Hello all. I suddenly felt inspired enough to write another chapter. I still don't know if I'm persisten enough to keep going, but that's a start.

To keep the story going, this chapter includes more serious notes. Still, I don't like any unnecessary angst, so there won't be any too gloomy stuff.

When Lara finally made it to the breakfast table, everyone else had already started. Alistair was destroying the last fried egg, when she sat. He gulped audibly and smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry, I was hungry."

At the other side of the table Zip gave a snort.

"Don't even pretend being sorry."

"What is that supposed to mean! I am perfectly capable of…" his heroic speech was quickly ended by Lara.

"Don't even think about getting this "I am better than you" thing up again. I would like to eat my breakfast, or at least what's left of it, in peace."

Zip gave another snort and nonchalantly tucked the whole toast into his mouth.

Alistair was quietly fuming and murderously stabbing the last piece of sausage on his plate.

Lara sighed audibly.

"Really guys! At least pretend to be civil while I'm here."

Getting no response, she poured herself a coffee, grabbed the newspaper and left the room.

Winston got there just in time to see Lara leaving without a proper breakfast. He glowered,

"Really, Lady Croft!"

Lara froze misdstep.

"You should know better than that! Like running around and risking your life everyday weren't bad enough, now you won't even eat a proper breakfast!"

Lara cringed and guiltily turned around,

"I know Winston. The most important meal of the day. But I just can't tolerate this.., this bickering going on every time we happen to be in the same room."

"Bickering! Who's bickering? That's his entire fault, if he weren't such a …" Zips lively arguments carried through the house.

"Ah, I see," the old butler nodded somewhat sympathetically.

"I'll bring you your breakfast at the garden then?"

The look in his eyes dared Lara to answer differently.

She smiled warmly,

"Yes thank you Winston that would be delightful."

Munching on her toast and sipping hot coffee Lara once again realized just how great it was to be back home. Smiling, she raised her face towards the sun, enjoying the warmth.

Suddenly she could feel the hairs on the nape of her neck TÕUSMA.

Sighing audibly, she opened her eyes.

"What? Your stare will give me a headache!"

Zip stepped out of the shadows and joined Lara at the table.

"Um, I'm really sorry about before. We're not usually like this…"

Lara snorted, looking all but amused.

"…BUT," Zip continued, looking pointedly at her, "I guess we're both happy to see you again, so we're a bit overexcited."

He finished, sheepishly looking away, one hand absentmindedly tousling his dishevelled hair.

At that Lara had to smile.

"It's okay. Just try to keep down a little, I'd really like to enjoy being home again, too."

Their quiet discussion was cut short by a mighty "BLOODY HELL!"

"ZIP! I will turn every disc you have into dust and burn your computer!"

Zip gulped audibly, then turning to Lara, he patted her hand reassuringly, "Everything's under control," before rushing off, almost knocking over Winston in the process.

A quick "sorry man!" was shouted over his shoulder and then he was gone.

Winston shook his head and straightened his jacked.

"More coffee, Lady Croft?"

Zip was halfway upstairs when bright red and fuming Alistair appeared.

"You bloody bastard! I thought I made it clear never touch my things again!"

"Look Al, relax, I can explain everything! It was all a misunderstanding. I was down at my office, working. The usual stuff."

Alistair scoffed loudly and turned to gaze out of the window.

"Hey! What is that supposed to mean?"

Zip shook his head, "Anyway. Suddenly I needed an empty disc and I knew you always had some in your room. So I went there just to get a disc! That's exactly how it was. You just have to learn to share, no need to overreact!" Zip victoriously finished his speech, congratulating himself on such a smooth cover up.

Alistair quietly turned, eyes flashing murderously.

"You went into MY room, messed up MY papers, spilled some sickly sweet stuff on MY chair, carpet and keyboard, ruining all of them and finally, you knocked over my CD case, what alone took me hours of organizing. Which part exactly is me, overreacting?" Alistair finished yelling, flushed and chest heaving.

Zip managed to look sheepish.

"I'm sorry, man. I'll come and help you clean up."
"You'd better do so!" Alistair answered coldly, turned and left.

Zip sighed and rubbed his eyes tiredly. Not one thing had gone right for a while and everything was a mess. He felt at loss and often useless.

It was harder and harder keeping up his cheerful charade in front of others when inside he was slowly dying.

He turned and made his way towards he gym. Working out until every muscle in his body screamed for a rest had turned out to be a rather foolproof way to keep his mind away from any unnecessary thoughts.

Sweat trickled down his forehead and made it hard to see as he furiously punched the punching bag - right, left, duck, kick, right, left...

But as he finally laid down on one of the benches to catch his breath he once again found himself thinking of that faithful night. He covered his eyes as hot tears of shame and hopefulness flowed down his cheeks. With a furious cry he jumped up and punched the wall, hearing a sickening crack in the process. He laughed bitterly.

"That's right," he muttered, "What else is there for me left."

Once again he sat down. This time both emotionlessly and physically spent, past the point of caring.

Lara heard a cry and knew who it belonged to. As she made her way towards the gym, where she knew he would hide, she felt a familiar pang of pity.

She stopped and shook her head. Feeling sorry for him would probably be the worst possible action.

As she stepped in she instantly noticed the rather big crack on the wall and the broken man beside it.

She observed for a second, without letting him know of her presence and saw his irregular breathing. She hesitated for minute, then turned and left.

Zip felt even more pathetic after his breakdown, but he did feel calmer. It had been a while, he noted.

Standing, he sighed when he saw the damaged wall. Only then he remembered his now probably broken hand and became aware of the burning sensation in his right limb.

He hissed and tried to take a closer look, when he heard someone coming.

Quickly he swept away last remains of his tears and hid his damaged hand behind his back.

As Lara stepped inside she now saw a rather embarrassed Zip, trying, without succeeding, to hide both his hand and the crack at the wall.

"It's now use, Zip. I can still see it."

As she walked closer, Zip saw a first aid kit in her hand, and gave a strange half-laugh half-snort.

Lara looked at him curiously.

"It's just that the only times we manage to speak face to face is when one of us is hurt."

She smiled and motioned him to sit down.

"What's you gonna do, that's who we are."

She gently took his hand and examined it.

"It's not broken, but it'll definitely take time to heal properly," she announced after a while.

Zip raised an eyebrow.

It was her turn to laugh.

"I have seen and tended to broken bones more than once, you know. I should be experienced enough."

At that Zip turned serious again.

"You shouldn't risk your life like that all the time."

She sighed and released his hand.

"We have had this discussion before Zip, and I'm not going to explain it to you all over again."

Zips face hardened as he looked away.

All of a sudden Lara felt really sad. She knew she longed for something and still she had no idea for what.

She stood.

"You should get some rest, you must be tired."

Zip suddenly grabbed her wrist, almost painfully. They stared at each other quietly.

She saw the sorrow and regret in his eyes, and also the same longing she had felt.

Slowly Zip pulled her against him. He felt her arms tighten against himself, when she hugged him back.

After a few moments, his lips turned upwards.

"Is it possible you have gotten even shorter in the past few months."

Her eyes shot open as she took an incredulous step back.

"What?"

He chuckled lightly and patted her head.

"I couldn't help it, sorry." Still sniggering, he made his way towards the door.

Lara felt her mind ease. Of course it'll be alright, there's just isn't another option.

Smiling as she followed him.

Zip hadn't felt this peaceful for a while.

At the time he made it to the living room he was smiling broadly.

That was, until he saw Alistair, descending the stairs, not at least looking happy.

"What on earth are you taking so, " he started but stopped when he saw Zips injured hand.

Alistair stared at it, while Zip fidgeted uncomfortably.

"How dare you injure yourself?" Alistair finally exclaimed, looking almost offended.

Zip gawked at him.

"You think it will excuse you? There's no way in,"

Zip grinned broadly and cut Alistair's speech.

"No way, I know my duty. It is and has always been helping the weaker ones."

With that his ran up the stairs leaving Alistair, who was rather pleased with himself, behind.

Lara had witnessed the exchange between two men from afar.

"What was that about?" she asked Alistair, stepping forward.

"Ah, Lara. I didn't see you. It's nothing." He smiled. "Now excuse me, I have some intense Zip-watching to do."

Laughing merrily he ran up.

"Boys?" She asked herself aloud and then nodded in response, "at least some things never change."

A/N: Now I'd like to thank those of you who decided to take the extra minute and write a review. You are the reason I still, after all this time, decided to write another chapter. Thank you very much.

Yours,

NightQuest