(Diana, Koroth says his rider would like you to come back for lunch)

Diana breathed a slight sigh of relief. She was afraid that Trey would 
withdraw into himself & not let her near. That would not have been good 
for either of them. Diana pulled on a jacket since she had slipped into 
something cooler after cleaning up. She winced slightly as she pulled it 
across her chest. Her & Trey's lovemaking the night before must have been 
a little rougher than she had thought.
She smiled as she remembered it, it had been a wonderful release.

She climbed on Zena & as she took off she heard the dragon keening.

(What is that, Zena)

(That is Yenal, Diana. He is finally realizing that his bond with his 
human is gone)

(He is better off) Diana thought bitterly

(Diana....) Zena rebuked her

(I know, Zena.I shouldn't feel that way but I can't help it. Because of 
Malk almost everything I have ever cared for is gone)

(You still have me, Diana)

(I know sweetie & if I didn't I wouldn't be here now. I wouldn't have 
been able to hang on)

(& you have Koroth's rider, after all you mated with him last night)

(That was different, Zena. That was because we are friends who needed 
each other)

(but you like him, don't you Diana)

(yes I do, Zena, but its not the same as Darrin)

At this moment Zena landed on Trey's ledge. Before getting off of Zena, 
Diana wondered to herself if she was wrapping herself up in Trey's life & 
problems to forget Darrin. No, she genuinely liked Trey, but she would 
have to be careful. She knew that although her body still yearned to be 
comforted by him that he wasn't ready. He had needed her in a moment of 
forgetfulness for them both but he still felt like Ophelia's mate & felt 
disloyal to her. She turned to greet Trey.

"Trey" Diana started towards the apartment "I am glad you didn't cancel 
our lunch date after all"

Trey looked up from where he had been sewing. "No, I figured I better 
keep myself busy & with someone I could talk to rather than dwell on the 
meeting tomorrow."

Diana still looked slightly puzzled over this man who could sew & cook 
but just shook her head. "I'm hungry & even if you aren't you need to 
eat, so lets eat"

Trey put down his sewing & headed for the table & Diana headed for the 
icebox for the chicken salad & brought it to the table. "I hope you like 
it. since you had enough leftovers to feed us for days!" Diana grinned.

"I told you I was used to cooking for a family of five" Trey said & then 
a small amount of sadness came to his eyes. Diana put down the chicken 
salad & gave him a quick hug & looked into his eyes.

"It will be alright. Things work out eventually" Diana said She then 
stood up & went to the other side of the table "Lets eat"

They both dished up their plates, Diana filling hers about twice as high 
as Trey saying "I am ravenous...probably catching up on what I didn't eat 
during the days we were looking for Malk"

They ate silently although Trey started by picking at his food instead of 
eating it.

"Hey, I am going to take this as an insult to my cooking if you don't 
eat" Diana joked

Trey seemed to make a more concentrated effort to eat & even reached for 
the cake knife to cut the cake before Diana did.
"I have always been a sucker for chocolate cake" Trey grinned.

After lunch they cleaned things up together & then Trey settled again to 
his sewing & Diana started whittling again. Trey expressed some interest 
in her whittling & an idea began to form in Diana's mind. They talked 
back & forth & by the end of the afternoon both of them had nearly 
completed their projects.

(Diana, Koroth wants to know if I was the one who said the things about 
his rider mating with his daughter)

(Did you tell him that you found out yourself from another dragon? That 
youdidn't really understand everything that Trey & I talked about 
yesterday yourself?)

(Yes, I did)

"Btw, Trey, Zena was not the one who spread the rumours" Diana said

Trey looked slightly startled as this comment out of the blue. "What?"

"Koroth asked Zena if she was the one who spread the rumours. I figured 
that thought must have accured to you also" Diana said

Trey looked slightly uncomfortable "well, it is a natural thought. 
Dragons don't understand that what I did was wrong"

"I know, I just wanted you to know that Zena didn't say anything." Diana said

They both put down their stuff & Diana said "leftovers for supper?"

They fixed & ate supper & then cleaned up. It was almost dark out & Diana 
had an idea. "Trey, how would you feel about a short ride? We won't be 
near anyone."

"That sounds like a good idea. I already hate being coped up here" Trey said.

They both mounted their dragons.

(Zena, give Koroth a picture of the mountain)

Zena seemed slightly surprised but did so.

"Lets go" Diana said as they took off & both dragons teleported at almost 
the exact same time.

..................& appeared above the mountain where Diana had spent 
most of her time after Darrin died. They landed.

"Its beautiful up here" Trey said as he climbed down.

Diana agreed as she also climbed down. "There is a peacefulness here I 
haven't been able to find most places"

They looked around the area & then Diana sat down & held out her hand for 
Trey to come sit next to her. He did.

"I came here a lot after Darrin was killed, in fact, I slept here a few 
nights when I couldn't bear to be in the bed without him"

Trey's arms went around Diana to hold her & comfort her. She continued "I 
haven't yet been able to sleep there"

Trey understood. He missed Ophelia so much but he at least didn't have to 
sleep in the same bed or stay in the same apartment they once had shared.

"If you want, you can stay with me tonight" Trey offered "I would 
appreciate the company"

"I would like that" Diana said snuggling a little closer to Trey enjoying 
the warmth.

They stayed like that for awhile longer & then Trey yawned. 

"Its been a long day & the meeting is tomorrow" Trey said "lets head back"

They both got up off the ground & mounted their dragons & teleported back 
to the warren.

"Thank you for sharing that with me, Diana" Trey said

"I thought you needed it as much as I have lately" Diana said.

They got cleaned up & then Trey lay down on the bed. Diana, slightly 
awkwardly joined him. Diana then also yawned.

They both restlessly tried to find a comfortable spot in the bed but 
everything seemed awkward. Then Trey held out his arms & Diana snuggled 
into them & they both drifted off to sleep.

 
       |\__/,|   (`\     Also known as:
     _.|o o  |_   ) )    
  ---(((----(((--------- Briana & Starleana of Keldarra
   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   Diana & Zena of Marrid
    ~  Kat Harris  ~     Karina of Amber
   ~catwoman@indy.net~   
   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   http://www.indy.net/~catwoman