FOX International Airport

Cedric's pov

I slam the phone on the receiver as Link's voicemail tells me he can't come to the phone right now, if I could leave my name and number he would get back to me asap. I have left him countless messages but he never come back to me. Bear has been inconsolable since Link left and he heard that his brother would wake up from his coma-induced state.

Groaning in frustration, I tug at my hair. My house is empty, no pitter patter of feet walking the floor above me, no clinking of China in the dishwasher as it turns. Now it's just me in this big old house. The day after Link left our side, Bear left as well. He said it was better for all of us to have some time away and gather our own thoughts.

I am glad Lauren offered Bear a place to stay, I didn't want him wandering the city, or leave. I know for sure that he would use this as an opportunity to escape, like he always seem to do when things get a little tough. When I asked him about it, he confirmed that would have run at the first opportunity, but he said and I could see him struggle with the right words, that he needed to see this through to the end. For his own sake and that of his brother.

Hearing that Reagan would be slowly pulled out of his coma induced state nearly gave me a heart attack. Although I understand that the police have several important questions to ask him, I really think it would have been better for everyone if Reagan had died on the spot. Would have saved us all a lot of trouble.

The beep of my answering machine had me turn my head towards it. Frowning at the red blinking light, I am pretty sure nobody would leave a message on my private home phone number; I pressed the button to play it.

"One new message", the electronic voice told me, "recorded on 25th of May, time; 7.30 Pm." My eyebrows met my hairline, I was home around that time but I never heard the phone ring!? What the hell!? There is a silence an then I hear someone take a deep breath and speak. My heart is in my throat the whole time the other person speaks.

"Hello Cedric...." Link's lilting voice caresses my ears. I have to listen three times to the message before it sinks in. "Hello Cedric... I-- I am coming back to the city." I don't like it, the obvious stress in his strained voice. "Bear called me a few days ago and told me Reagan is taken out of the forced coma since there is enough brain activity to suggest that he can wakeup on his own. And-- and I want gone there for him when the worst happens." Then there is some disturbance in the background that overpowers what he says next. "...but I will be bringing my cousin along, I hope that is no problem? Anyway we will be arriving at the FOX International AirPort on the 15th of June at 10 am.... I -- I love you guys and will see you in a couple of weeks."

"Delete message?" The electronic voice asked and I pressed the button to save the message. I can hardly contain my happiness at having Link back with us again. With his cousin admittedly, but I will take whatever I can get.

Since I am standing near the phone, I pick up the Horn and dial Lauren's number. "I need to speak to Bear." I announce before the person on the other side of the line can speak. Tapping my foot impatiently as I wait for Bear to come to the phone, I realise that I need to clear our schedules for the 15th of June.

"Hello?" Bear's sleepy voice asks and I can imagine him rubbing his eyes.

"Hello Cub," I coo, gliding my fingers across the surface of the little table on which the phone rests. "I am the bearer of good news, Link is coming home!" I can't help but talk a little louder in my excitement. The excitement of having Link back slowly evaporates, as Bear stays silent for quite a while. It makes me slightly uncomfortable.

"Are you not happy that Link is returning Bear?" I question in concern, thinking Bear might not want Link back at the moment. I clutch the phone tightly to my ear as I hear Bear yawn. Suddenly all sounds cease as Bear gasps.

"Link is coming home!?" He repeats loudly and I winch as I keep the phone away from my now ringing ear. "When?! When is he coming home?!" I smile at his excitement as he babbles on and on.

Later that night, after I hung up with Bear, I went to bed and fell right asleep. Bear had it all figured out; what he was going to say to Link and what he was going to bring as a welcome home present and so on.

~~~~

"Do you think he will stay with us or are they staying in a hotel?" I glance sideway briefly as Bear asks the question as we make our way to, the FOX International AirPort to pick up Link and his cousin.

"I have a suite booked in our local hotel should they want to stay there instead of our house." I answer as we pull up in the long parking spot making Bear looking a little sad. Reaching out, I squeeze his shoulder lightly as we walk up to the AirPort to see if they have arrived yet.

Bear was becoming more and more agitated as the time for Link's flight to land. He did get some balloons and a bouquet of flowers. I couldn't hide my indulging smile as Bear starts bouncing on his toes as people start coming out of the terminal where Link's flight had landed.

"Baby!" He cries out as Link's looming form lumbers out of the terminal. Link starts at Bear's excited shout and waving before a huge smile breaks out over his face and runs forward. They both grunt as they embrace the other, biceps budging as they hug tight mumbling under their breath.

"You must be Ailsa," I hold out my hand to the slightly confused and tired looking dark haired teen. He squints at me in distrust first, until Link manages to disentangle himself from Bear long enough to introduce me as Master Cedric; king of the Pleasure district. "You must be tired of the flight and the time zone change," I say and gently pray the heavy loaded suitcase trolley from his hands and he lets go of it with a tired yawn.

Even with my big, spacious car, it took some reconfigurations of getting the entire luggage in the booth. Though, we managed eventually and we set off back to the Pleasure District. I wasn't surprised that Ailsa fell asleep as soon as we cleared the AirPort parking lot. "So, you and Ailsa have the choice to stay at the house, or you can stay at the Rémy Hotel in town." I look at Link through the rear-view mirror. "Where would you like to stay?"

I focus back on the road as Link is quiet and seems to be mulling things over. However, it is Ailsa who answers. "I don't really mind where we stay," He slurs, "as long as it has warm water and a soft bed." Before dosing off again.

"I would like to go to the Rémy Hotel then please." Link says, glancing softly at his slightly snoring cousin. Swallowing loudly, I had secretly hoped he would stay at the house, but change lanes so we are on the right one for the Hotel. Bear looks a little sad and lost as he helps unloading the car onto the bellhops' luggage trolley. "I guess we will see you tomorrow." Link says, rocking back and forth on his feet. Another bellhop, who seems to be straining under his weight, was holding up Ailsa.

Both Bear and I stand a little idly by the car now both Ailsa and Link have disappeared into the depths of the four star Hotel. "Do you want me to drop you off at Lauren's or do you want to come back to the house?" I ask as we both are in the car once more and waiting for a gap in the oncoming traffic.

"I would like to go to the house." He says quietly, looking out of the passenger window. "As much as I like Lauren and her boys, I miss the house and everybody in it." As soon as there is a gap in the traffic I ease the car into it and ride the two of us home.

"Goodnight Bear." I whisper sadly as he takes up residence in one of my four guest bedrooms. "I will see you in the morning." He nods hesitantly and closes the door softly. Standing in front of Bear's door for quite a while, I sigh with slumped shoulders and head to my office to do some more work. And sadly work has become my escape from everything.

Blinking at the light filtering in from the partly drawn curtain on my left hand side, I am not surprised that it four in the morning. "Oh," I exclaim in surprise as Bear timidly opens the door holding a tray with breakfast on it. "Thank you!" I sigh in appreciation, as I smell the wonderful bacon, scrambled eggs and sausage.

"You have to eat properly Master Cedric." Bear grumbles as he places all the dishes on my cleared desk. "Is Link coming over later today?" He questions and I nod my head in agreement, he did say about coming over later today. "Then that gives you some time to catch up with your much needed sleep."

When I wake up after a refreshing eight hour sleep, I am surprised to hear three voices murmur as I walk down the stairs. My brows reach my hairline as I see Link and Ailsa sitting comfortly in the cosy, open fire roaring living room. "Good morning all." I nod to them all as I gratefully accept the mug of steaming coffee from Bear. "Thank you Cub." And I hide my smile behind my mug as Bear's face lights up at the name.

"What have you done so far?" I look at Ailsa as I ask the question and am quite surprised at the amount of activities they have already done. Coughing slightly as I choke on my coffee when Ailsa mentions his displeasure at all the fumes and loud noises he has heard all day. I can only machine how polluted the air here is compared to the fresh air he is used to high up in rural Scotland.

Although I am quite used to Link's Scottish accent coming through every once in a while, I have concentrate hard on what Ailsa says. His accent is more pronounced and harder to understand. The toughest thing is to remember that he is talking English and not Scottish. Even though I am tempted to think he is speaking Scottish since whenever he speaks it is very musical and pleasant to listen to.

As the evening winds down, and everybody is filled by Bear's impru dinner, we are all resting on the sofa. I have seen the odd look Ailsa gives me as Bear is kneeling between my legs with his cheek resting against my upper thigh. As my hand slowly runs through his hear, I smile lightly as I hear him sigh in contentment. This makes me miss having Link like this as well, and wonder if or when Link will return to Bear's side and mine.

I really hope he will return to us. I don't mind if he doesn't want to be in the lifestyle. With that resolution in mind, I am ready to do what it takes to make Link as well as Bear as happy as possible.