Chapter 6

Okay, so this chapter may be a little shorter than usual, but it's just a tie-in to the next part.

*I do not own Skyrim, but I do own Juheena and Juheena owns Farkas*

Unable to sit around doing nothing, Juheena only lasted a few days confined to bed. But Farkas and Anja almost never left her side, keeping her in good spirits. Even Vilkas talked with her for a while after he returned from taking care of the women, returning them home safely or paying their fares for an inn at which to stay. Juheena started to realize that what Farkas said was true. Vilkas did care for her, despite his snark. It made her uncomfortable being helpless, but he made no move. They only spoke.

"What you did was incredible. Even alone...Which was stupid. Next time you're with me, you aren't going anywhere." Vilkas warned.

"Hmph." Juheena replied noncommittally. She would do as she damn well pleased.

She was relieved when Farkas came in and took over Vilkas's empty spot after he had gone. She reached her hand out, waiting for him to take it. He obliged with a warm smile, his eyes brightening.

"Guess what Kitty-Kat? A courier came with this today for you. He almost wouldn't let me have it, insisting that it was "for your hands only"". He mocked the courier, making Juheena laugh. Thankfully her wound was almost healed, so there was less pain.

"Lemme see!" Juheena made a grab for it. Farkas was not compact, and even sitting down he was still a challenge to overtake, especially while bedridden. Finally he surrendered the fight, and let Juheena have her letter. She pulled his head down and placed her lips firmly on his before opening it up.

What she saw made her heart lurch. The letter read:

Dearest Juheena,

Oh, darling! We have missed you such here at the Sanctuary. Arnbjorn absolutely will not shut his mouth about his 'precious daughter". It's funny really, the dog missing his little kitty. Oh well, this letter is not only a social call. Cicero insists upon seeing you, "Listener". If I hear that word one more time I shall rip his teeth out one by one and feed them to my precious pet Lis. I've never understood your fear of Lis, she is such a sweet spider. I trained her myself! Alas, I have written this letter to warn you of Cicero's rampage. He has been searching for you for ages, wailing like a madman about "The listener" and "jester hats" and some rubbish about "Charles the Talking Pumpkin". The man is as loony as Sheogorath if you ask me. I digress, you just have to return to us soon! The sanctuary is nowhere near as fun without you batting Cicero around like a ragdoll.

Hail Sithis,

Babette

Juheena was overjoyed to hear from her family. She smiled. Babs was still the same, even down to that damnable frost spider she named Lis, for some ungodly reason. How did she even tell it was a girl spider? Who in their right mind would ever get that close?

Folding up the letter slowly, she looked at Farkas. She saw his curious eyes reading hers.

"Well?" He asked innocently. Juheena batted him across the face with the folded letter and stuck it in her nightstand, planning to destroy it. "It was an old friend! I hadn't heard from… Aeris in such a long time! She was a friend of mine, a thief in the Thieves Guild. A long time ago…" Juheena strung her lie easily. Aeris was real, but she had only met the woman as an acquaintance. The brotherhood and thieves guild sometimes had to cooperate, due to their ties through Delvin Mallory. And then there was Karliah, the Nightingale who had become the leader of the guild, taking Mercer's place after he was brought to justice.

But her secrets were threatening to be revealed. Something that she was in immediate danger from if Cicero came knocking on the door looking for his Listener. She would have to do something to prevent that…but what? She pushed the thought out of her mind. Cicero was too crazy to find her, at least not for a while. He would probably insist upon checking underneath everyone's bed first before even setting foot outside the Sanctuary.

"Hey Farkas….go get me a sweet roll." Farkas grunted, holding back a smirk. She was nicer when she was helpless.

"Yes, mistress."

"Damn right." Juheena grinned. She watched Farkas leave, eying his muscles from underneath his thin tunic. She couldn't wait to get better.

xOoOoOx

Later that evening, all of the Companions were holed up underground, trying to find some warmth from the storm that blew in that afternoon. Rain battered Jorrvaskr, hail pelted the shutters, and thunder shook the ground.

Anja had sent Farkas upstairs to get some more firewood, then proceeded to lock the door behind him. Juheena chunked a wooden spoon at her head, which she dodged.

"Hey! Don't be like that! He has taken up all of your time. I deserve ten minutes." Anja huffed, making Juheena shake her head. "I want to ask you something. Why does Farkas call you 'Kitty-Cat'? I mean….the guy looks like he's ready to beat someone's head in. Isn't that a little…"

"Odd?" Juheena filled in. "Farkas may be a little intimidating…But he's sweet. The opposite of his brother, that's for sure. I mean, Farkas is the reason I'm here. We met about two months ago, but I swear I fell in love the instant I saw him."

As storybook sounding as it was, it was true. Juheena and Farkas fit together like puzzle pieces. A big, handsome piece, and a small, slightly fuzzy piece. She remembered after speaking with Kodlak and being accepted into the Companions, Farkas had shown her to her room.

"Skjor and Aela like to tease me, but they're good people. They push us to be our best" Farkas explained, after being called an ice-brain by the saucy red-head. He led her to her room, which she shared with a few other women and men. "This is where you'll stay. Just find an empty bed and fall in it." He offered her a smile, welcoming her.

"Thank you, Farkas." His eyes lingered in hers for just a second too long, and he blushed as he hurriedly added, "I've got some work that needs doing, if you like." Juheena accepted while thinking, this guy is going to be wrapped around my finger so fast…

After she had completed a few missions from Aela, Vilkas started offering her jobs. It seemed she was worthy in his eyes finally, after proving herself time and time again. It was then that she started inviting Farkas out on missions with her. They spent weeks at a time together, seeing no one but each other. On cold nights in the snowy mountains, they would hole up together in a cave together, Farkas clinging to her fur for warmth. It was now, after his romantic confession, that she realized that it meant as much to him as it meant to her.

Anja noisily faked a yawn. "How mushy." Juheena was slightly miffed at being interrupted from her thoughts, something that seemed to happen to her quite often, and searched through the nightstand for something to throw at her. "Oh, no. That won't be necessary. Its romantic and all, but it's straight out of a romance novel. I mean, 'love at first sight'. That sounds like a big pile to me."

"That's a load, coming from a Nord. It takes you about five minutes to decide to marry someone, yet you don't believe in love at first sight?"

"Well, that's true." Anja started picking at the blanket on Juheena's bed before she got up and started pacing. Juheena sensed the tension in the air, and scooted over, patting the empty space on her bed. Anja came over and sat down, then proceeded to return to picking at the blanket.

"That poor blanket never saw you coming…" Anja pulled the Khajit's tail in response.

"Shut it. There's a reason I wanted to be alone with you. " They heard a knocking on the door.

"Juheena? Is everyth-" Farkas was cut off by Anja yelling, "GO AWAY FARKY- WARKY SMOOCHIE PUFFS"

Juheena burst with laughter at the thought of the look on Farkas's face. They heard Farkas continue on down the hall, mumbling to himself.

"That was mean." Juheena teased.

"It was warranted. I mean really? Farky-Warky? Why not Pumpkin pie cheeks? Crème puff? Your Smoochie bear?"

"All right, fine. Point taken. No more pet names when you're around. Now tell me what's on your mind? Tilma is going to have to knit me a new blanket.."

Anja sat silent for a few minutes, bolstering her courage. "Well okay. I lied to you. About my family. I… well I don't really have one. I had escaped from Honorhall when I was plucked from the road by those bandits." Anja avoided Juheena's eyes, apprehensive about what she would find there. Long seconds passed, her heart rate increasing. She could almost feel the bed shaking with each heartbeat. Finally she got an answer.

"I'm sorry Anja. Honorhall… well I can understand why you would want to leave there."

"You can't send me back! Please, Juheena. Let me stay here, I can be a healer and help Tilma!"

Juheena smiled. "It is not my call, little fairy. But I can guarantee that you will never return to Honorhall. I have a house here in Whiterun. You can always stay with me. And if Kodlak lets you stay here, which I'm sure he will, then you will have beat out Farkas and Vilkas for the youngest companions to ever join!"

Anja hugged Juheena, while exclaiming, "Thank you! Thank you! You're my best friend! I've never had a friend as good as you!"

It was then that Aela came and picked the lock, letting Farkas in.

Patting the end of the bed, Anja said, "Come join us Farky-Smoochie-Huggy-Kissy.." She was cut off by a mouth full of sweetroll, earning Farkas a dirty look from a very serious little girl.

"Don't mind if I do."

Author's note:

So I figured I had to explain myself about the pet names. Farkas and Juheena were like bestest-estest-estet buddies, you know BFF'S and all that jazz. My best guy friend and I have goofy names for each other, and so I kind of inserted that into the story. It's less of a romantic name and more of a tease towards each other, though it does become more of a term of endearment as their relationship progresses.

And also, welcome the newest Companion, Anja! *puts on party hat*

Thank you to all of my readers, and those of you who commented! I appreciate hints and tips! Also, thanks to all of my readers from Sweden! I was surprised that you Swedes almost beat out my homeland, Germany!

Seeya next time!