Fiona tiptoed into the room, letting her eyes adjust to the light of the reading lamp placed on Freddie's bedside table, a smudge of brightness in otherwise black room. 

The thought that he had probably fallen asleep waiting for her made her feel guilty for losing herself in Peregrine's company for so long. Since the three men appeared outside the hospital a couple of days ago, her life had become so much more complicated. And interesting. And exciting...

Her eyes strolled to the distant bathroom door, and it just looked too far. Suddenly, she felt exhausted like never before. Making Gollum settle at the foot of her bed, she dragged herself towards the remote door, settling for washing her face and hands and brushing her teeth. She would take a shower in the morning, after she better memorised Peregrine's scent emanating from her clothes and hair.

Tiptoeing back into the room, she paused by the window to draw the curtains apart so the morning light would wake them in time. She walked to Freddie's bed then, taking the Harry Potter book from his hands, mussing his hair in the lightest of caresses and bestowing a butterfly kiss on his forehead without waking him up before continuing to her own bed and collapsing onto the mattress, hugging the pillow to her body. 

Botheration... She was getting used to Peregrine's closeness, his touch that always took her breath away; she was beginning to miss him when he wasn't within reach...

"Have you been with her all this time?" Gilderoy's whisper startled Peregrine as he leaned against the door in the near-complete darkness reigning within the room.

"It doesn't concern you, Gilderoy," he muttered, pushing away from the door, moving silently like a shadow towards the bathroom. He needed a shower. A long, cold shower, a treat he won't be able to indulge in for who knew how long once they crossed The Stones. The only real shower in Silmarea was in The Gate, and Annwyn had to thank him for it.

He heard the dwarf sigh as he passed by his bed.

"Of course, it concerns me. You are my friend, Peregrine."

That made the dragon shifter pause as he reached the window, his large body silhouetted by the wan light streaming inside through the gap in the curtains.

Of course, they were friends now, the dwarf and the elf had become people whom Peregrine would never refuse his help after this quest. He just hadn't realised that the two were looking at him that way, too.

"Yes, I was with her, Gilderoy," he whispered, watching the dwarf's curly head nod against his pillow. 

"I knew it. I... can't wait to see Aryana again... Good night, Peregrine," he said, turning on the bed away from the dragon shifter, freeing him from having to find a response. 

Fiona woke up with the first pink and golden light of the new day filtering inside the room through the window. This would be the first day of her new life, she mused, she would cross into the world of the three men who had come to claim her. And her new life would be her own creation, she resolved, gathering her hair and spreading the tips in her face, inhaling the scent of burning wood trapped in the red strands, thinking of the dragon shifter. 

She wouldn't let anyone decide about her or Freddie's happiness, Fiona promised to herself, springing lightly from her bed, her movements rendered fast, silent and gracious by the excitement and delight she felt at the thought of seeing Peregrine again. She paused by the pile of luggage towering by the window to feed Gollum, who had followed her across the room on her way towards the bathroom to take a shower before her mother and Freddie woke up.

Once they were all dressed, packed and ready to depart, Fiona instructed Freddie and Alexandra to carry their luggage downstairs and leave it in the reception during the breakfast, while she lingered behind with Gollum to check that they were not leaving anything behind. She didn't want to slow anyone down by coming back up; the thought of them possibly being tracked by a Highlander settled in her mind with certainty over the night. She didn't want to put Peregrine in danger; she wanted to keep him safe, close, and safe...

She groaned in frustration as she finally descended the stairs in Gollum's wake. Peregrine could never know how she was feeling about him, she didn't want to tie him down or make him feel responsible in any way, she would have to be careful and hide her deeper feelings, everything beyond the layer of desire and passion he had ignited within her would have to remain her secret. The growing love she nurtured in her heart like the most precious thing, would send him running for the hills if he found out; she was sure about that.

The medley of voices reaching her from the breakfast room slowed her steps down. Fiona needed time to compose herself before she would face the dragon shifter whose voice she could easily distinguish from the others. She dropped her luggage onto the pile of bags by the front door of the small Bed and Breakfast, then stopped by the garden door, thankful to Gollum, whose needs would give her a few more minutes. Letting the dog out, she stood in the doorway, her eyes closed, face revolved towards the sunshine that had banished the last night's storm.

She sensed him-- his sinuous, stealthy walk, his scent of fire, smoke and pathless wilderness overwhelmed her mind, making her lean against the glass door still sprinkled with last night's rain-- an instant before his whole body pressed against her. His full, sensual lips obliterated hers, his tongue invaded her inviting mouth, making her wrap her arms around his neck, lacing her fingers through the strands of his hair for support. Goodness, he felt good... he was... everything... she mused even as he detached himself from her when a sound of approaching footsteps reached them from somewhere deep in the distant reality, leaving her alone, leaning on unsure legs against the wet glass, finally opening her eyes as Freddie ran towards her. 

"Mum! You nearly left your favourite Harry Potter book behind, and Peregrine almost left my Lord of the Rings! You both should thank Gilderoy; he found them in the breakfast room!" the boy called as he rushed by on his way to the pile of luggage by the front door even as Gollum ran inside and followed him.

Fiona drew a shaky breath before she replied. "Right. Of course. Gilderoy will receive my thanks." 

She kissed the boy on the top of his head as he paused to hug her on his way back to the breakfast room, them followed him and Gollum inside. 

The landlady, who was just passing by, refilling jugs and trays for her guests, smiled at her as she walked to the only free chair left at the table, two seats away from Peregrine who sipped at his coffee while his eyes observed her above the rim of his cup inconspicuously.

Or rather trying to be inconspicuous. She noticed the look of those mesmerising eyes, and his attention solicited her smile, which evoked a mirroring smile tug at the corners of his lips. The lips that had kissed her less than five minutes ago... The thought caused a blush spread over her cheeks like wild fire. She narrowed her eyes at Gilderoy, whom she found watching her from across the table as she finally plopped into her chair. The man was incredibly perceptive. If she and Peregrine were to keep their attraction secret, she would have to try harder to hide her feelings. 

Trying as she might, Fiona couldn't avoid meeting Peregrine's eyes during the quick breakfast. Luckily, Gilderoy seemed to be the only one who noticed. Last one to arrive, she was the first of the party on her feet the moment she finished her coffee. It was impossible for her to stay put any longer with the knowledge of the unpredictable, unimaginable adventure lying in front of them. She was also craving Peregrine's closeness, his touch and kisses, and nothing of that would be happening as long as they sat here. Moreover, the bus headed for Minions they needed to catch would pass by in ten minutes, as the landlady had informed them.

"We've already paid," Peregrine called after her as she walked out of the room in search of her handbag as if he could read her mind.

"Thanks, then," she muttered without turning around, feeling not only Peregrine's but also Gilderoy's and Leodhais' eyes on her back, as she headed for the bathroom instead.