It wasn?t every day that your roommate came home covered in blood and nothing else. Nor was it every day that you walked in on your best friend and your roommate on their knees of your home, scrubbing the blood stains out of your carpet. But, as Levi was soon to find out, every day with Quinn was a new experience. An elk had been killed and that explained the blood. Quinn had killed it with his teeth and claws. That explained the nakedness.

Once the mess was cleaned up, the three friends headed out to eat. They didn?t make it to Quinn?s truck so easily. Keirra was up to no good and had pulverized the both of them with snowballs before they climbed into the truck soaking wet, shivering and dripping on the leather seats. The heater was blasting and between the warmth of the heated seat and the exhaustion of playing in the snow, Kierra soon fell asleep.

Adjusting his mirror he looked in the back and then eyed Levi looking over his shoulder. A light laugh and he looked back to Levi. "She tuckered herself out." He moved over to steal a kiss and then remembered where they were and quickly sat back in his own seat.

Everything had been so natural and free when they were within the confines of the RV that to suddenly be thrust in the semi public light, Levi felt like an idiot. Here was this gorgeous guy, wanting to show affection and he was being a wooden head. He sighed and offered a pained smile. "Sorry."

"I didn't come out for several years, there is no reason to be sorry. You're doing just fine." A smile and he looked back to Keirra again. "Should we bring her inside? Or take her to the penthouse? I wonder if Ger is looking for her." Quinn literally paid it no mind. Hand rested on the shifter as he looked between Keirra and Levi.

Levi's smile turned more genuine. And in the shadow of the dashboard, he lay his hand on top of Quinns, pressing his fingers to weave with his. His smile grew as he squeezed gently. "Let's take her home to Gerry," he said quietly. "And then we pick up food to go."

"Awesome wanna call it in?" He offered his phone over to Levi with his free hand. Because you best believe the one occupied with Levi's was not going anywhere. Not letting go of his hand he shifted the truck into gear and drove off to the building where Ger and Keirra lived. Quinn remembered it because, it was so close to the Inn. Huge shock that's where Gerry bought the new place.

Quinn was nearly completely out of his seat, he pushed the center console up. Optional third seat in the front, yup he was glad now and slid over to Levi. The sound of their hearts pounding filled the cab of the truck as fingers found Levi's tshirt and grabbed a fist full of it. There was nothing else in the world at the moment.

When Quinn slid over, Levi had to adjust and lean so that his shirt could be removed without a struggle. When it was evident that the kiss would have to be broken again, he pulled his head back and stared into Quinn's eyes. "We shouldn't," he mumbled and reached to pull Quinn's shirt up. "But God, I want to."

Quinn had absolutely no intention of pulling Levi's shirt off and when finally there was a break he spoke in such a way where it was very clear that he was not mixing words. "You're not the kind of man that I fuck in some alley in my truck." Backs of fingers brushed against the prickle of stubble on Levi's cheek. "I hope you understand that, you are worth far more than allow our first time to be anything less than amazing." And with that Quinn adjusted himself slightly and went back to his own seat. Throwing the truck into drive he pulled out and towards the market. Apparently with his hazards on because Levi was a pro at pushing buttons on the truck as well.

Levi was panting and trying his best to listen to what Quinn had to say. Only when there was distance once again was he able to think coherently. Running a hand through his unruly ginger locks, he breathed out a harsh breath. "Finally alone, I'm pretty sure that it'll stay that way for a while."

"What do you mean stay that way a while?" It was a strange thing, they were all always together and Quinn was sort of getting used to it. He had spent a lot of time as a loner, and the company was nice, but he was now wondering if Levi had some other plan for them.

"Well, Keirra's in her own home, and nobody really bothers me in my RV. Besides, we're heading out of town tomorrow." He gave Quinn a hopeful look and reached for his hand. "That's if you want to come with me. The trail's set for next week and I've got some prep work that needs to be done."

"Ohhhh, we are going away." A laugh and he nodded before pulling up to the Deli. He apparently didn't need any instruction on getting to O'Dells. "Oh I see, a business trip. Where are we going?" He had to know what to pack. Quinn was not fond of being stuck somewhere without the proper attire.

"Oh...He's..." There was a moment where he tried to be tactful and then, there was Levi. "Sadie this is Levi. He's a friend of mine." There was no implication added to the word friend for obvious reason. "I believe that Dirk is probably at home with..." There was a pause and he thought it had been a rather interesting interaction he was almost certain Dirk had used the young Lycan's name. A shake of his head. "His boyfriend. Have they not come in? Probably holed up at the house. You know Dirk." A laugh and he was pulling a pair of twenties out of his pocket. "Can I have a dozen of the oatmeal cookies too?" Oh yeah this wasn't awkward at all.

Sadie had turned her face upwards, expectantly. If there had been a couple that she thought could make it, it was Dirk and Quinn. She looked over at Levi with a tepid smile. He wasn't Dirk and that was alright. "I'm sorry to hear that, Quinn," she said quietly and with a supportive smile. She turned then and smacked the sill of the window behind her. "Baker's dozen of the oatmeal, and this time the ones fresh from the oven!"

Levi waved, not sure exactly why he was getting that sort of smile, and he turned to continue his perusal of the photos on the wall. The last one was of a little girl, dark haired with big blue eyes being led by a man who seemed to be her father. There was the look of pride about him and the little girl's four little white teeth stood out in her gummy smile. It made Levi sigh and think of what might have been.

"They are very happy. They looked very much in love." He was smiling, which was almost surprising to any involved. The sigh caught Quinn?s attention and he watched over to Levi he was staring at the picture. He didn't say a word, what could he even say in public. Back to Sadie. "If I see Dirk again..." He was really sure that eventually it would happen. Hopefully it would be better this time than the last. "I'll let him know he better haul his ass in here. Can't forget our roots." Another hug for Sadie.

Sadie gave Quinn a hug and his order was up. There were two pastry boxes and a bag with sandwiches, apples and two large cups of raspberry tea. She hugged Quinn and then gave him a smile when she stepped away from him. "You do that. It's been a few years since I've seen the dirtbag and I've not had a decent manager since. Though, the delivery man is very good," she smiled wide and showed off the ring on her finger. The photo of the little girl was her daughter, Rosie.

Levi turned from the photos in time to see the tiny rock on the woman's finger and the food piled up on the counter. "I didn't order all of this."

A hearty laugh and he leaned in to gush over the ring. "It's amazing! You're getting married?! When you register you have to let me know." Eyes went to the packages and he pulled another bill from his wallet and set it down. "Around here the plates get bigger and bigger." He laughed and eyes Levi before he looked at all the boxes and bags. "Sadie it was amazing to see you, but we have to go destroy this breakfast!" Happily he pressed a kiss to her temple and clapped a hand on to Levi's shoulder. The go-to bro gesture.

Levi smiled. He didn't want Quinn dead either. And as they walked into the RV he reached to take the boxes from Quinn and set them onto the table. "It's good to have friends in high and low places."

The boxes were opened and Levi's mouth began to water. The heavenly scent of cinnamon rolls and oatmeal raisin cookies melded and surrounded the kitchen with yumminess. "Wow," he laughed. Where did he even start? "Well I couldn't be that knight in shining armor. I don't even know why I stepped into the roll except that it was expected of me. I think Rally and Pops thought it would bring peace to the valley if she and I were together." He shrugged and decided that a cinnamon roll needed to be tasted. "But from the get go, it was a struggle."

"A real life arranged relationship. Yeah I know all about that." Quinn had married the girl he was supposed to and had the children he was supposed to, inherited the business just like he was supposed to and made sure to step into his father's shoes right out of school. "I think you'd make a fantastic knight...Maybe just not to her." He popped open he OJ and despite his instinct, he did NOT drink right from the carafe. Instead he poured out two glasses and sat down grabbing a cookie. "I don't blame you for jumping ship with that one."

Levi sat down at the table and grabbed a napkin to set the roll down onto. "Yeah, but what am I doing, Quinn? Right from that to wrapped up with you. And you?" He looked up with a wry smile. "Are we right, Quinn? You must have had some hope when you came back that you could pick back up with him. And now that you can't, are you rebounding to me? Am I rebounding to you?" He picked at the roll and sighed. "I just don't want either of us to be hurt."

"I was well aware that he had moved on. The sire bond is a very strong one, I will always know how he is feeling, I will always be able to find him and, if he needs my help, I will always help him. But for years I've known he was done mourning." He was not rebounding, at least he was damn near certain he wasn't. "I can't answer if you are rebounding with me, but I can tell you if you want me to step back and see how you handle things on your own I have no issue with doing so."

"Of course I did. Actually I told her to tell me I was selfish, that this wasn't worth it. But she explained, that she wanted you happy, and she had never really seen you happy before." A frown at that as he was clearly destroying a cookie to crumbs onto the table in front of him before he slid to sit across from Levi. "I know what this is like Levi, I understand that I just came in here and steamrolled your life, that if I had stayed away you'd probably be complacent and wouldn't think once about being ostracized by your family. To be completely honest with you, to this moment, I feel like a complete asshole for bringing that into your home. But I am not sorry." It was strange to say but he was trying to be as honest as was possible.

Levi hung his head, ashamed. Keirra had never seen him happy? Had anyone ever? Well, yes. And the last few days had been the happiest he'd ever remembered since he learned that his dick was for more than peeing with. "You are a force to be reckoned with," he admitted with a smile and a shrug of his shoulders. "It was going to happen anyway. I mean, if not now, then when? It's just the timing that has me all... I don't know. Is it too soon after what happened with Billie?"

"Do you feel like it is?" He elaborated quickly before he could be answered prematurely. "And not what you THINK the answer should be, not what I want to hear. Not what the social norm, not what anyone else wants, just what you feel when you close your eyes. If your heart is ready it will tell you."

Now that was an easy question that took no time to respond to. "I was ready before she ran away from me. And she was always running from me. I think that's what hurt her the most, I stopped reacting to her theatrics."

"That's your answer then, you don't have to be so concerned with what you should be feeling. You're drowning out what your heart is trying to tell you. So, you tell me what you want and we will make it happen. No matter what it is." It was simple.

Levi reached across the table and took the biggest leap of faith he could ever remember. Quinn's hand was covered and as he gazed into those quicksilver eyes, he smiled. "I want you to stay."

"Then I'm going to stay." It was just that simple. There wasn't further prodding, there wasn't any sort of hesitation, because Levi's hands already contained the lycans heart and his feet had run off with it. A softening of features as Levi stopped him from his pressed assault on the poor cookie. "I guess that's settled then."

Levi smiled and pulled his hand back to let Quinn attack his cookie. "I guess it is," he chuckled. "Now about those pancakes. I'm starving!" He got up and pulled the bag open. There were two clam shell boxes, each loaded with pancakes, scrambled eggs, biscuits, sausages and a small bowl of grits. "Jesus, how many people did she think she was feeding?" He put one of the boxes in front of Quinn and laughed.

"Me." He laughed and rubbed the back of his neck before he leaned to peek at the box. Yup, that looked like breakfast and he got up and grabbed the other plate and went to find the plastic silverware before sliding back into his seat at the table. Now, Quinn eating was an interesting thing. He knew damn well how to eat properly, but, he was one of those people who didn't like to stop talking. So while he was chewing some pancake he spoke. "You know...If I am going to stay." Swallow and then sip of OJ before peering back at him. "I think, it is time I take you on a proper date..." Bite of sausage before he allowed himself to look pensive. "Not here though, maybe on our trip? Where are we going? I'll make reservations."

If the boy went to Jail, and the whole thing went to pot, Quinn would move out, and they would sneak around until Mark finally realized that he was truly trying to make Levi happy. A frown at having upset Levi and he shook his head. "Listen. We've got this. You said it yourself. There's nothing. And worst case, I will just pay the ransom for the tape, But I think there may be a bit more acceptance from Mark, if I do it without throwing my money around."

Levi was still frowning when they got to the butcher's stand. It had only taken a minute, the truck didn't even have time to get warm. "I know, but I hate that you're my dirty little secret. I hate hiding. I hate sneaking around and I hate second guessing my best friend. I don't have to be in this camp, we could go to Loiuse City and they'd never be the wiser. But I want him to know. I want him to know how happy I've been these last few days."

"I am not ready to just let you leave your family and start over somewhere. I know you think that he is going to lose it, and you are probably right, But I don't see him as the type to just write you off because you're different than the rest. I don't know if you noticed, you're already really different." He was speaking softly and then got out of the truck. He didn't care that he was Levi's secret, so he didn't make mention of that bit. Instead he rounded the truck and pulled away the tarp and grabbing the beast by the antlers he lifted him out of the truck bed and dragged it to the table. He was unsure if they needed him to clean it so they could cut it, he looked questioningly between the dead animal and Levi.

Levi sighed and shook his head. "I know that I'm different from all of them. But it's only because of their support that I am." He got out of the truck and while Quinn was handling the elk, Levi was rousing the butcher to get him to the table. The man was short and rotund, but the sight of the carcass being dragged his way had him grinning from ear to ear. Knife and sharpener were grabbed and rasped together.

"Just leave it, he'll take care of it," Levi waved it off and climbed back into the truck. He looked at the campsite and he definitely stood out as different. His RV was newer and cleaner than the others. He wore new clothes where Mark and most of the others lived off of second hand stores and consignment shops. Did he really belong here?

A nod to the man and he spoke. "I'll bring you others if you want, it's sort of my thing. Hunting. I'll try to bring you one killed a bit cleaner next time." A nod and he climbed back into the truck and reached over and grabbed a rag from the console to wipe the blood from himself.

"I know that Levi, what I am trying to explain though, is that they can accept that you are vastly different in that way because it makes you happy, why is this different?"