---

"Do you mind a little detour?"  Maximus reached down and patted Argento's neck affectionately.  "It's been a while since I've taken him out for a good run -- he needs the exercise."

A good run? Laura thought to herself.  She'd seen what Argento was capable of in 'Gladiator'.  "Uh... I don't know, Max...." she said, looking over her shoulder at him.  "Maybe I should get down -- wouldn't a little less weight on his back be easier for him?"

"Argento has carried me and all our armor into battle -- I think he can handle you."  He smiled.  "So don't worry, my dear -- neither Argento or I will let anything happen to you."  His arms tightened around her waist as she sat in front of him in the saddle.  "I went through far too much to get you back to take a chance on anything harming you..."  He nuzzled the side of her neck, kissing her softly.  "Argento just wants to show you what he can do..."

She giggled as his beard tickled her.  "Oh, does he now...?"  She sighed softly as his lips nibbled at a particularly sensitive spot.  "Or maybe it's his master who wants to show off..."

He chuckled softly.  "That too..."  He held her close for another few moments, then straightened up, adjusting his position and hers in the saddle.  As she felt the change in him, as the retired soldier became the Calvary officer again, so too did she feel a change in Argento, the relaxed stance of the horse changing with his master's.  Beneath her hand, she could feel the muscles bunching in the powerful neck of the animal.  The stallion's ears had flicked up, listening intently, his head held high, the eyes alert and attentive now.

"I prae," Maximus said, speaking in Latin at normal conversation level, but it was definitely a command, one which Argento responded to instantly, moving forward at a fast walk, his movements much more precise than the leisurely stroll of a few minutes ago.

Maximus let his mount walk for a minute or two through the open field, during which time her nervousness grew.  This was no ordinary horse -- Argento was a war horse!  When he leaned down, whispering in her ear, "Ready?", she wanted to say 'no', but found herself nodding yes.  She felt his arms tighten around her waist, and he leaned forward in the saddle slightly, and she leaned with him.  Max raised his hand, pointing ahead, and barked in Latin, "Impetus!"

Almost instantaneously, Argento bolted forward, quickly reaching a full gallop, and her breath caught in her throat, a half-scream trapped there.  Maximus' arm was wrapped around her, squeezing her tightly against him as the three became one.  She watched, wide eyed and half paralyzed -- whether with fear or exhilaration, she couldn't tell -- as the land sped past them at an astonishing speed.

After the initial shock had worn off, she managed to relax enough to ease up on the death-grip she had on the saddle, trusting that Maximus and Argento knew what they were doing.  The thunder of hoofbeats against the ground mixed with the wind whipping past her ears, drowning out every other sound except Maximus' breath on her ear.

The rush she felt at that moment was incredible, perhaps comparable only to that which she'd felt upon taking the controls of Lachlan's plane and flying solo.  Her heart pounded in her chest as Argento charged ahead, through the meadow, and she looked down briefly to watch his front legs moving in a blur as his huge stride swept over the ground.  She moved her arm beside Maximus', laying her hand on his, and felt him squeeze her hand.

She was pressed back against his broad chest, and the rhythmic motion of the horse's gallop made them rub against one another in a decidedly sensual way.  There was definitely something very moving about being part of the partnership of man and horse, and the way they both seemed to be extensions of one another at this moment, and she felt privileged to be a part of it.

In her mind's eye, she could see the opening scene from 'Gladiator', and imagined what it would be like to be a part of that too, with Argento covered in armor and Maximus in his general's armor as well, sword in hand, charging down the hillside towards the barbarians.  She understood much more now what could instill that kind of bravery and fearlessness in a horse, which would normally flee from all the noise and fire and insanity of battle.  Argento was an extraordinary animal, completely loyal to and trusting of Maximus, so that he would follow his master to hell and back, and vice versa.

She looked out ahead of them at the broad expanse of field and meadow, marveling yet again at the speed of the large horse.  Maximus was indeed giving his mount a good workout, letting him gallop full tilt through the fields.

Then, up ahead, she spotted a small stream trickling through a shallow ravine.  When she realized they were headed straight for it, without slowing at all, she muttered, "Oh, god..." and half-shut her eyes, clinging to the saddle once more.  She heard a small chuckle from Maximus as they neared the ravine, and squeezed her eyes shut as they came to the bank.  

She felt them leave the ground, and they hung in the air for what seemed like an eternity before landing easily on the other side.  She opened her eyes again with a sigh of relief as they continued to gallop ahead, and she smiled briefly as Maximus planted a quick kiss on the side of her head.

They rode ahead for a minute or two more, then Argento began to turn leisurely to the left, and she realized he was responding to some subtle command from his master.  The horse turned in a broad arc, eventually coming about 180 degrees and heading back the way they had come.

Which also meant they were headed back towards the ravine again.  "Oh, hell..." she muttered this time, her eyes widening as she realized the ravine was wider and deeper here.  She heard Maximus chuckle again, and he whispered something in Latin to Argento.  The horse actually ran a bit faster as it neared the ravine, and this time she kept her eyes open as they jumped over the ravine.  A shriek of delight escaped her lips at the exhilarating feeling that went through her, every nerve in her body tingling as they soared easily over the ravine, landing safely on the other side without even seeming like the horse had broken stride.

She was giggling with delight as they continued to gallop back across the meadow, and she felt Maximus squeeze her midsection, his body molded against hers as the side of his face rubbed against hers.

He let Argento run free for a few minutes longer, then shifted his body and his hold on the reins to signal his steed to slow.  Gradually, the black stallion eased his swift pace down from a gallop to a canter to a quick trot.  Eventually, after Argento had slowed to a brisk walk, Maximus reined him to a stop.  He leaned down in the saddle, patting the winded horse affectionately on the neck with fatherly pride.  He talked to him in Latin, and the horse snorted, his head bobbing up and down as he whinnied his satisfaction with his master's praise, pawing at the ground with one hoof.

"Well done, my friend," Maximus said, switching to English again.  "I'll have to take Scarto out for a workout soon too."  He turned to Laura.  "Well...?  Did you enjoy that...?"

She was panting too, trying to catch her breath as her heart continued to pound in her chest.  "That was... incredible," she said, smiling happily.  Then she swatted his hand playfully.  "But you scared the heck out of me with that last jump."

"I know," he said, chuckling warmly.

She turned to look back at him with mock indignation.  "What?  You did that on purpose....?  The nerve of you, general," she teased.

"But it was fun, wasn't it?" he teased back, his hands dropping the reins to encircle her torso, his head dropping to nuzzle her neck with his soft lips.  She leaned back against him, moaning quietly as his hands came up to fondle her breasts.  She never would have imagined a horseback ride could be this sensual and erotic, but considering how turned on she felt right now, she had no doubt that Maximus must have known the effect this would have on her.

"Fun doesn't even begin to cover it," she muttered as she turned her head, and their lips met in a long, deep kiss.  Miles from the Tavern and Hotel and the rest of his brothers, Maximus was clearly not worried about being seen engaging in 'public displays of affection' now, and she was enjoying his playfulness.

Eventually they broke off the kiss, and Maximus said, "We'd better get started again, or we'll never get there."

She sighed as his hands dropped back down to take the reins.  "It might be nice if you told me where 'there' is..."

He just smiled in response.  "You'll just have to be patient, my dear... It's a surprise."

"Don't I get any hints...?"

"No," he said, smiling mischievously.

She snorted, shaking her head as she realized what was going on.  "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?  Because I made you wait to find out where we were going when I took you into Chicago."

His smile widened.  "Exactly.  I told you I'd pay you back for that."

She chuckled.  "... Well, I suppose I asked for this, didn't I?"

"Yes, you did," he said as he kissed her cheek.  "But I promise you, it will be worth the trip."

"How much further is it?"

He shook his head again, his eyes twinkling.  "No more hints, my dear.  We'll get there when we get there."  With that, he nudged Argento with his heels, and they started off towards the distant hills again.

"Got it?" Lachlan asked as he picked up the end of the folding table.

"Yea..." Alex said as he held onto the opposite end of the long table, backing out of the Tavern's storeroom.  They navigated the few short hallways towards the back door, careful not to bang into any walls and risk scratching the fine oak paneling.  

Alex kicked opened the back door and walked out backwards, nearly loosing his footing when Lachlan pushed a bit too quickly on the other end of the table.  "Hey!  Slow down, Lach."

Bud seemed to appear out of nowhere, recoiling a bit as they barreled past him.  "Damn... Watch where you're going, idiots," he admonished as he held his arms out, preventing Trisha and Tina from running into the table as the three neared the back door.

"Sorry..." Lachlan apologized as he and Alex continued a few feet further into the yard and set down the table.  "Trisha!" Lachlan said cheerily, leaving Alex to hold the table as he came to give her a hug.  "Glad to have you back, luv!"

She hugged him back, then returned to Bud's side.  "Well, when I heard Max was sick, I rushed back to see if he was ok -- so did a lot of us.  I'm glad to hear he's doing fine now."  Trisha shook her head.  "I just wish I could *see* it for myself.  I can't believe I came all this way only to find out he went out riding with Laura."

"They'll be back later this afternoon," Tina said.

"Are you sure about that?  If I was her, out there all alone with a handsome man, I wouldn't be planning on coming back any time soon."  She cast a glance towards Bud, who smiled softly in return, patting her hand, which rested in the crook of his arm.

"I don't think that'll happen -- I know Laura isn't too keen on camping," Tina said.  "And they only took enough food for lunch.  Besides, Laura knows we're planning this little surprise for Max; she'll bring him back on time."

"I hope so... Where's John?  Is he helping set things up too?" Trisha asked.

Tina shook her head.  "No, he went into town with Jeff, Colin, Peaches, Michelle and Cort to get more food -- this was a last minute decision, so we didn't quite have enough groceries on hand to feed this crew.  Especially with all of the other ladies that will have arrived by then."

"The way you boys eat, it's a wonder Annabella can keep anything in stock around here," Trisha teased, lightly poking Bud in the ribs.

Lachlan grinned.  "We need all the energy we can get to keep up with you ladies."

"I thought you said you liked a man with a healthy appetite," Bud said with a mischievous smile that was directed towards Trisha.

She leaned towards him and whispered, "Of course I do, Bud... in more ways than one."  Bud laughed, a slight blush appearing in his cheeks.

He was a bit flustered, perhaps embarrassed in front of his brothers, and changed the subject.  "You need help setting up, Lach?" he asked.

"No, Alex and I have got it under control," Lachlan said as he went to help Alex unfold the legs of the long table and set it upright in the grass.  "You just take care of the ladies, mate."  He turned a warm smile towards Trisha.  "I'm glad to see ya back, luv.  This one's been hell to live with lately," he said, pointing towards Bud.

"Oh?" Trisha said, turning towards the cop.

Tina smiled gently at Bud, who seemed to be stammering for a reply.  "That's right; I think he missed you, Trisha, even though he'd never admit it."

"Who says I wouldn't?" Bud countered, throwing a challenging look at his brothers, then turning to the lovely woman on his arm.  "I *was* worried about Max... But you know this place just isn't the same without you, doll," he said quietly, gazing into her eyes.

Trisha just smiled back at him, and Tina backed away from them, joining Lachlan and Alex.  "I think we should leave them alone," Tina said, and the others nodded.  "You sure there isn't something I can do to help?  Or should I go see if Annabella needs help in the kitchen?"

"Like we said, we've got it under control," Alex said.  "By the time Max gets back, we'll be all set."

"That's great," Tina said, glancing at Bud and Trisha, who were standing close to one another and talking softly.  She smiled and said, "I think this is going to be a great evening..."

Laura and Max rode up towards -- and into -- the hills for quite some time, close to an hour, getting further and further away from the Tavern and Hotel.  After chatting for the first half-hour or so, they fell into a comfortable silence, each enjoying the simple beauty of their surroundings as well as each other's company.  They had left the fields and meadows behind, now traveling through the forest, passing beneath huge, towering trees, their canopies spread out dozens of feet above them, sunlight filtering through in dappled patterns across the forest floor.  Earlier, Maximus had seemed unsure of the way, stopping once or twice to get his bearings.  But now both he and Argento seemed to know the way, purposefully picking their way through the trees.

The silence gave her time to reflect on the day and how they had come to be here on such a glorious mid-morning in the CrowesNest.  It had been an eventful 48 hours.  It was hard to believe that only two days ago, they had been nestled blissfully in her bed in back in the Real World, sleeping off yet another glorious session of lovemaking.  24 hours later, she had been holding an anguished vigil at his bedside in the Tavern, praying that he would awaken from his coma.  Now, here they were, another 24 hours later, making their way towards some unknown spot, together, as though none of the previous day's nightmare had ever happened.

Maximus had awoken from the coma healthy and sound, but no one in the CrowesNest -- not his brothers, and certainly not her -- had allowed him to do anything more strenuous than pick up a dinner fork.  He'd been waited on hand and foot that day, and he had grudgingly obliged them all, flattered and a bit humbled at their concern for him.  

And last night, even though he had been feeling decidedly amorous and frisky, she had insisted that they merely *sleep* together that night, to make sure that he was completely recovered.  He had protested that, attempting to seduce her into returning his affections, but she'd held firm, still too shaken by the ordeal to risk any threat to his health, so they'd spent the night cuddled together in his bed, both keeping their night clothes on.

But this morning he'd grown weary of being coddled, and had insisted on going riding.  Bud had been the most vocal critic of the idea, but Maximus had made it plain he was going to the stables, with or without anyone else's approval, and Laura had finally agreed with him, realizing that he *was* fully recovered now, and that the danger had gone.  

They had packed a few supplies, intending to be gone for a good part of the day, and headed out towards the distant hills, with a cryptic comment from him about going someplace 'special'.  He had steadfastly refused to explain what that meant, and she'd resigned herself to wait until they'd arrived.

It would actually work out quite well, she thought to herself.  They'd be gone long enough for a certain other surprise to be prepared for the General himself.  But she had not said a word about that to Maximus, nor did she intend to until they'd arrived back at the Tavern later this afternoon.

She stretched slightly at one point, tired of sitting in one spot for so long, in spite of the fact she was thoroughly enjoying his closeness.  He was wrapped around her, his arms lightly encircling her waist, his chest pressed against her back, his head nuzzling against hers from time to time.  He was more affectionate than she'd ever known him to be, constantly showering her with attention, caressing her tenderly or kissing her gently as they rode along.

Smiling, she turned her head slightly, saying in a child-like voice, "Are we there yet, Dad...?"

She laughed at the bewildered look he gave her in reply.  "...What?"

"It's a joke," she said, patting his hand.  "When I was a kid, we sometimes went on long car trips with my parents.  When you're young, you don't have much concept of time, so even though we'd been told we'd be driving for hours to get somewhere, my brother and I would always ask, about 20 minutes after we'd left the house, 'Are we there yet?'," she repeated in the high pitched voice, laughing again, and he chuckled too.  "It's a common joke among people from my era.... So, are we almost there?  If not, I need to stop and get down for a while."

"Actually, we're nearly there," Maximus said, putting his hand up to shield his eyes from the sun as he peered ahead.  "I found this place only a week ago," he said as he brought his hand down, laying it against her thigh.  "I was out riding all day -- I wanted time to think, because you and I weren't... uhm... speaking to one another then...."  She lowered her eyes, softly kissing the hand that was caressing her cheek.  "I found it quite by accident... but perhaps it wasn't an accident.  Peaches and Michelle told me that the Nest expands and grows to accommodate the special needs and favorite places of those of us who live here."

"What do you mean?  What is this place?"

"It's nearly identical to something I remember from many years ago.  Back in the days when I was merely a humble soldier, I was out on patrol one day, in Gaul I believe, when I chased a rabbit I'd hoped to have for supper, and found this beautiful place..."  He paused, smiling.  "It looked to be no more than a simple ravine, hidden behind some trees, but it led me to a secluded little haven.... Somehow it had remained undiscovered during all the battles... it was one of the loveliest places I've ever seen..." His voice trailed off, then he shook himself from his memories.  "Well, you'll see it in a moment.  We're here."

They were riding alongside a streambed now, and they followed it to where it disappeared behind a thicket of bushes.  As they moved behind the greenery, she realized the stream had cut a narrow path through the hillside, and they made their way through, splashing through the stream for several yards.  When the walls dropped away again, there was another thicket of trees and bushes, and when Argento had made his way around them, Maximus reined him to a halt, and she stared, her jaw dropping in wonderment.

"You see?  Is this not a special place to spend the day together?" he asked, holding her close.

She could only nod, thinking to herself that she'd rarely seen so idyllic a spot.  There was an oval-shaped bowl that seemed to have been scooped out from the top of the hill, and they stood at one end of it.  The stream flowed over a cascade of dark rocks at the far end, settling into a huge, crystal-clear pool, which drained into the stream that they had just followed in.  All along the sides of the pool, which was ringed by wide, flat gray stones, there were expanses of lush green grass, with scattered clumps of shady trees, bushes and wildflowers.  Large trees grew near the edges at the top of the 15 foot high sheer granite walls, their long branches reaching over the area, providing additional shade.

"Wow..." she muttered.

"Should I take that as a 'yes' to spending the day here...?"

She turned and smiled up at him.  "Definitely.  This place is just incredible."

"I thought you might like it," Maximus said, smiling back as he kissed her quickly on the cheek.  "So let's get comfortable then."  He dismounted, then held his hands up to her, grasping her waist after she swung her leg over the saddle, setting her down on the ground beside him.  He pulled her into a long, slow kiss, enfolding her in his arms.  "I haven't told anyone else about this; I wanted to share it with you and you alone..." he whispered.

"I'm glad you did," she whispered back, growing a bit misty-eyed.

They stared warmly into each other's eyes.  "I --" he began, but was interrupted as Argento turned his head and nudged his master's shoulder, snorting loudly.  Maximus gave him a rather exasperated look, shaking his head and chuckling.  "Someone else wants to get comfortable too," he said, sighing as he let go of her, taking the horse's reins instead.  "Sometimes I think he's too smart for his own good," he grumbled as he led the stallion towards a shady spot on the far end of the glade.

Laura laughed as she walked beside him.  "He's probably just bored with all this human stuff."

"No doubt," he replied, chuckling.  

"Argento is different than what I expected; I guess I thought that he might be a little mean, with him being battle-trained and everything... Is he a part of the 'magic' here in the CrowesNest too?"

"In a way, I suppose he is.  Now that we're both 'retired', we've both been able to relax a bit more.  I think we've become even better friends here than we were on campaign," he said, smoothing the stallion's long mane.

They stopped near a shady expanse of short, lush green grass.  "This is a good place to spread out the blankets."  She agreed, and he removed from the saddle the rolls of supplies that they had brought.  As she laid everything out, spreading the two blankets across the grass and unpacking some of the food and wine they had brought with them, Maximus took off Argento's saddle and bridle and other tack, setting it aside on a large rock.  He came back to the stallion, whispering quietly to him as he stroked his nose and patted his neck, then stepped back and gave the big horse a light slap on his hind quarters.  The stallion snorted and trotted off to the pool, lowering his head to drink deeply from the calm water.  When he had drunk his fill, he wandered off to the other side of the glade to graze on the sweet grass.

"Can we drink that water too?" Laura asked.

He nodded.  "It's probably better than the water that we have at the Tavern."

"So that's why you said we didn't need to bring much with to drink," she said, and he grinned.  "Sneaky, very sneaky, General," she teased.

"We *did* bring plenty of wine though," he said, pulling her back into his arms again.

"Trying to get me drunk, hmmm?" she teased as his lips nibbled their way across her cheek to stop at her ear.  She sighed softly as his tongue caressed the shell of her ear, his breath thundering in her ear and giving her goose pimples, as usual.

"Cold, my dear?" he said, chuckling softly.

"You know that's not it," she said, giggling as his lips tickled her neck.  "You do that on purpose, don't you?"  He muttered a soft 'yes', his hands roaming amorously over her body.  Her eyes half-closed as she stared over his shoulder at the pond behind him.  "... Is it deep enough to go swimming...?" she muttered.  He nodded.  "If I'd known, I would have brought a bathing suit..."

He pulled back, chuckling warmly.  "Why would you need one, my dear?  We're out here all alone; who's going to see us...?" he replied, smiling a bit lecherously at her.

She laughed.  "True... I see you're acquainted with the concept of 'skinny-dipping', aren't you, General...?" she teased.

"I am," he smiled back.  "I believe someone once used that word to describe East at the beginning of his movie, 'Hammers Over the Anvil'," he said.

She laughed again.  "Oh, yea -- I'd forgotten about that... I suppose we could try that a little later."

"Later?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow.  "What about right now?"

"Now?" she responded, raising an eyebrow back at him.  "I thought we were going to relax for a bit and have something to eat."

He chuckled deeply, the sound rumbling in his chest.  "That's exactly what I intend to do -- make you *very* relaxed.  And as far as having something to eat..." His voice trailed off as his eyes glittered and they both laughed, both blushing slightly.  "Well, I don't think I really need to finish that sentence, now do I....?"

"No, you don't," she whispered, brushing her lips against his.  Then she put her hands on his chest, pushing him away as she took a few steps backwards towards the blankets.  She bent down, quickly slipping off her shoes and socks, flipping them behind her onto the blanket.  He stood there as she unzipped her jeans and slid them down off her hips.  "So..." she said as she stepped out of her pants, kicking them to the side, "are you going to join me, or are you just going to stand there and watch me strip...?"

He grinned wickedly as he reached up to undo the buttons on his shirt.  "Yes to both questions," he said.  By the time the shirt was sliding off his broad shoulders, hers had slipped over her head and was lying at her feet as she reached behind her to undo her bra.  His eyes raked hungrily over her body as he reached down to pull his boots off, and a low growl escaped his lips as she slowly pushed her panties down her legs, his body responding to the sight of her plump breasts hanging below her as she bent over.  He watched as she stepped out of the panties, starting to undo his own trousers as she sauntered over towards the edge of the pool, the golden sunlight shimmering on her nude body.

As he hurried to pull off his pants, she called out, "Last one in gets the bottom."  Giggling as she watched him struggle to pull his foot from a tangle of fabric, she stuck her toe in the water, and smiled.  "Oh, it's *warm*!" she exclaimed, moving quickly into the water and launching herself across the surface towards the deep end.  Maximus had freed himself from the troublesome pant leg by now, and walked over to the deep end as she slipped beneath the surface, trying to see just how deep the pool was.  He dived in, knifing through the water, coming to the surface just as she did, grabbing her as they both came up for air.

She shrieked with delight as his hands slid over her naked body in all the right places.  They laughed together and splashed each other playfully as they paddled towards shallower water.  "You lost!" she said, making a half-hearted attempt to get away from him.  "I get to be on top this time...."

"You make it sound like that's some kind of punishment," he replied, pulling them both up the smooth bottom of the pool until his head was out of the water, resting against a moss-covered rock as he lay on his back, pulling her on top of him.  "Come here, woman," he growled, pulling her mouth down to his.  "I kept my hands to myself last night, but now you're not getting away...."  His hands sought out the mounds of her breasts, fondling them and lightly pinching the nipples until she moaned.

"I'm not going anywhere," she whispered, panting lightly as she straddled his hips.  She leaned down to kiss his eager mouth, then sat up again, raising her hips above him before sinking down onto his now fully erect cock with a long groan of pure pleasure.  He moaned too, eyes rolling up in his head a bit as he arched his back, pushing his hips up towards her.  She put her outstretched hands on his shoulders, pushing back against his hips, grinding herself on him, taking him deep.  The long ride here had left her feeling decidedly wet and horny, and she moved up and down on his throbbing hardness with sheer abandon, reveling in the ecstasy of feeling him fill her completely.  His hands were busy with her breasts, pleasuring her there the way she loved to be touched, and then one hand moved between them, finding the soft center of pleasure that made her writhe with anticipation, the tension in her body quickly building to explosive proportions.

Both of them were consumed with lust, grunting and groaning as she rode him hard, driving quickly towards completion, wanting nothing more than to reach that moment of blissful oblivion *soon*, and in each other's arms.  Her cries rose in volume as did his, and soon she came with a high pitched shriek, and a moment later he exploded within her, an animal cry escaping his lips as she collapsed onto him.

At the same time, as their senses were slowly coming back to reality, they both heard a horse's loud whinny and snorting.  They kissed each other softly as their orgasms subsided, then both turned to look towards Argento.  The stallion was bobbing his head excitedly, pawing at the ground a bit.  She was the first to start chuckling.  "I didn't realize we had a cheering section," she giggled.

"Neither did I," he said, sounding a bit bemused, and Laura dissolved into a fit of giggles, wrapping herself around Maximus, squeezing her legs around his hips, making the Spaniard groan with desire again.

He wrapped his arms around her, smothering her with passionate kisses as he slowly rolled them both onto their sides.  They slid a little farther back into the water, and he pushed her gently onto her back, hovering over her nude body.  When her arms reached for him, he took both her wrists in one hand, pulling them above her head while he concentrated on pleasuring her body without interference from her.

He touched, kissed and caressed her with a deliberate slowness, in stark contrast to the hurried, almost frantic pace of their lovemaking only a few minutes before.  Quiet words of love were whispered in her ear as his hands and lips worshiped her body, stoking the fires of desire within her ever higher.

When his tongue abandoned its slow exploration of her mouth, moving lower towards her heaving breasts, he let go of her wrists, but not without obtaining a silent agreement from her to leave her arms above her head.  She closed her eyes, sighing and moaning contentedly.  His lips and tongue teased and caressed her full breasts, while his fingers slipped between her legs, fondling her intimately, softly and slowly.  He was obviously enjoying listening to her quiet noises as he pleasured her, and was content just to please her and watch her responses to his attentions.  He continued to whisper tender words of love and compliments about the beauty of her body.

Eventually, she could stand the teasing no longer, and brought one arm down, laying her hand on his head and running her fingers through his wet, dark hair.  "Maximus... Please... I need you *now*," she whispered.

"I need you too," he whispered back, rubbing her in just the right spot until she was on the brink of an orgasm.  As she cried out for him, his large, warm body slid over hers, and he took her face in his hands, slipping his fingers under her head to hold it off the hard stones, staring into her eyes as he slowly pushed inside her.  They groaned in unison as she took him in deep, and the sweet friction drove her over the edge, and she came around him with deep, panting breaths, wrapping her legs around his waist, shuddering as he rocked against her.  He gasped as she tightened around his shaft, rhythmically thrusting in and out, trying to slow down as much as his body would allow.  He wanted it to last, for both of them.

He kept his hands at the side of her face, watching her blissful expressions as he made love to her, gaining his own satisfaction from the noises and the enraptured expressions she made as he rode her.  But his body's needs soon overtook his intent to take things slow, and his pace quickened, the ache in his own body becoming unbearable now.  His powerful thighs drove his body into her hot, sweet channel, sending both their passions spiraling out of control.  She moved with him, meeting his thrusts as she ground her hips against his, and the water lapped at her sides.  Her fingertips dug into his shoulder blades as she clung to him as they both neared their peaks again, and their voices rose in unison, crying out their joy as they came, first him and then her.  Their bodies shuddered and trembled as they spent themselves.

Her heart was still fluttering wildly as she heard a whinny from Argento, and she turned and watched as the horse reared up on its hind legs for a moment, neighing loudly.  She started to laugh quietly, and was joined by Maximus, who just shook his head at his steed....

.... Later, they lay beside one another in the shade of a large oak tree, laying on one blanket while the other was draped over them.  Both were propped up on one elbow, still naked, feeding one another from a plate of crackers and cubed fruit and cheese.  Empty wine glasses sat nearby, each of them having consumed a respectable amount as they ate, each of them having worked up quite an appetite, and thirst, from their activities.

He fed her the last morsel, a small piece of cantaloupe, letting her lick his fingers clean, sighing as she sucked on his fingers before pulling back.  She lay down on the blanket, gazing up into the blue sky, and he pulled her close, snuggling against her, kissing her tenderly.

"I can't believe how beautiful this place is.  A little bit of heaven on earth.  Blue skies, warm sun, gentle breezes..."  She took a deep breath.  "Such fresh, clean air."  She let out a long contented sigh, snuggling closer.  "I can smell the wildflowers... This place is just heaven... especially when I'm sharing it with someone so special..."  They gazed into each other's eyes, smiling before they shared a long, slow kiss.

"When I found this place, it seemed like heaven to me too.  I sat here for hours, just thinking...."  A troubled look fell across his eyes.  "I was upset -- I hated arguing with you. I'd even begun to question if we were truly connected.  But being here made me feel much better... calmer.... I just wish you'd been with me when I discovered it."

She blinked back the tears.  "I'm sorry," she whispered, kissing him softly.  "I wish I'd been here too.  I should have been here, if I hadn't been so foolish.... I'm so sorry I hurt you, Maximus...."  He sighed softly, returning the kiss, allowing her to hold him close.  She tenderly caressed his back and shoulder, whispering softly as he nuzzled his face against the hollow of her neck. "I love you so much.  I never realized how much you meant to me until I nearly lost you.  I wasn't sure about this place either; I didn't understand what it meant to be connected to you the way we are... I was stupid to let myself be taken in by him."  She brushed her lips against the side of his face.  "It'll never happen again -- I said that before and I meant it.... Please believe me..."

"I believe you..." he whispered back, and she hugged him tightly as he said, "I love you too, Laura...."  They molded against one another, touching and caressing one another, growing warmer beneath the blanket.  "I want to stay here with you like this forever... to hell with going back to the Tavern," he said as he nibbled on her earlobe, pushing her still-damp hair off the side of her face.

She giggled as his hands roamed over her curves, stroking some of her more ticklish spots.  "Sounds wonderful... but hardly practical.  We have to go back eventually..."

"To hell with the Tavern... and to hell with 'practical'..." he said as the tip of his tongue darted into her ear canal, making her tremble with desire, as he knew it would.

"You may have a point..." she moaned.  "But we do have to head back soon, you know..."

He drew back slightly.  "Tired of me already?" he teased.

"Hardly," she chuckled.  "We have to -- " she stopped herself before she said 'get back in time for the party'.  Momentarily, she had forgotten it was a surprise!  She cleared her throat, pretending to have a frog in it to cover her near-mistake.  "Go back later to eat dinner.  We only brought enough for this light lunch.  And it's a long way back.  We're not exactly prepared to camp out here."

"Why not?" he said as his hand stroked her hip.  "I rather like the idea of sleeping -- and doing other things -- under the stars with you..."   His lips closed over hers, and they kissed deeply.

"That sounds so romantic..." she sighed contentedly.  "But..."

"But what?  You don't mind roughing it, do you?" he asked, and Laura laughed.  "What?"

"Max, I've told you before -- I'm a city girl.  My idea of 'roughing it' is staying in a motel with no phone or TV."  He gave her a slightly bewildered look.  "I'm really not the outdoors type.  I know that I'll have to learn to enjoy more of the things that you do, but honestly, I'm more at home in the high-rises of Chicago than I am here in the middle of 'nature'..."  His eyebrows climbed at that.  "I know you think I'm crazy, but believe me, if I had a lot of money, I'd be living on the Gold Coast in a skyscraper with a nice penthouse view of Lake Michigan instead of living in the boring suburbs."

The look he gave her indicated that he thought she'd obviously lost her mind.  "You don't like it here...?" he asked, looking decidedly confused and possibly a bit hurt.

"Oh, Max, no -- that's not what I'm saying at all."  Damn, she didn't want to ruin the surprise about the party, but she didn't want to upset him either.  "I just need a few more creature comforts, that's all."  She looked up towards the sky.  "Like maybe a tent... Or a sleeping bag."

"It's a warm summer day -- and it shouldn't rain either."  He stroked her body.  "You needn't worry about getting cold -- I intend to keep you very warm tonight."

She giggled and then moaned as they cuddled.  "I don't doubt that..."

She almost lost herself in his kisses, as his tongue explored her mouth, dancing with hers.

"But you don't want to stay, do you...?" he asked later when they came up for air, and she hesitated.  "It's all right -- you can tell me the truth."

"Well... No.  Not *today*."  That was mostly the truth; even if there wasn't a party, she still wouldn't want to stay out in the open all night.  "But that doesn't mean that we can't do this again very soon.  And come much better prepared -- plenty of food, a tent, more blankets or sleeping bags."  She caressed his face.  "Believe me, I would *love* to spend the night alone with you in a place like this."

"No, you're right -- we shouldn't stay today.  The last thing I want is for you to be uncomfortable here." He grinned.  "I know how you hate it when your feet get cold."  They both chuckled, remembering the night before when they had been snuggling together.  In spite of their closeness and the warm evening, she'd still ended up wearing a pair of his socks to bed, which seemed to amuse Maximus to no end.

"Yes, I *do* get cold feet.  I must have lousy circulation," she complained.

He smiled affectionately, kissing her softly, then continued, "But I have been thinking also, even before we came up here.... I want to make this place even more special.  Somewhere I can go to get away from the Tavern from time to time.  I can come by myself when you're not here, or it could be just the two of us when you're able to visit.   And it will always be our secret -- no one else will know where it is."  He pushed himself up onto his elbow, pointing to the large open spot across the pond.  "There -- it will be right there."

"What will?"

"My tent.  Not the type of tent you're probably thinking of -- the kind I had for my headquarters in the army."

Her face lit up with a smile.  "Oh, Max, that's a wonderful idea!  Would it be like the one in 'Gladiator'?"

"As near as I can come, with the materials I have here, yes.  Sometimes this world seems so strange to me... I feel rather out of place.  I need something that reminds me of home..." He sighed.  "And for most of my life, 'home' was the army."

"I know... I wonder sometimes how it must be for you.  You told me that when you came here, you somehow knew about 20th century inventions.  I'm sure that helped you adjust, but obviously it makes you uncomfortable sometimes."

He nodded.  "I want none of that here -- no telephones, no TV, no cars, planes, electricity, computers, VCRs, DVDs, pagers, or anything else that beeps or blinks," he said, a measure of distaste in his voice.

"Something like a 'technology-free' zone?"  He nodded, smiling, and she laughed.  "Well, there is one modern convenience you're going to have to add if you want me to stay up here with you..."  She paused, and he raised an eyebrow.

"And what might that be?"

"Something resembling indoor plumbing.  Squatting behind a bush isn't exactly my idea of fun, General," she said, blushing slightly.

He flushed a bit too, chuckling.  "Don't worry -- that will be taken care of.  We were *not* barbarians in my day either when it came to such things."

"I know; I'm just teasing.  The Romans were quite ingenious.  I told you before that I visited what was once the Roman temple of Aque Sullae, in Bath, England, with all the marvelous baths and saunas."

He nodded.  "I remember... And I was there once also... A lifetime ago... I still find it odd that we were both there, but at such different times..."  His voice trailed off, and his eyes held a faraway look.

"You're homesick... aren't you, Max?" she whispered, lightly stroking his face with her fingertips.

He nodded sadly.  "Yes... And I cannot even visit my home as John and some of the others do... I've tried to go to Trujillo, twice, but when I did, all I saw was the smoke rising from the house..." His voice faltered, and she could see unshed tears in his eyes.  "...So I turned back and returned to the Nest... I haven't been back since..."

She held him close, a lump forming in her throat as she felt his strong body tremble in her arms.  His pain seemed fresh and very close to the surface, unlike previous occasions when they'd spoke of this subject, and she guessed at what might be the cause of his distress.  When he had calmed down, resting his forehead against the curve of her shoulder, she ventured a question.  "Max...?  You never told me what happened to you while you were unconscious...  Does this have anything to do with it...?"

He drew a sharp intake of breath, and it was enough to tell her she was right.  "Can you tell me about it...?  It might help to talk..."

There was a long pause, and finally he responded in a low whisper.  "...Maybe it would help me make sense of it..."  She was silent, waiting for him to continue, and eventually he shifted, turning away from her to lay on his back and stare up at the sky.  She settled against his chest, and he draped his arm around her as he spoke.  "When I began to feel ill that morning, it was as though I was dreaming...  It was all slipping away -- you, the Nest, everything -- slipping through my fingers as though it had never existed... I began to think that it was all some fevered dream that my mind had invented to cope with the stress of battle... I was slowly being drawn away from you and the Nest... And back into my movie... 'Gladiator'..."  He heaved a heavy sigh, and she held him closer, laying a soft kiss on his chest, but stayed silent.  "I fell asleep in your car... and woke up in Germania, on the eve of battle.  You and the Nest were nothing more than a fleeting memory... which faded for good when the barbarians attacked..."  He swallowed convulsively, eyes turning towards her in a silent apology.  She merely looked back at him with understanding, absently stroking the lean muscles of his strong bicep.

He smiled back, then turned his eyes skyward once more, the smile fading.  "I relived everything," he continued, his voice deep with emotion.  "The battle, Commodus' treachery, the deaths of my family, slavery... All of it," he whispered in a choked voice, and she hugged him tightly.  "...When it was all over, and I lay on the sand of the Coliseum, my life slipping away as my blood seeped into the sands... I found myself in what I thought was Elysium... surrounded by fields of golden wheat, under a strange, unearthly sky... I thought I was dead... And that my wife and son were waiting for me in the distance..."

She could see more unshed tears brimming in his eyes, and felt tears form in her own eyes.  "But then we pulled you away from that..." she said quietly, and he nodded.  "Are... Are you sorry we did...?"

There was a long pause, and she was suddenly afraid that he would say yes.  But finally he spoke, muttering, "No..."  Then he blinked a few times, and turned to face her, staring into her eyes, saying, "No" again, but with much more conviction this time.  "I did want to die then, when I thought there was nothing left for me....  But when I saw my Brothers standing there, it all began to come back to me.  That I had another life now -- a good life, with good people."  He smiled warmly at her.  "With people who loved me, who I loved as well..."  She smiled back, a tear rolling down her cheek now.  He brushed it away, continuing, "It's not that I don't still love Selene or Marcus -- they will always be in my heart -- but I know that they would want me to be happy.  And they would want me to live my life as fully as I can.  You know it has been difficult for me to forget my past life, and move on with this one, but now I know for certain that this is what they would have wanted for me.  Selene did not want me to grieve for her forever, and throw away what chance I had for happiness again.  Someday, she and I will be together in Elysium, but for now..."  His aquamarine eyes blazed, drawing her into their depths.  "For now, I belong to this world... And to you, my love," he whispered tenderly, drawing her into a shuddering kiss as tears ran down both their faces.

His arms tightened around her, almost crushing her against his chest before he realized she could barely breathe.  He slowly let her go, staring into her eyes with a soft smile, and she realized there were tears of joy as well as sorrow on his face.  She wiped them away, smiling back as she pulled him against her heart, gently rocking them both.

The gesture was full of love and reassurance at first.  But as their bodies moved sensuously against one another, she began to feel his growing arousal as his muscular thighs rubbed against her smaller, smoother ones.  His kisses grew passionate and demanding, and he rolled her onto her back.

But she resisted, slowly pushing him onto his back instead.  "Let me take care of you now..." she whispered, a mischievous grin on her face as she kissed him quickly, then pulled the blanket up over her head as she slid down his body.

He let out a long, contented sigh as she left a trail of tiny kisses across his chest.  "I certainly will not stop you..." he said.

She giggled.  "I didn't think you would."

They were both quiet after that, and he concentrated on what she was doing to his body.  He couldn't see her, but, gods, could he feel the desire that was quickly building within him.  Her lips and tongue were dancing across his chest, stopping briefly to tease each of his nipples before beginning to wander lower.  But it was her hands that were driving him wild already.  She lightly ran her nails across his flanks, moving lower and lower, caressing his thighs but deliberately avoiding the part of him that most wanted her touch.

The silky skin of her nude body brushed against his provocatively, making his heart and breath quicken.  When her hand glided down his inner thigh, he clenched his fists, and it took all of his self control to not take her then and there.  When her fingers touched his shaft, he was already semi-erect, and he stiffened quickly with each loving caress of her small hand.

By the time she knelt between his knees, his throbbing hardness was aching with need, and a low groan of satisfaction escaped him when her lips finally closed over the tip of his shaft.  Her tongue and lips teased him unmercifully, her fingers kneading his balls, until he was moaning with desire, his own hands having slipped beneath the blanket to burying themselves in the long, flowing locks of her dark brown hair.

He didn't want to come too soon, and end the delicious torture, but his body had a mind of its own, and as she licked every inch of him, then took him deep into her mouth, he felt himself nearing his peak, his sack tightening.  Conscious thought vanished in the blinding whiteness of a powerful orgasm, and he cried out loudly, holding her head in place as his body's essence erupted into her waiting mouth, and she swallowed it greedily, milking the last of him until his hands fell away from her head.  Then he lay motionless beneath her, thoroughly sated, and she moved back up his muscular body, emerging from beneath the blankets to lay at his side, using one shoulder as a pillow for her head.

Laura lay there, watching him, studying his handsome profile while his eyes were closed.  She was relieved to have the answer to the question that had been haunting her since yesterday -- did he regret being back in the Nest now?  Hearing his heart-felt confession had assuaged her fears.  Selene and Marcus would always be part of him, she knew that... But they would remain an unspoken part of his past, and she would never bring them up again, not unless he did first.  And she was reasonably certain that Maximus would never speak of them openly again out of respect for their memory.

She snuggled closer, and he did too, planting a soft kiss on her temple before settling in beside her.  After a minute or two, she murmured, "Do you hear that...?"

He let out a long contented sigh.  "I don't hear anything..."

"That's what I mean... What happened to our 'audience'...?"  She rose up on one arm, looking around.  "Where's Argento?"

"Minding his own business, I should hope," he said drowsily, eyes still closed.

"No, I'm serious... He's gone."

Maximus' eyes opened slowly, and with a reluctant sigh, he lifted up and looked around.  Sure enough, Argento was no longer in the enclosure.  "He probably went out looking for more to eat... Perhaps I should have barred the entrance somehow..."

"Shouldn't we go look for him?  He is our only way back -- it'd be a hell of long trip on foot."  He didn't answer, laying back down and closing his eyes, seeming to drift off.  "Max...?  How far could he wander off?"

He finally snorted in frustration, they rose up on both elbows.  "Too far, perhaps."  He sat up, telling her to cover her ears.  She did, and he put his fingers to his mouth and whistled loudly, in a distinctive pattern. Then he stopped, listening to the forest, but did not hear anything in return.  "Damn," he muttered, tossing off the blanket, draping it around her.  "Stay here," he said as he retrieved his trousers.  He pulled them on, then walked towards the entrance, whistling again, and calling out the horse's name.

This time, the wind carried the sound of a horse's whinny.  Maximus called out for Argento again, and an answer came from very near. A moment later, from the top of the rise at the other side of the grotto, Argento's head appeared.  He whinnied to his master.

Maximus glared sternly at the stallion, calling out something in Latin and pointing towards the entrance.  The black horse bobbed his head, neighing, and disappeared down the hill.  A few moments later, they heard his hoofbeats on the stones of the streambed and then Argento emerged into the glade.  He trotted towards Maximus.

And, to the surprise of both the humans, he went right past his master, heading for Laura.  He stopped at the edge of the blanket, lowering his head and nudging her bare shoulder with his nose.

Maximus put his hands on his hips, shaking his head.  "Just like a child -- he knows I am unhappy with him, so he goes to you instead."

"Yea, I guess he knows I'm a soft touch," she said, petting Argento's nose.  "Plus, I think he knows about something else..."  She reached over to get her backpack, and, after rummaging around for a minute, pulled out a large red apple.  "I brought this for him," she said, smiling as Argento greedily took it.

Maximus stood there for a moment, shaking his head.  Then he chuckled as he walked over to them.  "I see I am outnumbered... And now you have made a permanent friend.  He *loves* apples."

She nodded.  "You told me that once -- I hadn't forgotten."

He walked over to the stallion and patted him on the neck.  "You should know better than to wander off like that, my friend," Maximus said as he stroked his long mane.

The stallion turned his head, giving his master an innocent look, and Laura laughed.  "Aw, Dad, please don't be angry with me; I'll be good from now on," she said in a childlike voice, trying to speak for the horse.

Maximus gave her an odd look, then chuckled.  "You are going to spoil him; you've made the fatal mistake of letting him know you're on his side."

"I can't help it -- he's such a beautiful animal," she said as she continued to pet his nose.

"That he is..."  He continued to stroke the stallion's long mane, gazing affectionately at Laura.  He felt more content and relaxed at this moment than he had in a long while.

A brisk, slightly cooler breeze stirred his hair, and he looked up, noticing that the sun was starting to sink lower in the sky.  After a brief pause, he said, "Perhaps we should start packing up to head back now."

"Yea, I think we should," she said reluctantly.  While she had been rummaging through her pack for Argento's apple, she'd caught a glimpse of her watch, and was surprised at how quickly time was passing.  The group was probably already wondering where she and Maximus were, and when they'd finally show up at the party.

"But," Maximus said as he started to take off his pants, "I need to wash up first.  I'm a bit... sticky," he grinned.  "Care to join me?" he said as he extended a hand down to her.

She let the blanket drop away from where she'd had it draped over her shoulders.  "I'd be happy to, General.  I'm a little 'sticky' myself," she smiled as he pulled her to her feet, leading her to the pool.

He paused at the water's edge, pulling her into an intimate embrace.  "I love you," he whispered.  "...Don't ever leave us like that again..."

"I won't; I promise.... I love you too," she whispered back, tears moistening her eyes as he pulled her into a passionate kiss....

"Do we have everything?" Laura asked as she looked around the glade.  Argento had been saddled again, their gear carefully packed and stowed in his saddlebags.

Maximus nodded.  "I believe so.  As you yourself said, we didn't bring much with us," he chuckled.

She gave him a pained look, wondering how he was going to react when he found out why she'd been so adamant about going back this afternoon.  She turned to Argento, raising her right foot and putting it in the stirrup at Argento's side.  But when she tried to pull herself up, her tired muscles refused, and she looked back at Maximus.  "I think I need a boost."

"I think the city girl needs some more riding lessons," he said, still chuckling as he moved to her, putting his hands on the seat of her jeans and pushing her up.  She swung up into the saddle, sitting down with a groan.  "Something wrong?" he asked, brow furrowing.

"Well, this 'city girl' is definitely not used to riding -- horses, that is," she said, grinning mischievously at him, giggling softly.  "I'm a bit sore," she said, rubbing her thighs.

"I'll have to look after that when we get back," he grinned back, grabbing hold of the saddle and swinging up into it behind her.  As he settled them both into place for the journey, he rubbed his hands along her thighs too.  "Can't have my lady feeling bad, now can I?"

"Your 'lady'?" she beamed, blushing slightly.  "I like the sound of that," she whispered, leaning back to kiss him.

He kissed her back.  "Well, that's what you are... And I thought you might like that better than my 'woman'," he said with a boyish smirk.

"Definitely," she said, laughing as he nudged Argento with his heels, and they headed out of their small haven.

After they had passed through the narrow entrance, and headed down through the forest, she turned to take one last look at the area.  "We'll have to come back *very* soon.  It's so beautiful up here..."

"We will; I promise you."

She turned forward again, settling back against his chest, and his chin rested on top of her head as his arms lightly encircled her.  "I was wondering about one thing though," she said.  "I think that putting up a tent here is a wonderful idea, but I don't see how you can keep it a secret.  I mean, you're going to have to haul a hell of a lot of material up here.  The tent I saw in the movie was quite substantial, with big wooden beams and heavy wood furniture.  You can't do that all alone, Max."

"I know; I thought I'd keep it small to start with, and gradually add enhancements.  Perhaps I won't be able to keep it a secret entirely, but I will want to limit knowledge of the location.  I don't want... certain people disturbing my privacy."  There was a tightness in his voice as he spoke the last sentence, and she knew exactly who he was talking about.  Sid.

She caressed his hand.  "He wouldn't dare; not if he values his life.  Besides, he doesn't much care for the great outdoors.  He couldn't get up here without a horse."

"Agreed.  But I have learned not to underestimate the lengths Sid will go to in order to achieve his goals."

"So have I..." she said quietly, then squeezed his hand.  "But let's *not* talk about him anymore, okay?"  She brought his hand to her lips and softly kissed each finger.  "He's not important; don't let him ruin our day..."

"I won't."  He lowered his head and nuzzled her neck until she moaned.  "He will not disturb our happiness again."

Argento nickered in agreement.

An hour later, they had made their way down through the forest and a good portion of the meadows, and were now nearing the familiar environs of the Nest.  Maximus had told her that they were close to the golf course, and sure enough, as they topped the next rise, there it was.

She couldn't help but feel a small twinge of disappointment.  Even though she was looking forward to the party, she was sad that their time alone was about to come to an end, at least for the evening.

"We'd better go around the golf course," she suggested.  "Jeffrey will be royally pissed if we mess up his greens."

Maximus nodded and turned Argento to the right, taking the long way around.  Eventually they came to the top of a low flat hill, and found themselves at the end of the runway of Lachlan's airstrip.  From here, they could see down towards the seaside, and caught their first glimpse of the Tavern and the Hotel beyond.  There was a dark haze surrounding the Tavern, and she heard Maximus gasp and mutter, "Gods!" just before he kicked Argento urgently and the horse took off at a gallop.

She clung to the saddle, frightened, as his arm wrapped around her firmly.  "Max, what's wrong!?"  She had to shout to be heard over the wind whipping past her ears.

"The Tavern -- it's on fire!" he yelled, urging the horse to run faster.

Maximus nodded and turned Argento to the right, taking the long way around. Eventually they came to the top of a low flat hill, and found themselves at the end of the runway of Lachlan's airstrip. From here, they could see down towards the seaside, and caught their first glimpse of the Tavern and the Hotel beyond. There was a dark haze surrounding the Tavern, and she heard Maximus gasp and mutter, "Gods!" just before he kicked Argento urgently and the horse took off at a gallop.

Laura clung to the saddle, frightened, as his arm wrapped around her firmly. "Max, what's wrong!?" She had to shout to be heard over the wind whipping past her ears.

"The Tavern -- it's on fire!" he yelled, urging the horse to run faster.

"What!?" She squinted, trying to look out ahead at the buildings. Then she started to laugh a little. "Oh, geez... Max, stop! Its *not* on fire.... Max!! Stop! Its okay!... MAX!"

Finally he reined Argento to a halt, but the stallion, excited by his master's urgency, reared up on his hind legs, pawing the air with his front hooves, nearly loosing his riders. Maximus clung to the horse's neck, holding Laura beneath him until he had calmed the animal down.

"Easy, boy, easy," he repeated several times until Argento had quieted. Then he turned to Laura, who had gone pale. "You okay?"

"Yea... I just thought we were going to get thrown and break our necks." Her heart was beating wildly, but she managed to calm down too.

"So why did you stop me?" He gestured towards the Tavern. "They could be in trouble!"

"No they're not, trust me," she smiled, and he looked at her strangely. She let out a sigh of frustration. "Damn, you are making it impossible for me to keep a secret!"

"Secret?" His brow furrowed. "What secret?"

She pointed towards the Tavern. "If you'll look closely, you'll notice that the smoke is coming from *behind* the building... right?" He looked ahead, and nodded eventually. "That's because they're cooking outside... Although that's an awful lot of smoke for a barbecue... I just hope they haven't burned dinner."

"Dinner?"

She paused again, then sighed once more. "What the hell... Might as well tell you now..." She turned as much as she could in the saddle and smiled up at him. "It's a surprise for *you*, General. Everyone was so happy to have you back in one piece that they decided to throw a party for you. A lot of the girls came in when they heard what happened; we've all been terribly worried about you, you know."

He looked at her with astonishment. "Me...? A party for me?"

"Yes, *you*! And I was the one who was responsible for getting you out of the way while they set everything up. It actually worked out great that you wanted to go riding. BUT... I was also the one in charge of getting you back on time.... Which is why I was being such a stick in the mud about not staying up there in our little piece of heaven," she said with a smile. "Believe me, I would have loved to have stayed up there a while longer, but I knew everyone was waiting for us. *That's* why I kept bugging you about not having a tent and all that shit."

He sat there as it all sank in. "You mean... all that time... you knew all this was going on here... And you didn't tell me!?"

She gave him an exasperated look. "It's a *surprise* party! You're not supposed to know about it ahead of time...! Which means when we ride in there in a little while, you have to act like you didn't know a thing about it! Pretend I didn't just tell you."

"...Why?"

"Because that's the way it works. People love to jump out and yell 'Surprise!'" He gave her another odd look and she sighed again. "Just wait -- you'll see."

"... the hell is wrong with you, White?" Jeff Mitchell gasped in between coughing fits. " Ya tryin' to asphyxiate everyone!?" He and Jeffrey Wigand were both sitting at a table in the yard behind the Tavern, coughing furiously to clear the smoke out of their lungs. Rick was at his side, a comforting hand laid on his shoulder, and Wendy was hovering over Jeffrey. Many of the others were clustered around them, but all were well upwind of the dark smoke that was still pouring out of the large brick barbecue. Although it had lessened considerably in the past few minutes, everyone was still keeping clear of the small fire.

"...It was just some lighter fluid," Bud muttered, trying to stifle his own coughs. He, like nearly all the men and many of the ladies, had inhaled some of the smoke too, but not nearly as much as the two Jeffs, who had been tending to the barbecue.

Mitchell's head jerked up, and he turned an incredulous eye on the cop. "Some...!? Ya used the whole flaming can!"

"I was just trying to speed things up. The rate you two were going, we were never gonna eat," White complained.

"Well now dinner's gonna be damn late -- we gotta wait until that bloody inferno dies down!"

"What made you think you know anything, Bud?" Wigand asked. He took his glasses off, using the wet towel that Wendy gave him to blot his eyes, which were still watering from the smoke. Wendy was glaring at the cop. "I had summer barbecues practically every weekend before my daughter developed asthma -- I think I know a hell of a lot more about it than you do."

"It was an accident," Bud protested, his face flushing a rather strong shade of pink.

While several of the other men joined the ongoing argument, many of the ladies stood to the side, shaking their heads.

"What is it with men and barbecues?", Michelle said. "They never want to help in the kitchen, but as soon as you mention cooking outside, there they come with a chef's hat, apron and a whole arsenal of barbecue tools."

"I think it's the whole tribal 'mighty hunter' appeal," Trisha said. "You know -- the big strong caveman goes out and brings home a slab of meat for the family and cooks it over an open fire."

The girls laughed, and Tina said, "I think they're all just pyromaniacs."

"Bud certainly qualifies!" Kath said.

"They should have just left it to my kitchen staff," Annabella complained. "...But at least we were able to rescue the ribs before they were incinerated."

"And got everything covered before the ash got all over it," Ilaria said.

"Next time we do this, I'm making sure all the windows in the tavern are closed," Liz said. She'd just emerged from the tavern, along with Andy and Arthur, after the 3 had spent the last 10 minutes running through the building shutting off all the smoke alarms after the wind had blown some of the smoke inside.

"Good idea," Michelle said, smiling in spite of the situation. She turned slightly, looking towards the hotel, and her face fell. "Oh no....! What timing..." The rest of the girls turned too and groaned in dismay. Michelle took a few steps towards the men, who were still arguing amongst themselves. "Boys...! Oh, boys...!!" she said loudly, getting their attention, and she pointed off to the side.

Bud turned, and then he sighed, rolling his eyes. "Shit... So much for the surprise," he grumbled.

Maximus surveyed the chaotic scene from atop Argento, an amused grin turning up one corner of his mouth. "Having difficulties, gentlemen...?" he said. He whispered something that sounded like, "... told you there was a fire," to Laura, who fought back a laugh.

"Believe it or not, mate," Lachlan said with a grin. "...This fiasco is supposed to be a surprise party in your honor."

Maximus sat there for a moment. Laura nudged him gently with her elbow, and he said quickly, "Surprise party...? What's that?"

Shaking his head, John stepped forward, saying, "It's supposed to go something like this..." He turned to the assembled group, saying loudly, "Ok everybody, on three.... 1... 2... 3!"

"SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!"

Everyone started laughing and clapping, moving towards Maximus. But Argento did not take well to all the people, noise and smoke, and the stallion shifted restlessly, pawing at the dirt, standing his ground in defense of his master. Most of the group stopped as Maximus tugged on the reins, making the horse take a few steps back, but East and The Man approached.

"Easy, boy," East said as Mannie took hold of the bridle. "Ya know us, don't ya...?"

Maximus patted Argento on the neck, and when the horse had calmed, he swung down out of the saddle and helped Laura dismount as well. "Thank you all," he said to the group, but then he turned and started to lead Argento away.

"Max?" John said, moving to stop him. "Where do you think you're going?"

"I have to take Argento back to the stable," he explained.

"Someone else can do that," John said, looking at East and The Man.

"I'll do it," Mannie volunteered.

"That's not necessary. It will take you a while -- he needs to be groomed and watered and fed," Maximus said.

"It's no problem," Mannie said. "...I wasn't actually plannin' on stayin' for the party anyway... I stuck around 'cause I wanted to say goodbye -- I'm leavin' for the hut at first light tomorrow."

"Its not that late," Maximus said. "You could come back later."

Mannie shook his head. "You know how I feel about all this; nothin' personal, you understand."

Maximus nodded. He was well aware of Mannie's discomfort with all the activities in the Nest, so he did not press the issue. In fact, he was surprised The Man was still here. "Thank you," he said to him, patting Argento affectionately before moving away with Laura. "Have a good trip."

The Man nodded, turning to the others to mutter, "Evenin', all," with a tip of his hat before leading Argento away to the stables.

"Bye, mate," East said, waving to him before joining the others. He, like everyone else, knew better than to try to change Mannie's mind.

The women had swarmed around Maximus, each offering hugs and an occasional kiss, expressing how happy they were to see him alive and well, leading him off towards the tables.

Laura, who was left behind, joked, "I don't know whether to be happy for him or jealous..." She turned to John and Bud. "What happened? What's with all the smoke? We saw it from a distance, and for a minute, we really *did* think the place was on fire."

The guys exchanged glances, and Bud studied the tops of his shoes. "Don't ask!" John said.

"Sorry it wasn't much of a surprise for Max," Colin said, "We had Andy and Arthur on lookout to tell us when you were coming, but we had to send them into the tavern to turn off all the smoke alarms that went off."

Her brow furrowed, and she started to say something, but Lachlan interrupted. "Don't worry about it, luv -- just come with us and let us get you a drink so we can get this party officially started," he said, putting his arm around her and leading her towards the bar area. "You'll just have to wait a bit for the food though..." He glanced back at Bud and grinned. "Some of us haven't quite learned how to play with matches yet."

Bud glared back and gave him the middle-finger 'salute'.

Lachlan steered Laura over to the bar that had been set up under a tree, and fetched her a cold beer while he himself got a refill of his own beer. While she chatted with Lachlan, John and Bud, she casually watched Maximus out of the corner of her eye. The Spaniard was clearly enjoying the attentions of all the ladies, but under the circumstances, she didn't mind. In fact, she was happy to see him laughing and joking with the other women of the Nest. And they had obviously been worried about him, so she could hardly complain about him being distracted by all the attention.

Eventually, she noticed him looking around, obviously searching for someone... namely herself. She stepped back behind Bud, hiding a smile as Maximus began to look concerned that he could not find her. Bud quickly noticed what was going on, and smiled at her, putting his arm around her shoulders and turning so they were both facing Maximus. The Spaniard's eyes soon fell on them, and Bud smiled at him, pulling Laura close and raising his glass of scotch towards the gladiator. Maximus gave them an odd look and disengaged himself from his many admirers, moving towards them.

Laura laughed as he neared. "I was wondering how long it would take for you to notice I was gone!"

"Yea, you've got quite a following there, General," Bud said with a smile.

Maximus' face flushed slightly. "I was merely saying hello to everyone," he said, speaking to Bud but looking at Laura.

"I know," Laura said, letting go of Bud to take Maximus' arm, pulling him close. "I'm glad to see you enjoying yourself; this is your party, you know."

"It certainly is," Bud said, "And its time to get things rolling..." He moved away, heading towards the stereo that had been set up outside. "Anybody bring out a copy of 'Gaslight'...?" he said, searching through the pile of CD jewel cases.

Everyone milled around for a while, enjoying the music and the warm, sunny summer afternoon, munching on the chips and fresh fruit and veggies that had been set out as they waited for the food. The two Jeffs got the barbecue under control again and started cooking.

As the aroma of BBQ sauce and roasting meat filled the air, John stood up on a bench, waving his arms and raising his voice to get everyone's attention. "Hey people...! Listen up for a minute, okay...? Arthur, could you turn down the music just for a while? I'd like to say something..." John waited until everyone had quieted, then said with a smile, "While everyone's still reasonably sober, I thought I'd say a few words... Max? Could you come over here for a minute...?" He gestured for the Spaniard to join him.

When Maximus and Laura were standing beside him, John continued, "It's great to have all of you here with us..." He turned to Maximus. "It's unfortunate that it took a bit of bad news to bring us all together, but I'm happy to say that our newest member of our brotherhood here at the CrowesNest is alive and well. Pal...," he shook his head, looking down at Maximus, "honestly, you scared the shit out of us all. We've never come *that* close to losing one of us before, and none of us ever wants to go through that again. So..." He put his hand on Maximus' shoulder. "We all wanted to tell you a couple things. First is we're damn glad you're okay and that Laura got you back here in time -- you're an important part of this place and we all love ya. BUT... Don't you *ever* do anything like that again," he said, shaking a finger at him as Maximus looked down, embarrassed. "And from now on, when we tell you something about how things work around here in the Nest -- Listen to us! We know what we're talking about!" he scolded the gladiator with a good-natured chuckle.

"Amen to that!" Bud said. "Next time you -- or anyone else -- tries to leave for the Real World, I will personally knock you down and sit on you."

There were low whistles, and Colin smiled and said, "Now *that* I'd pay to see, mate!"

Everyone laughed, including John, who continued, "But we didn't organize this little shindig to give you a hard time, Max -- we wanted to show you how much you mean to us. And how pleased we are that you and Laura have patched things up..." Laura looked at Maximus and blushed, leaning against him and ducking her head. His arm tightened slightly around her waist as he looked up at John. "You wanna say a few words, Max?" the sheriff asked.

The Spaniard nodded and stepped forward, letting go of his companion. "I would like to thank you all for coming, and for organizing all this on my behalf... I am truly honored," he said with a slight bow of his head. He had barely raised his voice, but his clear, confident tone carried throughout the small group. "I too am sorry that I frightened you all. Obviously that was not my intention," he said with a small smile. He looked back at Laura and extended his hand. As she moved forward and came to his side, he added, "But in spite of the risk, it was worth it." He smiled down at Laura, then turned back to the group, his natural modesty stopping him from any further romantic display. "Thank you all," he said, his eyes sweeping over them as he smiled broadly. "Enjoy yourselves!"

As he and Laura stepped back, John spoke again, "Well, we certainly don't need much of an excuse to throw a party around here, do we?" He held his glass up, gesturing the rest of the crowd, who clapped and yelled in agreement. "So enough of listening to me. Everybody relax, have a good time, have something to drink... They'll be plenty to eat a bit later. Assuming we can keep a certain person away from the barbecue for the rest of the evening..." He stared pointedly at Bud.

"Or someone'll knock you down and sit on *you*, White!" Zack said.

Bud turned and scowled as Lachlan said, "I'd pay double to see *that*, mate!"

Everyone laughed as Bud turned numerous shades of pink. "Hell... it was just some lighter fluid, for Christ's sake!"

The previous argument started anew, but John raised his voice again. "Arthur! Start the music again! Loud! Drown these idiots out, will ya?" He jumped down from the bench and rejoined Tina, slipping his arm around her. "No more fighting," he said to Bud and the others.

"Play nice, boys," Tina said with a smile.

"Or we'll send you off to bed without any supper," Trisha said as she appeared at Bud's side.

"Is that a threat or a promise, doll?" he said with a grin as he slipped his arm around her.

"I'll tell you that in private, Officer White," she said as a dozen pairs of ears turned towards them expectantly.

"Hey, no fair! We wanna know the answer too!" Jeff Mitchell said.

"Too bad!" Trisha said as she led Bud off towards the buffet table where the kitchen staff was starting to set out the side dishes.

The rest of the food followed shortly, with a wide variety of entrees. Barbecued ribs, chicken, steak, shrimp, salmon, hamburgers and hot dogs came off the grill. In addition, there were various salads, pasta dishes, veggies, bread, deviled eggs, cole slaw, potato salad, vegemite, and many deserts.

As dusk approached, the outdoor lights that had been strung from the trees were turned on. By this time everyone had broken up into small groups, laughing and talking, drinking and enjoying the food. It seemed the men were constantly going back for more, and there was a general consensus that leftovers would not be a problem.

"...This is such a beautiful day," Ilaria said, sighing softly as she gazed out to where the last of the sunset was fading over the ocean. When she had heard about Maximus' brush with death, she had come hurrying back to the Nest too. "I'm so happy things turned out so well."

"So are we all," Tina said as she sat next to John. The three of them were sitting around the same table, along with Trisha, Bud, Maximus, Laura, Colin and Michelle.

"In spite of the place nearly burning down," Colin joked, looking at Bud.

The cop sighed. "You're never gonna let me live that down, are you?"

"NO!" came a chorus of voices from around the table, and they all laughed at Bud's disgusted expression.

"I'll remember this the next time one of *you* does something stupid," Bud said, then looked at his watch. "Which shouldn't take too long considering how much everyone's drinking." He smiled.

"So you admit it was stupid," Trisha said, and they all smiled at Bud's flustered look.

"I did NOT say that!" he protested.

"Yes, you did," Maximus agreed.

"Give it up, Bud; you're outnumbered," Michelle said.

They all laughed, and Laura reached across the table to pat his hand. "Aw, Bud, are they picking on you...?"

He gave her a 'why me' look. "Don't you start too."

They all laughed some more, and Bud joined in too, realizing how silly the whole situation was.

"...So Laura," Ilaria said, "You never did tell us where you and Max were all afternoon..." Laura and Maximus turned and looked at each other, their smiles softening as they exchanged a look. "Where did you go...?"

"Oh, it was so wonderful! It -- " Laura paused, noting the warning look Maximus gave her. "Uh... I can't say; I've been sworn to secrecy."

"Oh?" Tina said, sitting up straighter. "What's the big secret?"

"I took her someplace special... And let's leave it at that," Maximus said as he laid his hand over Laura's.

There was a collective "Ooo" from around the table. "Somehow," Colin said, "I don't think we need to ask *what* you were doin' out there." He smiled, taking a swig of beer, even as Michelle nudged him with her elbow. Laura was blushing slightly as she leaned against Maximus, and he just looked uncomfortable with the whole topic.

"I'm sorry," Ilaria said, "I didn't mean to embarrass you two."

Maximus smiled warmly at her. "Quite all right."

Bud smiled; inwardly, he could relate to the general's old-fashioned decorum. He turned slightly, looking around the yard... and his smile slowly fell.

"What is it, Bud?" Trisha asked.

"Damn it.... Who the hell invited *him*...?"

They all turned to see what had disturbed the cop, and saw Sid standing at the far edge of the party area, a drink in his hand. Three women -- most likely lurkers, as no one had ever seen them before -- seemed to hang on cyber-psycho's every word, and he was obviously enjoying the attention. There was a collective groan from the little group at the table, and everyone discretely eyed Maximus to gauge his reaction.

"No one invited him," John said. "But leave it to Sid to crash a party for Max."

"The man's got balls; I'll give him that," Bud said, and started to get up. "I'll get rid of him."

Maximus' hand on his arm stopped him. "Leave him alone, Bud."

"But -- "

"If he wants to stay, let him stay. He lives here too. The situation between us has been resolved as far as I'm concerned; he is free to do as he pleases," Maximus said.

"He still doesn't belong here," Bud said. "Not after what he did to Laura before she -- " He stopped abruptly as Trisha elbowed him in the ribs. "Uh... sorry."

Maximus paused, and the others were silent, realizing that this was the first time Maximus had laid eyes on Sid since he had learned the details of what had happened when Sid had snuck into Laura's room a week earlier. "As I said," Maximus finally spoke, "Its over -- the sooner Sid realizes that, the better. Leave him alone, Bud." He glanced at Laura, trying to see how she felt about Sid's presence, but she didn't say anything.

Bud sighed. "If you say so..." He and the others turned away... all except Maximus.

He kept staring at Sid. "But it would be much easier to ignore him if he did not wear that color ..." he remarked.

"Yea, that suit is pretty ridiculous," Tina said.

"No, I don't think that's it," Ilaria said. "Its because that's an imperial color... isn't it, Maximus?"

He nodded, face showing mild surprise that she understood what he meant. "Yes. In the Roman world, only the imperial family and the high nobility is allowed to wear purple. It is a crime punishable by death for a low born citizen to wear what he is wearing."

"Maybe we ought to institute that law here," Bud said, grumbling, looking over at Sid. "He just better behave himself tonight, or he's in trouble. I *will* kick his sorry ass out of here if he gets outta line at all..."

An awkward silence fell, no one really sure what to say. Laura felt as though everyone was watching her, including Maximus. Her mind focused on the music that was playing from the stereo, and she was relieved when a rock tune ended, and a slower song began. A very familiar song...

She looked at Maximus, wondering if he would remember it. As 'And I Will Always Love You' by Whitney Houston continued to play, she saw his brow furrow slightly, and he finally looked at her, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. His eyes twinkled, and she knew he remembered it. "Would you like to dance?" he asked.

She smiled broadly and nodded. Maximus rose to his feet, taking her hand and guiding her with him, saying, "If you'll excuse us," to the group. They all nodded, smiling back, as the couple walked to the open area that had been set aside for dancing. He took her in his arms, and they slowly swayed to the quiet melody.

"You remembered," she whispered to him.

He looked down into her eyes. "How could I forget...? That night on the lake was magic, you know." They both had fond memories of the dinner cruise on Lake Michigan that they had shared while they were together in Real World Chicago, particularly of the slow dance they had danced together there.

"Oh, I do know that," she smiled back. "Its not just a coincidence that they played it tonight though -- I asked Arthur earlier if he would play it for us."

His smiled widened. "Excellent idea.... So would you say that this is our song...?"

"'Our' song? You mean like some of the others have?"

He nodded. "I have noticed that it is common for a couple to have a special song that means a great deal to them."

"That is true... But as for 'I'll Always Love You' being *the* song for us... Well... no, I don't think so. It's lovely, but its not quite right for me. I asked Arthur to play it because I knew it would remind you of the lake... But I'd get tired of hearing this in a rather short time." She looked up at him. "What do you think of it?"

"It is pleasant... But you're right. Perhaps we have not found the right song... And I must admit that the whole concept of having one special song seems rather strange," he commented.

"We don't have to decide this tonight, Max," she said, her hand lightly stroking his back as they danced. "We have plenty of time to find something that means something special to both of us." He nodded.

He held her close, but still kept a modest amount of space between their bodies. She could tell though, that he wanted very much to kiss her at that moment, as did she. But she knew he'd never do that in such a public setting, so she settled for staring into his eyes.

They held each other like that, gently swaying to the music, as the song ended and another quiet love song began. She wasn't sure of the title -- she'd never been good at remembering that sort of thing -- but it was slow enough to allow Maximus to remain on the dance floor with her. She let the music flow through her, enjoying the moment, letting her eyes wander across the other couples that were dancing. Nearby, she caught sight of Wendy and Jeffrey Wigand, and she gave a little wave and a smile to Wendy, happy that she could be here. Jeffrey certainly looked like he was having the time of his life now that his lady had returned after a long absence. Wendy seemed to feel the same way too; the pair had been inseparable the whole evening. Wendy waved back, and Jeffrey turned to see who had her attention. Laura waved at him also, and Jeffrey smiled, nodding, before turning back to Wendy.

There were other couples there too -- Trisha and Bud, Tina and John, Colin and Michelle, Peaches and Cort, Annabella and Alex, Bugdog and Zack -- along with some of the others who were just friends, like Lachlan and Ilaria. She felt happy and content here amongst her friends... And with the man she loved so dearly. Sighing softly, she laid her head against his shoulder, both their bodies swaying in rhythm with the music.

After a time, though, she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up, and she knew she was being watched. She raised her head from Maximus' shoulder, and looked across the lawn to find Sid staring at her.

He had a smug smile plastered across his handsome face, and when he caught her eye, he winked at her as he tipped his wineglass towards her, the corner of his mouth turning up into a wicked grin. She turned away quickly, a slight shiver running through her body.

"Are you cold?" Maximus asked.

She shook her head. "No."

"Then is something wrong?"

She hesitated, then realized she needed to be totally candid with Maximus from now on whenever anything concerned Sid. "I just wish... *he* wasn't here," she admitted.

Maximus turned to look behind him, but Sid had already disappeared. Laura caught a glimpse of the purple suit behind a group of the men before it melted into the darkness. "Was he bothering you?" he asked, turning back to her.

"No, he didn't do anything. But Sid doesn't have to do anything -- he gives me the creeps whenever he's around," she confessed.

"Perhaps I should have let Bud get rid of him. I'm sorry; I should have asked if *you* minded."

"That's ok; you were right. Fighting with Sid won't accomplish anything. Ignoring him is probably the best way to handle it. He's bound to get bored eventually."

"That's what I'm counting on..." He ran his hand up and down her arm. "Don't worry, my dear... I will see to it that Sid does not bother you anymore. And if he does *anything* to upset you, tell me at once."

"Oh, I will... I have definitely learned my lesson where he's concerned," she said, laying her head against his shoulder again as they continued to dance.

"I wasn't questioning that," he said softly, holding her close. She swayed gently with him, feeling safe in his arms... But yet she couldn't shake the feeling that Sid hadn't quite gotten the message yet.

When the next song came on, it was another fast rock tune, and Maximus wasted no time vacating the dance area. They headed off to get another drink, then went to mingle with the others.

The evening grew late, but the party showed no signs of breaking up. Everyone was having too good a time.

Maximus stood near a thicket of trees at the edge of the lawn, engaged in conversation with East, Cort, Alex, John and Steve about some remodeling they were considering in the Tavern. When they started getting into technical details about how the electrical system might have to be changed, Maximus' attention wandered, and he turned away, glancing down towards the beach.

And out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hando sitting beneath an overhang of bushes and greenery some distance away, watching the goings-on in the party without being noticed himself. In the darkness, most people would never have seen him, but Maximus' trained soldier's eye had quickly spotted him. The skinhead was staring at the party-goers, a faraway look on his face. He had not noticed the Spaniard's interest, and slowly, Maximus disengaged himself from the conversation and wandered over towards Hando. He casually set down his drink on a bench and walked down the gentle incline, slowing to a stop as he approached the spot where Hando sat. He could feel the skinhead's eyes follow him as he walked, and as he stopped, he turned to Hando, nodding, making eye contact. "Evening, Hando."

Maximus stood near a thicket of trees at the edge of the lawn, engaged in conversation with East, Cort, Alex, John and Steve about some remodeling they were considering in the Tavern. When they started getting into technical details about how the electrical system might have to be changed, Maximus' attention wandered, and he turned away, glancing down towards the beach.

And out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hando sitting beneath an overhang of bushes and greenery some distance away, watching the goings-on in the party without being noticed himself. In the darkness, most people would never have seen him, but Maximus' trained soldier's eye had quickly spotted him. The skinhead was staring at the party-goers, a faraway look on his face. He had not noticed the Spaniard's interest, and slowly, Maximus disengaged himself from the conversation and wandered over towards Hando. He casually set down his drink on a bench and walked down the gentle incline, slowing to a stop as he approached the spot where Hando sat. He could feel the skinhead's eyes follow him as he walked, and as he stopped, he turned to Hando, nodding, making eye contact. "Evening, Hando."

"General," Hando replied, nodding also. Then he turned away and stared out at the dark, rolling waves of the ocean.

Maximus stared out at the water for a while too. "... This place is truly magical... I don't think I will ever get used to the sun rising and setting over the same horizon," he remarked.

"Ya will," Hando said with a slight shrug of his shoulders, sounding a bit bored.

A long silence fell, and finally Maximus said, "Hando... I just want to say I appreciate what you did for me, and -- "

Hando interrupted. "No need, General... Just couldn't see losin' one of us, ya know...?" The two men locked eyes for a bit, unspoken gratitude and respect mirrored in their eyes.

Maximus nodded solemnly. "Understood," he said, bowing respectfully to Hando, who looked away, clearly uneasy about taking a compliment from the Roman. It wasn't necessary for either of them to say anything else; they both knew that they had shared something special in that brief instant when their minds had touched.

After another long pause, Maximus said, "You ought to come join us... instead of sitting here."

There was a ghost of a smile on Hando's face for a moment. Then he shook his head. Gesturing towards the party-goers, he said, "They don't much like me hangin' 'round... and I don't much care for that shit either..." He picked up the pack of cigarettes that sat beside him and tapped the side of the pack, knocking a single cigarette into his hand with a practiced motion. Pulling a lighter from his pocket, he lit the cigarette, and the flickering flame illuminated his face briefly, highlighting the angular planes of his face and accenting the dark hollows of his eyes.

Hando flipped the lighter closed, and his face was shrouded in darkness again. He leaned back against the tree as he exhaled slowly, the smoke forming a cloud in front of his face in the still air.

Maximus watched him, sensing that the younger man didn't care to talk, but yet... Something told him that Hando wanted to be included in the group, but he just couldn't admit it to himself or anyone else.

Hando tossed the pack of cigarettes down on the ground, and Maximus noticed it landed right beside two large, hardcover books that lay at his feet. It was too dark to make out the titles, but it was enough to perhaps answer the question of what Hando did out on the beach all day.

He was about to ask Hando what he was reading when he heard a familiar voice from behind him. "Max...? Is that you down there?"

He turned to find Laura walking down the small incline. "I'm here," he answered, smiling.

"I was wondering where you'd disappeared to," she said as she reached him, turning her face up to accept a kiss from him, only to be surprised when he stiffened slightly, his eyes turning to the side. She followed his gaze, and she jumped, startled to find Hando staring back at her from the shadows of the nearby trees.

She pressed herself against Maximus, her arm slipping around his waist, holding him tightly. There was a cold gleam in Hando's eyes as he looked at her, and Maximus could feel her shrink back from him in fear.

"I see you two have already met." He said it as a simple statement of fact. Even though he did not know when they might have crossed paths, it was obvious they had. And it was equally obvious it had not gone well. His eyes narrowed, wondering if it was merely Hando's unfriendly disposition that had frightened Laura, or something more specific. "Is there something I should know about...?"

Laura stammered for a reply, but Hando spoke first. "Its like I said before -- I don't much care for the shit that goes on around here. Too many people comin' and goin', causing too many fuckin' problems. What happened to you," he said, nodding to Maximus, "never should have happened. And it wouldn't 'ave if it weren't for her an' Sid."

Laura gasped softly, and Maximus pulled away from her, moving between her and Hando, eyes narrowing angrily as he glared at the skinhead. "Hando -- "

"But," he continued, lowering his eyes briefly as he spoke, "...I don't believe half the shit Sid says... an' if you're back with 'er, ain't my place to say you're wrong."

"No, its not," Maximus said firmly, a bit surprised that Hando had backed down, but pleased nonetheless. A fight with the young man was the last thing he wanted right now, considering that he'd been trying to reach out to him before they'd been interrupted.

There was a heavy silence as Hando took a long drag off the cigarette, looking everywhere but at Maximus and Laura. "Well," he said finally, reaching down to gather up his books and cigarettes, "I'd better shove off -- wouldn't wanna ruin your party, General," he said, with surprising sincerity. Without another word, he turned and walked away down the beach, disappearing into the darkness.

Laura let out the breath she didn't know she'd been holding. "What is with that guy...?" She shivered involuntarily.

Maximus pulled her closer. "Has he been giving you problems? Why didn't you tell me something?"

"There wasn't much to say -- I only spoke with him once, briefly. And he said the same thing he did just now, that I was causing you too many problems... It's just the way he looks at me, with that cold stare... To be honest, it scares the hell out of me. I've seen 'Romper Stomper' -- the guy's dangerous."

Maximus stared down the beach. "In the movie, perhaps he was; I've never seen it... But this place changes people... There is hope for him."

She sighed. "I'll have to take your word for it." She stared down the beach too, her face softening. "But Hando *did* help you come back to us... didn't he?" she said quietly. "I suppose I owe him a bit of thanks for that."

He nodded, turning to her and pulling her into his arms.

"Hey, you two -- break it up!" came a voice from nearby, and they pushed apart, looking over at East and Jeff Mitchell, who stood at the top of the hill. "It's your party, mate!" Jeff said. "Come on back! There'll be plenty of time for that later!"

Laura blushed slightly as Maximus led her back. "Actually," he said, "I was talking to Hando."

"Hando?" Jeff's smile fell, as did East's, and they looked around behind Maximus. "Where is he?"

Maximus shook his head. "Gone. I asked him to come to the party, but he didn't seem comfortable with that."

"He never is, the bastard," East complained. "Thinks he's too good to associate with the likes of us."

"I'm not so sure about that..." Maximus said, looking back down the beach.

"Maybe so," Jeff said, "But," he said, smiling again. "We're not gonna waste a night like tonight worrying about the likes of him." He took Laura by the arm, dragging her back towards the group. "Come on, luv -- I haven't had a turn with ya on the dance floor!"

East and Maximus chuckled, following the pair.

Tina and John walked slowly up the stairs to the second floor of the hotel, arm in arm, followed by Maximus and Laura, also arm in arm. The two couples were leaning heavily on one another, each of them having consumed a good deal of alcohol and done their fair share of partying. It was fast approaching midnight; the party had finally wound down, and Maximus, being the guest of honor, had been one of the last to leave. Several of the younger men had remained with some lurkers, however, and carried the party into the tavern.

"...That was some party," John said as he and Tina neared her door.

"Yes, it was," his companion agreed. "Did you have a good time, Max?"

"Most definitely," the Spaniard said as he and Laura stopped outside Laura's door, which was right across the hall from Tina's. "I can't thank you all enough. It was certainly a surprise," he said, looking down at Laura with a smile. He couldn't help but notice how tired she seemed, and he put an arm around her shoulders. "I enjoyed myself very much."

"Well, we're certainly glad to have you back in one piece," Tina said, moving forward to hug the Spaniard. He let go of Laura briefly, hugging her back. "John was right -- you did scare us." She moved to include Laura in the hug. "Both of you -- don't you dare do anything crazy like that again.... I'm so happy you're back together."

"So are we!" Laura said, hugging her friend. She looked over Tina's shoulder at John, who was just standing there watching. She motioned him over, and they all hugged.

Maximus was the first one to break away. "I think its time we called it a night," he said as he slipped an arm around Laura again. "This one looks like she's had enough."

Laura yawned, leaning against Maximus' solid frame. "I think I had a few too many," she said, giggling. "I feel like I'm gonna pass out..."

"You two have had a long day," John said with a smile, "and we don't even know what you were up to out in the woods!"

"No, you don't," Max said as he took the room key from Laura. "And you're not going to know, John." He smiled as he opened the door, guiding Laura inside. "Good night."

"Night, you two!" "Good night, Max; good night, Laura." John and Tina spoke together, moving into Tina's room as Max shut the door.

Laura went straight to the sofa, flopping down onto it as Max turned on the lights. "God this feels good..." she sank down into the cushions, closing her eyes. "It was a great party, but I am *so* tired... " She fell silent, and Max sat down beside her. "And I'm so sore," she complained a moment later, opening one eye to look at him. "Do you know I have spent the entire evening trying not to walk funny? Between all that horseback riding, and our ... activities up there," she said with a brief grin, "my legs *ache*... But I didn't dare say anything to anyone. You know damn well we'd never hear the end of it!"

Max chuckled and pulled her into his arms. "No, we wouldn't." He kissed her softly. "Thank you for your discretion, but you should have said something sooner."

"I did say something earlier -- back when we were leaving our spot, and it hurt like hell just to get up on Argento."

He pulled her to him so she lay back against his chest. "I know you did. And I promised to look after you when we got back. I intended to do something for you much sooner than this, but I was a bit distracted..." He softly kissed the side of her face. "... Would you like a massage...?"

"Mmmm... Sounds great... provided I don't have to move...!"

"You won't..." With that, he shifted, putting his arm under her knees, picking her up off the couch as he stood. She wrapped her arms around his neck, murmuring "My hero..." as he carried her into her bedroom.

Laying her gently on the bed, he turned down the sheets on the other side, then moved her onto her stomach. Hovering over her, he rubbed down the backs of her legs. She let out a long, contented sigh and slowly relaxed her whole body, until he realized that she had fallen fast asleep.

Smiling, he gently removed her clothes, stripping her down to her underwear, then pulled the covers over her. He stripped too, and turned off the lights. He was about to slip under the sheets and join her, but then he paused at the side of her bed. He looked down at her for a few moments, then wandered over to the window, staring out into the starry sky.

The past ten days had been such a whirlwind; only now was he beginning to make sense of it all. Before the day that Laura had told him about her dalliance with Sid, everything had been wonderful. He'd begun to settle into the CrowesNest, finally feeling that it was his home, and that he had indeed found his 'connection' with Laura.

But finding out that she had shared a bed with his most unsavory brother had nearly shattered his newfound confidence in this place, and had seriously wounded his pride. He had wondered anew if he could ever be truly happy here, and whether he had ever belonged here at all.

Days of soul-searching had shown him that this place really was his home, and that his relationship with Laura was worth fighting for. He would not throw away their happiness because of Sid's vindictive jealousy, and he had followed his lover back into the Real World.

In some respects, his mind was still reeling over that. Just when he had thought he had gotten used to all the magical 'technology' in the Nest, he had ventured out into Laura's world and discovered just how truly alien it was. He had seen pictures of modern cities on television broadcasts, but the reality of it was almost too much for his 2nd century sensibilities.

It had been fascinating to see firsthand the kind of life that his lady led when she was apart from him, but it was frightening too, on more than one level. He doubted he could ever really understand Laura because their backgrounds were so different, and he also wondered whether she could ever truly be a part of his life here. She could only share herself with him for short periods of time... Was he just a fantasy to her...? Someone to help her escape from the overwhelming demands of her world...?

He sighed heavily, looking down at her as she slept, and a gentle smile slowly turned up the corners of his mouth. He shouldn't question things so much, he thought to himself. His fears were getting the better of him, in spite of the extraordinary days they had spent together in her home. They had talked for hours... when they weren't making love for hours. He smiled at the memories, closing his eyes as he remembered the blissful nights -- and afternoons -- they had spent in her bed. At that moment, he had believed that life was wonderful and that all was right with the world...

But then he had taken ill, and had nearly died before being brought back to the Nest. It had all been so surreal for him that he almost didn't believe what they had told him about it all. All his memories of his life in the Nest had vanished when he'd returned to the world of 'Gladiator', as though it had never existed, and he had nearly disappeared into the world of his movie forever. He'd thought he'd be rejoining his family in Elysium... And yet here he was now, back in the Nest as though nothing had happened.

He sighed again, eyes turning up towards the heavens. He was more convinced than ever that the CrowesNest was all part of Elysium as well, and that someday, when it all faded away and was forgotten, he'd find himself back in his golden fields where his family awaited. One could never truly imagine what the gods held in store for mere mortal men, so he left it as a question of faith that everything was working out as it should. He did love Laura, and he believed she did love him in return. Sid, in spite of all his schemes, could not drive them apart. In fact, it almost seemed as though the whole ordeal had strengthened their relationship.

Sid...

He looked around, shuddering at the mental image of Sid lying in wait for her, here in this very room, in this very bed. He believed her when she had said she'd rebuffed his advances, but the thought of his 'brother' laying his hands on her made his blood boil. Although he had meant it when he'd told Bud to leave Sid alone, he couldn't help but think that he should do more to discourage Sid from ever trying something like that again. Sid was arrogant and single-minded enough to do exactly that, and he wondered what he could do to prevent it from happening. Laura was still frightened of him, and with good reason....

Laura stirred, and it shook him out of his introspective thoughts. "... Max...?" he heard her mumble in her sleep, reaching across the empty bed for him.

"I'm here," he said as he moved quietly to the bed, slipping under the covers to spoon behind her, cradling her smaller frame against his chest, wrapping his strong arms around her. She snuggled closer to his warm, strong body, letting out a contented sigh as she drifted off into a deep sleep. "I'm here..." he repeated softly, gently stroking her hair as it spilled across the pillow. "I love you," he whispered as he lay his cheek against hers, closing his eyes as he too drifted off to sleep....