"Hello." She said, moving back a bit. For a quick moment she had sworn he was Gareth. She watched with a great amount of caution. Something about him made her feel angry. She didn't want to another another out burst so she kept to the quiet side, keeping up her act.

She glanced at Gareth's door and walked to just walk inside and hide from Gavin. After what had happened with Gareth she wasn't in the mood to chit chat. Really a nice spar sounded much more fun. She would have to remind Gareth to teach her some fighting. She tried not to laugh at the thought of someone actually agreeing to teach her to fight.

"My brother has left you all alone?" Gavin called to her, he really didn't care although it was enticing that she was there all alone. Even though she had insulted him prior, there was something about her that made him want her, maybe it was because Gareth had her. But it would be no effort to win her over along with his own wife, and then he'd have the ultimate choice, and the kingdom on top of it all.

"Did you leave that poor girl all alone or did she leave? Hm?" She curled her hands into fists. She glared at the poor guy, wondering if he was about to try to woo her over. Even through she was his brother's fiance. She moved back her bangs, showing her fierce glare. She wasn't about to let him make her a fool. "These twins just love their games." She rolled her eyes and started to pass him.

"I'm just taking a walk," he said cooly giving her a side glance, Gavin wouldn't give her the benefit of a doubt. Once she began to walk away he placed a hand on her arm holding her back, "Has my brother truly made me out to be this horrid person you seem to be saying I am?" Gavin made his look sincere, it wasn't the truth in the slightest, the only thing he wanted was to ruin this relationship Gareth had.

"Nope he doesn't even speak of you." She moved his hand from her and strolled into Gareth's room. She shut the door quietly and leaned against the door. She had fought back the urge to punch him and tell the truth but knew that could end up badly. She glanced around the room, figuring out it was empty. She stayed near the door until she was sure Gavin was gone. She was going to leave when she noticed Gareth.

Gavin watched as she walked away, she would be a tough one to get, but he was persistent and soon enough he would have her.

--

Gareth was fast asleep when Tatiana entered the room, he ended up developing a fever after all when he went outside with his wet hair, not really caring about the weather. He lay in the bed the blanket half off his body, his lower half covered, he lay on his stomach allowing his scars on his back to be seen clearly.

She moved closer, not thinking it over. She had seen the pile of clothing on the floor but it didn't fully register through her mind. She covered her mouth when she spotted the scars. One again another question popped into her mind, one she had to know. But that was for later, he looked feverish.

She frowned at him and shook her head. She quickly walked into the washroom and got a new cloth and dipped it in cold water. She couldn't believe it, he had really gotten a fever after all. She gently placed it on his forehead, trying her best not to wake him, she straightened up the blanket, covering his chest.

Gareth woke to a soft cold feeling on his forehead he rolled over, to feel something soft next to him. His eyes fluttered open in a frenzy, he yawned, and once his eyes focused he saw Tatiana. "You found me." he said with a weak smile. His voice was soft as he looked up at her, here she wanted to have time alone and somehow was back here with him again.

"You have a fever and this time I am not making it up." She said, crossing her arms. She sat on the edge of the bed. Her eyes lowered to the floor. "I came across your brother in the hall. That's why I ended up here. But it seems I was needed in here anyway." She said, peeking her slippers out from her gown. She looked away, resisting the urge to pull them off and walk around barefoot. She looked over at him and smiled. "Do you need anything?" She asked, placing her hand on top of his.

"It's just nice to have you here," he said in a daze moving closer to her, his hand rested on her softly. Gareth was quite dizzy and he was unsure of what to do he just looked at her through half closed eyes. "Just stay with me, that's all." his voice was quiet and lazy, he couldn't understand why he felt so helpless right now. A small smile was on his lips, "I was hoping you came to find me on your own."

Gareth wouldn't normally share this, but his mind was hazy and he wasn't really thinking anymore, the past while seemed like a blur.

She smiled and nodded. "I can do that. You need sleep though. So don't mind me." She said. She looked around the room and the down at him. She moved her legs onto the bed and curled up besides him, watching his eye lids flutter. She liked this side of him, but missed the fight. She adjusted the cloth and wiped a streak of water going down the side of his forehead. Tatiana had always been the one to take care of her younger brothers when they were ill, she was used to being motherly toward fever stricken people. She just couldn't believe Gareth was the one she would care for the rest of her life. The fact brought a smile to her face.

"You're smiling," he said softly, "Are you happy that I'm ill?" he let out a laugh which slowly turned to a cough, perhaps he was more sick than he thought. He curled up next to Tatiana for warmth completely forgetting he had no clothes on. He was just happy she was here, he had never expected her to get in bed with him, or take of him like this. His eyes became heavier by the second but he fought it, he wanted to enjoy laying next to her.

"No. Your...rather open when you are like this. It's nice." It hit her like a thousand stones. "Tell me about that portrait. Was that you that I pointed at?" She asked, shutting her own eyes and nuzzling her head into his side. He felt so warm. She was enjoying being so close without having to put on an act. She cracked open one eye to look at him. When she noticed he was trying to stay awake she knew she needed to stop talking in order for him to sleep. "Nevermind. Just rest. I won't leave."

Gareth smiled, she would never give that question up, it took a second but his body finally got a spurt of energy and he moved so he was now on top of her his hands on either side of her on the bed. "So you thought seeing as I was tired, you'd get me to speak." he said with a sly grin. These situations always excited him, and having her there with him in the bed made him feel better.

She looked up at him with tired eyes. "Yup, that's what I was going for. Did it work?" She asked. She yanked on his arm, trying to get him to lay back down. "You're over doing it."She said, reaching up and feeling his forehead, trying to get her mind off the the fact he was naked.

"I know my limits," he said simply not moving from where he was, his arms were strong even when he was tired, a grin was on his face. He didn't really realize he was naked and she wasn't he just enjoyed spending this time with her and was finally happy that he could show her that he did want her, and that was okay.

"Besides this is much more fun than sleeping, I already did that."

She chuckled. "Sleeping helps get rid of the fever and you still have it." She said, not bothering to move. She somehow enjoyed having him hover over her. She reached up and touched his cheek. Her sat up and gave him a kiss then laid back down and grinned.

Tatiana chuckled softly. "Do you need something? Water?" She asked. His skin didn't feel as hot but she was still worried about it. She wanted to make sure he was healthy and well enough to fight against her games and tricks. She covered her mouth as she yawned. She hadn't noticed how tired laying down made her.

"If you say so," he said smiling after she kissed him, that was exactly what he wanted. He watched as she yawned, "If you ask me, you look more tired than I am." Gareth leaned down to kiss her forehead, he really wanted her lips but he didn't want to scare her away.

He then rolled back over onto his back while stretching, "This will be a lazy day." he said through a yawn.

She nodded, snuggling up to his side. "I think you stole my energy." She said, resting her head on his shoulder. She enjoyed the slight tingling from where he kissed her forehead. She smiled and shivered. Tatiana felt so happy and comfortable with him. She could get used to lazy days, that was for sure. She moved the wet cloth back over his forehead.

Gareth laid silently for a bit letting her rest on him, it felt really nice. He could hear and feel her breathing so subtly and after getting so comfortable he couldn't take laying still anymore. She had finally accepted him, and there was nothing more he wanted to do than just kiss her right now, he could only hold back so long. He turned to her and pulled her close, more softly this time than the first and placed his lips on hers sweetly.

She rested one of her arms across his chest and enjoyed the kiss. She knew at that moment she was ready to become his wife and spend their evenings like such. She pulled back, taking a breath. She pulled the cloth off his head and sat up. "This needs to be wet." She said, wondering into the washroom.

She came back out and draped it back on his head. She laid back down and kissed him again. She couldn't get enough of him. He was perfect for her. He had a feisty side like her but was also kind and she adored his kisses.

Gareth was sad when she removed herself from the bed for a short while to dampen the cloth for his forehead once more. A smile was back on his face just before she kissed him a second time when she returned. When they broke he brushed some of the hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. He looked into her eyes, how did he find this in a woman picked at random, especially when they started off so shakily. "Thank-you..." he said softly unsure of what he did to deserve this.

She smiled and nodded. " Your welcome. Now rest. You should try to sleep this off. You'll worry everyone." She said, smiling at him. She felt like a mother taking care of a child. She looked up at him and tugged his blanket up, tucking it around his sides gently. "Do you need another blanket or something?" She asked.

Tatiana felt badly about him getting a fever but did enjoy taking care of him. She reached up, brushing his hair softly. She had never pictured herself with such a man. Let alone even falling in love. But this was worth it.

"No, no," he said feeling himself sweat, "I don't have any clothes on and I'm still overheating in this one blanket." he smiled up at her, he knew if he didn't do what she said Tatiana would only worry even more, and he didn't want her to feel so bad. "I guess I could go to sleep if you really want me to." he found himself giving into her once again, but it was hard when he was so dizzy and happy at the same time.

Tatiana looked at the pile of clothes and chuckled. " Alright. Maybe another cold bath later after you get some rest." She said, wrapping his arm around his chest. She leaned her body against his and laid her head on his chest. "If I am making too warm tell me." She said.

Before she knew she had fallen asleep, snuggled closely up to him as if she had done so many times and it was a normal. She breathed slowly, falling into a light sleep. She normally slept very lightly and was easy to wake.