In sharp contrast to Ryan's return to Atlanta, the day and night prior to his departure had been spent quietly in the company of Leo, Heather and Christian. They'd dined out, at Christian's demanded expense, at The Wisteria and spent a good portion of the rest of the evening sipping wine and laughing over the events that had made up Ryan's vacation. There were reminiscing of childhood embarrassments from both Ryan and Heather that had the entire group laughing. When Heather and Christian said good night and retired to Heather's bedroom, Ryan spent the rest of the evening and early morning hours in his own bedroom with Leo.

"Part of me doesn't want to go," he sighed. Tangled up with Leo in the sheets, Ryan bore the expression of a man well and truly sated. "I've had the best time," he smiled and traced Leo's jawline with the tip of his finger.

Leo was stretched out on his back, hands linked behind his head as he grinned up at the ceiling. His eyes turned to Ryan, feeling the gentle caress of a fingertip, and that grin softened. "Back at you," he murmured, ever so slightly drunk with the warmth that radiated from his Garabedian. "Look at it this way ... it won't be long before it's Christmas, and you'll be back for that. So will I. It's all good."

Ryan shifted to his side and propped up his head with the palm of his hand. "I'm not sure about Christmas," he frowned slightly. "There's always stuff going on at the Shanachie and then there's the pageants for the students. Maybe you could come to Rhy'din for Christmas?" It was a bona fide offer, but Ryan didn't put much emphasis on it. He didn't want Leo to feel like he was being pressed. "We'll figure it out, right?" Don't do it, Ryan. This has been too much fun for you to screw it up now.

Leo shrugged one shoulder. "Maybe," he offered, not entirely sure he wanted to make this a long-distance monogamous thing. Ryan had told him how his last relationship ended, and the last thing Leo wanted was to force more guilt on the guy just for following through on what he wanted. "It all depends on what my mom and Neil decide they're doing for the holidays. Dawn takes care of herself, but I'll probably drop in on her regardless." He twisted to look down at Ryan, vaguely bemused. "Where the hell is Rhy'Din, anyway?"

Well that was definitely the elephant in the room and Ryan wasn't sure he wanted to talk about being monogamous. It's not that he didn't want that sort of relationship with Leo, he was terrified that if he broached the subject that he'd ruin everything that they've built up so far. Instead, he went the safe route and replied to Leo's question with a soft laugh. "Nobody really knows where Rhy'din is. Some say it's over the rainbow, others say that it's through the rabbit's hole. All that I really do know is that it's not anywhere on Earth. It's like on a plane of it's own, where different planes intersect somewhere in the galaxy, or something. It's just not on Earth," he shrugged. It wasn't something that he thought of much any longer. "I just wigged you out, didn't I?"

"Uh ... well, either I'm wigged out, or you're on something you didn't share," was Leo's diplomatic response to that, followed by a warm chuckle as he dropped one arm out from under his head to wrap about Ryan's shoulders. "Don't stress so much, man. This has been fun, and it'll be fun if it happens again. Pushing things just makes them hard work, and no one enjoys that."

With Leo's arm around his shoulder, Ryan scoot closer and bent his knee to rest his thigh across Leo's. "If?" He sighed and nodded his agreement. "Yeah, you're right. It has been fun, hasn't it?" Ryan hadn't realized that the two lettered question and slipped from his tired lips. "I think you'd have fun in Rhy'din, once you get used to the dragons and were people," he chuckled, but it sounded a bit strained. Ryan was a worrier, by nature, and if he admitted it to himself he'd fallen for Leo. He just wasn't willing to admit it to anybody, much less himself.

Leo, on the other hand, had heard the one word query, and it made him uncomfortable. He couldn't understand why some guys wanted to turn a good thing into a chore, rather than let it run its course and see if it wanted to be a long-term commitment. He rubbed his hand gently against Ryan's back, smiling faintly. "Dragons and were-people ... are you allowed to ride them, or are they just exhibits?"

"No, and no," Ryan laughed, more genuinely this time, relaxing as Leo gently stroked his back. "They live there, just like the Smiths and Jones here. They talk, eat, drink, play, do all of the normal things that you or I would do. Most of them are harmless, unless you get them angry." Sighing again, his eyes closed and he pressed a kiss to Leo's throat. "Once more, before we drop from exhaustion?" One more, for the road?

There was no guarantee that Leo was believing a word of what Ryan said, but he grinned and played along anyway. There was no room for arguments the night before a parting. As Ryan offered up the hope for one last go, he laughed aloud, rolling to set his lover beneath him once again. "All right," he agreed through a smirk. "I just hope you're not planning on riding any motorcycles for the next couple of days ..."

As it turned out, once more hand turned into twice that evening and once more before they climbed out of bed the next morning. Ryan was good and sore, and a very happy man. Things will work out if they're supposed to. He convinced himself as he showered and got dressed for the day. When he stepped out of the bathroom, he was already dressed in a pair of straight leg jeans and a maroon button down shirt that was not yet buttoned and would definitely not be tucked in. "You know," he spoke as he began to pack up his duffel with his rolled up clothes, "you've given me a ton of wet dream and jerk off material." I'm going to miss you.

As he packed, Leo was making the bed, keeping his hands busy as he watched Ryan preparing to go. "You've got my number," he pointed out with a mild grin. "Don't forget phone sex, man. It does in a pinch." He chuckled, but there was an odd pang in his chest he hadn't been expecting. I'm going to miss him. Still, he ascribed to his own philosophy - if it was going to happen, it would happen. And he had his own work to go back to. "Don't forget, either, you promised to send me some of your tracks."

"Works both ways," he latched up his duffel and turned to Leo with a grin on his face. "Our cell phone bills are going to be astronomical!" Done with his packing, he strode over to Leo and placed his hands upon his hips. "Soon as I get back, they'll be uploaded. Promise." Ryan's voice had gone softer as he gazed into Leo's eyes. His smile faded under the pressure of having to say good bye. "And the pictures, too." Lifting his chin, he placed a soft, chaste kiss to Leo's lips. "I know you don't want to hear it, but I'm really going to miss you." He ducked his head, tucking it under Leo's chin to hide his face as he made that confession.

Feeling just a little awkward in the face of that confession, Leo hugged Ryan to his chest, pressing a new kiss against his forehead. "I'll miss you, too," he admitted, squeezing Ryan gently. "But work calls, and we're going to different states. I'll see you in a few months, no matter what. Okay?"

"Most definitely," Ryan breathed out and peeked out of his hiding spot with a shy smile. Without even knowing it, Leo had just reassured him. "Come on, ya lug. Time to say good bye to Otter and Mr. Moneybags," he chuckled a little bitterly. Not letting go, he moved his hands to the small of Leo's back and gave him a good and proper see you later kind of kiss.

Chuckling once again, Leo leaned into that kiss, his hands gentle as they framed Ryan's cheeks. He wasn't conscious of it, but he made that kiss as unforgettable as he could possibly manage, some part of his psyche wanting to imprint himself so indelibly on Ryan's mind and body that he wouldn't be able to forget him while he was in his far off place of work. "You be safe," he told him quietly, breathing out slow and hot as he drew back.

Whoa, don't let this end, don't let this end... But, of course, it did. Ryan's chest was heaving and the emotion was raw in his eyes in the moments following that unforgettable kiss. "You, too," he breathed out raggedly. Walk away before you can't. Taking a deep, calming breath, he stepped back and out of Leo's arms. He turned quickly, to keep Leo from seeing the brightness of his baby blues with unshed tears. Grabbing his duffel, he made his way to the door. By the time he'd gotten there, he was under control once again and held the door open to allow Leo to exit first.

One eye offered Ryan a wink as he pulled away, given a chance to walk ahead and compose himself before the sappy man looked him in the eye again. The exit from the bedroom was made hastily, though it was complicated a little by the sudden yell from below. "Hey, Ry! Pull your d!ck out of Leo's @ss and come and eat breakfast! I cooked!"

So much for tender moments, Ryan rolled his eyes. He closed his bedroom door and followed Leo downstairs and to the breakfast nook. "You didn't put arsenic or Bella Donna in it, did you?" Ryan teased her as he set the duffel off to the side. He wasn't angry or upset with his kid sister; in fact, he was relieved by her injection of her own unique form of comedy.

Christian had been setting the table (imagine that!) when Ryan and Leo appeared. He gave the guys both a nod before continuing his play at domesticity. "Forks on the left?" he teased.



It was once in a blue moon when Heather actually exercise her ability at the stove, but when she did, the diners were usually guaranteed something edible at the very least. This morning, it was a full cooked breakfast, served up onto four plates from the pan as she pranced around in what looked like Christian's shirt from the day before and hopefully panties. "Mornin', dudes," she greeted the lovebirds as they emerged from the nest, snickering at Christian's tease. "And no, for your information, this is something I can actually cook!"

Leo snorted at the morning greeting, thumping down at the table without much of an answer. He wasn't a big talker at the best of times, and when Ryan's sister was dancing around barely clothed definitely wasn't the best of times.

Ryan laughed and smooched his sister's cheek before sitting down at the table next to Leo. "Nice shirt," he smirked at her and Christian, both. "So, what's on the menu, oh sister of mine?" Just for the reassurance, Ryan scoot his foot until the toe of his shoe was touching Leo's.

Christian snorted his laugh and went to fetch the glasses from the cupboard. "You know Heather, can't take her anywhere." He was in a decidedly good mood that morning. Placing the glasses onto the table, he sat down to open the bottle of champagne for the mimosas.

"Sausage, bacon, grits, egg, pancakes," Heather reeled off cheerfully, dropping the pan into the sink as her brother kissed her cheek. Taking up two plates, she turned to place them onto the table in front of the gents already there, and took advantage of Christian's turned back to goose him as she turned back for the other two. "Hey, Leo. Get any sleep last night?"

Leo laughed aloud at the cheeky by-play Heather seemed to wrap around herself, tapping the toe of his shoe against Ryan's to reassure him with a flicker of a smirk. "I wouldn't take her anywhere until she refines her definition of fully dressed, if she was mine," he chuckled, sticking his tongue out at the girl in question as she sat down. "I slept good, thanks. Even managed to sleep through you two shaking the foundations."

Ryan shouldn't have been surprised that Heather had gone through the trouble of fixing all of his favorite things. But, he was, and pleasantly so. "Oh man," his eyes got huge as he picked up fork and knife and began to dig in. The first bite was forked into his mouth and he groaned with pleasure. "So good." He stopped what he was doing when he realized nobody else had even picked up their forks yet. Glancing around, he offered a wink to Leo's subtle tap of his toe. And then pride an admiration shone in his eyes as he chuckled at Leo's answer. "Ear plugs work great, don't they babe?" he continued the tease.

Christian poured the drinks and distributed them about the table. "What can I say, she's a screamer," completely dead pan. "And I used to think she was loud," he glanced over at the two gentlemen sitting across from him. "Until you two shattered the windows."

"I'm not sure thighs count as ear plugs, man," Leo couldn't resist as his counter to Ryan's continuation of the tease, as enthusiastic about digging into the food in front of him as his lover was. "Oh wow ... Heather, if I could convert, I'd marry you."

Giggling at the by-play around the table, Heather grinned, taking up her glass as Christian finally sat down with them. "The foundations will never be the same again," she giggled, lifting her glass to her brother. "Safe journey and come home soon."

"Close enough," he air kissed Leo, then brought his own glass up to touch it to his sister's. "Don't miss me too much," he grinned. Ryan was soaking this all up because he knew that within the space of a few hours, he'd be back to Rhy'din and work. He kept that thought as far back in his mind as he could while he ate.

"She'll have to divorce me, first," Christian smiled blandly as he sipped his drink. Settling his glass to the table, he finally picked up his fork and began to eat. "Mmm, very good," he murmured around a mouthful of bacon and eggs.

"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence, guys," Heather laughed as she set her glass down to start eating. "Anyone would think you were all expecting it would be gross!"

"As the nights get colder, I'll miss my thigh-high ear muffs more and more," Leo promised Ryan around a mouthful, dissolving into silence as he shoveled the food into his mouth greedily. Who would have thought Ryan's little sister was such a good cook?

"Well, there is a reason why we call you Otter," Ryan grinned and then had to cover his mouth to keep from spitting his food across the table at Leo's lament. "Not as much as the thigh high ear muffs are going to miss you," he gushed playfully. Reaching out, he gently squeezed Leo's wrist before plunging his fork back into the messy pile of mixed up bacon, sausage, eggs and grits.

Christian's brow rose at Ryan's not so subtle hint behind his bizarre nickname for Heather. "I knew your cooking would be heavenly, baby." His smile was warm and gentle and he canted his head. "Eat up, you'll need your strength, later."

"Ah, the dreaded mother visit," Heather chuckled softly, tilting her leg until her foot rested in Christian's lap. "If she doesn't cancel again." She'd canceled three times already, apparently too busy to meet Christian's girlfriend, but Heather had a feeling the woman was just annoyed that Christian was dating someone she hadn't vetted first.

Choking on his mouthful of food, Leo covered his mouth as he laughed, rolling his eyes at Ryan. "Man, you seriously need to learn table manners," he chuckled, shaking his head with a grin. "Your mission for next time ... learn not to make me choke on my food."

Sitting back so Heather's foot wouldn't strike the table, Christian put down his silverware to take her foot between his hands and rub. "She won't. She doesn't know we're coming," he smirked. It was the only way to pin down his mother to start making things more official. "Don't worry, babe. She'll love you." He smiled then and glanced over at Ryan and Leo. "Better than choking on something else?" he smiled blandly.

"Tit for tat, babe," Ryan grinned and then sat back. He'd had his fill and completely cleared his plate. "You sure it's a good thing to go surprising your mother like that? I mean, she could be getting an avocado facial or something and disown you for embarrassing her." Ryan hoped that wasn't the case, for Heather.

"At the dinner table? Sure!" Leo laughed, nodding to Christian. He approved of the man, despite the interestingly sparse press he got, though he was glad it wasn't his sister dating Atlanta's greatest bachelor. "And definitely better than choking on that in front of family, right?"

Licking her lips, Heather leaned back in her own seat. She ate as fast as Ryan did, inhaling her food until the plate was clean, and happy to be involved in something that was close to being a normal family ritual for once. She groaned happily as Christian rubbed her foot, beaming. "Hell, if she's getting a facial, I'll join her!"

Christian pressed his thumbs into the arch of her foot and smiled. "Your friends are incorrigible," he shot an amused look over at Leo. "And, see, my girl has a back up plan for everything. She's a genius," he turned that smile back to Heather.

"Leo!" Ryan sputtered his drink and set it down quickly. "I can drop trou right this second if you really must insist. Sincerely!" he laughed out loud. This had to be the best send off he'd ever had.

"Nope, you can go off with a limp," Leo told Ryan cheerfully, glancing at his watch. "Man, if you're gonna catch that bus, you're gonna have to scoot." He didn't like saying it, but unfortunately, it had to be said. Not that Ryan was actually catching a bus. Leo still wasn't sure he believed in the whole Rhy'Din thing.

"I'm a genius at getting what I want, that's true," Heather snickered to Christian, sliding her foot out of his lap to lean over and kiss him fondly. "Hey, Ry? You have to send me pictures of that fashion show. No getting out of it."

"That is very true," Christian murmured as he was being kissed. His arm going around Heather to keep her by his side when it ended. "Have me wrapped around your little finger," he admitted happily. He knew that time was growing short and that emotions were about to get a bit choppy for at least two of the people sitting at the table.

Ryan's smile faded with Leo's two minute warning. "Alright, alright, since I'm being kicked out of my own house," he rolled his eyes and sighed dramatically, trying to be funny. Lifting from his chair, he stepped away to grab his duffel. He only paused a moment before turning to slowly walk towards the front door. A car outside honked it's horn to let him know that his ride had arrived.

Heather wasn't going to let him go without a proper goodbye, though. Despite having significant others sitting at the table, she pulled away from Christian, pushing up from her chair to run after her brother. "Dude, you can't go without saying goodbye!" His little sister shoved herself into Ryan's arms, hugging him tightly, declaring louder than any words might manage that she was going to miss him terribly while he was gone again.

Three, two, one, impact! Ryan smirked, throwing his arms around his sister to hug her tightly. "Couldn't go without good bye, Otter," he murmured into her hair as he kissed the top of her head. He squeezed her tightly, "Mmmmngh. Gonna miss you." A single tear trekked down his cheek to the top of her head and he sniffled. "But I'll be back and you do know the way," he pointed out, pulling himself back together.

He wasn't the only one a little tearful at the goodbye, though she knew as well as he did the way to Rhy'Din and back again. Sniffling herself, Heather drew back when Ryan did, forcing a smile to send him on his way with. "You better have lots of fun and keep me posted on all of it, you hear? I'll come and bully you into having a life if I have to."

When they stepped back, he brought up a hand to cradle the side of her face and he wiped her tears with his thumb. "Yes ma'am," he chuckled before bending to give her cheek a kiss. "Love you, Otter. Knock 'em dead at school and keep that one in line," he jerked his head towards Christian.

She pressed back into his arms, hugging her big brother tightly once more. "Love you, Ry," she murmured affectionately, squeezing him once more before stepping back, wrapping her arms around herself as she smiled for him again. "I'll send you a wedding invite," she teased impishly, absolutely certain that was a long way off if it was going to happen at all.

"Better be before ultrasounds," he joked. Taking one last look around, he let his eyes fall on Christian first, "take care of her," and then Leo. He smiled wryly, then back to his sister. "Better get before we're all in tears," he laughed, another tear rolling down his cheek. Picking up his duffel, he shouldered it and then pressed his hand to his mouth to throw a kiss to everybody in the room. A moment later, the door opened up and Ryan was gone.

(He had so much fun in Atlanta! Thanks so much to Heather and Leo's player!)