Past, Present and Future

[Demeter]

Cissa regarded her son with a thoughtfull look. He'd been smiling all week and her husband had confessed that it was starting to creep him out. Even Cissa knew that when Kai came back smiling from working sites that involved demanding clients, something was up. And she was deteremined to get it out of him. She also had a pretty good idea of just why her son was walking on the clouds.

She'd gone by the greenhouses the day before, to check on some of the plants earmarked for a upcoming event at the museum, and had found Ransom, sitting a stool and daydreaming instead of creating planters for sale. He'd had the same goofy smile on his face. Cissa sipping at her tea, watched her son, and wondered why the two thought they had to keep things so quiet. If two of her favorite people were together and happy, she wanted to know about it.

So, she set her teacup down, brushed off her hands and looked her son straight in the eye. "How long have you been sleeping with Ransom?"

*****

Everything had to be perfect. Not only was their eleventh date at his place but he was going to tell Kai about his past. The man had a right to know what Ransom was the way he was. He knew that as a child, Kai had been told not to startle Ransom and it was true that when startled he still had a tendacy to react negatively. Not as often as the past but it still happened. He knew that people seemed to think that he was weak but really, he wasn't. There had been a time when being in a crowd was a treasured event and that he'd very much been a people person but that had ended with Lorcaine took over.

Ransom checked the chicken roasting away in the little countertop rotissre he'd borrowed from his great-neice. He'd used the herbs from the planter Kai had given him to flavor the meat. He scooted around his little kitchen, checking on the other parts of dinner before double checking to make sure the table was perfect as well. He'd asked Kai to come over about an hour before dinner was supposed to be done. He'd used that time to tell Kai about the past and hopefully he wouldn't be eating alone.

There had been a time, about 18 years ago, when he'd been involved with another man but he'd told that man about his past very early in the relationship and that man had been disgusted. He hoped that Kai wouldn't be that way. Cissa had reassured him that her son had a very caring heart and wouldn't be disgusted.

Smiling, Ransom recalled the events of a week ago, when they'd first slept together. After that first bout, when they'd been stretched sideways across his bed and he'd still been sprawled atop the man, Kai had thanked the gods that he'd come into the house that night. Ransom's smile turned into a smile. By the time dawn had come 'round, Kai had been reduced to senseless babbling. He'd made Kai a extra strong cup of coffee and sent him on his way because they obviously wouldn't be able to sleep in the same bed and manage to keep their hands off each other.

When Ransomed opened the door at Kai's knock, he smiled and popped a quick kiss onto his lover's cheek. "Dinner won't be ready for a little while yet," he said as Kai toed off his shoes, "I was wondering if we could talk for a little bit. There are some things I have to tell you."

[Maira]

He should have known better than to take a bite of his salad before his mother had a chance to ask whatever it was she was going to ask because in the end he wound up practically choking. Once he quit coughing he tried to answer her but all that came out was, "Um... Well..." Kai's face was lobster red, which was hard to do with his darker complexion, and he couldn't look her in the eye, but he finally answered her, “I stayed the night with him about a week ago.” Once he was able to force that little bit out, Kai felt strangely relieved. He tore his gaze from the napkin he had been shredding and looked at Cissa and smiled. “I know it’s probably too early to tell by most people’s standards but I’m pretty sure that he is the one, Mom. I love him so much more than I thought was even possible.” The blush that followed that last statement was not nearly as bright as the first one, but his cheeks took on a gentle rosy tint.

*****

The rest of lunch with his mother had been strangely nice. Kai had told her of his plans for him and Ransom, she had smiled at him and told him she was happy for them. She was, true to character, nothing but supportive. As he left the café, he’d once again thanked the gods that he’d been adopted by Wrath and Cissa. He couldn’t have asked for better parents.

He finished out the rest of his day at work, just as giddy happy as he’d been all week. His dad finally cornered him and told him to stop with the goofy smile because it was creeping him out. Kai had just laughed and told him to get over it because he was going to be smiling for a long time. At the confused look on Wrath’s face, Kai told his father to go ask his mother for the details. When his father walked away, looking even more confused than before, Kai laughed under his breath. Wrath was a good man, but not nearly so intuitive as Cissa. When the woman told her husband what was going on with their son, Wrath would likely stare for a moment and then nod in understanding once her words sunk in. Kai had seen it happen many times in the past.

When he ran out of things to do, Kai found his father and asked to leave early. Wrath waved Kai away and said warmly, “Have a good time with Ransom, I’m happy for you both.” Kai smiled, hugged his dad and whispered, “Thank you,” before turning and practically running out the door for his truck.

*****

He arrived at Ransom’s about five minutes early and hurried up to the man’s apartment. As he made his way to Ransom’s door, he caught a couple of men eyeing him funning. He was pretty sure that one of them was the man that had yanked Ransom out of his truck a few weeks back and Kai, against his better judgment, smiled and waved at the man. The look of shock on the other man’s face amused Kai but he didn’t let on. Instead he just bounded up the flight of stairs that led to Ransom’s door.

Only a moment after he knocked, Kai was greeted with a kiss from his lover and he couldn’t help but smile at the man. He’d just taken his shoes off when Ransom dropped a very serious phrase, and Kai just looked curiously at the other man for a moment searching for some sign of rejection. Then he remembered how Ransom had greeted him and Kai convinced himself that this wasn’t a talk about them, so he just nodded at Ransom and followed him into the living room.

The things that Ransom wound up telling Kai stirred up many feelings in the younger man. When Ransom explained his previous lifestyle, Kai blushed a little as he remembered their one night together. A lot of things made more sense now. Anger and protectiveness surged through Kai, barely contained, when Ransom explained how his life had changed with Lorcaine. If the Custos weren’t dead already Kai would have found a way to be in on the plans to make sure he wound up that way.

As Ransom finished talking, he was looking at Kai anxiously. Kai could tell that the other man was nervous about how he would act now that he’d told him all the details of his past. Not knowing any better way to reassure the man, Kai pulled Ransom into a not-so-gentle embrace and held him tight. “Thank you for telling me, that was very brave,” he said softly before pushing the man out to arm’s length. When he could look Ransom straight in the face, Kai told him matter of factly, “I will do my best to never let anything like that happen to you again. I love you Ransom.” That last was said with a nervous smile and Kai truly hoped that after everything Ransom had shared that he wouldn’t be freaked out by those three little words.

[Demeter]

Ransom trembled when Kai held him and scooted closer. He clung to the man, face nuzzled into the curve of his neck. When Kai pushed him away, Ransom looked up with suspiciously shiny eyes. Kai's words warmed his heart and made him smile. "My heart is yours, Kai. I love you." He snuggled close again, wrapping his arms around Kai.

"I'm not ashamed of my life before this nor do I let it dictate most of my life. I'm still jumpy around crowds because, for the longest time, crowds usually let to bad things. I could handle the one's Lorcaine let have me when we were one-on-one. It was in crowds that I was outnumbered. Before Lorcaine, when my father still rulled the clain, I fucking loved being the center of attention."

He, still holding Kai, leaned back against the plush couch. "I was cherished and treasured by the ones who I was partnered with and eventually found a mate. Claudio, my father's second in command, was my match and we were allowed to bond. I only have five years with him when he died by Lorcaine's hand. Claudio will always hold a part of my heart, Kai, but please don't be jealous of a man who's been dead for five hundred years. And please be patient with Tomas, his mate, Misha, is still missing so he's a little wired most of the time," Ransom said when someone started pounding on the door and yelling his name.

With a sigh, Ransom levered himself off the couch and opened the door. What followed a quick, short argument with the other Custos before he said that he could handle himself and Tomas would just have to deal with. Ransom shut the door with a shake of his head. He glanced at Kai. "Shall we eat? I've got Chocolate cake for dessert but, sadly, no clean plates to eat it off of. Perhaps we can use each other as plates?"

[Maira]

Kai listened as Ransom told him a few more details of his past, he listened especially carefully when the other man started talking about his mate from the past. Hearing how Claudio died, and hearing the pain in Ransom's voice even after all these years as he spoke about it, made Kai's heart hurt for both men. Claudio had died trying to protect Ransom and Ransom had been made to watch his mate die.

The next thing Ransom brought up was being patient with Tomas, and Kai couldn't help but laugh. He wasn't offended by the Custos's attitude toward him, especially after hearing Ransom's story, and actually found it strangely endearing that Tomas thought him enough of a threat to want to protect Ransom's body and/or heart from Kai. If only Tomas knew that Ransom had been Kai's first lover, and that he didn't have a mean bone in his body maybe he'd relax a bit. Until he had a change to get to know the Custos though, Kai would just have to try killing Tomas with kindness.

Almost as if eavesdropping from outside the front door, and maybe he had been, there was a pounding on the door that turned out to be Tomas once again trying to protect Ransom from Kai. Kai did his best not to laugh because he didn't want the Custos to hear and get even more mad at him, but he truly found the situation a bit funny.

Once Ransom shut the door and came back toward Kai, the younger man smiled. "Dinner sounds great, and dessert sounds even better." The part about dessert was said with a wink as Kai got off the couch and went to his lover to pull him into a deep kiss.

*****

Dinner and dessert had been fantastic. Ransom was an exceptional cook in Kai's book, of course Kai could burn water... There was a reason that the only meal he had so far prepared for Ransom was a picnic: its kind of hard to char or otherwise ruin food that you don't actually cook.

After they had showered, following dessert, Kai and Ransom were happily snuggled up in Ransom's bed. Kai was even starting to get dozy but there were things he wanted to say to Ransom before he fell asleep. Pulling away slightly from Ransom and propping himself up on one elbow, Kai said softly, "You asked me not to be jealous of Claudio and my answer to that is that I'm not. He loved you first, you loved him first but he died because he loved you and for that I can only feel respect, not jealousy." He kissed Ransom's cheek quickly, then added with a bit of a smirk, "As for Tomas, I'm very patient when need be. If he ever learns how much of a threat I'm -not- he's likely to laugh at me."

[Demeter]

Ransom could only smile at Kai before pulling him closer. "Tomas will just have to deal. And I think tha Claudio would have liked you. Neither one of you can cook. He'd would always blacken everything." He snuggled close to Kai, his head resting on the younger man's shoulder. "We should try something new tonight. Actually sleeping in my bed. You have that big meeting in the morning for the new landscaping account so I can't be wearing you out."

Perfectly content, Ransom soon drifted into a light doze. The quiet and steady rhythm of Kai's breathing lulled him into sleep while he absently toyed with the idea of moving into a bigger apartment. They were always bumping into each other when they stayed over and each other's places. Shortly after midnight, the sound of a motorcycle roaring into the complex apartment woke him. Kai, of course, continued to sleep like the dead.

Ransom wiggled free and peered out at the parking lot through the blinds of the window over his bed. Though the bike was riderless he recognized the red flame pattern on the black tank. Smiling, he settled back and snuggled up to Kai. It seemed that everything was right now that Remmie was back in town. He supposed that he had to tell Kai about Remmie because his baby brother made Tomas look like a toothless, clawless, fuzzy kitten.

***

Remmie tossed his back down on the fourth hand couch he'd jammed into the small apartment he kept in town. He stretched, working the kinks out of his back. He'd been on the road since dawn but this report had to made in person. He'd found the thing he'd been looking for just in time, it seemed, but the situation was delicate.

There were also the curious texts he'd received from Tomas. It seemed that his big brother had finally found someone. Tomas was paranoid and he was interested in getting to know this person who'd caught Ransom's intention.

Stripping as he walked to the bedroom, Remmie flicked on his alarm clock and flopped onto his bed. Whoever the hell it was, he'd damn well better be good enough for Ransom or they'd never find all his body parts.

[Demeter]

Ransom stood at the foot of his bed, arms crossed over his chest and considered the problem of Kai. The man slept like the dead and had about an hour and half to get up, get himself across town to his own place, to shower and dress and get himself to the big meeting with a new client. And Ransom just knew that if Kai didn't show up on time, pressed and with his design plans, Wrath would come looking for him.

And it would be awkward all around for Wrath to find his son, naked as the day he'd been born, sprawled across Ransom's bed. Knowing about the relationship was one thing, Ransom thought, but being confronted by it was something completely else. So, he had to find a way to wake Kai up.

He'd tried almost everything short of dumping a bucket of ice water on the man. And as he liked his bed, he wasn't about to attempt that. Alarm clocks, shouting, poking, prodding, shoving and stripping the top sheet of the man had to effect. There was one other thing he could try, Ransom thought with a sigh. It had always worked on Claudio whenever the man had been in danger of being late for something. Shrugging, because it wouldn't hurt to attempt it, Ransom stepped forward.

With some effort, he got Kai flipped over onto his back. With a little mutter, Ransom climbed up onto the bed and kneeled between Kai's legs. He really hadn't imagined starting his day this way. He'd imagined some quick shower nookie, yes, but that still would have involved waking Kai up in the first place. Ransom shoved his hair back and bent over to put his mouth to use in waking up Kai.

It didn't take long. When Kai did wake up, it was with a shout and Ransom had to drape an arm over the man's hips to keep him in place. He rather enjoyed listening the inane babble of someone who'd been jolted from sleep.

Later, after he'd been told he was a sex fiend and he was to keep away until Kai was fully awake, Ransom watched as the vampire rushed around the apartment, trying to find his keys. Not that he'd stayed away. He'd lured Kai into some of that shower nookie he'd thought about.

He tossed Kai his keys, picked up from where they'd been on the coffee table and shoved him out the door. Except he kept hold of the vampire, yanking him back at the last minute for a good bye kiss. He let Kai go with a smile and a comment about seeing him later that evening at Wrath and Cissa's place.

***

One floor above and three doors over, Remmie watched with a raised eyebrow as the vampire stumbled to his truck. He'd been aware of Ransom's new attachment, thanks to Tomas' paranoid texts, but he hadn't known it was Kai. With that, most of Remmie's concerns cleared up. It was Kai...

But that didn't mean that baby brother couldn't snoop into big brother's love life, like any self respecting sibling would do. Also, he had no coffee in his place and he knew that Ransom kept a stash of the good stuff.

He waited until Kai's truck was around the corner before ambling downstairs. He walked right into Ransom's apartment and pounced. Once Ransom had shoved him away, Remmie made a beeline for the coffee pot. He stared at it, whimpered and then looked at his brother. "I have a meeting with Darius later. I have no coffee or shampoo."

Grumbling, Ransom just waved his hand and ducked out onto his back patio to water the plants there. Coffee cup in hand, Remmie snooped on his way to the bathroom. He saw obvious signs that Kai spent time here. Not quite closet-drawer-shelf space yet, he thought as he eyed the shaving kit perched next to Ransom's bathroom sink, but enough to to know that his big brother was quite serious.

[Maira]

The meeting had gone well, he'd even managed to arrive 10 minutes early completely prepared and professional looking. His father had raised an eyebrow at him when he practically bounced into the mini conference room to set up his presentation before the new clients arrived. Kai had just smiled and gone about his business.

Once the clients had left, Wrath couldn't resist anymore and he blurted out, "Great job on the presentation and landing us those clients. Now tell me why the hell you're so bouncy this morning."

Kai took one look at his father and chuckled softly, "Oh Dad, I really don't think you want to know." At that moment Ransom happened to walk past the window of the conference room on his way to the employee lounge. Kai chuckled again, smirked and pointed at the red head just before he dissappeared out of sight. Then, leaving a slightly gaping Wrath behind him, Kai bolted from the room after his lover.

Once his son had bolted from the room Wrath took a steadying breath, then shook his head to get his wits about him again. He had no problem with Kai and Ransom's relationship, in fact he was very happy that his son had found somebody that suited him so well. What he had problems adjusting to was seeing his son in love. Kai had been in relationships before and they were good ones, but Wrath had never once seen Kai as happy and full of life as he was now that Ransom was in his life. It was almost like something had been missing from Kai and Ransom filled whatever was lacking.

*****

Ransom still smelled of their morning together in the shower and it sent Kai's insides jumping with the memories of first how he'd been woken up and then of what had followed in the shower. He'd taken his turn with his mouth and poor Ransom had nearly slipped. Luckily Kai was a lot stronger than he looked and he'd been able to hold the other man up until he was finished.

He followed Ransom's scent through the employee lounge to the walk in closet that housed the employees lockers and coat racks. He shut the door behind him and wedged the stopper under the edge so that nobody could disturb them. When he turned, Ransom was looking at him curiously and Kai couldn't help himself. He prowled towards the older man, tangling his fingers in the long hair at the base of his skull and pressed him into one of the bays of lockers as he kissed him senseless. From there, clothes quickly came off and Kai had his way with Ransom as payback for the morning.

[Demeter]

Ransom lay on the floor of the locker room, completely exhausted. He grunted and hoisted himself up and off the couch that was kept in the locker room. He ran a hand through his hair and looked at Kai. The young man looked completely satisfied with himself. He glanced around the locker room and sucked on his teeth. “First time I’ve ever been jumped at work,” he said while looking around for his pants. After he fastened them and had his belt buckled, Ransom grinned and sauntered over to the couch. He perched himself on Kai’s lap. “Maybe after we get off work today, you can come back over to my place, strip me down, maybe tie me up a little bit and have your wicked, wicked way with me. You, sir, are a very fast learner,” he said to Kai before standing and grabbing his shirt. After thumbing open the lock, Ransom grinned at Kai. “I’ll see you later, Lover.”

***

Remmie waited with his news. He’d already told Darius and the man had summoned Tomas from the stables. And now they waited and Remmie learned that this news couldn’t come sooner. One of the others had collapsed the other day. The separation of the consorts and mates were starting to take their tool.

When Tomas entered into Darius’ office, Remmie took over. He told Tomas to sit down and then he told the young man that Misha had been found out on the Olympic Peninsula.

[Maira]

Work that day had been torture. With Ransom's invitation to come back to his place after work and have his way with the older man, Kai had been anxious and jittery all day. And instead of trying to spend as much time as he could with Ransom at work, Kai intentionally kept away which probably just made his anticipation more intense. He'd never been one to tie up his lovers during sex, but if it was what Ransom wanted and asked for, Kai wasn't about to turn down the older man's request.

Only as they were leaving did Kai seek out Ransom, and then only briefly, to ask when he should come over and if Ransom had what would be needed or if Kai should pick up anything. Ransom dictated a short list which Kai jotted down, and then Kai gave Ransom a wicked grin before turning on his heel and walking away.

*****

He'd been in Darius's stables mucking them even though the actual stablehands had already done it earlier in the day. He was anxious, one of the others had collapsed, and he was also waiting to find out if he'd qualified for the job with the Cedar Valley mounted police. He'd been doing police work for some time to keep himself occupied until Misha was found (and he was determined the other man -would- be found), but only recently had he decided to put his horse skills to use as well. Of course mounted police work was a lot different than either normal police work or horsemanship. It was going to be a great challenge for him to mix the two.

When Darius had summoned him to his office, Tomas put off answering it only long enough to dump the last load of horse apples on the manure pile. He stopped along the way to wash his hands and make sure he didn't look too "horsey" before letting himself into the Alati Lord's office. When he entered, Tomas was instructed by Remmie to sit down and as soon as he was seated Remmie told Tomas straight out that Misha had been found and that he was only a few hours away.

After a moment of shocked silence, the questions came pouring out of Tomas about Misha's well-being, how long he'd been so close, and if Misha knew he'd been found. By the end, Tomas had gotten out of his chair and was pacing the office and before Remmie or Darius could answer any of his other questions he asked, "Can I borrow a car Darius?" He'd waited 75 years for Misha to be found, significantly shorter than many of the other pairs, but it was still way too long and Tomas was ready to end their separation.

[Demeter]

Misha was cold, as he always was these days. It was a bone deep cold that no source of heat could seem to touch. Then again, it could have something to do with the absolutely miserable weather. Living on the western side of the mountains, outside of the Hoh Rainforest, had some perks but not many.

As Misha turned away from the rain splattered windows of his bedroom, he could only think about how much he looked forward to spending the next few years in the tropics. Of course, that plan had been delayed by the endless rain. The road had been washed out and there was no way to get a clumsy moving truck up to Vere’s Peak. Two more weeks of rain wouldn’t kill him…probably.

As it was, he was supposed to be on his way to Brazil to take down the newest threat to the clan. Cousin Ivan was starting to get some strange ideas about just who ran the family and he needed to have a come-to-Vere chat. Father had given him the go ahead to do whatever needed doing, even if that included a funeral if Ivan didn’t understand his place.

Misha took the stairs down to the main level of the house and sailed into the dining room. The last time he’d seen Cousin Ivan had been six years ago. Ivan had called him a limp wristed namby-pamby weakling who’s only asset was his ass. Cousin Ivan had received a nasty surprise when he’d snuck into Misha’s rooms in order to make use of that ass and ended up with a concussion and one less testicle. Misha flicked on the dining room lights and grinned to himself. Seeing Cousin Ivan was going to be so much fun, he thought while looking over the tools spread on the long table. High-powered rifle, compound bow, garrote, poisons, daggers and other instruments of death were scattered in front of him. Whistling to himself, Misha began to pack his tools away in their foam-lined cases.

Halfway through the job, a flash of lightning outside the house that was followed by the pop and sizzle of a complete power failure. Sighing as the room went dark, Misha stood to hunt down a flashlight. He was rummaging around the junk filled side-board when the dogs started barking.

Misha went still. Stitch, Romey, and Gryff were Tibetan Mastiffs trained to guard the Peak and roamed the property. And this wasn’t their friendly bark. Forgetting about a flashlight, Misha headed for the front entrance. He peered outside and, with the light from the solar-powered lamps, could see that the dogs had someone surrounded.

It wasn’t Nika. He’d told the boy to stay in Seattle and knew he would follow that order. Eyes narrowed, Misha watched as this mysterious person tried to get around the three massive dogs. The way the person moved seemed familiar. It was when one of the dogs lunged forward that it all clicked. Without another thought, Misha was bolting out the door. Heedless of the fact that it was still pouring, that his hair was completely unbound, that he was barefoot and wearing thin, lightweight clothing, Misha ran across the front yard.

Only Tomas sidestepped like that. It couldn’t be him, yet it had to be.

Misha shouted at the dogs in Russian, commanding them to back off, seconds before he collided with the man. They were knocked to the ground, Misha driving him into the soft earth. Kneeling above the man, Misha peered through the darkness. Below the smell of rain and wet forest, he caught the scent that was uniquely Tomas. Everything was confirmed when a flash of lightning lit up the man’s face.

Body trembling, Misha cried out Tomas’ name and threw himself forward. Not caring that both of them were soaked through, Misha ran his hands over Tomas’ body and kissed every inch of her face while Tomas did the same. Eventually, their lips found each other and they clung together.


Ransom curled up next to a sweaty and panting Kai. He was in a similar sate but that didn’t bother him. He wanted to be close to Kai. He took a moment to shake off the loosely tied, lightweight rope that held his left wrist to the headboard. He’d freed his right arm during the final moments of their love making to yank Kai down for a kiss.

Ransom pulled the covers up over the both of them and settled in for a nice, post-coital snuggle. While Kai dozed, Ransom stared at him. He hoped that Kai understood what tonight had meant. By allowing Kai to use the ropes, even the act of suggesting it, showed just how much he trusted the younger man.

Had it been anyone else, he’d have been fighting like a wild animal to get free. With Kai, well, he’d felt new heights of pleasure.

Pulling the covers over his shoulders, Ransom turned towards Kai, gave the snoozing man a peck on the lips and snuggled into him. For the first time in a very long time, he felt safe and warm. And when the morning came, Ransom joined Kai in the narrow shower stall. The only way the two men fit in there together was if they were pressed up next to each other. This morning, Ransom wrapped his arms around Kai’s waist and, instead of starting any slippery shower rounds of sex, said “I love you” to Kai.


Remmie, booted feet propped on his balcony railing, and cup of coffee in hand, watched as the two men left for work in Kai’s truck. Something big must have happened because both of them were grinning like idiots and glowing.

Remmie drank his coffee and pondered another couple. He wondered if Tomas had found Misha and what their reunion had been like. Yesterday, after he’d answered all of Tomas’ questions, he’d pressed the importance of asking Misha if he knew where Rosalie was. He hoped the man remembered to ask.

[Maira]

The car ride to the peninsula had been harried to say the least. Tomas hadn't wanted to waste the time with that drive, had wanted to be there instantly, and had thought about taking Gates to get there but when Remmie informed him there weren't any on Misha's side anywhere near him Tomas had resigned himself to taking Darius's second fastest car to get there.

By the time he reached his destination, the weather had turned for the worse. A rare thunderstorm was ravaging the coast and visibility was awful. It was only by pure luck that Tomas didn't ram the car into a downed tree across Misha's long winding drive, only a flash of lightning showed him the hulking old-growth before it was too late to stop. Cursing at the damned weather, and feeling the cackle of his God in the back of his mind, Tomas relaxed. Leave it to Loki to coax his brother into helping cause chaos in one of his devotees lives right when he didn't need it.

After making sure the car was securely locked, Tomas ventured out into the downpour and over the downed tree. Almost as soon as he was clear of the tree Tomas could see the lights of Misha's home and he hurried toward them, this time cursing Loki for being a menace when he was so close to his mate for the first time in 75 years. He could just barely make out the shape of the house through the trees and the rain when there was a blinding flash as a bolt of lightning sliced into one of the trees behind him. The thunder that accompanied the lightning shook the ground and Tomas just glared at the sky in defiance as he growled out, "You can't keep me from him Loki, not now or ever again." When he turned his attention back to where the house had been shining, he was greeted with only darkness and he couldn't help but mutter dark curses both Thor and Loki.

And then Tomas heard the threatening snarls. Without even looking he knew he was surrounded by some very angry and protective canines, though the rain made it hard to determine by how many. When he did look, he was not thrilled to see three extremely large black behemoths of fur and teeth. He wasn't sure how much of his time he'd spent with Hell Hounds could prepare him for but when the first one lunged at him, he sidestepped it easily.

After that, Tomas heard a long lost but very familiar voice shouting at the dogs in Russian and against his will he went a little wobbly in his knees. In the very next moment Tomas was flattened to the muddy wet ground by the man he had been missing for way too long. Their reunion was wet and cold and quite muddy, and they had three very confused onlookers, but after a few minutes of groping and kissing and making sure each other were actually real, the two men finally made it into the house.

Once inside, Tomas's demeanor changed ever so slightly. The impulsiveness slipped away and was replaced with wariness and a hint of the guilt he'd carried for so long. He wanted to just fall into Misha's arms and let their lives go back to what they were, but the hundreds of years together under Lorcaine, and then those he'd spent guarding Ransom... He wasn't the same man Misha had loved so long ago. What if after all this time Misha couldn't love him anymore? So, still covered in mud and drenched to the bone, Tomas stared at Misha his eyes slightly widened with fear and worry about what was to come.

*****

Only as they neared the end of their love-making did Kai begin to realize just what using the ropes with Ransom implied. Up until the point where Ransom had yanked one of his hands free to pull Kai down for a kiss, Kai had retained full control of the situation. Everything that happened was at Kai's discretion and considering Ransom's past, Kai was floored by the amount of trust the older man was giving him with this one act. Not only was he blown away by Ransom's utter trust in him, but knowing that gave Kai quite a high and increased his own pleasure.

The next morning it took Kai a while to truly wake up. He lay still and thinking about the night before until Ransom woke up and they both slipped into the shower. Considering their normal morning shower activities, Kai was a bit surprised when Ransom only slipped his arms around Kai's waist. That is, until Ransom let loose three little words that meant something so huge. Kai nearly lost his balance and was only saved from slipping by the fact that the shower was so small and there was another person in it with him. Balance mostly restored, Kai turned and took a long hard look at Ransom before a smile split his face and he answered a bit shakily, "I love you too."

[Demeter]

The power was still out but Misha knew the layout of the Peak by heart. He'd spent enough time sleeplessly wandering the halls. Holding Tomas' hand, he pulled the younger man towards the kitchen in search of a light source. He didn't talk while he rummaged through the cabinets for a lantern, candle, flashlight, even a lighter would work at this point. His body was shaking; not from the cold, wet clothing or dripping hair but from the fact that Tomas was only feet away from him. He'd imagined this moment a thousand and one times but reality was turning out different.

His dreams had him leaping on Tomas and holding him tightly. This reality had him almost frantically looking for something that created light so he could just look at Tomas. Eventually, he found a oil lamp. He set that on the counter and went to where he knew the matches were kept in the kitchen. Soon enough, the room was filled with a soft glow.

After setting the lamp on the island counter, Misha turned to look at Tomas. The first thing he noticed is that Tomas had matured even more. His face was harder then the one of 75 years ago. Then again, they'll had been through hell. Misha held up and finger and went to the linen cabinet. He pulled out some of the frayed towels normally used to dry the dogs and handed one to Tomas. He used one on the unbound length of his hair.

He still didn't speak. Instead, he took Tomas' hand and, with the lamp in the other, led him up to the second story and into the master suite. It only took a few moments before he had a fire burning in the fireplace. That done, he finally turned to Tomas. He reached out and cupped the man's cheek. "How did you find me? I've searched but I couldn't find you. Where have you been?"

[Maira]

As frustrating as the power outage had been only a few minutes prior, Tomas was suddenly glad for the dark as it hid the fear in his eyes quite well. Just being in the presence of his mate for the first time in 75 years was causing poor Tomas to fall apart. Determined for their first meeting in almost a century not to be a disaster, Tomas did his best to squelch every feeling, thought, or reaction that wasn't immediately necessary for getting reacquainted with Misha. Once Misha had led him upstairs to what he assumed to be the master bedroom, Tomas waited until the fire was going before he turned his gaze to Misha. The older man's hand came to rest so gently on his cheek that Tomas again got slightly wobbly in the knees and he forced himself to force back any hint of tears and just answer the question.

"I was with Ransom," he answered simply first. Then, realizing some clarification was probably necessary he added, "We've been free of Lorcaine 25 years now thanks to Darius deLorme and Claudio's younger brother Carmine Valerio. You couldn't find me because Darius has kept Ransom hidden from those who would try and use him to reclaim Magda power. And until he was safe in both body and heart I couldn't leave him. I'm sorry my love, I just couldn't leave him before he was strong enough." Then, his voice scratchy with the unshed tears he refused to let come he told Misha, "I found out only hours ago where you were, Remmie found you for me."

Quite against his will, Tomas felt the tears begin to brim over and when one slipped down the cheek not occupied by Misha's hand, Tomas turned from the other man and walked to the window to watch the storm continue to rage for a few silent moments as the tears fell. Once he had himself under control again he asked over his shoulder, "And why have I not been able to find you until now? Remmie has been looking for you since almost the day we were freed."

[Demeter]

Misha listened to Tomas, trying to concentrate on the words and not just the sound of his voice. And his heart lifted just a little more when he learned that Ransom was safe. He stepped up next to Tomas and watched the storm with him. "None of us knew if it was safe to come out of hiding. All we knew is that the Magda clan had been absorbed into the deLorme holdings and that there was no sign of Ransom. And most have been in hiding for so long that it is all they know."

He leaned forward, bracing his weight against the cool glass. He watched Tomas' reflection. "I also move constantly, every few years my father finds me a new place to hide. Not only because of certain threats but because, technically, I'm a wanted man in several countries. I've only been here, at the Peak, for two years and I was suppose to leave for the Tropics. Today, in fact, but this weather has made that impossible."

"And, I know so many secrets and it was agreed that I would remain hidden until I knew it was safe to reveal myself. You say that Ransom is safe. Can the deLorme clan be trusted?" Misha turned to Tomas, barely able to see him in the gloom of the stormy night. "Is it safe to bring everyone back to the light? Can we stop looking over our shoulders and waiting for that day we see one of Lorcaine's kin coming for us? Can I stop hiding in gloomy places?"

[Maira]

Hearing Misha's explanation for why he'd been missing for so long, Tomas nodded understanding. He knew of Misha's other skills and wasn't surprised that the man had turned to using them in the years since they parted. At the question of if the deLorme clan could be trusted or not, Tomas answered emphatically, "I trust Darius implicitly and his clan follows him with more loyalty than I've ever seen. You are all safe to return, his army, led by Carma, hunted down every last Lorcaine supporter and dealt with them in a manner befitting their crimes. I know for a fact that Lorcaine himself is no more because I helped in his demise and then stood witness as Darius destroyed his soul." At those last words a grim smile came to Tomas's face, exposed to Misha by a flash of lightning. The memories of that particular day came surging back to Tomas, fresh as the day they were made, and the smile turned into a dark almost snarl.

Another rumble of thunder shook the darkness from Tomas for the moment and he turned and faced the shorter man and gathered him into his arms, burying his face in Misha's hair. When he pulled away, a smile that hadn't graced his face in 75 years was turning up the corners of his mouth and causing his eyes to squint at the corners and he told Misha, "No more hiding Misha. Bring them all to their new home. If they'll have it, Darius has offered his home in Cedar Valley as a meeting spot and home if needed."

Speaking of the other Consorts, Tomas finally remembered the favor that Remmie had asked him and he practically blurted out, "Do you know where Rosalie is? Remmie wanted me to ask you."

[Demeter]

The weather remained absolutely horrible and kept the two men trapped in the Peak with the three dogs for company. Rosalie's transfer to the Delorme compound and her mate was arranged over the phone. Misha also made his own arrangements to go with Tomas once they were able to leave. With Tomas back in the picture, Misha had been released from his clan duties. 

Even though he was older, stronger and had more power then his younger mate, Misha wasn't the dominate partner. That honor went to Tomas and Misha wouldn't have it any other way. So, Misha waited for Tomas to make the first move for four agonizing days. They were stuck on the mountain by both the downed tree and Tomas SUV being sunk to the wheel wells in the muck of the road up. A tow truck wouldn't be able to get up the mountain until the rain stopped. 

The atmosphere inside the grand house was just as gloomy as it was outside. They were prancing around each other like love sick teenagers; each afraid to make the first move. Misha was hyper aware of Tomas' every move. After seventy five years of not getting to see him, he drank in every move that the younger man made. Except, sometimes, it was like Tomas didn't want to be near him. Except for that first night, they hadn't touched. 

It couldn't be that Tomas no longer loved him, could it? He didn't have someone else, did he? Despite his ardent response four days ago in the rain, had he come here to dissolve their mate-bond? 

If so, Misha would never survive losing his mate for a third time. He'd nearly died when Leon has passed. He'd lost all taste for life until Tomas had come into his sphere as more than Ransom's best friend. Being separated from Tomas, even for his own safety, had been agonizing. To be separated again because Tomas didn't want him would kill him. To be rejected by his soulmate would be a fate worse then death. For his soulmate to not want him would mean he was cursed to never feel love. 

Alone, in his room, Misha choked on that thought. Having had enough of being in the same house with Tomas yet still being a thousand miles apart, Misha exited his room and barged into the guest room Tomas had taken. He must have startled the man because he rolled off the far side of the bed to land on the floor. Misha crossed to the bed and crawled up on it. He looked down at Tomas. "Why did you come here if you didn't want to be near me? Four days you've been here but we haven't held each other since that first night. Why are you running from me, Tomas? Is there someone else? Does she want you to dissolve out mate-bond? Would she not consent to a triad?"

Misha, hair unbound and sliding over his shoulders, stared down at Tomas and waited for his response. The man seemed stunned at the questions Misha asked. The older man sniffled once because he could feel his heart breaking at the continued silence. "What did I do wrong, Tomas? Why won't you hold me?" The last was said on a wail as Misha started to cry. 

[Maira]

Tomas was lost. His heart was whole again, but he had no idea how to act around Misha anymore. It wasn't that Misha had done anything wrong, it was just that Tomas had walled up his heart so securely to keep it safe during the years under Lorcaine. He'd wanted to take Misha in his arms numerous times since arriving at his house, he could see that he was doing something wrong and upsetting his mate but he was terrified of what Misha would think of the older Tomas.

It had been four days since his arrival and Tomas kept hoping that Misha would come to him, show any signs of wanting him. He knew he was different than before, knew he was harder and more distant, but Misha didn't even try to touch him casually. They used to touch all the time, a hand on the shoulder as they walked past each other, a gentle caress of the cheek when talking, twined fingers while sitting down together. But none of that was happening and Tomas was scared that the 75 years of separation had cost him his mate even if it kept Misha safe.

He'd been lying in the guest bed dwelling on why Misha might not want him anymore, when suddenly the door to the guest room burst open. He'd been so lost in thought that he somehow hadn't heard Misha's approach and when the older man barged into the room it startled Tomas so much that he reacted on instinct, rolling off the bed and grabbing for a sword or a gun. He had neither, luckily, or he likely would have raised them at the intruder until he realized who that intruder was.

When Misha crawled onto the bed Tomas had just vacated and started firing questions at him, Tomas didn't now how to answer. He didn't say anything for a while as he tried to wrap his head around his fears, trying to put them into words for Misha but then Misha asked what it was that he'd done wrong and started to cry. At the tears and the sobs, Tomas panicked. He didn't have time to think about anything before he was up on the bed with Misha, wrapping his arms tightly about the older man and begging into his hair, "Please don't cry Misha, please. You didn't do anything wrong so please don't cry."

It took a while for Misha's tears to stop and before he finished, Tomas was crying right along with him. When they had both cried themselves out and lay snuggled on Tomas's bed, Tomas told Misha quietly as he smoothed his hair away from his face, "There has never been anybody else for me, not since you came into my life. There never has been and never will be Misha. If I had never found you I still would have been yours until the day I died." Then, after taking a deep breath he continued, "I've been distant because I am scared you won't love me anymore once you get to know me again. I'm terrified of finally having you back in my life and losing you. I did my best to keep you and Ransom and the others safe, but in doing so I lost parts of myself and I am not the man you fell in love with."

The longer Tomas spoke, the shakier and less sure his voice became. By the time he came to the end, Tomas's entire body was quaking in fear for what Misha might say.

[Demeter]

Being held in Tomas' arms was bliss. Once the tears stopped, he just concentrated on the smell if Tomas and the heat of his skin. The sounds of his heartbeat and breathing were a comfort and it eased his own heart to feel and hear these things ago. When Tomas started talking about the reasons why he'd been avoiding him, Misha listened carefully. 

At Tomas's words, Misha's eyes widened. Not love him because he'd changed?! Silly man, as if I could ever not love him, Misha thought at first. But then he thought back on it. Had no one ever told him why he bore the name of a former clan leader? Misha had certainly never told him. They'd been too wrapped up in each other at first and then they'd all been focused on surviving. 

"Tomas, has anyone ever told you why your mother was granted permission to give you the name Leonidas?"
When Tomas shook his head, Misha smiled. "I thought as much. I tell you, Tomas, there is no way I could ever not love you because our souls are bound together. What we have goes beyond a simple mate bond. Those can be broken without any ill affects. If our bond was to be broken, one of us would have to be dead.

"Centuries ago, there was a practice of casting runes or any other sort of divination method for new born babies. It has fallen out of practice now because too many parents became unhappy with what was prophesied for their children and they wouldn't allow the children to live. This practice would also reveal if a soul was new or if a soul had been reincarnated. This practice had been done for Ransom and his soul was new but it was a strong one. Your mother, though she was living away from the clan when you were born, had the Runes cast for you.

"She never told me all that was said; I think this was to protect you and to allow you to grow and to spare me. She said the elders of your father's clan cast the bones and read that you'd grow to be a powerful man, you are. That you'd over come adversity, you defeated Lorcaine. That you'd know great love, me. And that you would be a shadow leader of the Magda clan. It may not be what it once was but you are best friend to Ransom, the last known Magda and held him make decisions for what is left of the clan. She wanted a strong name for you from her own heritage. She picked the name of a former clan leader, Thanos' father, Leonidas. And she felt she had to have permission from me to use that name.

"Leonidas was my mate. My soulmate. We never had a grand ceremony or made any public acknowledgment of it, other then Leonidas casting his brother out when the man thought to claim me as a slave. He'd only been dead a few years by the time you were born and I was so very lost in my grief. Your mother may have kept her reasons to herself about why she asked my permission to give you his name. I granted it, obviously."

Misha paused to sit up on the bed. He pulled his hair over his shoulder and took Tomas' hand. "I never saw it while you were growing; you were the opposite of Leonidas in every way. So fun loving and carefree and playful where he'd always been so serious. Even when I finally saw you as a potential lover, I still didn't see it. And then came that dark period when Lorcaine ruled. We were all so focused on surviving that, again, I couldn't see it. I thought that you were just finally coming into your own in your subterfuge against that mad man. I had never questioned why both you and Leonidas were both my mates. A person just doesn't have one soul mate after all."

Misha shifted and pushed Tomas down. He kneeled over the man and looked down at him. "But I can see it now. I was blinded by the situation but I can see it now," Misha ran his hands up Tomas' chest and neck to cup his face, "you share more then just Leonidas name and his mate. You share his soul, Tomas. When you didn't know what to do to keep everyone safe, part of your soul awakened the memories of Leonidas in order to help you. His strength became your strength. His power became your power. I can feel him in you, Tomas."

Misha dipped his head down to nuzzle and softly kiss Tomas. "Don't mistake me, Tomas. You are not him and he was never like you. I will alway cherish my time with Leonidas for that was a big part of my life; I helped to raise Thanos afterall. But, Tomas, you are the man I love now. My heart doesn't cry out for him, it cries for you."

Misha had gone oriental that day and as he sat up to straddle Tomas' waist, he tugged at the ties holding his robes closed. As the material fell down from around his shoulders, Misha looked down at Tomas. "Our foolish fears and crazed dictator have kept us apart for seventy five years and four days. Help me erase the fears that I would never see you again, Tomas. Claim me as yours again and take away the stains of abuse and terror and loneliness." 

[Maira]

The things that Misha was telling him left him gawking in disbelief. Surely somebody should have told him about the runes being cast for him, why had his mother never told him? At least knowing that he'd have a part in overcoming a tyrant might have given him some sense of strength or confidence when Lorcaine was torturing or killing those he knew and loved. If his mother hadn't been one of those to be killed by Lorcaine he likely would have had a few choice words for her. Instead he just continued to listen.

All the questions that had come to Tomas as Misha talked dissappeared the instant the older Alati let his robes slip from him. Tomas's sharp intake of breath at the sight of his mate's body bared to him, lit by the moonlight now flowing in through the window, nearly caused him to choke. It had been so incredibly long since he'd been with Misha, so long since he'd touched that skin and seen those scars inflicted by Lorcaine, that one more tear slid from each of his eyes. The pain of the memories that had left those scars on Misha's body was quickly shoved to the back of his mind and he just reveled in the joy that was also present.

In a quick motion, Tomas rolled Misha to the bed and now he was kneeling above the older man. Having been in the bed alone, before Misha burst into the room, Tomas was dressed in a t-shirt and boxers. The shirt quickly went flying to land somewhere on the floor and then Tomas leaned down over his mate and claimed him thoroughly.

[Demeter]

Misha was happily snuggled under the covers of the guest room bed with Tomas. They'd made love throughout the night and into the early morning and now they gave their bodies a chance to rest. He was curled up around Tomas, head resting on his shoulder, doing nothing more then dozing and listening to the light rainfall outside the bedroom windows. Nothing could have tempted him to move right then. 

Well, almost nothing. The cell phone that he kept with him at all times started to ring. And not just any ring tone, it was the ring tone for the head of the Oshiro clan.

Groaning, because he has to answer that call, Misha crawled from the bed to find the phone in his wrinkles robes. Once he found it, he sat, naked and with tangled hair, on the floor to answer the call. 

What the man on the other end had to say had him suddenly wide awake and sitting upright. After telling the man on the other end that he'd take care of his end, Misha hurried to dress. He shook Tomas awake. "We have to get down this mountain today, get to the Magda vaults and get to Japan as fast as possible. Thanos is dying."