Since that day, it seemed as though Vincent no longer felt the need to stop staring at Alex. A fact that was making the boy nervous and prone to rather embarrassing blushes at all hours of the day. He could not bring himself to move away from the gentle touches, nor sleep far from him in the cooler nights. As much as it affected him, he kind of liked it.

He tucked his curls behind one ear and glanced under his eyelashes at Vincent as he helped him wash the cloths in the pond that morning. He was starting to have a healthy glow about him again and Alex was finding it hard to stop staring himself. When he felt the first stirrings of his own little prince, he ducked his head down with yet another blush.

He could not forget what it felt like when Vincent had held him close to feel his... passion. The hard planes of his bigger body had been familiar and comforting, but he had felt the stirring of desire between them like never before. Previously it had been a warm and gentle thing that Alex had felt as he was held... but now, hah.

Now was like dancing in fires. Now was like swallowing hot coals from the fireplace. Now was like a building volcano had been awoken inside his chest, threatening to spill hot lava from his pores. Is this what Vincent had been feeling this whole time? No wonder he dared not come too close.

"Are you almost done? We should go out together to find more of those flowers you found." He was looking into Alex's eyes with a smile that could melt snow. Alex nodded absently and let him take his hand to help him up.

"Yes, I think we should be able to find some around the other side." He replied distractedly. Vincent pulled him in close and pecked his lips quickly.

"Let's hurry and put these to dry then." Was his reply. They stretched the cloth over some branches in the sun and then picked their way to the other side of the waterfall. Vincent climbed up some rocks and held out his hand to help Alex up. The waterfall was rather steep, but the rocks were easy to climb at the sides where no slimy moss grew.

"Ah, there. I see a bit of blue." He pointed over to a larger outcropping. Vincent sidled onto the next rock and peered up.

"I think you are right. Help me up onto the next rock." He came back over and Alex boosted him up with his knee bent to take the weight. With some little difficulty Vincent was able to scale the large stones, and moved to gather the flowers.

"Grab that mushroom further in for me too, please?" Alex called out from further down. Vincent leaned down and grabbed those as well, placing them in the sack at his hip. Then they scaled back down the waterfall.

"Here you go." He handed over the haul and watched as Alex brewed some soup with the ingredients they collected.

"I will be glad when we move on from this place. I am getting tired of flower soup." Alex complained as he sipped his bowl for lunch. Vincent licked his lips at the thought of the delicious lunches from the castle.

"What is the first thing you want to eat when we get home?" He asked as he took another sip of the soup. It was a little bitter from the herbs, but nutritious enough to keep them strong.

"I want a honey bun. With as much honey as I can slather on it." He admitted with a giggle. Vincent smiled at that. "What about you?"

"Oh without a doubt I want to have a meat pie. The ones with the flaky crust that tastes of butter and melts in your mouth." He was drooling at the thought. Alex nodded and closed his eyes, tilting his head up to the sky.

"We are going to have to try and find the entrance to the Fae kingdom. If we don't go soon... we might not make it. There is not much more we can use for food here." He looked down with a serious face. Vincent nodded.

"I know. It was nice while it lasted though. Felt like living in a fairy tale." He grinned at the boy and then finished his soup with a toss of his head. Alex stood up and surveyed the surrounding woods.

"We will pack up anything we think we might need and leave tomorrow, okay?" He looked down at Vincent expectantly.

"Yes sir." Vincent nodded decisively. Alex grinned at him and shook his head at the flippant manner he replied.

"Don't be smart." He packed together some things to wash down at the edge of the pond.

"But I thought you liked that I was smart? It will be awfully hard to become stupid, but I suppose I will have to try for you." Vincent joked with him.

"Don't worry, you won't have to try hard." He quipped back without a blink. Vincent gasped in shock.

"Oh! You are cruel. I am wounded. Look. I'm dying from your cruelty." He held his breast and fell sideways dramatically. Alex rolled his eyes and went to wash up. Vincent laid there, pretending to be dead until he heard Alex shout at him.

"Quit playing around and help me, you lazy bum." He heard a splash and rolled to his feet.

"Yes dear." He teased the boy, who blushed and thrusted the makeshift pot at him to clean.

"Seriously though, do you think we should follow the stream from the top of the waterfall?" His eyes were looking up at the sparkling water as it fell. Vincent considered the spot they had been staying, looking back towards where they had come from in the trees.

"It is probably the safest way to travel, even if we can't hear things approach us. We will have fresh water and we know there is vegetation we might eat nearby." He allowed.

"It is also headed in the right direction." Alex commented. Vincent nodded slowly, trying to remember the map that was tucked safely away in his pack.

"What will we do with Oli? He can't climb the sides here. Do you think we should try looking for a way up further along so we can bring him?" Vincent suggested. Alex thought about it, staring at his faithful horse.

"That is probably a good idea. Maybe we will find a path or slope up. We can follow the sound of the water and one of us can fetch what we need, right?" They looked at each other.

"Right. Tomorrow then."