When the night has been too lonely

And the night has been too long

Glitch knew something was up, she'd been uncomfortable the entire way to her room. She had to talk about it, so he waited until the door was safely shut. He pushed her up against the wall, held her there as they stared at eachother. "DG, what's wrong?"

She smiled wearily, she'd been breifly concerned that he might try to kiss her. The idea both scared and thrilled her. "I'm just tired, really. It's been a long day."

He just continued to look at her, saw the emotion swimming in her eyes. "Your the worst liar I have ever met, besides me."

"Don't make me do this, Glitch, please." Her voice was soft, almost broken. She looked into his deep eyes and knew. Everything was right there, the answers and belonging she'd been looking for were right here. She'd be happy if she let herself love him, and she knew Glitch could handle the pressure of marrying the future queen. If that was what he wanted, she still highly doubted he would ever feel the same.

"Is this about what your father told you?" He took a deep breath, waited for her to tell him something that would certainly shatter his heart. The queen had to be wrong, although it would be the first that he knew of. DG couldn't possibly ever want someone who couldn't even talk straight half the time. But as he waited, she didn't answer. "Or is it about what your mother told me?"

"Glitch." She smiled a little more. "What was said between you and her is strictly between the two of you."

"Well," He took her hand, ran his thumb over the smooth skin on the back of his hand. "What if I wanted to tell you, would you stop me?"

She shook her head, held back a shiver. Did he know what he was doing to her? How could he possibly. "I wouldn't stop you if you were certain you wouldn't regret telling me."

"I can't be certain, no one ever can be. But I'll risk it." He leaned in, whispered in her ear. "Do you really want to know?" All she could do was nodd. "Your mother wanted to know when I was going to tell you that I'm in love with you."

She couldn't even think, she'd gone completely numb. He didn't like her, at all. It could have been worse, she kept trying to convince herself that it was true. He could known how she felt. That embarass ment would have killed her. Her throat felt dry, it almost burned to force the words out. "What did you tell her?"

He blinked back shock, he could feel her tense up, build a shield against him in her heart. He pushed away from the wall, looked away. "I told her you deserved someone young and smart, someone you can look good with. And I'm guessing that's what you want."

She grabbed his arm before he could walk away from her, knowing if he walked out the door she'd get no sleep. She had to know what he would do if she told him how she felt. It was already likely she would lose one friend it was over, why not just completely go for two. "Stay, please. You were honest with me and you should at least give me a chance to return the favor."

With a sigh she went to the window, gazed out. Below she could see Jeb and Cain prepare to leave, knew that she'd have to fight both of them before this was over. "I let Zero out, Cain'll find out and be back by morning. Zero would be dead by now if I told him he was with the other ex-longcoats."

"Why would you do that?" Glitch went to her quickly, ready to fight in his friends place. Even if it was against DG. She heard the anger in his voice, turned back to him, tears in her eyes. His shoulders drooped, he didn't think he could fight against her tears, ever. "Cain's been there for you every step of the way, even when he didn't have to be. How could you even consider letting his wife's murderer free?"

She shuddered out a breath. "She infected him, Glitch, with one of the monkey bats. I had to make a choice, forgive him for what he had no control over or condemn an innocent man to prison. What was I supposed to do?" He didn't answer. "Cain'll forgive me for this eventually, even if it's years from now. I've learned to accept that. But I will not punish a man who doesn't truely deserve it."

He wrapped his arms around her, held her. "Why are you here? Why aren't you so angry with me that you can't even stand to be in the same room?" She buried her head against his chest, inhaled the smell of him.

"I can't get mad at you just because you follow the heart I fell in love with." He smiled.

She looked into his eyes, tried to read his face. What she saw there almost had her heart skipping. "Your actually in love with me?"

"Didn't I say that already?" He looked confused.

She shook her head, a smile brightening her damp cheeks. "You seemed to avoid that tiny detail.

"Oh," He brushed his lips over hers, pulled away with a full blown grin. "I love you, DG, you can count on me to be here. If you want me."

"In that case, I love you too. And I couldn't care less what I do and don't deserve."

"She was right." Glitch laughed, pulled DG even closer against him. "Gale women know what they want."

"Good." DG worked her way out of his arms and walked into the bedroom. "Then you should now your going to answer the very pissed off knock on the door in the morning."

He leaned against the doorframe. "That's not going to happen."

She sat on the bed, stuck her bottom lip out in a well practiced pout. "Then I guess I'll just have to go find somewhere to sleep where Cain won't find me, alone."He stepped in front of her, did his best to look frightening. Pushing her gently, he pinned her down on the bed, only half to keep her from leaving. "Your not going anywhere."

She laughed, wrapped her legs around his maist and used all her weight to reverse positions. "And you said I couldn't lie."

"I don't have to answer the door then?" He closed his eyes as her fingers traced his chest through his shirt, bit back a groan. If he could think he'd probably wish he'd reached out to touch her, but he was too aroused to care.

"Are you really that scared of Cain?" She laughed as she kissed him again. He pulled her down against him, relished in the taste and feel of her. She moved against him seductively, traced her tongue along his bottom lip. "I fight my own battles."

"I can see that." He tried to flip them back over but she wasn't giving in quite so easily.

"But I got what I want." She gasped as he scraped his teeth along her jaw.

"And what would that be?" He murmered, there was nothing but her in his mind. She was what he needed, even more than the air to breathe.

She rolled off of him, crawled underneath the blankets. "I'm in bed and now, I'm going to sleep." She shrugged. He slanted her a look. "What?"

"Your cruel."

"Name of the game, baby." She laughed. His heart tripped at the nickname, half of him hoped it was permanent, the other half winced.

"I thought the name of the game was love." He smiled as she curled into him, kissed her full on the lips.

"Mm," She mumbled as she drifted off to sleep. "That too."

And you think that love is only

For the lucky and the strong