The people of Riften never ceased to comfort Velina. The normal crowd at the Bee and Barb, for instance, were probably her favorite. Upon entering the establishment, she was met with many patrons who were more than overjoyed to see her. Telen-Jei was upon her table within a moment, a fresh Cliff Racer in hand.

"Lady Velina!" The Argonian smiled his toothy smile as he placed a hand on her shoulder. "We were worried about you! After the well blew up, we didn't see you for days." The Nord chuckled at his admirable concern.

"I'm quite alright, Telen-Jei, I assure you. I just needed out of town for a while." Grabbing the flagon he had brought her, she poured herself a drink.

"Well...you're back now." He smiled once more before walking away to tend to the other patrons.

There was a moment of silence that enveloped the Dragonborn as she was left to her drink. This didn't last long, however, as in a moment the chair across from her was pulled out and a lithe figure filled it.

"Alright," She sighed putting her drink to the table. "I'll bite. What's the smirk for?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Serana bit at her lip, obviously trying to hide the smile that played there. All she got in return was a blank stare.

"Uh huh. Would you care to fill me in as to why you let the very man who is currently the very bane of my existence into my house, eat my food, and then play with my child?" The smile on the vampires face became harder to tame as the Dragonborn stared her own. She was never able to intimidate her for some reason. The woman had seen Velina behead bandits, disintegrate mages, and absorb the life force of multiple dragons. Yet when she tried to turn her rage to the vampire it never seemed to scare her. Never seemed to stay, either. For some reason she could never stay mad at her.

"Are you kidding me? Why wouldn't I?"

"Perhaps you've forgotten, but he refused my proposal."

"Perhaps you've forgotten, but you're in love with him." Velina sputtered at the response.

"Serana, it doesn't matter if I'm in love with him, he doesn't want me." Serana scoffed, as if she knew something Velina didn't.

"In all the time that I've known you, I've never known you to give up."

"Yes, well it's easier to cut a man in two than it is to figure out the inner workings of his mind." Serana belly laughed at that, causing several heads to turn their way.

"Well, I do have to agree with you there!" She nodded over toward the mage who sat at the opposite end of the tavern, conversing with a particularly drunken traveler. "He's been courting me for weeks, that one." Velina turned her attention back to the women opposite her, though Serana stayed focused on Marcurio. The way she looked at him... Well it was safe to say that Velina had never seen the vampire look at anyone that way. "I think we're both too scared of what might happen. A vampire and a wizard? Who are we kidding?" Her piercing eyes turned to Velina now. The Nord almost jumped at their intensity. "But you and Brynjolf? There's something there. Call it intuition, wishful thinking, or the wisdom that comes with living as long as I have. Whatever it is, I know you two are meant to be together. You'll figure something out."

A comfortable silence settled over them once more and Velina took the opportunity to throw back another gulp of the sharp liquid.

"Do you want me to take Kjorn off your hands for the night? Let you get some rest, and think everything through?" Velina choked on the liquid at Serana's offer.

"Oh, Serana I couldn't ask you to do that."

"Perfect, because you're not asking. I'm offering." The familiar kind smile spread across the vampire's lips. "I've already rented a room for the night, I promise I'll get him to bed on time. Marcurio said he'd be more than happy to entertain him down here for a few hours. You know how the kid loves his magic." She winked. "Iona is off visiting her cousin in Shor's Stone and won't be back until tomorrow afternoon. The house is all yours. And if you need anything, you know where we are."

Velina bit the inside of her lip as she blinked rapidly to keep the tears from spilling over. Looking anywhere but at Serana she choked for merely a moment.

"I...Thank you, Serana."

"Hey, anytime." She rose now, no doubt going to rejoin her lover who was in the mist of a loud disagreement of the 'dangers of magic' with the drunken traveler. "Velina," she stopped as she looked back, "it's not over. He technically never said no." With a wink she was gone, leaving the Nord alone at the table for the second time.

By 5 p.m. Kjorn was out the door with an overnight sack, his wooden sword, and a small stuffed cave bear that Velina had made from the pelt of a particularly hard kill. He had hugged the bear tight, before pushing it up towards Velina for her to kiss it goodbye. After she pecked the bear on the nose, she kissed Kjorn on his, then sent them on their way.

It was quieter now than she thought she'd ever heard the home. The pot wasn't bubbling with Iona or Serana's constant cooking, and there were no sounds of play wafting up from her son's room. For once it was completely and utterly quiet.

And damn it, she was going to take advantage of it.

When the knock rang through her home the first time, she didn't so much as stir. Though she had only laid down for an hour, she slept better than she had in several nights. Possibly even weeks. The second time the knock pounded, louder now, the Dragonborn shot up with an unlady like grunt as she struggled to remember what day it was and where she had ended up. After a few moments of regaining her bearings, she stretched and rose from the bed.

"I heard ya!" She hollered as she pulled a cotton dress over her bare skin. She never did sleep as well as she did nude. But of course, it was quite difficult to do when your bed lies in the center of the entire house.

"Brynjolf?" She asked in shock when she swung the door open.

He was in the fine blue clothing she'd met him in that first day in the market, and his white teeth were smiling brightly at her.

"Hello there lass, mind if I come in?"

Finding herself mute, she stepped to the side and raised her hand for him to enter.

"Bryn, what are you doing here?" She asked, wrapping her arms around herself. She suddenly felt very naked in front of him.

"Well lass, I came by to apologize. I was a bit of an ass earlier, and I wanted to make it up to you." As he spoke, he placed a bag she hadn't seen him holding down on the table.

"O-oh? How's that?" As always, the flirtatious tone behind his words wore at her weak spot for him. Pull yourself together!

"By cooking you dinner." He stated simply as he pulled various vegetables and meats out of the sack.

"Excuse me?" That took her aback. Yes, Serana and Iona cooked for her, but they lived her. Iona was her housecarl, and no matter how many times Velina told her otherwise, Serana felt indebted to her. Brynjolf owed her nothing. Yet here he was, already gliding through the kitchen as if it were his own.

"Well...you did shout the roof off of our hide out, and cornered me in the training wing. I've never known you to lose your temper that way unless someone is about to die. I figured some tender care would do you good."

"Oh Brynjolf, you don't have t-"

"I want to." He cut her off, that lazy smile painted across his face. As always when he looked at her that way, her chest heated as her heart began to beat quickly. But to have him in her home, taking care of her? Well...he was certainly awaking the woman in her.

She hadn't quite realized how much she'd taken on. The weight of saving the world, of leading the Guild, and being a mother. It wasn't easy. All too soon she found herself dropping her head into her hands to relax as the smell of something wonderful filled her kitchen.

Suddenly, strong hands found their way to her shoulders and she nearly jumped out of her skin.

"Whoa, lass!" Brynjolf soothed as rubbed at the knots in her shoulders. "S'just me." He whispered in her ear as his fingers worked the tension from her body. It would seem that his lithe fingers weren't only gifted for pickpocketing, though she had no doubt his training from the guild helped here as well. I wonder how they would feel between my-

Velina couldn't stop the moan that escaped her throat. Her eyes shot open instantly, all the blood rushing to her pale cheeks.

"What was that?" She could just hear the smirk in his voice as his thumbs rubbed at the base of her skull.

"Uh..I...it feels good." She mumbled dumbly, furious with herself for not coming up with anything better than her stuttering excuse.

"Mmm, I know lass." Again, his chin rested upon her shoulder, his breath teasing at her ear. "I know."

"You won't burn your food?" She questioned suddenly, thinking of anything to get those glorious fingers away from her before she did something stupid.

"Aye, I should get back to that, shouldn't I?" She nodded silently, watching him closely as he returned to the pot over her fire. Stirring slowly in the tight shirt he wore gave Velina a perfect show of all the muscles in his back. She watched them flex with each pass of the wooden spoon and let her eyes travel down his arms. He truly had beautiful hands.

She recalled the first time she'd seen him pick a lock. It was one that had refused to open for her, and when she almost roared in frustration, Brynjolf had placed a finger to her lips. "Allow me." He whispered, crawling forward to the chest. Pulling forth a lock pick, he slid it in along with his tension wrench. In almost an instant their ears were met with that delightful click and Velina's jaw fell open. He had worked quickly and silently, his fingers falling into a rhythm that could've hypnotized her. She wanted those fingers against her face. Cradling her jaw as he whispered sweet nothings into her ear...

"Here we are!" Brynjolf announced as he placed a wooden bowl before her. She had almost jumped as she was pulled from her thoughts. Oh sweet Talos, please tell me I'm not blushing. "Well, dig in. Tell me what you think." And she did.

"Oh my goodness...this is divine, what is it?"

"Me Mam's rabbit stew." He confessed, almost sheepishly.

"This is the best rabbit stew I've ever tasted." She gushed as she brought another spoonful to her lips. She almost moaned again. Almost. "Did she teach you to cook?" The smile that graced his face at mention of his mother warmed Velina's heart.

"Aye, she did. It's not exactly something I go around telling everyone in the Guild though. This is our little secret, ya? Delvin would never let me hear the end of it." Giggling, she nodded.

"Our little secret."

"So, 'Mister Brynjolf', would you care to tell me why you took it upon yourself to teach my son to be a warrior?"

Brynjolf's thunderous laughter filled the room, and Velina would be lying if she said she didn't enjoy it immensely.

"Oh, Velina I don't know what you're talking about." His mead cup found its way to his mouth once more.

"Oh no? 'Mister Brynjolf said he could teach me a lot of neat things!'" She mimiced, the warm flutter of the mead loosening the typically stoic Dragonborn.

"When he's older!" He objected.

"Ah, sure. Is that why he's suddenly so good with a dagger?" She questioned, putting her now empty mug on the table.

"Well, with a mother like you I'm sure he's got quite a gift. That kind of grace must come easily to him." Once again, she was blushing. Though she wasn't sure if it was from the drink or the company.

"Oh believe me, he doesn't really take after his mother."

"Really? That's not what I've gathered. A quick study, smart as a whip...and loud too." He winked. "Why he's just like ya!"

"Well, that's exactly my point." She confessed. "He's not actually mine."

"Whatdya mean, lass?" The laughter fled the thief's face, replaced by something sweeter. Concern, perhaps?

"He's actually my sister-son." She confessed. "She passed away in childbirth, and her no good bastard husband left with another woman not a week after her death." Though it wasn't the most pleasant memory, even just being in Brynjolf's company gave her some comfort. "Dropped Kjorn in my lap and fled to only the Divines know where. I think he meant it to actually ruin my life." She laughed. "He never liked me. Jokes on him though, Kjorn is the greatest gift I've ever received!"

"Hmm...that explains the ears." Brynjolf chuckled quietly, Velina nodded as she laughed as well.

"Oh aye, he looks more like her than me. No, he ain't mine. I've never even lain with a Dunmer!"

"No?" Brynjolf asked, quite intrigued.

"Oh, gods no! All the Dumner men I've ever met have been right bastards. But to each their own. For the most part, my bed has entertained pretty boring company."

"I never would've guessed it entertained any company." He jested with a wink.

"Ay! I ain't no virgin!" She cried, almost offended. "I've had plenty of lovers, I'd say. Like you have any room to talk. I'm sure you've stolen plenty of women's hearts, or at least their beds."

"Oh, you're right there!" Both of them laughed heartily as Brynjolf described one tight squeeze in his much younger days where he slept with the young wife of Jarl Dengeir, before his nephew became Jarl of Falkreath. "It's not like I didn't know who she was." He confessed. "We were in their bed when he came back from some hunting trip or other. I had to hide under the bed for hours before the old skeever fell asleep!" Velina was howling by now, close to pounding her fist on the table as a drunken Brynjolf explained everything with his hands for good measure. "As if that weren't bad enough, the little harpy had hidden my armor somewhere in that damned long house. Ran halfway across Skyrim, naked as a babe before finally stumbling across some bandits. Let me tell you, fightin' in the nude is no' somethin' I'd suggest."

"That was you?!" Velina hollared, giggles escaping her as she struggled to get the words out. "You were the red maned streaker! Brynjolf, you were the first man I ever saw nude!" It was Brynjolf's turn to flush red. He sputtered in embarrassment as her eyes raked over him. Who was she to be embarrassed now? She'd seen him, after all.

"Oh? Well, the Guild still hasn't let it go. They still talk of how I showed up in some scalded horn armor much too small for me, and smelling of death. Delvin will come to my aid from time to time, and remind them that "it was Brynjolf who bedded the Jarl's wife none of you sorry damn lot!'"

"Well was she at least any good?" The thief shrugged, looking as if he'd tasted something foul.

"To tell you the truth, no. She'd been with the old codger too long, I don't even think she remembered how to properly make love!" The Dragonborn giggled, noticing with delight the way he lit up when she smiled. She hoped it wasn't her imagination. "Oh, and don't you think I missed what you said lass. What do you mean boring company 'for the most part'."

Ok, now she was red.

"Oy, there's a tale behind this. Well, out with it, love!"

"I-" Love? "well...I haven't been with a dunmer, but I have been with...Mer before."

"You've slept with an Altmer, haven't you?" He snickered, well aware of Velina's feelings on the high elves.

"No!" She snapped in defense, though he could tell she wasn't lying.

"Alright, then no Dunmer, and no Altmer. Bosmer?"

Biting her lip, Velina looked anywhere but at his face. "Osimer."

Complete and utter silence. You could hear a pin drop. Velina squeezed her eyes tight, not even trusting herself to look in his -

Laughing. He was laughing, no, roaring. She attempted to hush him as much as she could. What if the neighbors heard?

"Lass! An orc! You've bedded an Orc?!" He continued to howl, his hand pounding on the table. "Oh, you aren't getting out of tellin' me this."

"Well, I really don't-"

"Well lass you've already seen me naked, I'd say you owed me?"

"I think I'd rather you see me naked." She huffed under her breath. Though he missed the words, it was no mystery that she was suddenly very uncomfortable. He laid a comforting hand on hers.

"Lass, you're just full of surprises, but I don't judge you for them. If anything, it's nothing but interesting."

"Really?" He nodded, encouraging her to go on with a kind smile. Sighing heavily, she gave in. "Alright, fine! I was a young girl, had only had one partner at the time. A boring Imperial boy who wasn't gifted in the art of lovin'." She rolled her eyes. "The Orc came into town and went straight for the inn I was working for at the time. I was a barmaid before discovering a life of adventure. Papa dearest didn't approve of it, so of course I had to. Didn't approve of Görmek either."

She raised an eyebrow at the snickering Nord, a smirk playing at her lips.

"Are you going to let me finish before you split at the seams or should I stop?"

"Oh lass, please keep going. Who would've guessed it. Our Guild Master, The Dragonborn, daddy's little girl!" He smacked his knee and she swore she though the would tear up from laughing so hard.

"Ay, at least I didn't show half of Skyrim my arse!"

"A love, everyone loves this arse. Don't you act like I wasn't doin' everyone a favor."

"Oh aye, including me?" She jested.

"Just go on with the story, you little minx." She had to bite her lip so as not to smile like a lovesick young girl. Although, in a way, she was.

"Neither my sister or I liked to listen to my pa. We loved him enough, but I wouldn't be surprised if that was the reason she was so set on finding a Dark Elf for a groom! Anyway, he came into the tavern and immediately took a liking to me. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't attracted to him. Something about power has always..." She looked at Brynjolf now, swallowing a rather large lump that was suddenly stuck in her dry throat. The way he was looking at her...

"Always what, lass?"

"Turned me on." She stated bravely, looking him square in the eyes. Something in his eyes turned dark, feral, and he licked his lips. At this rate, she'd be jumping over the table at him. "Well, the bar keep wasn't oblivious. She sold him his room for the night, and led him to it. When she came out she grabbed me by the elbow and said 'just don't scare away all the other customers, ay love?' then handed me his key."

"I've always wondered what it'd be like to fuck an orc." Brynjolf muttered, intrigued.

"Rouge." Velina chukled. "Kissing was quite difficult, his tusks were just everywhere. Had remarkably soft lips though. The experience definitely opened me up to trying new things. You wouldn't know it by looking at them, but Orcs sure now how to please a woman."

"Really?" He was scanning her now, and she was sure he was growing hard under the table. The thought did not bother her in the slightest.

"Mhmm. The chieftains always have so many wives, so they must be used to different want from different partners. The Imperial boy? Couldn't follow direction. The kid was boring and scared shitless, it was like making love to a dragur!" Brynjolf raised a brow. "No, I haven't fucked a dragur you half-wit." She scolded, rolling her eyes. "But Görmek? I didn't have to tell him what I wanted even once. He knew exactly what he was doing."

"Are you saying you like a man who knows his way around a woman's body?"

"Gods yes," she sighed, it'd been a while since she'd been with a man who was a decent lover. "Know what I like even more?"

"What's that?" His eyes were swirling with lust, dark and enticing. She was playing a dangerous game.

"A man who knows what he wants." She wanted to kiss that stupid smirk right off his face. It was irritating, and infuriating, and oh so delicious.

Brynjolf chuckled, taking a final swig from his mug. "What about a man who will do anything he can to get what he wants?"

"Aye, I must say I like that."

"Well, I think it's time I confessed something, dear Velina." He sat up straight, folding his hands before him on the table.

In a moment, it was like he didn't have an drop of alcohol in him. By Nocturnal, he's serious. "Oh?" The stubborn lump returned to her dry throat.

"I must confess I knew you'd be alone tonight. In fact, I ensured you would. Nothing like that!" He stuttered at the suspicious look on her face, but continued. "I came calling on you once before, but you were off taking out some frustration on some bandit camp I heard. Frustration that I'm afraid I was the cause of."

She scoffed at that. Maybe he wasn't as clueless as she thought.

"Serana agreed to taking care of Kjorn tonight at my request. Iona was all too eager to take a vacation, it seemed." As Brynjolf chuckled, Velina found herself almost smacking herself. Why hadn't she seen that herself? "I wanted to apologize for being such a bloody ass."

"So you said before, Bryn." She waved her hand to brush it off. "Please, you don't have t-" Grasping her flailing hand in his, Brynjolf brought them to the table to stare deeply into Velina's eyes.

"No, I do. I was blind and daft. I couldn't see that a woman like you would want a man like me." With his free hand, he reached up to his collard and unbuttoned one button...then two...and finally-gold? She'd never seen him wear a neckla-

Her breath caught in her throat. Words failed her. And that damned lump plagued her once more!

"Bryn- what is that?" The Amulet of Mara hung heavy around his neck, shining almost as brightly as his smile.

"I brushed you off before, like a damned fool. I saw your amulet but I didn't think it would be for me! To tell ya the truth I thought you were asking Rune. You deserve someone handsome, strong, brilliant, and every bit as stubborn as you!" They chuckled quietly. "I had no idea you loved me, Velina." Tears were threatening at her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. "Serana knocked some sense into me, though. Assured me that I was all those things? I don't know what she's talking about to tell you the truth, but I do know one thing."

In a moment, he was on both knees before her, clasping both her hands tightly.

"I know that I love you with everything that I am. And I'm an idiot to have waited so long to say this; Velina. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. By your side until the divines take us. If you'll have me."

There was no way she could stop the tears now. She was a stereotypical bride-to-be, sobbing at the sight of the man she loved professing his own love for her. She was sitting there, thinking of their life together. Kjorn would have a father. A father who could protect him, and love him, and teach him everything he knew. A family. And she would be loved. Before she caught herself, she had tossed herself into his arms, hugging him tightly.

"Brynjolf, I'd have you in this life, and the next. I love you too." Finally, finally, she was kissing him. And it was the most glorious kiss she'd ever received.

His hands laced into her hair, his lips pressed even harder back against hers. They belonged to each other.

Then it was tongues and teeth clashing, hands drifting. And when he moaned into her...

"You know Brynjolf...we've got the rest of the night to ourselves. And it has been quite cold lately..."

"Oh lass, you've only but to ask." He sighed, peppering kisses down her neck. Giggling like a bell, she tugged him towards the bed.

"Stay with me tonight." She whispered against his lips.

And, oh, he did.

Ta-da! The final(?) chapter of this 3-shot! (goodness this was a long chapter)

Would anyone be interested in a rated M chapter 4?

Also: I have decided to write a separate fic featuring these two lovely bafoons. It will have a separate and more elaborate storyline, don't worry!
Keep an eye out for it soon!