>>“No, it’s no thing... I just...I don’t know. It wasn’t you. I just needed to sit up.”

Well, that didn't really sound convincing. Gawain smiled at the kiss on his cheek, but the rest of it... Twyla really sounded unsure. As if they'd never kissed before. All right, so there was a great deal of adrenaline and post-near-death-experience-emotions involved the last time they... most of the times they got passionate, but. Still.

>>“Is there something you need to tell me?”

Well, damn.

"Um..." Gawain looked at her carefully, wishing he could see more of her face in the dark and without her camo-blush. Was she just asking in general? Did she know something? How much did she know of the something she probably didn't know? Should he answer? Should he try to talk his way around the issue?
He'd told her most of the stuff that had happened while she was away; mostof it, except the tiny little part about the psycho werewolf.

"Ummm..." he said, scratching the back of his neck; things were back to awkward, yay. "I don't know." he paused, trying to think; he failed. "I don't know if I should. I, um. Y'know, I took you out on a proper date an' all, I really don't wanna ruin it."

So he realised that all the Bloodfang stuff was important, huh? He was intentionally not telling her. At least that suspicion had been confirmed. Now all that was left was why Gawain hadn’t told her about any of--why she had to get an accidental confession from Emerald instead of from his own mouth. It was probably because he didn’t want to worry her, that was what everyone did. It was a noble gesture, she totally understood it and sometimes she sort of appreciated it deep down. But at the same time...

It’d be really nice if people trusted me with this stuff. I’m a big girl, I can almost handle it... Sure, she had a tendency to worry and to freak out--but those reactions didn’t last all that long, not really. He didn’t want to ruin their date, that was cute. She tried to give him her best smile to show him it was approved of. Her proverbial fangs were apparently sheathed, at least for the moment.

Personally, getting this out of the way would make this date all the better. Twyla didn’t say this, just decided to test a theory she’d discussed once with Nate--she hadn’t believed him at the time, but he’d been adamant in his belief that girls definitely had ‘feminine wiles’. It sort of felt wrong to do so...but at the same time...Twyla scooted closer to the boy and with some awkwardness and very little finesse she said: “You’re right, why ruin...er, this evening?” This was a giant fail cake and the blond could tell, but it didn’t stop her from unnaturally pressing her lips to Gawain’s neck several times, moving upwards before finding his lips.

Their chemistry was off. It was a pile of uncomfortable and Twyla was rolling around in it.

>>“You’re right, why ruin...er, this evening?”

Well, that didn't sound all that convincing either. Twyla scooted closer to him, and there was a look of confusion on his face as she started kissing his neck. Oooh boy. Just his luck. She starts doing stuff like that at th wrong time in the right place. Darn.
Did she do it on purpose? She was not so keen on kissing a moment ago. Gawain's brows furrowed as he closed his eyes and kissed her back for a few moments, the sensation taking the best of him before he pulled back.

"Twy, um..." he muttered, looking at her. The next word was likely to deliver the final blow to the date "... stop."
He sighed, pulling back and rubbing his forehead. Double damn.

"Look, I... there is something we didn't talk about, I guess." he said cautiously. All right, that was it, no way he could back out now. Might as well take the jump and get it over with. The date was screwed anyway. "I got into some trouble while you were away, and I... um, it might come back to haunt. I mean, not anytime soon, hopefully, but it might and... um. Ems would tell you I guess, but it might be better if I told you."

Or might not.

They both pretended it was normal, the way she was kissing him, for a moment. Eventually he pulled back and told her to stop. This was a blessing, she had no idea where she was going to go with the awkward kiss and no idea how to get out of it. Eyes that had been closed in some form of concentration opened to look across at the boy who was rubbing his forehead. In Gawain’s defense, he had no idea that she knew about any of what happened that summer and this was all very sudden. The blond looked down, feeling very guilty very quickly. She was definitely being unfair. Probably. Even if she didn’t quite want to admit it to herself.

And then...he started to speak, hesitantly, but the words were there. Twyla stole a peek at the boy before looking back down at her hands clutched awkward in her lap. ”...but it might be better if I told you.” Had she heard right? Instantly, brown eyes shot up to take in the expression in his hazel ones. Gawain’s face gave it all away, he was nervous to tell her but they were about to talk about the one thing that had been worming a hole in her brain ever since Emerald let it slip that day outside.

A smile broke out of her previously strained face. Twyla threw her arms around the boy, and this time she wasn’t being sneaky or uncomfortable about it. Burying her head in his chest, she mumbled in a tone full of relief: “Ems already told me about Bloodfang, on accident. I just wish you guys would tell me these things sooner...” She wrapped herself around his neck and wormed her way closer, her voice muffled by his clothing. “I just needed you to tell me--at least that is happened.” It might have been hard to hear the emphasis on ‘needed’, but it was there.

Gawain was confused beyond measure now. One moment she's kissing him, and then she is not, and then she is, and then it gets all awkward, and he tells her he screwed up, and then she's hugging him.
Gawain blinked, feeling the tension leave her as she snuggled closer. She didn't feel uncomfortable anymore; if anything, she felt relieved. The young knight gave up with a sigh, not even trying to makesense of all this anymore. Wrapping his arms around her, he held her close.

>>“Ems already told me about Bloodfang, on accident. I just wish you guys would tell me these things sooner... I just needed you to tell me--at least that is happened.”

"She... did?"
I'm gonna kill Ems. Twice.
"I just..." he was starting to put the pieces together. It was a test, wasn't it. It had to be a test. She knew what happened, and she still asked... well, she didn't, really, she just coaxed him into confessing. A smile played on Gawain's lips as he hugged her close and pressed a kiss to her forehead. That was very clever.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner" he whispered "It just... I'm still mad because I screwed that up so bad, and I didn't want to drag you into it." he sighed "It feels like I keep messing things up all the time, and I really don't want to. I want peace and quiet, and normal dates." he chuckled softly "I don't know how many chances I get, and I don't wanna waste them."
It was nice, holding her without the awkwardness. It was easier to talk now, that the tension was gone.

"I've seen people get hurt, really bad, and..." he bit his lips "I didn't want you to be one of them. I want... I will keep you safe. You are... everything I have." he trailed off at the end, barely whispering the last words into her hair. He was not sure they were right, or if it was a good idea to say them out loud. They just came out before he could think about it.

At first Gawain seemed confused that Emerald had told her and he sounded a bit upset. He started to say something more and then he trailed off, seemingly realizing what his girlfriend had just done. At least she hoped he understood her. The boy pulled her closer and the blond decided that this would be as long of a hug as she could swing it as it was just so nice after being so far apart. The girl moved in as close as she could manage and sat and waited for one of them to say something.

It was very hard to hear the boy with him talking so quietly, but Twyla was pretty sure that she caught all the important things. It was sweet, sightly frustrating, and it made a strange gooey feeling bubble up in the pit of her stomach. She did her best not to think about it and let the boy finish his piece. She thought he was done and then he continued with something that she didn’t quite hear the end of. “Hmm...?” She murmured dreamily, letting his words sink in and enjoying him. It sounded more like a muffled ‘Mmmm’, but Twyla couldn’t tell that.

She sat with her head on his chest for a long moment before she stirred, pulling back a bit so she could look the boy in the face. “Look,” She started slowly. “I’d just appreciate some...” The word eluded her. “More like..er..talking between us. We both need to do the trust thing.” Mirror wasn’t the only one guilty of omitting important details on occasion, and Twyla could admit to that. Realizing what she’d just said she quickly added: “Not that I don’t trust you or that I think you don’t trust me--we just need talk-y, er...” A blush. “Do you know what I’m talking about at all?” Twyla gave up, dropping her head back to the safety of his chest.

>>“Look, I’d just appreciate some... More like..er..talking between us. We both need to do the trust thing. Not that I don’t trust you or that I think you don’t trust me--we just need talk-y, er... Do you know what I’m talking about at all?”

"Yeah." Gawain muttered, resting his chin on the top of her head. It was nice, holding her close like that. He wove his fingers into her hair, thinking about how to respond. He didn't really want to say anything; it didn't seem like a great idea tonight. Well, tough luck.

"I trust you, Twy" he sighed "And I promise I'll..." another sigh "... it's just, it's not easy to talk about things like that. It's not like... I don't think you can't handle it or anything." he added a little bit hurriedly "I know you can. I just wanted to keep you away from that. You know, so, there would be a little bit of peace and quiet every now and then, when we come home from saving the world." he chuckled a bit, kissing into her hair.

Home. Such a strange, elusive word.

Twyla shivered when there were hands tangled in her hair. There was a string of moments while neither of them said anything, they just sat there, she patiently sitting and pretending that she hadn’t just spoken a giant wad of word fail. Maybe her boyfriend was pretending too, or at least he was trying to make sense of what she was saying? Or maybe he was trying not to word fail himself? Or maybe he was trying not to laugh at her? Either option was plausible.

She smiled when he said that he wanted to have peace and quiet when they came home from world saving. Twyla also smiled at the kissing in her hair. “Well...” A long pause and a deep breath and then a sigh. “I think that we can make some peace and quiet--always. I promise.” Another long string of moments. “That’s what home is for.” Leaning back, she smiled up at Gawain.

“Take this, for example.” She gestured with her body at the tree house around them. “This is peace and quiet and home.” She almost continued with something cheesy and goopey and all too smooshy for Twyla’s taste, but she managed to refrain. “Seriously, Bloodfang or no.” The blond wormed her way up so she was closer to face level. And then she kissed him, and not because she was trying to manipulate something out of him, it wasn’t awkward. He thought they could save the word and that was reason enough.

>>“Well... I think that we can make some peace and quiet--always. I promise. That’s what home is for.”

He looked down at her in the moonlight; he could barely make out her face, although she seemed to be glowing in the dark. He still held her, and for what she said, he didn'r ever want to let her go.
Home.
I have a home.

>>“Take this, for example. This is peace and quiet and home. Seriously, Bloodfang or no.”

I have a home, and Twyla is kissing me.
The first real kiss they shared that night, it felt like he'd been waiting for it forever. With one hand still tangled in her hair, he pulled her closer, and let all the pent up emotions flow into the kiss.
Somehow, they always seemed to end up like this. Conversations turned awkwards, and oen of them was bound to screw up, there were all kinds of dangers, and things that were hard to talk about, and more than once they misunderstood each other... but after all that, they always ended up in each other's arms, and all was well with the world.
She was home.

Breaking the kiss to come up for air, he rested his forehead against hers; it was too dark to see her, so he didn't look. She was close enough.

"I love you, Twyla."

He'd said that once before. It was under different circumstances, and it came out all wrong and awkward, and neither of them were ready to talk about it. Right now, he was damn sure he was ready. And there was nothing to talk about.

This was how the world was supposed to be. It was supposed to be good and warm and close and full of everything. Kissing the Morris kid, when done correctly, could make her world balance out. Things fell back into place when they kissed and this time was no different. This was right. So right. It made Twyla giddy with the way she was feeling in that kiss. Nothing else mattered, nothing but him and her and how much they were being them.

Eventually, after she’d circled the earth and the moon twice and they both were running out of air they pulled apart. Gawain’s forehead rested on hers and she just breathed, taking in everything. Her blood was dancing in her veins and there were knots of excitement in her stomach as they came up for air. And then there were three words that had thrown her into a slight awkward panic the last time they were said. “I love you, Twyla.” It was different then, they were different and too new, maybe. Now...

A deep, contented sigh came from the blonde's lips. It was followed by a shaky breath and a hurried, panicked whisper. “I think I might love you too. There was panic this time too, but it was almost a thrill, almost a dangerous feat that she’d just blurted without thinking of it’s implications.

That wasn’t something you usually said on a first date.

>>“I think I might love you too."

That was Twyla Ashby for you. 'Think I might' and all. In romantic novels and movies it would have been a mood killer; but the way it was said, and the fact that she said it, was more than enough. Gawain's face lit up in a bright smile as he held her close with his hands framing her face, and planted kisses on her cheeks and her forehead and her nose, and pretty much everywhere, he couldn't really see in the dark. Most of them landed on her lips anyway.

"You think you might?" he muttered in a teasing voice, chuckling softly as he hugged her around her waist "Wow, Bubblegum, I feel so lucky now." he grinned, and he really did. He was allowed to kiss her and hold her, and might be in love with her. That was luck if he ever knew it.

Falling back onto the blankets, he pulled her down by the waist, and buried his face in her neck. The word came out somewhat muffled. "Are you cold?..."

Twyla’s heart was pounding like crazy. She felt like it was going to hammer it’s way out her chest as all the blood rushed to her head and a kick of adrenaline that didn’t help her shaky breath at all. The blond supposed for a moment that most people preferred some kind of concrete response to ‘I love you’, but it was obviously enough for the boy in front of her. Gawain began to kiss her all over her face. She was still too high from the unsteady statement to actually reciprocate any of the affection, but she gladly took it and smiled against his mouth when it randomly found hers in the dark.

She didn’t respond to the teasing, just took it and fell into the hug. Regardless of anything awkward or anything negative discussed that evening it was still probably filled with some of the best feelings that Twyla thought she could ever feel. She’d missed these feelings at camp--missed him and how he made her feel. It was soooo good to be back.

He told her he felt lucky, she replied with a soft: “Not as much as me.” Before she was suddenly pulled down onto the roof of the tree house. The boy’s words tickled her neck when he asked her if she was cold. If anything, Twyla was probably the complete opposite of cold--she was being cuddled and there were pleasant fireworks of excitement and gooey feeling exploding in her stomach, but she’d say so if it meant staying close to her boyfriend. “Mhmm,” She muttered, sneaking as close as possible to Gawain’s warmth.

Smiling against soft skin, Gawain rolled them over; the skin was everything but cold, but Twyla seemed eager to snuggle for more warmth anyway. He didn't really mind. It was hard not to get carried away while being so tangled up; closing his eyes he enjoyed the sensation for a few long moments and a few short kisses, before he leaned back to look at her.
This was all so much more he could hope for.

Sitting up, he gathered the blankets that were scattered all over the roof, and spread them out on top of each other until they were all over them and around them, creating a cozy little pocket of warmth. With that accomplished, he lay back down, pulling his girlfriend into a tight embrace, and kissed ber brow with a smile.

"I think we should live here." he mused with a contented sigh; it was eather cuddling, or fighting not to be carried away, and he chose the former, because they'd had enough awkward for the night. Probably for many more nights too. "I kinda like this roof. You could see the starts from here, you know."

Peace. Quiet. Home.

This was the best date Twyla Ashby had ever been on--she didn’t have much to compare it to, but it won hands down anyway. It’d be hard for anyone else to top that night. No matter how dysfunctional it might have seemed from the outside, she knew that what was normal for other people wasn’t even applicable to the two of them.


Twyla smiled to herself in their cocoon when Gawain suggested they live in the tree house. “Sure, the location is great, but the bathroom is small--and we’re definitely going to need to re-tile that kitchen.” A giggle escaped her lips before her mind went to thoughts of the future. These only lasted for a moment because the there and then was too good to daydream away.

Twyla snuggled closer with a contented sigh. This was great. Best. Date. Ever.