Episode Six

Romance

Anna was shocked to hear the full tale of Tyler's conflict - how it began, what happened prior to the cataclysm, the events that followed, and culminating in their present situation. She knew Tyler was fighting a war on his own, but she never knew much in the way of details. The details Tyler described at the meeting with the council almost made her puke. How was he still alive after so much hell? The memories from the cataclysm alone would have driven a lesser man to suicide. But, in spite of this, she remained determined to help him, to nurse him back to health and be there for him. She wanted to see him finally end this centuries-spanning war. She wanted him to see he was no longer alone. On this, Anna and the council agreed. So, following the council meeting, Anna and Bryce took Tyler back to Anna's apartment, where she laid him down on the bed. The entire trip, none of them said a word. Nothing needed to be said. The tale had been laid bare. Bryce stuck around for a little bit, but eventually returned to the police station, leaving Anna alone with Tyler. At that point, Tyler had fallen asleep for a nap. Anna couldn't blame him; he'd been through hell only hours ago, when he took the blast of a bomb and then a sniper's bullet for her. She sat next to him on the bed, and just stared at him. She remembered her actions before the meeting - being so tender and loving... kissing him. Would it really be so bad, she wondered? They'd be an odd pair, but Anna didn't give two shits about what other people thought; what really mattered was how they felt about each other. It was then that she realized she'd reached out and was about to stroke his cheek. She hesitated, at first, but then rand the back of her fingers along his skin. It was soft, and his cheek was rough where his hair grew and was subsequently shaved repeatedly over the long, uncounted years. Humans grew hair in odd places, but Anna imagined she'd adapt to this. She continued to silently stroke his cheek, then ran her hand along his arm, which was rested on his belly. She gently slid her hand over his, then gingerly gripped it. Tyler, perhaps unconsciously, closed his hand on hers. This just made Anna smile. Maybe he wanted this, too. Anna reluctantly got up, but not before planting a tender kiss on Tyler's forehead before returning to the foyer in time to hear the doorbell ring. She went to the door and answered, and was somewhat surprised to see Sebastian there.

"Can I help you, officer?" Anna asked. Sebastian smiled.

"Ironically, that's what I'm here to do for you," he said. "I've been assigned to help look after Tyler until he's back on his feet." Anna smiled and chuckled.

"Assuming he even wants your help," she jested, moving aside to allow Sebastian in. She lead him to the master bedroom where Tyler was, where he had evidently awakened.

"I thought I heard the doorbell ring," he said.

"Tyler, this is Sebastian, a good friend of Bryce's - he's been assigned to help out while you're recovering," Anna introduced Sebastian.

"Saw the guns you outfitted the officers outside with - quite impressive," Sebastian complimented. Tyler just chuckled softly.

"Those were just disruptor carbines - hardly that impressive," he said. "You want impressive..." Tyler materialized a metallic-black assault rifle with an angled, somewhat rectangular receiver, an oval-shaped, green colored ammo counter behind an slanted fore section, tactical foregrip, elongated barrel with an attachment at the end whose function Anna couldn't discern, a rectangular stock behind the pistol grip, and a holographic sight. "... try this. BR77A2 Combat Assault Rifle - chambered for .308-caliber Energized Armor-Piercing rounds with a seventy-two round magazine."

"BR77... A2?" Sebastian repeated with a befuddled expression.

"It's one model in a series - the A1 is my burst-fire Battle Rifle; A3 is my Light Machine Gun; and A4 is my Designated Marksman Rifle," Tyler explained.

"Just how many weapons do you have in those gauntlets?" Sebastian asked. Tyler smiled and softly chuckled.

"I carry a fully-stocked armory in my transporter buffers, among other things," he told him. "Food, water, salvaged spices and grown, ammunition... you name it, chances are, I've got it. Been gathering it for centuries."

"You have got to be the best-equipped survivalist I have ever met, then," Sebastian chortled. "Do those buffers have a limit?" Tyler simply shrugged. Sebastian gave a whistle indicating he was impressed. "That kind of tech would be handy around here. Speaking of which... is it true, you helped Anna develop a cure for cancer?" Tyler looked at Anna.

"What?" Anna said innocently. "You think I'd take all the credit? I'll admit to being selfish at times, but I'm not that selfish." Tyler just laughed lightly.

"It was a nanomechanical cure, but yes," he answered Sebastian's question. "Now... with regards to you helping Anna look after me while I recover. I cannot, in good conscience, permit you to do so... unarmed."

"Bryce thought you might want to arm me - so one of the other runners gave me the crash-course you gave them on the use of your weapons," Sebastian said. "What do you have for me?"

"Well, the others outside are using Disruptor Carbines because we're in an urban environment; but you need something more... compact, given we're indoors. So..." Tyler materialized a small, compact weapon, different than what Anna had seen from Tyler before; it had a small scope, a side-loaded magazine, an evident suppressor, a small foregrip, and extendable stock. "... M7 Caseless SMG. Don't worry about the magazine; I rigged it so it's ammo is self-replicating." He handed the weapon to Sebastian, who accepted it, then examined it. It didn't take him long to figure out how to extend the stock. He aimed it around the room, and once comfortable with it, settled in on the couch in the living room. Anna noticed he kept glancing out the window, and would occasionally get up and look outside briefly before sitting back down. It was after one such trip that he finally spoke, when Anna was about to turn on the TV:

"Tell me something," he requested, "Are you and Tyler... you know, close? Like, dating?"

Anna smiled. "Not really your business, Sebastian," she told him. "Who I date is no one's concern save my own."

"In other words, yes," Sebastian laughed quietly, trying not to wake Tyler again. "Mavers is gonna flip when he hears about this."

"He already knows," Anna scoffed.

"He does?" Sebastian asked.

"He was there when I volunteered to look after Tyler personally immediately after the incident," Anna explained. "He'd been through so much... and he nearly died protecting my family and I. I owe him this much."

"So that's what Maverick was referring to when he said you'd shown real devotion to someone you cared about," Sebastian said. "Hnh. So you're... you're serious about him."

"Problem?" Anna asked smugly with a toothy grin.

"Not at all," Sebastian chuckled. "Personally, I think it's great. From what Maverick has said, he seems like he'd be great with you."

"I heard that!" Tyler called out from the master bedroom.

"Go to sleep, Tyler!" Anna called back.

"Difficult with my would-be girlfriend and her colleague chatting about me nonchalantly in the living room; ever heard of the term 'Classified'?" Tyler responded.

"Can it, Tyler - and go to sleep," Anna called out jestingly.

"Yes, ma'am," Tyler sighed. Anna laughed.

"Seems some of your personality has rubbed off on him," Sebastian chuckled.

"Believe me, the reverse is just as true," Anna admitted.

"How so?" Sebastian asked.

"I've become a lot more friendlier, you might have noticed; I also am a lot more considerate, and I think of others more - namely Tyler," Anna responded.

"Hnh. Imagine that," Sebastian chuckled.

"And he and I figured out a cure for cancer together. And we worked together for months. Most on the outside wouldn't see how he and I just... got along. He and I, you might say are kindred spirits," Anna continued. "You should have seen how he and I go back and forth - I think Damion once said we 'bicker like an old married couple'. But talking to him... just makes me feel-"

"Dear god!" Sebastian laughed, "You really are smitten, aren't you?"

"I am not!" Anna protested innocently, though in the back of her mind, she realized she was talking like someone who really was smitten about a guy. She couldn't help but picture herself with Tyler. He was a good man - but marred by harsh events, as evidenced by the story he told of his life before he came to the dragon world.

"Even if you're not willing to say it now, it shows - you love the man," Sebastian said. "It's not uncommon - guy saves a girl, naturally that establishes a bond between them."

"Actually, our relationship began well before that," Anna admitted.

"Oh?" Sebastian replied. "When did it begin?"

"When I found him sleeping on the street," Anna stated. "He was... having a nightmare, I guess. Couldn't really tell at the time. But when I met him, he looked like he recognized me. Then there was that fiasco with the blue-light bandits that made the mistake of attacking him."

"Yeah, I read the report on that," Sebastian said. "Honestly, I'm surprised he took down that many runners on his own. And the subsequent incident when they tried to abduct you. Where did he learn to fight like that?"

"I don't know; but I imagine, spending all those years on his own, he learned how to handle himself," Anna answered. "After all, he would have had to, considering he was fighting a one-man war against a trained army."

"And that war led here," Sebastian said. "And he tried to not involve us, but had no choice when it became clear that we have a common enemy. Now he and us will be fighting to eliminate a shadowy group, and keep them from doing to our world what they did to his."

"My motivation in that was more... is more... personal," Anna admitted. "... Tyler's the first guy I found I can genuinely get along with. Sure, Maverick was great, but our mistake was getting too absorbed in our work. More than a few times, Tyler has stressed to me the value of having a good work-life balance. A lot of what he has said to me in the last few months makes sense. Maverick married my sister, my parents keep hinting at me seeking a mate, and then... I met Tyler. Now, I find myself right where I was when I was dating Maverick - only this time, my would-be boyfriend is blessed - or cursed - to be immortal, he has technology I can't even begin to touch, he's wise well beyond his years, and above all else, he was willing to sacrifice himself to save me." Anna looked to Sebastian. "Is it so wrong that I would feel so strongly about a man from another world?"

Sebastian smiled and shook his head. "Never. Love is blind to such things, Anna. Listen to what you're saying; your voice changes, your expression softens, your entire demeanor shifts when you talk about Tyler. You present all the classic signs of a woman head-over-heels in love with a man. I fully realize, you don't feel ready to tell him. I know what it's like to admit your feelings too soon to the person you love. But for once, Anna... listen to your heart. You know Tyler is devoted to you; you saw it yourself. He pushed you clear of a bomb's blast, took that blast himself, and not only survived, but went on a rampage against assassins that would have killed you if they couldn't capture you. The man nearly died to protect you. I dare say he loves you - enough to lay down his immortal life for you. Even where I'm from, a man doesn't nearly kill himself protecting a woman unless he loves her that much."

Listening to Sebastian, Anna mentally admitted to herself that he made a lot of sense. She knew she'd changed in the time that she'd known Tyler. And it was evident others had noticed. But was she ready to admit she loved Tyler? Were either of them ready have such an unusual relationship? Anna didn't give a shit what other people thought of it - her concern was... could she bear such love again? Hell, why was she thinking about it? She already shared her apartment with him, she bought a bed for them both to sleep in - she kissed him, of all things. She was happy with him. For the first time in years, she had a man that was just as intelligent as her, could take her selfish behavior in his stride and keep caring, he was protective of her, and clearly...

"... he loves me," Anna whispered.

Sebastian pointed at Anna. "There. You're doing it again." Anna blushed intensely.

"Is... is this what love feels like?" Anna asked sheepishly.

"You've felt love before, Anna; you said so yourself," Sebastian told her.

"But... it feels different, this time," Anna admitted, "Stronger."

"And what does that tell you?" Sebastian said softly.

Anna clutched her chest. "That... I had forgotten what it felt like," she said.

"Come on, Anna - you and I both know it's more than that," Sebastian urged.

Anna sighed, her breath trembling. "I... I love him so much," she said softly, "He did so much for me, and never asked anything in return. He nearly died protecting me, and that alone shows how much I mean to him. Not only that, but he helped me find a cure for the cancer I, myself, was afflicted with... why am I so afraid to tell him that I love him?"

"You know why," Sebastian said. "You don't want him to reject you. But you already know..."

"... he won't," Anna concluded. "He said himself he's been alone most of his life; why would he turn down the heart of a woman he clearly loves?"

Sebastian grinned. "Maybe you should ask him that," he suggested. Anna frowned, then realized Sebastian wasn't looking at her anymore. Following his gaze, she turned to see Tyler standing there behind her. And tears were in his eyes. Anna's first thought was that he'd had another nightmare; then, she realized he'd heard the entire conversation, and walked out to her, injured as he was, to confront her. And now, face to face with the man she just admitted she loves, she was at a complete loss for words. Such as it was, she didn't have to say anything.

"Sebastian is right, Anna," Tyler told her. "Everything I've done... everything I do... for you... is because I love you. You've heard it before; I've been alone most of my life. I know how deep it hurts. I never wanted that for you. If nothing else, I wanted you to be happy knowing someone cared about you. But to hear you... even just telling a friend you love me... you realize how that makes me feel? I haven't had a female in general that had such feelings for me in centuries." Anna stood up and moved around the couch to stand just inches before Tyler. Her body trembled as she spoke:

"I never expected to wind up like this when I met you... yes, Tyler - I love you. I love you so much, and I've never felt so much in love with anyone. I... I want you, Tyler. You, and you alone. I don't want to be alone anymore - and I know you don't either. And I don't want you to suffer anymore. You deserve better."

"We both deserve better, Anna," Tyler told her. "We both have been alone for far too long." He chuckled softly. "Four months ago, I could barely remember your name; now, I can't imagine a single day without you." Hearing Tyler say that made Anna's heart swell. He reached over, running a hand over her cheek, and she leaned her head into it. He gently pulled her head to lean on his, which she went along with as she reached out to embrace him. She pressed her chest against his, and felt his heart beat with hers, and for the first time in so many years, she felt a tenderness that wasn't there before. Instinctively, she moved her muzzle to his mouth, and pressed her lips against his. He subtly pushed back, and they shared a tender, passionate kiss as she gripped him and he traced her horns with his hands. They remained lip locked for a time, until they parted to breathe. Anna then noticed her shaking had stopped, and she remained leaning on Tyler. Unexpectedly, Tyler lost his balance, and Anna caught him mid-fall. She chuckled, and helped him to his feet.

"That's what you get for getting out of bed in your condition," she jested.

"Hard to sleep when my girlfriend is chatting so loud just a few yards away," Tyler shot back. "This is why I have music running when I sleep." Anna just giggled.

"So run some music," she told him. She thought for a moment, then suggested, "Or maybe I'll just crawl in there with you and make sure you don't get up." Tyler laughed lovingly.

"Would you, please? That'd be so great," he jested. Anna just laughed, practically seeing the sarcasm dripping from his mouth. She laid Tyler in the bed and pulled the covers over him, then sat at the edge of the bed. She couldn't help it when her expression softened, looking at him. Now it was official: Tyler is her boyfriend.

Mom and dad are gonna flip when they hear about this, Anna thought, amused. It was what they wanted - if perhaps not in the form they expected. And then Shea... she's gonna be outright thrilled. Anna remembered, immediately after the incident, when she and Anna were carrying Tyler to Anna's home, Shea said that he'd make an extraordinary husband. Had Shea mentioned that months ago, Anna would feel it was both inappropriate and unlikely. Now... such a thing seemed a lot less outlandish. Anna felt a smile cross her face, and she chuckled at the thought.

"Did you just remember the comment your sister made about me as your husband?" Tyler chuckled. Anna snapped out of her thoughts and focused on Tyler.

"How would you know? Were you reading my mind?" she asked. Tyler looked innocent.

"Invade the mind of another?" he retorted. "It is not something done carelessly, or when there is nothing to be gained. Besides, I was just thinking a similar thought when you had that amused chuckle."

"I think it's a bit early in this relationship to be thinking about marriage..." Anna said softly. She moved the covers aside. "... but not too soon for me to snuggle up next to you and keep you safe." She slid under the covers, and covered them both, then wrapped her arms around Tyler. "... I have to admit, you're very cuddly..."

"... says the dragoness with the soft, comfy underbelly..." Tyler responded. Anna just chuckled softly.

"... wonder what you'll be like once you're fully recovered..." Anna whispered, closing her eyes.

"... I'll be at your side, tackling new and important research..." Tyler told her. "I'm always gonna be at your side - because I love you. I always will."

"I love you, too," Anna responded. She sighed contentedly, then added, "Get some sleep, sweetheart." With that, Anna and Tyler both went quiet, and drifted off to sleep.

{{{{{ }}}}}

Sebastian had quietly followed Anna to the master bedroom, and stood so his shadow was just shy of the door frame, grinning ear to ear. Finally, Anna had her soulmate. Sebastian knew Tyler was the one when he learned Tyler nearly died protecting Anna. He had no doubt the two would accomplish great things together. Great enough was their cure for cancer - but Sebastian knew that would not be the only thing they did. Not by a long shot. Sebastian turned and returned to the living room, still gripping the M7 SMG. He had to admit, the weapon was heavier than he imagined it would be. But then, this was a Submachine gun - Tyler's Assault Rifle would doubtlessly be much heavier. Regardless, Sebastian stayed awake, helping himself to some coffee Anna left out, and kept his eyes peeled for anything. It was then that Sebastian's instinct was to go to the door. On a hunch, he peered outside, and saw Maverick and Shea outside. Before either could knock, Sebastian opened the door, surprising them. He put a finger to his lips, then ushered them inside.

"We heard the news," Shea said. "His story is all over the net. How's Tyler holding up?"

"He's better than he ever was before," Sebastian responded quietly.

"Well, yeah - I imagined he'd kept that in for a while," Maverick commented. "We came here to see how we could help."

"That's not what I was referencing," Sebastian said. He hitched a thumb towards the master bedroom, then tapped his chest where his heart would be. Shea's jaw dropped.

"You're shitting me!" she mouthed. Sebastian shook his head with a smile.

"They just admitted their love for one another. They're both in there right now - but keep your voices down; they're sleeping," Sebastian told them.

Maverick smiled and chuckled quietly. "I had a feeling those two would wind up together. And I'm truly happy for them both." Maverick paused to look toward the master bedroom, then back to Sebastian. "Bryce and Naomi also want to pitch in, they just don't know how."

"Well, right now, the focus is getting Tyler back on his feet again," Sebastian said. "Once he's up, then we can worry about Majestic Twelve and ascertaining where they are."

"Why don't we cook them breakfast for when they wake?" Shea suggested.

"I'm not sure that'd go over well with Anna," Maverick whispered. "This is her house."

"Believe me, Mavers, she's a lot more laid back than when you knew her," Sebastian said. "I think it would help lift spirits, now that they're officially in love."

"Lift spirits? What, is she depressed about that?" Maverick asked.

"You know what I mean! It'd be a sign that we support her in this!" Sebastian responded defensively.

"That doesn't sound any better," Maverick said.

"I get it," Shea stated. "For now, though... let us be silent. I don't want to wake either of them." It was then that everyone present heard a deep, rumbling, draconic sound akin to that of a massive dragon sleeping in a cave, coming from the master bedroom. Sebastian, Maverick and Shea all quietly walked over to investigate, where they discovered Tyler, himself, was the source of the sound. The steady rising and falling of his bare chest, wrapped in numerous bandages, indicated he was fast asleep. Anna was fast asleep next to him, a smile on her face, her head nuzzled beneath his chin. She breathed steadily and happily next to the man she loved.

"He snores like one of us," Shea whispered as they all vacated the area.

"Did you see the smile on her face?" Maverick asked. "I don't think I've seen her happier."

"So... cook them breakfast in the morning?" Sebastian suggested.

"Breakfast for the happy couple? I'm in," Shea chuckled.

"Ah, hell - you got my vote," Maverick agreed.

{{{{{ }}}}}

Tyler awoke the next morning on his back, his left arm snaked around Anna with his hand resting on her side. She had her head nuzzled under his chin, a big grin on her muzzle. Her eyes were still closed, but by all indications, she was not asleep.

"Finally, you're awake," Anna said to him. "I was considering waking you up."

"I do hope you were gonna do so gently," Tyler joked.

"Hell no," Anna responded. "Try jerk the covers off and drag your ass out of bed." Tyler laughed, noting his new girlfriend's sense of humor. It was when he inhaled through his nose that he caught the smell of cooking bacon.

"Is... is Sebastian cooking?" he asked.

"Easy, hon, it's okay," Anna cautioned Tyler. "He wanted to. Him, Shea and Maverick." Tyler raised an eyebrow. He had no idea they were present. "And on that note, Sebastian kinda told Shea and Maverick that you and I are... well, in a relationship, and Shea got so excited, she... kinda told my parents."

Oh, shit, Tyler thought. "And what are they saying?"

Anna looked more annoyed now. "They won't shut the hell up about how they think it's great and 'overdue', like they were hoping for decades that I would hook up with someone." Then, her pleased, pleasant, loving expression returned. "But at least they support us being together."

Tyler laid his head back, staring at the ceiling. "I wish my family could be here to see us," he said.

"I'm sure they'd be proud," Anna assured him.

"Would they?" Tyler asked.

"Of course. After all, you have what none of them were lucky enough to get," Anna affirmed.

"What's that?" Tyler queried. Anna smiled.

"The heart, love, and loyalty of a beautiful dragoness," she told him. Tyler couldn't help but smile at that. He reached over and put a hand on her cheek, leaning his head on hers.

"You're right," he admitted, "they would be proud of that. Of all the women... of all the dragonesses... that I could have loved, I got to love you. I know mom would be thrilled to know you're my girlfriend."

"Maybe your father would be proud, too," Anna suggested.

"Maybe - I'll never know. I never knew him," Tyler sighed. "Wish I did. Wish I could introduce you to him."

"If he's anything like you, I'm sure I'd like him," Anna chuckled. "He'd make a good father-in-law."

Tyler hummed in thought. "You know what's strange?" he asked.

"What?" Anna asked back.

"Despite mother telling me my father was KIA, I found out his body was never recovered. Over the years, I occasionally came across vague mentions of him,"

Anna looked up at Tyler. "Think he's still alive after all these years?" she queried.

"If he is, he'd be pretty damn old," Tyler said. "If he was as immortal as I am, and he survived the cataclysm... there'd have to be a reason he stayed away from me all these years."

"In other words, he'd have some explaining to do," Anna surmised. Tyler just smiled.

"Even so, I'd be happy knowing that just one part of my family survived," Tyler said.

"As would I - I could look forward to calling him my father-in-law," Anna giggled. Tyler chuckled.

"We've come a long way since the night we met," he said. Anna's grip on him tightened.

"That... reminds me. The night we met, when I woke you up... you looked like you recognized me," Anna told him. Tyler planted a tender kiss on the top of her head.

"I did," he affirmed.

"In what way?" Anna asked.

"The dream I was having when you woke me - I was dreaming of you. I was dreaming... we were getting married," Tyler explained. "But I was terrified when you woke me, not because I saw something terrible in that dream, something that destroyed us, but because I remembered I was at war, and I didn't want you to get involved. But, against my expectations, you did. At this point, though... I can't say I blame you." Anna smiled and snuggled closer to Tyler.

It was then that another voice made itself known. "Tyler? Anna? You two awake?" Maverick said from the doorway.

"No," Tyler and Anna said in unison. Maverick just laughed.

"Well, since you are, might as well get a bite to eat - you, especially, Tyler, given your current condition," Maverick said, still not stepping into the room.

"Some food would be nice - and from the smell of it, you're cooking the classic eggs and bacon," Tyler chuckled. Anna chuckled with him, and then got out of bed to help him up and guide him to the dining room. Tyler was still very weak from the prior incident, as much as he hated to admit it. But he was, for the first time in four centuries, happy. He ate and talked and laughed as he would have years ago, had his life not been stolen by a tyrant. And the entire time, Anna remained at his side. Anna's parents paid them a visit, to show their support of them, expressing their hopes that, one day, Tyler and Anna would settle down and have a family. Tyler wondered if that was even possible, but still admitted he liked the idea - as embarrassing as it was for Anna to think of herself as a mother. Even so, Tyler knew it would still be a long road before he could safely pursue such things - Majestic Twelve was still out there - and they knew Tyler was alive. But now, unlike before, Tyler had allies. He was no longer alone in this fight - and it was a fight he intended to see finished.