"OK guys, last call, what will it be?" I shouted out.

"Now come on Liz, it's still early yet." Cort was sitting at his usual spot at the bar, minus Peaches, his better half.

"Cort, it's 2 am, I have had a long day and I am tired. Now are you going to get anything or not?" I lectured about my long boring day. Cort sat at the bar watching Peaches, who was helping Bud and Kim clean the tavern.

"Everybody, bar is closed!" I shouted out to the crowd one more time.

"Let's go, everyone out, back to the hotel and get some shut eye." Maximus herded the nightly crowd of patrons like a herd of cattle.

"Come on... move it, move it, move it." I couldn't help myself but to laugh at him. "I just had a wonderful idea at what to get Max this Christmas, a bull whip, Stetson, chaps for those jeans and get one of East's horses," I laughed as I teased him, closing the door.

"Hey I heard that!" East called out, and I responded by laughing along with Peaches.

"OK, let's get this place cleaned up so we can get out of here," Zack demanded.

Quick as everyone, could the tavern was practically spotless ... with the exception of a couple of passed out guys.

"Hey Liz! " Lachlan called out.

"Hmm?" I looked up while counting out the cash box and preparing it for the following night.

"Um, well it appears that Colin and Steve have passed out." Lachlan stated, staring at the two limp bodes sitting in a booth in the corner.

Jumping up fast, I bogged it over to the far corner. Not far behind, Maximus, the Man, and Dominic quickly followed peering over my shoulder. Dominic laughed hysterically and Max popped him in the back of his head.

"Ow, what did you do that for mate?" Dominic whined.

"That was you last Friday Mate." Max quickly jumped on his case.

"Here," I spun to see Peaches, she had gotten a bowl of cold water and a couple rags.

"Thanks, you read my mind" I kindly smiled, taking the cool wet rag wiping Steve's face while Peaches tended to Colin.

"As much piss these two drink, you would think they would have learned how to take it!" Dominic blurted out.

Just before Max could smack him in the head again, Dominic ducked and he smacked Steve instead. Jumping a couple miles high, Steve was brought back to reality along with the beginnings of a hang over.

"Well, we have Steve back. Now if we could just get Colin to wake up. Any ideas?" I asked Peaches.

"I don't think that he is. Just going to have to let him sleep it off." Peaches responded.

"I don't think we have much of an option do we? OK, uh... Max Hon could you and the guys carry what is left of these two to their rooms."

"Yea, sure love." Max answered.

"Thanks Sweetie, I'll just finish up here. I'm almost done. "

" All right, love holler if you need me. " Max called out as he and Lachlan carried Colin up the stairs to his room, the Man and Dominic soon followed with Steve in tow.

I soon found myself in the Tavern alone. I decided to play one last song on the Jukebox. Just before I walked over I kicked off my boots revealing my sore aching feet covered by white socks. I had yet to really dance across the new floor which was still shiny and slick, the best kind to run and slid in your socks! Taking myself back to an old movie starring Tom Cruise dancing in nothing but his briefs! I slid my 25 cent piece into the slot, made my selections, and raced to the back of the bar to turn the volume up a bit. The guys will be ticked and I will probably hear about having the radio up to loud, but who the heck cares. It's my tavern! I had dawned my dark shades and pulled out my tucked in shirt to get the full effect of the song. Dancing and sliding around like an idiot shaking my butt as I strutted across the floor. I found a hair brush someone had left as a microphone singing at the top of my lungs, unsuspecting that I was being watched. I guess I was enjoying myself too much that I didn't hear him come in. The song had ended and I turned around to dance the other side of the room. At the top of my lungs I screamed out. Stumbling over my steps as I tried to step away, holding him at bay with the only thing I had in my hand, the hair brush.

"Who the hell are you? What do you want?" I yelled, still stumbling trying to get away. By now Zack, John and Bud were running down the stairs with guns drawn.

"What's wrong?" They said in unison John pulled me up as I met them halfway up the stairs.

"Down there ... some guy" I said trembling.

"OK, Stay here we will check it out." Zack was ready to rumble with anything anytime. Especially when it comes to one of the ladies that stayed at the Crowe Hotel. By now East and Andy had also come down.

"What's going on?" Andy asked.

John looked up at Andy and East, "Stay here with her, someone is down there." he whispered.

All three men had their guns ready to meet whatever was waiting for them.

"Hold it right there, mate. Get your hands up where we can see them." Zack demanded. I could only see Bud. Zack and John had positioned themselves else where in the Tavern.

"It's OK. We got him in cuff's." John called out. I made my way down the steps clinging to Andy's arm as if my life was about to expire any second.

"Let go of my arm please!" Andy begged.

I didn't realize I had such a death grip on him. His arm was practically white! "Oh sorry." Releasing his arm, it was now returning to a normal pinkish color. I stood looking at the man that had literally scared me half to death moments before. Zack questioned the stranger along with Bud and John. Thank God we have so many cops here. The front door of the Tavern flew open. Peaches and Cort had heard me screaming and came to see what was going on. Peaches looked around and I quickly told her what had happened as Cort stood there laughing.

Peaches turned and smacked him from behind the head, "What are you laughing at, she could have been killed?" He was still laughing at me.

"I don't think that would be possible, baby. Zack let him loose. This is the new guy, Terry Thorne."

I hid my face in my hands in disbelief. What a way to great a newcomer. I quickly recovered my embarrassment and snapped by yelling at Terry.

"Why the hell didn't you say that in the first place, and why did you sneak up on me like the..." Covering my mouth to shut me up, John tried to calm me down.

"Mate, I thought you weren't coming until tomorrow?" Cort asked.

"Yea well, I made good timing. I was going to stop in Longwood but decided to go through since it wasn't that far of a drive." Terry stated while Zack uncuffed him.

"If I knew I was going to have such a big welcoming party I would have dressed for the occasion," Terry snickered under his breath, teasing me while he brushed himself off. "Guessed I should have called first." As Terry stood Zack held out his hand as an apology.

"No worries, mate." Terry responded. Breaking free of John I went to retrieve my boots to put them back on. Terry walked up to me, "I'm sorry love I didn't mean to scare you."

Looking up at him I didn't say anything at first, but went back to putting my boots back on "Don't worry about it. I should have been paying more attention." I started to walk away when he grabbed my arm.

"Let me make it up to you. What do you say to dinner?"

I didn't know what to say I was still mad at him

"Look, it's late and I'm very tired. Right now all I want is a nice warm bath and to curl up in my bed and go to sleep. Good night." With that I quickly left and headed to my room.

The following morning I awoke about 9 am to hear someone making loud clanging noises in the kitchen. Something tells me Annabella is going to be screaming mad when she sees that someone has bothered her kitchen. I never saw one person get so personal about anything at all, but I am not going to complain. I am just happy that Peaches finally got a real cook. I have no clue where half these guys learned how to cook. Sometimes the things that they come up with ... scare me. I overheard Lachlan and Kelly scolding Andy on his cooking. Peaches wanted to hire someone but the guys wanted to save the money to upgrade the entertainment system, just so they could watch rugby or some kind of meaningless game where a bunch of cute guys with nice asses run around knocking each other out. Wait, that could be a good idea. A nice big wide screen so I can see every inch of them. I mean learn the game. Haha yea right! And they thought us gals were there to cheer the team on to victory.

I had finally had enough of the loud racket and decided to see who was making all the fuss. I stumbled down the steps wearing nothing but my gray flannel night clothes with Figment air brushed on the front, and a pair of purple fuzzy slippers. I was not a pretty site. When I got there I saw Terry cooking and it smelled good at least, scrambled eggs and French toast and grits too.

"Don't tell me you're just getting up?" He said, taking a moment to question me from playing chief.

Trying to awaken my body and yawning at the same time, I answered him with a grumble.

With a snicker, Terry poured a cup of coffee. "Here have some coffee, I just made a pot"

I happily took the cup from him and took my first sip. "Mm that's good. Especially when it is this cold in the morning" I was now eyeing the food he was preparing. Boy that sure did look good.

Terry just snickered, "You think this is cold?"

"Yes, I do. It doesn't get below the 30's where I'm from."

I answered back, I now had my hands wrapped around the coffee mug which in turn was warming my body slowly.

"It's bloody hot and it's only in the mid 40's. If you want cold try Alaska."

I laughed sheepishly, grinning. "You know John and Tina keep trying to get me to take a trip there with them but I haven't seem to get myself to." I was still shivering a bit.

"Why don't you go and get dressed and I'll make you breakfast. What would you like to have today?"

I had to give myself a moment to think. The plate that he was cooking for himself looked divine. However I decided on something a bit different.

"Um, how about an omelet with cheese, bacon, ham, with sausage and grits on the side?"

"I hate to say this but that almost sounds better than what I made for myself. But your on. One omelet with the side of grits and sausage coming right up." He spoke, rubbing his hands together as if he was about to draw out plans on how to make my morning dinner. I hopped down from the chair I had been sitting on. Just as I was about to leave to go up stairs I turned to look back while Terry started on my order, his head was stuck in the fridge, hunting down the ingredients. His butt was all that was showing, nice tight and firm. God, I wouldn't mind hanging on to that for a while. All of the sudden I heard a loud yelling. Sid was up to something and Peaches was after him. I was going to ask, but I was too scared to even want to know the answer.

Terry must have heard to commotion. "Hey!" I whipped around. " I thought I told you to go upstairs? Hurry up I'm almost done already!" With that I rushed up stairs.

After a quick shower, and finding some clean clothes to put on, there was a knock on my door.

"Just a minute!" I shouted to the other side of the door.

BANG, BANG, BANG

"I said just a minute!" Who the hell could be so impatient.

BANG, BANG, BANG

"Damn it, What the hell is...." I swung the door open. Terry stood there with a stupid ass grin on his face.

"About time I thought I was going to have to bust the door down," He said, as he walked in the door, placing my breakfast on my desk.

Without missing a beat, I scolded him for his rudeness at my door. "Didn't you hear me, I told you to wait a second. I was trying to get dressed."

"Sorry I didn't hear you," His smile had now vanished. "You should eat before it gets cold." He turned, and started to leave. I could hear him mumbling something to himself.

"I'm sorry I didn't hear what you said." I tried to stop him from leaving.

"Nothing I was talking to myself, I've got to go. Mannie is going to show me around today. I better meet up with him." Terry said, walking out the door.

"Wait!" Terry turned to look over at me. "I saw Mannie and East leave in the truck just before I came up here. They probably went to get feed for the horses. Why don't you stay here while you wait for them."

A smile had dawned on his face again and with that he agreed to stay. We chatted about the Nest and his career with K&R. He and his wife had split. His work had put a strain on the marriage and his wife couldn't stand that the next time she heard the phone ring it was might be the firm telling her that he had died. A few months prior the divorce had been final. We then started to talk about me, how I started the Tavern... "When Peaches started the Nest, I thought it would be a good idea to have a place where everyone could get together after a day's hard work. So I talked with Peaches and the guys, they agreed on helping me build a Tavern. And we built a Loft type area for the guys so they can have a place to stay. I also have a small office in the back. I wanted a place where I could go and get away from some of the craziness around here. Steve and I have even set up a dark room. We both do a lot of photography." In a matter of fact tone I went on explaining the hobby that I had picked up, how Steve had taught me everything that I knew, and how we made the brochure on the Nest.

A knock at the door had interrupted us. "Door's open!" I shouted out to the other side.

As the door open Mannie spoke from the other side, "Liz, have you seen Terry..." Before he could finish he saw Terry sitting on my unmade bed.

"There you are. I've been looking all over for you, mate. You ready for your tour of the place?"

"Oh yea sorry. Be right there." With that Terry stood up and started to the door. "Guess I should head downstairs ."

Mannie saw the disappointment on my face and quickly said, "You wanna come along?" I grinned at him, then looked at Terry. "If it's all right with Terry." I said, looking at him. Terry just grinned and shook his shoulders.

"Sure, luv."

I smiled at Mannie. "OK, let me grab my coat and put on some shoes." I said, as I headed to my closet.

"OK luv, we'll be downstairs waiting." Mannie said smiling at me. I was sure glad that Mannie asked me, I thought, smiling to myself. Quickly grabbing what I needed, I headed downstairs.

We all ventured down to the stables, Mannie thought it would be nice if we went riding along the outskirts of the Nest and the beach. As we rode along I noticed that Terry paid more attention to what Mannie was saying then what I was saying, which annoyed me. "So Terry, how are you liking it so far?" I asked smiling at him.

"It's nice." Terry simply replied without even looking at me. I frowned and shook my head, maybe this wasn't a good idea, I thought.

"Well, I think I've had enough for now, I have things to do in the Tavern. You boys enjoy the rest of the day." I said as I turned the horse and rode off before they could say anything.

Back at the Tavern, Sid was causing trouble as usual. "Sid, go away!" I shouted pointing to the door. "

Oh come on, you like him! But he doesn't want you!" Sid said, teasing me.

"Sid, get out!" I yelled this time pushing him towards the door.

"You can't stand it, he won't pay any attention to you!" Sid laughed in my face.

"That's not true! He brought me breakfast! Now get out!" I said, pushing him through the doors. "That bastard." I swore. Returning to the bar, I started taking inventory.

"Hey, luv, need any help?" Andy asked, walking up to me.

"Where were you when Sid was giving me a hard time!" I snapped, then looked at Andy.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to take that out on you." I said frowning at him.

"That's all right, luv." Andy smiled at me. "So what's the real problem, I've seen you handle Sid before." He said, looking at me. I just sighed.

"Terry Thorne." I said quietly, as if Terry would hear me.

"Oh, not getting him to respond to you, huh?" Andy put his arm around me.

"Do I have a sign on me that says, 'Hard up for Terry Thorne', or something?" I said shaking my head.

"Listen, luv, we all know that there's something going on, but he's new, you just have to give him time." Andy smiled again.

"Yea you're probably right. I think I am going to go for a walk and clear my head, maybe head over to that old tree that fell over last summer."

A couple days had gone by and I had bearly spoken to Terry. With him getting settled in to the Nest and the guys showing him the "ropes" he had been quite busy. Now it was Wednesday and time for Peaches and I to meet up. Ever since I had opened the Tavern she and I had gotten together regularly to talk business. But this was extra special, we were going to talk about the New Year's Eve Party.

We had a week to get things ready for the big event. Peaches had already talked Colin and Zack into setting up to fireworks. Sid was trying to get on the fireworks team but so far we have managed to keep him away. Something tells me that he was up to something anyway.

"OK, so we have the decorations, the food, and the drinks. Are we missing anything?" Peaches asked, staring at me.

"Um, what?" I asked as I awoke from my daydream.

"I said, are we missing anything. Are you all right?" She asked me with a frown.

"We don't have music, I think that's the only thing we're missing. And no, I'm not all right." I said shaking my head at her.

"OK, I'll talk to Andy and Jeff, maybe they got some ideas. What's wrong?" She tilted her head at me.

"Terry Thorne!" I chewed on my pencil.

"Oh! So I guess things aren't going good. Have you tried to get him alone?" She asked me with a smirk.

"I've tried but the guys keep interfering." I said, rolling my eyes.

"Here's an idea, before we have the party, let's go camping! We'll just have a couple of us, but make sure it's couples, this way, he has no choice but to talk to you!" She said smiling at me.

"I don't want to force him to talk to me!" I stood up.

"I didn't mean it like that, its just you will have the upper hand on him, so to speak!" She said following my lead and standing.

"All right, but who do we take?" I asked staring at her.

"I'll go and ask around, see who would like to go. I bet Zack can talk Terry to going. He seems to like the rugged outdoors." Peaches smiled along with her words of encouragement.

The day of our journey came. After everyone loaded up the truck, we all climbed in for the 20 minute drive to the mountain. Only a few of us had decided to join on the trip. Zack tagged along with Peaches, Brynn had got John to come. and Norma somehow had gotten Mannie to come. Sometime or another I am going to have a talk with her. If she can get Mannie away from his ranch for more than a day the girl can do just about anything. Terry, to my delight, even came. Since his leave from the firm he had let his hair grow out a bit. And for the past couple days he hadn't shaved. I almost fell over when I saw him now, he had shaved most of his beard off and left a goatee. I could feel the heat in my body start to rise.

"Liz!" Zack shouted and I turned to see him leaning over the truck's bed. "Are you ready?"

"Oh yea, sorry must of dazed off for a bit. Yea, let's get this show on the road." I grabbed my backpack that was on the ground and tossed it over my shoulder, before climbing in the back of the Chevy Dodge Ram. Mannie had gotten a new truck a couple months ago so he could have a more dependable truck to haul stuff with around the farm. He was excited about the trip and the fact that he was going to be able to use his 4 wheel drive feature.

"Let's go. This is going to be so fun!" Brynn smiled in delight as she climbed into John's Jeep. John had offered to take his jeep so we could use it to haul the camping gear.

The trip to the mountain had been a quiet one. No one had spoken the whole way as they took in the scenery that surrounded us. At the camping lot we met up with a park ranger to make arrangements for our stay in the camp and then we returned to the trucks to gather our gear. I struggled with my main back pack, one of the straps had managed to fix itself around another part of my pack. I glanced around to see if anyone was free to help me but everyone was grabbing what they could and Zack and Mannie were busy unloading a medium sized cooler from John's Jeep. In my twists and spins an arm reached out for me.

"Stop spinning already. Your making me dizzy" Terry teased, helping my with my pack.

"Thanks" I smiled kindly.

"Everyone have their gear?" John asked checking everyone. "OK guys, let's go. By the time we get up there it will be getting dark."

Like a pack of children on a school trip we filed up a steep 5 mile trail, up a mountain. It was almost 6 in the evening by the time we decided on a stop.

"Peaches, are you sure you like this spot? I'm not going to take this pack off again." Zack scolded.

"Yea, this is it. It's so ... far away." Peaches responded, looking around her surroundings.

Looking around, I saw that this had once been a temporary home for someone else. The remains of a fire bed were in the dead center. There was just enough space for everyone to circle their sleeping bags around the fireplace. "Hey let's circle our sleeping bags around the fire bed. That way we can all keep warm. I hear there is going to be a chill tonight." I called out.

"I agree," Terry spoke "And if the fire goes out we can always use our body heat."

I could only look at Peaches with a grin. We both broke out in laughter.

"What's so funny?" Mannie asked.

"Nothing." We spoke in unison.

"Are we missing someone?" Mannie said looking around at everyone.

"I think we are missing 2 someone's." Norma Jean answered. "I think I see someone coming now though."

John and Brynn had lagged behind. Brynn had practically ran the last fifty yards to the camp site.

"You guys are not going to believe what John and I just saw!" Brynn was evidently very contented about something, "John found some deer tracks almost a mile back. We followed them and we saw a group of them grazing in a small field. It was too awesome!"

"Yea, it was neat, there were about 5 of them. There was even a fawn." John spoke in a matter of fact voice."

"That's so cool." My eyes lit up. "I wonder what we can find tomorrow? I think we should go hiking tomorrow. What do you think?" I asked.

Everyone seemed to like that idea. After we had all settled into a spot around the campfire, I realized that noone had gone to get some wood to burn. And with the sun almost down it was getting cool.

"Hey guys I'm going to look for firewood. Can someone help me?" I asked the small party that had formed around the cooler searching for munches.

"I'll go, but you have to protect me from the wild animals." Terry teased.

I could only look at him giving a flirtatious push to get him going, but before I could retrieve my hand back, he had grabbed it pulling me along behind him. "Let's get going." Terry commanded.

We had made our way farther up a path that led away from the camp area. Terry and I had only gathered a few big limbs in our search. There wasn't much laying around that didn't require an ax to chop it. We were heading back towards the camp when a sound drew Terry off the trail. "What's wrong?" I asked with confusion in my voice. I kept thinking and praying in my head that he wouldn't go off the trail and off to a place of the woods that would get us totally lost.

"Come on, it's over here" Terry was speaking in whispers, trying to find the noise that had alerted him that something was nearby. I didn't even have a chance to persuade him to stay on the path, nor did I like the idea of venturing off in an area that wasn't marked. "Where are you going Terry?" I too was now talking in a whisper. I decided it was safer that way in case it was something much larger than I or something that could run much faster than I could run.

"Shhh. Come on." Terry was already getting deep in the forest, almost lost in to the woods.

"Terry, get back here. Terry, Terry! Shit!" I didn't want to be left behind so I left my load of limbs to at least mark the place where we were. I quickly followed Terry into the woods when we came to a clearing where a small creek bed was flowing.

He suddenly stopped and started to chuckle when he spotted what had made all the noise.

"There, over there!" Terry pointed out.

"What? What is it? What do you see?" I asked. I had finally caught up to Terry. Staying directly behind him for shelter and not knowing what to expect at what he found. I steadied my self by hanging on to his shoulders as I stood on a large bolder sized rock. What ever it was, I wanted to have a better start on the run for my life. I looked about the area he was looking at and couldn't find a thing different. "I don't see anything?"

"Right there." Terry pointed in the direction of a dead tree that was lying on the forest floor. Right behind it were to animals mating. "Oh my God!" I said, amazement in my voice, shortly after, I started to chuckled. "Ahhh!" I yelled. All of the sudden I had lost my balance and grabbed Terry in my fight to stay standing but I ended up making him lose his balance and we both ended up falling down. My scream had scared off the two little creatures in their throws of entanglement. Somehow when we fell I ended on the ground and Terry on top of me. After doing nothing but staring in each other's eyes, Terry finally spoke up. "Luv if you wanted to tumble around with me all you had to do was ask." I didn't say a word. Instead I continued watching his face, searching every inch of it till I returned to his eyes. Speaking back to him in return with mine.

Searching each other's eyes, I could see the passion in Terry's soul beginning to open. He leaned down further slowly kissing my lips. I opened my mouth a bit, allowing him to let his tongue wander about in my mouth. I could feel his tongue stroke the roof of my mouth. His sweet kisses moved down to my chin, sucking on it so gently, working his way to my right ear. His tongue played with my ear lobs, working his way down my neck. At the same time he was tugging at my tucked in green flannel top. I, in turned, started to unbutton my shirt. His large warm hands that were once holding my face, were now stroking my sides. After I had the last button undone, he worked his hands up to my breasts. Terry stopped kissing me to look up at me. "I don't want you to stop Terry," I moaned.

Terry smiled back at me and in a whisper, "Are you sure?"

"Yes." I answered him with a smile.

Wrapping my arms around him I pulled him closer. I snaked my hands in to his untucked shirt. In turn he went back to kissing my lips, breaking away only to travel down my neck and to my chest. He stopped to looked at me when he realized I had on a sports bra. Now straddling my legs he sat up pulling me with him. Bringing his hands up to my shoulders, he brushed of my shirt and laid in underneath me. Returning his attention to me, he looked deep in my eyes, His large hands stroking my bare abs. He closed his eyes nudging and kissing my neck he mumbled,

"God, Liz you smell so sweet" He returned his eyes back to mine. "I've wanted you for so long. Every time I wanted to be near you, talk to you, we always seemed to get interrupted..."

I could see a sadness start to build in his eyes. I hushed him brushing my fingers on to his lips. I let my hands travel down to the tail of his shirt, only to pull it back over his head. I allowed my eyes to leave his. Searching every inch of his chest and abs with my eyes. My hands returned to his chest, feeling every ripple his mussels made with my every touch. Terry lifted my head with his hand and kissed me once more, deeper than the ones before. Crossing my arms I took a hold of each side of my bra, and began to remove it. Just before I could lift it over my head, Terry stopped me. Covering my eyes, more passionate kisses followed as his large hands fondled my breasts. Pulling the rest of my bra off, I lowered my self back down to the ground pulling Terry. All of a sudden Terry stopped what he was doing, looking around frantically.

"Baby what's wrong?" I looked up at him.

"Shhh." He said still looking around. "Get up and get dressed, someone is around here," Terry said, as he threw back on his rumpled up shirt. Just as we were dressed Johns voice called out.

"Terry, Liz? Where are you?"

We quickly made our way back to the path where we ran in to John.

"There you are. We have been looking for you. Got worried since you didn't come back after an hour." Terry and I looked at each other confused.

"Wow I didn't know we were gone that long!" I said picking up my sticks.

"We will be right there mate." Terry said with a giggle."

John kind of stood there looking at us. "Yea sure OK. Don't be long. Dinner is almost ready." "Dinner. But we aren't even back with the fire wood yet?" I quizzed John.

"Zack and I got some when you two didn't return, Peaches and Brynn managed to get a good fire going good enough to get things cooking." John started back down the path, before he disappeared in the darkness he turned to speak, "Oh and Liz you might want to Turn your shirt outside in." He walked off grinning.

Back at the camp we all ate hamburgers that were packed for us. We also had potato salad and dinner rolls. After everyone was finished eating, we threw our plates in the camp fire since we used paper plates. And we put our dirty cutlery in a plastic dish to be cleaned later.

"So now what do we do?" Brynn asked as everyone snuggled in to there sleeping bags.

With a yawn John responded. "I want to get some sleep. It's been a long day. And we have a lot to do tomorrow."

Everyone agreed and slowly everyone began to fall asleep laying close to there mate. I other hand was on the opposite side of the campfire from Terry, Feeling a bit lonely I watched him as he readied himself for bed. I turned my self away from him so I could try and think other thoughts, lying on my back watching the stars above. Images from earlier began to swirl in my head. I could still feel him touching me. I must have dozed off soon after. I must have had another one of my nightmares again I had awoken with someone shaking me

"No Dad please. I don't want you to leave Daddy..." I cried out.

"Liz, Liz wake up, it's OK, it's me Terry." I sat up looking at Terry. Tears were streaming down my face.

"Are you OK?" Terry asked wiping my tears away. I swatted at his hands and got up to walk away.

"Leave me alone, Just leave me alone Terry." I scolded him. Grabbing my back and Flute case. Terry started to go after me but Zack had stopped him in his tracks.

"Let her go!" Zack warned. Terry started to say something. Zack warned him again not to go after me.

"Something's wrong with her I can't just let her go off in the woods by herself, Zack. Especially in the dark." Terry whined.

"The best thing for you to do is let her be. She's had a lot of personal problems she has had to deal with. Look, I know you don't understand. She goes off a lot on her own." Zack began to lecture.

"Wha...What do you mean 'off on her own'? What's wrong with her?" Terry was now becoming frantic and worried. It was only a few hours before that they shared so much of each other and now he was in the dark about her.

"Zack is right. Just let her be.  I probably shouldn't tell you this. Come over here and sit. There is something about Liz you need to know." Peaches went over to Mannie's truck and lowered the tail gate and took a seat next to Terry and tried to explain about the dark past in Liz's life.

"Her father was in the Navy, sorta like you, he was a navy seal. Her mother took off when Liz was about 8, she ran off with another Navy Officer. For the longest time all she had was her father and all her father had was a little girl he barely knew and the core. He was barely home. And all of the sudden had to raise a little girl all by himself. So she ended up growing the navy way, never staying in one place, staying at other people's houses that she didn't even know," Peaches began. "Her father even let her come to his office after school, cause there was no one to watch her. She would do her homework to her father's yelling commands at the other soldiers outside."

Peaches laughed at a memory that Liz had shared with her. "Her fondest memory of the base was when her father was commanding the other soldiers and she would be in his office imitating him. The other officers would sit at their desk and laugh at her. She said her favorite line that he used was 'You stupid fuck. My teenage daughter can do better than you!'  She was outside reading a book when she heard, this one time ... she caught the wind of one of the soldiers saying 'Bull shit. Prove it!' Her father heard it at the same time. She jumped down from her spot and went up to the soldier and looked him dead in the eye, and told him that he was on. Her father just stood there and grinned, telling him he had to live it up. She ended up betting him on the obstacle course. Something she had done millions of times with her father in his PT training. Anyway, she beat him by a long shot."

Terry interrupted her with concern, "You keep talking in the past. Why?"

Peaches stared at the ground before answering. "You know I shouldn't be telling you this. Liz needs to be telling you this." Peaches started to slide down.

"No please. I want to know more," Terry begged. Peaches stared into his eyes.

"I can't... I've said too much already." With that, Peaches returned to her sleeping bag. Terry sat in silence in the bed of Mannie's truck, wondering what had happened to Liz, if she was OK. He wanted nothing but to hold her, to tell her everything was all right and that he was there for her. Terry wanted to go look for her, but it was too dark to find her in a place that he didn't know. Millions of thoughts ran through his head before he fell asleep.

I couldn't seem to go back to sleep. The thoughts of my father were echoing inside of my head. I found the rock near a cliff that I made myself comfy at, finally dozing off at the sound of the night bugs.

I awoke a few hours later at birds chipping, which I found very relaxing. It was a bit chilly out so I dug for my asotlvdi (Cherokee for shawl) and then finding my Native American flute (I actually do play one in real life) and started to play an old morning song, a song that is played each morning as the sun rose above the tree tops. When I stopped a voice came from behind me.

"That was beautiful!" I turned around and saw Terry. I looked back over to the scenery off the cliff. "You OK?" Terry asked, walking closer to me.

"I'll be fine. I guess?" I said, looking back at him.

"What happened back there?" Terry was now sitting behind me wrapping his arms around me and resting his chin on my shoulder.

"Terry, I don't even know how to even start explaining to you. I don't even know if I can." I let my eyes wonder around, trying to not let mine met up with his.

Terry took my tear stained face in his hand, wiping my new tears that were beginning to fall. "Try, luv. I'm right here. Not going anywhere, hmm." Terry had now disrobed me from my asotlvdi, only to wrap both of us in it. And holding me tightly as I tried to explain.

"I have nightmares about the last time I was my father alive, he had a late night call 2 days before I graduated from high school. I begged him not to leave. I could feel it in my gut that something was horrible wrong. This mission didn't fit right. With all my efforts, he left anyway. Going on saying that it was his duty and it wasn't any different from his other missions. He even promised me that he would make it to my graduation even if he had to have a hue drop him in the middle of it ... and with that he was gone. The day of my graduation came, and he still didn't show. One of his commanding officers came over to me, telling me he had to talk to me right before I was about to walk. The words that echoed from his lips stung like a sharp knife through the heart. My Father was missing and presumed dead. I collapse and cried for days. After I finally pulled myself together I went to see the Major and signed myself into the Navy. When I signed with the Major he had fixed my paper work so I could do my Basic training near him, and he made it so that I could stay in the house I was living at and shared with my father since it was 7 years before they could officially declare him dead. After 4 years of hard work, I had worked my way up the ladder quickly. My personal goal was to find my father. I worked feverishly with every bit of information I could. One day the now retired major came to me, to tell me my father's body had been found and his remains and personal effects were being returned to the US. It was like all of the sudden everything I worked for was no longer alive. My purpose for everything was gone. I know had no father. When his body returned there was nothing left of him so I had him buried in the National Cemetery in Washington ... and there wasn't much in his personal effects. He had a bunch of old photographs, and letters that he had written to me. I never go anywhere without them. After the ceremony I resigned from service, loaded what I could on my bike and took off. The major sold everything for me and sent the money. Ever since then I've been on the road never looking back. That's when I found Peaches. She talked me in to coming to the Nest. I don't know why I came. So many people have been at the Nest. The people I have met are no way near like what I am used to. I don't even understand what drew me. I've been out with a few of the guys, only to lose them. The women that come here are usually drawn to a particular person ... so I kept losing out. And I've been drowning myself in the Tavern and whatever I could. I didn't expect you to happen ... but I'm glad you did. I haven't felt so much for one person in such a long time.. It feels good, you know. Only Peaches really knows about this. The guys know I have a past but ... they don't know what my past is."

Back at the main campsite everyone was getting ready to set off for a hike through the mountains. "Hey what happened to Terry and Liz?" Mannie wondered. "Yea that's a good question. I haven't seen either one since last night?" Norma Jean stood ready after tying her shoes. Zack looked to Peaches to see if they should say anything. Finally Peaches broke the silence and explained the night before to Mannie and Norma Jean, without going into deep details. "So this morning I guess Terry got up at first light to go find her." Peaches finished off her speech. "Well, we should go help find her. She could be lost, or even hurt, or something." Norma Jean's concern for a friend's safety worried her. "No, Terry will find her. She comes here a lot. I told him last night that she likes to come up here a lot and go out by this cliff." Zack cited. "They will be fine. Terry knows what he's doing." Brynn added. "Yea come on there is a lot of places to cover out here. Liz was telling me about this cave she found out here one time. She said you can see a really awesome view of the Nest from there. Even took some pictures of it." Peaches rattled off as the group started on their venture.

With a smile of encouragement Terry kissed the remaining tears on Liz's face "I'm afraid of loving you Terry, I don't think I could go through hell again if something were to happen to you as well."

"Nothing is going to happen lov. I promise you this. When Peaches called me to invite me out here I was absolutely thrilled. I went for days trying to decided what I should do. When I left K&R I didn't have much of anywhere to go. Some buddies of mine wanted me to work with them. Instead I came out here..." Giggling a bit, Terry went on to cheer her up a bit. "I mean not chasing a bunch of guys threatening me with in an inch of my life, the rush I get when I shoot off automatic weapons is going to be a hard change. Then I had this perfect opportunity to leave it all behind. Join my brothers so to speak, a complete change in everything."

"I forgot that Peaches said once you take up residence here you can't really leave. I have heard that some of the guys leave for a while but they can't stay gone for a long time." Gathering herself back together, Liz got up from the rock she slept against the night before. "We should head back, they'll start to worry about us and come looking."

Terry agreed and they headed back to the camp only to find it deserted. Only sleeping bags and a couple tents that were set up for privacy when getting dressed remained.

"They must have already left for the hike. Do you want to see if we can catch up?" Terry asked.

"No, I'm hungry I want to find something to eat first," Liz was rummaging through the cooler in hopes of finding something to eat. "Are you hungry? I can find something for you too."

"Famished." Terry rubbed his stomach in hopes of getting something as well to eat.

Together they had both managed to make some eggs and bacon left over from the attack the food supply received earlier that morning. Steeling kisses from each other as they prepared their meals. After they finished eating Liz retreated to one of the tents to change.

Terry could see her figure filter through the tent walls as the sunshine bled through the fabric. Noting her every curve as he watched her undress. She had taken a wash cloth and some water in the tent with her to clean up a bit as well. Terry watched with more interest as he watched the wash rag move up and down her perfectly toned body. Terry could no longer take the torture.

The sound of the zipper moving startled Liz. Quickly she grabbed a towel to cover herself just as Terry's head pop in. Pleased to see him join her, Liz smiled broadly as Terry entered the tent and turned to close the zipper back. "Don't you ever knock" Liz teased. "It's kinda hard to do that with no real doors." Terry sat down to remove his shoes and most of his clothing. Returning to a stand to take off his jeans. "If it's OK with you I would like to join you in your bath?"

"Come here you!" Liz soaked the cloth again before going over Terry's masculine body. "This uh, this might be a little cold." Liz giggled at the thought and watched as Terry squirmed under her touch as the cold wash cloth glided against his body. He watched as her hands went over every inch of his body circling it. Facing him again she stood before him as a bride would before her husband on their wedding night. He pulled her closely at the waist, kissing her sweet tender lips. Letting his tongue wander about her mouth. A moan erupted from Terry as Liz sucked on Terry's tongue. Releasing his mouth. Liz gently kissed Terry's chin working her way to his chest. "In the name of the Father..." Liz started a trail of kisses down his chest and stopped at his heart, moving her trail to his right nipple, "The Son,..."retracing her kisses she worked her way to his left nipple "And all that is Holy..." once again Liz retraced her kisses back to his heart only to go farther down. Once on her knees she stopped at his belly button, teasing him with her tongue. Going within the hole that once fed him, Liz hooked her tongue and pulled him along with her. Only to stop momentarily to look up at Terry, who in turn was looking down upon her. "I love you, Terry Thorne." Tears of joy from being able to express herself peaked from her eyes. Lowering himself down to her level, Terry looked deep in to his love's eyes. "I love you too."

Most of that morning Terry and Liz made love as if they were no tomorrow, falling asleep in each others arms.