A/N: Thank you for the reading that I know you've all been doing! I am grateful to those who actually reviewed! I have a couple of questions this time. I have a revised (and less silly) and am wondering if you think I should replace my current first chapter. My second question is that I don't want this to be done, but I don't quite know where to go with it. I am thinking that maybe the other pirates will return to Pern, but I don't know. Anyway enjoy and review, thank you!

Four months had passed since that dreaded mating flight and S'fehlad and M'quiggly found themselves on better terms, but their easy friendship was a thing of the past. Tensions of all sorts abounded between the pair. Their dragons, however, were close as they had been that fated day. The situation was a much-discussed topic among the other blue and green riders of Telgar. They all wondered when the two riders would match the passion their two dragons exhibited. M'quiggly ignored the fact that he knew everyone was talking about him.

He wondered when he would truly feel as though he belonged. Besides Blith and S'fehlad, he had no true friends on this blasted planet. Part of him, hidden from Blith, wondered if his former clan would ever come and get him. He wondered if they would ever decide they had made a mistake and return. He doubted it. Besides, what would he do were they to return? He could not leave Blith behind! Oh, why had he ever agreed to Impression? He was tied to Blith and now that they shared that bond, he could not forget it but it had complicated his life in ways he never thought possible. When that pirate ship had deposited him, he ought to have done away with himself. His thoughts were no longer carefully guarded and Blith caught them.

I do not make you happy.

"No! Blith! You are my reason for life! It's just, my life is now more complex than I am sure how to deal with," M'quiggly would have to be more careful from now one. The last thing he needed was to lose the special relationship he shared with Blith.

Never!

"Oh, Blith. I love you so!"

Nothing is as complicated as you make it seem, Blith told M'quiggly wisely. That blue beauty was always full of surprises!

"Blith, what would I do without you?" M'quiggly asked, knowing there would be no answer because one did not exist to such a question.

M'quiggly came upon S'fehlad by the lake where he was indulging Munchimuncheth. He regarded the greenrider with a quizzical expression, more a reflection of his own feelings than any true questioning of what S'fehlad was doing. The greenrider wondered if the bluerider was suddenly becoming more aware of his true feelings.

"Good morning, S'fehlad," M'quiggly had figured he ought to say something, lest he just stand there, staring at the tall, blonde man for all eternity. He blushed. What was wrong with him? S'fehlad only slightly inclined his head toward the former pirate to answer his greeting: he did not distract himself from his duties to his dragon. M'quiggly admired the gentle care that S'fehlad exhibited toward Munchimuncheth. His strong arms were soft in their manner toward the green dragon.

"What's on your mind, bluerider?" S'fehlad asked in his rich, soothing voice. Now, he regarded M'quiggly with a quizzical expression. M'quiggly shrugged, at an utter lack of words.

He's almost ready

Both dragons had decided to comfort S'fehlad and at that, the only thing he could do was laugh!

M'quiggly woke with a start. He had expected to wake more lazily, since he and Blith were not among those scheduled to fly today's threadfall.

Munchimuncheth and S'fehlad fly! Was Blith's reply to M'quiggly's thoughts. Now he understood. Blith would want to be with his mate, would want to hear how the flight was going.

"And how does she fly?" M'quiggly asked laughingly as he walked over to beast, to scratch his eyeridges.

She flies very well. Blith seemed quite content with himself; she is the biggest and fastest green.

"Of course, my dear!"

She falters! Terror tore through both dragon and rider. M'quiggly and Blith rushed down and out to meet S'fehlad and Munchimuncheth. The pair were badly threadscored.

"Numbweed!" shouted M'quiggly, "For the love of your dragons! Numbweed!"

Through his pain, S'fehlad smiled for the concern his friend showed. Maybe there was hope. He felt worried hands slathering numbweed across his neck and shoulder.

"My cheek, my cheek!" S'fehlad groaned, indicating the threadscore on his right cheek. Then, he was overcome with guilt. Was Munchimuncheth all right?

I am being attended to. We are okay. Enjoy this moment.

S'fehlad was washed with relief and pride in his dragon who always remained calm, unlike the other silly greens.

"How does that feel?" M'quiggly asked his friend. He smiled faintly as he helped him to his weyr.

"Numb," was S'fehlad's dumb reply.

"Blith was overcome with worry for you and Munchimuncheth!"

"Blith?" the greenrider queried.

"Shards, S'fehlad! I was worried about you!" M'quiggly did not care to pretend that his friend's pain did not distress him terribly.

"Good."

By now, M'quiggly had S'fehlad in his weyr and in bedfurs. He made sure to give the man plenty of fellis juice. What S'fehlad needed was rest. His body was strong enough to take care of the rest of the healing.

When S'fehlad woke, he was aware that M'quiggly had not left his weyr.

"It's just threadscore, man!" As much as S'fehlad enjoyed M'quiggly's obvious worry, his pride made him resentful: he did not want to be thought of as weak.

S'fehlad slowly got up and walked to the opening of his weyr. It was dusk outside. The weather was warm and there was little wind in the plains. S'fehlad gazed out and felt pangs in his heart. Would he never have what he wanted so badly?

M'quiggly battled with himself. He wanted so badly to finally give in, to finally let go of that little bit of pirate left in him. He was finally ready to give into S'fehlad and truly become the rider he wanted to be.

"S'fehlad?" his name came out a soft whisper, M'quiggly's voice rough with fear. The other rider turned to him, his eyes widening to all the implications of M'quiggly's question. Timidly, M'quiggly approached him, stood face to face with him. Cautiously, M'quiggly raised his hand to S'fehlad's unharmed cheek. He stroked it and S'fehlad caught his hand, his eyes begging, yet questioning, asking M'quiggly to be sure. In answer, M'quiggly touched his lips to S'fehlad's, being ever so gentle and ever so careful as not to touch S'fehlad's scores.