AN: Thank you for reading and reviewing. My apologies for not posting last week, the site was down during my usual window and it was a busy week! I hope you all enjoy the next chapter.

Chapter Fourteen

"Maybe we should call it a tie?" Linka said breathlessly when they parted some time later.

Wheeler laughed and pulled her closer, pressing his lips into the crook of her neck. "Whatever you want Babe."

She gasped softly as if she liked the contact but then he felt her stiffen in his arms, "Too much?"

"Nyet…" her arms tightened around him. "I am sorry… I know it is stupid."

The American pulled back slightly, still keeping an arm about her but lifting one hand to tenderly stroke her face and brush back any stray hairs. "It's not stupid. I don't want to do anything you're not ok with."

"I am ok with it." She replied, "It is where it is going that makes me nervous."

"It's not going anywhere tonight." Wheeler told her gently, "And it won't any night, unless you want it to, I promise."

Linka blushed, "I know, I do trust you Jason. I would not be here if I did not." He rested his lips on her shoulder but remained still, waiting for her to relax. She did so after a few moments but said, "You know I may not ever be able to do more than this? Even trusting you."

"Hey, if I try to help you get past it, it'll be because you deserve to experience a full and loving relationship, it makes no difference to me." He nuzzled her neck and left a kiss there.

Linka laughed, "Very noble."

He pulled back again far enough to look into her eyes saying softly, "Seriously though, you're my future, you and Nat. Whatever gets thrown at us, we'll deal with it together, ok?"

Tears started in her eyes and she nodded, silently promising herself that she wouldn't let her fears come between them anymore.

Wheeler leant forward to join their lips together again and for a time at least, they lost themselves in that tender embrace.

When they did finally part, he took a chance and moved back up the bed so that he could lean against his pillow, gently pulling her with him. It meant that more of their bodies were in contact with each other, their legs entwined. He continued to hold her comfortably however, concentrating on deepening their kisses, which his new girlfriend encouraged.

"Nina would be happy." Linka commented much later as she lay with her head on his shoulder. "She knew I had feelings for you and could not understand why I would not do anything about them. But I did not feel I had a right to ask someone to love me after the way I behaved."

"Well, you didn't ask me to love you, I begged you to let me." Wheeler kissed her head, "I'm glad she approved though, I liked her."

He didn't say anymore, not sure what he could say given the circumstances.

"Nina was like a big sister to me, I told her everything, we talked about everything." She sounded so lost and vulnerable and Wheeler hated that he couldn't do more than hold her tighter. He wanted to tell her that she could talk to him about anything and everything, but he doubted she wanted him to offer to replace Nina. "I never told her who Natalya's father was..."

"I'm sure she understood, Babe. Besides, you gave her Nat, I don't suppose she cared who he was when she met that little girl."

"Nyet," Linka smiled, "She was beautiful even then. Such a perfect baby."

Neither of them spoke for a few minutes and then Linka said, "When I watch the two of you together I keep wishing that it had been you, that you were really her father."

"So do I, then you would never have had to give her up." he replied sincerely. "But that's the only reason it matters."

Linka looked up at him, the feelings she couldn't give voice to showing plainly in her eyes, and he kissed her.

When they parted again she gave a sad sigh, "Perhaps it was better this way, for Nina and Gregori to have her to love, even for a short time."

"It gave her a good start too Babe. I know it's difficult for her right now, losing them the way she did, but they did a good job of raising her. Don't forget that, ok?"

She nodded, her eyes sparkling with tears, and cuddled back into him. Wheeler had a feeling she wanted to say something else so he waited patiently. "I do not want there to be any secrets between us. That is not a good way to start a relationship."

Her voice sounded constrained and Wheeler rubbed her back soothingly. "Well, I guess there's stuff I haven't told you but it's not secret, it's just never come up. I promise I'll tell you anything you want to know."

The Russian smiled up at him, "Spasiba, and I promise that from now on I will share everything with you too." She bit her bottom lip nervously before continuing, "I only have one secret left."

"You don't have to tell me." He offered, knowing how important it was to her.

Linka nodded gratefully but forced the word out anyway. "Nicolai."

Wheeler hesitated "Nat's father?"

She nodded again, "He... he is Tanya's brother and Mishka's best friend."

"Shit! No wonder you freaked over the two of them hooking up." He laughed.

"Da, if Mishka found out it could ruin everything between them, and it would be my fault!"

Wheeler tilted her chin up and kissed her lightly, "Well he won't find out from me."

Despite her worries, the way Wheeler had taken the news had made her feel better. He wasn't shocked or disapproving and it was the first time in a long time that she hadn't felt like she had to deal with everything alone. It was now their secret.

"You know Babe," Wheeler added thoughtfully, "I don't think you should worry quite so much about Mishka and Tanya… I'm pretty sure what they have going is stronger than you think. They'd probably team up against Nicolai rather than taking opposite sides."

The Russian sighed, "If it comes to it, I must hope that you are correct, but I do not want to be the means of coming between Tanya and her brother either."

"If it comes to it, it'll be his own fault, not yours. I get that you made your own choices and I respect that, but he had a choice too." Her boyfriend pointed out, and putting the pieces together, "He was older than you and I'm guessing that his parents weren't around which kinda gave him some responsibility for what went on in his house."

Linka nodded, "I have wondered if that is why he never said anything… what we did was wrong and I think if he remembers, he would feel the guilt of that, even though he does not know the extent of the consequences. He is a not a bad person Yankee."

"No, just a more irresponsible teenager than I was." He said smugly.

Chuckling, Linka said, "So was I then I suppose, do not gloat."

He grinned, "I'll try hard not to."

They'd kissed for a while longer, happy in each other's company, but it was late and Wheeler had had a long day.

"I should go and let you sleep." Linka told him, "I will let you sleep in tomorrow too."

"No." He shook his head, "I mean yeah we should probably get some sleep, but I don't want to miss breakfast, especially now."

She smiled, "Ok, do you want me to tuck you in before I go?"

He laughed, "Nope, I'm gonna walk you to your door."

"You do not need to do that, and you can barely keep your eyes open." She protested.

"I'll manage, come on." She shook her head but got up and let him lead her back to her cabin door, where he took her in his arms once more. "Promise me you'll still want to do this tomorrow? Us, I mean."

Linka nodded, "I promise… I am not entirely sure how it is going to work but I know I want it to."

"Me too." He kissed her and they wished each other goodnight, but still lingered a few minutes more before finally retiring to their own rooms and some very pleasant dreams.

To be continued…