Aisling, knowing full well that Ulfric did not wake up on Sundas before about ten in the morning- a habit that made itself known when the war was going on when they would spend time with the other Stormcloak officers drinking late into the night and not leaving bed until the sun was high in the sky- wasn't worried as she and Delvin left Hjerim the next day. The path home was rather uneventful, nothing more than a few wolves looking for a quick and easy prey to feast on. In fact, the only interesting thing that happened was when he all of a sudden rode off the road just before Riften into a copse, and, after the pair dismounted, proceeded to take her roughly up against a tree. When she asked him afterwards what brought that on, the Breton just brushed a wayward hair out of her line of sight and tells her that he wasn't sure how much time alone they were going to have once they rejoined their guild so he was going to take advantage of the time they had left.

The two thieves leave their horses with Hofgrir Horse-Crusher and as they step through the gates, Delvin wraps an arm around Aisling's waist- loose enough to not show possessiveness, but holding her close enough to convince most to keep their hands off. "Where were you planning on going first?"

"I do need to speak to Maramal about our plans, but I really should check to make sure that all of the Guild members are present and accounted for- not sitting in a jail somewhere or being lazy and not taking jobs. I will not have our Guild revert back to what it was under Mercer, not if I can help it." The Nord leans her head on his shoulder as the two walk past a squabbling Bolli and Nivenor. "Part of me though doesn't want to go back to work yet. You think they can deal without us another day or two?"

A restrained chuckle escapes the Breton as he plants a kiss on top of her head. "As much as I'd love to, the Guild probably thinks I have you locked away somewhere as my prisoner-"

"Your prisoner? I think it would be the other way around." She pecks his cheek when he huffs out his annoyance. "You're right though- we probably should at least make an appearance down in the Cistern, or at least one of us should."

"I'll go talk to Bryn then- knowing my luck if you go he'll try one last time to get into bed with you once he's learned I finally asked the question."

Here Aisling snorts softly as the pair stop at the bridge in front of the temple. "You think something like this will stop him from trying to sleep with me? I think he'll take it one further and either ask to watch or join in."

"I might have to share you with the Guild when it comes to our work. I might have to share you with the Jarls because of your being Thane in their Holds. I might have to eventually share you with the Stormcloak when it comes to the oaths you have sworn to him and his cause, even if I do not like the idea. But I'll be damned if any of them try to pry you away from me." Glittering ambers glance around to see if anyone could overhear him, then whispers in his lover's ear "Or do I need to show everyone just who had you begging before leaving Windhelm this morning?"

"It's tempting," the Guild Master goes, her eyes darkening just a touch, "but I don't think I want to add public indecency to my extensive list of illegal acts in Riften, Thane or not. Besides I'm not a exhibitionist." She pulls him flush against her leather covered frame and tells him "But I could change my mind with the right inducement- say, on top of Brynjolf's counter at his stall?"

Delvin growls as he slips his hand from Aisling's waist and cups the curve of her ass. "Why wait? His stall's just over there and rather empty-"

"Hey, you two. No lollygaggin'."

If looks could kill, the intruding guard would have been dead twice over with the way both the Sneak Trainer and the Thane glared at him. Realizing just who he angered, the helmeted man tries to regain control of the situation, saying "Oh, forgive me, Thane. I didn't realize it was you. We'll look the other way this time, but even the Jarl's influence has its limits. Be more careful."

"We'll do that," the ginger goes, rolling her eyes at the guard's back when he turns to continue with his patrol. She gives her intended a wry smile and goes simply "That's why we wait."

"Welcome back, Delvin. Took your sweet time coming back."

The bald man snorts as he takes a seat next to the man who was practically his brother, accepting the offered mead with a smile. "Surprised you even noticed, given your habit of being elsewhere for far too long and busy doing other things."

"Well with both you and the Lass gone, I figured someone had to step up and carry your burdens. Now that you're finally back…" Green eyes look behind the Breton in confusion. "You didn't come back alone, did you?"

"You think so little of my abilities, Brynjolf?"

"Your so called 'abilities' could never charm their way into my pants, Del," another voice chimes in as Vex pulls up another chair. "Now, was my sacrificing good coin worth it, or did yet another woman tell you no?"

"Obviously she didn't if it took him this long to come back-"

"He could have gone and drowned his sorrows in mead or whores- or both, knowing him!"

Mallory holds up both his hands to silence the squabbling thieves. "No, I didn't come back alone. Yes, I did ask her. Yes, your sacrificing jobs and coin was very worth it. And no, I'm not Brynjolf, I wouldn't waste the money on whores."

"She said yes?" At the Breton's nod, the Imperial goes for the killing blow on her tease "So, how many times did you have to ask before the Boss cracked?"

"Just the once, but I did it in a way that we'll look back on it and laugh when we're old and gray-"

"Well, when she's old and gray, and you're just old because you have nothing left on top to turn gray." The ginger ducks just in time for an empty mead bottle to go sailing past his head and yelps out "What?! It's true!"

"Shut up,idiot. I want to hear how he actually did it- especially since he's claimin' he didn't have to beg and plead."

Even though Vex knew what his plans were when it came to asking Aisling to marry him, Delvin gladly told the story starting from when he left Riften in the company of the Greybeard complete with a rundown on the rather… interesting information Master Arngeir revealed during their travels.

The infiltrator surprisingly held her tongue until the end of the tale. "Judgmental s'wit, saying you weren't good enough. Who would have been, the Stormcloak?"

"Shadows no, that dragon flew off a long time ago," Aisling's voice floats in from the entrance and slowly gets closer as she moves further into the room. "Not that it didn't stop both him and Ulfric after that- more than once in fact. I think Master Arngeir learned his lesson, and as for the High King... Stories for another day, I think."

"Ah, welcome back love. How did everything go?"

The newcomer drags a chair over and squeezes it in between Delvin and Brynjolf, then collapses into it and leans her head against . "People need to keep their thoughts to themselves. While Maramal was pleased to hear that I was finally getting married, he wasn't amused at who the lucky man was. I told him there were worse choices, like a member of the Dark Brotherhood, Sibbi Black-Briar or Brynjolf, for that matter."

"Come on Lass!"

"The priest eventually realized I would not be swayed, and the event is scheduled for this Loredas." At Delvin's pout, Aisling just chuckles and cups his cheek with a smile. "Be lucky I was able to get that date- Maramal could have forced lessons upon us or something even worse, like simply saying no."

"Ah, but imagine all the supposed sins we could then commit that he could attempt to save us from," Mallory tells her as he presses his lips against her palm. "Especially the one we were discussing out in the marketplace."

"Lech."

A quick tug has the Guild Master squeaking as she's pulled off her chair and into the Breton trainer's lap. "And yet I don't hear you complaining about that," Mallory murmurs against Aisling's mouth then, not caring about their audience, proceeds to snog her protestations away.

"Ahem." A voice cuts in a few minutes later as a hand slowly travels down from it's hold in the Nord female's hair to fiddle with one of the buckles of her armor.

"Shh, Vex. Leave 'em be."

"You just want to watch!"

Aisling gently pushes her intended back in his chair. "I told you he's a voyeur. I'll deal with your needs later, Del- I have messages that need to be sent out."

"I'll take care of writin' Glover- if we're gonna do it, might as well do it right the first time… and give ol' Grelod a heart attack while we're at it." As she goes to stand up, Delvin touches her hand briefly. "Mind what you put in the letter when you write to certain members of your extended family, love. Last thing we need is for people to be showin' up uninvited and the like."

"Regardless of who shows up, I'll expect everyone of the Guild to be on their best behavior- no pickpocketing the attendees." The woman tosses her braid back over her shoulder as she stands up, the bound ruby strands threatening to come loose from its ties. "I don't need to remind the three of you that outside of this place I'm not the Guild Master and a Nightingale, we can ill-afford to lose the protections those titles grant. And Bryn, keep your hands off the women… and the men. Fuck, just keep your hands to yourself."

"Don't worry, Boss. I'll keep an eye on them- two, if I can spare 'em," the blonde infiltrator tells the other woman with a smile, knowing full well having both Mallorys and Brynjolf in the same room could lead to problems.

"Appreciate it Vex," Aisling tells her, then looks down at the man still sitting in the chair. "I will see you later tonight?" The look that crosses Delvin's face says everything and the woman knew then that if she didn't get her work done before he walked into Honeyside, the paperwork would get neglected until he, she or they were both satisfied. A deep blush bursts out over her cheeks, and before anyone could comment, the Nord female heads out of the tavern to get to Honeyside.

"You're never going to let the Lass get any work done, are ya, Del?"

Sparkling brown eyes meet amused emeralds and the Breton smiles knowingly. "The Boss's days belong to the Guild and the Jarls, but her mornings and nights are all mine. No one, not even the Stormcloak himself, can do anything to change that."

Unfortunately for one Delvin Mallory, that was not to be the case.

A/N: Let's see. From a Loredas of Last Seed until a Middas of Heartfire... it will happen soon. Very soon.

It being the end on Dragonborn and The Sneak. I can't believe how this story was originally planned out- a poorly executed relationship between not just Aisling and Delvin, but with Brynjolf as well. Rather cringe worthy and is currently sitting among other files for me to possibly straighten out or pretend never existed.

So read, review, help me get better.