AU, to get Heather's head in the right space for fic.

[the_lioness]

It is odd how much can happen in a day's time. In twenty-four hours, a squire can become a knight. In twenty-four hours, a dark mage can attempt to take over the kingdom and be killed again for his efforts.

In twenty-four hours, a woman can realize a great deal about her own heart and say farewell to a lover. Learning about love and loss can be the work of mere minutes.

Alanna can hardly believe that a mere twenty-four hours have passed since she and Peter parted ways for the last time. It feels far longer, and already memories are growing faded. She wonders at her own fickleness. Surely it should hurt more.

Sitting under a tree by the lake, Alanna turns her face into the warm summer breeze and takes a deep breath, feeling nothing but relief.

It had been the right decision, and that makes all the difference.

Comments

[collects_ears]

He walks sure footed across the sun warmed grass, toward the lake - knowing with complete certainty he'll find his quarry there. Whether she realizes it or not, he has studied her movements and patterns over their many long years of association and knows her habits like the back of his hand. When he didn't find her in the bar proper, he knew the only other likely place she'd be.

He's still out of earshot when he spots her, sitting under the tree.

It would take a far more foolish man than George Cooper, to attempt to sneak up on the Lioness of Tortall. He keeps his pace easy and deliberate.

She'll know he's there.

[the_lioness]

She does, although it's not until he moves several steps closer that she recognizes his lanky gait.

George.

A vein throbs in her forehead as she fights to stay still. It's hard to say if she would run to or from him, but the urge to run is nearly overwhelming. Swallowing, Alanna picks a piece of grass and runs it between two fingers.

He is both a most welcome and nerve-racking of company.

"Hello, George," she says quietly, still staring at the piece of grass.

[collects_ears]

'Tread carefully Cooper, you're on unsteady ground here', he thinks to himself - suddenly as certain of this as he was of her location.

Something has happened since he saw her last and there isn't much that it could be. Something with Thom perhaps. Or...

"Hello, Lass." he says, keeping his voice open and friendly.

"Care for some company?"

[the_lioness]

The friendly tone nearly undoes her. Alanna gives him a mild smile without meeting his eyes and shrugs.

"If you wish," she says, smirking a bit. "No one could call you a coward."

For only a brave man would sit beside her when she is so obviously agitated.

"You knew I was here, didn't you?"

[collects_ears]

"Few would be foolish enough to do so to my face." he says, with a decidedly wolfish grin. "Not if they wished to live to tell the tale."

Approval given, he drops down beside her - keeping approximately an inch of space between them. Since finding out about her and Peter, he's been careful to curtail signs of affection that might be construed as... more than friendship.

"I had an inkling." is all he'll admit to, as he spreads out his legs.

He drops a heavy, travel bag onto her lap.

"I brought provisions."

[the_lioness]

He has such long legs, and for a moment, she smiles at the thought of how fast she has to walk to keep up. The bag surprises her, and both eyebrows shoot up as she turns to look at him.

"Food and drink?" she asks hopefully. "Or perhaps you've stolen a kitten."

Watching him closely, she begins to undo a strap. Suddenly, she's very, very thankful she decided not to run.

[collects_ears]

"Not a kitten!" he says with a grin, shaking his head.

"A bottle of Olau red, two plastic cups, bread, cheese and some fruit."

[the_lioness]

When she smiles, Alanna thinks it feels almost unfamiliar. She looks up at the bright sky and blinks.

"I thank you, George."

After clearing her throat, Alanna pours two cups of wine and hands one to him, biting her lip when their fingers brush. It's possible she drinks hers a little too quickly.

"I have something to tell you," and it's a little bit hoarse.

[collects_ears]

"You're welcome."

He notes her biting her lip, but doesn't draw any attention to the fact. He accepts the cup from her with a soft smile and a nod of his head. He takes a quick sip - too distracted to appreciate the taste of what he knows is a superb vintage - then settles the cup on a flat area of ground beside him.

Waiting for her to continue, he busies himself cutting slices of bread.

'oh lass, you're nervy as a cat about to kitten - do you think I can't see that? Come on and tell me what's eating away at you..' he thinks to himself.

"Oh?" is all he says.

A few weeks later...

[the_lioness]

George, as ever, is a man of his word. Many might not expect this of a former thief, but Alanna was never in doubt.

Three days after she told him about Peter and kissed him with no warning, George returned from Pirate's Swoop and found her sitting under the very same tree. Thus began several weeks of friendly lunches and leisurely horseback rides. Quiet walks through the woods and lengthy training sessions filled with lots of laughter. Jon remarked more than once that it was nice to see them together. It had been so long since they hadn't felt awkward around each other that they had almost forgotten what good friends they are. Still, Alanna thinks about those kisses.

And she wonders why they are both being so careful not to get in a situation where they might be repeated.

Eventually, that curiosity and something else she is too nervous to admit drives her to knock on the door of his Milliways quarters late one evening. She had been on the way back to her own rooms, but her feet just carried her here. Clearing her throat, she clasps her hands behind her back and tries not to think about the wrinkled state of her plain linen shirt and tan breeches.

[collects_ears]

He'd been working on several correspondences to the Lord Provost and had completely lost track of the time. To his chagrin, from one glance at the clock to the next, nearly three hours had passed. This wasn't the first time this had happened either. With the artificial light available in Milliways, it enables him to work many hours into the night, where at home he'd be forced to work by candlelight. He'd been concentrating so intently until something, drew his attention.

Not a noise, or anything he could see with his eyes... just a feeling.

Having the Sight comes in awfully handy at times such as these.

He can sense her moving down the hallway in the direction of his room - and he knows that she is standing there in front of the door for several moments - before she finally knocks on the door.

He rises to his feet, leg muscles complaining over use after not moving in quite some time and answers the door.

"Evening, Lass..."

[the_lioness]

"Hello."

Rocking back on her heels, she smiles up at him. They regard each other silently for a long minute before she asks,

"Am I interrupting anything important?" She swallows. "It's only that I haven't seen you in a few days, since Jonathan had me at work in the Royal Forest, and I was wondering if you were here."

[collects_ears]

Sometimes it really is amazing how he reacts to her presence - even after all this time.

He smiles at her.

"For you, I've all the time in the world." he says, motioning for her to come in.

[the_lioness]

"That wasn't exactly a no," she points out, quirking an eyebrow at him as she enters the room. And then she simply stares, taking in his space. Distracted: "How are you?"

There's the bed. She probably shouldn't sit there. It might make him uncomfortable, and then where will they be?

[collects_ears]

"Can't slip anything past you, can I?" he says with a laugh, shutting the door behind her. "The truth of the matter is, I don't have anything that can't wait. Alright?"

He takes care of the seating issue for her - whether he knows it or not - by sitting on the bed, leaving her the chair.

"Sorry I don't have more chairs, I don't often entertain here..."

[the_lioness]

The chair is free, but Alanna finds she doesn't want it. Restlessness is easy to blame, yet it's the empty spot beside George she considers over the chair. In the end, she walks slowly around the room, picking up a book here and there or examining a map.

"I'm glad," she says absently. Realizing how that might sound, and in fact was meant, she blushes and snaps her head up. "I like catching you off guard."

[collects_ears]

He raises an eyebrow, a smile playing on his lips.

"Oh do you?" he drawls, feigning surprise - all the while thinking of her impromptu kisses.

[the_lioness]

Time passes, as it is wont to do.

Most of it is lovely; Alanna and George spent a great deal of time together, at home and in the bar. The nerves don't disappear overnight, however, and they take things slowly. But it's easy to take things slowly when there's suddenly nothing standing in your way.

And then, because nothing is never entirely easy, Roger returned.

A nightmare made real, Alanna gave up her Gift to keep three people she loves safe, and learned that sometimes you have to ask for help. It's over now, and George is safe, but the anxiety has not left entirely.

Which is why, more often than not, Alanna can be found lurking near Bar when George is working. Sometimes she sneaks behind the dark wood, touching him to make sure he's really there.

Tonight, she looks like she needs more reassurance.

[collects_ears]

He keeps a surreptitious eye on her as he serves drinks. There is faint worry crease between his eyebrows - though there's no other outward indication on his face of the worry he currently feels for her.

He waits for a lull, then makes his way over to where she's sitting.

He puts a glass of Olau red in front of her.

And smiles.

"Evening."

[the_lioness]

She doesn't jump -- she's too well-trained for that -- but the unfocused look abruptly leaves her eyes as they widen in surprise. The last few minutes had been spent in quiet contemplation of the numbers and colors of the bottles behind the bar.

It's easier, perhaps, than thinking about Roger.

"Hullo," she says was affected nonchalance. "Busy tonight."

[collects_ears]

"Aye." he agrees, looking around at the patrons.

"Surprisingly so. My shifts are generally far slower than this. But you know I can always make time for you." he winks at her, hoping to coax a smile out of her.

[the_lioness]

He succeeds, though the smile is wan. One finger curls around the stem of the wine glass to keep it steady while she leans forward and traces a line down his neck and under his open collar. It helps just to touch him.

"It doesn't hurt your reputation or business to have your..." She falters, face growing red. "To have me around?"

[collects_ears]

A wan smile is still a smile in his books. Now to make it bigger.

His smile does exactly that when she touches his neck - sending a pleasurable shiver through his entire body. He closes his eyes for a moment, then opens them again.

"I -" he pauses, ".. what?"

He looks at her - genuine puzzlement on his face.

"What has... this," he motions from her, to him and back again. "...to do with my reputation?"

[the_lioness]

She doesn't move her hand, brushing her thumb back and forth over his collarbone, and clears her throat. The blush worsens.

"It is my understanding that bartenders who flirt with customers get bigger tips." This time, the smile is decidedly sheepish. "I don't want you to think I'm watching you. I am, it's just..."

She shrugs, annoyed at herself for not getting the words out correctly.

[collects_ears]

"And what use does a Baron have for tips?" he smiles a bit wanly himself. "We both know I do this job out of enjoyment, rather than out of a need for money. If not flirting gets me no tips, you'll not see me complaining."

He looks at her, really looks at her.

"I promise you, lady knight - I have eyes for no one else but you." he says softly, taking her other hand and drawing it to his lips.

"Besides," he says, tone lightening considerably "....I like knowing that you're watching me."