"Hi. I wondered where you'd got to."

"I had a bite to eat and then wanted to wind things up with Phaedra."

He reached his hand out and when she had placed hers there he pulled her
close and they were kissing. Again the butter-flies took wing in the pit of
her stomach, but once again he pulled his lips from hers when things started
to heat up. 

"Why don't you want me?" She looked very hurt. She knew Mc'key's Vas had won
many of mating flights, so he was experienced in the art of love making.
Could he be thinking of the others and how it was with them right now? 

Oh how she wished for once she wasn't...untried... Wished she knew how to
make him want her as much she wanted him.

"I do. Whether it is for convenience or not, you are still another man's
wife. That, plus the fact that we should take things slowly anyway means
that we should wait a while."

"I suppose you're right," she said grudgingly, but hating that he could be
so right and so in control of his own feelings when all she wanted to do was
explore these new found feelings he evoked in her.

>"I want you very much. Very much! But I am not going to jeopardize that by
doing things too quickly."

>With that said, they decided to take a walk together around the Warren. She
would have to leave for a week soon, and they wanted to spend the remaining
time together.

They ended up in the dining hall , and when both saw Jil'mae wave for them
to join him and the other's sitting at the same table, Mc'key turned to her.

"It might be better if we do," he chuckled. "It'd help get my mind off of
the other things I'd like to do with you."

"Like what," she grinned up at him with an innocence in her blue eyes that
didn't fool him for a moment.

"Don't look at me like that woman," he groaned and taking her hand started
towards his friends table. "I told you we where going to wait!"

"Well hail the conquering hero," Jil'mae stood and bowed to his patrol
partner when the two drew near. "And what may I ask would his heroness care
for this humble one to select for his dinner? You've only to ask oh mighty one."

"Stuff it Jillie," Key grinned and shook his head, while helping Ghost to
have a seat. "I'll be right back with something for us to eat."

"Okay," she nodded and knew her cheeks were blushing while everyone watched
this gentle exchange between the two of them. Not that she minded people
knowing, but still a little shy with her own feelings. She watched her new
love walk towards the serving tables with his long time friend and then
turned back to the others at the table.

Karine, a female rider a few years older then herself was sitting across the
table from her, the dark brown headed girl turned to her with a smile.

"So how's it feel to be the owner of so much land?" the girl asked and Ghost
knew she'd heard about it from the dragon's gossip. 

Her lips curved downward into a frown as she thought of how to answer the
girl's question. 

"I'm sorry Ghost," Karine said kindly and reached over to touch her hand.
"Maybe I shouldn't have asked that. I mean it's none of my business."

Ghost head came up and when her eyes met the other girls the was a slight
reassuring smile there. "Oh no, I didn't mind the question. Really. It's
just that it's all so new to me and I don't know how I fell about it...no
... I take that back.. I do know how I feel that's why I've giving it up to
Norik de Verguan. I may have been born there, but I know nothing about it
now, and really don't want too. That's not my life, that life belonged to
someone who died 17 years ago."

"So you're really going to stay here in the Warren?" the girl asked a dreamy
look in eyes as she stared after the tall blond Wingleader. "I know Key will
be happy to hear that. You do know he cares about you, do you?"

Ghost could feel her cheeks getting redder by the moment. 

"I know," her own blue eyes turned to look after the man and his friend as
they joined the line of people getting their meals. "I finally figured that
out, but it took me a while."

"Well I'm glad you did. I know he'll do everything he can to make you
happy," Karine told her. "Anyone can see how much he's always cared for you.
Even when he thought you were only a child. I know he was thrilled when he
found out how much older you really were. You had us all shocked with that
bit of news."

"Well at the time it couldn't be helped. I hated having to lie like that,
but I'm sure now you can understand why I did it?"

"Oh yes," the dark-header girl chuckled. "I sure can. Imagine that, our
little Ghost an heir to a great track of land. It came as some shock I tell
you, and you're giving it all up?"

"Yup. My life is here with Kikeane ...and Mc'key.

----------  

"So tell me of fearless one," Jil'mae grinned as the two men joined the line
for dinner. "Have the two of you worked out your feelings for each other?"

"Like I said...stuff this hero crap Jillie," Mc'key told him as he finally
drew up next to the plates and reached for two of them. "And yes... we have.
You were right. She does share the feelings I have for her."

"Well I won't say I told you so," the shorter man grinned. "But anyone could
tell she cared about you. Just take it slow with her right now okay?"

"You been talking to Phaedra?" the blond man asked. "I just had this talk
with her, and I'll tell you the same thing I told her. I plan on taking this
slow. I don't want to scare her off and you know I would never do anything
to hurt her. I care to much about her."

"I know."

"I do have a favor to ask of you," Mc'key started slowly... "I would like
for a couple of the riders, the ones who know her well to visit with her
while she's away. I don't really like her going off to Lago Vista for a
whole week by herself where she doesn't know anyone."

"You just don't like the idea of her being alone with that husband of hers,"
Jil'mae teased and saw his friend frown.

"He's only a husband in name until they can get the titles to the land
changed over then they'll have it annulled and she'll come back here."

"I'll bet it'll be the longest week of your life."

"You can say that again."

The two men returned to the table after filling there plates. Ghost felt
happy when Mc'key took the empty seat next to her and after placing her food
in front of her took her hand in his under the table and kept it. 

They spent the next couple of hours talking with the others, before Mc'key
took Ghost out to where Kikeane was waiting for her. 

"I don't want this night to end," she sighed as moved into his arms when
they opened for her. "I don't want to leave you."

"Woman I feel the same way," he pulled her closer and they stood there that
way unspeaking for a few minutes, just enjoying holding each other, then the
man spoke again.

"But we have to wait," he said. "I want to give you the time to deal with
this other stuff and then if you feel the same way about me when you come
back home..."

"I will always feel this way about you Key!!" she told him in earnest. "My
feelings won't change just because I'm going away for a week. I *want* to be
with you that's all. This week won't get over fast enough to suit me."

"I too will be counting the days love," his lips found hers and told her
with the simple touch what his heart 
was feeling. Then set lifted is lips from hers and guided her to where the
little pink dragon was waiting for her.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow she would be leaving to go to Lago Vista and by the end
of this week things should return to normal. 

It was only one week, she kept telling herself as Kiki took her home. One
week and she could come back here and be with the man she loved. Surely the
week couldn't last forever?

"Key... would you stay with me tonight?" she asked slowly.

"I don't think that would be a very good idea Sweetie," he said with some
regret. 

"Not for that..." she blushed. "I just don't want to be alone. Could you
maybe just hold me.."

---------  

(the next morning...early)

<My rider you need to wake up!> Kikeane's sweet voice filled her mind as the
dragons' thoughts woke her. <My mother says you need to hurry because
everyone is waiting for you and ready to leave. We go to that town this
morning.>

Ghost groaned and pulled the covers up over her head. That's when she
discover Mc'key was gone. When had he left she wondered? And then 
remembered how good it had felt with his arms around her the night 
before. True to his word, he did no more than hold her until she had 
fallen asleep. 

<Come on!!! Hurry!!! Or they may leave with out us!!>

<<Don't I wish,>> the girl muttered as she rolled out of bed and headed
towards the bathing room. <<Please tell them I will be down as soon as I
clean myself up and get dressed.>>

Later after finally arriving down on the green next to other dragon's
loading up passengers for the short flight, Ghost was pleased to see 
Mc'key among the riders who would be going. But when the Warrenlady 
brought Norik over to her and told her that she would be talking him 
with her, she saw him frown.

"It would be best if you and Norik showed up together," Phaedra was 
telling her as Norik's things were secured to Kiki's saddle. "It'll 
do the people a world of good to see that you two are of one mind in 
this matter."

"Yes M'lady, you're right," the younger girl agreed with her, but at the
moment she was wanting to spend a few moments alone with her love. She
didn't know when the next time would happen. 

"Well it's time to load up and get a move on it," the Warrenlady said and
then reached out to place her arms on the tiny girl's shoulders. "It'll be
over soon Bashie, and then you can come home to where you belong."

Home... her eyes that had never left her loves shown brightly now with that
hope planted firmly in her mind. 

Home. 

"It won't take forever Bashie," a voice said from behind her pulling her
back to the two in front of her. Dellanie joined them. "I'll be going with
you, and think I might stay for a little bit longer after you come home.
There are a few people I haven't seen in a long time that I would love to
see again."

Ghost heard the longing in her words and also noticed the way her mothers
eyes lit up as she looked at the man standing beside her. Her mother and Norik? 

Her eyes strayed to the tall man and noticed he was looking warmly back at
Dellanie. Humm... she thought and felt pleased with the way this was turning
out. Her mother and Norik.... the sooner this was over the quicker they
could be together... Ghost wondered how long this had been going on... Had
they known their feelings for each other before... or only discovered them
recently?

Suddenly her world was looking up. But she would miss her mother being
around the Warren if what she suspected was right. She'd get over it, as
long as Dellanie was happy. Somehow she had to make sure she was.

--------  

Lago Vista was a lot grander then Ghost thought it would be. No wonder
Bridgett had wanted to rule it. 

As they dragon's landed she could see people coming out of their homes and
shops near by to see what was going on. As soon as they saw Norik from where
he sat up on top of the pink dragon, a cheer went up and they people swarmed
out to greet him.

"Our fight is over at last!! The heir has been found and returned to her
home," he called out to them and the cheering increase. He dismounted from
where he'd been sitting aboard Kikeane's back and then turned to help a
bewilder Ghost to the ground.

"Fear not those around you," he told her with a warm smile and gave her hand
a reassuring squeeze. "They have dreamed of this moment for a long time. All
of Bridgett's people have been taken care of so you will not have to fear
these who are her. Their welcome is heartfelt and real."

She nodded up at him and then turned around to find the reassuring figure of
the man she loved. Mc'key was just dismounting from Vas and coming towards them.

How she longed to run into his arms and let him take away the fear building
up inside of her. But she knew that couldn't happen. 


"Come Bashie," Norik said and took her hand in his and lead her into a
building not to far away. The people melted away to allow them to pass and
she could see the happiness in their eyes.

Norik paused on the top steps, waiting for Lord Oboe to catch up to them and
then turned back to the crowd and began to speak. 

"For a long time we who were loyal to the rightful ruler of these lands have
waited for the day that the one true heir would return and reclaim what was
rightfully hers by right of blood ties. That day is among us now!" he paused
as the cheering increase in sound and then raised his hand up to quiet them
down.

"Returned to us at last is the daughter who was hidden away at birth and
protected by those of us who were sworn to keep her safe. My wife....Bashie." 

Ghost was pulled forward for the people to see.

"But... there is something you should all know," Norik told them. "Something
that will affect all of us here. I will let Bashie tell you this as it is
her wish to see this thing through."

He turned and saw the fear on her face. "Go on Bashie and tell them. It
needs to come form you so there will be no doubts. Don't be afraid. They
will understand."

And they did.

She could see it in the looks on the faces of those in the crowd when she
was finished explaining that she would be turning over the leadership of the
town and it's surrounding lands to Norik. That this man who had given up his
most of his life in the service to her family would now become the rightful
ruler of the lands and that she wouldn't be staying, but would come back
often to visit.

"I know how much you all gave up in protecting me, but I never have been a
part of this life. My life is at the Warren who also protected me, but I
feel very strongly about this, and know Norik is the right one to rule. He's
earned the right!!"

He took her inside then and asked that she be shown to a room. Dellanie
followed her a few minutes later and to Ghosts surprise Mc'key followed her
mother into the room.

"It seems I forgot something," Dellanie said with and innocent air, but a
twinkle in her eye. "I'll be back in...a.. little while. It may take me some
time to remember where I put it."

"With that she left the room and the two younger people alone. Ghost didn't
waste anytime but ran into the arms that had opened for her.

"Oh Key... I want for all this to be over," she cried softly as he held her.
"I just want to go back home and be with you."

"It's only for a few short days love," he promised, his chin resting on the
top of her head. "Lord Oboe has asked for an emergency meeting of the Lords
to convene so we won't have to drag this out any longer than we have to.
They'll be meeting tomorrow morning."

"And how long will we have to wait after that?"

A few days or so for the records to be changed over," he promised. "That's
how Norik explained it to me last night when we talked... You know don't you
that he's always had feelings for your mother?"

She nodded her head. "I suspected as much this morning when I saw them
together. I hope they can work things out."

"I'm sure they will," he told her and the chuckled. "In fact I have a
feeling they are together right now doing pretty much the say thing I'd
would love to do with you."

"Oh!" she turned her head up to look at him. "And what my love would that be?"

"Oh no you sassy wench... I'll not forget my promise," he chuckled again,
but his lips came down to tease hers. "But I'll give you something to think
about while we are down in the dining hall having lunch with the rest of them.

Something to think about indeed!! The kiss he gave her was all she could
think about as she tried to pay attention to what was being said around her
later at the lunch table. But as soon as she would get her mind on the
happenings around her, she would look up to see his knowing smile and start
to pray this week would hurry up and be over. 

"So Bashie..." Lord Oboe was saying beside her. drawling her once again
back. "You will be meeting the other Lords tonight at a formal dinner and we
can tell them of you desires then. Tomorrow we can present your evidence and
hopefully have a verdict in a day or so after that. But I really see no
reasons for them do delay their rulings..."

"I hope not Lord Oboe for I would like to get back to the Warren as soon as
I can," she replied. "I have a life to start living there."

"Oh I can see that you do young lady." The older man winked as he saw where
her eyes were looking. "Yes I can see that you do.

--------------------------   

Nrpg: Okay in my next post I'll have her meeting the nobles and get that
started.... then the meeting in the courts... the sooner I can get through
that the sooner she can come home.... :) 

Peter... I can't see Mc'key staying the whole time... don't think Phaedra
will allow it... but he can come an visit....  

****Submitted by: ******

Barbara (a.k.a.

Ghost (Bashie) & Kikeane 
Dellanie
Norik, Lord of Lago Vista
Jil'mae & Skeeter
Geode Warren