regency au } { of courting and manorless lords

[braveandstupid]

Patience: [makes her way down to the ring and gives him a small look] Relax.

Sam: I'm going to die. [save him please Patience]

Patience: You're not going to die. It's not allowed. It happens, but it's usually an accident.

Sam: [nope, doesn't buy it, and adjusts the hand me down armor from Dean] I wish he would have let me enter the archery contest, and not this. I can barely lift the mace.

Patience: You don't have strength so don't use your strength. The person you're up against will likely be larger than you are. Use their weight against them.

Sam: [nods] I can do that. [just like fighting bullies]

Patience: [she nods] You can. You'll be fine. Just breathe.

Sam: [and he will take a deep breath, the armor lifting in time to his breathing]

Patience: [small smile as she steps back] Good luck.

Sam: Thanks. [and in he will go, knowing his father and Dean are also watching from the sidelines] Use their weight. Don't die. Use their weight. Don't die. [it's his mantra now]

Patience: [good boy. and she will head back to Miranda, who is old enough now to start being on the circuit and is gossiping with some of her friends]

Sam: [and OMG with a nat 20 Sam totally dominates the big guy who thought he was going to have it easy with the "beanpole"]

Patience: [and the Hale girls are pleased, as are Miranda's Mystic Falls friends]

Sam: [and he will pull off his helm and look up at Patience grinning]

Dean: [and he will vault over the fence and go hug his brother because damn that was awesome]

Patience: [and she will stay in the stands for now, because she knows that this isn't about her right now.]

Sam: [and he will get pulled out of the ring so the next group can go, and John is telling Sam about where his technique needs work, not being very praiseworthy but that's John. His next round is another win (15), and then a barely scraped by victory (13), and in the semifinal round he is soundly whooped (2) and told to stay down as Sam tries to breathe around the dented breastplate]

Patience: [and that's when she's on her feet being a bit worried, and she glances at Miranda before making her way down to the barrier of the ring again]

Dean: [helping his brother up and to the fence] He's fine, m'Lady. He has just had his bell soundly rung.

Patience: Happens on occasion. At least he's fine. My family's physician is here, if he needs it?

Dean: [looks to find their father, but he has wandered off] Yes, he should see him. Lead the way.

Patience: [and she will lead Dean back to the tents to find Deaton to get Sam looked over]

Dean: [and he will help get his brother out of the damaged armor and laying on a cot as Deaton looks him over] He just has the wind knocked out of him.

Patience: Still, better to be safe than sorry.

Deaton: [and he will say that he may have a small concussion from hitting the ground and his head bouncing around the helm.] Best to let him rest while being observed that he doesn't have a seizure.

Patience: [nods and steps back] Would you like me to bring you anything from the mess tents?

Dean: I should find my father. Would you be opposed to sitting with him, m'Lady?

Patience: [shakes her head] Of course not. It would be my pleasure.

Dean: [bows] I will return shortly. [exit, tent flap left]

Deaton: [and he will have Sam drink some mead] You should sleep, Lord Winchester. It will help your body heal.

Patience: [nods with a smile] He's right. Your body will have less to focus on.

Sam: [winces] I'll try. My head is ringing though

Deaton: It will go away soon.

Patience: I'm sure you will feel better once you wake.

Sam: [looks over at Patience] You'll stay with me?

Patience: [nods] Of course.

Sam: Thank you. [and he will drift off to sleep because dude tourney fighting is hard work]

Patience: [and she will settle on one of the nearby stools to wait]

Deaton: I will send word to your Lord father where you are, and will be back to check on him soon.

Patience: [nods with a small smile] Thank you.

Dean: [and he will return after having found John talking with other Lords and updating him on Sam. He returns, not all that happy but this was their life] I can watch him now, m'Lady, if you wish to return and watch the tourney.

Patience: [shakes her head] No one from my family is competing now. Ben was in the earlier rounds.

Dean: I just don't want your Lord father to worry, that is all.

Patience: This is one of my family's tents. And Doctor Deaton said he would inform him where I am.

Dean: That is good. [he will take a seat on Sam's other side, checking his brother over and gently pushing hair away from Sam's face. Dean is a brash lordling, a flirt and vagabond, but he loves his brother devotedly] I told father to leave him to the chess tourney.

Patience: [frowns] Why? He did well.

Dean: I know, but he isn't built for fighting. Sam is intelligent and should be running a manor, not in the field.

Patience: No men are going to follow someone who can't handle themselves in the field, no matter how intelligent he may be. [she straightens a bit] Sam's intelligence is one of my favorite things about him, but you hobble him if you insist that he belongs only in one box. He needs more training, not to be wrapped in cotton. [a pause] You will not always be there to protect him. He needs to learn to protect himself.

Dean: He knows how to protect himself. Just not for these kinds of games.

Patience: These kinds of games are where it matters. The ideal isn't to prove yourself on the battle field, it's to prove yourself here. To show that you are a good sportsman, and a fair man. Even losing gracefully is better than not participating at all.

Dean: He could still have done that in the chess tourney.

Patience: [purses her lips for a moment before nodding] Perhaps. But I think you sell him short. You simply have to train him.

Dean: That is not up to me. That's between him and my father.

Patience: [a deep breath] If he's simply throwing him to the wolves and expecting him to pass through like David and the lions, then you're right. It's cruel. But if the intention is to help him learn, then there's no harm in allowing him to continue, with the proper training.

Dean: I would love to see you tell him that, m'lady.

Patience: [eyebrow raise, like don't tempt her, she absolutely will]

Dean: [good luck. be prepared for a dressing down]

Patience: [she's a Hale. if John won't train his own son, perhaps her father will]

Dean: [looks at her] You really do care for my brother, don't you?

Patience: [she gives a small shrug] I've never had very many friends. It's nice to find someone who doesn't look at me like I'm ... lesser.

Dean: Well, I believe the court calls us the Manorless Lords. We do not have a home that is ours, just lands that our uncle Robert maintains in our absence.

Patience: Is that supposed to change my opinion?

Dean: No. But you are not the only one who grew up being looked down upon.

Patience: [nods] It's hard to struggle with being condemned for what you can't control.

Dean: [nods] That it is, m'lady. My brother feels the same for you.

Patience: I would hope so. I'm not in the habit of compelling friends.

Dean: In fact, see you here was really the only thing he could talk about as we traveled.

Patience: [and her eyes divert for a moment, that may be a bit of a blush]

Dean: [chuckles] I do hope things continue between the two of you.

Patience: [eyebrow raise] I don't intend to stop being his friend.

Dean: I hope so. I also hope that perhaps your father will allow him to marry you. I have not seen Sammy as happy as he is with you, m'lady.

Patience: [oh that's definite blushing] I ... can't speak for him on that matter.

Sam: I'm going to just keep laying here until he stops speaking.

Dean: [laughs]

Patience: [yep, the girl is a tomato, she thought you were asleep Sam]

Sam: [can't really sleep with you both talking]

Dean: How you feeling, little brother?

Sam: I'm thirsty.

Patience: I'll get you some water. [she needs some air anyway]

Sam: Thank you.

Patience: [disappears from the tent to head to the well and trying not to worry about if she made things awkward]

Sam: [and there is going to be whining about Dean trying to butt in where he shouldn't and he likes her and doesn't want to lose her friendship and ow he hates fighting]

Patience: [and she'll struggle with the well a bit because the bucket gets stuck so they'll have some more time to be brotherly about it]

Sam: [and when she finally returns, Dean is gone and he's sitting up]

Patience: [blinks, surprised] Where is your brother?

Sam: His tourney game was called.

Patience: Ah. [and she'll go to pour him some water and hand the cup to him] Here. This should help.

Sam: Thank you. [and he will sip slowly] I hope my brother was not too intrusive.

Patience: Not at all. He's just concerned for you.

Sam: [sighs] I wish he would stop being so concerned.

Patience: Why?

Sam: I don't want to be a knight like him. I'm happy being the intellect.

Patience: He was advocating for just that. I was the one who was saying that what you were doing here isn't useless. [her tone is a bit nervous because it seems counter to what he wants]

Sam: I know it isn't. But I don't like fighting for sport. If I need to fight, it's for a reason.

Patience: [she understands what he's saying, but she doesn't really view it that way. probably because she's grown up with knights in tourneys, it's normal to her] But don't you think you should practice for when you do?

Sam: I practice enough. Dean and I practice daily. That is why he is so good.

Patience: Practicing with one person isn't enough. The people you may have to face probably won't fight the same way your brother does. It can make you complacent.

Sam: [and he looks at her] But isn't the point of the knowledge knowing why not to use it?

Patience: There's a difference between participating in a game and playing fairly by the rules and being a bully. [a beat] I understand why you don't want to. I do. But I also don't see the harm in a tournament.

Sam: I understand, but it's not what I like to do. Dean is great at it.

Patience: He is. [though there's clearly more in her tone that she doesn't say, because the idea that Sam can just state that he doesn't like something and that be the end of it is completely foreign to her. They all have their roles to play, and sometimes to get what you want, you have to do things you don't like. But she doesn't want to fight with him, so she just looks down at her hands] I disagree with your choice, but it's your choice to make.

Sam: I know, and I respect your opinion, Patience.

Patience: [nods before turning things back to a more neutral topic for now] Are you feeling better?

Sam: I am. My head doesn't hurt so much.

Patience: Good. I'm sure Dr. Deaton will be back to check on you soon.

Sam: Hopefully he will let me still attend the final banquet tonight.

Patience: You want to go to the banquet?

Sam: [nods] I do have to eat. And it will let the other Lords know I'm not weak to be felled.

Patience: [she nods] I don't see why not. You seem to be faring better now.

Sam: Would you like to go with me?

Patience: [her eyes widen for a moment because yes she does, but at the same time] Are you sure?

Sam: Of course.

Patience: Then yes. I would love to.

Sam: [smiles] Thank you.

Patience: But if I am, I should probably get dressed for it. Will you be alright, or would you like me to stay until Dr. Deaton returns?

Sam: I will be alright. Do you wish for me or your father to escort you there?

Patience: I should probably ask him that. Best to just meet each other there?

Sam: I'll see you there then.

Patience: [nods and off she goes back to her tent]

Derek: [where he is working at his desk on some paperwork before the banquet]

Patience: [clears her throat awkwardly] Do you have a moment?

Derek: Of course. Just let me finish this sentence, darling.

Patience: [nods and waits quietly as he does]

Derek: [and it isn't long before he's done and putting his quill down, and then turns to her] So what is it on your mind, Patience?

Patience: [takes a breath and straightens a bit, playing with her fingers as a conduit for her nerves] Sam asked if he could escort me to the banquet.

Derek: [blinks, then nods slowly] That is nice. Is that something you wish to do?

Patience: [a slow pause before she nods] Yes, I would.

Derek: Then I will allow it. I like the boy.

Patience: [brightens] Thank you.

Derek: Do we need to get you a new dress?

Patience: [she shakes her head] No. I brought something.

Derek: Good.

Patience: Is there anything else you need me to do?

Derek: No, you probably will need time to prepare for banquet. Your mother takes hours, so I'm sure you will need time. [smiles wistfully, missing Elena while at tourney]

Patience: [rolls her eyes a bit, but fondly] Alright. Thank you. [and she'll go dart off to get ready as Miranda is coming to find him and she'll raise her eyebrows]

Miranda: She's excited about something.

Derek: She was asked to banquet.

Miranda: By Sam?

Derek: Yes, by Sam.

Miranda: I saw that coming.

Derek: So what else can you tell me about her and Sam, my little love?

Miranda: Mmmm. What's in it for me? [she's not going to be spilling sisterly secrets without proper incentives here, Dad]

Derek: [raises an eyebrow] Beyond the love and affection of your lord father?

Miranda: Which I love and treasure, however, I also value the love and affection of my sister. I'm fairly certain I can still earn the former without hurting the latter.

Derek: Well, I wouldn't want you to hurt your sister.

Miranda: If there was something I felt you desperately needed to know, I would tell you.

Derek: But there is nothing about Sam you feel I need to know?

Miranda: [shakes her head] He's very sweet to her. And he did very well in the ring today.

Derek: [nods, smiling] Then that is all I needed to know. Come here. [and he will reach into his purse to give her some coins] Why don't you go and find something in the market for both you and your sister to wear with your dresses to banquet tonight?

Miranda: [and she will take that with a smile before giving him a kiss on the cheek] Thank you, Father.

Derek: You're welcome. Now go, you only have a few hours to get ready.

Miranda: [and off she goes to find Talia and head to the market]

Derek: [and he will go back to finishing his letters and the accounting ledger for the tourney]

Patience: [and she will get all dressed up for the banquet and then head back to meet Sam, as promised]


Derek: [his little girl is all grown up. God he's going to hate it when she gets married and moves away]

Sam: [and he will be waiting, and when he sees her his jaw drops just a bit]

Patience: [and when she sees him she smiles a bit] Dr. Deaton said it was alright, I take it?

Sam: He told me to take it easy. So I believe that means a lot of sitting around and if you wish to dance, only slow ones. [he's supposed to be in bed.]

Patience: I think we can manage that.

Sam: Good. [and he will hold out his arm] You look beautiful, m'lady.

Patience: [her head ducks a bit as she takes his arm] Thank you. You as well. Handsome, I mean.

Sam: Thank you. [and he will guide her inside, looking for where he is directed to sit]

Patience: [and there will probably be a table for the other people who came close but didn't quite cut it]

Sam: [and a few people checking on Sam to see if he's ok, and telling him that he did a good job and they look forward to rematches]

Patience: [which is a nice bit of camaraderie and part of why Patience thinks it's worthwhile to do]

Sam: [he doesn't deny that. They just have different ideas about fighting, that's all]

Patience: [yep, but eventually it'll just fade to quiet chatter and what not, though Patience doesn't have quite as much luck with the ladies at the table, but that's nothing new for her]

Sam: [but Sam, being more observant than the knights who are just talking about how their battle skills are, can see that and he will take her hand gently under the table and squeeze it gently.]

Patience: [glances over at that and gives him a small smile in return]

Sam: [and he will smile back] Would you like to take a walk?

Patience: [nods a bit] That would be nice.

Sam: If you will excuse us, gentlemen. [and Sam will stand up and then get Patience's chair]

Patience: [and she will get up and off they will go for a walk]

Sam: [and he will lead her to the gardens] So I have a question for you.

Patience: Yes?

Sam: Your opinion on me not fighting - is it because you worry about me not being like the others and the men not respecting me?

Patience: [a pause as she tries to put that into words] Not ... exactly? It's just been my experience that just because we don't like something doesn't mean that it's not something worth doing.

Sam: True. But you know not every knight goes to tourney to participate. Some come just to watch and feast. Some to support their lords, and some just to look for eligible wives.

Patience: Also true. But they usually have their own reputations to support them. I don't mean to make you feel like I'm trying to change you, it's just not what I'm used to.

Sam: We have both had different upbringing in the court.

Patience: [she nods] My family has always had a lot of focus on control and training and tourneys are efficient ways to reinforce that.

Sam: Whereas my father has had Dean and I training since I could walk as a form of survival.

Patience: I know.

Sam: When we do go to tourney, it's the only time I am not training to fight. It's the only time I get to go to libraries. Otherwise we're guests at some Lord's manor and Dean and I are training with their men.

Patience: Oh.

Sam: That is why I don't want to participate here. Because otherwise I would never have a time I'm not fighting.

Patience: I understand.

Sam: I only participated today because, well I was forced to. My father doesn't like my studying or wanting to go to University. I'm afraid he's going to make me participate moving forward.

Patience: Maybe you can convince him to let you pick the event? Change to archery? Something that isn't quite so demanding?

Sam: [laughs] I tried. But I will try again. I just don't think it will matter to him.

Patience: [a pause] What if I could convince my father to take you on as an apprentice or a protege? There would be some training involved still, but my father understands the balance of a well trained mind as well as a well-trained body. And his reputation in the tourneys might help with your father?

Sam: [his eyes brighten] Do you think he would do that? The Hales have a very good reputation.

Patience: I can try. And he's already said that he likes you.

Sam: He likes me? [smiles]

Patience: That's what he said when I asked him if you could take me to the banquet.

Sam: I respect your father greatly. I hope he knows that.

Patience: I think he does.

Sam: I don't know if my father will let me go, but maybe your father could convince him.

Patience: I'll try. I'll talk to my father about it tonight.

Sam: I'll wait until then to talk to my father then.

Patience: Good. [and this is where the conversation naturally stalls and she doesn't quite know what to do next]

Sam: [and he looks at her hand in his] Patience... are you promised to someone? [awkward, yes, and he's trying not to blush]

Patience: [she's blushing a little bit as well, and shakes her head] No, I'm not.

Sam: Good. Because if you are not opposed, whether your father takes me on or not... I would like... [deep breath] I would be honored if you would let me court you?

Patience: [and her smile widens] I would like that.

Sam: I will ask your father's permission, of course. I won't want to dishonor him in any way.

Patience: Of course. I didn't think you would.

Sam: [grins] Thank you.

Patience: [smiles in return as her head ducks] You're welcome.

Sam: You have come to mean the world to me, Patience.

Patience: You as well. You're my best friend.

Sam: As are you.

Patience: Good. I'm glad you're agreed.

Sam: Me too. [and he bites on his lower lip, smiling] We should probably get back.

Patience: [she nods] Yes, we probably should.

Sam: [and he will hold out his arm again and walk her back, but of course he will pick her a flower from the garden for her to have]

Patience: [which will make her smile as they head back into the banquet]

Derek: [and he will see them when they enter and smile to himself before turning back to talk to the lords at his table]

Patience: [and there will be dancing and other kinds of shenanigans and eventually they will all head back to their tents for the evening]

Sam: [and as he goes to leave her at her tent] Thank you for your company tonight, Patience.

Patience: Thank you for asking me. I had a lovely time.

Sam: As did I. [and he is going to be nervous a moment] If the lady would allow, I would like to give you a kiss.

Patience: [her eyes widen because she was not expecting that, before nodding]

Sam: [and he will reach up to gently cup her cheek, then lean over to kiss her gently]

Patience: [and she will close her eyes and enjoy the kiss for a moment, before she pulls back with a small smile]

Sam: [and he will stand back up, taking a deep breath and smiling] Sleep well, my lady.

Patience: You as well. [and she will slip back into her tent where she will immediately be pounced on by her sister and demand all the details]

Sam: [and he will head back where Dean is going to want details as well, but Sam is just a grinning idiot with locked lips]

Patience: [and in the morning she will find her father as they're getting ready to leave] Do you have a moment?

Derek: [he will give a few words to the servants and then nod, motioning her to the chairs still in the tent] Of course. What is it?

Patience: [moves to sit and takes a deep breath] When Uncle Stiles first came to stay with us, when he was learning how to be a lord ... do you think that you and Uncle Jordan would be willing to do that again? For the right person?

Derek: Perhaps. It depends on the person and what they wish to learn.

Patience: Sam's father has a very intense focus on physical training. And Sam is not ... he wants to pursue intellectual pursuits as well. But his father won't let him do anything else when he's visiting other lords, and while he did have some relief at tournaments, now his father is expecting him to compete and will not even let him choose the event. I thought that if he had someone to learn from, he would be able to have a more balanced use of his time.

Derek: [nods] Well, it may take some convincing. [sighs] Patience, Lord Winchester came to speak to me after you and Sam left the banquet. He expressed concerns about his son's affection for you taking him away from his training. When I asked him, he said that Sam's mother was killed when Sam was a baby and someone was trying to kidnap him. He was hesitant to tell me more, but that is the reason they are constantly on the move, and why Lord Winchester wants Sam to train. He is afraid that if Sam is apart from him, that whoever wanted him will come back and try to kidnap him again.

Patience: [there's a pause as she processes that, because Sam hasn't mentioned any of that to her. But that doesn't make her want to let this go, it simply makes her want to pull him closer] Do you think that Lord Winchester would agree to stay with us while this was happening? I understand that he wants to protect his son, but what's the point of protecting Sam's life if he doesn't get to live it?

Derek: I could invite him to stay at Hale Manor for the winter. But that would mean we did not travel to Mystic Falls this winter.

Patience: [her face falls a bit] Oh. [not that she looks forward to Mystic Falls trips a great deal, but Miranda and her mother do, and she does love seeing her Aunt Jenna]

Derek: [licks his lips] Unless perhaps your mother could write and invite your aunt here for the winter as well. [smiles to himself] Maybe get your aunt to distract Lord Winchester so you and Sam can have time in the library.

Patience: [eyebrow raise] Jenna or Kate?

Derek: Jenna. Though aunt Kate may be willing to help if asked.

Patience: [she nods] I will talk with Mother about it when we return.

Derek: The less I know about it, the better off we will be. [he smiles at his daughter] You know, you remind me of myself when I was younger.

Patience: Really?

Derek: Yes. Not all aspects, of course. You have taken on all of your mother's elegance and poise, and ladylike ways. But your desire to get involved, sometimes where you shouldn't... it's a very Hale thing to do.

Patience: Sam is my best friend. If I don't get involved for him, why would I for anyone else?

Derek: Because you're a good person. [leans over to kiss her on her forehead] You make me very proud.

Patience: [and that makes her chest swell a bit, before she looks up at him with a smile] Thank you for indulging me.

Derek: You're welcome, Sweetheart. Let me go see if I can catch Lord Winchester before he leaves. Can you help your sisters finish packing?

Patience: [nods] Of course. [and off she'll go to return to her tent]

Derek: [and off he will go to find Lord Winchester and there is a talk, and while John isn't fond of the idea, he also hasn't received any invitations for this winter yet and it's not that far off, so he agrees and they will join the caravan of carts and horses back to Hale Manor]

Patience: [and his daughter will be pleased, and will talk things over with Elena when they get there, and they will agree to invite Jenna out for Christmas, because that's exactly what Hale Manor needs]

Peter: [so many winter guests. Good thing there was a good harvest but this is going to effect their manor accounts.]

Laura: [they'll make it work, relax]

Derek: [and he will of course pull Elena aside because Sam did get around to asking permission to court Patience on the ride to the manor and he wants her opinion]

Elena: [well, she always does love being pulled aside by her husband, though she'll probably assume it's for other reasons]

Derek: [oh, that will obviously be part of it. this can always be pillow talk after]

Elena: [well, married business first, and once that is over, she leans into him with a smile] I missed you too.

Derek: [runs his hands through her hair] The girls had a good time as well. They enjoyed spending the month with me.

Elena: Good. Though Clara will want some one on one time since she had to stay home. [she's still working on managing the full moons so a month long trip with other people was out]

Derek: Of course. [smiles] They are growing up so fast.

Elena: They are. More and more like little adults every day.

Derek: Yes, and we even have our first suitor to deal with.

Elena: [eyebrow raise] Do we?

Derek: [nods] Sam Winchester formally asked to court Patience. I'm almost certain she has already given him permission, but he did come to ask me as well out of respect.

Elena: Mmm. Does his father know?

Derek: I'm not sure. There is some interesting background on this family, which is why I invited them to stay with us for the winter.

Elena: [and that sounds like gossip] Interesting how?

Derek: [and he will tell her about how Lady Winchester died and Lord Winchester's obsession with protecting Sam]

Elena: That ... is a lot to put on a child.

Derek: I know. I feel sorry for the lad.

Elena: Well, hopefully being in the safety of the pack will help give Sam some room to breathe.

Derek: That is my hope. I am sorry that it will keep us from Mystic Falls this winter.

Elena: [shakes her head] No, it's fine. I'm sure Jenna would love a trip up north.

Derek: I'm sure, but even so, it will mean the world to Patience. [kisses her shoulder]

Elena: Which is the important thing.

Derek: Yes. [he will kiss along her neck] So, we got here so quickly upon our reunion I was unable to give you the present I got for you.

Elena: [closes her eyes as she leans into him] A present for me?

Derek: Well, it is really for both of us, but you were the one on my mind as I purchased it.

Elena: Do I get to unwrap it?

Derek: Yes. [and he will kiss her and slide out of bed, walking naked to where the servants had put his trunk. He will open it, and there is a box with a ribbon tied around it. He will bring it back to the bed, putting it into her lap]

Elena: [and she will appreciate the view as he goes before looking down at the box and pushing up into a sitting position so that she can unwrap it]

Derek: [and when she unwraps it, she will find a few pieces of linen that look like glove fingers, but they would be for very big, long fingers. The open end has a ribbon weaved through each one.]

Elena: [her eyebrows raise a bit before she looks up at him curiously] What are these for?

Derek: They are called condoms. The French are using them. It allows them to have sex and not spread disease... or get their wives pregnant.

Elena: [her eyes widen] And they work?

Derek: Yes. They need to be taken off when we are done, and cannot be used until you are wet and ready for me. And if you do not like them, they have a few other kinds from animal parts.

Elena: [that ... does not sounds sanitary, but this seems like it could work for her so she pulls him in] Do you want to try them?

Derek: I do. I have missed being inside of you.

Elena: [smiles as she kisses him] I've missed it too.

Derek: Then let us try and see if it is worth the cost.

Elena: [grins and kisses him more deeply, running her fingers through his hair as she pulls him down over her]

Derek: [and he will take one of the condoms and put the box to the side as he will stretch out over top of her]

Elena: [and she will sink into the bed under him, letting her hands wander as she traces over all the places she knows so well]

Derek: [and he will kiss her deeply, his hand sliding down to go and tease her between her legs, helping get her nice and ready for him]

Elena: [and there will be happy noises from his wife, already excited because it's been so long since they've been able to do this]

Derek: [and when she is ready, he is going to pull away to look for the condom, and slide it on the way that the man had shown him, tightening the ribbon to keep it in place] You ready?

Elena: [she nods, slipping her legs around his hips to pull him closer]

Derek: [and he is going to line himself up and then press in. It's different, the linen taking away the feel of her flesh gripping him. But it's warm and tight and he slowly continues to press in]

Elena: [moans softly as she rocks her hips up to meet him, and while it does feel different, it still feels good to have him inside her again, and her head tips up as she leans in to kiss him]

Derek: [and he will kiss her back, and his hips will rotate a bit, trying to press up against her walls a bit more for a bit more friction on his end]

Elena: [she moans in response, her hips arching up a bit to better meet his thrusts]

Derek: [and he will keep thrusting, speeding up as he gets closer to the edge]

Elena: [and it doesn't take much for her to fall with him, tumbling over the edge with a happy sigh]

Derek: [and just after she goes, he will as well. And since it's been awhile and he totally blew his will save, he is going to bare his fangs and bite his wife, renewing their mate bond]

Elena: [there's a gasp at that, her fingers digging into his back a bit because she wasn't expecting it, and they both drop down against the bed she can't help but wince a little]

Derek: [and he will nurse her neck, kissing her to try and make it better] I apparently missed this a bit too much.

Elena: [she laughs a bit] It's alright. I just wasn't expecting it.

Derek: I can get something cold to put on it...

Elena: [she shakes her head] That would involve you leaving, and I want you to stay right where you are.

Derek: I can do that. [and he will snuggle closer, but he's going to have to untie and take this thongs off soon.]

Elena: [yes, that is a downside, but the pluses are definitely worthwhile] I think that went well otherwise, though.

Derek: Same here.

Elena: Good. It's nice to have an alternative.

Derek: [and he will nuzzle her a moment longer, and then will shift his hips] Okay, love I need to take this thing off.

Elena: [sighs, and pulls back so he can take care of that]

Derek: [and he will do that, putting it in the pot near the bed]

Elena: [and she will pull up the covers, waiting for him to come back]

Derek: [he will slide back into bed with her, pulling her close as he gets under the covers]

Elena: [sighs as she gets comfortable, tracing her fingers over his arm] I'm glad you're home, if that wasn't already clear.

Derek: I am glad to be home. It is hard to be away from you for so long.

Elena: Yes, but it's important for the girls to be out there in the world.

Derek: I know, and they are enjoying it. Though I think Patience doesn't enjoy it as much as she did as a kid.

Elena: She's more aware of things than she used to be.

Derek: And my past sins are now haunting her.

Elena: [rolls over to face him more] You did right by her. Never forget that.

Derek: I know. I wish the other women in the court would give her a chance to prove herself though. Sometimes it feels as if Sam is her only friend.

Elena: Well, the women of Mystic Falls are not the most forgiving. Perhaps it would be worthwhile to have her spend some time in England or Spain.

Derek: I will see which she prefers and we can do that next summer.

Elena: Good.

Derek: And perhaps this winter, you could get to know Sam Winchester a bit. He never had a mother, so if he is wanting to court our daughter, he should know us all better.

Elena: I can do that.

Derek: And, if they do wed... they will most likely live here among us.

Elena: Nothing wrong with that.

Derek: I would prefer it, actually. [because his girls]

Elena: You're not going to be that lucky with all of them.

Derek: I know, but I can hope.

Elena: It doesn't mean you'll never see them again either.

Derek: Yes, but when they are grown up and gone, it will be so quiet.

Elena: It will. But a good kind of quiet.

Derek: You'll be stuck with just me.

Elena: I can live with that.