A/N:The usual disclaimer: I own nothing of Blake's Seven. I just enjoy messing with their lives. The characters belong to Terry Nation and BBC. Darkover belongs to Marion Zimmer Bradley.

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Their suite of rooms was on the second floor, just to the right of the gallery at the top of the stairs. Belying his age, Avon fairly sprinted up the stairs. Entering the sitting room, illuminated only by the firelight, he crossed to the bedroom, pausing with his hand on the knob. He knew Vila was behind the closed door, probably reading, his glasses perched precariously on his nose as usual. They had stocked their library with real books that Vila had taken an immense pleasure in devouring. Avon thought of the fine mind that had been denied a decent education just for being born Delta and was glad that he could give the man a chance to satisfy his hunger for knowledge. Shaking off his melancholy musings, he entered the bedroom.

Vila looked up from his book, peeled off the wire-rimmed glasses and grinned.

"You didn't stay with Cally very long," he commented.

"We…covered what we needed to."

"It's really nice having her here, isn't it, Avon?"

"Yes, it is, very nice indeed."

Avon shed his jacket and went to sit on the bed beside his mate.

"Well," Vila chuckled, "it must have been serious."

Avon said nothing, just sat quietly looking down at the richly-colored coverlet. When Vila could stand it no longer, he reached over and placed a hand over Avon's. "Is something wrong?"

Avon's voice was so low that Vila had to strain to hear it, even this close and in this quiet room. "I've wronged you, Vila, all these years." He looked up into those warm caring eyes. "We've been together for almost 40 years, and still I wrong you."

Vila was taken aback, having no clue where any of this was coming from or where it was leading. "Does this have anything to do with our discussion of Malodaar tonight?" He was guessing. Perhaps merely bringing it up had stirred the guilt and bad memories in Avon's mind. He hoped not. Watching Avon claw his way back to sanity had been the hardest thing he'd ever endured and they were both alert for anything that could possibly send the man spiraling back down again.

Avon shook his head, flinching at the mention of that hated name. His long hair fell forward, obscuring his face.

By now, Vila was truly worried. Something, something bad, was bothering Avon and he, Vila, couldn't help if he didn't know what it was. "Whatever it is, you can tell me, Avon. You know I care for you."

"That's just it, Vila!" Avon exploded, then, more softly as he saw the look of fright on Vila's face, he continued, "You remember that technical show we went to when we were seventeen?" †

Vila's lips quirked in a smile. "Of course I do. And I remember what happened afterward…distinctly."

"Well then, do you remember what you said to me, that I tried to keep you from saying, that I…couldn't say back to you?"

"I remember you telling me that there'd be no words of love, no commitment between us."

"But I did commit myself to you that night on the Liberator with Cally as witness, even if I couldn't say the words." ††

Vila finally understood what was bothering his partner, and he rushed to console him. "Oh, Avon, after all these years, the words are there in your heart, even if you don't say them. Everything you do for me is proof of what you feel."

Avon laid a single elegant finger on Vila's lips. "No…let me finish." He was suddenly shy in this man's presence, but raised his eyes to Vila's, then pulled him closer.

"I…I love you, Vila," he whispered against the other man's ear. "I love you," he repeated, shocked to his soul at how easy it was to say again after the first time. "There, I've said it and it feels right and I'm glad!" He stared almost defiantly at Vila who simply smiled back at him.

"To hear you say it now means more to me than you could know, Avon. It's more than I ever hoped for and I was content over the years with just the knowledge. Now, my happiness is complete." His eyes brimming with tears, he pulled his lover into a fierce embrace and kissed him deeply.

Avon returned the kiss with all the unspoken love and commitment that was in him for this man who'd stood beside him for so long.

Vila finally broke from the kiss, a simple smile of joy curving his lips upward. "It's quite late, Avon. Don't forget, the housewarming's tomorrow night. We have a lot of work to do and the day starts early."

"I really don't give a damn about all that, Vila," Avon growled easily. "I love you and I want to prove it!" He tumbled Vila over onto his back and proceeded to do just that.

Long after Vila had fallen into a deep, contented slumber, snoring ever so softly, Avon lay awake thinking. Finally, he rose quietly from the bed and returned to the fire lit sitting room. Reaching inside a hidden compartment in the small desk, he pulled out a piece of parchment, and put the finishing touches on his own personal housewarming gift for the man he loved.

† See UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED, Part 7.

†† See EVER I SAW YOUR FACE, Part 2.

A/N: The big day of celebration, with all their neighbors and business associates, has finally come. Will it be the success that Vila has envisioned or will all his planning come to naught?