(no subject)

[palace-anna.livejournal.com]

Occurs before Harry finds out how Ian has screwed him.

Harry walked out of Eric's room and closed the door behind them. Between whatever the hell Eric had been drinking and the random fit of hysterical giggles, the poor man was about done in. Harry didn't envy him the hangover he'd likely have in the morning... but if he was really lucky, Eric would forget all about the "mommy" thing.

"Sin, aren't you coming out of the wrong room? I'm not sure but I don't think this is the Royal Wing." Travis didn't try to hide his smile as he walked up to Harry. "But I'm a little hurt. Thought we were good enough friends that you would call me if you wanted a tumble."

*Travis.* Harry turns around with a huge smile on his face. "I was just putting Bambi to bed to sleep, you bastard. Poor guy got shitfaced and maudlin and needed a friend." Harry gives Travis a fake look of horror. "And don't even suggest that I would be shagging Eric... that's disturbing and very, very wrong!"

"Bambi?" Travis falls against the wall laughing. "Oh, gods Harry. How did you...no, wait I can see it. Don't have to tell me." He takes a minute to get himself back in control. "And what's wrong with Eric? Be no shame having some fun with him."

Harry shudders visibly...how does he explain this....*Ah. I know.* "Travis...imagine that someone just suggested that it would be a good idea if you and Princess Anna had some "fun"." Harry is pretty sure that he hasn't misinterpreted the relationship between Travis and Anna.

Travis freezes, his eyes widening. Staring at Harry, he nods. "Okay, got it." He shakes his head as if to get the thought out of his mind, than glances at the door. "He going to be okay? I saw him earlier. He was going to call his kids."

"We have an understanding then. Let us never speak of it again." Harry winces at Travis's comments. "You got the before... he never mentioned kids, but I must have gotten the after." Harry is sure he must have known that Eric had kids, but if he did, he had completely forgotten about it. "I didn't know you knew Eric." Harry isn't about to start talking about Eric to Travis without getting a little more information out of Travis first.

"Yeah, we've talked a couple times. About...stuff." Much as Travis thinks Harry would understand about Sean, he can't break his promise to Eric. "Mostly me trying not to embarrass him about things I'm doing."

"Yeah, Eric and I do a lot of talking about stuff. Anyway, I think he'll be okay. We had a good laugh at my expense, and giggled like a couple of teenaged girls." Harry smiles at Travis. "You mean there are people who get embarrassed around you? Why, Travis- whatever for?" He gives Travis a wink.

"I don't know myself. I mean, not like I do anything that out of the ordinary, you know?" Travis returns Harry's wink. "So where you heading off to now, Sin? I was actually going to get something to eat if you wanted to join me." His com goes off as he talks and he takes it out. "Someone actually calling me?" He reads the display, his frown becoming a big grin. "Harry, how'd you like to meet someone?" He turns the com to him, showing the message.

Harry is just getting ready to burn Travis when his com sounds. He bites back the comment, waiting until Travis has dealt with the message. Looking at the com over Travis's shoulder, he reads the message: "Hey, Travis. Guess who? Decided to pay a visit and see your face when I get my money." *Anna. Has to be.* Harry looks at Travis, feeling shy and nervous at the idea of meeting Orlando's sister. "I don't want to intrude... I'm sure I'll meet her sooner or later...I'll just go then...Have fun." Harry turns to leave.

"Hey." Travis grabs Harry's arm. "You won't be intruding. Trust me. And I think you'll like my Princess. She's....well, she's not some quiet thing you got to worry what you say around. She's a Captain in Her Majesty's Personal Guard. Got that cause she earned it, not cause of who she is. You're going to be meeting her sometime, why not now. Please? I want you to meet her."

"I don't know, Travis, the last time I met one of Orlando's siblings...Oh hell, at least this time I'm not wearing a sheet. I'll come, but if Orlando gets mad that he didn't get to introduce me to her himself, I'm gonna send him after you." Harry makes a joke about the sheet, but the fact that he is already clothed and not in the process of fucking Orlando makes now seem like a pretty good time to meet Anna.

Travis raises an eyebrow. "There's a story to hear. Come on, she should be coming thru the main entrance." Travis starts walking quickly, responding to the message that he's on his way. "If the Prince says anything, I'll take full blame." Soon they find themselves at the entrance. Travis drops to one knee, his head bowed.

Harry looks down at Travis. Well, that might be how they do things in Dnara, but he didn't bow down before Marton, he wasn't going to do it now. He stands next to Travis, his hands folded together behind his back.

The door opens and a tall figure walks in. His eyes sweep around the room, settling briefly on Travis. "Travis." A deep rumbling voice says, then green eyes glare at Harry, taking him in. A faint expression of disapproval flashes across his face, before he steps to the side, eyes still on Harry.

Anna walks in, a smile on her face as she sees Travis. "Travis!" She rolls her eyes. "How many times have I told you you don't have to do that?" She runs her hand thru his hair, finger lifting his chin up to look at her, then her eyes cut over to Harry. "Who are you?" It's a direct question. "Not a libertine and Travis wouldn't bring a client to meet me." She takes a step to stand in front of Harry, her hand idly running thru Travis's hair still. The man behind her takes a step closer as well.

Harry watches the bodyguard enter the room, followed by the Princess, bowing his head respectfully as she approaches. *Gods, she is so like Orlando!* An impression that is confirmed when she walks right up and starts speaking to Harry. Fighting a smile at the similarity, and keeping his eyes politely lowered, Harry responds. "Good evening, your Royal Highness. I'm Harry Sinclair." Christian didn't know who he was, so he doesn't know if his name will mean anything to Anna...he'd find out soon enough.

"Harry? I've heard of you..." Anna frowns. In truth she had forgotten most of her conversation with Orlando, too busy making the arrangements for the visit. She glances at Travis.

"He's Prince Orlando's, my Princess. He's a retriever."

Anna looks back at Harry, her eyes growing wide. "You're Orli's Harry?" Taking her hand from Travis's hair, she crosses her arms. "And what are your intentions toward my brother?" Her head tilts to the side as she looks at him.

Harry smiles and blushes a little. He should have expected Travis would speak up on that. Still, he answers the question without difficulty. Raising his eyes to look at the Princess, he answers, voice quiet and steady. "To love him for as long as he'll let me, Ma'am."

Anna looks at Harry for a minute more. "If you're with Orli, than you probably know something about the family. I don't have their telepathy, so I can't tell if you're lying. It feels like you're telling the truth, so I'm willing to believe you. But..." She takes half a step forward so she's almost nose to nose with him. "don't hurt him, Harry. I wouldn't like it." From next to them a fireball springs up, and then disappears.

Only the reflexes honed by his years as a retriever keep Harry from shrieking like a girl with a pinched ass and jumping a foot in the air when the fireball appears beside him. Still, he can't keep the shock from leaping into his eyes and making his heart stop for a moment. *Pyrokinetic. Good to know. Christian can dance the socks around and she can light them on fire.* Looking directly into the Princess's eyes, Harry speaks. "Thank you ma'am. If you ask around, my friends and enemies alike will be able to confirm that I don't lie. Ever. And message received."

"It's true, my Princess. I saw it. He loves your brother, only him. I was only able to get him to watch, not play." Travis reaches out for Anna's hand. "He's a good guy. He'd sooner die than hurt your brother." He brings her hand up to the side of his face, resting it there.

Anna looks down at Travis, than back up at Harry. "Good. Just wanted to get straight." She smiles at him, holding her free hand out. "And you can call me Anna, Ma'am is what we call Gwyn." She motions to the bodyguard. "That's Mark. He won't say much til he gets to know you." She tugs on Travis's hand, pulling him up. "Nice to meet you, Harry. Any chance the pub is still open?"

Harry blushes at Travis's words about him, then grins at Anna and reaches out to shake her hand, giving a nod to Mark the bodyguard. "Great to meet you, Anna. And around here, the pub is always open." He gives her a wink, glad to be done with the formal.

"Good to hear." Anna winks back. "Made the visit in more of a rush than I had planned. Only Orli knows I'm here. And since Travis is going to be buying the first round with my money," she giggles at his wince. "I told you. You didn't want to believe me about Craig. He's almost as bad as you are, Travis."

Harry laughs at the reminder of Travis's lost bet, leading the way to the pub. "Yeah, I was with Travis when he realized it. Pounded his head into the table a fair few times. Amazing how fast things change, innit?" Harry turns to look at Anna. "Is Craig threatening you with teal or peach chiffon? I'm trying to bargain for a nice lilac, but so far he hasn't gone for it."

"Teal? Peach?" Anna frowns as she glances at Travis, only to get a shrug in return. "Lilac what? Have you two already been to the pub?"

Harry snorts. "Yes actually, but that's not why. Craig is just threatening evil bridesmaid's dresses. I'm sure in actuality he'll let the guys wear something in the suit family to the wedding, but it makes for a damned funny mental image."

"Craig?" Anna stopped. "Bridesmaids dresses? Wedding?" She runs forward and grabs Harry's arm, whirling him around. "Harry, what the hell are you talking about?

Harry frowns. "Craig and David of course." And then it hits him. "Oh shit! Oh holy fucking hell. Princess is gonna be furious and Daisy is gonna kick my ass! Fuck!" Pausing, and realizing the number of times he has just sworn in front of Anna, Harry blushes in a truly spectacular fashion.

"Craig and David?" Anna remembers talking with Orlando. "Them. That's who he was talking about, Craig and David. They're....they're getting married? When did this..." Her face flushes in anger as she starts walking to the pub. "And when were they planning on telling us? A retriever knows my brother is getting married before I do! Dammit Orlando!" She almost growls. "Something tells me I'm going to need to have a talk with my dear brothers." She stops suddenly and turns back to Harry. "Christian's still here, isn't he? Another one that needs talking to." She starts walking again, her pace quickening.

Harry hangs his head and follows behind Anna. *Will you ever learn to keep your mouth shut, you fucking idiot.* "Anna, I'm sorry- I never would have mentioned it if I hadn't thought you already knew." *And thank you, Craig for failing to mention that I needed to stay quiet past the point of waiting for Orlando to know.*

Anna whirls back around, than stops as she looks at Harry. She sighs. "It's not your fault Harry." She puts her hand on his shoulder. "We love each other, but we don't see each other all that much, so it's easy to forget. And I'm sorry too, bout making it sound like you were just someone who worked here instead of being special to Orlando. I'm glad you knew. You must be special to Craig too then."

"Special or not, Daisy is still gonna kick my ass on Craig's behalf." Harry grumbles, mostly to himself. He looks at Anna. "No offense taken. And technically, I don't work here. I retrieve for Palace through an independent agency that has an exclusive contract... I'm just here an awful lot."

Anna smiles. "Daisy, huh? And what did you call Craig, Princess?" She pats his arm. "You tell both of them, if they lay a finger on you; they're going to have more to answer to me for. Come on, let's have those drinks." She hooks her arm in Harry's and tugs on it to get him walking again. "Course this means at the very least I'm going to have to tell embarrassing stories about all of them. Only fair. Maybe even one or two about Travis." She looks over her shoulder at him, blowing him a kiss.

Travis smiles back. "He's watched me, my Princess. And he's had to have heard some other things. But he was nice enough not to leave me lying in the hall. Helped me to an empty room."

Anna laughed. "So you know about Travis falling asleep after he...."

"Oh yeah. Our Travis, the precious little slut-puppy. Runs around and plays, gets tired and crashes wherever he happens to be at the time, rests up, and starts all over again." Harry laughed. "And yes, David is Daisy, and Craig is Princess... or lately the Princess Bride." She's going to hear David's nickname wherever she goes in the building, so she may as well know now rather than later.

"Slut puppy? Oh my god I never thought of it like that before. That's exactly what he does." Anna laughs. "Orli warned me about you handing out nicknames, though he wouldn't tell me any of the ones you have for him. Daisy and Princess. I'm going to have to remember that."

Harry grins at Anna as they walk into the pub. "Yeah, the nickname thing. I don't go looking for them; just wait for them to find me. I'm pretty much the only one who calls Craig "Princess", but David will answer to Daisy just as naturally as he will his given name. And "slut puppy” is more of a description than a nickname... I still haven't found Travis's actual nickname, despite the fact that he's one of only about three people who's managed to pin one on me." Harry gestures to a table off to the side of the pub. "What can I get everyone? It's on Travis."

"Mark will have one shot of whiskey, than coffee the rest of the time. Just get two beers for me and Travis." Anna sits down at the table, Travis next to her and Mark a little ways away. "So, you were able to give Harry a nickname?"

Travis smiles. "He sent me a message, only it cut out half way thru his name. I only saw 'Sin', so that's what I call him." He turns serious. "I'm glad you're here, my Princess. I was already missing you. This place is kinda like ours, but it's just different enough." He shakes his head.

"I missed you too, Travis. But you've had fun here, haven't you? Otherwise Harry wouldn't have something to call you. Found a playmate yet?" She looks up as the drinks are brought to the table.

Harry gives the drink orders to the waiter behind the bar, ordering his favorite stout for the three beer drinkers, and follows the server to the table, just in time to hear Anna ask if Travis has a playmate yet. Harry snorts loudly, and sits down.

Travis blushes as he reaches for his beer. "There is one, Brad. He's....I like playing with him. I'm his pet." He takes a drink, looking up at Anna. "He likes to pull my hair." A corner of his mouth curls up into a smile. "Not that there aren't others who I've played with, or want to." He adds with a rush.

"Oh, of that I'm sure." Anna messes up Travis's hair. She takes a drink of her beer, nodding her approval of it to Harry. "This is good stuff Harry. Or should I call you Sin, too?" She smiles at him. "So how is Father? And Sean? Both well I hope."

Harry smiles at seeing Travis blush. *Now that's something I didn't think I'd see.* "Anna, I'm going to give you blank cheque on the nickname issue- as an apology for spilling the wedding news before your brother could tell you himself. Marton and Sean are both well. And I've just met Christian recently too. My list of Royals I know has finally started to exceed my list of the ones I haven't."

Travis frowns to himself, wondering how he can ask about Sean and the King without mentioning Eric. He takes a drink, deciding to wait and see if he can find out on his own.

"Well, Mother and Gwyn don't leave Dnara too often, so you probably won't see them til the wedding. And Jake..." Anna's voice trails off as she stares at her beer. At the mention of her brother's name, Travis looks at her, then at Mark. A low growl comes from the bodyguard, his eyes flashing.

Harry raises an eyebrow at this. He thinks back, and Orlando has never mentioned Jake. Not once. "I'm sure I'll meet everyone eventually." Harry decides to avoid mentioning the odd looks, pauses and growls. They want him to know, they can bring it up themselves.

"It might be better if you didn't." Anna tries to smile. "Do you know anything about Dnara, Harry? About how we do things there?"

Harry shakes his head. "I grew up in Belize- I'm a born freeman- and I've been coming to Palace since I was younger than you are now. I'm not that familiar with Dnara at all actually. Sorry about that."

"Don't be." Anna sighs. "Jake is the third boy, between Craig and Orli. Jake grew up with me and Gwyneth, her and Christian are twins. Christian's older though." She looked up at Harry. "Dnara is a matriarchy, Harry. Can you guess why he wouldn't like me very much?"

Harry ponders this. "You would supersede him in terms of being in line to a throne, even though you're younger than he is, by virtue of being female. But you're younger than Orlando too, and I can't see it bothering him?"

"But Orli's not Dnaran, he's Caleran." Anna took another drink. "It's easy to see why Mother took me and Gwyn, but no one knows why she took Jake and not Orli. It would make sense, keep the three oldest boys together, Orli doesn't have a problem with not having a chance at the throne. But Jake..." She shrugs. "When I talked to Orli, he mentioned that he had heard a rumor about Jake coming here. I'm wondering why now."

Harry frowns. "Okay, I don't understand what makes Orlando Caleran and Jake Dnaran, but whatever. Jake is coming here? Orlando has never mentioned him before." Harry's head is starting to hurt from sorting out the whole royal family issue.

"When they split us up, they decided to make us one or the other. We don't have double allegiances, Harry. We're not from both Kingdoms, just the one we grew up in. And Orli doesn't like talking about Jake, he's in the same boat as I am as far as Jake's concerned. He won't always show it, but he doesn't like us much."

Travis moves his chair over enough to allow him to rest his head in Anna's lap, while Mark continues to glare as he drinks his coffee. Both men are too devoted to Anna to truly like her brother, but as he is their Prince they have little say in how he treats her.

Realization dawns on Harry. "So Jake is a member of a royal family for a kingdom for which he can never rule, although his youngest sister can, and he isn't a member of the royal family of the kingdom for which his younger brother is third in line for the throne? I guess it makes sense, in a fucked up way." He stops and looks up. "Sorry about that. Trying to learn to think before I speak, but haven't gotten far."

Anna runs her hand thru Travis's hair again. "It's okay. No offence taken. It doesn't really make sense but that how it is. I'm not even sure why I'm telling you all this. But if Jake's coming here...." She shrugs. "Not saying he's going to try anything. Just maybe someone else should know about how we are." She smiles as she looks at Travis and Mark. "As you can see, they don't really care for him, either."

"Yeah... that's really tough to tell at a distance." Harry says, politely sarcastic.

"We can't do anything, he's still Prince. And he's not always nice." Travis sighs.

Anna frowns, and then shakes her head. "Alright, enough of that. Jake will happen if he happens. Back to you and Orli." She smiles. "He told me how you two met. That's why I made sure you were going to be good to him. And I know you will be."

Harry blinks at the shift in topic, and blushes a little. *Fuck- I'm turning into Daisy here!* "I- thanks. I mean, I will be I-" Harry cuts off, feeling like an idiot.

Anna reaches for Harry's hand, giving it a hard squeeze. "I know. I can see it as much as Travis can now. He's lucky to have you, Harry. Now, should I ask about Christian? Or as he not been here long enough yet? When did he show up?"

Harry smiles at Anna, and then starts to giggle when she asks when Christian showed up. It isn't even that funny anymore, and he's gotten to know Christian since. But Harry is getting to that tired phase where things start being funny again.

"Um...He showed up...over a week ago I think. Actually, could tell you the exact date and time, prolly. Could even describe what I was *not* wearing!" Harry giggles again.

Anna's mouth drops open. "No, he didn't it. While you and Orli were..." A wicked smile crosses her face. "So, how much were you and Orli...."?"

Harry turns to Anna in shock. "I did NOT say that last part out loud. I did NOT!"

"Sure you didn't, Harry." Anna winks at him as she takes another drink. "Don't know what I was talking about. Now, we wouldn't be having a double wedding and you just don't want to say it, are we?"

Harry stops laughing and gets quiet. He tries to smile, and pulls off something that's more like a grimace. "Um, no pretty much just Craig and David."

"But you'll let me know if that changes, right?" Anna can't help but tease Harry. "Would you pick the teal or the lilac?"

Harry forces a laugh, hoping it sounds convincing. "Well, the lilac was my idea in the first place, so I'd probably go with that."

"Alright, I'll stop. I blame the trip." Anna hides her smile. "Not even sure where we're going to sleep." She looks down at Travis. "There enough room with you, Travis?"

Travis nods his head. "You can have my bed. I'll sleep in a chair. And enough room on the floor for Mark."

Harry is grateful that Anna has decided to drop it. He just isn't going to go there yet- not even as a joke. "You know there are about a billion spare rooms here, right? We are in the best brothel in the country... there isn't a lack of beds here!" Harry laughs at the sleeping arrangements.

Anna laughs. "Sorry, wasn't thinking. Been a while since we visited. And then we had our rooms waiting for us upstairs. Going to guess Christian is already in the Blue room." She leans forward. "So anything about Orli you want to know? Be willing to tell you anything, especially since he thought it was funny to wait for me to find out about David and Craig."

Harry pauses to think about this. "I don't know... I'd love to see more pictures of him when he was growing up. I'd love more pictures of him, period. I can't think of any dirt on him I need right now, but I could probably listen to you just talk about him all day."

"He's almost too sweet for his own good, I'm sure you've found that out. I'm probably closest to him and not just with the age thing. I love him to pieces and we do probably have more stories on each other than it's good to have. And we don't talk enough, but than it's like that with all of us." Anna shakes her head. "Damn you must have it bad to just want to hear anything about Orli. Hell, you probably know him better now than I do. I should be asking you for stories."

Harry ducks his head a little. "I love him so much. I'd do anything to make him happy. I promise, I won't do anything to hurt him if I can help it. Not ever." Harry's voice is soft.

"I know. He is damned lucky to have you. Same as Craig is lucky to have David." Anna finishes her beer, than smiles as she realizes Travis has fallen asleep. "I suppose we should get to our room. I'm going to guess you can find us an empty one?"

Harry smiles. "Yeah, I can find you a vacant room no problem. Orlando's gonna kick my ass if you don't come and see him pretty quickly though. Does he know you're here, or is it still meant to be a surprise? And are you gonna rat me out to Princess and Daisy, or let them tell you?" Harry finishes off the last of his beer, and looks at Travis. "And what are we gonna do with the slut puppy? We can't leave him cuddled up in a bar booth!"

"He's knows I'm going to visit, but managed to get here quicker than I thought, so he doesn't know I’m here yet. And I'll let them tell me, I don't want you to get into trouble with them.

For an answer about Travis, Mark stands up and carefully picks him up. Travis mumbles, stirring just a little against him. There's the faintest of smiles on Mark's face as he stands there and waits for them to leave.

Harry groans. “You’d better come see him soon. I mean, really. You try keeping a secret from a telepath."

"Orli can't read me; he never has been able to. And I can't really hear him when he tries to talk to me. That's one connection he has with the others that we don't have. But I can hear Christian fine when he sends, so we don't know how that works." Anna frowns a little, than shrugs as she gets up from the table. "But don't worry, he'll be seeing me soon enough. And the others." She smiles at him. "I'm glad I met you, Harry. I can tell you're a good friend to my Travis."

Harry is interested when Anna mentions that Orlando can't read her. He still isn't sure what to make of this natural block that Christian says he has. He makes a mental note to ask her more about this sometime. "Travis is a good mate. He's open and honest and knows what he wants. Those traits are rarer than they should be." Harry looks at Mark holding Travis. "His rooms first, then a spare one for you two?"

Anna nods, throwing the money on the table for the drinks. "That's what I like about him too." She scowls a little. "I wish I could get him to just call me Anna. Him of anybody has that right. But he won't. I ask him to, hell I've ordered him to. He just shakes his head. Sometimes I think it's not going to be til he works off his debt that he will. Him and Mark are both like that." She glances over at them. "They've seen me through more things than I want to think about, but I'm still their Princess."

Mark looks at Anna, and then steps toward the door, pretending to be interesting in making sure Travis is still asleep.

Harry shakes his head and sighs. “And then there's me, complete opposite side of the coin, totally unused to the formality. I've been friends with Sean for 25 years, and if you're friends with Sean, you know Marton... It's hard to be formal with you lot when I'm not formal with him, y'know?"

"Yeah, I thought that 'Ma'am' sounded a little forced." Anna smiles at him. "And Father's like Christian. There's a time and place for formality and then there isn't. But if you've met him than you already know that. Gwyn can be a little standoffish, but not too bad." She doesn't mention Jake, instead starting to follow Mark. "But I'm like Christian too. If I like and know you, it's Anna. But you better not assume that I do til I tell you. And not everyone get to call me Anna. Some get all the titles shoved at them."

"Oooh, *all* the titles? How many do you have? Anything as poncy sounding as the Marquis of Canterbury?" Harry sobers slightly. "I don't want you to think it's from any lack of respect... more like an excess of familiarity. It's hard to imagine being terribly formal with either Christian or Craig after they've seen me in nothing but a bed sheet." Harry's tone doesn't change, but there is a glint in his eye at the last part of the sentence.

"Oooh, does that mean I'll get to one day? You know, since it's a family tradition and all." Anna giggles. "And I don't have that many. The whole thing is 'Her Royal Highness Princess Anna Helene, Lady of the Realm of Tscar, Duchess of Darquez, Captain in Her Majesty's Personal Guard, youngest child of King Marton of Calera and Queen Catherine of Dnara and second in line of succession to the Royal Throne of Dnara.'

"NO! I have reached my quota of Royals who get to see me in a state of undress. In fact, I've long gone over it." Harry fake glares at Anna. "And that's one hell of a list, Ma'am. Very impressive and regal." Tips the wink to Anna.

Anna pouts. "Fine. Spoil my fun." She keeps the pout going for a minute before winking back. "It's not bad, I'll admit. And I have made people say that whole mess before. I made one idiot say it backwards. He was lucky he'd have been missed if I had just fried him."

Harry manages to snort and laugh at the same time. "Yeah, you I'm gonna try real hard to not piss off. Do you know how close I came to shrieking like a sissy girl when you exploded that thing off next to me?"

Anna laughs. "You mean no one told you that about me? I'm surprised. Yeah, sometimes I let it get away from me. Used to be worse when I was little. Then Christian helped me with my control. So it doesn't just happen, not that my temper or wanting to use it has gotten any better. I'm sorry. Forgive me?" A sincere look on her face.

Harry looks at Anna. "Anna- I was kidding. It did surprise the hell out of me, and no, I hadn't been told about it. No one told me about Christian being telekinetic either, until he started dancing socks around the room, making me think someone had spiked the wine! Besides, that's when retriever instincts come in handy. So I'm not going to forgive you, because there isn't anything you need to be forgiven for."

"Thank you." On impulse Anna leans up and kisses him on the cheek. "I like you Harry. Hope we can be as good of friends as you are to my Travis and brothers."

Harry gives Anna a huge smile, and leans down to give her a kiss on the forehead. "Thanks, firecracker. I think you and I are going to get along just fine." Harry stops in front of a door. "This is Travis's stop."

Anna's smile grows bigger. "So, I take it I've been made official now. I like it." She goes to open the door, scowling when she realizes her bracelet is with her bags in the main hall. Sighing, she motions Mark to bring Travis closer to use his. Then she steps aside to let Mark in first as she turns on the light. She looks around his room. "It's nice. He hasn't really put any of his things up though." That's when a picture catches her eye. It's one of her, Mark and Travis taken on her birthday. She shows it to Harry. "I used my camera. Set it up and took the picture automatically. Made a copy for each of us."

Harry looks at the picture. Seeing the group together reminds him that there are no pictures of him and Orlando together. Reminds him how much he cherishes the one picture he has of him and Karl together. "Right- you said you took pictures. It's a great shot."

"I already promised Orli I would take one of you two. However he wants it." Anna smiles at him as she takes the picture back.

Harry starts to blush. "How did you- you said you weren't telepathic!"

"I'm not, but I could read that look from a mile away. When he said there wasn't one of you two, I knew I had to take one. I can make a copy for each of you. Of however many pictures you want."

"My Princess." Mark's voice comes from Travis's bed. He had been trying to set him down, only to have Travis grab hold of his arm. He had pulled it toward him, resting under his chin. "Stay, Mark. Been so long since..." his voice trails off.

"You can stay with him, Mark. Harry will show me to a room for tonight, than tomorrow we'll figure things out. Our stuff is still in the hold room off the main hall anyway."

Mark's face shows he's clearly torn between wanting to stay with Travis and fulfilling his duty to watch over his Princess.

Harry can't find the words to explain how happy he is at the idea of having pictures of him and Orlando. He hopes that the look he is giving Anna explains it well enough. Listening to Anna's speak to Mark, Harry gives him a smile. "Don't worry, mate. I'll take care of her. Besides, even if she wasn't my lover's sister, she doesn't have the right kind of equipment for me anyway. Pretty much just a guy's guy. Her honour is safe with me."

Mark looks at Harry for a long moment, then nods. "Travis said you could be trusted. So I will. Tomorrow, my Princess." Carefully moving Travis, he lays down next to him, waiting for the smaller man to wrap himself back around him. Then holding him, he closes his eyes.

Anna waves Harry out of the room, turning the light off as they leave. She waits at the door, listening. "Thanks, Harry." Taking his arm again, she starts to lead him down the hall.