When Fires Collide - Chapter 10

Once the plane arrived in London the group made their way to baggage and claimed everything. They turned to walk out to where the hackney's (cabs) were waiting. A gentleman with a sign reading "Everest and Party" was standing near the door.

"I'm Everest," said Everest, stepping over to speak with the gentleman.

"Good morning ma'am. I'm told to inform you that 'the one you called, arranged transportation'," said the driver. He led them out to a nice car and helped them load everything into the boot (trunk). He then turned and opened the door allowing them to get in. Everest texted Amethyst a quick thank you.

Amethyst texted back "You're welcome. But on the way back you still agree to bring Marshall by, correct?"

Everest laughed out loud and texted back, "Of course, a deal is a deal."

"What?" asked Cinder and Marshall at the same time.

"Oh, nothing important," Everest replied sweetly.

They pulled up to Smudge's station and got out walking into the bay.

A yellow lab approached as they walked up.

"Hello Perry," said Cinder, "Are you in on this also?"

"I don't know what you are talking about," laughed Perry, winking at Everest.

"Uh, huh," laughed Cinder softly.

"She dropped everything off this morning," Perry whispered to Everest, "I'll get the rookie to load it in the boot. He's in his office, he doesn't suspect anything."

Perry turned to Cinder, "You chaps have a grand time," said Perry.

"I suspect that this is more than dinner," Cinder softly laughed.

Marshall started to say something when Everest nipped at him, "Marshall doesn't get to answer questions anymore. You have to wait. Marshall go fetch the young lad."

Marshall laughed walking toward the office Perry had indicated.

He stopped and knocked on the door.

"Come In," called Smudge from inside.

"Chief, I wanted to show you something," said Marshall.

Smudge hadn't looked up yet although he only caught the sight of a Dalmatian before speaking. "Can it wait Spar... MARSHALL! What are you doing here?"

Smudge jumped to his paws and ran around the desk to hug Marshall.

"I thought we'd pop over here and see your station and see if all the stories were dodgy," laughed Marshall in a fake English accent, using the line Smudge had used when they first met.

"Ha! You remembered. This is so awesome," laughed Smudge. "Why didn't you let me know you were coming? Is it just you, or... is she here?"

"Ye..." was all Marshall got out before Smudge was bounding down the hall to the bay. He immediately spotted Cinder and ran picking her up, spinning her around, kissing her, with happy tears streaming down his muzzle.

"I can't believe you're actually here," whimpered Smudge. "I'm so sorry I couldn't get away for the holiday."

"I came too," laughed Everest.

Smudge set Cinder down and walked over hugging and giving Everest a kiss on the cheek.

"Wow, all I got was hug and spun like a top" Marshall laughed as he trotted up to them, "I think someone is a little excited to see someone..."

"So?" Smudge started, "Did you really just pop over to see me?"

"Well, honestly," laughed Cinder softly, "I've been abducted. I'm not totally sure what is going on."

"And now we're abducting you as well," laughed Everest. "So come on, the car is waiting. We have somewhere to be."

"I-I can't just leave," said Smudge.

"Actually, here," laughed Perry, handing Smudge an official looking letter.

Smudge opened the letter and his jaw immediately fell open.

From the Office of Chief London Fire Brigade:

Chief Smudge,

You are hereby ordered to cease work and evacuate your office for the remainder of the year. You are banished from returning to work until Mrs. Everest says you can return.

Hereby signed,

Sir Benedict Montpelier

London Fire Chief

PS enjoy your trip, I'm jealous...

"What the ..." Smudge stuttered.

"You're guess is as good as mine," Cinder softly laughed. "Apparently Everest and Bruno think alike. I have no idea what she has in mind."

"So abductor," Smudge laughed, "Since you obviously got my chief involved in this scheme, Where are we being banished too?"

"You said you love to snowboard," said Everest, "I have a friend that owns a little place and we're going to go watch fireworks and do a little snowboarding and anything else we so choose to do."

"What?" yipped Cinder softly.

"Where?" yelped Smudge.

"Switzerland," said Everest nonchalantly as if such a trip was perfectly normal.

"Switzerland!" yipped Smudge. "I don't have anything together or my passport."

"Actually, you do," laughed Everest, turning back toward the car, beckoning them with a flick of her tail. "Marshall, bring the detainees."

"You heard her, move along," laughed Marshall.

"Have fun Chief," said Perry.

"You're in on this?" laughed Smudge.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," laughed Perry.

"Have fun Chief," yelled Sparks from the top of one of the apparatus'.

"Great, they're all in on it," laughed Smudge.

The driver headed back to the airport.

As they entered, a yellow Labrador walked up to Everest.

"You must be Trey," said Everest.

"I am, Ma'am," said Trey, "Jan called and provided all the details. Your flight is almost ready for boarding. Let's get you through customs and onto your flight."

"I should have known Jan was up to something," Cinder laughed softly. "Smudge, apparently Everest has connections like Bruno does."

"And in multiple countries," laughed Smudge in agreement. "So what did you know about this?" Smudge asked Marshall.

"I was allowed to book the flights," laughed Marshall.

"I didn't tell him anything," laughed Everest, "He can't keep a secret to save his life, and Cinder would have sucked it out of his head at Christmas."

"So how long have you been working on this?" asked Cinder softly.

"Only two months," laughed Everest.

"Actually since the week after you came back from London," said Marshall. "So a little over two months."

"Wow, you have surprised me," said Smudge. "It's so great to see you all. Especially you..." he said kissing Cinder again. A soft silvery giggle escaped her lips that was music to Smudge's ears.

They were led to the plane and walked on. The flight attendant stopped them from turning to the economy class seats.

"Your seats are up here," She said, indicating first class.

"Up for some more royal treatment?" laughed Cinder softly as they found their way to their new seats.

The group sat down and prepared for take off.

They arrived in Geneva. As they cleared customs and picked up their luggage, they started to walk toward the exit.

"So how do we get to the lodge?" asked Marshall.

"I told you, I've got it covered," said Everest.

As they walked out and found Adrian standing just outside the exit.

"Willkommen, kommen Sie hierher, Everest!" yelled Adrian.

"Hey Adrian," said Everest. "Thank you so much, I figured you'd send someone."

"Nope, Jake told me to take außergewöhnlich care of his girl," laughed Adrian. "It's a three hour ride to the Lodge. You picked a great year. The snow has been perfekt."

"Pawesome," said Everest. "Marshall you know but I'd like to introduce you to Marshall's twin sister Cinder and this is Smudge."

"Cinder, I know you by reputation but it's nice to meet you in person," said Adrian. "Nice to meet you as well Smudge. I know you will all love the Lodge. We have the main Chalet where meals are served, but I put you guys in a private Hütte. It's right on the slopes and has a private balcony with a hot tub overlooking the slopes. The hot tub is fully enclosed with one way glass so you can enjoy it in peace."

"Um, Everest?" asked Cinder softly. "How many bedrooms did you arrange?"

"Two, why is that a problem?" Everest teased with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Cinder turned bright red and turned to look at Marshall.

"Yeah sis," Marshall laughed softly, "I know about your overnight. I suspected it when Everest wouldn't say anything. But you absolutely blasted me at Christmas when you and Mom were talking and you kept avoiding certain questions."

He turned to smirk at Smudge who was now more red than Cinder. "You two love birds act like sharing a bed is such a scandalous thing. Everest and I shared a bed the night we started dating and as frequently as possible ever after even before we made everything official."

"But what about..." Smudge started to protest.

"The scandal mongers and gossip geese?" Everest cut in fiercely, "stuff em in a black hole for all anyone cares. It is your private life so live it the way you want."

Both Cinder and Smudge turned even redder, but Marshall sensed something in Cinder that he needed to address. "No one thinks you are being irresponsible" he softly cut in, wrapping a paw around both of their shoulders, "and even if they did, that is their problem, take it from some pup with personal experience in that area. Live your love your way." To Cinder he gently thought 'and your injury has nothing to do with anything, I would be saying the same thing regardless dear sister.'

Cinder searched Marshall's mind and found he was thinking from the bottom of his heart. She gently head-butted him in a silent thank you.

"If it's a problem," said Adrian gently, "I can arrange a rollbett or the sofa turns into a bed."

"No, it's fine," Cinder softly replied.

They got everything loaded and headed for the Lodge. It was dark by the time they reached the lodge and they enjoyed a meal at the main chalet with Adrian. After dinner, Adrian showed them to their cabin where their bags had already been deposited in their rooms.

"I'll sleep on the sofa if you'd prefer," said Smudge as they started unpacking their things.

"No, I really enjoyed staying with you that night," cooed Cinder softly. "I want to enjoy that feeling again."

"Ok," said Smudge. "You want to try the hot tub? It might relax us after all the travel. I'm sure your muscles are tight after the trans-Atlantic flight and then the second flight here."

"That sounds lovely," said Cinder softly, "let's go." The two Dalmatians walked out of their room towards the deck. They were about to open the door when they heard splashing. They were not prepared for the sight that greeted them.

"Marshall! This is a hot tub, not a play pool!" Everest attempted to chastise her mate.

"Water is water" Marshall replied happily, "and water is for playing!" Marshall crouched at the edge of the hot tub, about to leap in.

"Oh no" Cinder softly winced as Marshall tried to leap into the hot tub but slipped and fell flat on his tummy with a splat.

"I'm good" Marshall reassured everyone.

"Marshall" Cinder softly cooed, "hot tubs are for relaxing in, not cannon balls" Cinder pushed her twin headfirst into the hot tub like a seal before sliding in next to Everest.

"Okay, if you insist" Marshall replied as he emerged from the water.

"I insist" Everest softly cooed as she grabbed Marshall, pulled him up next so her and licked his cheek lovingly.

"Come on Smudge" Cinder softly beckoned to the dry Dalmatian as Everest ensconced Marshall in a wet snuggle.

Smudge slid into the hot tub next to Cinder and she wrapped her paws around him snugly. "I'm glad we are here together" she softly cooed in his ear, something about her tone making him quiver.

"So, do you guys want the plan?" Everest asked before Smudge could lose himself in Cinder's embrace.

"Do we get to know the plan?" Cinder softly inquired.

"Parts of it" Everest replied with a smug smile. "You'll see where we are in the morning but tomorrow we are going to do some serious shredding on our boards."

"I mean, we are in Switzerland, all of it is special" Smudge replied.

Everest just smiled at him, "anyway, we have a couple excursions planned over the next few days that I think you will enjoy."

"I'm sure we will" Cinder softly replied. The four of them chatted for a bit longer before a highly contagious yawn swept across them.

"Ok, time for bed" Everest said as she hoisted herself out of the hot tub. "You kiddos should get some sleep, tomorrow will be a busy day" she said to Cinder and Smudge with a wink.

"Goodnight" Marshall called over his shoulder as Everest dragged him out.

"We should get to bed, I have a feeling Everest is going to vacation the life out of us if we aren't careful" said Smudge.

"I agree" Cinder softly replied. The two of them got out of the hot tub and made their way to their room to get ready for bed.

As they went about brushing their teeth and whatnot, the two Dalmatians kept bumping into each other and letting out nervous giggles and apologies as they did so. 'Why are we having this many issues?' Cinder thought to herself.

'Stop making it weird' Marshall's teasing words echoed in her head, accompanied by a warm feeling that Cinder guessed to be Everest laughing at her predicament. Cinder stuck her tongue out at them in her mind.

"What are you doing?" Smudge asked quizzically.

Cinder realized she was sticking her tongue out at him as well. "Umm, Marshall was teasing me so I stuck my tongue out at him" she softly admitted.

"What was he teasing you about?" Smudge gently asked, putting his paw on her paw comfortingly.

"About us bumping into each other" Cinder softly admitted with a giggle, "he told me to stop being weird." The two of them laughed about that as they walked into the bedroom together.

"I guess I just get a little clumsy when I get nervous" Cinder softly said.

"Why are you nervous?" Smudge asked gently as he laid down on the bed and gently patted it with his paw for Cinder to join him.

"I've just never done anything like this before" Cinder softly admitted, standing next to the bed.

"Been abducted and taken to a foreign country on vacation?" Smudge asked, "or slept in a bed before?"

Cinder playfully batted one of the pillows into Smudge's head with a soft giggle. A mock tussle ensued as Cinder playfully tried to keep the pillow on Smudge's face while he tried to get free. The struggle ended when Smudge managed to kick the pillow out from between them, leaving Cinder gently pinning him down on his back.

"I'm never intentionally slept in bed with anyone I was not related to before, other than Everest" Cinder softly admitted.

"I can sleep on the couch" Smudge quickly replied, trying to get up.

"Oh no you don't" Cinder softly whispered as she pinned Smudge back down and rested her head on Smudge's chest. "Never having done it on purpose before is not the same as I don't want to..."

For some reason, those words made Smudge shiver involuntarily as Cinder pulled a warm comforter over them. Or maybe it was just the heat from the two Dalmatians under the blanket. Cinder softly kissed Smudge gently, taking his breath away. When Cinder finally released him, Smudge was practically panting from lack of oxygen. "Good night Smudge" Cinder softly whispered as as laid her head back down on Smudge's chest and closed her eyes.

Smudge's heart and mind were going many kilometers a second after Cinder's mind-blowing kiss. 'What is she feeling? What is she comfortable with? What is she thinking? When will I be able to tell her how I feel?' Smudge did not have answers to any of those questions, or any of the others bouncing around inside his head but as he felt Cinder's gentle breathing, he knew he couldn't let the opportunity of this trip pass them by.

Cinder wasn't asleep either, her head was filled with her own thoughts. 'I have to tell him, I can't avoid it. What will he think, what will he say? How will I even find the courage to tell him?' Cinder felt her heart start to race at even the idea of telling Smudge, making her want to leap up and run and hide away from her fears.

'you are overthinking again' Marshall's comforting thoughts forced it's way into her thought stream.

'Are you spying on me again?' Cinder thought back accusingly.

'It doesn't count as spying' Marshall thought back diplomatically, 'and sometimes you need all the help you can get.'

'I don't recall asking for your help' Cinder thought to her twin.

'No, but I'm here to help you anyway' Marshall thought soothingly, 'because we love you. And Everest says she didn't drag both of you to Switzerland just for you to give yourself a panic attack.' Cinder let out a mental snort as Marshall continued, 'just relax and enjoy, the right moment will come. You don't need to give yourself a heart attack worrying about it.'

'Is that your way of saying you left your emergency kit at home for the first time ever?' Cinder mentally challenged.

'Don't be absurd, of course I brought my emergency kit' Marshall thought back, eliciting a mental laugh from Cinder. 'Goodnight sweet sister of mine'.

'Goodnight Marshy' Cinder gently thought back as she finally relaxed enough to be able to fall asleep.