.Chapter twenty-two.

It had been a peaceful night if you ignore that fact that Zanner snores like a chainsaw. I had heard someone checking on us every few hours or so during the night; I had guessed that it was Cloak, but it might have been his parents at some of the times. The sun was just starting to rise; I could see it through the curtains that covered the window. Zanner was still snoring like a chainsaw and I thought that this might be as good a time as any to get changed into my normal day clothes. I got up quietly and fetched my clothes from my bag. I then got back under that covers of my bed and started to change under there; not the most dignified way of doing things, but it would prevent Zanner from seeing me if he woke up while I was in the middle of getting changed.

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Once I had finished getting dressed, I tiptoed out of the room as not to wake Zanner, and sat in the living room, while I waited for someone else to get up. I didn't have to wait long; while I was waiting I saw Cloak walk past the living room towards the room that Zanner and I were sharing. I got up and followed him. I didn't want to wake the whole house up so I didn't call out to him. He walked up to the door, opened it and looked into the room.

"Lose something?" I asked, as I came up next to him.

He looked at me a bit startled.

"How long have you been up?" he asked.

"Almost half a helate," I smiled at him.

"Right. Where were you?"

"In the living room."

"Okay. Just go back there and I'll be with you in a moment."

I just nodded and walked back to the living room with Cloak behind me for most of the way. Once seeing that I was seated, Cloak left to go back to his room. While I was waiting for him, I looked around the room. There were a few pictures and knick-knacks here and there, but nothing unusual. I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn't notice Cloak re-enter the room until he picked me up bridal style. I squeaked slightly in surprise.

"I've missed that little squeak," he smiled cheekily, as he held me closer and I wrapped my arms around his neck.

"I haven't," I said, as I gave him a 'put me down' look; I don't overly like being picked up. He just returned my 'put me down look' with a 'not just yet' look, as he sat down on the sofa and put me down onto his lap. I tensed up a bit, this was the first time he had done this and it was the first time I had been put onto anyone's lap since I was knee high to a grasshopper.

"Relax, it's just me," he cooed into my ear.

I just gave him a look.

"This is the first time we've been as close as this, I know, but still," he said, as he guided my head under his. I decided to relax and snuggled up to him.

"That's it," he said, as he stroked my back gently.

"What's gotten into you?" I asked, as I moved away from him so that I could see his face.

"I just want to hold you; this is the first time I've held you like this."

I just raised an eyebrow at him.

"It's a guy thing," he said.

"That's just what guys say when they actually mean, 'it doesn't have any logic behind it, I just do it'," I said with a smile.

"Where did you hear that?"

"Some book or other on earth."

"Right."

"But I'm kinda enjoying this, so don't worry about it." I snuggled back up to him and allowed his arms to wrap around me. This was the first time I could hear his heart beat; it was unusually soothing.

"Cal," he said suddenly.

"Yeah," I replied somewhat sleepily.

"Could I ask you something?"

"You just did."

He bounced his leg once as a way of saying 'very funny'.

"What's on your mind?" I asked, almost giggling.

"How did you sleep?" he asked.

"Okay. You?"

"Not a wink."

"Oh." I moved away from him slightly so that I could look at him properly.

"Why not?" I asked.

"I was worried about you."

"Cloak."

"I know I didn't have to, but… you… alone with Zanner… I just… couldn't sleep knowing that."

I snuggled closer to him again.

"You're too sweet, Cloak," I said, as I hugged him tightly. Just then I felt him pull away a bit and his lips met my cheek. I looked up at him and smiled.

"Think we can upgrade the kiss?" he asked with a hopeful tone to his voice.

"Sure," I smiled. I had barely finished saying 'sure' and his lips had met mine. This was our longest kiss on record, ten whole seconds, but it came to an end when Zanner decided to walk in and begin teasing his cousin.

"Well, ain't you two cute?" he asked.

As soon as we heard his voice we broke the kiss and gave him an annoyed glare.

"Good form you two; though, Cloak, you might want to lean in more and don't be afraid to apply a bit of pressure," smiled Zanner.

Cloak just growled at him.

"Though don't let me tell you two how to swap gob," Zanner smiled.

Cloak and I just closed our eyes at the description.

"I wish you wouldn't refer to kissing like that, Zanner," said Cloak, as he gave his cousin a look.

"Well, how would you like me to refer to it? Lip locking? Makin' out? Uh… got any others?"

"Just don't talk to us about our romance, okay?"

"Okay, okay. You're so much fun to annoy, Cloaky." With that Zanner started to edge away so that he could go change into his day clothes (he hadn't changed out of his pj's yet).

"Just go get changed!" snapped Cloak. I was startled to say the least when he snapped at Zanner like that; Cloak has a loud voice when he needs it.

"Sorry," he apologised to me in a softer tone.

"Aww," said Zanner again.

Cloak glared at Zanner, picked me up, set me down on the sofa, stood up, marched over to Zanner, turned him around, picked him up by the seat of his pants and the collar of his shirt and carried him down the hall protesting all the way.

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Soon Cloak returned and he had a scowl on his face.

"Something wrong?" I asked, as he sat down next to me, picked me up and sat me down in his lap again. He then snuggled closer to me; putting his snout under my chin.

"And now?" I asked, as I looked at him.

"It makes things easier to do this," he smiled, as he quickly moved his head up and locked his lips to mine. I guess he had decided to take Zanner's advice and pushed slightly harder than he had previously. Just then there was a flash and Cloak and I quickly broke apart.

"Mom! Dad!" groaned Cloak, when he saw his parents with Zanner standing in the doorway. I just looked away from them slightly as I started to blush.

"Sorry, sweetie, but you know us," Mrs. T smiled.

"You two usually sleep for another helate; why are you up at this time?" asked Cloak.

"Zanner told us that there was a good photo opportunity going on at the moment." Cloak glared at Zanner.

"Uh, should I be running?" asked Zanner.

Cloak calmly picked me up off of his lap, set me down again, got up and glared at Zanner.

"Running?" asked Zanner.

"You should have been doing that when you told my parents," replied Cloak; with that Zanner took off with Cloak in hot pursuit.

"Should I go after them?" I asked.

"No, let them get it out of their systems," smiled Mrs. T.

"They like this every year?"

"Yeah, but they'll simmer down after a while," smiled Mr. T, as he sat down in an easy chair and Mrs. T sat down next to me.

"So, how long have you and Cloak been on kissing terms?" she asked.

"Since before we became an item."

"You mean since you met?"
"Oh! No, no, no; Cloak and I have only been on 'kissing terms' since a few cycles ago."

"Right." Just then we heard a yowl from outside.

"I think Cloak caught up with Zanner," I said.

"Strange, he's never been able to keep up with his cousin before," said Mr. T, as he walked over to the window to see what was going on.

"You have seen his muscles right?"

"I'm sure you've noticed."

I just smiled and blushed slightly.

"What did attract you to our Cloaky in the first place, Cal?" asked Mrs. T.

"He's a really sweet guy, so I guess I just ended up falling for him that way," I smiled.

"Where in the prison did you two meet?"

"Mess hall. He had just come out of solitary confinement and looked a bit gloomy so I tried to get him to smile."

"It obviously worked."

"It took a few cycles and my getting beat up by another inmate to get him to smile, actually."

"Oh! Well, we're sorry; we never knew he had a personality like that."

"Oh! No, Mrs. T, it's not because I got beat up that he was smiling, it's because he saw that I was brave taking on Rynokk; Rynokk had stolen my atmosphere converter and so I kinda had to fight him for it."

"Oh, right."

"I'm just glad that we ended up talking after that; Cloak is one of the first friends I made on the home world."

Mrs. T just nodded, as we heard another yowl from outside.

"I'm just gonna go check on them," says Mr. T, as he starts to walk out of the door.

"Okay, honey," smiles Mrs. T, as she gets up and heads into the house.

"Can I be of assistance anywhere, Mrs. T?" I asked.

"Could you help me in the kitchen, deary?"

"Sure." I got up and started to follow her through to the kitchen.

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A few minutes later Mr. T returned with Zanner and Cloak in a bit of a state.

"What did you two get up to?" I asked, as I moved a dish onto the table that was in the middle of the kitchen.

"He caught me in less than a trigon," breathed Zanner, as he looked at Cloak with a surprised expression.

"I'm in better shape than I was last year," smiled Cloak, as he walked up to me and put an arm around my shoulders.

"Well, you two go wash up and we'll have breakfast ready when you come out," said Mrs. T.

"Yes, mom."

"Yes, auntie," said Zanner, as he and Cloak walked out of the kitchen and headed towards the bathroom.

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They soon rejoined us and we sat down to breakfast; Zanner was sure to put as much space as possible between himself and Cloak, but that's kinda difficult at a small table. Cloak had sat next to me and Zanner had decided to sit on the other side of me because he was hoping that Cloak wouldn't try anything with me in-between them. Mrs. T was a very good cook; I could see where Cloak got his ability to cook now. I was also starting to notice other attributes in Cloak that were also in his parents; like his kind nature came from his mom and his cheeky side came from his dad, but he also had many of his own personality traits that I hadn't seen in his parents yet.

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We soon finished breakfast and I volunteered to help with the dishes; let's just say no one objected to it. Cloak sweetly decided to help out, so we ended up doing the dishes together. I had just finished drying my hands and Cloak had just packed away the last dish when I felt his arms wrap around me.

"And now?" I asked, as I put the towel down.

He just smiled at me, as he slowly released me and started to lead the way into the living room.

"You two finished already?" asked Mrs. T, as Cloak and I walked up to her, Mr. T and Zanner.

"Yeah," replied Cloak, as he sat down on the sofa. I was about to sit down next to him when he pulled me into his lap.

"Cloak?" I asked a bit surprised by his actions.

"What?" he asked with a smile.

"Never mind." I just smiled at him as I leaned back against him.

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Later, Cloak and his dad had gone for a walk into the village that was nearby, while Zanner, Mrs. T and I took care of some chores around the house. It wasn't long before Cloak and his dad came back and Cloak looked quite tired.

"What happened to you?" I asked, as I walked up to him and he pulled me closer in a hug.

"We just found out that Cloak is the most eligible bachelor in the village," replied his dad, as he looked at Cloak.

"No kidding?" asked Zanner.

"No; I'm just glad that I'm taken," replied Cloak, as he pulled me closer.

I smiled at hearing this and hugged him back; just then Cloak released me and led me through to the living room.

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Once in the living room, Cloak sat down and pulled me into his lap.

"You okay?" I asked, as I stroked the side of his head.

"I'm fine now," he smiled, as he leaned his head into my hand as I stroked it.

"Most guys would be flattered."
"By being the ideal guy for any female?"

"Yeah."
"I don't want to be the ideal guy for any female; I want to be the ideal guy for you."

I smiled at him and gave him a quick kiss.

"What was that for?" he asked, as a pleased smile spread over his face.

"For being so sweet," I replied, as I stroked his head gently again.

"Aren't you two just darling," smiled Mrs. T, as she walked into the room and sat down in a chair adjacent to us.

"Thanks mom," Cloak smiled.
Mrs. T just smiled at Cloak, picked up her book, and began reading it.

"Uh, mom," he said.

"Yes dear?" asked Mrs. T.

"Do you think Cal could move into my room?"

Mrs. T and I just looked at him.

"I would move into the spare room with Zanner, so don't look at me like that," he smiled, figuring out what his mom and I were thinking.

"Well, if you want to, dear, but it's also up to Cal if she wants to move," replied Mrs. T.

"Well, Cal?"

"Why do you want me to move into your room? I'm perfectly okay in the spare room with Zanner," I asked.

"It would make me feel better."

"Why?"
"I don't like you sleeping in a room that also houses my flirty cousin."

"Hey! I ain't flirty!" protested Zanner, as he walked into the room and sat down in a chair nearby.

"You've dated how many females?"

Zanner thought about it and then realised that he wasn't going to win this argument.

"You don't mind do you, sweetheart?" asked Cloak, as he slightly tightened his grip on me.

"Of course not. When do you want me to move?" I asked.

"We'll swap rooms tonight."

"Right."

"What happened to your horn?" asked Zanner, changing the subject.

"Ah, you noticed," said Cloak, as he rubbed the bit of horn that was left in his skull after it had been broken off.

"Yeah; so, what's the story?"

"I broke it defending Cal here."
"Why did you have to defend her?"

"Some guys wanted her for… something."
"Right; you're lucky you only lost a horn."

"Yeah." Cloak looked away from Zanner.

"That's not all… was it?" asked Zanner.

"Not really," replied Cloak; I could see that he didn't really want to say what had happened.

"So, what else did yah lose?"

"I… almost lost my life."
Zanner and Mrs. T's eyes widened.

"Cloak?" asked Mrs. T.

"I've already said too much," replied Cloak.

"Cloak." Mrs. T wasn't letting the subject go.
Cloak just looked at her.

"It's alright, dear, what's done is done; it can't be changed. What happened?"
"I was shot and didn't go for help immediately afterwards; I went to check on Cal and her friend Zap, they had escaped up to Burn's room. After checking on them, Cal discovered my injury after a few seconds and then sent her friend to find help; Zap soon returned with some paramedics who had seen me outside the hotel. They took me to the hospital, but on the way there I apparently died; obviously they were able to jump start my heart and get me going again."

"That's a very gallant gesture, Cloak," smiled Mrs. T.

"Thanks mom."

"What did you make of it, Cal?" asked Zanner.

"At first I thought he was incredibly stupid for not going to find help, but after that… I was quite flattered by it," I smiled, as I looked at Cloak. He just smiled at me and gently rubbed his head against mine.

Mrs. T and Zanner just smiled at us.

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Later that evening, Cloak and I swapped rooms.

"I'll see you in the morning, Cal," Cloak smiled at me, as he gently caressed my cheek in his hand and stroked it with his thumb.

"Yeah. Night," I smiled.

"Night." Cloak and I quickly kissed, but even that was interrupted by a certain other Triceraton.

"Come on, Cloaky; you gotta get your beauty sleep," he smiled, as he leant against the doorframe.

Cloak just looked at Zanner and Zanner beamed back.

"Go on," I smiled at him.

Cloak just smiled gently at me, released me, and walked out of the room with Zanner behind him. I closed the door behind them. It was kinda weird being in Cloak's room; it was even weirder to think that I was going to have to sleep in his bed. I don't know why it was weird it just was, but I shook the feeling off, climbed into bed and went to sleep. I hadn't been asleep long when I heard a familiar sound; I could hear Zanner snoring like I chainsaw. I just smiled and went back to sleep.