Hi, everyone. After a "four month internship" that ended up being six months, I am finally back and, as you can see, back to producing fanfic. Although, I have a feeling after this chapter you're all going to want to enact some of Andreya's infamous threats… By the way, this chapter, again, is rated T. You'll see why...

Disclaimer: They're not mine, I make no profit. So, pretty please, don't sue me.

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Derrick frowned. "And he's still alive because…?"

Andreya arched a brow. "I don't believe in playing into the hands of nasty people, and you should do the same." She paused and glanced out at the twinkling gardens, her level eyes scanning the manicured perfection. "We should go back inside."

Caia nodded as Bram began to make protesting noises. "Let's get back in before-"

She broke off as Andreya reached out one long arm and jerked her to the ground. A miniature crossbow dart clattered to the ground after hitting the marble pillar where her head had been. In a smooth motion, both Andreya and Acacia plucked throwing knives from various locations and hurled with deadly accuracy. They heard a body falling through the trees, but other bolts whistled through the air in their direction. Andreya cursed softly and began dragging Caia and a screaming Bram towards cover while Acacia grabbed Derrick and shoved him in the direction of the ballroom.

"Get Kero!" she yelled as Andreya, now free of Caia and Bram, took cover behind the stone column Caia had previous been standing in front of and began amassing her arsenal, plucking stilettos and throwing knives from some truly ingenious locations. A whip quick movement and another assassin fell from the trees. Acacia took cover behind a column of her own and assessed her options. As she was not nearly as paranoid as Andreya, she did not carry as many weapons. As a matter of fact, she only had one additional throwing knife and she didn't carry any stilettos. She suddenly flashed on a memory of Andreya smiling grimly and saying, "It's not paranoia if they're really after you." From now on, I will carry stilettos, she silently vowed and sized up her target. Her single blade had to count. Acacia saw another assassin sneaking through the bushes on the ground to her left, crossbow cocked and ready. Spinning quickly, she launched her blade, taking the assassin in the throat and ducking back under cover as another bolt was launched at her. Andreya picked that assassin off as Kero emerged and ducked behind the same column as Acacia, her own collection of throwing knives in her hand, as well as a mini-crossbow.

"They shot at Caia and Bram?" The question was abrupt as she aimed the mini-crossbow and fired, then handed it to Acacia with a handful of bolts to reload.

"Andreya knocked Caia down before the bolt hit."

"This needs to end."

"I agree."

A quick movement from Andreya and the last assassin fell. Palace Guards swept through the bushes under them, scouring for more assassins and collecting the bodies that had fallen while an uproar began to build in the ballroom.

"Let's go back in," Kero said, and watched as Andreya hid the last of her stilettos. "How many of those do you carry?"

Andreya smiled grimly. "Never enough."

They were met at the doors by Daren, Eldan and Derrick. Daren seemed mildly concerned while Derrick was furious. Eldan seemed to be taking it all in stride, but Acacia knew Kero would be getting it later, in the privacy of their home.

"Don't you ever do that again," Derrick growled as he latched onto Acacia's elbow. "I can take care of myself. You did not need to shove me behind you as if I were a…" he trailed off.

"Woman?" she finished for him. "Derrick, I thought you had figured out by now that the women in my family do what needs doing and we protect those we love. Either you learn to deal with the fact that I'm occasionally going to shove you behind me, or…" she trailed off herself, unwilling to say it.

Derrick growled. "Will you ever let me take care of you? That just might be something I need to do as well."

She sighed, suddenly tired. "Derrick, this is not the time or place for this."

"Indeed, lover's quarrels should generally take place in the privacy of one's quarters." The voice was liquid and complacent as the owner strolled over to them, a smirk tugging at his lips. Derrick stiffened.

"Lord Acario." Derrick's voice was frost tinged.

"And you must be the lovely Acacia. A pleasure, my dear." He reached out to grasp her hand and kiss the back of it, but Acacia refused to accommodate him. "Well, no need to be rude."

"I'm not generally nice to people that try to kill me."

"Nonsense! The dear boy has been telling tales, hasn't he?"

Acacia's response was interrupted by Kero, who strode up to Acario, confidence in her bearing. She stood eye-to-eye with him, coolness wafting around her. "Lord Acario."

"Herald-Captain." His smirk was gone.

"I thought I told you what would happen if something ever happened to my family."

For an instant, fear flashed in his eyes, then was replaced by the sickening geniality that he always projected. "Now, Captain, how could I possibly be responsible for every little thing that happens to your family. Especially since your children are so…available to unfortunate circumstances."

Kero's brow quirked and Eldan frowned behind Acario. "Tell me, my lord, have you been introduced to Acacia's friend?" She motioned Andreya forward. Andreya, still tucking away stilettos and throwing knives, gamely stepped forward. She was immaculately groomed and not a hair was out of place, looking as if she had just passed a pleasant few minutes in conversation. Acario eyed her grimly before meeting her eyes, which were on the same level as his, since Andreya was just as tall as he was.

"The is Andreya," Kero continued. "She and Acacia were in the same mercenary company, although Andreya was more of a… specialist."

If Acario was intimidated, he didn't show it. Someone's been practicing, Acacia thought.

Andreya offered her hand, allowing Acario to kiss the back of it. It was a strategic move on Andreya's part, daring Acario to kiss the hand that would most likely be his demise.

"Charming," Acario murmured.

"Likewise."

A Palace Guardsman trotted up to Kero and murmured in her ear. She replied and he trotted away again. Then she turned to face the others. "Well, I will be on my way. If you will excuse me." Kero nodded at Daren, then turned and strode gracefully toward the ballroom doors. Andreya curtsied, back straight and head tilted perfectly.

"My lords and ladies." Then she, too, turned and flowed gracefully after Kero. As she turned, Acacia caught a glint of candlelight reflecting off the sharp edge of the stiletto tucked in Andreya's hair and repressed a smile as the glint beamed straight into Acario's face.

Outside the ballroom, Kero tossed a small purse in Andreya's direction without looking. It plunked into Andreya's hand with a solid rattle of coins, then plunked back into Kero's hand as Andreya winged it straight back to her. Kero turned and raised an eyebrow in her direction.

"No charge. He will be a privilege."

"Just information for now."

Andreya bowed slightly, palms pressed together before smiling slightly and splitting off from Kero down a shadowed hall.

"I thought my job was boring…" Jeremy grumbled good naturedly as he climbed up to Andreya. She turned her head and grinned as he briskly rubbed his hands together and wriggled into the small amount of space available between the tree branches. They were crammed into the space together and Andreya figured that if they had to move fast, they were more likely to tumble out of the tree. However, since falling was the fastest way to descend a tree, she didn't mind too much.

"My job is infinitely more entertaining than your job. At least on my job, we get to sit in a tree and grope each other on the guise of checking each other's armor."

"Really?" Jeremy's face lit up in a little boy grin. "Here, I think your breast plate is loose –" Jeremy broke off with a quiet curse and jerked his hand back. He stuck the finger he'd pricked on a hidden stiletto in his mouth and frowned. "I thought you said I could grope you."

"I never said it was easy. At least you got to discover where one of my weapons is hidden."

"True." Jeremy shrugged. "I think I'll settle for this," he murmured in her ear just before he began nibbling on the small bit of exposed skin between her hat and scarf. Andreya sighed agreeably and angled her head so he could have better access while simultaneously concentrating on the gate in front of her. She figured the person she was watching for would most likely exit the Palace complex at this gate.

"Don't do that too well," she murmured. "I need to concentrate."

"Work work work." Jeremy sighed dramatically. "You never have time for me anymore." He choked up on mock tears. "You don't love me anymore! I'll just have to go and-" Andreya smacked his thigh. "Oh," he breathed. "Do that again."

She choked back a laugh. "You are horrible." Then she sobered abruptly. "Here now."

Jeremy was all business. "See something interesting?"

"In the Shin'a'in sense of the term."

"That's not good."

"No, but it confirms my suspicions." She watched as the cloaked figure mounted a horse and guided it through the gate, then kicked it into a trot. "Come on." She swung her leg over the branch she had used to brace herself and dropped out of the tree. Jeremy did the same as she moved out of the way and they both took off on foot, following the cloaked rider.

Acacia paced outside of Derrick's door, scratching at her head and trying to figure out what she was going to say to him. She had long since changed from her gown into her usual garb of breaches, shirt and sweater. Vastly more comfortable, she had decided that she and Derrick needed to beat this out. Eldan was, indeed, giving Kero a piece of his mind back at the cottage and listening to the familiar semi-argument had reminded Acacia of Derrick's reaction.

She was mentally going over her arguments in her head, generally the exact same arguments Kero used against Eldan, when Derrick's door abruptly swung open. Acacia swung around on the far end of her lap and saw him leaning against the door frame, clad only in breeches and shirt. His arms were crossed and watched her levelly as she slowed to a stop.

"Do you have plans to make me suffer through sleep deprivation?"

"Not exactly, but it does sound like a rather evil and ingenious little plot."

"Say what you have to say and get moving. I'm sure my neighbors would also like to sleep without you muttering and stomping up and down the hall."

Acacia jerked as if she had been slapped. "I was thinking about talking to you about earlier, but if you're going to be that way, I guess I'll go back to the cottage."

Derrick gestured grandly towards the nearest doors. "Be my guest." He turned to go back inside his room, but Acacia's voice stopped him.

"Wait."

He sighed and turned back around. "Stop playing games, Acacia."

She scratched at her hair some more, then squared her shoulders and braced her hands on her hips. Guilt wracked her for demeaning his feelings the way she had, but she was also angry that she felt guilty. After all, she shouldn't be in the wrong for being a strong woman and refusing to rely on a man in a tough situation. Shouldn't she? As she had listened to Kero and Eldan argue, she had realized something.

"You're right." She pushed the words out and Derrick's eyes widened. Then he rubbed at one ear.

"I could have sworn you just said I was right about something."

"Stop giving me hard time. This is hard enough as it is."

"I'm all ears."

She growled softly to herself and folded her arms. "I shouldn't have shoved you behind me and I shouldn't have interfered with you defending yourself. I just…" she growled again and tugged at her hair, which was getting knotted from the finger combing and scratching. "I'm a mercenary, Derrick. I kill people for a living and I lead troops into terrifying situations and I have to fight twice as hard because I'm a woman. You stand there and you ask me to let you help me and to not protect you when all of my life I was taught to protect those I love and to rely on myself. I'm not used to you being there and that you're not cannon fodder." She shrugged miserably. "Anyway, that's what I came to say." She studied her boots, one of which was trying to dig a hole in the floor. Derrick was silent. Eventually, his bare feet appeared in her line of vision and she felt his hands on her shoulders. He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"You tear me up inside," he said quietly. "I was terrified when those bolts started flying. Not because they could hit me, but because they could hit you. I realized just what kind of woman I was falling in love with and it terrified me. Every spring, I'm going to send you off to fight battles and pray you come back to me in one piece and not for burial." He tilted her face up until her eyes met his. "I'm a Herald," he said, half-smiling as he used her words. "I'm not used to you not being cannon fodder, either. We'll both give each other time. And hopefully we'll stop arguing about it before we both retire."

Acacia's lips quirked. "Auntie Kero and Uncle Eldan are arguing about it back at the cottage."

Derrick sighed dramatically. "I guess I have lots of arguments to look forward to, then. As long as we get to make up…" He grinned wickedly, then turned serious. "So, if I'm a person you try to protect, I guess you must love me."

Acacia shrugged. "As much as you're falling in love with me." Inside her chest, her heart was pounding.

Derrick smiled. "Want to prove that to me?" As he leaned in for what would no doubt be an amazing kiss, the door across the hall jerked open and Alberich stuck his tosseled head out.

"Somewhere else, it will be proved," he growled. "Somewhere far, far away." He pulled his head back in and shut the door with a thud.

Acacia giggled and Derrick grinned. Then he turned and gestured towards the doorway. "Shall we? I have a feeling that I'm going to need a lot of proof before I'm satisfied."

Acacia sighed and pressed the back of her hand to her forehead. "Men; forever untrusting."

"It comes from all the damage our poor, fragile little egos take from the wild warrior women we pursue."

"I'll damage your ego…"

"Waiting, waiting, waiting…waiting some more…" Jeremy sang softly to himself. He was sprawled on his back next to Andreya, who was on her stomach, chin propped in her hands. They were on a rooftop on a building across from a very nice pub, waiting for their subject to emerge. Andreya turned to look at Jeremy and shook her head before turning back to watch the pub.

"Have you ever fallen asleep while doing this?"

Andreya smiled softly. "Once. I was watching this fat merchant, trying to figure out what his daily routine was. I was exhausted because I'd rode for two days to get there and hadn't slept at all. Next thing I knew, I had a very impressive sunburn and my subject was nowhere to be seen. I finally tracked him down to a back alley, where he had been beaten and killed by thugs."

"What did you do?"

"Took his head for proof and took the credit for the kill." Jeremy made a face and Andreya chuckled softly. "Easiest job I ever had."

Jeremy rolled over to his stomach and regarded the pub in front of him. Dawn was still a few hours away and the temperature was still plummeting. The rooftop they were lying on was covered in ice and their breath plumed in the night air, visible against the soft glow of lantern light. He was busy mentally planning their post-dawn activities when the door to the pub opened and a familiar green cloak emerged.

"There we are," Andreya murmured. The subject turned and for an instant, lantern light glinted across a bare face.

"Oh, my," Jeremy murmured. "Is that…"

"Indeed."

"Isn't she…" He trailed off and cursed softly. "Acacia is going to be very upset."

"I might have to move out for awhile." Andreya sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Sometimes I wish the gods conveniently mark everyone as good or evil. It would make life easier."

"How sure are you that she is working for Acario?"

"If you were one of the most popular young ladies at Court, would you leave the social event of the season to visit a pub?"

"She's working for Acario."

Andreya sighed and rose. "Let's follow her. Make sure she makes it back to the Palace alive. The least I can do is give Acacia the chance to skin her herself."

Derrick swung Acacia through the door to his rooms and closed it. He pushed her up against the rough planks and pinned her, his eyes dark.

"About that proof…"

Acacia laughed and tugged him down for a kiss.

"Something is not right," Andreya murmured. Jeremy grunted his agreement and felt for the hilt of his favorite club. The cobbles were slick under their feet and glinted in the light of an occasional lantern. Their subject was well ahead of them, but within sight. Meanwhile, Andreya's nerves were crawling. She was about to suggest they break off when the glint of light on a blade alerted her to the fact that they had walked into a trap. "Down!"

"Acacia." Derrick's voice was a husky whisper as he dipped his head to place a kiss where her neck and shoulder met, his coarse hands causing her soft shirt to bunch as they rose along her ribs, his thumbs meeting along the midline of her body. Her fingers dug into his biceps and she angled her head on a sigh, then breathed deeply, inhaling the scent of horses, the spicy soap he used, and, under that, his own rich scent. His skin was like silk under her fingers and glinted in the firelight, his muscles like steel as they flexed under her grip. Sweeping her into his arms, he carried her towards the bed.

"No killing!" Jeremy shouted.

Andreya spun, heart in her throat, bringing up her own long-knife to deflect the blow. The blades slid against each other with a screech that pierced her ears. Her assailant bore down on her blade and she pushed back for a moment before she let him push her down, sinking to a crouch and sweep a foot out to catch his own feet and knock him to the ground. He leapt, avoiding her sweeping leg and folded back into the shadows, leaving her to face more of the thugs.

Derrick threw her shirt into the shadows and trailed the tips of his fingers down her arms. Goosebumps rose in their wake and he trailed his fingers over her shoulder and up to her face. Their eyes met as his hands cupped the back of her head and he leaned forward, his lips meeting hers and sinking into her. Her own fingertips trailed across his broad shoulders before her hands spread to grip his shoulders. He gently laid her back against the pillows, stroking loose hair from her face.

Her hair had somehow come loose during the fight and flared as she spun, bringing a truncheon up to block a club with a resounding crack! Remembering Jeremy's stern command, she flipped her long-knife and used the hilt to pound the thug out of consciousness. A club to the kidney caused her to cry out, capturing Jeremy's attention for one critical moment.

"Derrick!" Acacia's voice was unrecognizable as she gasped for air and Derrick growled in response, his hands gripping the bedding on either side of her. He nibbled his way along her jaw, his heart thudding against her chest and his breath hot against her neck.

"Andy!" Jeremy's cry was hoarse and he grunted with the impact of a blow from one of the thugs. Andreya reversed her knife once again and threw it, disobeying Jeremy's command and saving his life at the same time. She swallowed again as her heart rose in her throat and she quickly darted to his side, tucking her back against his. Another thug moved in on Andreya and forced her mind to quiet and concentrate on the problem at hand. Jeremy grunted again from behind her as she gripped both of her opponent's wrists and created an opening to crack her forehead against his nose, causing him to howl in pain before a knee to the groin and crack from his own club knocked him out.

Acacia rolled Derrick over, straddling his stomach and sweeping her hair over one shoulder before leaning forward again, kissing him and burying her fingers in his hair while his clenched against her hips. She nipped at his own jaw while her hands tugged at his hair, turning his head so she had further access.

Jeremy fell behind her, his body hitting the cold wet cobbles with a sound that caused her stomach to drop out of her. She turned again, head automatically flicking her hair over her shoulder, her hand opening to drop the club and going to her shoulder while her other hand did the same, drawing her matched blades while her opponent mimicked her. Their blades met in a flurry.

Andreya deftly avoided stepping on Jeremy's body as she forced her opponent back, her own body sinking into the rhythm of the dance. He met her blow for blow, their blades blurring with the speed of their attacks, testing each other for weakness and exploiting them, thrusting and parrying and reposting. Jeremy's breathing was harsh in the wet night as their blades rang out, light reflected from flats.

Derrick's eyes were intense as he stared into Acacia's, his breathing harsh. It stopped completely when she said quietly and whole-heartedly, "I love you."

"I'm sorry, Andy." Jon's familiar voice was faint over the clash of their blades. Andreya listened with half an ear, letting her mind stay empty as she moved with the rhythm of their dance, her thoughts in shadow. "It's business. You would have done the same." The club to the back of her head ended their dance. Jon looked at the body slumped before him, at the feet of the thug that had struck her, then looked to the body of the Guard Captain. "I'm sorry."

Derrick let himself collapse on top of Acacia, his head pillowed on her chest as she gasped for breath. Eventually, the sweat on their bodies cooled and darkness reached up to swallow her.

His voice, calling to her weakly, pulled her from the darkness. The slush on the cobbles had penetrated her clothing and left her weak and shuddering. He called again and she forced herself to roll over, propping herself up on her hands and knees. She groaned as pain roiled through her head and her stomach heaved, causing her to rid herself of everything she had eaten in the past day. Spitting the foul taste from her mouth, she forced herself to crawl to where he was sprawled. In the moonlight and the pitiful light from the one remaining torch, she could see his blood pooling around him.

"No," she moaned and forced herself to crawl faster, her breath hitching in her throat. The distance was not far, but seemed to stretch for miles as she struggled to get to his side.

"Acacia," Derrick called softly, and she struggled to bring herself to wakefulness, opening her eyes to the sensation of his hand smoothing her hair from her face. He smiled, the firelight glinting in his eyes. "Hey. There you are."

Jeremy smiled softly when she reached his side, and he slowly lifted one hand to cup her cheek. She began frantically pawing his leathers, searching for the wound and finding it, a stab to the belly. His pooling blood was hot against her frozen hands, but it quickly cooled on the cobbles, sticking to her knees and soaking through the leather and fleece of her breeches. "Hey. Look at me."

When she pressed on the wound, applying pressure to make the bleeding stop, he groaned softly. "Look at me, Andy."

"Stop talking. You're not strong enough."

"Don't say anything," Derrick murmured as she opened her mouth. "Let me talk." His eyes met hers. "When you came into my life, I had no room for a woman. I had my mission and I had not planned beyond that. You wouldn't accept that, and you forced me to change. You made me think of the life I could have."

"Hush, Jere, you need to conserve your strength. I'll figure out a way to get you to a Healer."

"Andy. Listen to me." His voice was growing steadily weaker, and he knew he did not have much time. Her eyes met his and he flinched when he saw the panic there. "Listen," he said forcefully. "I don't want you to ever forget the time we had. No," he said when she opened her mouth, and he struggled to suck in a breath. Her eyes swam with tears and her breath hitched. "You made me happy, Andy. Don't let anyone," he paused for a moment and swallowed against his own tears as he wiped a tear from her cheek. He coughed and groaned, fighting as the darkness tried to suck him down. "Don't let anyone ever make you feel worthless again." His voice was harsher now and his breaths turned shallow and fast.

"I love you, Acacia."

"Derrick…"

"I love you, Andreya. Don...don't ever…forget." He forced the words out as his throat closed, then let the darkness drown him.

"Will you handfast with me?"

Acacia's eyes sparkled with tears.

"Jere?" Andreya shook him and his head lolled limply against the cobbles even as the booted feet of the Guard reinforcements approached. "Jeremy? Answer me!"

"Acacia? I need an answer here."

Hands reached out and tried to pull her away and she batted at them furiously. "No. No! Jeremy! Answer me! Answer me!"

Her hands were fisted in his tunic as she shook him, screaming and sobbing. She felt as if she was being torn in half and she choked on the screams and sobs as tears poured down her face. "NO!"

A soft order had the Guards backing down and standing at a respectful distance, standing at attention, heads bowed respectfully for the loss of one of their own. Andreya's soul-tearing screams echoed in the silence and gradually faded as she pressed her face to his chest. Exhaustion overwhelmed her and her mind was numb, vaguely noting that she could no longer hear the thump of his heart. Her body shook with each sob and she closed her eyes against the pain that was washing through her, as the awful silence surrounded her. She pulled herself up his body until she lay on the cobbles next to him, her face pressed to his, her hands stroking his hair from his face. So softly as to be nearly imperceptible, she began to sing, the velvet silence stark against her harsh voice.

"How pleasant in winter, to sit by the hob…"