A few days had passed, and jimmy once again found himself outside Thomas' room. It was the crack of dawn and all the servants were getting up and preparing themselves for the long day of work that lie ahead, jimmy quietly revelling in delight that it was his half day off. Placing a soft knock on the door he waited patiently for the reply, a hushed mummer beckoning him in.

Jimmy stood by the door as he looked down at Thomas, dressed, and writing at the desk. The floor was flooded with the begins of letters, only a few sentences in, scribbled out messily, Thomas obviously deeming what was on the page unsuitable to be said. Thomas looked up from the untidy desk, turning his attentions away from the page he was writing on, placing the pen in his hand down gently.

Starring at his lover intently, jimmy felt a small blush creep onto his cheeks as he recalled the evening of romantic liaisons with Thomas right against the very down he stood leaning against quietly. Jimmy smiled faintly, fighting away the arousing memories, absently running a finger in circles around the delicate bruising of bite marks on his neck.

"What can I do you for Jimmy" Thomas asked in an usually meek tone, gazing up and him as he awaited an answer.

Oh, many things…you could start by ravaging me against the door for a start, I'm ravenous for you touch!

Jimmy bit his tongue, resisting the urge to use the response in his, sensing it may not go down to well. As much as he enjoyed their previous interactions, he couldn't help but find Thomas behaviour that night strange, out of character even. Yes they had done things many times before, but Thomas had always been so much more romantically driven, rather than sexually, his every action rooted to a need to care and love in a gentle manner; but that night he was something else, someone else even, and jimmy had a feeling that his sudden physical out burst must have been attached to a cause, with a secret romantic reasoning for his actions.

Jimmy pushed the thoughts that his actions were caused by his problem and issue that had developed over the resent months, and set his mind back on track for what he came to say.

At this moment in time, I don't even care where the outburst of sexually energy came from, all I know is I want more! Perhaps I can shape my request to result in more physical love? I mean, I'm not being selfish, am I? No, of course not. It's not my fault that he's been in a sour distant mood and hasn't given me any attention in weeks. I'm merely looking out for my best interests and his if he'll let me 'cheer' him up…

Shaking all thoughts out of his head, he got began to say what he planned to ask Thomas.

"Well, I was wondering, as I have a half day off in the afternoon, and you have a full day off, maybe we could spend it together." Jimmy asked as calmly as possible, preparing himself to talk Thomas into it and destroy any excuses he might make.

Thomas looked blankly at him, before letting out an annoyed sigh.

"I have a couple errands to run in the mourning,-" Thomas began, a hint of annoyance hiding in his voice.

"It's just that we hardly ever spent anytime together, and I miss you Thommy" Jimmy said, using the best soppy caring voice he had, whilst walking forwards to run a thumb along Thomas cheek.

Thomas didn't look convince, although he didn't frown sadly towards at the end of the sentence.

Jimmy searched his mind for something else to convince him with.

"And anyway, when will we get a chance like this again. We almost never have time off together on the same day, and it would be a shame to miss such a wonderful opportunity to spend even a few days together in such lovely weather" Jimmy said brightly, gesturing with his hand at the window on the far wall.

Thomas glanced at it as the sun shone through brightly through the glass, casting rays of light across his face almost as if on Que.

Apparently, that was enough to convince him, and although he suddenly looked sullen at jimmy's words and at the sight of a lovely day, he agreed solemnly.

"I s'ppose we can go out then. As you say, when are we going to get a chance like this again? Met me by the river in the woods at 4.00, you know the one."

"I know the one" Jimmy beamed, regardless of Thomas' downcast attitude.

He fidgeted nervously in the servant's hall, pretending to be interested in a cup of tea which had gone cold form hours of neglect. He watched the swift movements of bodies gliding by with hands full and minds busy thinking about the tasks at hand. Although jimmy normally enjoyed his time off, this time he couldn't help but anxiously sit waiting for time to pass, whilst his brain reeled with all that was currently happening in life, and all that was about to happen. He wanted to get the most out of this day as possible, and knowing that getting anything out of Thomas would be difficult, he didn't want to waste the time and make him angry by pestering him with questions early on and quickly came to the decision that he would bide his time, and only ask at the best, calmest moment of Thomas' mood.

Never then.

Due to his nosy nature, and Thomas' unstable emotions, their relationship was already becoming strained, and jimmy knew it could not take much more damage. He knew he shouldn't keep asking what Thomas' big secret was, but the curiosity was eating at him inside, and he just had to try and find out, at least one more time tonight, before abandoning the quest (well vocally at least) and letting Thomas be.

In any other circumstances, jimmy would have doubted his faithfulness, and questioned his actions in more of a accusatory tone, but even though Thomas hadn't been as emotionally attached as he used to be (apart from that night), he was still defiant of his love for him.

Jimmy continued to watch out of the open door for sometime, before his eye finally caught sight of Thomas' moving figure hurtling down the stair case. Almost subconsciously he got up to stand quietly at the doorway, his eyes only just peeking over the edge, as he watched him round the corner and stop abruptly outside Mr. Carson's door, starring at him, and taking in every little detail of his person.

In his hands was a small pile of long, thin, rectangular papers, most likely letters, and jimmy gaped as he watched Thomas suspiciously look to each side before, opening the door and sneaking inside secretively. Jimmy held his breath with the worry that Thomas could have seen him, but as he saw him completely disappear into the room, with out catching his eye, he was finally let out a deep sigh of relief.

Jimmy crumpled his face in thought as he deciphered the expressions and body language used by the under-butler. His entire persona conveyed that of suspicious plotting, and wrong doings, and jimmy momentarily thought that perhaps this was what he was like when he was friends with O'Brien.

Jimmy's mind whirled with options and thoughts as he stared disbelievingly at the door to the room, replaying the mysterious sight to which he had just witnessed in his mind.

Some moments later, jimmy observed from a better positioned seat at the table, Thomas emerging from the room, and gliding purposefully down another hall in the opposite direction.

What on earth was all that about?

Jimmy sat on the bank to the river, hidden deep within the woods, awaiting Thomas' arrival. He looked around at the familiar surroundings, looking upon every sight, every detail, with fond memories. As he ran his fingers through the grass, his mind took him back to his first official 'date' with Thomas; and even though it was over a year ago, he still held that night close to his heart. To be honest, he held this very place close to his heart as it had become almost to be their special place. This was the very place that Thomas had first said 'I love you'. It was where they had exchanged their unspoken vows of everlasting love. And most importantly it was where the bond of fully requited love was formed with the first kiss of true love. This was the place where two became one.

Jimmy heard the ground crunch behind him in the sound of approaching footsteps and before he knew it Thomas was slumped beside him on the grass.

"Hello beautiful" Jimmy whispered tenderly, running a hand down Thomas' cheek, before resting it to cup his face. To his surprise Thomas didn't flinch or pull away, which he had become accustomed to doing to all romantic gestures.

Unannounced, jimmy hopped to his feet, and began to start undoing the buttons to his shirt, and slipping it off his shoulders, letting it fall to the floor gracefully. Before long jimmy had successfully removed his trousers and shoes to, letting his hands linger above the elastic to his undergarments, trying to decide whether or not to remove them. Feeling daring, jimmy decided he would, slipping them off and letting them collapse to the ground with all his other unwanted items of clothing.

Jimmy looked down and smiled at his suitably unclothed state, before turning back round to Thomas.

Thomas' jaw hung open incredulously.

"What are you doing?" He asked in bewilderment, letting his eyes glide up and down jimmy's body, before resting back at his face.

"Going for a swim"

Jimmy said as he walked towards the water, letting his toes dip below the surface. The river was warm and inviting, but it could be even better with someone to enjoy it with.

Jimmy turned around again.

"C'mon, join me." Jimmy said with a playful smile, waving a hand at Thomas.

"-but you'll have to loose the clothes first"

Thomas stared at him awestruck with shock.

"What, me? Naked? In there? With you?"

"-unless you'd prefer to swim fully dressed?" Jimmy said patronisingly with a laugh, turning back to grin a Thomas.

"Well no-"

"Then come in then! A little water isn't going to hurt!" Jimmy beamed as he watched Thomas wearily undress.

"This isn't a good idea" Thomas continued worriedly.

Nevertheless, he wobbled cautiously into the water to join jimmy, who was already paddling around in the centre of the river. But before long, they had both gotten use to the water, and were soon clinging to each other and bobbing together as one nearly shoulder deep.

Jimmy nestled his head into Thomas' neck, and traced light kisses up to his face, before tenderly pressing a loving kiss on his lips. Thomas clutched his torso tightly, whilst wrapping his arms around his waist, and leaning his head forward, so that their foreheads were touching gently.

"I love you so much" jimmy whispered, running his tongue along Thomas' ear and bringing both hands up to run through Thomas' now messed up hair, smiling softly at the silky texture.

Moving backwards he readjusted his head to look him in the eye. Thomas' body was shaking ever so slightly against his and he knew that they should make their way out soon, but he just wanted to enjoy the moment a second longer.

"-and I don't want to let you go. Not now, not ever-"

Thomas winced uncomfortably.

"You will have to eventually" Thomas said in a hushed tone.

"At least let me have you for the day. A treasure our rare moments of complete togetherness and I'm not going to let this day pass with out making the most of it."

Thomas laughed gingerly under his breath.

"Fine, I'm in your possession for the day. I'm yours to use however you wish!" Thomas said with a knowing look and a gleam in his eye which hadn't been seen in so long, jimmy had almost forgot it had ever existed.

A/N: sorry if theres any mistakes in this, I didnt have time to give it a once over proof read. Oh and thank you to everyone who had reviewed, it means a lot to me.