Cousins, I want to start this off by saying thank you for being so kind. The truth is, all we saw on the show was summer and maybe a touch of fall. The concept of winter wasn't even brought up by anyone except Wade who pointed out how the Farrells had to be resilient to survive 200 hundred winters. So basically I'm making every last letter of this up with no verbal or visual references from the show. Just me and google chillin, having drinks together;-) And I'm not gonna lie (ya know, cuz we're kin and all) I was nervous as heck about it from day one. But your feedback has been seriously encouraging, so I must be getting it right or close enough. Believe it or not, Fans/kinfolk have dropped in from 7 countries to see what Trevor and Brielle are up to and I'm mind blown over it. Maybe we should have an Outsiders convention! I've already met other fans from the show in person and it was a delight! Have you? If you have... wanna hear all about it!

Anyhoo, drop a "Hey" to let me know you're here and again, I'm just thrilled by your loyalty to this story. Ged Ged freakin Yah! Enjoy!

Chapter 34

Brielle's Home

Day 74 - 8:55am

Brielle had been awake for a while, letting the dogs out, reviving the fire in the living room, throwing his clothes into the washer and finally showering so she could start breakfast. In her absence, he had made his way to the center of the mattress. Sitting on the side of the bed, she watched him frown in his sleep, shifting positions to lay flat on his back, arms sprawled above his head. His leg had escaped the covers, leaving the one mark on him that she knew intimately visible. Trevor's eyes opened a crack as she ran her fingers over the now healed scar on his thigh.

Catching the movement, Brielle patted him gently, "Time to wake up, Mr. Shay."

He grunted, rolling over away from her. Brielle grinned at the glimpse of the little boy she saw in him. "Breakfast is cookin' and I need somebody to eat it."

Trevor growled low, his voice muffled by the pillows "Go on, woman!"

"Nope." Brielle's giggles floated across him while he rolled back over onto his back again, eyes still closed. He stretched, pushing away more of the covers now that the house was warmer. Brielle admired his upper half, appreciating the solid, lean muscle that had wrapped around her sometime in her sleep. Watching him drag himself out of slumber, she fought to keep her hands to herself. She loved the way his hair had turned wild while he slept and how soft and relaxed his face was. When his eyes slowly opened and focused on her, her heart tripped over itself.

Trevor rolled onto his side facing her, "Mornin'."

His voice, deeper and craggy with sleep, gave her a little tingle. His sleep-heavy eyelids lifted a bit more allowing his gaze to hold hers for a moment before his hand started across the bed on course to her leg. Brielle knew she had to get off of the bed and quick or else breakfast would be ruined. She stood up quickly and the sly smile creeping across Trevor's face told her she was right to be on the move.

"Come back here." It was not a request.

"No way. Breakfast. Your clothes are in the wash so here." She tossed a brand new pair of boxer briefs at him and a t-shirt, backing away from the bed to head back to the kitchen. "See you in a minute."

Trevor sat up, his eyes already going dark, letting her know he meant business. "Come. Here."

Brielle froze for a second, the look he gave her was downright predatory. Distracted by the flutters breaking out inside of her, she bumped into the door frame in her haste to escape. She half expected him to be on her heels by the time she got back to the stove but when she looked over her shoulder to an empty hallway she exhaled, hand to her chest. A grin started over their exchange as she stirred the oatmeal again and slipped the bacon plate back into the oven to keep hot. My mountain man is seriously sexy. His personality leaned to the somber side but she enjoyed him like this, playful and flirtatious. But there was something else in his eyes when he first showed up that morning. She was used to the way he studied her face now - it barely registered anymore, it was just his way. But there was a different something happening there, a wary watchfulness. It felt more like he was gauging her as if he had a question to ask or something was giving him pause. And as much as she was thrilled that he was there, it had barely been a week since he left and he hadn't said a word about why he was back so soon.

Trevor found her at the kitchen sink and wrapped his arms around her. Brielle leaned into it, reaching back with one arm to dig her fingers into his hair. He breathed deeply, burying his face into hers, his exhale heating up the back of her neck.

"Hey." His breath floated minty from toothpaste over her shoulder. Smiling, she turned around and at first glance gave a little groan. He had left his loose curls wild and a little damp in front from washing his face. Bare-chested, evidently he had opted out of wearing the t-shirt altogether and she hoped she could concentrate long enough to make it through breakfast because she needed to know why he was there. Her not asking last time, although resolved, had turned into a mess that she did not want to repeat. He dropped a kiss on her forehead and sat down at the table, the navy boxer briefs doing everything for his legs that she had hoped for when she bought them.

Once served, Trevor ate his meal like somebody might take it from him. Brielle sat back in her chair, amused at his appetite. Scooping his bowl up, she spooned more oatmeal into it before he could ask, his lazy smile was all the thanks she needed. Settling back into her chair, she broke up a piece of bacon to toss to their four-legged breakfast mates that had gathered around, between bites of her own food.

"So, I didn't expect you back so soon. Is everything alright?" Brielle kept her tone light but couldn't help noticing his spoon pause before he put it into his mouth. His eyes immediately darted away from her face thinking of an explanation that wasn't as embarrassing as truth. There was no way Trevor was going to admit that he had come down in the middle of the night because he was jealous of a man who was interested in her. A man he had never seen interact with her or even laid eyes on. That he was afraid of what he could lose simply because that man had access to Brielle in a way that he didn't. No. There was no way.

His hesitation had Brielle worried. Her brain kicked into overdrive, thinking of a hundred terrible things he could have to tell her. "Just say it!" She wanted to blurt but held her tongue. He met her eyes eventually, giving her the shortest version of the truth he could handle saying out loud, "I needed to see ya."

Not wanted to but needed to. The unexpectedly sweet answer caused Brielle's neck and chest to flush. It didn't answer all of her questions but it would do for now. "Okay."

She smiled watching him sneak more bacon under the table to his number one fan, Brix. One other thing had been niggling at her ever since he first arrived. "Is it safe? Walking up the street like that?"

"Ain' nobody gonna bother wit' me. I'm alright." Trevor leaned back in his chair, chuckling, " 'Sides, I come through on tha mountain side."

She looked at him, eyes questioning. Trevor filled in the blanks for her, "In the back. Climbed tha gate again."

"Again? No way. In the dark? That fence is 10 feet!"

Trevor gave her a boyish grin, shrugging his shoulder as if climbing the snow and ice-slicked height was an everyday occurrence. "Thought it'd be alrigh'."

Brielle got up and rummaged around her junk drawer, "Here."

Trevor looked at the key on the short key chain in her hand but didn't take it. "What's tha fer?"

"The lock on the back gate."

Now a frown settled in on his face, his eyes questioning. When he didn't take it, she panicked thinking she insulted him somehow. "I mean you can… I don't care that you came up around the front before or anything…," she stumbled through her thought process. "I just don't want some nut thinking you're breaking in and-"

"Hey, hey." Trevor enveloped her hand in his, pulling her around the table to sit next to him. Looking her in the eye, his face relaxed. "Thank ya." Sliding the key from her palm, he flipped it over with his thumb a few times, staring at it. "This mean I'm welcome?"

Relief washed over her knowing that he understood but shyness over everything else that the decision implied forced her eyes to drift down somewhere around his chest. She shrugged one shoulder and nodded her head so slightly that he would have missed it had he not been concentrated on her.

"Brielle? Darlin'." Using his knuckle to tap gently under her chin, he lifted her head. Her eyes were the last thing to raise. "Ya got ta tell me...am I welcome? Tha' wha' this means?"

Trevor waited, his heart beating double-time. He could feel the pores on his arms opening, uncomfortable pinpricks, releasing sweat in anticipation of her next words. This decision was completely on her. Giving him this key meant that there wasn't anyone else coming around that he would intrude, on now or any time soon. It meant that she was choosing him regardless of how he fit into her world, regardless of how she fit in his. This key was an open claim and if she took it back he didn't know what he'd do.

Brielle swallowed against the dryness in her throat. Her gold-flaked eyes studied his clear brown ones. His jaw clenched twice, showing his nervousness. She knew that this weighed as heavily for him as it did for her and she was fearful of that. Trevor was giving her an out when he could easily press in to try to sway her decision - he was considering her, choosing patience. Despite clearly wanting it, he was still willing to back off and let it be her decision alone and that made her trust him all the more.

"Yes."

Trevor's heart stalled before finding its proper rhythm again. "Alrigh'."

.

.

They had taken the dogs out to play while the sun was high, throwing toys and frisbees until they were all worn out. The steaming bath was the perfect cure for the time spent in the wintry outdoors. As soon as Trevor caught the scent of the faint, milky blue water he remembered his first bath there. Recalling how weak he was, how out of sorts because of fever and the embarrassment of his unanticipated reaction to her washing his hair. Was I attracted to her back then? Brielle caught the strange look that crossed his face while he stripped down, "What?"

"Nuthin'." He pressed his lips down tightly on the wicked grin that threatened to put him in the position to have to give his secret away.

Trevor ran the washcloth across her again, watching the suds and water trail paths down her back. He had been previously warned about getting her hair wet but the smooth skin on her neck enticed him enough to lean forward and plant lingering kisses there. When he ran the cloth over her shoulder and down her arm, she leaned back on his chest with a sigh closing her eyes. Enjoying the luxury of a bath with someone to massage her limbs was pure bliss. It had been a long time for her and a first time for him. Neither one wanted to rush through it, adding hot water more than once to extend their time there.

With nightfall fast approaching, Trevor said nothing about leaving and Brielle opted to not ask about it. An easy domestic vibe presented itself and they flowed along with it as if this was their everyday life. She prepared dinner while he tended the fireplace and fed the boys. She closed the curtains and blinds in the main rooms they occupied, turning on the lights and the electric space heater in her room while he took his clothes from the laundry and laid them neatly across the chair by her bed. They plugged in her Christmas lights outside, ate and washed dishes together, ending up on the couch with him between her legs so he could profit from a lazy scalp massage while she watched television.

Brielle traced the tattoo on his bicep with her finger. "Are you getting any more of these?"

"I don' know, mebbe."

She studied it some more, "I like them. I'm such a chicken, I don't have any."

Trevor's low chuckle rasped out, "Ya thankin' I don' know tha'?"

Catching on to how pointless her stating her lack of body art was, she flushed, "Shut up."

His second chuckle bounced him against her torso. Brielle sought her revenge using her nails on his scalp and then moved to his ears. Trevor hissed, his shoulders drawing up at the sensation, gripping her calves in response. He ran his hands up and down her legs as far as he could reach, while her skillful hands did their worst to his nervous system.

"Ya betta cut tha' out." he warned.

"Nope," she giggled at the full-body tremor her next pass on his ears caused.

"Ya wanna go to bed?"

"Absolutely."

.

.

After giving the hounds one more bathroom run outside, the house was secured and they settled down for the night. Trevor reached over to roll her into him, relaxed with her snuggling up into his chest. They talked about nothing and everything, eventually bringing up what was to come.

"I gotta go back tha morrow."

"I know." She tried to keep the disappointment out of her voice.

"Not early. I'll be wantin' ta wait till the sun is up fer a spell."

She snuggle as close as she could, "Okay."

They left it at that, not wanting the time they were about to spend apart to interfere with the time they still had together. That night they slept entwined in one way or another, never not touching. First his arms around her, then his leg looped over hers. Her arm wrapped around his, her fingers linked in his. For every shift in position during the night, their bodies found a new way to stay connected.

.

.

Brielle's Home

Day 75 - 7:26am

The next morning with breakfast dishes cleaned up, they lazed around on the couch wasting time, neither one wanting to rush the other. She lay on his chest, her hand burrowing under his layers searching and finding bare skin. She looked up at him and followed his line of sight to her wedding pictures by the fireplace.

"Do they bother you? His pictures?"

"Naw."

"Really?"

"Mmm-hmm." Trevor hummed his response adding, "Why would it bother me that ya know how ta love?"

He dropped a kiss on her forehead and she tugged gently on his beard, both of them comfortable in their quiet.

"Can I take your picture?" Brielle asked, smiling when she felt the chuckle rumble in his chest.

"I don' know bout all tha' now."

She sat up reaching for her phone. "Please?" She flipped the camera to face them so he could see. "Look."

Trevor sees himself on the screen and looks away, uncomfortable. Brielle stretches up to kiss his cheek and snaps the photo. She keeps clicking while he nuzzles his face into her hair and kisses her temple. Tossing the phone aside, she crawled up to straddle him. His hands found her hips and held still, quietly letting her lead. She drank him in with her eyes and her hands. Running her fingers through his beard, her thumbs over his closed eyelids. She cupped his face, letting her fingertips find the curve and swirl of his ears.

"Thank you." Her smile was soft, her eyes contemplative, "I just needed a piece of you here with me."

She needs me. Trevor searches her face, memorizing it, even up until the moment her lips met his.

.

.

They had a ritual of sorts now. Brielle packed a bag of bacon for him that he carried however he could and Trevor took his time giving his goodbyes to his four-legged friends. She corrected the position of his skull cap, fussing about it covering his ears all the way and he let her. He asked if she needed help with anything before he left and she texted Miss Jayne that she was leaving the house, for safety's sake,

Trevor drove her ATV up the familiar road, grateful to have some of his trek home covered. At the end of the path, he did a U-turn as she had previously, leaving the motor running. They both knew that him coming down would be impossible for a while due to the weather but neither wanted to talk about it or what that would mean. Trevor tried to breathe through the knot in his chest, the unknown made his departure feel permanent. Brielle removed her riding glasses, closing the space between them, wrapping her arms around his bulky layers. How come this hurts like it's goodbye forever? It was too cold out to open his coat and crawl inside like she wanted to, so she settled for tucking her face into his neck. Holding her now, he nuzzled her cap up with his nose just enough to be able to inhale the scent of her shampoo. He squeezed her extra tight before tugging on her fur-lined hood to bring her face to his. He dropped a gentle kiss on her lips, feeling them abnormally stiff from the cold. Lingering, unhurried he explored her mouth, continuing on long after the warmth and softness he loved had returned.

Releasing her, he held on to her hand, "Take care." I ain't sayin' goodbye.

Brielle released a shuddering breath, nodding. "I will. You be safe."

Letting go of her, he walked backwards, hands stuffed in his pockets, wanting to be able to see her for as long as he could. Suddenly, his face lit up - grinning he held up the key she had given him, dangling it from his finger by the keychain. A giggle burst out of Brielle, smacking him right in the heart. She covered her smile with a gloved hand, nodding again before he waved and turned away. His boots crunched on the fresh snow as he jogged towards the tree line. Their bareness allowed her to see him until the cold started to settle into her bones, forcing her to climb back onto her ATV and head home.