Finally... I had a chance to do anything other than work.

Hope you enjoy the chapter ;)

The storm had subsided during the night leaving a coolness on the breeze that Valen found refreshing as he stepped out of his cottage. Birds were flittering about and the rays of sunlight broke through the clouds at regular intervals. Valen didn't know if it was genuinely a perfect morning or if it just felt that way because he was in the perfect mood.

Making his way through the food stalls in the market courtyard he grabbed an apple, tossing a coin at the little girl who tended the stand with her mother. Both woman smiled pleasantly at him, the little girl giggling as he winked in reply.

The ancient mead hall stood proudly in the early morning light. Valen hadn't been inside for ages, not since Vilkas and the others had left. As he trotted up the steps he could hear a familiar voice cry out his name. Seconds later the main door burst open to reveal a young woman with flaming hair. She bounded over to Valen and threw her arms around his head, forcing his face down into the space between her breasts.

"Finally! I can greet you properly!" she exclaimed, squeezing him tighter.

Valen spluttered and struggled, unable to breath in her embrace. After a few moments of suffocation she released him. Valen took a few seconds to catch his breath before smiling.

"It's nice to see you too Aela."

The female warrior frowned.

"Only 'nice'?"

Valen chuckled.

"Ok ok, it's 'great' to see you."

Aela was still frowning, but she took his arm and dragged him towards the hall.

"That's a bit better, although I'm not entirely pleased yet." She said, a hint of mischief in her tone.

Valen sighed.

"What must I do to convince you then?"

Aela glanced at him over her shoulder.

"Well, I guess I can't expect the same welcome you gave Vilkas now can I?" she said, making Valen turn red.

"But, you can sit down and tell me about it." She said and pulled him towards a bench.

"Where is everyone?" Valen asked as they passed through the empty mead hall.

"The elders are having a meeting and the twins are out training the new whelps. I was about to go join them when I heard you coming up the steps."

Valen frowned.

"You 'heard' me? How?"

Aela hesitated for a split second.

"I um, was standing right by the door. Besides, you have always had this way of clonking up the steps."

Valen found this hard to believe but before he could ask her more she pulled him down next to her.

"Now, how long has this 'thing' been going between you two?"

Valen remained silent for a moment, thinking. He had forgotten that Aela could be such a gossip.

"A few hours." He said finally.

Aela raised an eyebrow.

"You're kidding…"

"No, not at al."

"You're telling me THAT kiss was the product of a minute old infatuation? I doubt that Valen."

The young man sighed and sat back.

"I suppose that somewhere there had to have been a spark or something before. I'm not sure… maybe… no…" he paused.

"Maybe?"

Valen smiled.

"Maybe it had always been there. Since that day he… saved me."

Aela watched without comment. Slowly a smile crept across her face.

"He dreamt about you, you know? While we were away."

Valen looked over at her.

"Really?"

Aela nodded.

"He would whisper your name in fitful sleep, rolling around in his bed roll."

Valen blushed again.

"I didn't realize…"

His smile withered. Aela frowned and leaned forward.

"What?"

"If he thought about me so much why didn't he ever send me a letter? I thought you all were dead. Kodlak refused to tell me anything. I thought he was maybe trying to spare my feelings by keeping quiet or something…"

"He wanted to write. Truly." Aela said softly.

Valen just stared at her.

"Valen. At the time I did not realize this but after last night I see it a bit differently. I think he was struggling with his own feelings. I think that he wanted to speak to you again but he just didn't know how to find the right words."

Valen met her eyes.

"You think so?"

Aela nodded.

"You should have seen the way his eyes lit up when we got word that we would finally be going home."

Valen smiled.

"Vilkas has always been the quiet, broody type. Everyone knows that. Maybe you shouldn't be to hard on him?" Aela said, nudging him with her elbow. Her face twisted into a mischievous grin. "Or maybe you should be 'hard' on him. He might like it."

Valen's eyes went wide, the blush returning with a vengeance. Aela burst out laughing. Before Valen could reply a deep voice interrupted.

"Valen!" Farkas called and swept the smaller man into a ferocious bear hug and for the second time that day Valen had to fight to breathe. He gasped when the big man put him back down.

"Wow, Farkas. You certainly have grown a lot bigger."

"Maybe it's just because you haven't seen him in a while." A voice said from behind the big man.

Farkas stepped to the side to reveal Vilkas. Valen felt his heart leap. As their eyes met they both smiled.

"What have you two been up to? We could hear Aela laughing all the way at the main gate." Farkas asked.

Valen turned away form Vilkas to look at Farkas.

"What is it with you people and your good hearing all of a sudden?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

All three warriors paled ever so slightly, Farkas coughed awkwardly.

"We were just catching up." Aela said quickly, trying to draw the conversation along.

"You should join us for the feast tonight, Valen." Farkas said. "That way, we can all catch up."

Aela and Vilkas looked over at him expectantly. Valen chuckled.

"That sounds great."

Just as the last rays of sunlight faded behind the horizon there was a knock at the door. The sudden banging made Valen jump. He strode over to the door and pulled it open. Just as he was expecting, Vilkas stood outside.

"The feast has started. Aela sent me to get you." He said with a small smile.

"She's always been so impatient." Valen said while shaking his head. "I was just about ready to leave, just waiting for the fire salts to dissolve into the brew."

"Fire salts?" Vilkas asked.

"I'm brewing something for War Maiden's. To help with their smithing fire."

Vilkas nodded slowly in acknowledgement.

"Do you want to come inside while we wait? It won't be long." Valen asked, motioning inside.

Vilkas nodded and stepped into the small cottage. His eyes swept across the interior. The night before he hadn't paid much attention to anything except Valen and the young man's wicked lips. A small bed stood in one corner, a large table piled with books and papers in another. A small fire pit was dug out in the center, a bubbling pot hanging over it while a large cabinet dominated the far wall. Vilkas smiled at a shelf that was littered with 'trophies' from when they had been kids.

"What are you smiling at?" Valen asked with a raised eyebrow.

Vilkas pointed at the shelf. Valen smiled, a light blush creeping over his face as he saw the tiny relics.

"You kept them." Vilkas said.

"Of course I did. I won them fare and square."

Vilkas chuckled.

"That you did, love." He said and froze as he spoke the last word.

Valen looked up at him, surprise evident on his face. Vilkas want red.

"I'm sorry, it's just that-" he began but was cut off by Valen who grabbed the front of the simple shirt he was wearing and drew him close.

"Shut up." The younger man breathed before crushing their lips together.

Neither of them noticed the pot starting to boil over behind them.

So I guess this chapter has been a bit fluffy...

The characters seem a bit 'out of character' I know, but this is because they are 'young'. The events that made them who they are later have not yet happened. (in this universe anyway)

Hope there are still those actually reading this. (if there are, THANK YOU)

I hope to update a lot sooner this time ;)

REVIEW PLZ

P.S: Valen and Vilkas didn't have sexytime at the end of ch 1. Only kissies and huggies. The rest comes later ;)