Author's Note: Fata Morgana is Italian for mirage + Morgan le Fay, stemming from the belief that the mirage was caused by her witchcraft. Hence, a fancy word for a spectacular illusion.

Adrian was a great believer in drama. He made it a rule to use it to his advantage as much as possible. But Davenport's arrival could not have been more awkwardly timed.

"You must be *Mister* Davenport," Adrian stated with a decided lack of enthusiasm.

"That's right. Who are *you*?"

"Adrian George. The new martial arts instructor." He proffered a hand to be shaken, but Davenport completely disregarded the gesture.

"You like to live dangerously, Adrian?"

Adrian's polite smile froze in place. This was a very powerful man. Not just in terms of physical strength, but in terms of sheer emotional intensity. This was a man who loved and hated in equal portions. To make such a man his enemy would be foolhardy in the extreme.

"No. Actually, I don't."

"Good answer. Now I don't have to waste a perfectly good punch on your face."

There was a sudden burst of laughter from the kids, reminding the adults that their every word was being carefully monitored.

"Um, Jake? Wouldn't you rather be in bed?"

"Daragh Cassidy!" Davenport exclaimed, feeling a sharp pain in the vicinity of his abdomen.

"I meant *recuperating*," she huffed.

"I think one of the boys can give you a hand getting Dav back to the gatehouse, Derry."

"Thanks, Nik," she said gratefully.

She could tell Davenport was exhausted. The fact that he wasn't even trying to fight her on returning home was a definite clue.

"Come on, Jake," said Derry, wrapping her husband's arm around her shoulders.

Nikita gave Adam a look that said "Make yourself useful" and he dutifully approached Davenport's other side. "Hey, man, lean on me," Adam encouraged, only to earn himself a scowl from the older man.

"What? I'm just trying to help."

"Derry can help me," Davenport maintained stubbornly.

"You're too heavy for Derry to manage alone, Dav," Nikita replied. "Let Adam help."

Davenport groaned. His stomach was really beginning to hurt. Suddenly it didn't seem all that important to be stoic. "Well.o-kay."

Adam hooked Davenport's other arm around his neck and took some of his weight away from Derry. "How's that, Derry? We balanced okay?"

Davenport growled like a wounded animal. "That's Aunt Derry to you, kid."

Adam shot Nikita a look that said "Now what have you gotten me into?". Nikita's light blue eyes gleamed innocently. "Make sure you don't come back until Uncle Dav is safely in bed, Adam."

"Sure thing. *Mom*." Adam meant to say it sarcastically, but the truth was, he *liked* calling Nikita "Mom". He knew it meant something to her and in turn, it meant something to him that she cared.

Jazz waved at his lover. "See you later, Adam."

Adam said gruffly, "Where are *you* going?"

"I'm going to hang out with Sasha for a while. We figured we'd shoot some basketball. Why?"

"Just wondered."

Despite his own pain, Davenport followed the conversation between the two teenagers closely. With a grunt of effort, he leaned forward to whisper into Adam's ear. "You're not going to lose Jazz that easy, kid. Let him be with Sasha. They're just friends."

Adam looked up at his new "uncle" with genuine admiration. "You're right. Thanks."

When Davenport and his wife left with Adam, Adrian quickly dispersed those remaining with an impatient gesture. "We'll meet here again tomorrow at the same time. I expect to see *everyone*. No excuses."

Sasha grimaced and muttered, "I thought summer was supposed to be fun."

"I heard that. Don't you think protecting yourself is more important than having fun?"

"Don't you know how to lighten up? I think your black belt's wrapped a little too tight. It seems to be cutting off the circulation to your brain."

"Sasha!" Nikita said sharply, trying not to laugh. He might be inappropriate, but damned if he wasn't right.

Skye giggled in her mother's stead. When Adrian glared at the little girl, Skye stopped laughing, but she couldn't control the mischievous grin he inadvertently inspired.

Adrian caught Nikita's fierce look and decided that politics was the better part of valor. "Perhaps, Madame, you could persuade the freethinkers amongst them to be, oh, just *slightly* less creative?"

"That's a little hard for me to do, Adrian.when I agree with them."

He looked taken aback. "About?"

"You *do* need to lighten up."

Nikita left, shaking her head and muttering to herself under her breath. The kids, on the other hand, gave him curious glances or chuckled as they slowly drifted away.

For a man used to thinking of himself only in positive terms, Adrian suddenly had a lot to think about.

"Is there any news?" Adrian's voice sounded rough and weary. In truth, the events of the past few days were just now beginning to catch up with him. He hated what he'd managed to become in such a short time. It wasn't fair. It wasn't-

Wait, someone was speaking. "Ex-excuse me?"

He rubbed a hand over his eyes and clutched the cell phone as though it were his lifeline. In a way, it was. It was his only connection to *her*.

"But-"

"Could I talk to her? Please.."

"She's still sleeping? I see."

"No, no, I understand. I just-" Really wanted to speak to her. I miss her. I miss *us*.

"Will you tell her that I-"

"No, of course not, I realize that's terribly personal. I would never-just tell her that I'm thinking about her."

His voice faded away to nothing and he pushed the button to terminate the call without even looking at the phone. After putting it away almost absent-mindedly, Adrian breathed harshly for several seconds, like a man who was gasping his last breath, before burying his face in his hands.

He was alone. More alone than he had ever been in his life.

He wasn't sure he could stand it.

Don't think about it, he told himself. Don't think about *him*. You know, the other. The one who was not to be. The one who never had a chance.

His son.

All at once Adrian's shoulders heaved and a great sob escaped him. Clapping his hands over his mouth, he struggled to keep his pain inside. Where it belonged. But it was becoming too big. Too much. Too overwhelming for him to handle.

He opened wet moss-green eyes to find one of the Samuelle children staring at him. "What's the matter?" Luc asked sympathetically.

Adrian tried in vain to pull himself together, but the sight of the small boy only served as yet one more reminder of what he had lost. "I.uh.I've forgotten your name."

"It's Luc," Luc was only too proud to announce. "I'm almost six," he declared.

Adrian almost smiled. What an ignominious position to be found in. Sitting on the floor of the deserted ballroom, his back to a pillar that felt far stronger than he would ever be, crying like a child. No, his mind corrected automatically, crying *for* a child.

"Why are you crying?"

If Adrian had been the type of man to curse, he would have. But he comforted himself with the fact that at least his tears were, for the most part, silent.

"When I came to work here, I had to leave my.wife.behind. She couldn't come with me."

"Why?" Luc cocked his head quizzically.

"She." Adrian felt his breath catch in his throat and wondered if he could say the words out loud. Saying them aloud made them more real. Too real. He wasn't sure what would happen when he did. *If* he did.

"She was.going to have a b-baby."

"Did something bad happen?"

Adrian nodded, his teeth starting to chatter with the effort it took to keep his jaw so tightly clenched.

Luc began to bite his lip, his handsome face scrunched up in fierce concentration. "Is she okay?"

"Yes," he replied tersely.

"What about the baby?"

What about the baby? Adrian closed his eyes as darkness threatened to take over his vision anyway. "We lost him."

"It was a little boy like me?"

"Yes," he whispered, wondering when common sense and good judgment had deserted him. Obviously, his intellect was not as sharp as it used to be. Otherwise, he would not be talking to a child about a tragedy so fresh, he could still feel it in all its intensity.

"Did he go to Heaven to meet God?"

Adrian opened his eyes abruptly. His own faith had been challenged by the death of his son. But here was someone who still believed.

"I hope so," he answered huskily.

"But you miss him, huh?"

Adrian felt new tears well up in his eyes and turned away, only to feel a small hand take his. Luc scooted closer and wrapped the instructor's arm around his shoulders. "We could play pretend if you want. Like I was your little boy. For a little while."

Adrian tightened his arms around Luc almost against his will. How could something so beautiful be so painful? How could something so painful be so beautiful?

"What about your father?"

"I don't think Daddy would mind *too* much," Luc said with all the confidence of a boy who knew he was well and truly loved by his family.

Luc crept under his defenses and Adrian gave in. With a muffled cry, he buried his face in Luc's soft, baby-fine hair.

Things would never be the same. But it was a beginning.

Luc knelt by the side of his bed, his small but sturdy frame bent in an attitude of supplication. "God bless Mommy. God bless Daddy. God bless my brother Chris, and my sister Skye, and, and, my other sister Faith, and the dogs and the cats and.um.." Luc paused as his brow furrowed in thought.

Nikita smiled to herself outside the door to Luc's bedroom. She loved to listen to him saying his prayers. Maybe it was because it seemed like such a sign of normalcy, whatever that was. Or maybe it just gave her hope for the future because Luc had such a strong belief in God, and a strong belief in *anything* was definitely a reason for rejoicing. To Nikita, it was the antithesis of their existence (she refused to call it *life*) in Section, where no one was encouraged to believe in *anything* but especially not God. Because in a world where Operations was king, even God dared not challenge his authority.

Luc continued his litany and Nikita was startled to hear him add someone unexpected to be remembered. "And God? Could you please bless Mr. Adrian? On account of he's awful sad and he misses his little boy that went to live with you in Heaven. Maybe you could send him another little boy to love. Oh, and can you forgive him for being so mad at all of us? He didn't mean it. Honest."

Luc's artless prayers went straight to Nikita's heart. She didn't question how Luc came to possess information that no one else had. Nor did she question whether his information was accurate. She knew it was. She believed in him.

She pushed Luc's door open all the way and entered briskly, as if she had just arrived. "Luc, did you finish your prayers?"

"Yes, Mommy," Luc replied. "Can you read me a story?"

"Are you sure, Luc? You usually like *Daddy's* stories better."

Luc's smile was bittersweet. "I need a Mommy story tonight."

Something inside Nikita ached. She couldn't bear for any of her children to be unhappy, but Luc.Luc was her youngest, and for all his apparent precocity, her "baby". He always would be. Even when he grew up, married, moved away and had his own family.

"Okay.would you like a hug to go with that, honey?"

"Uh-huh," he responded, his eyes a velvety dark green. He held out his arms and despite his size, Nikita picked him up effortlessly.

She surrounded him and he settled comfortably against her breasts. She felt like love and reassurance and safety.

"Mommy?'

"Yes, sweetie?"

"Would you miss me and be real sad if I went away cause God wanted me to live with Him?"

Tears gathered in Nikita's light blue eyes. "Of course, Luc. I love you. I don't want anything bad to happen to you."

"But living with God is sposed to be a *good* thing. How come it makes people cry?"

"Because it *is* a good thing, sweetie, when people are old and have lived nice full lives.but it can be a terrible thing for the people left behind, the people who *love* the person who was taken away."

"Don't they want them to be happy with God?" Luc looked puzzled.

"Yes, sweetie. But they miss them because if they're keeping *God* company, they're not with *them*."

"Oh." That made sense to Luc. "Mommy?"

"Yes, baby?" Her breath softly ruffled his hair and Luc sighed happily.

"I love you lots and lots, like *this much*," he said, spreading his arms like wings. Then he burrowed his head into her shoulder. "And I'm never ever gonna leave you."

"Not ever?" Nikita closed her eyes, content to hold him.

"Nope." Luc snuggled under Nikita's chin. "I'm glad I'm getting to be a big boy, but right now I'm even gladder that I'm still little enough to get big hugs like this."

"Oh, sweetie," Nikita said, feeling tearful again. "You'll always be able to get big hugs like this from me."

"Even when I'm big like *Daddy*?" Luc asked incredulously.

"Even then."

Luc clung to his mother more tightly. "I love you, Mommy."

"I love you, too, Luc." She kissed the top of his head reverently. If she'd ever had any doubts about how good a mother she'd become, and she certainly had more than her share, she didn't now. Her children were the best part of her and Michael.

Sometimes all they had were their dreams. But sometimes those dreams were the realization of a lifetime. Two lifetimes. Two spirits sharing one heart, if not one body.

Luc was the living proof.

"I'm not worried. Why are you?" Sey continued to pack despite the glowering expression on his lover's face.

"It waited this long. Couldn't it wait a bit longer?" Declan asked, not bothering to hide the sullen look in his eyes anymore.

"Look, my trip got interrupted by the kidnapping, but I wasn't the one kidnapped. I won't be away that long, just long enough to take care of what' s going on at the bookstore."

"It's not that important."

"Thanks." Sey spat sarcastically. "It's *my* business. I don't expect you to feel the same way as I do about it. But a little support might be nice."

Declan bit his lip indecisively. As uncharacteristic as it was for him to hesitate, he did. To push any harder would drive Sey away and into the very thing he feared. "Can I come with you?" he asked meekly, a decidedly un-Declan-like attitude.

That stopped Sey cold. "You think I can't do it, don't you? You think I'll get as far as the airport and have a panic attack or something."

"Nooo!" Declan wailed. He turned his back on his lover and squeezed his eyes shut. He had to get over this compulsion to overprotect Sey. God knew he was more than capable of getting on a plane and flying home and back. But he didn't want to let Sey out of his sight. No, it was more than that. It was-

--oh, shit, if there was one thing Declan hated, it was confronting his own fears and anxieties. He was much better dealing with everyone else's.

"Dec?" Sey queried gently, the too-rigid line of Declan's shoulders betraying a massive amount of underlying tension.

"I don't want you to go," Declan whispered.

Sey sighed. "I know, Dec, but-"

Declan turned slowly, his pale grey eyes positively tortured. "But I won't ask you to stay. I know you have to do this."

Sey reached up and pushed a hand through Declan's long red hair. "What are you so afraid of? That I'll disappear?" Sey's voice was soft and tender and filled with love. It was so like Sey not to get angry. It was as if he could see beyond the obvious explanation to what was really going on.

"No, that *I* will." Once he had uttered those words, Declan could not help but see their truth. "I can't live without you," he added in a whisper.

Unable to meet his lover's forthright gaze, fearful of what he might see there, Declan averted his face, only to have Sey grip his chin determinedly. "You won't have to. Nothing's going to happen to me. I promise."

Declan gave up his struggle to maintain a cool, calm façade. "But you can't promise that!" he shouted anxiously. He couldn't believe he was raising his voice. He couldn't believe he was losing control. But Declan hated feeling powerless.and he could see only one outcome of all this: Sey would go.

But he might not come back.

Just the thought of Sey not coming back terrified Declan to the very root of his being. But if he fought Sey, he risked damaging their relationship. Perhaps irrevocably.

Sey was watching him closely, his brown eyes soft and liquid like melting chocolate. "You're right, Declan. The trip's not that important. Certainly not as important as *you*. But I have a feeling that if I don't go.I'm giving up more than just the trip."

Declan gave his lover a watery smile. "Aye. You go, then. I've got Sasha and Emmy to keep me company."

"I'll be back before you can miss me," Sey vowed.

"Oh, I doubt that, acushla," Declan whispered. He lowered his head and kissed Sey. The taste of salt in his mouth told Sey that the tears he'd seen standing in Declan's eyes were no longer unshed. When Declan tried to pull away, Sey made a little noise of protest and held onto him.

He wrapped both arms around Declan's neck and pulled him even more tightly against him. "I love you," he murmured in between kisses.

"I know," Declan answered.

"Let me make love to you. I'll postpone my flight," Sey suggested.

But Declan shook his head. "No, baby. I might beg you to stay and I don't think either of us could stand that."

The usual light in Sey's dark eyes faded to a flicker. "You make me feel like I'm leaving you."

"It just feels that way to me." Declan kissed him, lingering for several moments before reluctantly breaking away. The taste of Sey's mouth, redolent of honey and butter and coffee, stayed with him as he stared at his lover, carefully cataloguing each and every feature.

What if he didn't come back? Or worse, what if he did, but he discovered that he was perfectly capable of surviving without Declan? What if he didn't *need* him with the same intensity? Wouldn't that change things? Wouldn't that change *everything*?

Sey caressed Declan's cheek with his fingertip. He could feel fine tremors racing through him. Declan was barely holding himself together. Part of him felt sad, even guilty for provoking such a reaction. But part of him, the part that he tried vainly to hide from Declan, rejoiced at this proof of Declan's love and obvious devotion.

He wanted to tell Declan how brave he was for letting Sey test the strength of that love, but all that came out was, "I'd better go."

"Aye," Declan agreed softly.

"I'll call you when I get there."

Declan nodded.

"I love you."

Declan nodded again, feeling altogether too vulnerable to trust his voice.

"Remember to eat, okay?"

Declan closed his eyes and willed himself not to protest.

"And get some sleep, too."

At the sound of Sey's carry-on bag thumping to the floor, Declan opened his eyes. "Emmy will make sure I eat." He drew a shaky breath. "And Sasha will *try* to convince me to sleep."

"Good. Listen to them. You're lucky you've got such great kids."

"No," Declan said slowly, "I'm lucky I've got *you*. *You* gave me such great kids, baby."

Sey couldn't help but take such a compliment to heart. He respected Declan's opinion. For Declan to tell him that he'd made an important difference in his life was wonderful. But to hear that he was responsible for Sasha and Emmy turning out so well..

"Thanks, but it takes *both* of us, Dec."

"But I wouldn't even *have* Emmy if it weren't for you."

Sey struggled against the overwhelming emotion that choked his throat. "But *you* made her as kind and gentle as she is beautiful, Dec."

"What about Sasha?"

"Sasha worships the ground you walk on, love. Don't you know that yet?"

Declan buried his face against the side of Sey's neck and murmured something unintelligible. "What did you say?"

Declan rubbed his cheek against Sey's before repeating what he'd said. "Same way I feel about you."

Sey's fingers crept into Declan's long, thick curls and stayed there. "I'll never leave you, Dec, not as long as I'm alive."

"You can't let me go to Heaven by myself," Declan declared.

"What makes you think you're going to *Heaven*?" Sey said dryly.

Declan slid a hand down the length of Sey's body, stopping only to brush lightly over the front of his jeans. With a groan, Sey melted against him, his lips grazing the base of Declan's throat. A pulse throbbed there, strong and regular, reminding them both that they were alive and they were together.

"Mmm.maybe I was wrong about leaving you behind," Sey offered breathlessly.

Declan licked his lover's open mouth before plunging his tongue deep inside. His hips pressing insistently against Sey's groin, Declan kissed him long and hard. Sey moaned his approval into Declan's mouth, his own kisses warm and wet and vigorously demanding.

After several minutes, it became clear that turning back was no longer an option. The top of his jeans splayed open wide, his zipper more than halfway undone, Sey nonetheless looked thoroughly loved. Casting an affectionate look at his Celtic warrior, Sey asked, "So how fast can you pack?"

The two men settled into their seats on the plane, Sey in the window seat, Declan on the aisle. Fortunately for them, there were only two seats on their side of the plane, hence, no chance of a third party interrupting what seemed to be a surprisingly intimate conversation for so early in the morning.

Declan leaned on his lover, his left hand gently massaging the back of Sey's neck. "Aren't you glad you let me come?"

Sey cast a sultry look at his partner. "I always let you come," he whispered. The tip of his tongue peeking over the swell of his bottom lip, he gazed directly into Declan's eyes.

Transfixed by the sight of Sey's mouth, Declan shifted in his seat, surreptitiously concealing his involuntary reaction to that statement. "You' re a dreadful tease when there's nothing I can do about it, aren't you?"

Declan's hand in Sey's hair became a caress. Sey smiled, his dark eyes gleaming with mischief. "Is your seatbelt fastened? It might be a bumpy ride."

Automatically checking his seatbelt, Declan said, "I had no idea you became so.amorous.when you fly."

Sey rubbed his thumb over the back of Declan's hand. "I don't. Must be the company."

Declan's eyes flashed. "Well, I'm very relieved to know that you don't get turned on by everyone who sits next to you."

Sey chuckled. "You are *so* easy to play with, Dec."

"Only with you, acushla," Declan replied, the timbre of his voice decidedly affectionate.

The FASTEN SEATBELTS sign came on as the plane readied for takeoff. Slowly taxiing down the runway, the plane rumbled as it began to pick up speed. Declan lightly grasped Sey's hand in his.

His lips curving in a sensual smile, Sey commented, "You know, you don't have to hold my hand, Dec."

"I *like* holding your hand."

"I don't need you to hold my hand.but you can hold something else," he said softly.

"I know you could have made this trip on your own, Sey. But I'm bloody grateful you took pity on the poor soul who loves you more than life itself. I would've been tearing myself up the whole time you were away."

Sey tugged on the silky curtain of red curls until Declan's mouth was a breath away from his. "I love you too much to let that happen."

Declan dropped his head, his face flushing dark red. "Are you saying you took pity on me, then?"

"No," Sey protested, his long elegant fingers working their way through Declan's hair. "You're here because I want you here." He leaned his forehead against Declan's, his soft exhalation of breath caressing his lips. "I love you."

Declan looked intently into Sey's eyes and saw the love he held for him reflected back a hundredfold. "I love you, too," he whispered, unable to resist kissing him. He lightly brushed his mouth against Sey's before he reluctantly released him.

They moved even further apart as the flight attendant reached their aisle. "Would you like something to drink, sir?"

Declan ordered orange juice for himself and tomato juice for Sey. In addition, they were each accorded two shortbread cookies. When the flight attendant had moved on, Declan gave the cookie in his hand a distinctly irritated look. "This is their idea of breakfast?"

"No, this is their idea of a snack. We missed breakfast." Sey bit into his cookie with a loud crunch.

"Wonder what we missed."

"Cold eggs?"

"Stale toast?"

"See? I knew I could teach you to look on the bright side, Dec."

"Aye, well, there's something to be said for missing food poisoning."

"Oh, come on, it's not *that* bad."

"You're just saying that cause you love cookies."

"That's a nasty rumor someone started."

"You have a crumb on your bottom lip."

Sey licked it off slowly, fully aware that he was tantalizing his lover. Declan's silver-grey eyes grew heated as he watched. "You're bloody lucky there's a seatbelt holding me back, baby."

"The seatbelt sign is *off* now, Dec," Sey teased.

Declan heaved a great sigh and thumped the back of his head on his seat. "I think I need to use the restroom."

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do," Sey warned, a playful glint in his eyes.

Declan narrowed his eyes and swooped in to kiss Sey. Hard. It was over almost before it started, but it left both of them aching. "Christ," he muttered under his breath, wondering if he'd made things worse.

With great care, Declan stood and made his way down the aisle to the restroom. Luckily, it was unoccupied. He slipped inside the small room and locked the door. "Thank God for small favors," he said to himself, noting that there was a lid on the toilet.

Closing the lid, he sat down and gingerly eased his legs apart. There wasn't a lot of room, but then, he told himself, I don't need much. After unsnapping the top of his jeans, he slowly slid the zipper down, breathing a sigh of relief as the strain on his groin abated. His cock was already hard and leaking, thanks to Sey's teasing. Taking himself in hand, he had every intention of finishing as quickly as possible.

But a light tap on the door made him jump. "Bloody hell!" he swore, making no attempt to rearrange his clothing.

"Dec?" came a barely audible whisper.

"Sey?" Declan whispered back.

"Let me in," Sey said, trying to remain as unobtrusive as possible.

Declan opened the door a crack and Sey insinuated himself inside before anyone could see. Declan re-locked the door with his free hand. "What are you doing here?"

Sey's dark eyes raked over Declan's body, lighting on the fully erect cock Declan still held between his fingers. "I couldn't leave you in this condition."

"So you came to make it up to me, you little flirt?"

Without answering, Sey pulled his shirt over his head and lay it across the sink, exposing his bare chest. He could feel Declan's hot gaze on him as he slid his jeans down over his hips. Stepping carefully, he straddled his lover's lap and sat down. Pulling both of their cocks into alignment between their bodies, he then slowly opened Declan's shirt, pushing both edges over his shoulders.

Declan was stunned. If anyone had told him that Sey was capable of initiating sex in a restroom on a plane at 30,000 feet, he would have snorted in disbelief. Now he could only watch and grow hard and hope to hell Sey didn't lose his nerve.

Sey smiled as he lowered his face to Declan's. "I want to kiss you," he murmured, thrusting his hands almost violently into Declan's long red hair.

Declan groaned as Sey claimed his mouth again and again, his own long hair brushing against Declan's nipples. Sey rocked against his lover, his cock nudging its mate with more and more fervor. They didn't have much time and they knew it. But the threat of possible discovery only fueled their enthusiastic frottage.

Declan's hand slid down Sey's back and into that familiar crevice. His tongue diving eagerly inside Sey's warm, wet mouth, Declan concentrated on pleasuring his lover. Their thrusts growing more erratic, they approached climax together. "You going to come for me, baby?" he whispered.

"Oh, yeah, all over you," Sey whispered back hotly.

Declan cupped both hands over Sey's ass, his grip hard enough to leave bruises on his pale skin. He nipped at his partner's already swollen bottom lip and groaned. "Coming.."

Sey bent his head and licked a swath of skin from Declan's jawline to his temple. "I.love you.."

"Ba-by.."

With a final thrust, Sey collapsed atop his lover. "Mmm, got you all sticky," Sey chuckled, pressing a kiss to Declan's chest.

Declan pushed the fall of hair off his lover's face and kissed him. "Got you all wet," he said with a euphoric smile.

"Was worth it," Sey said.

"Mmm, you can say that again."

A knock sounded peremptorily on the metal door, jarring both of them from their dreamlike state. "Excuse me? Is something wrong?" asked the flight attendant in a vaguely anxious voice.

"No. I mean, everything's fine," Declan replied, hastily trying to clean up.

In his desire to hurry, Declan accidentally hit the faucet, spraying Sey's shirt with water. Sey, who was in the middle of wiping off his chest, moaned. "Dammit, Dec, when you said you got me all wet, this wasn't what I had in mind," he whispered.

Amidst a chorus of jingling coins and clanging zippers, they managed to get dressed in a somewhat appropriate manner. But there was no way to dry Sey's shirt. He was going to have to wear it.

Fortuitously, there was no one waiting outside when they left the small cubicle. One at a time, they made their way back to their seats. Thinking that no one had noticed his shirt, Sey was just about to breathe easily when a little boy popped his head up behind them.

"Mister, how come your shirt is all wet?"

Sey colored furiously while Declan regarded him in utter silence for several moments.

"Why don't you just tell him that it got that way from knocking the bejesus out of nosey little boys?" Declan suggested with a wry smile.

"Declan!"

Declan closed his eyes, but not before he caught another glimpse of Sey's flushed face. "C'mere, baby," he said, brushing his mouth against Sey's forehead.

With a gentle pull, he settled Sey's head comfortably on his shoulder and wrapped an arm around him. Kissing his hair, Declan sighed happily. "I love you, and don't you ever forget that. That's the only thing that matters."

A childish giggle rent the air from somewhere behind them.

Sey snuggled closer to Declan. "The only thing."