she looked up at her co-worker and complained,

"If I'm up there much longer I'll have lattices on my feet by the time today's out". The human looked at her and quietly laughed, reaching down to pat her patronisingly on her head quills; she grabbed his hand with both of hers and shook her head,

"Don't even think about it Simon".

"Too late", checking the shop floor was clear, he gave her a nod; seeing this, Amy began to walk slowly up and down the aisle behind the counters they both worked, feeling pins and needles as the blood returned to her legs now they were moving rather than standing still. With a sigh, she jumped back onto the box her job provided for her to see into the shop she worked for, letting Simon, or Si when he wasn't in the dog house, do likewise to give his legs a bit of a stretch.

"Always the same n Fridays Ames", she gave him a sidelong glance from the corner of her eye, listening as he continued, "busy for ages, but it goes quick; look at the time".

"Don't", one of her pet superstitions rose to the fore as she consciously averted her eyes from the wall behind her, "I never look at the clock if I can help it; seeing the time makes it go a lot slower".

"You and your beliefs hedgie".

"Says the man who wants to write a book about how to cheat the boss at work". A finger flicked one of her ears softly and she batted at it, turning to see Si wave a finger at her,

"I'd never cheat Chocky as long as I live, you know that Ames". She nodded and smiled, pushing his gently in the shoulder,

"Ah, you know what I meant".

"Sadly I normally do".

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Your sister's over there". That made absolutely no sense; Amy furrowed her brow but for the life of her couldn't see where he was going with this, going with her gut feeling as she tried to make sense of it,

"Don't change the subject".

"No, no, look", Si pointed past her till, out the window of the Quick Stop Shop, "isn't that her chao, Cheese?" Amy craned her neck to lean over the counter and see a blue chao with a red bow tie flitting along and more importantly the small rabbit walking along underneath him. Wonder what Cream's doing here?; she looked at her friend,

"Si, gimme five"; when she'd rubbed her shoulder from the gentle punch that had tapped her shoulder, the pink hedgehog smiled sarcastically, "minutes off you lummox; I just want to say hi".

"Go on then, but be quick; this place can fill up like nobody's business when you're not looking". Without another word, Amy was gone, ducking under the entrance to the back of the tills without opening it and rushing outside; thankfully with Cheese as a marker, she couldn't miss the younger rabbit in the press,

"Cream", she dodged past a couple as Cream turned to see her, "what are you doing here?"

"Oh sorry Rosie", the rabbit looked up at the store Amy had just emerged from, "I forgot you worked there; I should have popped in".

"Don't worry, half the time I forget I work there as well; the number of phone calls I get saying I should have been in work ten minutes ago"; something's not right here; it had been a bad joke, but it should have been enough to get Cream to smile. Now she looked at her younger sister, Amy became more concerned at the faraway look in her eye and frown on her lips. Pressed for time, Amy took the bull by the horns,

"You feeling alright Bun?" The rabbit glared up for a second, reminded of her less than pleasant former nickname but being Cream just couldn't hold it; the glare softened to a downcast, longing gaze as she sighed,

"Yeah, I just want to be…forget it, it's not much".

"Cream", she looked up to see her older sister smiling at her, an eyebrow raised in gentle mockery, "lesson one if you want to get away with something; never tell anyone to forget about it 'cause they won't. It's not nothing, I can tell that from your face and the way your twisting your ear around your hand", the rabbit gaped and went red, trying to stop what she considered a girlish habit as Amy chuckled and finished, "now out with it, or am I going to have to…?"

"Mercy", Cream sprang back as Cheese squeaked, dropping into Amy's vision from above and interposing himself between the two Mobians like the world's smallest bodyguard; Cream gave him a gentle stroke before sighing, "well, it's just, I'd rather be flying than shopping".

Huh; the rabbit must have seen the confusion in her face as she elaborated,

"Well, I go flying, in the Tornado, training"; right, with you now; "well that's supposed to be every Friday night, but I got a call from Tails a few weeks ago saying he'd have to cancel for a while; said something about getting really busy and having to work late. I just miss it, the flying I mean; I want to be a pilot now".

"I see", that got the cogs turning, though Amy knew right now she had to get back to work; all she could do was reassure her little sister, so she slapped on a friendly smile and spoke comfortingly, "well don't worry; Tails has been busy recently, he's spoken to a lot of us, saying he's not going to be around so much, but he said it wasn't going to be for long, he hoped so anyway. Don't think about it; he likes you really"; Cream swatted the hedgehog as she scowled and made to speak; Amy beat her to it,

"I know; nothing's going on; listen, I gotta go – give Vanilla my regards and I'll see you soon".

"Okay, bye Rosie". The rabbit waved off her sister before resuming her journey to the pet shop, Cheese ahead of her, desperate to get his hands on the chao treats awaiting him there. Luckily, neither rabbit nor chao could see the thoughts running through Amy' mind as she retook her place at the cash register.

Tails has been hard to get hold of recently; she rummaged through the drawers, pretending the change was hard to get hold to buy a few extra seconds of thinking time; haven't seen him around for a while, he couldn't get to the last night in we all had – mind you; she smiled as she handed the customer his change, looking away and faking a coughing fit to disguise the mirth that had arisen when Sonic and Shadow had seen the movie she'd brought with her; those two probably wished they were with him when they saw it – I did say Bridget Jones was a chick flick but would they believe me?

Amy truly meant to carry out her promise; it wasn't in her good, caring soul to lie, but from the second she got back behind the counter the rest of the day was an absolute blur of serving frantically, remembering manners at the last minute and just time for a frenzied spot of cleaning at the very end. She was dead beat by the time she arrived back at her apartment, barely able to slam something in the cooker and get to bed, never mind recall a single conversation in a day packed with activity. So it was she failed to confront Tails about his errant plans for her sister, a blessing in disguise for, had she done so, her naturally remorseless demeanour would have been sure to grind the truth from him, and all his hard work may have counted for naught.

XXX

Lara looked up from the notes she'd been scribbling, thankful to her future husband as he pushed a cupful of something steaming and scented towards her; with a grateful sigh she leant back in her chair, free for a few minutes of the mind-numbing tedium of the facts and figures she was resolutely ploughing through. As she took a first sip, she cast her eye down on the working out she'd done so far; more than I'd expected, but at least we're over half way there. Trying to combine their finances now, rather than after their big day, was a massive issue that they'd been trying to get over for the past two weeks in their spare time, but at least now it was finally coming together. As far as she could make out, both she and Wyn would be able to put money into the joint account, but on his insistence only she would be able to take money out.

She looked up as Wyn sat down opposite her, smiling the smile she'd fallen in love with, and it was love, a true love she thought she'd lost following her son being ripped from her and abandoned in the wilderness. That last clause had been a stroke of genius on his part; he freely admitted finances weren't his thing, so he left that side of the business in Lara's much more capable hands. She couldn't help but agree with this, even if she'd had to slap him upside the head when he'd said that going by his logic the kitchen was off-limits to her.

"Going all right Lara? You've been at it like a train these past few nights".

"And now the train needs more oil in the boiler", she threw back a mouthful, feeling the hot liquid melt its way warmingly into her stomach, "and that just hit the spot; Wyn, no matter that you can't do facts and figures to save your life, you're the best damn tea maker this side of Echidnopolis".

"And proud of it", the brown echidna put a patriotical expression on and slapped his chest with a free hand before seeing the hated numbers once more, "still, get this done now and tomorrow, the world's our oyster".

"Well, Echidnopolis at least". Wyn raised his eyebrow; at last, savour the moment I catch out Ms Organisation;

"No, the whole world", he corrected her, wagging a finger as she made to contradict him, smile broadening as he pointed out, "we've got the prospect of a free lift anywhere come tomorrow morning".

"Ahh", the penny dropped for her, "nice idea, but you're still wrong I'm afraid"; no way; Wyn's jaw dropped as Lara refrained from smirking with very great difficulty, "Mighty's got him this weekend; she's going to visit her boyfriend's family and needs the lift doesn't she?"

"Is that this weekend?" His eyes flicked to the calendar, "thought it was next".

"Nah, this is the one; she was a bundle of nerves when I saw her last", Lara chuckled, the sight of a Mobian she knew from experience could tackle pretty much anyone under the sun on even footing going virtually to pieces in her desperation to make a good impression on people she'd never met before funny even now, "she really wants to get this right".

"She will, and anyway, if Big's family are anything like he is it'll take something like her smashing up their house to take offence; never met anyone more sweet-tempered, save maybe Cream".

"Didn't know you'd met Big?" Wyn shook his head, brown dreadlocks swaying,

"Saw him at the big do didn't I – that's where I got the recipe for those fish rolls I treated you to a few days back". Lara blinked before the scene came back to her, jogging her memory,

"Course, sorry I forgot; oh Wyn", on impulse, excitement and longing tearing through her, Lara reached over, gently grabbing his arms as her breath came quick and fast, "soon, that'll be us, up there, getting married".

"I know, and I can't wait either", slowly, his eyes never leaving her beautiful face, the chef carefully rotated her grip, moving so her hand was held loosely in his as he spoke the most sincere words he had ever uttered, "I love you Lara-Le".

The words sent a thrill down her spine; somehow she couldn't take it in no matter how many times he said it, every time one to be long cherished in the memory. Her face softened even as he grip became firmer, more supportive as she whispered back,

"And I you Wynmacher, now and forever". Slowly, without words for they were meaningless in the face of so much overt emotion, both fiancés embraced, love filling each of them as the hold lasted. It was an endless time that came to a close only when they wished it to, when Lara allowed the numbers to become part of her life once again and descend back to Angel Island to finish them. Silently, with positive emotions dancing in the evening air around them, both echidnas quietly, diligently loved and worked for each other.

XXX

When the knock came, as both had known it would, Lara was the first to react; jerking her pen to the door, she asked quickly,

"Would you mind; the answer's right in front of me"; without a word Wyn was up and heading for the front door. She knew it was coming even as she scribed the next sequence of numbers and still she couldn't help but smile as he called back to her,

"Lara, look lively, your toy-boy's paying you a visit"; typical flattery – as if I could get a toy-boy…; "Tails?"

She put the pen down, registering the concern in the other echidna's voice and reacting to it without conscious input; she had grown attached to the fox in question, respected his talent for being who he was and, despite or possibly because of the fact she'd never known her own son, to a small degree sought to nurture him a little. Knuckles had told her the story he knew about Sonic and Tails; on hearing it she'd revaluated her ideas about the blue hedgehog – raising a child alone was hard enough, but saving the world as well, constantly with one eye on him and one eye on your possible demise? That took some doing; she lifted herself out her seat and headed for the front door, face grim as she considered what it might possibly be to make Wyn sound concerned; and, while he's on Angel Island at least, I can do a bit to help. With this thought in mind, she poked her head around the door and gasped in motherly concern.

Tails, at least to her eyes, looked a shadow of his former self; though there was little wrong with him physically that she could see, some sixth-sense demanded that she pay attention. He seemed smaller somehow, lacking the boundless energy, the excitement that normally had him greeting and talking to everyone; without it, the young fox seemed listless and dull. Probably just the tiredness; there was no denying the fact he looked like he could use a good forty winks, there were bags under his red-rimmed eyes and it didn't look like he could stop yawning; cup of tea and an early night for you my lad.

"Hello Tails", she stepped forwards as Wyn stepped back, letting the fox in, "feeling a bit under the weather?" He gave a haggard smile, weariness lining every inch of it,

"You have no idea; no, don't", he backed up, waving her away frantically as she sought to get a little closer, "don't want you to get it".

"Unclean", Wyn crossed his fingers, terror in his manner as Tails managed to look disdainful, "unclean!"

"You crack me up"; Tails wasn't normally a good liar, but just this once he didn't really need to be; he really was feeling tired and the exhaustion seemed to help him here – Lara couldn't read his face and body as well as she normally did and she seemed to believe his story. She moved closer, sizing him up with a practised nurse's eye, lips pursed,

"Hmm, how long have you been like this?"

"Just a few days"; that was when the late nights started catching up with me; "think there's some kind of bug going around; just get on with it, pretend it's not a big thing, it'll go away".

"Good philosophy", Wyn commented breezily even as he motioned to Lara with his eyes, "but there's nothing a strong brew can't help you cure". Lara flicked the kettle on as Tails slouched into the kitchen; just looking at him now made her feel tired, like he was a desert that was leeching away the comforting moisture of her vitality. As he flumped down, Wyn inconspicuously sidled into the background, checking the spare bed was made up and everything was ready; it looked like Tails would be needing it earlier than they'd expected.

"Here you go kid, get this down you"; his drooping ears perked up at her voice and he quite literally woke up and smelt the coffee. As he took his first sip, Lara regarded him more closely, trying to size up the symptoms, but they didn't quite make sense; if it had been flu, she'd be looking for a headache and sore throat as well as general lethargy, but at the same time a common cold shouldn't knock you out like this. Unless it's a virulent strain; she banished the pessimistic thought like smoke on the wind, speaking confidently,

"Just finish that, then you best turn in Tails".

"Or turn up my toes", he managed the weak joke, looking at her with eyelids half-shut, "believe me it's been tempting". A sudden fear tingled her sense of danger and she leant forwards,

"How did you fly the Tornado?"

"Autopilot is a wonderful thing; all I had to do was land, and I've done it so often its seco…second natahhhaa, 'scuse me"; he pardoned himself following the massive yawn as Lara cocked her head,

"You take it easy all right? You got a flight tomorrow, that's the only one right?" He nodded, not lying intentionally this time as he hadn't heard the question, merely finishing the top half of his cup of tea as she sat back, not entirely satisfied, but enough to be getting on with as Wyn gave her the nod from the doorway. The second the last drop was drained, the echidna lady scooped up the mug and pointed him in the direction of the bathroom,

"Right, brush your teeth, then bed, get it?"

"Thanks", he managed to mumble in response and slipped off the stool, swaying with tiredness before managing to catch himself and tottering unsteadily up the hallway, Wyn squeezing himself into the wall to the half-asleep fox past. The brown echidna raised his eyes as he sat down,

"Looks a mite rough".

"I know", she listened for the sound of the tap being turned on, "looks like this hasn't been his first late night of late; I hope he's not overdoing anything". Wyn shook his head,

"He's a sensible kid, he probably knows what he's doing".

"I hope so; I'll just get him settled down".

"You really like him don't you?" The question wasn't an accusation and as such, Lara had no reason to get defensive,

"Yeah, I do, but for the life of me I can't think why; I've got Knuckles again, but now he's a married man, like there wasn't any time for me. Tails…"

"Will appreciate what you're doing", Wyn finished for her, smiling as he watched her stand up, "you're being sensible with it, so's he by the looks of things; just as long as you carry on like you are, I reckon you'll both be fine". Lara smiled, running a hand down one of his dreadlocks as she moved past, her thanks for the reassurance as she moved into the hall.

She had wanted to wish her guest a good night, but for that she was too late; his head must have barely touched the pillow and he was long gone, sleeping like a baby. Lara gave a suppressed giggle as Tails lay on the bed, virtually comatose in his deep slumber, not even stirring as she sat on the side of his bed, resisting the urge to lean down and plant a kiss on his brow, settling instead for gently stroking the fur on his head.

"Goodnight kid" she whispered into the darkness before quietly standing up and moving softly out the room, her eyes on the sleeping fox until, with all the noise of a falling leaf in winter, she let the door slip into place behind her.

"No, forget it", her expression gave that away as false, the giggle brewing there belying her words as she saw the look on Wyn's face, "we've got a guest".

"He won't hear a thing", the brown echidna assured her, the spark in his eye one she'd seen before on a couple of memorable occasions, "it'd take a bomb in each ear-hole to get him awake now". She took a pace back even though deep down she didn't really want to, feeling the wall scrape her heel as she raised her hand,

"We're not married yet". He had an answer for everything,

"Never stopped us before"; but so do I;

"We weren't fiancés then", though true, the comment had about the same effect on stopping Wyn as tissue paper did on deflecting a bullet; Lara couldn't, didn't really try to resist as he wrapped his arms around her,

"Right, you've got to the count of five to give me one good reason why not"; it was as she was trying to think that he moved, his lips finding a spot just underneath where he jawbone met her ear and nibbling gently. She was a sucker for that little spot; her mind just went to mush and she bent her neck the other way, burning through the count in seconds. Wyn utilised the muscles in his arms, legacy of his sky-ball days, to sweep her up off her feet and carry her towards the other bedroom.

"Old romantic at heart?" He glanced down at the question, smiling,

"At heart, and pretty much everywhere else as well"; Lara's answering laugh was shut off as he pushed the bedroom door to with his foot.

A/N: Sorry, K+ fic; nothing further than that!