Returning

Title: Returning
Author: Fyre Faerie
Pairing: Hundam, Javey, Smitch
Summary: A band of gypsies are forced to return to a place that hold some wonderful and sad memories for them.
Archive: Sure, just drop me a note about where.
Rating: R (just 'cause I like the letter)
Status: done
Series/Sequel: I doubt it very seriously!
Disclaimer: I don't own them and am not affiliated with them... though if they're looking for a back scrubber/foot rubber I'm always up for the job. ;)
Warnings: AU and guess what folks... MPREG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! mwahahahahahahaha (sorry) I think that's it though
Authors notes: My thanks to my beta, Morgan.


Meanings of things through out the fic:
//...//: means thoughts
[1] Rom: one of the many names for the gypsy bands that traveled Europe.
[2] Dunduanne (pronounced: done-dwayne): Gaelic; a 100% completely made up keep/barony near the Britain-Scotland border.
[3] games-man: at every keep had a professional male who would hunt the game for the residence of the castle/keep.
[4]: Grandmother: in a lot of old world societies it is proper for a younger person to refer to an older/wise person as Grandmother or Grandfather.
[5]: Sorry, little joke. Ignore the silly stuff please.
[6]: Outer bailey: farthest piece of land incircled by the walls of the castle.
[7]: That's what their baby's name is.
[8]: Feather tick: it's a hand stuffed feather mattress. Very soft and very comfortable. I recomend them to everyone!
[9]: queue: low ponytail men wore a long time ago.

The whirling dance of the dark haired Rom[1] held the crowd entranced while the flute in the back ground. By the end of the strange and erotic dance most of the crowd was howling with pleasure and through any money they had to spare at the dancer, who laughed so gayly and bowed, absorbing their praise with joy alight on his features.
Once the crowd had fallen quiet the dancer held up his hand to silence the last of noise. "I would like to thank you for your kind offerings this night, gentle folk. My family and I have had vast amounts of pleasure playing for a town so open to the joys of our music and dancing. We shall hopefully return to this fair burg again one day." The male's soft voice held everyone's attention and when he spoke his last word with a bow the crowd erupted again.
With a final bow the male hurried out of view behind one of the closely parked wagons. Sighing and wiping his face on one of his loose sleeves as he leaned against his best friend's wagon. "Gods above us... I never get tired of this!" Davey whispered to himself as he held himself from bouncing in place.
"Davey?" a soft whisper from the wagon he leaned against made him turn his head and look back into the window by his side.
"Are you okay?" Davey asked as he turned and made his way up the fold out steps into the back of the wagon and knelt at his friend's bed side.
"I'm okay... Davey we have to... I have..." Adam cut off with a sigh as he laid his head back against the pillow under his head.
"What is it, Adam? Please tell me! You've been so sick for so long." Davey's joy from the night's performance left him as he stared at his pale friend. Adam hadn't left his wagon in over a moon and had been sick for many moons before that. He had been this way almost since... Davey cut himself off from those thoughts. He refused to thinking about that place and the people there.
"Davey I have to return to Dunduanne[2]." Adam whispered the one place that made Davey normally soft brown eyes harden and he turned his head away.
"Davey, I have to!" Adam's voice got a desperate tone as he sat up slightly and grasped Davey's arm.
Turning back to his friend, Davey stared at him and then glanced down to where the bed-ridden male had his hand over a growing pregnancy. "What is this?"
Adam flinched away and covered his stomach with both of his arms, turning his face away with tears attached to his eyelashes.
Davey shook off his shock and hurriedly gathered his friend to him. "I understand, Adam... It was your gamesman[3], wasn't it?"
Adam nodded as he moved enough to smile through his tears down at where his hand was rubbing over his growing child.
Nodding slightly, more to himself than to his distracted friend, Davey spoke. "I will inform the others we return to Britain, to Dunduanne... to your games-man." //to he who stole my soul and threw me aside like a broken bauble...//
"My thanks, brother-of-my-heart." Adam allowed Davey to hug him close for a moment before laying back down and smiled at Davey.
"Are you certain you can make this trip? By my figure you should have passed the forth moon. Will it be safe for you to travel that far?" Davey rested his hand over Adam's for a moment and smiled at the solid feel under his palm.
"Yes, we will be fine... I just need to return and tell him..." Adam had a soft worried tone to his voice and Davey shook his head.
"Don't think on it. He will be over joyed at your great news." Davey reassured him before rising and going out of the wagon.
Outside Davey started calling orders to the others in the band before Adam heard the things being gathered and then he felt the horses being tethered to the front of his wagon. A short time later the pregnant man was rocked to sleep by the movements of the wagon.
Davey slapped the horses that pulled Adam's wagon and as his right as the leader of their clan lead them back to the one place he had swore to himself he would never return to. Castle Dunduanne.
As his mind drifted, allowing the horses to guide for a short time following the river they had been near, Davey thought back and allowed the painful memories to flood his mind. The memories were less than the fond ones that most people attribute to meeting their soulmate, more he forced himself to remember because of the pain and hate they resurrected within him. They reminded him that love was only for the fortunate ones of which he was not a part.
Drifting, his mind took him back to his first time to the Castle of Dunduanne.

***** Part 1
Flashback: Four Months previous

Davey sat with Adam at the front of the wagon they were driving. They were stopped, just staring at the castle their clan had been invited to play at. Apparently it was the Baron's son's birthday.
"Is there a problem?" the call came from one of the elder women of the tribe who was on the wooden wagon right behind Davey's and Adam's.
"No, Grandmother[4]... it's just... this is the biggest place we've ever performed in. It's rather intimidating." Davey answered the wise-woman honestly, knowing that she would hear any lie he should happen to speak.
"You know your art well, young one... You have your father's wisdom & voice and your mother's beauty & grace. All will be well." the old woman told him before falling back to the silence that was normal for her.
Patting Davey on the arm, Adam gave the signal with a slap of the reigns across their horses' back, and the brightly colored Rom procession went the rest of the way to Castle Dunduanne.

****Present
Davey's mind snapped back into focus in the present as the horses wandered a touch too close to the river's edge they were following.
Grumbling under his breath he refused to let his mind drift back any more while he was driving. It put his brother-of-the-heart in danger and that was something he couldn't let happen.

***** Part 2
"My friend, you have the distant look again." the Baron said as he stood with his friend a top the highest walk of Castle Dunduanne.
"I can't help it." the smaller man sighed and looked longingly towards the sea, knowing that *he* was over there... somewhere.
"You miss him greatly."
"Yes, I do... Just as you miss Davey, though you deny it." Hunter said still looking towards the ocean and wondering where his gypsy was and how he was doing.
"I can't deny it anymore... For months now I have tried to convince myself otherwise, but no longer. Why did you allow me to chase away the most precious thing to ever come into my hands, Hunter?" Jade asked an d for the first time allowed his gaze to follow his friend's to the ocean, wondering about Davey.
"I didn't allow you to do anything. You were the Baron's son, now the Baron himself. I have no control over you or your actions." Hunter dismissed the question quickly with a glare.
"But, you are my friend! You could have said something... Anything to stop me." Jade turned his wet hazel eyes to Hunter who only shrugged.
"I did say something, but you were too set in you father's ways to stop and listen... And in doing so, broke both of our hearts. I'm going in... I have an early hunt to oversee. And you shouldn't stay out much longer or you'll catch your death." Hunter clapped his hand on Jade's back before walking away.
Jade stayed for a few moments more, looking at the ocean before following his friend inside out of the chill, his lost to memories.

*****
Flashback Four months previous

"Son, I have a surprise for your birthday."
Jade looked up from the papers he had been looking at. "Really? Thank you, Father."
"You will have entertainers at your birthday feast. They're very good from what I've heard." the Baron clasped his son's shoulder for a moment before walking away to continue with his business.
Sighing, Jade lowered his head back to the sheet of parchment he had eased out of his father's view. The paper was covered in little scribbled notes and pieces of music.
The baron's son sighed again and went back to work, trying to finish his newest piece of music.

***** Present

Jade made his way to the library where he had sat when he had received the greatest news of his life, even though he didn't know it at the time.
With a heavy heart he looked through his private papers until he found that sheet of music. Now the paper bore light pen strokes that stood out beside his heavy markings. //Davey's writing,// Jade thought, //was much like him. Very light and delicate, but always said something meaningful.//
Jade stroked his fingers over the parchment and allowed himself the joy of recalling everyone of the happy moments he had shared with Davey.

***** Part 3

Hunter dug through his trunk and smiled when he pulled out the shirt Adam had made for him. The light browns and dull greens stood out just walking around the manor, but for while he was hunting it was invaluable.
Brining the cloth to his face, Hunter rubbed his cheek against the soft fabric. "Great one above us, I miss you Adam!"
Hunter moved to sit on the window seat and fingered the shirt laying on his lap. The shirt, while reasonably new was getting very worn because he wore and held it so much.
It was the only think he had of Adam other than his memories.

****
Flashback Four Months previous

"Games-man!"
Hunter jumped from where he had been resting under a tree near a back entrance to the manor. "Yes, my liege?"
"I want you to escort the caravan of gypsies I've hired in through the main gates and into the southern court yard. Then show their to leader to the main hall. I'm trusting you to make certain they are safe to have my sons around."
Hunter bowed lowly and the took off at a fast walk leaving the Baron to his own work.
Hurrying to the stables, Hunter saddled his gelding and road out to the outer reaches of the keep.
At the first gate to the manor the sight of various brightly colored wagons and people made Hunter grin and ride closer.
Riding he watched as various men and women danced for the pleasure of the crowd that had gathered.
One in particular drew him. The tall male was moving in a way similar to the snake a charmer at court had commanded when Hunter had been a young child and traveled with Jade and Smith as a companion for the boys while at the King's court.
Hunter's breath stopped as the dancer drew out two long daggers and started flipping. Once the thin dancer had his rhythm with the daggers he began to twirl.
The deadly grace held Hunter's attention as the dancer continued to move.
At the end of the strangely erotic dance Hunter clapped and drew his horse closer when the dancer had put away the weapons from his dance.
"Well done! Would you be the leader of this caravan?" Hunter complimented as he slid down from his horse.
The dancer, wiping his face on his sleeve shook his head. "No, I am not the leader. He's over there." The dancer's light eyes made Hunter stare for a moment before looking to where he was pointing.
The long-haired man he was pointing to came over and smiled with a bow. "May I be of some assistance, sir?"
Out of respect for the leader of the Rom band, Hunter bowed as well before speaking. "I was sent here to guide you to where you can park your wagons."
The leader nodded and held out his hand with the same smile as before. "I'm Davey. This is my a member of my clan, Adam."
"I am called Hunter. On the average day I'm the games-man for Castle Dunduanne. But for now I am your guide." Hunter told him as he accepted his hand in a welcome gesture.
"You and Adam should get on well. He is the one who hunts for our band. Adam, take the lead wagon. I must talk with the elders. Follow the Games-man closely." Davey gestured the dagger dancer forward and then walked away, shouting order to the others in the caravan.
Hunter smiled at Adam as the pale eyed Rom dancer climbed onto the largest wagon and looked to the Games-man for guidance.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Adam. Please follow me." Hunter told him as he mounted his horse.
"A pleasure." Adam echoed then clicked his tongue to the horses and started them moving.
Hunter kept pace with the lead wagon and tried to come up with something to say. Finally he blurted out, "I enjoyed you dance."
The Rom glanced over and gave him a small smile. "Thank you."
The Games-man couldn't believe the giddy feeling that smile gave him. Grinning widely, Hunter continued to pace the wagon and just began to chat about various animals he had caught over the years.

***** Present
Hunter held the shirt tighter. In the single fortnight they had together Hunter and Adam had only been hunting twice. The first time Hunter had commented on the strange shirt Adam had wore. Once he had seen the oddly colored shirt's advantages in helping a man to blend in, Hunter had commented that he would like to find one. One their next hunt, which had happened shortly before the Rom band had left, Adam had presented him with a shirt like he had wanted.
Hunter smiled as he remember what else had happened on that second hunt. He wasn't certain how, but they had ended up making love that hunt. From early afternoon to the dawn of the next day, they had been together.
After Adam had been forced to leave, Hunter had prayed that he had become pregnant from one of their encounters where he had played to the submissive. Hunter had known in that case he would have been justified to run off after the Rom band and his love.
He had hoped, but it didn't come to pass. Fingering his shirt, he sighed and then confirmed a plan he had been thinking on for a while. As badly as he wished to stay and help Jade with his new position as Baron, he needed to be with Adam more.
As soon as he could, he would ask Jade to release him from his oath, and then he would go out and find Adam... and love him for the rest of their life.

***** Part 4
Adam allowed the rocking of the wagon to sooth him as he stroked his hands over his stomach. Inside of him he could just feel the tiny movements of his and Hunter's child. They brought so much happiness he want to yell for the joy of it, but he didn't. He had to conserve his strength for the rest of the journey.
His mind slowly drifted as he relaxed into a light doze, and in this doze his mind went back to the most wonderful and the most horrible of nights.

*****
Flashback Four Months previous

Adam giggled as Hunter lapped up the last of the custard from Adam's finger. Hunter sucked on his finger for a moment more before snuggling down beside him and setting the empty dish to one side. "How can I love you after a single fortnight?"
Adam's heart stuttered for a moment the he settled his cheek on Hunter's hair. "I don't know... Perhaps the same way I can love you after such a short amount of time?"
Hunter's head pulled out from under his chin and the games-man looked at him with wide, happy eyes. Just as he was moving in to steal a kiss the sound of the door flying open made them jump.
Adam launched himself to his feet as he realized that it was Fritch. The normally quiet, happy man who took care of the Rom clan's horses stood there shaking and sobbing holding his pants up while leaning against the door he had slammed behind him.
"Fritch... what's wrong? What's happened?" Adam moved slowly towards him, not certain what had gone on to cause such a fright in his friend.
Before Adam knew what to do, Fritch threw himself at Adam and wrapped himself around him. "Adam..."
"Shush... calm down... It's fine." Adam insisted as he noticed Hunter stand up and wrap a blanket around Adam and another one around Fritch who continued to cling.
When the frightened man had calmed down enough Adam lead him over to the bed and sat with him while Hunter dressed on the other side of the room, giving them room for some privacy. "What happened, Fritch?"
"The Baron... he... tried... Adam he tried to..." Fritch's eyes flooded again and he buried his face in Adam's shoulder, leaving the poor man still in the dark about what he was talking about.
Hunter, who had caught the last part sighed in disgust and came a little closer. Once Adam had shifted the crying man to sit on the bed without him, he walked over to his lover who drew him away from the crying man.
"I know what he speaks of." Hunter whispered into Adam's ear. Without waiting for Adam's permission to go on, Hunter did so. "He likes innocents... especially the young male ones."
Adam pale eyes grew dark and he frowned at Hunter. "Why didn't you tell me this before? We have a lot of people that old bastard could have harmed." Adam's angry whisper made Hunter wince.
"He hasn't done it in so long that I hoped he had lost his taste for it. But I guess not." Hunter frowned sadly over at Fritch who had curled up on the edge of the bed and continued to cry.
Adam nodded slowly. "I'm sorry. It isn't you fault. I must get him back to the elders... One of the wise will help him."
The games-man watched him dress slowly and then wake Fritch up, who with red swollen eyes followed out of the room. As Adam was closing the door he turned and mouthed "I love you" at Hunter and Hunter whispered it back.

***** Present
That had been the last time that he had seen Hunter. That night the gypsy band had been thrown out. It seemed that the old Baron had been pushed down the stairs and killed, but with no proof that any of the Rom had done it, Jade, the new Baron had refused to do anything other than send them away.
It had been a moon's cycle later that Adam had found out that he was carrying a child from his encounters with Hunter. At first his only thought was how could the Fates have played him so cruelly, but then he realized that this child was a gift. A way of making up for separating them so quickly, and it would serve as a way of bring he and Hunter back together.
So, relaxed with those thoughts he went to sleep.

***** Part 5
Four Months Later:
Hunter was just riding in with his fellow hunters[5]. As they passed over the hill between the forests they had been hunting in and the first walls around the castle, a flash of familiar crimson made Hunter turn in his saddle and look at the gypsy wagons coming closer on the southern front.
Hope bloomed with a touch of fear, Hunter turned his gelding and pushed the horse as hard as he dared in an all out run towards the caravan of wagons.

*****
Davey, who was driving as slowly as he could, listened to the wise woman who sat in the back of the wagon with Adam. For the last few days the former dancer had been having a vague pain every now and then, and it worried the wise woman that delivered the Rom's babies.
The sight of a fast approaching rider made Davey pull to a stop and call for the others to halt as well.
Staring at the rider wearily, Davey pulled out the short sword he had in the seat beside him. When he recognized the rider, Davey grinned and lowered it.
Jumping down from the wagon he called out to Hunter. "Friend, dismount so we cam talk face to face."
Hunter, unsure of what was going on, dropped from the horse and took the hand Davey held out to him.
Davey pulled Hunter close and whispered in his ear. "We must be careful. Adam can not be upset... He is with child and there might be something wrong."
Slowly, Hunter's mind processed what Davey said and then he stared at the leader of the Rom clan. "My child?" he whispered back.
Davey nodded with a small smile.
Hunter almost yelled for joy, but shushed himself before he did. "Can I see him?"
"Of course. He's in the wagon." Davey gestured to the back of the wagon he had just dismounted from and allowed the games-man to run to the back entrance.
Pulling down the steps Hunter moved slowly into the wagon and smiled lightly when he saw Adam laying there. But the smile faded when he saw how pale he was and how he held himself as if in pain. "My love?"

*****
Adam looked up at the soft words and his eyes widened as he saw his love. "Hunter..." Holding out his arms, Adam relished the feel when Hunter hugged him close.
"I've missed you." Adam whispered into Hunter's ear as he continued to hold him.
"As I have you... I can't believe it... I prayed and prayed I would conceive... but instead the Fates decided you are to carry our first! I'm so happy, love." Hunter told him leaning back and putting a hand over their child.
"I knew you would be." Adam allowed Hunter to help him lean back on to his bed.
"We have to get married! Our child has to be legitimate!" Hunter insisted and the wise woman who had been sitting with Adam nodded in agreement and then spoke.
"Go fetch one of your priests... You will be married by both customs." The wise woman nodded again and rose making her way slowly out of the wagon to go tell everyone about the wedding.
"I will go get the priest... And I have to get Jade's permission, but that won't be a problem. I will return as soon as I can... The baby won't come between now and then, do you think?" Hunter frowned and realized he was in a race against time.
"I think I can hold it off for a few hours." Adam told him as he wiggled a little to sit a bit more up right.
"Okay. Have Davey continue on until you reach the outer bailey [6]. I will look for you there. I love you." Hunter gave Adam one more kiss before hurrying out leaving the pale eyed Rom laughing at his soon-to-be-husband's haste.

*****
"Jade!" Hunter called almost out of breath as he ran into the Baron's library.
"What is it Hunter? Have those damn poacher been into my forests again?" Jade growled standing ready to go take care of them himself.
"No... I need you to sign this so that I can be married." Hunter laid the paper down on to Jade's desk.
The Baron looked down at the paper in confusion. "I thought you wished to wed no other but Adam?"
"People can change their mind." //Though that doesn't mean I did.// Hunter knew it was close to lying, but he didn't want to take the chance that Jade's past thoughts about the Rom might resurface if he knew they were there.
"I guess... if you're certain." Jade dipped his pen into the ink well and signing the paper. "May I know the name of the one you wish to marry?"
"You will meet him tonight after the wedding." Hunter started to leave only to have Jade grab his arm and stop him.
"What about the two week wait while the banns are being read?" Jade asked as Hunter shook his hand off.
"That's being waved, because he can not make it two more weeks." Hunter bowed once and ran out of the room, leaving a much confused Jade still standing behind his desk.

*****
"What has been joined here will never be parted. Even death can not separate the union of two souls." the wise woman finished their second wedding quickly as Adam continued to pale.
Hunter gave Adam another kiss to seal this wedding vow, only to have the Rom gasp and latch onto his shoulder with drilling fingers.
"Now, you must leave." the wise woman gently extracted Hunter and pushed him out of the door of the wagon, which she closed behind him.
Hunter stared at the closed door and then allowed Davey to pull him away to where the other Rom had started a fire and made a camp far away from the wagon and the male about to give birth.

****** Part 6
The sound of an infant's cry made Hunter rose from his inopportune nap. Sitting up quickly Hunter looked through the early morning dawn to the wagon his husband was in.
The door opened and Davey gestured to him with a smile. Hunter, running as quickly as he could, skidded to a halt as he climbed in after Davey had stepped out. "They're both fine. Grandmother said they will need rest and warmth for the next while, but that it went better than she had expected."
Hunter nodded and moved slowly into the barely lit wagon. Adam lay, half sitting with a tiny well wrapped bundle in his arms.
"We have a daughter." Hunter's eyes widened at Adam's soft words.
"A baby girl?" Moving slowly Hunter sat gently on the edge of the bed to look at the tiny person Adam unwrapped from the blanket.
Her tiny lips were parted in soft unheard snores as her breath puffed in and out. Her tiny cheek were red and her face was as delicate as the fine dinnerware Hunter remembered from the King's court.
"She's so small..." Hunter murmured as he touched one of he little hands. It curls instinctively around his finger and Hunter leaned closer to stare at the tiny hand that barely fit around his finger.
"She didn't feel that way coming out." Adam murmured with a grin as he drifted off to sleep, knowing that Hunter wouldn't allow him to drop their daughter in his sleep.

*****
Jade heard the loud sounds of his chamberlain from his sleeping quarters. Grumbling, he rose from his bed and went out to see what the problem was.
What he found was Hunter leading a large man, who was carrying someone. The chamberlain was telling Hunter loudly that "Those kind of *people* were no longer allowed into the castle."
Jade watched with interest as his friend lifted the chamberlain off of his feet. "That's my husband and members of his family your talking about. You would do well to remember that."
Chuckling Jade walked down to where the problem was occurring. "Hunter, set the poor old man down and get your spouse out of the chill."
The Baron was about to say more when he saw a familiar face behind the large man and the person he carried. Davey stood holding a large wrapped blanket staring at him with wide eyes.
Hunter, seeing that looks passing between the two, hurried Adam and the man that carried him out of the way and up the stairs to his private chambers.
Davey moved slowly forward and then around Jade. "I have to take her to Adam."
"Who?" Jade finally glanced down and stared at the baby he carried. "Davey is she..."
"Adam and Hunter's. She's the reason we dared come back here. Once Adam is well enough to travel we will be gone from here... If you'll excuse me." Davey pushed past him and hurried up the stairs then into the room he had noticed Hunter leading the other into.
Jade could only stand there staring in shock for a second time in less than two days.

***** Part 7

Hunter walked into Jade's office a short time later, knowing that Jade would be demanding an answer.
Jade looking up from his paperwork, gave his friend a smile and gestured to one of the chairs in front of his desk. "So, you married your Adam... and you have a daughter. Congratulations."
"Thank you. If I'd had the time I would have told you more... but she was in a hurry to be born. In fact she was born a few hours after our wedding." Hunter had the grace to blush.
"Ahh... will you be going with them or will Adam and your child be staying here?" Jade asked wondering how long he would have to try and make up with Davey.
"I hope to go with them as soon as Adam and Celeste[7] can travel. But I need your permission to go." Hunter turned a begging face to his friend.
"I ask only that you stay long enough for me to find someone to take your place." Jade told him softly and gave a heavy sigh.
Hunter grinned suddenly. "Would it be permissible for my husband's family to winter here? I can spend that time finishing my apprentice's trainning and then we can leave in the spring."
Jade shook his head with a laugh. "You have it all planned out, don't you?"
"Sort of. I know that you need time to talk to Davey and Adam & Celeste won't be ready to travel until after the snows... And they need somewhere to winter. They have a lot of skills and can entertain us on those cold boring winter days... If you get lucky Davey will take care of your nightly entertainment too." Hunter explained speaking faster with each passing word and ending in a smirk.
Jade groaned and then nodded. "Go tell them they may us the second south outer bailey for their wagons and stable their horses with my own stock."
"Thank you, my liege." Hunter rose and bowed almost mockingly as he hurried out of the room to tell them what he had come up with.
"Maybe you will forgive me before the winter snows come, my beautiful Davey." Jade whispered to the ceiling befoe sighing and going back to work.

*****
"Are you sure he agreed to this?" Davey asked as he sat with Hunter watching his people put up their winter shelters.
"Yeap. I asked he said yes... It was a favor he owed me." Hunter told him before they both went to help with the various chores setting up the semi-permanet housing.
At that moment over looking the south second bailey Jade watched them from his library window hope starting to blossum in his heart for the first time since he had realized his mistake.

***** Part 8
Bitting his lower lip Fritch watched the castle. He knew that the old Baron wasn't there anymore; that someone had pushed him down the main stairs. But Fritch could still feel his cold hands touching him in places he had meant for his first lover. And just the thought of the former Baron made him wish to vomit.
He understood why they were wintering here; Adam and his baby couldn't travel and it was too late to travel to their normal wintering grounds. Adam and the baby... Fritch chewed on his lower lip a bit more, frowning. He'd only got to the see the little girl for a moment before she and Adam were taken into the castle.
With a determined looked at the closest doors, Fritch straightened his green Persian style pants and smoothed the wrinkles from his vest and shirt before starting for those doors.
Striding with purpose up to the door the Romanian horse keeper stopped just before going in. He stood there, trying to force his feet to move, but he couldn't. All of the memories he had of that castle were not good... well that wasn't exactly true. There was one thing that had been nice.

*****
Flashback Nine Months:

Fritch grinned a little as he settled against one of the walls of the inner keep and watched Davey's swirling dance for the Baron's son. Fritch could tell by the way the other man's eyes followed the Rom dancer he was as entranced with Davey as anyone else who watched the dance.
Smiling Fritch started to turn and walk away only to run chest first into someone. "Oh! A thousand apologies, sir!" Fritch apologized as he felt himself being steadied by large hands.
"It's quite all right." the soothing deep voice made Fritch look up and simply stare at the man before him. The man wasn't conventionally handsome as most males went, but to Fritch he appeared as he would imagine one of those legendary Persian djinns. A little bit rough, but with an otherworldlyness that would make anyone wish for the djinn's wishes so that they could possess this male.
"Do I have a bit of sauce on my cheek or am I that ugly?" the man's bitter words made Fritch start out of his daze.
"Oh no! I find you quite lovely." Fritch blanched at his own words and wondered if it were possible to die of embarrassment.
The man's eyebrows rose in wonder and finally he laughed. "I think you may have hit your head. The lovely Puget brother is sitting over there." He gestured over to Jade who was still entralled with Davey's dancing.
If it was possible Fritch paled even farther and backed away a little. "I'm so sorry, my lord. I didn't know you were the Baron's son."
The man just shrugged. "I might be the Baron's son, but no one cares because Jade is the perfect heir."
Fritch, unthinking, reached out and clasped the Baron's son's hand. "I'm Fritch... I don't believe I have your name."
"My name is Smith... Would you like to go for a walk? My mother's garden is lovely this time of evening, especially with the moon out like it is tonight." Smith said as he offered his arm.
Drawn like he had never been Fritch took the offered arm and walked with the Baron's other son into night.

***** Present
Steeling his resolve Fritch pushed open the small side door and walked in, wondering where Smith was, and how Adam and the baby were doing.
Fritch looked around every corner as he went on his way searching for either Adam and the baby of Smith. Just as he was about to give up and go ask someone a hand landed on his shoulder making him scream and jump, twisting to see who had him.
"Whoa... easy... Fritch, I thought that was you lurking." Smith smiled a tiny smile at the gypsy who was panting in fear in front of him.
"Smith..." The name was a sigh of relief as he launched himself into the other man's arms, laying his head over Smith clamly beating heart, willing his own to match the steady rhythm.
Smith wrapped his arms around the trembling man and rocked him slightly. "Shush... it's okay. My father is dead. He can't hurt you anymore."
Fritch finally pulled back and wiped the few tears that had escaped from his eyes. "I know... it's just..."
"I understand," Smith said with a soft smile and he kept his hand on Fritch's shoulders, "Come with me... You need to wash your tears away and I would hazard that a good draft of wine would help you greatly."
Nodding, Fritch allowed Smith to guide him away.

***** Part 9
Adam was sitting up in bed while humming softly to his daughter. It was the first morning he had felt like doing anything more than sleeping and feeding Celeste. The tiny girl cooed as she grasped the fingers he had held out for her. Her smudge of dark hair was curling lightly on forehead as she yawned as blinked up at him with an uninterested look.
A light tap on the door made him look up as Fritch came in with a person Adam vaguely remembered from the last time they had been there. "Are you feeling well enough for company?"
"Of course. Come in and meet the newest member of our band." Adam held Celeste out as Fritch came in and the other man stood just to the inside of the door.
With gentle hands Fritch gathered the baby to him and chuckled as she frowned at him.
"She has Hunter's glare." the other man commented after he saw the look.
"I don't know... Adam's is pretty mean." Fritch told him as he played with one of her tiny fists she had been shaking at him.
Adam watched Fritch and the man with him. //Well, that's interesting. That man is the first one Fritch has allowed to touch him since... we were forced to leave here... I'll have to talk to Davey about this turn of events.//
Gently, Fritch handed the baby back to Adam and stepped away. "I'd better get going... I have to go check over the stables... Make certain they're taking care of the horses like I do."
Adam nodded slowly as he settled the tiny girl beside him. "Be careful, Fritch." Looking to the man whom he had yet to put a name to, "You'll go with him? Make certain no one hurts him?"
The man nodded slowly. "I'll protect him."
"Good... now go away. I need to rest." Adam gave them a tired smile and as soon as they were gone he settled down next to his daughter and they both were asleep quickly.

*****
Jade looked up as the door to his study opened admitting his brother. The quiet man gave Jade one of his rare true smiles as he sat in a chair facing Jade's desk. "Good afternoon, brother."
"Afternoon." Jade responded then looked at his brother in question. "What has you in such a mood, Smith?"
"No reason... I just feel happy." Smith shrugged as he continued to smile at his brother.
"I hate it when you get that look. You're planning something, aren't you?" Jade studied his brother wondering if his brother was up to something as when they were children.
"No... not really. I've just been speaking with one of the gypsies... I found some very interesting information." Smith said as he thought about the pain his brother had been in when the Rom band and left the last time. And then about all of the information that Fritch had been so free with.
Jade's eyes narrowed. "What do you know?"
"Only that you should get your head out of your ass and go speak with your gypsy. He loves you still... And with that bit of information, I must go. Fritch is going to be looking over that pregnant mare of mine. Good day, brother dear." Smith rose and hurried out before his brother could explode either in a good manner or a bad one.

****** Part 10

Davey slowly worked some linment into his feet. He'd danced a lot that day and they were slightly swollen. It felt strange to be stationary so early in the year, but they had it good here. They had a place to winter and enough people to entertain to keep themselves occupied.
A soft rapping on his wagon door made the Rom leader frown and open one of his windows enough to see who was visiting so late. The familiar auburn hair made Davey draw a deep breath.
At the second knock Davey went to the small door at the back of the wagon and opened it to stare at Jade, uncertain of the reason the lord of the manor was there. "May I help you, Baron?"
"Please, Davey... don't call me that... and don't act as if there has been nothing between us." Jade could have cringed at the look his words earned him.
"There has been nothing between us, *Jade*. Nothing more than a spoiled noble's heir dallying with a gypsy. State your business and go." Davey's heart was beating fast. This was the first time he had been close to Jade since helping transport Adam and baby Celeste to the castle.
Jade groaned under his breath and coming up with a plan forced Davey backwards into the wagon. "You will listen to me Davey." Jade insisted as he gently pushed Davey to sit on the small bed. He was going to sit Davey down and they were going to talk until Davey realized he wasn't a bad person... he'd just been a little misguided.
Davey, thinking the worst, started to fight him. He would not let this misbegotten son of a whore take him.
Trying to keep Davey from hurting him and himself, Jade got a grip on his hands and held him down. For a few moments they wrestle, neither wanting to give in.
Davey tried shouting, but Jade, not wanting anyone to interfer with his apology, did the only thing he could to keep him quiet. He put his mouth to Davey's, sealing in the dancer's voice.
His eyes going wide, Davey stilled at the first kiss. They'd only done that once before the gypsy band had been forced to leave the barony.
Not certain what to do, Davey laid there allowing Jade's mouth to stay settled on his. Davey's eyes stared up into Jade's and for a moment there was nothing outside of the two bodies pressed together on the soft feather tick[8]. Finally Jade closed his eyes and put himself into the kiss. Slowly his mouth began to move over Davey's, learning the softness of the tender mouth under his.
For his part, Davey lay there stunned, uncertain what to do. Finally the gentle brush of Jade's tongue over his bottom lip, made Davey react. Jade was about to give up and pull away when he felt the mouth under his open just enough for the tip of his tongue to fit in. Using his tongue Jade parted Davey's lips enough that he could sample the shy mouth under his.
Davey could taste the spiced lamb Jade had eaten in the main hall for dinner and the candied fruits he knew Jade carried with him because he loved them so much. Davey slipped his hands away from Jade, who had loosened his hold. Moving closer Davey moved his hands up into Jade's hair holding him in the kiss.
Jade forgot to hold Davey's hands as he slid his hands down Davey's arms then to Davey's avian styled collar bone. When they finally parted Jade blushed and started to apologize. "I am sorry, Davey... I didn't mean... That is..."
Davey took his hands from Jade's hair and brushed his fingers over Jade's lips. "Don't... I know."
"You know?" Jade gave Davey a confused look.
"I could hear your father in the words you spoke when we left." Davey lowered his eyes and sighed, wondering if Jade was going to leave him a second time.
"Why did you leave if you knew that wasn't me speaking?" Jade asked as he pressed small kisses over Davey's cheeks and eyelashes.
"If we had stayed your people would have killed mine... It was just better for us to go... And it also hurt when you called me convienient." Davey whispered the last word with a tear rolling down his face.
Jade licked up the tear and kissed Davey gently on the mouth, sharing the spot taste of the salty tear. "I'm so sorry... Can you forgive me for my stupidity?"
Looking into Jade's hazel eyes, Davey nodded slowly. "It hurt me, but it was not you speaking. It was grief, and possibly fear speaking your father's words. I forgive you."
Jade laid his forehead against Davey's for a moment then leaned up to smile down at him. "I... might love you."
Davey nodded. "I think I might as well... And I know a way to tell if we do."
"You do?" Jade's eyes narrowed as Davey pressed their hips together.
"I do."

*****
Davey woke up to his lover moving around the wagon. Opening his eyes he sat up holding the warm blankets to his chest. "Jade?"
Jade stopped his dressing and sat beside Davey to give him a kiss. "Good morning, love."
"Good morning, where are you off to before the sun has rose." Davey murmured between kisses.
"I don't want to, but I must get back to the castle before I am missed... It wouldn't be proper for me to be found in your bed without wedding vows betwee us." Jade gave him another kiss before rising and pulling the last of his clothes. Finally dressed, Jade smiled down at Davey who had laid back into the bed and snuggled into the warmth they had created within in the covers.
"Can you meet with me on the north battlement after noon?" Jade asked as he took one of Davey's hands in his and pressed some kisses to his palm.
"I will do my best. If not, will you join me here tonight?" Davey asked as he traced his fingers over Jade's lips, while the baron kissed them with each pass.
"I will. I will see you either this afternoon or this night. You should get some more rest until then. I love you." Jade kissed him once more before hurrying out, hoping that dawn's rather dubious light hide him.
As he hurried through the back passages of the castle he bumped into a person who fell and Jade was forced to stop and help them up. "Are you okay?"
"Fine, sir." the woman coughed wettly and Jade frowned.
"You should go to see the keep healer or out to one of the gypsy healers if the keep healer can't help." Jade told her before hurrying on his way.

****** Part 11
"Sir, we have a very serious problem." Jade's steward told him after Jade pulled himself out of his day dream of his lover.
"What is it?" Jade asked as he moved to the window and looked down to where the gypsy camp was. He could barely make out a familiar head of hair as Davey led one of the locals to a gypsy wise woman.
"The healer believes that the sickness that is hitting the poorer class..." the steward left off and Jade turned to him, waiting. "He believes it is the plague."
Jade swung wide eyes around to stare at his steward as the idiotic man continued to pratel on about some of the measures they could take to insure that they didn't contract the plague and about how those filthy gypsies probably brought it.
"How many people have contracted it?" Jade demanded, his fear going out for his lover, brother and the friends he had made among the gypsies.
"Better than half of the city's residence, my lord. We have to kill those nasty gypsies and burn their diseased wagons to rid us of this plague." the steward's words were cut off as Jade wrapped his hand around the man's throat.
"They are just as much victims here as us." Jade told him before letting him go and hurrying out to see if Davey was okay and who was sick.

*****
Davey looked up from running a cool damp rag over a little boy's forehead. He was one of the locals that had been brought to the gypsies after the keep healer had given up on the child ever getting well. Davey and the rest of the gypsies had seen this illness before, and were trying to find the proper herbs that could break this fever.
"Davey!"
The Rom leader looked up from soothing the ill child. Jade was running at him, fear in his eyes. Davey rose as he drew closer. "Is Adam or your brother sick?"
Jade clasped him close and shook his head. "No, they're fine... I had to check on you... Davey, it's the plague. It's not safe for you to be out here with them, you might get it."
Davey kept his head over Jade's heart for a few moments then pulled back and shook his head. "No, it's my place to help my people. We are even now gathering the herbs that will bring down the fever... You should go back and keep your people calm. If they should sicken tell them to bath the one suffering in cool water, but to keep the room they are in warm and moist... Jade, you're going to need to stay away from here... there are too many with the sickness... you might get. I don't want to take the chance."
Jade was about to protest but Davey shook his head. "This fever will pass quickly, and leave many dead. I don't want you among them, so please go back into the castle and in a month or two it will be safe for you to come out."
Davey gave Jade a shove away from him. "You go take care of your people and I'll stay here to take care of mine... And in a month or so we will be together again. I promise."
Jade nodded slowly before taking Davey in his arms for a moment. "I love you." Jade kissed him once before hurrying away.

****** Part 12
Jade sighed as he looked over the reports he had recieved from the different places around his barony. His people were dying left and right... and he could do nothing. It had been better than a month since he and Davey had agreed to split until their people were on the recovery. The gypsies were doing no better. Most of them were down with the fever and most of their elders were dead.
"But Davey is okay." Jade whispered as he looked out at the wagons and the death pyres burning just beyond them. Jade recieved a small note from Davey everytime someone came into the castle from the outside and it reassured him that his lover was okay.
"Jade!" Smith came running in out of breath and a little pale.
"What is it? What has happened?" Jade was on his feet staring at his brother with fear.
"Davey... he's fainted in the outer hall while he was coming in to check on Adam and the baby." Smith said as Jade started out of the room.
"Have him brought to my room along with a large amount of heating wood and a basin of cool water." Jade told his brother before hurrying off to his rooms, to await the arrival of his lover and brother.
A moment after Jade got to his room one of the footmen arrived with Davey in his arms. "Lay him in the bed and get a large fire going."
Jade took in Davey's paleness and untroubled breathing as he pulled off his lover's clothes.
After Jade had undressed his lover and tucked him into the large bed he felt his forehead and sighed in relief at the lack of fever. Maybe he was just exhausted. With that hope he settled beside Davey to pray.
A few moments later Davey's eyes blinked his eyes open. "Wha..."
"Shush... you fainted in the outer hall. You need to rest." Jade told him as he held his head up and gave him a sip of wine to steady him a little.
Davey nodded a little. "I knew better than to work so hard... But I have to... We've not had any new cases of plague in over a week. That's one of the reasons that I risked coming into the castle."
"Then you shall rest. I'm certain that the rest of your people can care for the sick." Jade told him as he brushed a hand over Davey's eyes, making them close.
"Okay... but only... because... my eyes... seem to have... become so.... heavy." Davey allowed Jade to close his eyes and then fell asleep.
Jade watched as he fell the rest of the way into sleep and then he settled back to watch his lover for signs of the plague.

*****
The second time Davey woke it was to Jade breathing lightly beside him, and his stomach rolling visiously.
Surging to his feet, Davey looked around for a chamber pot before hurrying behind the screen in the back corner of the room and losing what little he had eaten the day before.
Moments later Jade was behind him and holding Davey's hair out of his way. When Davey was done he laid back against Jade weakly while catching his breath. With an ease he wouldn't have had if Davey was at full weight, Jade picked him up and carried him back to the bed.
Once Jade had tucked him into the bed he sat at Davey's side. "I'm going to go get the healer. You must have another kind of the this plague." Jade brushed Davey's hair from his sweaty face.
Davey shook his head. "No, it is not a plague that effects me... Our month together before the plague hit has given me a child."
Jade stared down at Davey his eyes wide. "A child? Already?"
"Yes... I was not certain until a few days ago... It was one of the reasons I came." Davey rested weakly back against the pillows waiting for Jade to either love him for this child or condemn him.
Jade sat there for a moment then nodded to himself. "We will marry as soon as the plague has passed. Our child must be legitimate."
Davey's eyes widened as he stared up at his lover. That was one thing he hadn't expected. "A-are you certain?"
"Of course. We love one another so it is only proper that we marry for our child." Jade stated it simply.
The smile Jade recieved almost blinded him with it's brilliant joy. "Oh, Jade I can't wait! You'll love traveling with us! There are so many places I want to show you! It's going to be so perfect. I'll have my Uncle Klaus start working on a larger wagon so that we can travel together with the baby in the spring."
But Davey's voice stopped when Jade shook his head. "Davey I can't leave here."
"What? Why... on no... And I can't leave my people..." The tears started to track down the Rom's cheeks.
Jade reached out and pulled Davey close to him. "Don't think on it. You won't be able to travel until spring and even then probably not until the child is born... That's months from now. We have a lot of time to decide."
Davey nodded slowly and allowed Jade to help him to lay back on the pillows.
"Now you need to rest." Jade gave him a kiss before snuggling up with him.

***** Part 13
The plague passed on through the barony leaving many dead, and all mourning. But joyous news lightened the down heartened people. On a blustery day shortly after Yule, their baron was married to the leader of band of gypsies who had saved so many of them. Their vows were short, but heartfelt and no one commented on the looseness of the shirt that Davey wore, hiding his just showing pregnancy.
As spring formed over the barony Davey blossumed. Jade's people learned to see through their original hate of the wandering Rom and accepted their presense inside the keep.
Not long after spring had fully taken ahold of Dunduanne and the country-side surrounding Davey sat with his hands on his growing tummy staring out to where Fritch was grooming some of the Rom's horses. He was feeling the wanderlust all of his people suffered from. He knew that he had to stay with Jade... but he didn't want to. He wanted to be out there traveling, seeing new places and trying new things. Sighing sadly, Davey turned from the open window and pushed himself to his feet and heading for the door. "Maybe I'll go for a walk in the gardens or something." He murmured to himself as he walked away, not seeing the two brothers watching him from the shadows.
"I told you, brother... He can't stay here... He'll die." Smith whispered to Jade as they watched the Rom patriarch walk slowly away, careful not to bump his belly on anything.
"He's like a robin... I may be able to catch him and keep him happy for a winter... but in the spring he'll die in his gilded cage." Jade sighed sadly as he muttered back to his brother. "But how can I let him go? I love him more than my own life."
"Go with him... Find a trusted advisor to hold your place here until the winter comes. They need a place to winter, so it will work." Smith suggested.
Jade thought about, then his eyes widened as a tremindous thought hit him. "Smith... you've always had more of a head for figures and things as that... Why couldn't you hold it for me? Or I could give the barony to you... I don't care for it."
Smith started shaking his head as soon as he realized where his brother was going. "No, I couldn't Jade. You see, I'm going to be going with the Rom as well when they leave. Fritch and I are going to be married as soon as the spring equinox is past."
Jade sighed in defeat. "There's no way to help everyone, is there?"
"Yes, there is." a third voice said from behind them.
Turning they found Adam holding baby Celeste in his arms walking towards them.
"Well, what's your idea?" Jade asked, knowing a Rom's imput would be invaluable.
"Fritch doesn't like travelling as much as they rest of us... It could be that he would be content to stay here with Smith." Adam told them then bowed out when Celeste started to whimpering in hunger.
Jade looked to Smith who was thinking very hard before nodding slightly. "He doesn't talk about traveling as if it were everything to him... I'm going to go speak with him... Perhaps you should go talk to Davey?"
Nodding Jade turned and hurried off in search of his husband.
In one of the gardens he heard the soft sounds of his precious one weeping. Jade found him sitting at the edge of a fountain crying softly into his hands. Sitting beside him Jade took him into his arms. "Hush, my precious one... It'll be okay."
Davey jerked once before pulling away from Jade and wiping his eyes. "Jade... what are you doing out here? Don't you have work you should be doing?"
"I do, but it can wait. Davey... would it be okay if I came with you when you and your family start travelling again?"
Davey's breath caught. "Are you serious? What about..." Davey left off with a gesture around the gardens and the keep surronding them.
"If Fritch agrees he and my brother will stay here and care for it while we travel. Then in the winter we can come back here and settle for the cold months." Jade laid out the plan and waited for Davey's opinion.
"Fritch will agree... I know he will! Jade, this is so perfect! I've got to go get the family to getting things together so that we can head out before the next full moon!" Davey pushed himself to his feet and after giving Jade a quick kiss hurried off to get things ready for the Rom to leave.

***** Epilogue
"We'll expect you in the last months of fall." Fritch said as he hugged Davey. It was a bit awkward because of Davey's large pregnancy, but they made it work.
Adam, Hunter and Celeste were already in their wagon and the rest of the Rom was just waiting for their leader and his husband.
Davey cast a worried look back up to the castle and wondered where Jade was. Just as he thought it Jade came running out. His hair was free of it normal queue[9] and he wore the brightly woven clothes of the Rom. He had a small gold hoop hanging from his ear and he looked the part of a Rom male.
Hunter let out a whistle and Jade just smirked at him before turning to Davey. "Do you like it? I thought since I was going to be a part of your world I had better look like it."
Davey nodded then allowed himself to be helped into his and Jade's new wagon. Jade settled beside him and with one last nod to his brother, gathered up the reigns and set the horses to motion.
Adam called out as he guided his wagon in behind Davey's. The call set the rest of the wagons into motion and soon the Rom band was out of sight.

THE END

A.N.: I'll send air-cookies to anyone who can guess who really killed the old lord of the manor.