Joseph had been a roaring success, but like all roaring successes, it was a huge relief when the intense focus of a fourteen day run was over. The chorus had, as usual, decided to extend the last night well past the dropping of the curtain, spilling out of the Shanachie with hands grasping at significant others and poor unfortunate members of the crew who hadn't been quick enough to say no. One laughing, loudly chattering entity of actors, singers, and dancers too hyped up to sleep just yet descended on the nearest club to celebrate the end of their run and the promise of a couple of weeks off before the next round of rehearsals began.

Warned ahead of time that this was the plan, Dru has actually managed to dress in something that wasn't ridiculously baggy or too hot to dance in. No doubt Josh had been a little confused by the sight of her showing up to work in a dress earlier, but now it made perfect sense as they walked along with the rest of the group. She let out a low yelp of surprise as a long arm looped itself over her shoulders, another tall member of the chorus leaning down to kiss her cheek enthusiastically.

"Did good tonight, Judy," Claud informed her, grinning a little pointedly over her head at Josh as he hugged her very nearly off her feet before letting go. "Gonna get your groove on with me?"

Rumors had been circulating since opening night that Josh and Dru might be more than friends, but though the pair had been mostly inseparable, they had been discreet while in public, and it was hard to tell whether the rumors were true or just rumors. Though Josh was relieved that the run of Joseph was over, there was a certain amount of sadness that went along with the closing of a show, especially one that had been as successful and as much fun as this one had been. Still, he and Dru would have more time now to concentrate on their studies and spend some free time together, without the constant drain on their time and energy that went into the theater.

A night out to cut loose with cast and crew - most of whom were now friends - was just what Josh and Dru needed before turning their focus to matters of studies and state. Josh had planned on keeping his relationship with Dru to themselves, but now that Claud seemed to be trying to move in on his territory, he was reconsidering that plan. "Her name is Dru," Josh corrected his rival, trying to keep his jealousy under wraps.

"Dru!" Claud grinned down at the girl in question, who was wiping spittle off her face and trying not to laugh at him in case she hurt his feelings. "One syllable, like me. All the best people keep it simple, cutie." His hand lowered to pat her rear end, but that, at least, she saw coming.

Skipping out of the way, Dru dropped to walk on the other side of Josh, rolling her eyes at Claud. "Hands to yourself, Jacobsen."

The other actor laughed, and instead clapped Josh on the back - the gesture looked friendly, but there was a little more force there than was needed to be just a friendly touch. "Feisty, isn't she?"

Josh's gaze followed Dru as she moved around to the other side of him away from Claud, before turning back. He subtly reached for her hand, more for her sake than Claud's, who more than likely wouldn't notice. "If you only knew," Josh muttered back at the guy.

"Oh, I sense a story," Claud laughed, though there was an edge to the sound. Was he jealous, by any chance" As Dru's fingers curled into Josh's hand and she was drawn into conversation with Anette, he went on, fishing for details. "So you've hit that already, have you, Joshie boy' Reckon she'd go for an older man with a few things to teach her?"

Josh clenched his jaw and gritted his teeth, visibly bristling at Claud's continued remarks. The guy was really starting to get on his nerves. It didn't help when he addressed him in what Josh considered to be a condescending manner. "I reckon you're barking up the wrong tree. Why don't you go hit on someone closer to your own age? Maybe they can teach you some manners."

"Ooohoo, Pharaoh's got teeth, guys!" Claud, it seemed, wasn't going to let a little irritation get him down, but he wasn't stupid enough to goad Josh any further, releasing the other man's shoulder to rejoin others a little further ahead as they moved to enter the club.

Beside Josh, Dru squeezed his hand, glancing up with a faint smirk on her face. She hadn't heard what was said, but it seemed as though her boyfriend - and that word still made her grin like an idiot - was beginning to regret not announcing their relationship to the entire cast at the very first opportunity.

"Idiot," Josh hissed under his breath, narrowing his eyes as he watched the other man retreat, hoping he maintained his distance. There always seemed to be one jack*ss in the group, whether it was Tirisano or Rhy'Din. His gaze still watching the other man, he remarked quietly to Dru, "If he bothers you again, let me know. I'd like nothing better than to teach him a few manners." And he'd probably teach that lesson with both his fists.

"He's not really being a bother," she murmured back to Josh just as quietly, glancing toward Claud as the group settled into a line to get into the club. "You know he doesn't have a hope in hell of getting my attention."

"He seems to think otherwise," Josh replied quietly, still watching the man's back as they lined up to get into the club, starting to regret agreeing to come along, but if he hadn't, there was no telling what the guy might have said or done without Josh here to watch out for Dru.

"It isn't what he thinks that counts," she answered, taking advantage of the close knit shuffle to press her lips to the back of his hand swiftly. Thankfully, they weren't asked for ID, which could have been a little awkward, the bouncer just waving them both through along with the rest of the group. A spacious corner booth was quickly bartered for by the more flirtatious of the chorus girls, a place to put bags and jackets under the constant vigilance of whoever was sitting at the time, and a small Brownian motion took several of the group to the bar while others surveyed the dance floor.

"Trust me, Dru, I've seen guys like that before. Get a few drinks in him, and he's only going to get worse," Josh informed her, secretly promising to stick to her like glue. He appreciated the show of affection, but it didn't really do much to soothe his annoyance. He followed her inside, pausing a moment to survey their surroundings and see what groups formed.

Unfortunately for his peace of mind, Dru was naive enough not to know a bad egg when she saw one, appreciating his protectiveness but not really thinking it was particularly necessary. As he hung back, she dropped her bag and jacket with everyone else's, stretching her arms above her head as she contemplated getting a drink before heading out to dance.

Josh was generally one of the more popular among the group, which was probably why he'd been asked to come along, though Claud had set Josh's teeth on edge and ruined his mood. Josh kept his jacket on, at least for now, not really wanting to leave Dru alone, though he thought he should get them a couple of drinks. "Stay here with the girls, and I'll get us some drinks."

"Oh now, come on, cutie," Claud was complaining as Dru pushed his hands away from her for the umpteenth time. "You know you want it."

The little princess scowled up at him. "If I wanted it, I would ask for it," she informed him. "Please, Claud, just stop it."

Josh arrived on the dance floor just in time to hear Claud's complaint and Dru's reproval. He was hoping he wouldn't have to resort to violence, but he was equally determined to protect Dru and defend her against any and all threats and dangers, however great or small. "I believe the lady asked you to stop," he said as he came up beside Dru, unaware of Erwin behind him.

Claud's expression was not the friendliest when his eyes turned to Josh, one hand clamping around Dru's upper arm so she couldn't slip away while he was distracted. "She doesn't know what she wants," he informed Josh. "Go home, little boy, I've got this in hand." His friends started to square up at his back, and then abruptly decided it was Claud's problem.

All Erwin had done was raise his eyebrow, but then, no one wanted Erwin to raise his fists. The man was huge.

Josh was too focused on Dru and Claud to notice when the group of men dispersed behind Claud, nor did he notice that Erwin had his own back. All Josh knew was that Claud had one hand on Dru's arm and that Dru didn't look very happy about it. "I won't ask you again. Leave her alone," Josh warned in a voice that told the other man he wasn't going to back down and he wasn't going to take no for an answer.

"Josh ..." Whatever Dru might have said broke off in a soft gasp of pain as Claud shook her arm, his grip tightening enough to hurt her with that motion.

Too much to drink over the course of the day and not enough understanding of when he had crossed a line were riding the older man's brain, making it distinctly unlikely he was going to take a hint. He pulled himself up to his full height, glaring at Josh. "And who's going to make me?" he taunted the younger man a little foolishly. "Some jumped up mummy's boy from the arse end of nowhere?"

It wasn't the insult that finally broke Josh's grasp on his patience, but the gasp of pain from Dru. He'd warned the guy several times now, but it seemed he just couldn't take a hint. Well, maybe it was time to show them all what he was made of - that he wasn't some weak mama's boy who was afraid to stand up to bullies like Claud. He didn't bother to issue another warning before he lashed out with a fist that seemed to come out of nowhere and connect with the other man's chin. If he didn't have his attention before, he sure as hell should have it now.

The reaction was electric. A space cleared almost instantly around them as Claud's head snapped to the side under the force of the blow, his hand releasing Dru to come up fighting. As the princess found herself pulled bodily out of the way by Clora once again, Claud sent a fist of his own flying in Josh's direction, angry that the younger man had laid a hand on him at all.

Josh anticipated Claud's fist and ducked out of the way, younger and faster than the other man, not to mention sober. He didn't really want to get into a fight, but he'd warned him, and Claud had not listened to his warning. Most of it was about Dru and the way the other man was treating her, but if Josh were completely honest, there was a little jealousy and pride behind his anger, as well. Once he'd managed to avoid Claud's fist, he countered with a left, hooking it in toward the right side of the man's face, followed by a quick jab with his right. Josh didn't particularly like fighting, but a certain older brother had taught him how to defend himself against bullies, and Josh had taken his lessons seriously.

To make it even worse for Claud, he was half-cut and nowhere near as capable as Josh when it came to this sort of thing. He took both blows hard, stumbling backward into another group who were trying to avoid watching what was going on, and quite suddenly there was no space to move in. As the rest of the chorus piled onto the dance floor, Raven ducked into sight with a smirk, prodding at Josh. "Shoo, before the bouncers get here and he tells on you," she told him, nudging him toward Dru as Erwin - big, calm, intimidating Erwin - hooked his arms about the sunny woman's waist and started some rather serious looking grinding to the beat.

Josh shook out his left fist, which was aching painfully, and nodded his head at Raven. Claud was finished, and hopefully, he'd think twice before messing with Josh or Dru again. "Okay, thanks," he said, only then noticing Erwin step in from somewhere behind him. He glanced at Dru, unsure if she wanted to go with him or not, but not really wanting to leave her there to deal with Claud on her own. "You still want a ride home?"

Judging by the look on her face, Dru genuinely had no idea how to process what she had just witnessed. No one had ever personally fought for her honor before. With a gentle nudge from Clora, she blinked out of her surprise, taking Josh's left hand in both her own, hiding the rising redness from the eyes of the bouncers as they pushed through the crowd of dancers. "You bought me a drink, didn't you?" she managed finally, moving to draw him off the dance floor and to the shadowed booth that had been claimed for the use of their group when they had arrived.

"You didn't get a chance to drink it," he replied, though he took that as a yes. He nodded his thanks to Clora and reached for Dru's hand as they made their way through the crowd to fetch her bag and jacket from the pile in the booth that had been claimed by the chorus. He was glad he wouldn't have to deal with Claud at the theater the next morning. Hopefully, a few weeks off would give him time to cool off.

Her eyes strayed back to the dance floor, to the majority of their colleagues, to find a lot of eyes on them. Claud was glaring, though he had obviously been persuaded from dropping Josh in hot water with the bouncers. Dru bit her lip, and came to a decision. It wasn't worth keeping some things secret, if they were going to lead to misunderstandings like that one. She reached up and pulled Josh down to her, marking her territory as much as his with a toe-curling kiss.

To say the kiss took Josh by surprise was an understatement, right there in front of everyone who was watching, including Claud. From that moment on, there could be no mistake - Dru belonged to Josh and vice versa, officially putting to rest the rumors that had been circulating mainly among the chorus members regarding a possible relationship. For a moment, while his lips met hers, Josh forgot about the group of onlookers and that they were supposed to be keeping their relationship under wraps. So much for secrets.

Drawing back, she offered him a sweet smile that glowed with the softness of all the affection she felt for him. "Take me home," she murmured, for his ears only, her hand stroking his cheek before retreating to pick up her jacket and shrug into it.

"Yes, Majesty," he whispered back at her with a small smirk on his face. His fist was aching, but he was otherwise unscathed, and after that toe-curling kiss, he hardly felt the pain. He helped her into her jacket and waited for her to find her purse before taking her hand again and leading her toward the door. Unexpectedly, some late applause broke out behind them, mostly from the female members of the chorus.

She beamed at his echoing sentiment, nuzzling close for a brief moment before he spoke again. The surprise on her face was almost comical, swiftly covered by a fresh smile of relieved delight. "That's wonderful," she enthused quietly. "To know that we don't have to do this on our own."

He beamed a smile back at her, but a parking garage was no place to discuss their future when they had a warm cottage waiting for them back at Maple Grove. He wondered if he should tell her about the conversation he'd had with her sister, but he thought it would only cause her undue embarrassment. He had taken Lena's advice and bought some condoms, just in case, but he was just as happy to wait for their wedding night.

If he had mentioned it, he would have discovered that Lena had followed through on her threat to educate her little sister. Dru was very firmly on birth control, whether she needed to be or not, and she would just as soon never have that conversation with her big sister ever again, thank you very much. Accidents do happen, after all. Getting the little princess onto the bike was an experience in itself - her bag had to be strapped firmly in place, which meant that between Josh and the bag, Dru had a limited amount of space to maneuver herself in, not to mention a short skirted dress which obligingly slid up almost to her hips when she was finally settled behind him. The heat of her blush inside the helmet was inferno-like, but thankfully, he couldn't see it.

Though he might not notice the blush, he certainly couldn't help but notice the flash of thigh, and he wondered, not for the first time, whether he should trade the bike in for a form of transportation that was more practical, not to mention comfortable for the little princess. He'd bought the bike before they'd become a couple, after all, but he made no mention of it just yet. The ride home was uneventful, and he hoped that no one was waiting up for them or expecting them to arrive back just yet.

If anyone did spot them on their way back, they made nothing of it, allowing the young couple the privacy to get from the bike and into Josh's cottage on the estate without being interrupted or prevented. Dru was still blushing even once the door had closed, absolutely certain that Josh was going to think she was being a ridiculous flirt for the inadvertent flashing of her underwear that had gone on when she'd gotten off the bike.

He had noticed, but had been gentlemanly enough not to mention it, knowing she'd be embarrassed, even though there was a strong temptation to tease her. He didn't want to be anything like Claud. Once the bike was safely parked for the night, he led the way into the cottage, flicking a light on when they stepped inside. The cottage had already been comfortably furnished and in move-in condition; all he'd had to do was stock the kitchen and unpack his clothes to make it home.

"Make yourself at home," he told her as he shrugged off his jacket and tossed it over a chair. "I'm not sure what I've got in the kitchen, but I'm sure I can dig something up." Even if it was a couple of frozen dinners.

"It doesn't have to be much," she assured him, slipping her arms out of her own jacket. Some previously unknown inclination toward neatness made her pick his up and hang them both on the hooks by the door, shyly breathing in the smell of his jacket before stepping away from it. "It was a good show tonight, wasn't it?"

"It was a good night," he replied, and if the standing ovation from the crowd was anything to go by, the audience seemed to have agreed. He moved into the kitchen to search the cabinets and fridge for anything that could pass for a meal. He had gotten into the habit of grabbing most of his meals either at the university cafeteria or a cafe near the theater. There were the usual staples one finds in every kitchen, but there wasn't really anything there that would pass for dinnerfare. He frowned at the realization that they might after to order out, after all.

Dru smiled in relief, glad she'd read the audience right, and grateful that Josh didn't seem to have noticed that she was actually asking the question, rather than seeking agreement. A moment later, she appeared in the kitchen behind him on bare feet, her boots stacked neatly beside her bag by the door, moving to curl her arms about his waist from behind and bury her face between his shoulder blades for a long moment. When she spoke, it was very muffled. "I've never met anyone who smells as good as you do."

He hadn't heard her come up behind him, barefooted as she was. He paused a moment in his perusal of the meager contents of the refrigerator as he found her arms around his waist, her face pressed against his back. He chuckled a little at her remark, never having been told that before. Never having been told a lot of things before he'd met her. He'd certainly never heard "I love you? from a girl before, nor had anyone ever commented on what he smelled like. "That's a good thing, I guess," he said, wondering what it was he did that made her think he smelled so good. Showered on a regular basis, maybe?

"It's a very good thing." Lifting her face from his back, she loosened her grip to edge around him and under his arm, taking a look at the contents of his fridge herself. Perhaps it was odd, the way they could spend all day at the theater with barely a touch passing between them, yet the moment they were alone, Dru rarely let him move far from her side, showering him with unspoken affection in her innocent way. "What does the chef recommend?"

"Um..." he mumbled uncertainly, taking another look but not finding much in the way of a real meal. There was bread, milk, eggs, jam, yogurt, butter, and a bit of cheese. "I could make us some grilled cheese sandwiches," he suggested. That was about as close to a meal as they were likely to get, unless she wanted to break into the frozen pizza he had stashed in the freezer.

She blinked, looking up at him in surprise. "You can grill a cheese sandwich?" she asked him curiously, utterly bemused by this mental image. "Doesn't that rather set the bread on fire?"

He laughed, wondering if she'd ever had to cook for herself. "No, silly. It's toast with melted cheese in between!" He made a grab for the bread and butter and cheese slices. "I'll show you how."

Cooking was certainly not one of Dru's skills, though she knew how to make little delicacies like muffins and scones. It was one of the strange idiosyncracies of the nobility that a lady didn't cook, and a princess wasn't even supposed to know what a kitchen looked like. "Are you going to teach me something, Lord Roslae?" she teased him, reluctantly letting go so he could do what he intended.

"Even a princess can make grilled cheese sandwiches, Your Highness," he countered with a smirk. She was the only one who addressed him as Lord, in Rhy'Din at least, and though he was born to the title, it always made him feel a little awkward. He didn't really think of himself as any different than anyone else, despite his birthright. He set the sandwich fixings on the counter before digging a frying pan out of the cupboard and setting it on the stove. "Watch and learn," he told her as he set about preparing the sandwiches for grilling.

This elicited another giggle from her, more than happy to comply with that teasing suggestion. Setting the spatula down, she turned to ease her arms about his neck, rising high onto the very tips of her bare toes to touch her lips to his. All that ballet had paid off, it seemed.

He smiled into her kiss as her lips met his and reached around her, not only to circle his arms around her, but to keep an eye on the sandwiches so that they didn't burn. All it would take was a few minutes of negligence to ruin their handiwork.

Dru, too, didn't want the effort he'd put into teaching her something to go to waste, letting the kiss end sooner than she would have liked to lower back down onto her heels as her hands smoothed along his arms. "I've missed being alone with you," she admitted ruefully, her smile almost apologetic.

"I've missed you, too," he admitted. Though they'd seen each other nearly every day, the last few weeks had been too busy to spend much time alone together. Now that Joseph had closed, maybe that would change. "We have the rest of our lives, Dru," he reminded her gently, leaning close to touch a kiss to the tip of her nose before reaching around her to scoop up the sandwiches and set them onto a couple of plates.

"It won't be enough," she whispered back to him, offering just a glimpse of the way she thought of him, the way she thought of them. She wanted everything now, and she wanted everything to last forever. But first ....sandwiches. Drawing her hands away from him, she offered up a soft smile. "Where do you want me?"

"How can the rest of our lives not be enough?" he asked, turning the stove off before looking back at her, a smile curling his lips at the way she'd phrased her question. "Do you really want me to answer that?" he asked with a teasing twinkle in his eyes.

"I don't know, I just don't think I'll ever be ready to let you go," she confessed softly, slipping out of his way even as he turned to look back at her. She blinked at the tease in his voice, replaying her question in her mind, and abruptly blushed scarlet, giggling in embarrassment. "Answer it when we've finished eating."

"Dru, you don't have to let me go." He sighed, wondering if he should tell her more about the conversation he'd had with his father. She'd talked to her uncle, as well, but he had a feeling his name hadn't come up in that conversation. "We're going to be together, and that's all there is to it."

To be fair, until her uncle brought it up, she wasn't going to, not wanting to risk him recalling her to Tirisano just for falling in love. "I know we are," she promised Josh firmly. "That isn't what I meant."

"What did you mean, then?" he asked, taking up the plates and moving over to set them on the kitchen table before going to the fridge again to forage for something to go with the sandwiches. He ended up coming up with a jar of pickles and a carton of milk, along with a bag of potato chips that he'd been saving for a late night snack.

"I meant ....well ..." It was difficult to put into words exactly what she had meant. One lifetime with Josh didn't feel like it would ever be enough. Lingering by the counter, Dru fidgeted with her hair awkwardly, a rare outward sign of that uncertainty. "If I could spend every second of every day with you between now and the end of all time, that might be enough."

He set the remaining items on the table and moved over to the cupboards again to find a couple of glasses, but before he did that, he stopped in front of Dru, took hold of her hand, and drew it to his lips for a kiss. "You don't think you'd get sick of me?" he asked with a small teasing smirk.

"Never." Her hand curled into his, twisting to gently caress his cheek as she smiled back to him, warming under the easy affection they were beginning to grow used to from one another. Her fingertips brushed over his knuckles, her gaze dropping to the hand he had delivered punches with. "How does your hand feel now?"

His hand was starting to bruise, but it didn't look too bad. Hopefully, it didn't blow up like a balloon by morning. "I'm fine. It's not the first time I've gotten into a fight," he admitted, a mix of pride and shame in that statement. He flexed his fingers for her as if to prove his point. "How's your arm?" he asked, pulling away so that he could pull a couple of glasses out of the cupboard.

She shrugged, shaking her head. "A little sore," she admitted. She had a feeling he would be angry with her if she tried to say it didn't still ache, especially when he got a chance to look at the marks left behind on her slender limb. "You should soak your hand," she suggested. "It might help keep the swelling down."

"And you should ice your arm," he countered, knowing Claud had gotten a pretty good grip on her arm and had probably left some bruises. "Come on, Princess, before the sandwiches get cold," he told her, dropping a kiss against the top of her head before leading the way to the table and their throw-together dinner.

"I am not putting ice on my arm," she informed him stubbornly, smiling as he kissed her hair. Moving to follow him, she found a seat at the table, crossing her ankles and tucking her feet back beneath the chair demurely before sniffing the sandwich in front of her. "So you are supposed to eat these hot?"

He gaped at her from across the table where he was about to pour them each a glass of milk, since raspberry vodka hadn't worked out too well. "Don't tell me you've never had a grilled cheese sandwich!"

She leaned back from her inspection of the sandwich, blinking in surprise at his reaction to her innocent question, feeling keenly the familiar sense of being more than a little stupid when it came to the basics of everyday living. "Very well then, I won't."

Grilled cheese was not exactly gourmet fare, but it made for a quick, simple meal and was pretty popular among hungry college students. Josh frowned a little, hoping he hadn't embarrassed her. He hadn't realized she not only didn't know how to make one, but had never eaten one either. "First time for everything," he said with a warm smile as he finished filling their glasses and took a seat at the table.

"Everything?" Dru repeated, a flicker of an impish smile touching her lips as she took a sip from her glass, those soft brown eyes sparkling with innocently suggestive teasing as she turned his comment around on him with playful aplomb.

"Everything," he echoed, adding, "Eventually." He grabbed the jar of pickles and unscrewed the top before fishing one out. He smiled around the pickle before taking a bite, wondering what she was thinking.

She laughed at his addendum, taking a bite from her sandwich to avoid sharing what was going through her mind. He had implied, however obscurely, that there would be more firsts soon, which was a fun thing to think about, but she wasn't about to push her luck by asking outright. "Goodness ....this is very nice."

She nodded slowly, agreeing with him in her own way. "It is difficult to let people know how hard that is, though," she said thoughtfully. "We are more likely to be accused of complaining for complaining's sake, than have our views listened to objectively. And it is important to keep public opinion of us positive."

"That's where I come in, I think," he observed, picking up a chip and popping it into his mouth with an audible crunch. "We can discuss things with each other, help each other, lean on each other." He reached across the table to give her hand a light reassuring squeeze. "You don't have to be alone in this anymore." Not that she ever was, really. She had Xoren and her uncle and her aide and probably numerous other people who were ready and willing to help her in whatever way they could, but she was still ultimately alone in her decisions, in her life, until now.

She smiled faintly, her fingertips stroking against his palm beneath the curl of his hand. "There's no one I trust more than you to be honest with me," she told him fondly. "You may have to get used to being my sounding board when I'm trying to pluck up the courage to face Parliament."

"Once we're married, we'll be able to face Parliament together," he reminded her, but made no hint as to whether they should be married with or without Parliament's approval. Ideally, it would be better if they had approval, but either way, unless one of them got cold feet, it was inevitable.

Her smile was delighted with that prospect, and a little shy at the same time, genuinely pleased with the thought of marrying him and yet a little nervous of it, too. "I will still need courage to do it," she admitted. "Parliament intimidates me."

He leaned close and gave her hand another reassuring squeeze. "I'm not going anywhere, Dru," he reminded her. Though Parliament might be a scary prospect, it had not yet occurred to him that his training as an actor might serve him well on a different kind of stage in front of a different kind of audience.

And yet that had been exactly the point his father had been trying to make to him, that his ability to project one face to the world that watched would serve him far better than any in-depth training in politics or sciences. Dru knew it, but she didn't think to tell him, assuming he knew how good he was at hiding his real face from everyone around him. She breathed in a slow sigh of relief at his reminded reassurance, squeezing his hand once more before releasing him. "Then I have nothing to be afraid of."

"What was it Roosevelt said?" he mused, having to think back on his history lessons of Earth to recall the exact quotation. "There's nothing to fear but fear itself." Sure, it might sound a little trite, and it wasn't entirely true, but in this case, they really had very little to fear, at least, as far as Parliament was concerned.

She chuckled a little, remembering something similar that had been taught to her when she was small. "A life lived in fear is a life half-lived," she murmured, an impish cast to her smile. Brushing crumbs from her fingertips, she bit her lips thoughtfully. "I think I am only truly afraid of one thing."

He had a pretty good idea what the one thing might be, but didn't want to assume and thought it would be better for her if she admitted to that fear and spoke it aloud. "What's that?" he asked, clutching her hand tightly in his own to wordlessly remind her again that he wasn't going anywhere.

"Never having the courage to be with the people I love in the way that I want to be," she admitted to him, open and sincere, proving that trust she held in him. "I'm afraid of doing something, or not doing something, and driving you away."

He arched a brow, surprised by her admission, though it wasn't too far from his presumption. He was suddenly reminded of the warning he'd received from his father of this very thing - of not being open with his feelings and driving her away because of it. "Then let's promise each other never to do that. Let's always be open and honest with each other. No secrets, even if we think we're protecting each other with those secrets."

"No secrets." She smiled softly, relieved that he hadn't considered her admission childish or silly, but had taken that fear very seriously. Oh, there were other fears, but none that cut so deep as the one she had confessed to in the comfort of his presence. She glanced down at her empty plate. "That was very nice, thank you."

He shrugged, as if it wasn't a big deal, which it really wasn't. It was just a grilled cheese sandwich, after all. It was the conversation that had been important. "It's just a sandwich, Dru. If you....if you want, I'll teach you to make breakfast in the morning."

Her smile deepened, wondering if he really knew how much it meant to her that he was prepared to teach her things that most people took for granted as already known by the time they reached her age. "I would like that very much," she nodded sweetly, lifting her glass to finish the milk he had poured out for them both.

It was just one of many things he could teach her and that he was looking forward to teaching her. Other things - more important things - they'd learn together. "So would I," he replied, referring more to her staying the night than making breakfast, even if nothing happened between them. He was in no hurry; they were young and had the rest of their lives to learn each other.

"Will you teach me how to drive your bike, too?" Dru asked suddenly, that impish look on her face blossoming into true mischief. She didn't want to linger too much on the inevitable prospect of staying the night, knowing herself well enough to understand that she would either become nervous or perhaps start something she couldn't finish.

"Sure," he said with a smile, almost relieved that her question was not of a more personal nature. "But it's a little dark out for that now, don't you think?" he teased back, knowing she didn't mean right then and there.

"I am hardly dressed appropriately for crashing your bike, in any case," she agreed laughingly, moving to rise and begin clearing the table. There was a strange sort of freedom in being able to tidy and clean that she'd not experienced before she came to Rhy'Din, leaving her open to most chores that others hated performing.

There was a sort of freedom in being here alone with her and not under the scrutiny of her bodyguard, her aide, her uncle, or even his own father and brother. They were truly on their own here in Rhy'Din, responsible for themselves in nearly every way. "What would you like to do instead?" he asked, picking up his glass of milk to drain it as he got to his feet to help her clear the table and clean up the dishes. He figured a game of Never Have I was more than likely out of the question.

A playful smirk skittered across her face as she piled their plates together, touched with that endearing blush that always came whenever her mind wandered where it probably shouldn't. "I'd like you to answer the question I asked you before we ate," she told him cheerfully, lifting the plates to take them to the sink. "Where do you want me?"

His lips found her smile, warm and open and definitely ready to be kissed, her arms gently easing from their restriction at her back to curl about his neck, forgetting that she was wetter than he was. Being close to Josh, being with Josh in any way was wonderful, and his kisses were definitely becoming addictive. Tender and soft and all his, she rose onto her toes, pulling herself closer to him as he warmed her right to the roots of her hair.

He lost himself in that kiss, pouring everything he was feeling into the soft press of lips against hers, forgetting that she was wetter than him, some of that wetness soaking into his own clothes. For a moment, they were lost in time together; nothing else mattered or existed in the entire universe but the two of them, lost in time and lost in love.

And happy to be lost, too, as tentatively the soft lips beneath his began to gently part, daring to offer a deeper kiss than those she had shared with him before. That teasing, tingling warmth had begun again deep in her belly, a feeling that invited her and made her shy, a feeling she wanted to know better as her fingers combed through Josh's hair.

He was feeling that same warmth radiating through him, and though it was a different kind of feeling for him, he recognized it and knew it was desire, and though he wanted her, he didn't want to push her too quickly. Let it happen naturally, they'd agreed, but they'd also agreed to be honest, and Josh wasn't sure where one stopped and the other started. "Dru..." he whispered her name quietly, as if she was a goddess and he was worshiping at her feet.

Strange, how instinct and sensation can so quickly take over. What had begun as a gentle kiss was growing more fervent as her arms tightened around him, as he said her name in a voice that sent shivers down her spine in the best possible way. She wanted to be closer to him, to feel more, and yet there was frustratingly little she could do about it but whimper with charmingly sweet desire. "Josh ..." His name echoed hers, whispered with longing as she tried to fit ever more snugly into his arms.

He wasn't sure whether or not this should go farther, but at least for now, he was content to hold her close and kiss her and let her lead the way, or at least, follow her cues. It was tricky territory to tread, not knowing how far to go, not wanting her to feel rejected, but not wanting to take advantage either. "Dru, I-I want you, but..." He frowned down at her, gnawing at his lower lip worriedly.

She sighed with quiet frustration, falling back onto her heels as he drew back from her kiss, not even trying to hide the disappointment from her face. His worried frown met hers as she looked up at him. "Why does it have to happen all at once?" she asked quietly, though it was clear from her expression that she thought she was saying something rather stupid. Film and television had a lot to answer for. "Why can't we go along until we don't feel so comfortable anymore and draw back from there?"

"It doesn't," he replied, half-remembering the night they'd shared a bottle of blue vodka and had ended up half dressed in her bed. It had just happened then, but they'd both been drunk and feeling their way through it. Maybe that was the key - to just go with their feelings and see where they took them. "I just need to know what you want," he explained.

She blushed deeply, asked to vocalise her desires, and dropped her gaze to where her hand lay against his chest. "I-I want ..." There was no way he didn't feel her tremble as she made herself say it aloud. "I want you. I just ....don't know how far I can go yet."

"Okay, so we go slow," he reiterated again, partly for her and partly to remind himself. He was only slightly more experienced than she was where this was concerned, and this was one more thing they could learn together. He drew her hand to his lips and brushed a soft kiss against her knuckles, gentle and loving. "We'll learn together," he promised her quietly.

Reassured, she felt herself smile again, rising up onto her toes to gently nudge the tip of his nose with hers. "Perhaps we should go to bed," she suggested quietly, and then realised how that sounded. "I don't mean ....I mean ....Well, it's been a long day, and ..." There was that blush again. Bed had so many connotations now, she was definitely going to have trouble with it for a while.

The dishes could wait until morning, and he had to admit that both of their clothes were pretty soaked from their mischief. He wondered for a moment how far they might have gotten if she hadn't passed out on him that night, but it was probably better that way. He didn't want to take advantage of her and when something did happen between them, he wanted her to know and remember what was going on. He smiled, charmed by that blush that rose to her cheeks at the mention of bed. "We don't have to do anything, Dru. Just be close, if you want."

"I-I'd like that." She hadn't meant to imply anything by her suggestion that they should go to bed, having meant only that they both could do with sleeping. And the memory of what had happened last time was with her, the knowledge that neither one had made it to bed until the chilly small hours of the morning. Perhaps starting in comfort would make all the difference. She glanced down at herself, aware of how soggy she was. "May I borrow a shirt from you to sleep in?" she asked shyly. "I don't want to get your bed wet."

He looked down at them both, laughing a little when he realized he was nearly as wet as she was. He had no one to blame but himself for that. "I think that can be arranged," he told her regarding the shirt. She was so tiny, his shirts would be like nightgowns on her anyway. He tossed the dishtowel that he had slung over a shoulder onto the counter. "The dishes can wait until morning," he told her, wondering not for the first time if this was what life would be like once they were married. Or would they have servants to take care of their every need"

Guiltily, she glanced toward the sink where the dishes were soaking, realising that she had completely distracted them from cleaning up. "I will do them before breakfast," she promised him, raising her eyes to his once again. Her fingertips stroked against his damp shirt absently as she gazed into his eyes, quite content to stay right there for as long as he liked.

"It's not important. They're just dishes, Dru," he told her, lifting a hand to sweep a few chestnut strands from her face. "You tired?" he asked, wondering if she wanted to go to bed now, right this minute. Once they were there, they'd have to see what happened next.

"I don't feel tired," she admitted a little nervously. "I feel ....I feel agitated, restless. But I think, perhaps, that is because of ....of the desire I feel for you, overwhelming any need to sleep. I feel as though I could forgo sleep entirely if I could only feel this way with you for all time."

He would have suggested a bath to help them both relax, but that would require stripping down naked, and he wasn't sure either of them were quite ready for that yet. "Maybe you just need a massage," he suggested, though he wasn't really feeling tired himself. He understood what it was she was trying to say, as he felt that same tension inside himself, like a spring ready to snap, or a spark just turning to flame. Maybe if they could both relax, things would be easier. "Come on. Let's go to bed, then," he told her, taking her hand to lead the way out of the kitchen toward the stairs.

It took a little while for Dru to reappear, evidently taking advantage of the facilities to try and calm that nervous little flutter inside her before she braved his gaze once again. The shirt he'd given her was certainly voluminous enough to protect her modesty, hanging below the curve of her rear end. She was, however, already blushing when she stepped back into the bedroom, acutely aware that clutched in her hands was not just the soggy dress but also a slightly damp bra.

By the time she exited the bathroom, he had already turned off the lights and climbed into bed, feeling a strange mix of tension, apprehension, and excitement in the pit of his stomach, not unlike what he felt the first night of a performance, though there was something else there as well that he recognized as desire. He heard the bathroom door open and could just make out her shadowy form in the dim light cast from the window. "I'm over here," he called from the bed, not wanting to alarm her. "I can turn a light on if you want."

It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dimness in the bedroom, lingering in the doorway a moment longer to orient herself to his voice. "No, I can manage," she promised, hoping she wasn't about to embarrass herself and walk straight into something. She was a little relieved that it was dark, actually, moving carefully in the gloom to lay her dress and bra over the back of a chair to dry overnight before inching toward the bed. "Which side do you want me to get in on?"

"Um, the left," he replied, unsure if she would understand that he meant his left, not her left, but it didn't really matter, as he could easily slide over. He watched as she moved closer, a shadowy silhouette in the dim light. He could tell she had changed from her dress, his t-shirt hanging loosely about her slender form, but he couldn't tell whether she was wearing anything underneath it or not. He felt butterflies in his stomach again at the anticipation of sharing a bed with her, even if all they did was hold each other close in their sleep.

His answer made her hesitate as she attempted to work out which left he was talking about. She didn't pause long, however, too nervous to stay standing and too stubborn to run away, deciding to go with the side that was nearest to her and to hell with it. The sway of his t-shirt against her skin was a constant reminder that she was as close to naked as she'd ever been in someone else's presence, lighting her cheeks with a shy blush as she finally crawled under the covers with him. After a moment of simply lying there on her back, she turned her head toward him. "I arrived."

"You did. I'm proud of you," he said, a smile in his voice as he shifted beneath the cover of blankets to face her. "Are you okay?" he asked, not wanting her to feel pressured at all, though they both were obviously nervous.

Her laughter was quiet but sweetly genuine in the gloom, spurred on by the obvious nerves they both shared as she rolled onto her side to face him, tucking her hand beneath her cheek. "This may take a little getting used to," she confessed in a low voice. "I feel very exposed."

"What do you wear to bed when you're at home?" he asked, not so much curious as he was trying to make a point. He wanted her to feel as comfortable here as she did at home. After all, if they were going to be together, his home was her home and vice versa.

She bit her lip, feeling herself very slowly beginning to relax as she grew used to this new feeling. "At the palace, I didn't have much choice but to wear the pajamas they laid out for me," she told him quietly. "Here ....I usually wear a tank and panties." Even just saying panties in the warm darkness, lying so close to him, was enough to make her stomach clench with another bout of shy nerves, though she was sure he knew that was all she was wearing beneath her borrowed shirt.

"They laid pajamas out for you?" he echoed, brows arching upwards in the darkness. He couldn't imagine anyone doing that for him, not even back home in Roslae, not since his mother had died. His father hadn't been too soft on his sons, encouraging the boys to learn early on how to take care of themselves, but maybe it was different for a princess. "Dru, are you sure you're okay with this?" he asked, sensing her nerves, though she'd been the one to suggest staying the night.

"I am sure," she nodded, certain of that, inching a little closer as though to prove the point. Though she must seem to have been coddled in Itana, the truth was that the royal day was so full most of the time that it was something of a relief not to have to worry about what you were going to wear. Her fingertips gently traced his features in the darkness. "I want to stay."

"I want you to stay, too," he told her, curling his hand around hers before pressing her palm against his lips. He met her gaze in the darkness, eyes shining in the moonlight. There was something about the darkness that offered a sense of privacy, solitude, and security, allowing them to share things they might not in the light of day. "I know it sounds crazy, but I love you," he told her, not for the first or last time.

"It doesn't sound crazy," she whispered in the stillness, her smile audible even if he couldn't see it. "It sounds wonderful. I don't think I'll ever tire of hearing you say it. Because I love you, too." Daring to close the distance between them, she let her lips find his in the gloom, pouring her heart into a kiss that calmed the nerves holding her so stiffly beside him.

He smiled softly, deeply touched by the feelings they were shared there in the darkness. They were words he'd never said to anyone in a very long time, not since his mother had died; words he hadn't heard from anyone either, and though he knew his father and brother loved him, it was much different hearing it from Dru. He would never in a million years have imagined hearing those words from her or being so close to sharing a lifetime. He touched her face in the darkness, letting his fingers trail over her cheek and through her hair as his lips found hers again and again, each soft kiss sweeter than the last.

Each kiss they shared calmed the nerves that flared deep inside her, allowing the more familiar restlessness to come to light, that gentle burning of desire that was never going to go away entirely. She, too, had not been told she was loved since the death of her mother, knowing that her siblings here in Rhy'Din were wary of sharing the sentiment aloud in case it offended her in some way. But Josh was different. What she felt for him, what he felt for her, it was very different to the love she'd shared with her mother. It was vibrant and deep, immediate and constant, slowly growing in power as she embraced the emotion that had made itself so much a part of who and what she was. As they warmed to one another in the darkness, she slid ever closer, barely noticing the twisting rise of the shirt she wore above her hips as slowly those kisses grew more affectionate.

Despite those deepening kisses, he made no attempt to do more than kiss her, focusing his attention on her lips, on sharing what he was feeling with a simple embrace. Though he could no longer deny the heat that was slowly building inside him, he ignored it as much as he could so that he could focus on showing her what it felt like to be loved before he showed her what it felt like to be desired.