With everything she saw, Ghost looked more and more amazed and happy. She
couldn't believe he had gone though all this trouble just for her. 

Oh how she loved him more with each passing minute. Each new surprise. She
felt a joy she'd never felt before when she was with him. It was a feeling
she liked very much indeed and knew it was all because of him.

With the past finally put to rest, the only thing she had to worry about was
the future. But with Mc'key there to live it with her, she couldn't think of
anything that would please her more.

With lunch finished, both Mc'Key and Ghost looked at each other. They arose
from the table and went to each other and began to hold hands. They touched
each other's faces, stroked hair and began to explore each other's bodies
almost in disbelief that it was happening.

It was incredible to feel such joy from a simple touch. 

That he was taking things slow, she knew. Knowing this was all new to her,
and not wanting her to be afraid. As if she would be with him. But she was
thankful to him for his consideration of her feelings. 

When the touching wasn't enough any longer she sighed and Key, being in
tuned with her feelings suddenly swept Ghost up in his arms. Kissing her, he
carried her to the bathroom with the bath designed for two. They washed each
other, each treating the other as if they were so fragile they might break. 

He was still taking his time, giving her chance to get used to the feel of
his touch on her flesh, and hers on his, waiting until she gave him the sign
that she was ready for more. 

He knew the moment her body and mind had realized what she wanted and picked
her up out of the tub and began to dry her off.

Once dry, Ghost left the bathroom, saying "Spring is here."

She was nervous as she entered the room, but she wanted what was to happen
more that she had ever wanted anything. 

On the bed was a beautiful golden brown gown he had picked out for her, and
she reached for it, holding it up in front of her to look at.

Simple yet.... oh it was beautiful, and so silky to the touch. Yet modest.

How had he known she'd prefer something like this?

She didn't have time to ponder that question as the door opened to admit
him. The look in his eyes when he saw her standing there thrilled her as she
began to approach him. Her heart swelled knowing he wanted her as much as
she wanted him....

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

Morning came to early, but she snuggled closer in his arms instead of
getting up. He had told her they had four days to themselves, so she was
going to enjoy herself all she could.

Right now all she wanted was to lay here with him and think about what they
had done together last night. It had been everything she had hoped it to be.
Everything her mama had told her it would be like between tow people who
loved eachother. 

Mc'key had taken things slow and let her set the pace until such time her
body had begged him to complete their union. Oh...and that had been
wonderful....

He moved beside her, his body stretching as it came awake slowly. Ghost
raised her eyes almost shyly to look at him. 

"Good morning,"

"Good morning," he replied, a warn smile appearing on his handsome face.
"Did you sleep well?"

"When you finally allowed me to sleep," she said dryly and then bushed as he
laughed.

"Oh.. who was keeping who awake last night?"

"Well...okay.. I'll take half the blame,"

He moved until he was half leaning over her, his arms wrapping around her
shoulders as he looked down on her, a leer in his eyes and a wicked smile on
his face.

"Oh you will will you?" he asked and began lowering his lips towards her.

"Mummm" she agreed, and then gave herself over to his fiery kisses.

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

The first full day together was spent on long walks around the area. They
spent time talking about their dreams and hopes. Telling each other about
their pasts and the joys and pains of their lives. 

At night he held her again as the entered the second of the four season
rooms. This time she had picked winter, and they made slow sweet love until
the sun snuck up over the mountain rise. Then after a late breakfast, they
once again took to the hills to explore a new area.

Ghost bundled up in the new leather flying jacket her Mama and Norik had
given her had never felt happier. 

They were just making their way back to the chalet when they saw them. Three
men on dragon's landing on the long drive in front of the building. 

Mc'key placed a hand on her arm stopping her when she would have gone
forward to greet them.

"They're not from Geode," he told her keeping his voice low as he pulled her
back out of sight. "I don't know who they are but I don't like the looks of
them."

"Who are they?" she asked. 

"I've no idea...Wait here. I need to see if I can get close enough to hear
what they are saying."

"No.. Let me," she said holding him back. "I have had a bit more practice at
things like this then you have my love. How else do you think I always knew
what was going on in the Warren?"

Mc'key didn't want to let her go. It was just to dangerous for her, but
before he could tell her so, Ghost was gone.

"Damn!" he swore softly, suddenly remembering that he's never found out how
she did that. 

She blanked her mind so the dragon's couldn't sense her thoughts. A trick
she'd discover after V'dar's, Tekelote had almost caught her at her snooping
a time or two, and advanced as quickly as was safe to a spot not far from
where the three dragonriders were standing. 

"I tell you I know someone is here!" the man in the dark brown leather
jacket said to the others. "Barnath said he sensed two dragon's when we
teleported in."

"So where are they now?" a second man in dark green asked. 

"How the hell should I know," the first man answered. "But I know they have
to be around here somewhere. We just have to find their riders and make sure
they don't ruin anything."

Ghost wondered what they were talking about. Ruin what?

"How can anyone be here?" The third man asked, finally getting into the
conversation. "I thought the owner assured us that no one would be here this
week? that's why we set the meeting to be here."

"Well maybe if Barnath can't sense them any longer they're gone," green
jacked said to the others. 

"Maybe... but I would feel better knowing that for sure before the others
arrive," Barnath's rider growled and then started towards the steps leading
inside. "If you find anyone here, make sure they don't get away."

"I still think he's crazy for having this meeting so close to Geode Warren,"
the third man was saying as he turned to follow the first guy inside. "What
if we get caught? *He* won't like it."

<My rider... I don't like these dragon's who have come here,> Kikeane's
thought entered her mind very quietly. <Vas agrees that they are up to no good.>

<<Vas's rider and I agree with you on that my love.>>

<Be careful.>

<<Always.>> the girl grinned and then as soon as the three men were out of
sight made er way back to where she had left Mc'key waiting and told him
what she had over heard.

"Are you sure he said Barnath?" Key's eyes opened wider as he asked the
question.

Ghost nodded her head. 

"Do you know him?"

"I've heard the name in passing," he told her, his face showed his anger.
"He's thought to be one of the rouge's plaguing the area around here. I've
had several reports of him being in the area when some of the farms were
raided. And I had word that he might have been one of the riders who
attacked Lady Phaedra a few months back, but could never prove it."

"But what are they doing here now?"

"I don't know," he said slowly as his mind took over trying to figure it
out. "But we had better find out something to take back to the Warren to
tell Phaedra. She'll want to know they're here."

{inside}

"Well someone was here, even if they're not here now," green jacket said
when the three had met in the front hall.

"Yea, there's fresh dishes in the sink in the kitchen and those rooms we
found upstairs,"  the third man commented as he kept looking around as if
expecting someone to just walk in the door.

"Well they ain't here no more," the leader of the three spoke. "Or we would
have found them. But just to be on the safe side I think we should have our
dragons stationed outside to make sure no one leaves here or enters without
us knowing about it."

Each of the three riders gave their dragon's the orders and just as Ghost
and Mc'key were starting to sneak around to the back entrance, they saw the
dragon's positioning themselves at spots along the way where they could
control the avenues of approach.

There was no way they were going to get any where close enough to get then
inside with out being seen.

"Damn... we'll never get back inside with them there," Mc'key swore.

"I can," Ghost told him.

"No.. It's to big a chance to take right now," he told her. "We need to get
back and let someone know what's going on. Maybe we could tell H'nin so we
don't have to worry Phaedra until we know something more."

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

"And that's all you heard them say?" H'nin questioned Ghost for a second
time after she had repeated the story to him after the two had returned to
the Warren. 

"That's all I'm sure of it," she told him. "I think I could have learned
more if I could have gotten inside... but Key wouldn't let me."

"And he was right to stop you scamp," the Wingleader agreed. "You never know
what they might have done if they had caught you."

"*You* never caught me!" she grinned and then leaned back away from the hand
he threatened her with.

"Don't get cheeky my dear. There's always a first time."

"So H'nin. What are we going to do about the riders who showed up?" Key
asked as he reached for his coffee cup and brought it up to his lips.

"I think it might be a good idea to get a few of us riders together and go
on up to the Chalet for a little look around," the older man told them. "I
don't like the idea of rogues being so close to the Warren."

"I'm going with you," Ghost said before either man could stop her. "I am a
dragonrider too if you both remember."

"Might as well let her go along," Mc'key sighed heavily and looked across
the table at H'nin. "You know we'll never hear the end of it if we don't."

"You're telling me?"

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

They can go have a look if they want... but the rogues and their dragon's
will be gone when they get there. It's part of a story line Kiddo and I are
working on....

Kiddo:) you go girl... the meeting is all yours....

Peter... thought we dropped off the face of the earth didn't ya ;)    

Taylor.... Ghost will need to meet up with Argent soon.

And Paula... how's the dragonball game end?

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

Barbara (A.k.a.

Ghost & Kikeane
Geode Warren