Sa'ren Part I

Important Note to the Reader / Disclaimer

This chapter contains a major love scene between Joel and Kevin. It goes into detail that has not yet been seen in the CSU so far, but does so tastefully and with reason. However, if you do not care to read such things, know the following - there are three individual scenes which combine to form the love scene, and each of them are told in 'First Person'. Each are labelled as 'Kevin's Perspective' or 'Joel's'. So, if you want to skip the love scene entirely, move over to the next third person perspective scene. The scenes in question will be headed with a box just like the disclaimer box above.

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Forward

Many thanks go out to Dark Star for the help he gave me when he said he would write in this chapter. Working together, I believe we have managed to show the healing that both Joel and Kevin have performed upon each other.

Thanks, DS! Hugz, Bro!

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"What the fuck!" Nathan spluttered as he watched the golden sparkles replace his life-mate. "I... DRACO! Track and Trace! Voice has been..."

"Don't worry, guys," Mikey said quickly as he appeared in the room.

Nathan stared at him, his eyes like daggers. "Explain before I get Draco to tear the world apart looking for my Jace!"

"There's trouble in Utah, and Pablito thinks Jason can help. So, he grabbed him," Mikey said easily.

Cory managed to collect his thoughts after the sudden disappearance of his brother and asked, "What trouble, and wouldn't Jace being clothed have been better?"

"Serious trouble, and Jace has no concern over nudity among family," Mikey shrugged.

The naked Welsh blond boy standing next to Sean and Cory nearly went ballistic. "SERIOUS?!" Nathan yelled, startling the kids who were listening around the group, "And he's there NAKED with no weapons OR armour? Are you out of your celestial mind?!"

"Did you forget to reboot your brain after the last update?" Cory added, also staring at Mikey.

"Chill, bros," Mikey explained, "Pablito may be a ... unique ... angel ... but he wouldn't take one of the family into a situation where they could get hurt. There are some things that you guys can do that we can't do without having a Mandate. Trust me; we won't ever make a mistake that puts you guys in danger."

Nathan was certainly not happy, but he did nod his head.

"Come on. We need to talk," Mikey said as he picked up Nathan and cradled him over one hip. He wrapped his wings around his two brothers to pull them to each side, and guided them out of the nest and into the Dining Room.

Teri and Spock followed them and waited until Mikey had made himself comfortable, Nathan held securely on his lap. The blond pre-teen was beginning to relax more and more as Mikey rubbed circles in Nathan's belly with his hand.

"What has transpired, Michael?" Spock asked seriously as he, too, sat down.

"It seems that Chang had received some mental programming that enabled a certain General Adams to gain control over him. Chang was made to kill his parents; Janet and Joe, and..." Mikey started to say, but Teri interrupted him.

"WHAT THE HELL! HOW can you say that CALMLY?!" she screamed, her face suddenly pale.

"Because they aren't dead any more," Mikey said, still as calm as Cory had ever seen him. "Pablito is there. He DID have Mandate for a High-level Miracle, Mom. I wouldn't have said to 'not worry' if that hadn't been the case."

Teri grumbled her acknowledgement, still obviously not happy. "Go on, Michael."

"Mikey's in trouble, Mikey's in..." Cory began to sing under his breath.

"Corner. Now!" Teri ordered.

Cory complied fast. She really was in no mood to laugh.

Mikey again rolled his eyes. "Cory, if you want your bros to stop picking on your blond brain, then you should learn to read Mom's anger signs a little better. Mom. Calm down," he added as he smiled at his mother, "Janet and Joe are fine and General Adams soon won't be. Jason is over there to find out what programming has occurred, and who else may or may not be involved. Then they can deal with it. Until Jason does that, we can only wait. Oh, and don't try calling for Mike Reynolds - he's a little busy right now... with the General..."

"Good!" Cory said as he sat facing the corner.

"No talking," Teri said automatically. Then she seemed to reconsider the situation. "Cory, come here please."

Cory did so quickly, and soon was standing close to her. He looked slightly apprehensive.

"Sorry, Cory. I know you were only trying to lighten the mood, but that was the wrong time and the wrong way to do it," she said to him seriously.

He nodded his head, "Yes, Ma'am. I'm sorry, Mom."

"Accepted. Come here, sweetheart," she replied as she held her arms open.

Cory moved into her cuddle quickly, and was promptly drawn onto her lap.

"You're still lap-sized," Teri smiled.

Cory grinned, "Only just."

Nathan giggled, "At least you're smaller than Sean."

"I am not! I'm taller than he is!" Cory retorted.

"I didn't mean 'up and down', Cor... I meant around the mid... erkkkk!" Nathan couldn't continue, for Sean had pulled him from Mikey's lap and was attacking his ribs fiendishly. "HELP!" Nathan managed between his giggles.

Mikey complied with Nathan's request, going for his armpits as Cory cuddled with Teri.

"I do believe that qualifies as what you call 'divine intervention', Nathan." Spock said with a straight face.

"You traitor... Poppa... Spock!" Nathan squealed through his laughter.

"You going to call me fat again?" Sean giggled, while Mikey started blowing raspberries on Nathan's belly.

"NEVER!" Nathan managed through his now hysterical giggles. Once both the angel and Sean had released him, he ran around to cuddle close to Cory and Teri. "At least not unless I have running room... We blonds have to stick together; right, Cor?" he giggled, looking at the blond, sniggering Patriarch.

"I believe I should quote that author on that message board that Sean hangs out on... 'Wisely says nothing!'," Cory giggled.

Spock raised an eyebrow, then looked over at Mikey. "Is there anything that the Enterprise can do to assist the Special Forces Division?"

"No, Pop," Mikey smiled back. "It's all under..."

A strange alarm started to sound, one that Cory had never heard from the Clan's system before. What raised his concern level even more as he quickly slipped from Teri's lap was Spock going ridged at their side.

"What NOW?" Cory said with asperity.

"That alarm is sounded when a Member of the Bloodline of Surak is transported without proper clearance," Spock said as he rose fast. His communicator went off at the same moment, "Spock here."

"That answers my question, my son. It is Sa'ren that has been taken. Inform the VSO at once, Spock," Sarek's voice said urgently.

Cory hit his comm badge and his sub-vocal at the same time. "Condition RED ... and if someone doesn't shit the location of Joel within the next 60 seconds I'm gonna be PISSED!"

Nathan then reached and grabbed Cory's badge, since he obviously did not have his own. "Command Override, Fire of the Dragon - Draco - this is a code 93-Charlie. Repeat: 93-Charlie," he ordered, as Mikey suddenly vanished in a loud popping sound.

'Acknowledged. Sa'ren Joel Short is under track and trace,' came Draco's response.

This was followed by Seth immediately after, "HQ Clear. Oceanic, Clear. AI, Clear. Checking with Utah and all Dragon bases in Africa..."

'Stop Alert,' came Daileass' voice a second later from the speakers, 'I wish people would inform me of these Starfleet protocols! I beamed him and Kevin Thompson to Utah to help.'

Nathan beat Cory to it, "On whose authority?"

'Commander Adam Casey. Jason said that only a mind-melder could heal the conditioning that some here have. So he ordered me to beam over Joel.'

Cory's face was livid with rage. "YOU DON'T JUST BEAM OUT A CLAN MEMBER WITHOUT NOTIFYING THE COMPUTER OF THE DIVISION THAT THAT PERSON IS IN... ESPECIALLY NOT MY LITTLE ELF! DO YOU FUCKING UNDERSTAND ME?!" Cory paused for breath, then continued in a command voice, "Ark, this is Cory Patrick Short, Founder Council Crafter. Log the following standing orders and log acknowledgements please."

<Logging commenced, Crafter.>

Cory's eyes blazed as he began. "I am Fleet Commander Cory Patrick Short, Patriarch of Family Clan Short of the House of Surak of Vulcan, High Councillor of Vulcan, Founder Council Crafter, Prince of the British Empire and Defender of the Commonwealth Alliance, and brother of Saint Mikey of Urbandale. Effective IMMEDIATELY: any and all transports of ANY member or ward of Family Clan Short of Vulcan or any organization working with Family Clan Short of Vulcan are required to be logged and acknowledged by the location responsible for the security of said person before any such transport may commence. This is a standing order which is not cancelable by any person or entity under my command either directly or by association. IS THAT CLEAR?"

"I need to take lessons in being a pissed off blond," Nathan said in awe as he looked up into Cory's eyes.

One by one, all the Clan computer systems from around the world, including the AI's, started to send acknowledgement. Finally, Ark said, <And while I do not use transporters, I will continue to send the coded signal that is normally expected by the Clan's systems when I teleport someone, Crafter. It is common courtesy, after all.>

'Agreed,' Draco added. 'Cancelling the Track and Trace, Fire.'

Nathan handed Cory's badge back, then looked towards the door sharply as four cats came barrelling in. "What the fuck is going on? Where's Joel?!" Mercury spat out quickly.

"Your AI, Daileass, forgot to be polite and beamed him out without telling the Clan's system," Sean grated slowly as he sat back down.

"If he had an ass, I'd claw it!" Aphrodite growled. "Come on," she added as she pulled the two cheetah's after her towards Main CIC. "We need to have a word with that idiot!"

Artemus curtsied to Cory, then stalked out after her two brothers and sister, muttering and hissing to herself.

"I see that my son has found the best group of brothers that there possibly could be," Spock said softly.

Cory looked over at him, and raised his own eyebrow; Spock was slowly crushing a cast iron skillet into what looked like a ball.

"Ark, please suspend official log. Thank you for your help, and could you please ensure all divisions receive a copy of it?" Cory asked, his eyes still reflecting his angered state.

<Certainly, Cory. Good night.>

"When did Justy add Joel's comm to the system? He's only just had it," Sean asked no-one in particular.

"He didn't," Nathan answered, "Joel's wearing his amulet, right? It has a short range signal device inside. That was linked to the computer earlier today."

"How much range? Could Draco track him?" Cory asked curiously.

"To a point. It's about a mile, if that. What Draco would have done just now, though, is trace all transports on Earth. The signal in Joel's amulet is only to link him to any computer he passes that is set to record it. Which means all official transporters would have a log," Nathan answered easily, then his eyes suddenly went wide. "Uhhh, Poppa Spock?"

"Yes?" Spock said as he dropped the now shapeless lump of iron on the floor.

"We have a big problem," Nathan said slowly as his eyes blazed out blue. "Oh, fuck - do we have a problem. Jace just sent to me... ALL the Genesis kids with the genetic upgrades have the programming! The Cats too! There's 6 human G-kids here with it, and the 8 cats! This is... we need Aunt T'Pol here. You and she have to sort them out before some OTHER arse-hole triggers any one of them!"

As Spock tapped his new comma badge and called for T'Pol, as well as to let Sarek know the whereabouts of Joel, Cory turned to Nathan, "How long would melding with 14 kids take for two Vulcans?"

"About 2-5 mins a piece, Cor," Nathan answered with a sigh.

"And how many of the enhanced kids are we talking about in Utah?"

"Over 35, I think..."

Cory locked his eyes with Sean. Sean sighed heavily, "Kevin is going to be plenty pissed off..."

"I'm sending for more VSO Vulcans," Nathan stated quickly. "No way are we leaving it just to Joel."

"I shall also go to Utah with T'Pol once we have completed all the mind-melds required here," Spock said softly.

"What the FUCK is going on?!" Sammy yelled suddenly from the doorway leading to CIC. He was butt naked and trembling in rage and fear, and his eyes were blazing out with blue-power. Behind him, Vishnu was not looking best pleased either, and was examining his privates gingerly. Sammy entered, still raging, "I... I felt Joel's fear like it was my own! Now I can't feel him nearby at all, then there's the alarms going off and then stopping! What the fuck is going on? WHERE'S MY LITTLE JOEL!!!"

Cory turned and opened his arms to Sammy. "He's fine," Cory said as Sammy allowed himself to be hugged. "He was beamed to Utah by Daileass to help with whatever is going on there. Daileass forgot to send the correct signals to our computer, which triggered the 'kidnap' alarms."

Sean looked angry, "It also seems like he scared the shit out of Joel, Cory. If Sammy picked it up, then it's bad."

"He's fine," Nathan supplied quickly. "In fact, he's now being cuddled by Aunt Janet."

"She's on her feet again? That fast?" Teri asked quickly.

"When we heal, we do it right," Mikey supplied as he reappeared. "Joel's okay. Cory, you need to call all the Genesis children in here. Kartik included, Vish. Can you call him for me?"

"Uh, sure, but can you check something first?" Vishnu asked painfully while still holding his privates gingerly.

Mikey grinned, "Let me guess - you and Sammy were busy when Sammy felt Joel vanish?"

"Uh huh, you might say that," Vishnu winced as Mikey carefully pulled his paws away and held his hand near to the cat-boy's tender bits. There was a brief glow, and then a contented sigh from the cougar. Mikey then vanished again.

"Sorry, Vish," Sammy said softly. "Didn't mean to bite..."

"More than I needed to hear," Helen said as she entered the room. "Okay, I've followed most of that while comforting the scared little ones in there. I'll get hot chocolate on the go."

"You're a horn dog, SamSam!" Randy giggled as he and his two brothers walked in. "You woke us up with your temper. It was only 'cos Aunt Helen was tellin' us all that things were good that we didn't start raging too!"

T'Pol entered next, and Spock went up to her to explain what was going on quickly. Vishnu went to the doorway to CIC, and shouted for his brothers and sisters to come over and stop yelling at Daeliass over the comm.

As they entered, Cory closed his own comm to the other Genesis kids. "They're on their way. Nath', how bad is it?"

"Jace says very. But it won't be a problem for a Vulcan to remove," the blond boy said thoughtfully while his eyes were still 'far away' as he communicated with Jason. "He also says that all communication to Utah is now disabled until this crisis is over."

"Logical," Sean murmured as he started pointing the first few arriving Genesis kids towards the Dining Room table. "Over here, guys. We'll explain in a moment. Helen is getting drinks for you all... no, you're not in trouble. Wait for everyone, then we'll explain, okay?"

Once all those from the Unit Division were seated, Spock and T'Pol came over and explained what was happening and that a meld would be required to take out the conditioning.

As the two Vulcans were explaining, Cory sat with Sean, Sammy, the Trinity and Nathan. The blond teen sighed, "Can't we have five minutes without a crisis?"

"Don't think so," Nathan muttered. He cocked his head to one side, then sighed again, "Damn it! Okay, I'm going to wake Austin... the AI boys and even Daeliass have this shit programmed into them!"

Sean muttered, "Send him over now?"

"No," Spock said briefly. "I will take him with me when T'Pol and I leave for Utah."

Nathan nodded before rising and leaving to room to find Austin somewhere in the nest. Spock and T'Pol started to perform the melds required to remove all the conditioning from those affected.

"I hope Vish will be okay," Sammy fretted anxiously as he watched the human G-kids get their melds first. He then waved Brian over as Kartik came in with him. Kartik joined his brothers and sisters, his face a mask of curiosity, while Brian cuddled against Sammy quickly. "Don't worry, Bry," Sammy murmured, although he felt scared himself. "Uncle Spock'll fix it."

"Fix what?" Brian trembled as his eyes sought and locked with Kartik's.

While Sammy explained, Nathan floated back into the room with Austin floating behind him. "Nath', you do know I like being clothed if leaving the Compound... right?"

"I don't know," Cory smiled wickedly at the now upside down, butt naked android, "I'm sure you'll give them all a good show. And Jace is over there in the same state."

"No. Jace has a tee-shirt. A short one," Sean sniggered. "Austin, you can take a pair of socks."

"You are SOOOO dead when I get back, Pop!" Austin growled.

Nathan sniggered as well as he lowered Austin to his feet, "Now, now! No back-chat to your father, young man!"

"I'm older than you and your horn-dog partner put together, Nath!" Austin replied with a small smile.

"Details, details," Nathan said airily as he tried not to bust out in giggles. He pushed Austin over until he was squashed between Cory and Sean, then promptly claimed Sean's lap. "Mmm... that's better. It's cold standing around in one's skin."

"Hence why I wanted clothes?" Austin retorted, but he did pull Cory's arm around himself and cuddle in closely.

"I wanted to scope out that cute butt of yours," Nathan said with dignity. "Jace ain't here, so I'm window shopping..."

While Austin and Nathan traded casual insults, the six human Unit kids were finally given the all clear by the two Vulcans, and were told to see Helen in the Kitchen for a drink and something to eat. As they stood to leave, Sammy asked loudly, "Uncle Spock? Can you get Vish and KT sorted first... please?"

Spock looked over and saw that Brian was near tears, and Sammy wasn't much better. He glanced at T'Pol, then at the gathered G-Cats. "Of course, Samuel," Spock said softly.

Cory smiled to himself. Both boys had just discovered their own personal 'special person', so the reaction of what could be seen as selfishness was completely understandable. Also, it didn't seem like the other cats were too badly concerned - the two cougars weretheir 'little' brothers, after all.

As soon as both cougars had had their melds, they were grabbed and led into the Kitchen by Brian and Sammy, with the Trinity giggling as they followed them.

"Sweet," Nathan and Austin murmured, before glancing at each other and laughing.

Austin stood up and stretched. "I'm getting dressed. Won't be long 'til Grandpop is ready to go," he said as he poked his tongue out at Nathan. "Get a good look, sunshine. This will soon be covered!" he giggled as he turned and wiggled his butt at Nathan.

"Shame," Nathan said as he gave Austin a fast goose.

"Hey! No touching unless you plan on owning it!" Austin giggled as he moved away.

"Let me discuss the matter with Jace, then we'll get back to you... he thinks you're cute too," Nathan giggled, causing Austin to blush - even the android's behind started to glow.

"I should go all paternal on you for that comment, if I thought you were serious," Sean said as he increased his cuddle on the blond on his lap.

Nathan twisted to grin at him, "I don't make a habit of lying, Historian!"

"I'd spank you, but rumor has it that you enjoy it too much," Sean giggled, giving Nath a quick squeeze to show he was joking.

"Damn, now I'm disappointed!" Nathan sniggered. He then glanced back through the doorway into the Rec Room where Austin was attempting to wrestle his clothes out from under I-Metri and Marjur. "Mmmm... he is single, right?"

Aphrodite looked over and giggled, "Did your Tristan and Donna getting together with Jory give you and Jace ideas, Nathan?"

Nathan started to blush, and it only got worse as Spock raised an eyebrow at him.

"Someone get me a 'Fire' extinguisher," Cory giggled.

"That was so bad it was painful, Cory," Teri groaned.

Nathan continued to blush... and watch Austin closely.

Helen came in and set a few mugs down for the boys seated watching the two Vulcans and then sat down herself, "This could be a long night."

"Tell us something we don't know," Sean giggled as he kept a firm hold on the boy on his lap.

Nathan giggled, then glanced at the doorway as Brant and Matthew Parnell entered.

---

Meanwhile:

After receiving the all clear about his grandson from Spock, Sarek sat alone in his quarters and stared out at the sky through the window, lost in his thoughts. Much had happened since the last time he had been alone in this room, and he needed the quiet to come to terms with it all. Through all his long years, he had never had so much trouble controlling his emotions as now: not even when the horrific news of his daughter-in-law's and Grandson's apparent deaths had been given to him.

His grandson just seemed to exude love - the desire to love and to be loved in return - to such a degree that all of his barriers and controls just vanished. Sarek could no more not feel in Joel's presence than he could stop breathing.

It was a simple fact.

He rather 'enjoyed' it, if he was brutally honest with himself.

"Oh, my grandson; you bring out all that is good in me. I thank you," he whispered to the air.

A beeping from the comm-desk in the corner roused him from his thoughts, and he moved over to answer the call.

"Patriarch Sarek," the Vulcan priestess started by way of greeting once the Ambassador had received the signal. "I now have the information you requested regarding the Fo'wein Sa'ren."

"Indeed?" Sarek said, his interest showing. "Please proceed."

"Your call two days past caused no small measure of concern, Sarek. The Armour and the Sword are guarded closely and perpetually, and no-one is allowed into the chamber that they reside in without a House Patriarch being present: apart from the Sur'Kat'Araya; and he can only enter himself, not authorise others. When you alerted us to the possible current placement of the Fo'wein Sa'ren, we asked Patriarch Misak and Patriarch Siprak to accompany us. It was not until an hour ago that they could come to us for the inspection. The Armour is missing, Patriarch; that much I can confirm. How it was taken, and how it got to Earth, is still a mystery. Misak was simply astonished at this discovery; Siprak, however, was... emotive."

"How so?" Sarek asked, his concern hidden.

"He was angry. He muttered to himself and stormed from the room," the priestess said carefully. "His actions were as curious as they were disconcerting. Finding that the Armour was missing seemed to concern him greatly."

"You have no witnesses to the Armour's removal?"

"Yes," the priestess replied slowly. "There is one, but... we cannot add verification to support the claim, no matter the source."

Sarek raised an eyebrow. "Who witnessed it?"

"Surak."

Sarek's eyes widened. "Would it be acceptable for me to speak with him, please?" he asked softly.

The priestess nodded, "We were expecting your request - as was Surak. The Sur'Kat'Araya stands ready to take your call, Patriarch."

The view screen shifted view, and Sarek was now looking into the Chamber where the broken Sword of Surak was kept. The place where the Fo'wein Sa'ren had once been stood oddly empty, however. In the centre of the room, a Vulcan was standing. "Greetings, Cousin Sarek. Does it go well with you?"

"It goes very well," Sarek responded, almost smiling. "Does it go well with you, too, Soven?"

Soven nodded. "I am content, yet troubled. Sarek, I have been carrying the Katra of our Ancestor for more than one hundred years, and in all that time I have never felt what I feel now."

"And that is, Cousin?"

Soven checked around himself, then leaned closer to the screen. "Fear, Sarek. I am afraid. You know that we, the Priesthood of Kolinahr, keep the Legend of Sa'ren and Guard this place and the Katra. Until the events two days past happened, I had never given them much more than simple curiosity and respect. Could such things happen? I never did believe that. I do now. The Fo'wein Sa'ren is gone, and it has been worn by a child. Your Grandchild. And he has been Named 'Sa'ren' after the Sword. I speak truly when I say that I am afraid. You have been investigating an ancient power that once threatened the Oldest of Races, and now the 'It' of Legend has arrived? Can I be anything else other than afraid? For, logically, if 'It' has come, then 'He' is not far behind. All that remains is for Ish-Hassu to arrive, and we shall have certainty!"

"He already has," Sarek said simply.

Soven blinked once, then his Kolinahr control seemed to return. "Ish-Hassu - he is here?"

Sarek nodded.

"Then we have little time. Sarek, our shared Ancestor wishes to talk with you about the events surrounding the taking of the Fo'wein Sa'ren. Please stand by," Soven said quickly.

Sarek watched as Soven's light brown eyes seemed to change shade slightly, becoming ever so slightly blue-tinted.

"Blood of my blood, thank you for taking the time to speak with me," 'Surak' said from the lips of Soven.

Sarek shook his head quickly, "It was not an inconvenience, Honoured One. I have been informed that you witnessed the taking of the Armour you had created. Is that correct?"

"I would not say I witnessed 'the taking', my child. Instead, saying that I 'witnessed it vanishing' would be more in keeping with the events. As is my wont, once every seven days I spend a few hours experiencing the world through the body of the Holder of my Katra. It was at that time that I came here to gaze upon my ancient weapon and upon the armour I had forged for my Heir. Then, as if the air itself had become as liquid, a vortex appeared and swallowed the armour. It was much as those reports I have heard at times of 'wormholes'. The experience was... interesting. I left this room and intended to inform my Holder once he had regained control, but the effect of that event drained me. I fell inwards and did not emerge again until four hours ago. After finding out that you had contacted the Temple shortly after the time of the Armour's disappearance, I purposed to talk with you."

Sarek was still thinking of what to say after that revelation when Surak spoke again, "Your Forsaken grandson has been found and Named?"

Sarek looked up and nodded slowly.

"Do you have an image of him so that I can see my Heir?"

Sarek didn't answer; instead, he pressed a few buttons on the control panel before him and a picture of Joel in the Armour appeared on split-screen. Then, another appeared that was just Joel in his jeans and tee-shirt from earlier that day.

"It is him. I was there, Sarek. I was there at your grandson's Naming. Sa'ren after Sa'ren. My Heir. My Scion. The 'One Who Knows' was correct," Surak trailed off as he stared at the two pictures.

"Who is this 'One who Knows', Honoured One?" Sarek asked curiously.

"Me, Grandpa Sarek," the Doctor said from behind the Vulcan Patriarch.

Sarek turned quickly, and 'Surak' on screen looked directly at the little ginger Time Lord. "You! Who are you, child?" Surak asked quickly.

The Doctor smiled, and raised his hand to draw a symbol in the air. It hung there, created of light, and revolved slowly.

The Seal of the Time Lords. The Seal of Rassilon.

"The Time comes," the small boy said softly - ominously, "and the Sunlight will tremble."

---

CIC - Dining Room:

"And you have a problem with me and Jace stealing your android son?" Nathan sniggered as the door to Brant's apartment closed behind the Vampire and Matthew Parnell. "I'm betting two hours tops, and they'll be a couple!"

"1.7365 hours tops," Cory replied in his best Vulcan demeanour. "Plus or minus .045 percent."

"Less than 10.4537 minutes until they both engage in intimacy," T'Pol stated firmly as she released Bast from their meld. She saw Cory's curious expression and tapped her nose, "Female Vulcans have a higher sense of smell than our male counterparts, and I could smell that young Matthew is awash with desire. He is conflicted and scared about what is happening, but I could sense Brant's concern and compassion for him as well. I believe Brant will assist him."

Nathan giggled, "Well... glad I didn't put money down on THAT bet! Good for Matt! He's been so alone for so long."

"Juan's gonna be pissed he missed out on this one!" Cory giggled under his breath.

"We have finished," Spock murmured softly. "If Austin is ready, we shall depart for Utah. Nathan; is Daeliass allowing transporters to beam in, or do we need to use a shuttle to get there?"

Before Nathan could answer, Cory offered, "Ark can get them there. Ark won't have any problems with a dampening field."

Spock asked, "Ark is the ancient AI I have read about on the Clan's systems?"

Cory nodded as Austin came back into the room. "Enjoyed the show, Nath'?" the Android giggled.

Nathan grinned and nodded, "When can I see it in reverse?"

"I believe that would require the approval of your mate, which is quite possibly only going to occur if Hades has a temperature decrease to 10 degrees," Austin dead-panned.

Both of Spock's eyebrows raised quickly, and Nathan cocked his head to the side. His eyes went far away for a moment, then he grinned at Austin. "We'll see..."

Cory glanced at Sean, then over at Austin to await the boy's retort. This was an entertaining evening, all things considered.

"You think you'll see..." Austin replied back.

Nathan tilted his head further, then nodded to himself. "Ah... now I understand. I should have said 'you'll see', Austin." Then he shook his head a bit, "I'm not used to these intuition things..." He then slid off Sean's lap and padded across bare foot to Austin, who was looking a little uncomfortable. He smiled up at the slightly taller boy gently, then levitated up to be on eye level. He said softly, "Don't worry at it. I feel you, and I have a feeling that things will change for you in a good way soon. Maybe with me and Jace, but likely not as you said. I was kinda teasing you, but I'm also telling you the truth: Jace and I do think you're cute. But I've got this - feeling - that things are going to be okay for you. Don't worry at it." Nathan then slipped his arms around Austin's neck and kissed his cheek softly, "You'll be okay, brother."

"Thanks." Austin replied as he gave Nath a hug. "You know something though? It's really not polite to be poking your brothers with deadly weapons!" he added with a giggle.

"I believe that you should take that as a compliment, Austin," Spock said seriously as Nathan blushed.

"Down boy!" the blond giggled down at what was trying to seek some attention as he floated out of the hug with Austin. He then grinned back at Austin and said, "Told you that you were cute! My soldier agrees... and I believe he's not the only one with this problem!" he added as he glanced down Austin's body to the tent that had formed.

Cory was trying not to fall out of his chair laughing.

Spock raised his eyebrows and added his opinion with a ghost of a smile, "I believe that part of the teenage male anatomy does not respond to voice commands, Nathan. In my experience, at your age level the penis generally thinks more than the actual brain."

Nathan considered that while Austin started adjusting his clothing, while fighting with his blush. "Yeah... you're right... there's another way to sort this out! Be back in a bit, guys... I won't ask you to join me, Austin - even though you obviously need to do the same!" Nathan giggled as he floated out of the room towards the nearest bathroom.

"JJ keeps the lotion under the sink!" Cory yelled to the departing 12 year old.

"Don't need it! I'm not cut like some of you poor peeps!" came the giggled retort.

"I can fix those for you, Uncles!" Levi giggled helpfully from the Rec Room.

Cory and Sean tilted their heads in thought...

---

Meanwhile:

"It is Time. Time for answers. Time for it to be revealed. Time for you to know," the Doctor said seriously as he looked at Surak on the monitor.

Surak, inside Soven's body, raised an eyebrow. "What is it that you shall reveal?" he asked slowly.

"Not all, but you need to know how important the Armour and the Sword truly are," the Time Lord answered. "The metal found in orbit of Vulcan by your race was not some random meteor or comet that was caught by your planet's gravity well. It was placed there for you to find, and for your mutual ancestor S'harien to use," the boy explained to them both. "The metal contained a variety of minerals from both my world and one other, plus something else that not even I know about."

"What other world?" Sarek asked, although he was sure he could guess.

"Sa'kai-T'Khasi. Earth," the Lord of Time answered.

Surak raised both eyebrows, "And who left it there?"

"I did, right before my race left this Universe. I did so on orders," the Doctor said.

"Whose?" both Vulcans asked at once.

"Vae'Runam - The Guardian of Forever. He who set the Legend into motion. He who first spoke the prophecy."

"Then... then the Legend is more than a mere Legend?" Surak asked. "I dreamt the words, and saw images that scared me. I told my apprentice soon after my now famous duel, then seconds later, a group of children from the then primitive world of Terra arrived in the Cave of Naming, being led by a Vulcan and his child."

"Yes. It is more than a 'mere Legend'. It is what must be. There is a cancer eating at the Heart of the Universes, and it is located in Alpha Prime - this Universe. He must be removed, and It must do it, or He will Destroy everything. All shall fail and fall, and so, the Sword and the Armour have been made," the Doctor said slowly.

"We have read reports from multiple ancient races, Doctor," Sarek said seriously, fear beginning to show in his eyes - fear for Joel. "After decoding and translating them, we found that all these ancient fears about a Pillar of Light that could rend planets were all linked. Even on Vulcan, at least five hundred thousand years ago, there are writings that say the same. It is a common theme throughout this section of space. How can a Sword and a suit of Armour help my grandson against that?"

"I do not know, only that the Sword was made for him," the Doctor said gently. "S'harien was given the pattern for the swords, and given the words to inscribe upon the First of them; the one made from the metal he found. That Sword is an echo of Joel, the real 'Sa'ren'. It had shed no blood until the War of the Raptor, and neither has Joel til now. It saved Vulcan, and so shall Joel. He must. Only he can. How? I don't know."

Surak looked from the view-screen at Sarek's troubled face, then over at the Doctor, "What metals from Earth were used?"

"Titanium, and Vitaferrum."

"What is Vitaferrum?" Surak asked curiously.

The Doctor smiled, "At the time that it was placed in orbit of Vulcan, it didn't exist. The peoples of Earth created it not too long after, but the Guardian could and did get some. He made the mix that was then used with the strongest metals of Vulcan to make the Sa'ren Sword. There was enough metal left for at least two more swords, but S'harien knew, without knowing why or how he knew, that he should place that remaining special metal aside. It was for use in the Armour that you were to make. And you used it."

"What does Vitaferrum do? How is it special?" Surak pressed, his eyes - Soven's eyes - showing an interest that was rarely seen from Surak.

"It was made to augment a human and make them age slower and heal faster. In the Armour and the Sword, the reason for it's placement is obscure. However, there must be a reason, or the Guardian would never have set it within the metal I was ordered to leave in orbit."

Surak's face became thoughtful. While he contemplated something in the room that only he could see, Sarek moved to sit down heavily. "The Guardian said that the Legend has been in existence since He came into being. Why is it only now that we are told the true import of these facts?"

"Because Time dictates," the Doctor answered him as he crawled up and onto Sarek's lap. "All things have their Time, Grandpa Sarek. All things."

"What of the part of the Legend, regarding my Heir being able to change what Was to Be Anew?" Surak asked suddenly.

"I think that refers to The Shaper. The Master of Destiny, and the One without Destiny - almost. He has only one task; to face and defeat The Destroyer. Vae'Za."

"Vae... Vae'Za?! You called the Guardian Vae'Runam! That... that means..." Sarek said, horror showing clearly on his face as his control fled away.

"Yes," the Doctor sighed sadly. "Vae'Za is a Guardian too. He was the Guardian of Dimension. Now, he is just the Destroyer. He is one of the Fallen, in a way - and within the Circle of Creation, more powerful than any of the Fallen."

"Sa'ren..." Sarek whispered in fear. "My grandson... nooo...."

Surak also looked concerned, but did not know how to comfort his descendant. After a few moments watching as Sarek regained control over his emotions, Surak asked the Doctor, "There is but one more thing I have long wondered at. Why did I feel led to add those words to the inside of the breastplate of the Armour?"

The Doctor turned his face and smiled, "Your Heir will have to work that out for himself, Surak. It will become an advantage, and all due to the nature of the special component that was given to the metal your people found."

Surak stared for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. I must give control back to Soven, now. Live long and prosper."

"Peace be on you, Surak," the Doctor smiled.

---

"Is Nathan asleep?" Cory whispered as Sean rejoined him in the Dining Room. Both boys had gotten ready for bed, but since neither could sleep while their 'Lil'elf' was still in Utah, Cory had retreated to the Kitchen to get two mugs of chocolate ready while Sean double checked all the other kids. All were asleep after the excitement.

"Yeah," Sean answered. "I don't know how he can do it when it's his husband over there. I'm on pins and Joel's only my little brother!"

"Training," Cory shrugged. "I bet they've had to be apart for far more dangerous missions than this."

"S'pos so," Sean muttered as he sat down next to his blond bonded. "Sammy and the others have gone over as well. They weren't looking pleased." He glanced at the wall clock, "It's nearly half past eleven already?"

Cory nodded as he opened the blanket he had wrapped around him so that Sean could cuddle up to him on the two chairs that had been pushed together. "Dad's been gone for an hour, now. Poor Joel and Kevin... this isn't something I wanted for them on this night of all nights."

Sean cuddled in tightly, "I wish I could have five minutes with that ass-hole General."

"Yup," Cory sighed, holding back on the anger that just wanted to let rip again.

There was a slight shimmering behind them, and they turned quickly to see those that had gone to help in Utah appear in a shower of sparkles, along with Joel, Kevin and Mikey. Joel's eyes lit up happily at seeing his two big brothers, but his yawn interrupted what would have been a joyful greeting.

Both teens wasted no time in throwing off the blanket and heading for Joel and Kevin, who were both scooped up into their arms for a tight cuddle.

Spock stated softly, "Austin. Bed. Now."

"Yes, Grandpop," the tired Android murmured as T'Pol guided him out and through to the nest.

"Michael, I need to meditate to be ready for the morning. Will you assist my sons to their apartment for me, please?" Spock asked of the Saint at his side.

"Sure, Pop," Mikey smiled as the Vulcan hugged him.

"Then I shall take my leave for the rest of the night. Sleep well, my sons," he said as he reached and pulled Cory and Sean, plus their armfuls, in for a hug and a kiss.

"Night, Dad," Cory murmured, while Sean simply smiled happily.

"Night, Daddy," came the muted whisper from Joel.

Spock left, and Mikey firmly made Cory and Sean sit with the two small boys pulled up on their laps. "I'm getting something for you both to drink," he said seriously as he went out into the Kitchen.

Joel simply yawned again, then tucked his face into the crook of Cory's neck and grumbled to himself tiredly. "Fuckin' prick of a... spoilt our... gonna kill the fucker... not fair..."

"You can say that again," Kevin muttered back as he copied his little husband and tucked his face into Sean's neck. "And that Daeliass... I'm going to zap him, I swear... Scaring us like that..."

"I already chewed about 20 million transistors out of his virtual ass for doing that," Cory stated simply.

"So did Allie - at least that's what Daeliass said when Adz also shouted at him," Joel muttered with a grin. Then, with a mischievousness borne out of extreme exhaustion, he blew a raspberry into Cory's bare shoulder - then giggled.

"I guess we better tell Timmy to get Allie's stomach checked," Sean quipped; trying to lighten the mood.

Cory grinned at him, then tickled Joel's ribs lightly, "You going to stop blowing into my skin, bro?" he whispered with a smile.

"Nope," Joel giggled softly, then went for Cory's bare chest.

Cory couldn't hold in his giggles this time, and started wiggling on his seat.

"That looks fun," Kevin murmured. "You ticklish too, Sean?" he asked, his tired eyes beginning to light up with amusement.

"Yes he is," Mikey's voice came from the Kitchen. "Under the armpits, behind his knees, and the soles of his feet. I recommend fingers only, however - I've a stinky brother!"

"Hey!" Sean retorted indignantly, then he too started to laugh as Kevin's quick fingers took advantage of the distraction and went under his arms. "Traitor!" Sean yelled at Mikey.

"I'm your big brother! I've GOT to help others tease you - didn't you know that?"

Sean couldn't reply for he had slipped from the chair and onto the floor with Kevin now perched happily on his chest. "I'm the King of the Sean!" the brown haired boy giggled as he lifted his arms in a victory salute.

Sean took advantage of Kevin's position and went for the smaller boy's own armpits, while Cory also slipped from his chair to join his husband. Joel landed lightly on top of him, then assaulted his big brother's belly, blowing raspberries for all he was worth.

Cory was giving as good as he got, however, by tickling Joel's extremely sensitive ribs and stomach.

"I leave you alone for two minutes, and there's a tickle war? And I wasn't invited?" Mikey laughed as he set the two mugs and plate of cookies down on the table. "Who wants help? Kevin or Joel?"

"TRAITOR!" Cory and Sean giggled in unison.

Joel pointed at Kevin. "I've got this weak Blondie! Help my human husband," the little cherub giggled as he bounced lightly on Cory's stomach, fending off Cory's attacking fingers. "I'll soon have the Patriarch suitably corralled!"

As Mikey set to work on Sean's feet, Joel had an idea. "Mikey? Flap your wings!" he giggled to the Angel's back.

Mikey did so as Joel swivelled around to grab both his blond brother's ankles. He lifted easily and Mikey's wings started brushing over the soles of Cory's bare feet.

Both Cory and Sean had stopped trying to tickle back at this point, for they were laughing to hard to do anything.

Joel let his brother's feet down a moment or so later, and Mikey and Kevin also took pity on Sean at the same time. Joel flopped back with a happy sigh to be held against Cory's chest by his brother's strong arms. "I love you, Blondie," the Vulcan whispered as he felt his brother give the back of his head a kiss as they lay there.

Mikey smiled as he helped Kevin get the still giggling Sean up off the floor, "Elfin; drink your chocolate, kiddo. You deserve it after what you did."

Joel nodded with a small smile as he got up. He helped Cory to stand, then stopped dead, staring at his brother - or more specifically, below his brother's waist. "Levi's been giving more prezzies, huh?" he giggled.

"Huh?" Kevin enquired as he was pulled onto Sean's lap.

Joel stood to one side and gently patted what he had noticed, making Cory giggle. "Levi gave Cor the same gift he gave you, Kevvy!"

Kevin grinned, then slipped from Sean's lap to look. "Sean too," he smiled, then climbed back up.

"So what happened, Joel?" Sean asked as Kevin reached for his own mug of cocoa. "Why do you two look dead on your feet?"

Joel sighed as Cory sat down, then he too sought the comfort of a 'big brother cuddle'. "I had to de-program Adz, Logan, Juan, Jory, Will and Chang. Chang was the hardest as the alternate personality had been made active... I had to..." he trailed off, as if searching for the words.

"He had to kill it," Kevin said quietly. "I felt what happened."

"Did I? Was it alive? I don't think it was... I'm not sure... I've never killed before. I never want to kill - I hope it wasn't alive," Joel whispered as he began to shake on Cory's lap. "I don't know..."

"It's not a human if there is no soul attached," Cory said softly. "Did it have a soul?"

"I don't think so. It didn't feel the same when I was melding with Chang and got rid of it, but now I'm thinking about it - I'm not sure. I don't want to be like him, Cory! I don't wanna be a murderer! Maybe it wasn't alive, but then it could've become alive if he'd have lived... it had lived... I don't know," Joel wept in frustration and fear. "I don't wanna be a murderer..."

Cory increased his grip on his little brother and kissed the back of his head again. 'Kyle? Can you come in here please? Or Ty? Elf needs you,' he sent quickly.

'Comin',' Kyle's thought bounced back quickly.

'I think it can wait a few minutes if you're doing that,' Sean sent with a giggle.

'Ha ha ha,' Kyle retorted as he strolled in from the Rec Room, Tyler at his side. They both stopped by Sean and poked their tongues out at him. 'Perv!' Kyle added with a giggle as he slapped the back of Sean's head.

Joel blinked through his tears at his two little brothers. "What did Sean do this time?" he asked, forcing a smile.

"He's perving on us," Tyler explained with a giggle.

"Oh," Joel responded, looking lost. "How?"

Kyle smiled softly, "It's only a joke, bro." He glanced at Cory, then back at Joel's tear streaked face, "Wanna talk about it, Lil'elf?"

Joel glanced back at Cory quickly, and saw his brother nod. The Vulcan sighed again, and explained what the problem was. Again, as he finished, his tears were back.

"Don't cry, Joel," Kyle whispered as he crawled up onto Cory's lap to cuddle with his Vulcan brother. "You didn't do anything wrong."

"But I could have killed. I... I can't kill; I just can't! And I might have," Joel whispered back.

Kyle kissed Joel's face as Tyler moved over to Cory's other side. "Got enough room on there for me too, Bro?" the blond eight year old asked.

Cory giggled, "Yeah. Get up here, Ty."

Tyler wasted no time. Soon, Joel was sandwiched between the two Mikyvis, and all three were being cuddled by a giggling Cory.

"Bro," Tyler said as he pressed himself in close to Joel, "you know we can't see your future too good, right?"

"Yeah," Joel nodded slowly.

"We can see your past, though. And we can go check for you if you want us to," Tyler explained.

"Would you?" Joel asked desperately. "Oh, please! Please go check. I..."

"Shhh," Kyle silenced his brother softly. "Just relax, Elf. Give us a moment, okay?"

Joel nodded, and as both his little brothers' eyes went far away, he whispered back to Cory, "But what if I did kill?"

"You don't do wrong, Lil'elf... if it was to be, then it was done," came Cory's reply.

Joel didn't look convinced, but decided to wait for his two special brothers to find out first.

He didn't have much longer to wait: "It's okay. It wasn't alive," Tyler said softly as his eyes gained focus again.

"It never was. Chang is the only one alive, as you told him in the meld, Bro. That thing was just that, a 'thing'," Kyle added seriously. "If it had lived, it would have been a monster. You didn't kill, and you're NOT a murderer. Even if it HAD been alive, you'd not have been a murderer. Murderers kill for no reason, or 'cause they like making others hurt. In this case, if it had been alive, you'd have killed it in a clean fight. It wouldn't have been wrong."

"But anyway, that don't matter. It wasn't, so you didn't, and that's it. Okay?" Tyler finished with a small giggle. He rubbed his cheek against Joel's in the way Joel always seemed to like doing to him and Kyle, and whispered, "I'm proud to call you my big brother. So can you stop kicking yourself over doing a good thing, please?"

Joel's arm snaked around Tyler's small frame, and his other around Kyle's even smaller one, and pulled them in tight, "Thank you... I love you guys... sorry."

"Don't be sorry - just be our Elf!" they both chorused together.

"And MY Sa'ren," Kevin added, grinning over from his comfortable Sean-seat.

"And his Sa'ren," Sean giggled, tickling Kevin's ribs and making the boy laugh.

"Smart asses," Tyler giggled as he slipped to the floor. "We're goin' back to bed. If you need anything, though, Elf - just call. Okay?"

"Okay," Joel smiled as he gave Kyle a kiss, then he pulled Tyler back up and kissed him as well. Then he plopped both giggling Mikyvis on their feet. "Seeya tomorrow."

"Night!" they both chorused as they walked back out and into the Nest.

Cory edged his chair closer to the table, and pulled his own mug and Joel's closer to them. "Drink up, Lil'elf; or Mikey's gonna be upset that you don't like his hot chocolate!"

"Uh huh," Mikey giggled as he floated cross-legged on the other side of Sean and Kevin. "That's special 'Mike Short Cocoa', that is - I only make it on special occasions!"

"Hey!" Sean protested quickly, "We haven't had that for AGES, Mike!"

"So?" Mikey giggled at the indignant looks from the two boys. "Oh, very well... here you go, my jealous little brothers!" he giggled as he produced another two mugs. "I did make four, but I was wondering when you'd ask!"

Cory reached for it eagerly. "Mmmm...." came his satisfied almost-purr.

Joel took a sip. "Cinnamon?" he asked softly.

"Yup! My own recipe..." Mikey smiled.

Sean had a contented look on his face as he sipped his own 'Mikey-Cocoa'. "When we had nightmares, Mike would always make us his special cocoa," he explained as he reminisced.

Cory's eyes were peaceful as he enjoyed his drink, "It still relaxes me..."

Joel had to admit, this was the best cocoa he'd had in the three days he'd been here. "It's very yummy," he murmured as he smiled at his Saintly brother. "Thanks, Mikey."

Mikey just grinned and nodded, then he watched tenderly as his four brothers enjoyed their drinks - and the cookies that had been placed on the table before them.

"Kevvy?" Joel looked over at his husband questioningly once he'd finished his mug. "Can we meld?"

Kevin smiled back, "Sure. Anything important?"

"Yeah," Joel murmured hesitantly. "You don't know everything about me. I don't know everything about you. I'd like to share everything with you. I've not gone back in any of the melds til I helped Adz and his bros - They know everything about me, but you don't. I don't want it to stay that way, Kev. I want to be open with you about what made me as I am."

Kevin's face became serious, "I want that too, Sa'r. Yeah, you can meld with me. You never have to ask that."

Sean edged his chair over towards Cory's until his legs were touching his blond husband's, thus allowing the two boys on their laps to reach each other.

Joel smiled his thanks, then reached to place his gentle fingertips on his own husband's face. "My mind to your mind, your thoughts to my thoughts. Our minds are merging... our hearts are one..." he whispered...

---

"Where are we this time, Sa'r?" Kevin asked as he looked around at the bridge both boys were standing on.

"This is the link between our memories, Kev," Joel explained as he took the other boy's hand. "That's yours behind you. The other's mine. Wh...which first?"

"Yours," Kevin whispered. "Let's get the worst over with."

"I felt your own past when we melded earlier, but only generally. You've got a bad history too, Kev. We're just different - but that don't make mine worse."

Kevin shrugged, "From what little I know, I wouldn't have survived what you did, Sa'r. I'm not as brave as you."

"Yes you are," Joel said shyly.

"No," Kevin said seriously. "I'm stronger, but not braver. You're the brave one, and we share what the other doesn't have. I'll watch your past only because you are with me and make me brave."

Joel embraced Kevin quickly. "Okay then," he whispered. "Let's go."

They turned and walked into the light that was Joel's memories, and seemed to vanish away...

---

Back on the 'bridge', and what seemed like a lifetime later, Kevin crumpled into a sobbing heap. Joel was cuddled up around him, and also crying.

"Why?" Kevin sobbed piteously. "Why'd they do that? Why'd that world be that way?"

"Don't know," Joel cried as he tried to comfort his husband, but reliving those memories a step at a time had torn his heart up too. When he had melded with Adam Casey and the others, his past had been an instant dump into their memories, and the same for theirs into his. What he had done with Kevin, however, was fundamentally different: they had walked behind his younger self and experienced everything. For Kevin, the shock and the horror was near unspeakable. For Joel, the pain-remembered was overwhelming even to his new Vulcan training.

But he did feel better for sharing it.

It took a long time, though, for both boys to stop crying. Finally, Kevin looked up and placed the palms of his hands onto Joel's chest, "Now I know where each of these marks comes from."

Joel thought his clothes away, and knelt there naked. "Yeah. Each has a story, and none nice," he choked out through his tear-tightened throat as Kevin traced each with a shaking finger.

"I'm sorry I can't take them away," Kevin said, as tears began to trickle down his face once more.

"You have," Joel said, his own eyes leaking in union with Kevin's own. "Your love... it's made them disappear. I don't see them any more. Not really."

Kevin's eyes met Joel's, and he saw truth in the Vulcan's piercing blue gaze. He didn't know what to say, but his heart swelled with love in that second to the point that he nearly fainted. His voice shaking, he asked, "Do you want to walk down my memories? Will you make me brave enough to see them again, like you always make me brave?"

Joel stood and thought some clothes back on. "I'm always here, Kev. I'm never going to leave you. I swear it."

Kevin smiled and stood up as well. They both turned and, hand in hand, made their way into the light that was Kevin's memories...

---

Again, after a 'lifetime' had passed, they both reappeared. "What a fucking BITCH!" Joel screamed in impotent rage.

Kevin was also angry, but trying to ride herd on a pissed off Vulcan was an experience he'd never had before. He didn't have time for his own anger, only Joel's.

"She tried to KILL YOU! Not once, but five times?!" Joel screamed as he created a pile of china dishes just so he could smash them to pieces. "FUCKING BITCH!"

"Uh, Sa'r?" Kevin tried to break through his lover's anger, while ducking a mis-aimed dish. "You knew that, didn't you?"

"Yeah, but poison? FUCKING POISON?? She'd have LET YOU DIE IN AGONY!!!! I wanna go back in time... come on, we're gonna see Levi, and we're gonna go back there, and I'm gonna rip out her guts and feed them to her, the...."

At this point, Kevin had to fall into Vulcan-language mode to keep up with the rant that Joel went off on.

"... yem-tor Gloria'am yukalam-tor I-Cheya lu tersaui!" Joel finished, then he saw Kevin's now amused face. "What?" he demanded, not very graciously.

"I don't think she'd live much past the bit involving the piano leg going where the sun don't shine, so I'm sure as rain is wet that I-Cheya'd never get the pleasure of his ovary soup, Sa'r!" Kevin giggled.

"Good point... reverse that bit," Joel said, before giggling himself, "I don't think Levi'd take us back, will he?"

"No. I don't think so," Kevin grinned back at him, "but I do feel better knowing that you care enough to do all THAT to her... I don't think your dad will approve, though. That goes a tiny bit beyond logical punishment for the crime."

"The piano leg was a bit too much?"

"Ah, no, Sa'ren. I think after you went past the bit where you'd rip her toes off and beat her unconscious with them... that was the point it went 'too far'. Everything else was so far south of 'too far' that I got lost at the Florida Keys!"

Joel giggled again, then embraced Kevin. His face became slightly more serious as he whispered, "How can any mother do that - any of that - to her son?"

Kevin shrugged seriously, "How can anyone do ANY of the stuff we've both been through to ANY-one, Sa'r? I don't know the answer to that - none of us do. Some people are just evil. Maybe not totally, but there are some that are that mostly. We can't understand it, but we can heal now. We have a family, now. We're loved, and we're looked after. And we can help others to escape it as well."

After nodding seriously, Joel whispered, "You're right... you're right." He then kissed Kevin seriously. "Time to go back, now," he giggled.

"Oh? Are our brothers getting tired of holding us?"

"No. We've only been about three minutes, but Sean just said something to Cory, and because he can't move me or he'd break the meld, he's very uncomfortable, now."

"How come?"

"Cos I'm squishing the stiffie that Sean's comment just gave him, and he cannot move it without moving me and my hand from your face!"

---

"So, Boner boy - do I have to beat you for trying it on with my husband?!" Kevin giggled as Joel's hand came away from his face.

Cory blushed, then giggled as Joel lifted himself up a bit to gently adjust what he was sitting on so that both boys could be comfortable.

After sitting back and pressing his back against Cory's chest, Joel giggled, "It's like a hot-water bottle!"

Cory blushed even more, then.

Kevin and Sean were giggling too much to comment, however.

Joel sighed happily, then yawned. "Time for bed," he whispered before slipping from Cory's lap and starting for the door to the Nest. He paused by it when he realised that the others weren't following. As he turned back to face them, they saw his face was not as happy as it had just been.

It was regretful.

"So you're not going to your apartment?" Cory asked, although he could guess the response.

"Why? I'm too tired to make love," Joel said, his voice now soft and worn out.

Kevin sighed as well, "Yeah. No point, now..."

"You're still going there, boys," Mikey said seriously as he stood up and picked Kevin from Sean's lap. "At least you get some alone time," he added as he walked over to Joel and picked him up as well.

Mikey looked at his two teen brothers and jerked his head towards the Nest, "You two - sleep. I'll look after these imps now: me and their guardians."

Cory raised an eyebrow, then saw movement by the door towards Main CIC. I-Cheya and Blackie were sitting there, watching them all closely. "Okay, Mike," Cory said with a smile. "Good night... Hey, Prince! What are you doing up?"

Prince Harry, who had just appeared behind I-Cheya and Blackie, smiled. "I will be going to bed shortly, brothers. I have just been getting information from the Yoshuhlnak. Since Brant is off duty tonight, and since Seth is now in bed, Antony is coming over to stand watch in Main CIC. It is closer to the scene for what is being planned tomorrow."

Cory smiled, "Thanks, Prince. Well, good night. And sleep well, Joel!"

"We will," came the tired response as Cory turned to go towards the Nest with Sean.

Mikey turned back from watching his brothers leave and addressed Harry. "What are you doing here?" he whispered.

Harry looked at the puzzled expressions on both Kevin's and Joel's faces, then back up at Mikey seriously. He then smiled, but didn't reply.

Mikey opened his mouth, but after hearing something that only he could hear, held his peace. "Well, good night," he said, his voice unsure. He then walked out of the Dining Room with his precious armful, and was followed by the two Spirit Guardians.

Prince Harry watched silently as the Saint and the two boys left, then walked to the table and sat down. With a flicker from his now brilliant white, glowing eyes, the lights in the Dining Room and Kitchen winked out.

Then 'Harry' just sat there, invisible to all - his eyes still glowing...

... and a mysterious smile on his face.

---

Joel yawned his way into the apartment with Kevin at his side, while Mikey guided them both. They sat heavily on the edge of the bed, and frankly looked beat. Mikey gazed down at them both tenderly, then held out his hand. "Here. Eat this, it'll help," he said softly as a glowing object appeared in his angelic hand.

"What is it?" Kevin asked tiredly as he peered at it.

"Fruit. Special fruit," Mikey said with a soft smile.

Joel tried to raise an eyebrow but failed. "Why?"

"To wake you up. This will do that and more, little brothers."

"We just want to sleep, Mikey," Kevin said around a huge yawn. "I feel like the crap's been kicked outta me by one of Uncle Chip's horses!"

"I know," Mikey said as he knelt in front of them after placing the 'fruit' in Joel's listless hand, "but you both were not meant to be this tired right now. Tonight is special, and you both need it."

Joel started to blush, "You mean...?"

"Yes. There are some things that are just meant to be," Mikey smiled softly.

"But I'm the Shaper, and..." Joel started, but Mikey placed a finger on his Vulcan brother's lips.

"I know you are, but there is One who can undo even your power, Elfin."

Joel lifted the 'fruit' up and sniffed it. "Where's this from?" he asked, his curiosity waking up.

"A very special Tree," the Saint answered with a grin.

Kevin cocked his head to the side, then his eyes opened wide. "But... that means..."

"No, you won't become immortal. The Tree no longer works that way in this plane. But you will feel renewed and refreshed. Yes, you'll sleep tonight, but you won't need much. There are things you must do, or you won't get much chance otherwise."

Joel continued to blush, but took a large bite anyhow.

"Oh... wow, Kev... it's..." Joel started, but trailed off as he offered the 'fruit' to Kevin.

The brown haired boy also took a bite.

Within moments the two boys had woken up, and a lot more. They were practically bouncing beans on the edge of the bed as they giggled at the Saint who was still kneeling before them.

"I think that worked," Mikey grinned. He blinked once and the Radio started playing one of the oldies channels. "I'll leave you two love-birds, now. See you tomorrow, okay?"

He had no answer, for Joel was trying to reach Kevin's tonsils. Kevin was returning the favour.

Mikey knew when he had become superfluous, and so left the room, closing the door behind him.

Joel pushed Kevin back until he was lying on top of his husband, still in the middle of the kiss, when the presenter of the Radio station introduced the next song:

'And now, by request of Mike Short, Orlando: 'Shooting for the Moon' by Amy Holland. For all those sweethearts still awake at the midnight hour...'

"Mikey gets around," Kevin giggled as the two boys broke their kiss.

Joel giggled and held on tightly to his little husband as they listened to the song.

"I love you, k'hat'n'dlawa," Kevin whispered.

Joel nuzzled his face against Kevin's. "I love you too - so much that it hurts, Kev."

The radio started up with more old love songs while Joel rolled off Kevin and stood to his feet, his nerves suddenly back again. "My tummy's feeling all funny," he murmured as he gazed down at Kevin.

"I got butterflies too," Kevin stated shyly as he stood and after a second's pause, walked around the bed to the bedside cabinet. He opened the draw to find those items Cory had told him would be there. "Awww, man," he blushed as he brought out a few tubes of lubricant and a handful of little packages. "Chocolate?"

Joel sniggered, but then a strange look came over his face. "Do we really need to use them?"

"Well," Kevin thought, "I've heard we have to be safe and stuff, Sa'r."

"But we're virgins," Joel stated deadpan, although his cheeks were bright green with his blush. "We got nothing bad to give the other!"

Kevin's face brightened for a moment, then it fell again, "But we have to be clean."

"Oh," Joel nodded. "Yeah... damn, I... never mind." He then looked at the bathroom quickly. "Wait... Levi said something is in there that we might need!"

"What?" Kevin looked puzzled.

"I dunno... you know Levi... he was blushing like crazy when he said it," Joel smiled as he turned to head for the en-suite.

A small hand on his shoulder stopped him. As he turned back to Kevin, he found his lips taken yet again and he lost himself in the love he had and felt for and from his other half. As he came up for air, he started giggling, "You coulda just asked and I'd have gotten naked, Kevvy!"

"Was more fun this way," the adorable brown eyed boy smiled as he dropped Joel's clothes to the floor.

His eyes burning, Joel pulled Kevin back in for more kisses, and soon he had his husband in the same undressed state.

"There," Kevin murmured breathlessly, "now we have something nicer to look at while we find this thing that Leev left for us."

Joel giggled and scooted into the en-suite, Kevin keeping pace right behind him to continue to enjoy the sight of the Vulcan's wiggling butt.

As he rooted about in the cupboard, Joel felt some weird feelings race down the Bond-link, and so he looked over his shoulder and caught the fixed stare from Kevin. He glanced at his own butt, then back at Kevin, then down at what the sight of his bare butt was doing to Kevin's fair sized 'soldier', then he wiggled it suggestively. "Soon, T'hy'la," Joel giggled as Kevin blushed at being caught. Joel giggled some more before turning back to continue his search, "Look all you want. It is yours, after all."

"Mmm," was all Kevin felt safe enough to vocalise.

Joel continued to giggle, and continued to wiggle his butt. Then: "Ah! I think this is what Leev was on about..." the little Vulcan said with a sunny smile as he stood up with an enema kit in his hands.

Kevin pulled a face, yet grinned at his husband, "Well... ah, yeah, that would work... but, you go first!"

Joel shrugged. "Okay, but I'll need help," he said as he read the instructions.

Soon, Kevin was sitting on his laughing Vulcan sweetheart's back as Joel tried to crawl away from the sensation, and was valiantly trying to finish the process. "Stop wriggling, you great alien baby!" Kevin laughed, lightly slapping Joel's left butt-cheek.

Joel couldn't respond, he was laughing too much.

Kevin should have kept his mouth shut, for after Joel had finished with the toilet: "Well, ain't it your turn?" Joel asked as he advanced on Kevin who was backing out of the en-suite, his face creased in laughter lines.

"Y...you'll have to c...catch me first!" he giggled before turning and pelting out of the apartment door.

After thanking I-Cheya for catching Kevin for him, Joel walked back into the apartment with his husband slung over his shoulder. And it was in this inescapable position that Joel did to the now hysterically laughing Kevin what Kevin had just done to him.

"Payback's a bitch, hon!" Joel sniggered.

Once both boys had finished the tickle war that had been the end result of all this, they opted for a bath. Joel watched with fascination as Kevin set to the serious business of drawing a bubble bath. "That smells nice. What are they for?"

"What's what for?"

"The bubbles."

"I dunno... but they're nice, and fun."

"Oh... Okay!"

Joel slipped in first, "Warm."

Kevin did the same, only a lot slower.

"What's wrong?" Joel asked him curiously.

"Hot hot hot! Gotta get used to it bit at a time," Kevin explained with a wry smile.

Comprehension dawning on his face, Joel nodded, "Ah. I don't feel it the same."

"I noticed," came the sarcastic response as Kevin finally got himself seated. He cuddled up with the small Vulcan, "Mmm... now this is nice: lots better than a shower. Shall I wash your back?"

---

Kevin's Perspective:

I walked out of the bathroom with Sa'ren and then we found ourselves just standing there; not sure what to do, I guess.

I realized that both of us were shyly 'not looking' at each other - beyond stolen glances - and I could tell his face was just as green as mine was red; thinking of what was supposed to come next.

"Weird huh?" he asked softly.

"What?" I asked just as softly as I looked over at him, but he just motioned behind him - back towards the bathroom.

"Yeah, it was, kinda," I replied as I thought about what we had just done before our bath.

"Made noises, didn't it?" he said, giggling slightly.

I couldn't help but smile and reply, "Yeah, it did!"

"This is stupid," he said next, and I didn't have to ask to know what he meant.

We'd done some stuff, and knew what was coming, but for some reason it seemed different.

This wasn't just jacking off this time. This was something else: something special and I knew we could both sense it.

"We shouldn't be freaked like this," I said finally.

"Yeah, but I am," my Sa'ren whispered, and there was nervousness in his voice as he looked at me. In his eyes too.

I moved closer to him and gently brought my hand up to his cheek. I ran my fingers softly along his olive-shaded skin as I said, "Me too."

That got me one of his beautiful smiles as he said, "Come on! We're being stupid, Kevvy! Let's just go do it!" And with that he grabbed me and pulled me over to the bed. Down on it we fell, with his arms wrapped around me tightly, and he started to kiss me; my lips, cheeks and down to my neck before returning back to my lips.

I could feel the 'heat' climb inside of me as I began to kiss him back. Soon, though, we found ourselves simply looking into each others' eyes; lost in the feelings flowing through us and between us.

"Are you as scared as me, Kevvy?" he asked quietly.

He was so cute when he was nervous - my heart melted each time I saw that look on his face.

However, his question was valid. I didn't answer for a moment, but then admitted in a whisper, "Yeah, Sa'r. I am."

He looked away from me and I could feel him trembling slightly as I rubbed his back.

"We don't have to do this," I said finally. I realised that now might not be the right time after all.

"It's our wedding night, Kevvy," he said softly without looking at me.

I reached out and brought his chin up gently, then I said just as softly, "Sa'r, I'll be here whenever you're ready. It doesn't need to be now. I can wait."

"I... I have to get past it, Kev. I... I want to get past it," he whispered.

"I'm scared, too, Joel. For different reasons, but I'm scared, too," I replied simply.

He looked long at me and I found myself lost in those deep blue eyes of his: so lost and yet so happy.

"This is stupid," he said again.

"Yeah," I replied.

"We've already done stuff," he continued, as if trying to convince me - or maybe himself? Probably.

"Yeah," I replied again, a grin starting on my face.

"So why is this so hard?" he asked.

"Because it's different this time, Sa'r. It's... well, different," I said, thinking about it carefully.

"Yeah," was his turn to say.

"Oh, let's just listen to what Poppa said," he finally added after a lengthy pause.

"You mean...?" I started to ask but he finished for me instead.

"Just have fun!" he grinned, and I felt him leech some of my strength in order to say it.

"Yeah, let's not worry about anything. And Sa'r?" I asked.

"Yeah Kevvy?"

"Let's not worry about nothing. You know, doing anything 'specific' like," I said.

"Okay; just whatever is fun," he smiled as his hand slowly moved down my chest: touching my skin, rubbing gently - feeling me.

"Mmmm," I mumbled, as my hand copied his movements.

As much as we had cuddled and touched recently, for some reason this was like the first time to me. Every inch of my Sa'r's body was new, special and wonderful. I discovered it again, as if it was the first time I'd ever seen or felt it.

His delicate neck and the soft skin there, leading down onto his beautiful chest with those pale reminders of his scars and the two little nipples now standing as erect as his dick. My fingers brushed over the little nubs repeatedly; it made me giggle at his reactions.

His thrusting out of said chest into my fingers, coupled with his soft moans, told me that he was enjoying the touch as much as I was - for he was doing the same to my chest.

One, then the other, and we mirrored what each of us was doing to each other; and he was bringing feelings that I can't begin to describe to my body. And I to his as well, if his reactions were anything to go by.

I let my fingers finally, after what seemed forever, drift downward onto his delicate tummy - trailing back and forth then around his sweet outie belly-button. This elicited giggles and squirms from my Sa'r as he begged me to stop.

"No," I whispered, as my fingers circled and then pressed in on his adorable little outie, earning a gasp and squeal from him as I tried to make him look as if he had an innie belly-button. I giggled all the more as I removed my finger only to see it pop back out again. So I repeated the process, with him laughing at me.

Even though he was laughing, his own fingers soon moved down from my nipples - which completely fascinated him - and soon I understood what he meant when he had asked me to stop as I too began to squirm and squeal; begging him to stop, this time.

"No," he managed to laugh out, before he brought his lips to mine. Through our giggles, our lips touched and caressed one another and our tongues shyly extending to find one another within our mouths.

Kissing through giggles is fun, and feels weird too. But it is a nice weird - especially with the moans mixed in with them.

When we eventually stopped, we found that our hands had ceased to move and were simply resting on each other's bellies. Both of us looked at where they were, inches away from other 'things' which were bouncing in time to our heartbeats.

Without a word, our gaze returned to one another and stayed there; each looking into the other's eyes as we became lost in the feelings coming from each other.

It was with a gasp that I felt his hand move further down. My eyes quickly darted to follow that movement as it covered the small distance from my belly to 'something else', something that I felt desperately needed what was coming - his touch.

As that touch found it's mark, I couldn't help but gasp again at the lance of fire that shot from my dick and into every other part of my body.

My gaze went back to his eyes to see laughter lurking deep within the ocean of blue there. He said "Wanking is fun... yes?"

"Oh yeah!" I replied, letting my own hand start that short yet momentous journey his had just completed.

His hand was still holding me, although not moving; I wished it were!

I was on fire, and it all centred at that one point that strained to feel more from him - but he wasn't moving his hand at all. He was just holding me.

My hand found his dick, finally, and I gently held it, thus earning just as eager a reply from him as I had given him moments before.

"Oh Kevvy, I burn," he murmured, his eyes fluttering closed as I felt a wave of heat radiate down our shared bond-link.

"Yessss," I replied as his hand squeezed gently.

I knew exactly what he was feeling, because I felt it myself. And that didn't even take into account our bond-link which fed my ownfires in ways I could neither anticipate nor describe.

As his hand slowly started to move back and forth, I thought I would die - the feelings were so good.

When I started doing the same to him, the feelings I thought were so good became beyond measure - as if the very act of loving him made me feel all the better, too.

As I let my hand mimic what he was doing to me, I realized that it did. Him feeling good was more important to me than my feeling good.

I knew then if he did nothing at all, I would still want to make him feel as good as I could - and that it would light me on fire just as well.

The movements began to increase and the feelings went with them, getting better and better every second.

I looked down again to watch as my hand moved on him, and I knew he was looking down at what he was doing to me too. I marvelled again at how alike we were - everything about us was the same size, which meant that we were both fairly well 'equipped' for our apparent ages, let's say!

We watched and we explored, and we started to do things with our hands that we had never done before - either me starting and him copying, or the other way 'round.

Then, I finally knew what I really wanted to do. I gently removed my hand from him, which caused him to look at me sharply.

"Shhh. close your eyes, T'hy'la," I said nervously.

"What?" he asked, but I brought my fingers up and touched them to his lips.

I repeated "Shhh," before planting a gentle kiss lightly against his cute green lips, just loving the taste of them.

Oh - he tasted so sweet, so good to me. I loved him so much, and I only hoped he'd like what I was about to do.

"Close your eyes, Sa'ren," I said again as I allowed my mouth to move down to his neck and gently nibble at the skin there. I used my tongue to caress that area which I soon found to be very sensitive for my Sa'ren.

"Oh!" he moaned, wriggling about as he lay there.

"Like?" I asked softly, before letting my tongue go back to softly flicking along his neck.

"Yeah!" he cried as I moved slowly down. I started going back and forth, down then up; each time getting a little bit further down until I eventually reached his nipples.

As my tongue flicked out and brushed over first one then the other, he arched his back and grabbed onto my head. He started to cry out in pleasure while trying to bring me back to them.

The only thing is that I wasn't co-operating. I kept teasing each of them by gently lapping at first one then the other before moving to other areas on his chest. Then I'd return to his nipples.

When I thought he was going to go into seizure from all his wriggling, I suddenly swooped in, took one into my mouth and started sucking hard. I also flicked my tongue upon it, causing him to squeal in either complete pleasure or extreme agony.

"Ooooooh! K...Kevvy!!" was all that came from him. I moved to the other and started all over again.

I never knew they could feel THAT good. Although I had been exposed to stuff before - innocent of the mind I was not - in this case I just figured I'd try some of that out, and it seemed to be working.

Finally, though, I knew that if I stayed there any longer he'd get the 'feeling' before I could even go anywhere else. So I moved on down a bit to his cute little belly button and began to lick and suck there instead, which caused him to go from moans of extreme pleasure to squeals of extreme giggling.

I made it a game: nibbling and licking his outie, and when he was almost ready to piss himself I'd stop. I'd then lick around it. When he had relaxed enough, thinking it was all over, I'd quickly go back to nibbling on it - and the giggles would begin all over again.

It seemed to be working and we were having fun. Me, lots of it ñ and, I think, my Sa'r as well.

Finally, all good things must end... so better could come! I moved off the button and just sat there looking at my final destination: what I'd been working on getting to this whole time.

Pulsing, vibrating, throbbing. It stood there pointing upwards and I could almost hear it begging. It's need communicated itself to me as soon as I grasped it in my hand.

It jumped wildly at my touch, and so did Sa'ren. He added a loud moan at the feel of my fingers as I began caressing him; touching his oh so soft skin that covered the most sensitive area; an area he had only recently allowed anyone to touch.

"Kev..." I heard him whisper as he began to tense up.

I knew he was scared... and to tell the truth, I was, too - but I wanted this and as I looked at what was held gently in my hand, I said, "I've... I've never done this before, Sa'r. You know I've been told about it and even seen it - but never done it." I then looked up into his uncertain eyes and told him, "But I want to, and I want to do it for you. Please?"

I could see that old fear back in his eyes. But also his love and trust for and in me, and what I could swear was his want - no, his need - for freedom from that fear. And so, I just waited and watched while pushing all my love into him, down our link, until finally he nodded his head slowly. The tenseness in his body was flowing out as well, and peace filled his eyes instead of that fear.

"I love you, Sa'ren," I said, before moving my attention back to what I was holding.

I didn't know what to expect; whether it would taste good or nasty. But at this point, I just didn't care: I only wanted my Sa'r to feel good and I was determined to do everything in my power to accomplish that. And so I moved my head closer, rolled his skin down, and let my tongue flick out once, quickly. Testing the waters, I suppose.

Sa'r was in the middle of saying "I love you, too" when I did this, and the 'too' got turned into a loud drawn out cry instead.

That first tentative flick became many more when I found that I liked this.

If you asked me now what it tasted like, then I'd have to say strawberries - but then, we'd only just had a bubble-bath. What went through my mind at that moment, however, was something else.

It tasted of my Sa'r; uniquely my little Vulcan. It tasted of only him.

I let off the most sensitive part and moved down to explore the rest of his 'friend' while listening to his mews of enjoyment. Occasionally I'd move my hand, which was still holding him lightly, a few times - this was funny as it caused him to thrust up in his need for more: but I wasn't going to give him any more... not just yet!

I continued to explore, half giggling to myself at the reactions this was causing, for I was slowly driving him mad. At least, that's what he was telling me!

Finally, I went back up to that part that he had been begging me to attend to. I let my lips surround the end and nibbled on his foreskin, which caused more cries from him. I was giggling like crazy, but really I loved making him feel this good. I gently pushed it back, before taking all of him into my mouth.

The scream that tore from his throat as I gave his 'friend' all of my attention rivaled anything I'd ever heard, and his thrashing almost threw me from him. He was gasping over and over again, "Kev... Oh, Kev..."

I moved rapidly, doing everything I could think of to make this special - everything that I had ever seen or been told about that I thought would make this the best thing ever for my Sa'r. I could feel him tensing; getting ready; getting closer to that special feeling. I couldn't have that, so I started teasing him.

I'd wait for him to get 'almost' there, then stop and move elsewhere.

He called me names, but I only giggled at him.

Eventually, though, I decided that he'd had enough of me teasing. I went back to work, full tilt. Through my empathy, I felt him climbing that 'mountain', and he was really heading for the top with speed.

I could literally feel him getting there, the bond-link relaying his scrambled thoughts and feelings, exactly, to me. I increased my efforts even more as he let out a grunt followed by a long cry. His hips thrust up into my mouth and he froze that way.

His back was arched and he was incapable of movement, other than the spasms ripping through his frail body. Wave after wave of feelings slammed into him, through him, while nothing but guttural cries escaping his lips. These became mixed with whimpers, as finally, his body lost it's rigidity and began to fall back onto the bed - only, to my surprise, to arch upwards again as another cry burst forth from him. 'Maybe I should have stopped sucking?' I thought with a giggle. No words came back from him, except the sense that he'd have hit me if I had stopped!

This one did not last as long as the first, though. Slowly he fell back onto the bed while his hands feebly tried to push me away from what I still didn't want to let go of.

"Kev," he moaned as he tried and failed to push me away. I continued to tease him with my tongue now and again, getting small cries out of him due to his sensitivity, now.

I finally released him when a near tearful "S...stop..." came from him. I looked down at his 'friend' and giggled... he was still at attention - but he did look a little tender and sore, now.

I just couldn't resist letting my tongue give it one last long swipe.

My beautiful Sa'ren pulled away, begging, "No more!"

I moved up his body and brought my lips to his. I kissed him gently, then more passionately, before just lying there to let him come 'back' to this world once again.

Mikyvis might think they have the corner on world hopping, but I had to smile as I thought that. I had just taken my Sa'r to a far farmore distant one than even they could get to - and I now had only to await his return to ours.

'I might not be one of them, but I could still get the job done,' I thought to myself as I watched my T'hy'la breathing rapidly. It was as if he'd just been running a marathon, what with the sweat glistening on his small, cute body.

'He's so beautiful. So lovely. So mine,' I thought as his eyes slowly fluttered open. They looked lost and dreamy all in one, as they tried to focus. He finally settled them on my face and there was such a look of wonder within them that I thought I'd cry.

"Always," he whispered gently, reminding me of our bond and that he'd 'heard' what I'd been thinking. "I'll always be yours..."

"Did you like?" I asked softly, a tender smile spreading over my face.

He brought his hand up to my face and tenderly ran it back and forth while looking into my eyes. His own overflowed with the emotions of the last few minutes, and I soon realized he had matching tears of joy to those running from mine.

To see the love, the tenderness, the adoration on his face - and knowing it was all for me - was almost too much for me at that moment.

"Yes. That love is for you, my Kevin... my T'hy'la... K'hat'n'dlawa," he softly told me, before planting gentle kisses upon my face first, then my lips.

As he pulled back, he said, "I have nothing to compare it to, but... it... it was the best, Kevvy. I don't think it could have been better, not even if you'd been doing it for a million years..."

I giggled, "Well, after a million years I hope it's just as good, Sa'r!"

"As long as it's with you" he replied softly, as he closed his eyes briefly. "Only with you..."

"Always," I told him, my voice filling with love and tenderness for him as he increased the hug I had him in.

"Now it's my turn," he suddenly giggled a few minutes later, his eyes flashing open and filled with... well, mischief!

"You don't..." I started, but it was his turn to bring his fingers to my lips.

He smiled, "Shhh! I want to. I want to do it for you and make you feel as good... as loved..."

I nodded with a grin, only to have his hot lips began kissing my face, lips, nose, ears - just about everywhere on my face, really. Well, this heated me up again quickly.

How I didn't get the 'feeling' right then from just making him feel good, I don't know - but I hadn't. Now, though, I knew it was just a matter of time.

I think he sensed how wild I was getting, for he moved quickly down to my neck. As he did so, I got to fully understand what he had just learned a short time ago - as his gentle kissing and nibbling started, they sent thrills through my entire body.

Knowing that I was already half way there, he didn't spend as long as I had on that area before moving on - but then again, I didn't want him to, either!

For both of us, there was only one place we both wanted him to be when I reached there - and that was much further down my body than my neck! Not that my neck didn't love his attention, mind you.

My nipples loved it even more, however, as his tongue found them. In the way that I'd explored him earlier, he did the same to me over and over again - touching, heating, and in his own way even burning me as he sent me even higher towards the 'feeling'.

He even had to bat my hand away from 'something' more than once, as the feelings he was giving me were just so intense I didn't think I could bear it.

I hadn't realized that nipples could feel so good on a boy, even though he certainly had seemed to like what I had been doing before.

Shortly, though, it was my turn to cry out and wriggle like one of the rugrats being tickled, for he had moved down and got me howling from his attacks on my belly button.

Believe me, a tongue on that tickles like heck, but there was something else too. Something mixed in that sent shivers up my back and into my own 'friend'.

Maybe it was knowing how close his tongue was to it... I don't know, but mixed in with the giggles, there was this fire - a burning fire growing ever hotter.

When his tongue finally moved south, I felt my whole body lock up, and my breath stopped, for I knew where it would go next.

"Hmmm... someone waiting for something?" he teased before tracing a line further down slowly.

"Yesss..." I moaned out - then "Nooooooo..." as he moved around and past where I'd wanted, no needed, him to go.

"Good things come to those who wait," he teased in a sing-song voice.

"But I don't wanna!" I whined as he giggled. He then continued to explore, just not where I wanted him to explore!

I finally remembered to breathe, and I began gasping for the air I'd been denying myself for the last twenty seconds.

"OH GOD!" I cried as his tongue and mouth worked on me just below where I wanted it.

The action down there did have an effect on what was just above, and it made it almost hurt!

He murmured, "See what you did to me?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Please, Sar! I'm gonna die!" I cried out, but he just giggled and grabbed my hand which had been trying to sneak over to my dick.

"Naughty, naughty," he said, before going back to what he had been doing.

I was discovering things about places on my body that I really had no idea about - and this was just the beginning!

I didn't know if I could survive much more, considering that I felt like I was going to die with all the feelings overwhelming me already! He found that funny, for some reason.

"God Sa'r! My dick is on fire!" I finally cried out as it became near painful in a way.

At that, he moved his head up and looked lovingly at me for a moment before saying, "Well then, I guess I better put it out!"

As I stared at him in confusion, he got a big grin on his face and then grabbing hold of me. Then, in the same movement, sank his mouth down fully upon me.

I screamed out with the sensations engulfing me, and all I could think was that it was not putting anything out at all! He was making the fire into a raging inferno - I couldn't think, not even if my life had depended on it...

He came up off me and looked down at it. He mumbled "Not working?" before looking at me with a shy grin on his face.

"No! No, it's working just fine!" I cried out as I gasped for breath.

He replied "Oh, good!" then proceeded to flick his tongue out like I had done to him, sending me moaning at the feeling it brought me.

What was worse was that he kept teasing me. Just like I could with him, he could sense what I was feeling through his Vulcan touch-empathy, and was bringing me almost to the point of no return before going off and doing something else! I'd gasped, moaned, and thrashed about in an agony called pleasure - then start yelling at him in frustration when he went off elsewhere! And I couldn't do anything to stop it, for he had my hands in a vice grip!

I became aware of a loud noise coming from somewhere... then it came to me that it was me that was screaming out. Each time he brought me so close to the 'feeling', I'd start...

As this went on and on, I was still making the oddest noises - punctuated by small cries. He just never let the fire burn out, but he wouldn't make the 'feeling' come, either!

On one of his ventures away to tease me, I managed to lift my head to look at him, and saw the love in his eyes - and the mischief.

"You like?" he giggled, but before I could even think of an answer he went back down suddenly. I cried out louder than before as he began assaulting me full bore.

Everything before had been so new to me, but this... it was really nothing like anything I had ever felt before. Pleasure that was almost painful as I felt the 'feeling' build up and burn once again... only this time there was no teasing, no playing. He brought me straight to it with everything he could do...

"SAAAAAAAAAAAR!!!!!" was all I managed to scream out as the 'feeling' hit me, flooded through me... then I sank into a blessed darkness.

When next I knew anything, it was that light touches were being placed on my face, cheeks, nose, lips and forehead... and a gentle nibbling was going on with my ears.

I slowly opened my eyes, to find my little Vulcan looking down at me between the gentle kisses he was giving me.

Everything was fuzzy and warm; my body was weak from the feelings he had given me.

"You better, now?" he asked softly before kissing me again.

"Oh, you have no idea," I said, blushing slightly.

"I think I do, cause you made me feel the same way, just now, Kev," he giggled shyly, and I could see the hint of blush in his face.

I brought my arms up and around him pulling him to me. I hugged him tightly and whispered, "Oh God, Sa'r. I love you so much!"

"Shal ashau tu," he replied as we kissed and kissed some more. Our hands were roaming, exploring, touching, feeling... just loving, really.

This wasn't like before, because the lust, the fire, had been lessened. The love - real love - seemed to burn even brighter, now. Each touch we gave was something to tell how much we each loved each other.

His ears got many gentle caresses as I traced from the pointed tips then down to his neck, before going back up again.

His fingers played over my too-thin shoulder blades and on down my back, then up again.

His sides were gently stroked as I felt ribs that, like mine, were far too prominent - but they were a part of my Sa'ren. I loved them anyway.

Then I let my fingers trace over his beautiful face: those wonderful eyebrows. I moved my finger over them and down to his cute nose before running along his lips, all this mixed in with soft, sweet kisses.

I'd never understood that before. How someone could call a kiss sweet, or say their boyfriend or girlfriend tasted sweet, or good - but I did now.

I didn't know why or what it was, but there was a taste and smell that was all 'Sa'ren'; and I loved it.

It filled me up like no food or drink ever had - and I'd only been enjoying food since Sa'r had arrived and been feeding me. Unlike food, though, his kisses were something I could never get enough of.

"You're getting as bad as the rest of them," he muttered as he smiled at me.

"What?" I asked, feeling a little confused.

"Everything's about food with you lot, ain't it!"

I giggled, but finally said, "Well, when you taste sweeter than any candy and better than any steak - yeah! It is!"

"You're silly... I like silly..." he said with his own giggle before going back to my lips.

I don't know how long we stayed like that - just touching, feeling one another and being close like that - but it was a while. Nothing else seemed as or more important than that, and so that is what we did.

We may even have dozed off a bit but if we did, our love never stopped, and neither did our thoughts.

Then, after a while longer, we heard something...

---

Normal Perspective:

"Did you hear something, Sa'r?" Kevin asked as he raised his head to look at the door nervously.

"Not sure. I think you deafened me when you popped, Kevvy," Joel giggled back before starting to nibble on one of Kevin's ears lazily.

You not alone who lose hearing!

Joel's eye widened, and he blushed furiously - as did Kevin. "Blackie! Stop listening at the door!" Joel yelled back quickly.

We no at door. We in Rec Room! You LOUD!

Kevin's mouth dropped open. "Please don't tell me everyone heard us," he whispered nervously to Joel.

Black Feet! No Tease! Told you before! I-Cheya's response came suddenly as they heard the Sehlat huffing outside the door.

It opened and two furry faces poked their way around the edge. Sorry Blackie sent, as his tongue hung out of the corner of his muzzle in his wolfish laugher. I no resist

Me control him. Keep on with fun. You happy, we happy huffed I-Cheya as he nosed the curious pup back outside and, somehow, closed the door.

Joel traded a look with Kevin, then muttered, "I bet Cor and Sean never had this problem their first time!"

"You'd lose!" Mikey's voice giggled out of nowhere.

"Mikey too?" Kevin said as his face reached a shade of red that Joel thought impossible for humans.

Mikey appeared at the foot of the bed. "I'm not listening in, as such. I'm just aware of what you're saying when it's not... uh, love related," he explained softly as he smiled at them both.

Kevin and Joel traded another look, then: "Explain. Make us feel just a BIT better, and tell us what happened with Cory and Sean that could possibly be worse than having two half Spirit peeping toms, and a Saint hovering around!" Joel ordered playfully as he fought with his blush.

"Let's just say I had to stop Mom at their bedroom door... she thought one of them had cut off a leg or something!" Mikey giggled. "Then, helpful brother that I was, I went into the room and told them in full detail what happened... then mimicked every noise they made at a more normal level."

Joel cocked his head to the side, "How old were you?"

"I was fifteen. They were both eleven," the angel giggled wickedly.

"How'd you know it was their first time?" Kevin asked curiously, his blush gone due to the interesting distraction.

Mikey snorted, "'Cos I'd overheard Cory asking my lil'bro what he wanted for his birthday, and Sean said he wanted to go all the way..."

"Ooooh! Nice present!" Kevin giggled. "That makes you and Sean alike, Sa'r!"

"Uh huh, bestest birthday present so far!" Joel giggled at Kevin before he looked at Mikey, "Thanks. We feel better knowing that this stuff's normal."

"Well, at least you don't have Mom listening to you, Joel," Mikey giggled.

Joel nodded at him seriously. "Yes I do, Mikey! My Mother is in here, remember?" he said, tapping the side of his head.

"Oh... umm... I forgot," the Saint said before falling onto his back on the bed, laughing.

Joel's face became a picture of passion then as he pushed Mikey off the bed with his feet. "Time for you to go, Mikey... unless you want to watch a little brother do stuff - instead of just spying and listening outside of their door!" he giggled.

"Ewwww!" Mikey giggled in full playful 'kid-mode' as he stood to his feet. "And I wasn't spying outside the door!" he shot back quickly, although the blush that appeared on his cheeks told a different story.

'Swearing by Pablito is tolerated, Michael - you lying is not. Do you want to be polishing the Golden Gates for a celestial month?'came a disembodied voice.

"Sorry, sir," Mikey said quickly, before whispering to a surprised Joel, "St Peter."

Joel sniggered. "Busted!" he and Kevin chorused cheekily.

Mikey winked at them before placing a kiss on their foreheads. "Just keep on being amazing little brothers, guys. God Bless," he whispered before vanishing away again.

"Is your Mom really listening?" Kevin asked with concern once the Saint had left them.

Joel shook his head. "She's kinda aware what we're doing, but she said before that when I do special stuff with you she'd close herself away somewhere in my head and not really 'know' what's going on."

"Oh, well... okay," Kevin giggled, before looking down at both their 'Little Friends'... and a smile played across his face...

---

Kevin's Perspective:

We were both hard, although how I was after what Sa'r had just done I don't know. While Mikey had been talking to us, I'd come to a decision, and I bravely trembled, "Sa'r?"

"Hmmm?" he mumbled back as he began to nibble at my neck again.

"Sa'r... I..." I stopped. He moved his head up to look at me with that searching look of his.

"What is it, Kevvy?" he asked.

Suddenly it wasn't as easy as I had thought it would be.

I looked away for a moment before looking back into those gorgeous eyes of his.

"Sa'r... I...I want to make love. I mean, I want you to... to go all the way with me," I said, begging him with my eyes. "You make love to me... please?"

I watched as a haunted look came to his deep blue eyes. "Kev..." he said, trailing off. I knew why. He was afraid about more than doing something that he had so long believed was wrong. He was also afraid as he'd been rescued only seconds away from being raped. Which was why I was asking him to make love to me, rather than the other way around.

"Please, Sa'r. We need this. To make it our own - especially you," I whispered gently.

He hung his head for a moment, and then looked up at me with that fear back there, but also with hope deep in his eyes. "Do you think we can?" he asked softly. "That I can?"

"Yes. I do," I replied with conviction and hope... and love.

He looked down for a moment more before he responded. "I guess he think so too," before giving me a shy smile. I followed his gaze and saw what he was talking about.

"Apparently" I said, smiling back as I playfully batted at his not-so-little friend.

"Promise me if it hurts, you'll stop me?" he asked seriously.

"I promise, but you know it might hurt," I replied, kissing him softly.

"I don't wanna hurt you, Kevvy," he insisted.

"I know, and you won't," I told him, trying to calm him for he was completely unwilling to bring me to harm.

"Promise me," he insisted again.

"If it gets too bad, then I'll tell you, Sa'r. I promise," I finally told him.

He nodded seriously, then got a shy smile on his face. "Close your eyes."

"What...?" I started to ask, but he put his fingers to my lips.

With a giggle, he said, "Shhh!"

As I closed my eyes and flopped onto my back, I felt him move around. I took a peek and saw him grab a tube - I knew what that was! Then I closed my eyes quickly as he started to kiss me again.

It was almost like before; only slower and more gentle, if that were possible. He went down, and further down, until he found my very appreciative little Kev waiting for him - somehow as awake as he had been before.

It was weird because this time everything built much slower. I guess it was because of what we'd already done, maybe, but either way it was so much more beautiful than before. I didn't think that it could have been better, but Sa'r seemed to make the impossible, possible.

After a while, he moved away from little Kevin and went further down - further than he'd been last time.

As he got slowly closer, I wondered if it would be yucky - but I heard a soft giggle in my mind, then one word: 'Yummy!'

Any smart reply I had been forming was kinda blanked out by the sensation he suddenly brought me. It was...unbelievable!

I never knew that that part of my body could feel anything like that! Wow!

An errant thought flashed through my mind - how it managed to be understandable is a mystery, though. I remember thinking that my Sa'r was going places no-one had gone before, but it wasn't the sensations that made the thought vanish - it was Sa'r giggling down our bond-link.

"What?" I asked out loud.

'Long story,' was all the reply I got, along with a few more giggles.

Then I felt something else and realized that it was his finger.

What began to fill my senses created feelings deep within me that I'd never known could exist.

"Oh... Sa'r," I said finally.

"You like?" he asked as he looked at me, a half smile on his face.

"Yeah," I moaned.

"Incoming," Sa'r giggled as he wiggled another finger at me.

"Oh... God!" was all I could say in response.

Finally, I could bear it no longer. "Now Sa'r! Please, now!" I begged.

"Sure, Kev?" he asked one last time as he moved himself up to get in line with me.

"More than anything in all the world, T'hy'la!" I told him as I looked into those blue pools of light and emotion coming from his eyes.

I watched as he slowly brought himself closer, then he took up the tube and squeezed it onto the end of his very much awake friend.

Then, smiling at me, he moved it forward til it touched me. "I love you, Kevin Thompson. Forever and ever," he whispered as he slowly brought himself closer still to connect with me.

I can't describe the feeling of it. It was so different; so strange; yet it was also so wonderful - beautiful - and most of all, so very loving.

The 'feeling' that was building was different than before. I think I've said that already, but it just was. So much slower and gentler; more loving, if that was even possible. Most especially, it was something that was bringing us even closer at a primal level.

Suddenly, though, he hit something within me and I gasped.

He giggled. "Ah! That must be..."

I didn't let him finish. I pulled him down and kissed him, mumbling, "Less talk!"

"Mmmph," was all the reply I got - verbally at least.

Then, I felt what I could swear were barriers lowering - I'd not even known that any were there! Well, something had been there, but they suddenly fell and... and... everything I was feeling physically flowed down the bond-link into my Sa'ren. And everything he was feeling physically was flowing back into me.

It was... I don't know! 'Awesome' didn't even begin to describe what it felt like, but as Sa'r continued to make love to me, we became even more than one.

We became whole. Each felt what the other felt. I was Sa'ren. He was me. We were One. Body, Soul, Spirit. It... I don't know. I don't think I ever will.

There was no hurry, no screaming headlong rush towards the 'feeling', this time. Just a slow gentle climb to some place far, far away - feeling each and every sensation we had between us as our own - and marveling at not only those but how we each felt them and then how we felt each others.

It was something not even my soul-link with Kenny could ever be... Sa'r and I were one. Forever one.

As this new fire slowly built up, it consumed us both and soon overflowed, drowning us in feeling. Joined together through the Bond-Link the way we now were, the special place and feeling was reached simultaneously for the both of us - and together we crashing down the other side and into oblivion for a peaceful, joyful while...

---

Normal Perspective - CIC, Dining Room:

Brant and 'Harry' were talking, and again as before, this 'person' was perceived exactly as Prince Harry by the powerful Vampire. There seemed nothing there that could give away the fact that 'Harry' was not really Harry at all. After a few more moments of soft whispers, Brant slipped off of 'Harry's lap, and trotted off into his Apartment, carrying a mug of cocoa.

Harry nodded to himself as the boy slipped into his apartment, then turned and stood up.

He seemed to become as liquid in the air, and instead of the masquerade of 'Prince Harry', a being made of solid light stood there - a light that did not waver, nor shimmer, nor project, for the room around was as dark as before this being took on this form. It moved silently and unseen through the Dining Room and into the midst of the children sleeping in the nest. Cory, who was still awake and staring at the ceiling, was completely unaware; as were the Mikyvis and two Time Lords.

Then it stood there. Waiting for the Music to start. Waiting for the Time...

---

Pool Building - Apartments:

In the hallway outside of Joel and Kevin's room, I-Cheya, Black Feet and Mikey were seated down near the stairs keeping guard - and playing Uno.

Mikey shook his head slowly as he watched Black Feet nose about the cards he had behind the book shielding them from the other two. He then watched as I-Cheya did the same with his own cards, using one massive claw from his left paw and his right paw acting as a shield.

"If I didn't see this, I'd never believe it," Mikey muttered.

Uno! Blackie sent as he nosed a card around the edge of the book before him.

Mikey sighed, "How can I be losing this game to a pair of animals!"

Black Feet laughed in his wolfish manner. Then the pup's eyes widened as something came to the hearing of all three of them. It was not sound as we know sound, yet it was - on another level.

It was music. Two different melodies that were slowly combining in perfect harmony and heard only by those connected to the plane that these three were a part of.

Boy's soul sings I-Cheya sent softly.

Black Feet nodded, Kevin-Boy's soul sings also

"Wow," Mikey murmured in wonder. "I never get used to hearing this..." he said after a moment as tears started falling from his eyes.

The two Spirit-Guardians looked at him and blinked.

"I... I always hear it when my... my family are at a moment of peace. To hear my Vulcan brother's soul sing this way... it's an answer to prayer, guys," Mikey sobbed softly.

The Sehlat cub and Wolf pup thumped their tails happily, then all three just listened as the two distinct yet joined melodies continued...

---

Joel's Perspective:

Wow!

Just... wow!

Daddy never told me about THAT! What WAS that? How did... I mean... what the...

My thoughts were scattered as I was slumped on my Kevvy's belly and chest, half asleep due to the power of what had just happened. I could sense that Kevvy was as gone from reality as I was. Whatever had happened with out bond-link had been... wonderful... surprising. I don't know, but I hope it'll happen again!

My head was resting on my Kevvy's upper chest, and every so often I felt him kissing the top of my head while his hands held me tight and rubbed my back. He was trembling, as was I - Wow! "I love you, Kevvy," I whispered as I lifted my head to stare down into those deep brown eyes of his.

He smiled cutely at me. He didn't have to say anything. I knew without a word being said how much he loved me. So I kissed him.

As we broke our kiss, I remained there on top of him and lost in those twin pools of chocolate - thinking. Remembering. It had been so hard to keep any coherent thought in my head when I had been making love to him, but now - now I could analyze those few things that had made me curious. No, not the sex bit; the real thing that had made me curious was that my Kevvy had felt something I'd not expected him to feel when I was loving him.

Protected.

He'd felt safe and protected by me.

So I was thinking back about what I had been feeling.

It was harder than it sounded, really, as both our emotions - our feelings - everything - had merged. I wasn't sure what was mine and what was his, but... I believe that while he had felt that protection, I had been feeling that I was guarding him. Surrounding him. Taking care of him.

I liked that. I really did. I loved that he had felt safe, but I liked being the one making him feel safe.

It seemed to answer a question inside of me.

But...

"Kev?"

"Yeah, Sa'r?" he whispered as he lazily blinked at me, that cute smile still playing over his lips and his hands still circling my back and even, now, my shoulders.

I paused and began to feel nervous about what I was about to ask, and he sensed it.

"What's wrong?" he said, speaking a little louder this time and his voice had a note of worry in it.

I kissed him quickly before hiding my face in the crook of his neck, "Just... Kev, you... I felt what you were feeling when... when I was making love to you. You were feeling safe - protected. I want to feel that too..."

Kevin hugged me as tight as he could, then, and whispered back, "Are you sure? I know that that old bastard tried to use you, Sa'r. I don't want to make you freak out..."

"My old master never did manage it, Kev. I... I think I'll be okay... It's you. I love you. Please?" I stuttered, feeling braver as I tapped into his strength.

After pressing another kiss to my hair, he whispered, "For you, anything... roll off me, Sa'r. I can't do nuffin' like this!"

I giggled, as did he, for I was still sprawled on top of him. I pushed myself over and to his side, rolling onto my back as I did so.

"Close your eyes," he whispered as his cool hand traced it's way from my neck down to my chest, "and relax..."

I did... and soon he started to do to me what I had done to him to get him ready. I laughed a lot, especially with the comments he was sending down the link to me. It felt real weird, but real good too.

"Ready?" I heard him ask, so I opened my eyes to see him kneeling between my legs.

I nodded and he smiled at me. His face was so wonderful and tender, and I just knew he'd keep me as safe as I would keep him.

I cannot begin to describe how it felt. If what he did to get me ready had felt good, this was way WAY better... and... I felt it. The barrier that had come down when I had made love to him was still down.

Our souls seemed to merge...

... and he made me feel safe...

---

Normal Perspective:

The three Spirit beings outside in the hall could still hear that 'music', only this time it seemed to get louder and louder.

"Synergy," Mikey whispered to himself as he could swear that the music was being made visible before his eyes. "How many will hear this, I wonder?"

//Those who need to, Saint of Heaven//

---

In the Rec Room, Cory was still awake. He was so worried for Joel that sleep seemed to just stay out of reach.

Sean moved slightly at his side and wiggled around until he was no longer being spooned by Cory. 'Need to talk?' he sent down their shared link.

Cory shook his head, 'No. Not really. I hope they're alright.'

Sean was about to reassure his blond soul-mate when they felt themselves grow almost light inside. "Wha...?" was all Sean could say before gentle sleep took him.

Cory's own eyes opened wide at the weird sensation, but then he, too, dropped off like a rock.

The Mikyvis in the room were as asleep as any of them could get, but they woke with a start as that weird 'feeling' rolled through. Then, they too fell asleep. True sleep.

The Music was no longer just Joel's and Kevin's. As Mikey had said, peace causes a person's soul to sing.

Now, the entire room of kids were sleeping in that peace, and their souls started to sing as well...

... and the Music grew stronger...

This was what the invisible being seemed to be waiting for. Keeping even the High Races in true sleep, and controlling the Mikyvis from an automatic reproductive cycle that this form of 'sleep' would have produced, the being raised it's arms. The Music flowed around the room, building upon itself with the Harmony of all the children's souls added to it. It flowed around and through the being of Light... and then shot up and out, faster than light. Faster than Time. Faster than Thought.

As Fast as Spirit...

---

Behind the Barrier:

Vae'Za stopped his search for he found the crack that the Enterprise had once come through and then left through. He moved to wiggle as much of himself into it to begin draining the power he needed from the great shell that surrounded the star.

He never made it, for a blast of 'Music' burst through that crack and flung him away.

As he steadied himself from his chaotic spin, he found that he had lost all bearing on where inside his prison barrier he was. The crack was now nowhere to be seen.

His screams of rage would have echoed back at him, had sound been able to travel in space.

Sybok, somewhere deep inside his own usurped body, smiled.

\\Vae'Runam! You have enabled him to delay me! I will find the way out, Brother... and I will avenge myself on the one who just postponed my escape!\\

He moved back to the inside edge of the shell.

\\Let the Shaper beware the Destroyer!\\

---

//He comes, and It comes, and the Sunlight shall tremble...//

---

Rec Room:

After nodding to itself, the being of light looked around the room before reaching out with it's power. It brought down the last part of the Time Lock that had so long shut Alpha-Prime away from external interference. Then, the being pointed at the truly sleeping Levi and another small body appeared curled up with the first-born of the Mikyvis. Then, the being pointed in the direction of Teri's house... and in one of the many empty, spare guest rooms, a bed filled with the shape of an adult male - also fast asleep.

Chuckling to itself, the being vanished.

---

Joel's Perspective:

Our love sustained us throughout the night, and our minds and souls were merged throughout it all.

I lost count of the number of times we loved one another, the number of breaks we took or the times we drifted off only to wake one another by loving them again. Sometimes we woke up together and fed the 'fires' back to that burning intensity.

It was nothing like I had feared it was going to be and certainly nothing like my Kevvy had thought either. It sealed our love as it was meant to do.

Sometime - joined together in body, mind and soul, we drifted off to sleep for the last time that night.

It was our Poppa's advice that we keep in our minds: "Have fun". We did - and we would always remember to do so...

---

Normal Perspective:

Joel awoke with a start, but kept his eyes closed. He was cold. Chilled to the bone. And hurting.

He reached with his arm to feel for Kevin, but there was no-one with him on the bed... the small single, smelly bed.

He breathed in slowly, and muffled a cry of pain, for his ribs ached and he could barely catch his breath.

His stomach felt heavy, and his butt - it felt like it was on fire, and he could feel a wetness there. He reached, still with his eyes closed, and felt his tight, scar-traced skin protest at the movement in that bitterly cold room. He felt around his anus, and brought his hand to his face.

Only then did he open his eyes in that night darkened room.

It was his cell-bedroom. Back in that Hell Universe... and his hand was covered in dark blood and shit and semen.

He started to cry, for he realised then that he had been raped. He had been raped by his master, and not killed as he had feared. But, he must have blanked out and...

"No, it...it can't h...have been a d...d...dream," he whispered sickly as he tried to sit up, but he couldn't. He looked at his chest and saw the bruises covering his body. The bruises and scars... and he 'remembered' then the blow his master had given his chest as he had been stripped naked. His ribs were broken. At least three, maybe more.

That was why he couldn't breathe right!

"Nooooo," he wailed softly, not daring to wake his master. "K...K...Kevvy... Cory... Sean... nooooo... D...D...Daddy and Mama... I w...want my M...Mama... noooo..." he sobbed, all the harder for his stutter had also returned. It proved that it had been a dream. He even tried to think of more than one thing at a time, but couldn't. He turned his face into the filthy, thin sheet on the bed and sobbed as hard as he dared.

It had all been a dream. A wonderful, happy dream; a dream where his heroes had existed, and a group of boys that were his brothers... but not for real. Not real. Not here. Never here. He was alone, as ever. His mind, although quick and sharp for a human, was slow and sluggish compared to his wonderful dream.

How could he live like this now? How could he go on when that wonderful home he had had was just make-believe?

It was a long time before he felt able to move.

Grunting in agony, he managed to get up from the bed and began to tip-toe from the room towards the bathroom. Once there, he looked at himself in the mirror - the tattoo was there, and his hair was a mess. Tears once again sprang from his eyes as he saw his ears were not pointed, but perfectly human.

After washing his hand and his body free of the muck and filth he had covered himself in during his rape, he silently moved out of the bathroom and onto the landing. He stood there, as still as stone; trying to decide what to do. He could hear the deep breathing of his master in the main bedroom...

Then it came to him. He turned and quietly walked downstairs, his mind finally made up. As he reached the hallway, he made to turn towards the kitchen...

...to where the sharpest knives were kept.

He wouldn't live like this any more.

It was time to die...

---

To be Continued...

---

Darryl's Notes:

Okay, now, that was just not nice. I think that Ilu has been taking lessons from The Evil Author, again. I believe the student is coming very close to outstripping the master, here. We are going to need another chapter very soon, yes, VERY SOON!

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

---

Author's Notes:

What, me evil? Naaaa...

Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Somehow, I think Kevin and Joel did.

Ilu

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