Rumor's Confirmed

          "ROARK!!"

          "No, Apollo," Adama caught his son's arm, stopping him from following.  "Let him go.  As sorry as I am to say this, it is not us he wants...or needs right now."

          They moved to the patio doors, and when Harry and Rabastan immediately moved to block them, the look in their eyes was enough to make them back up a step.

          "Don't worry, Harry, we have no intention of following him.  Look,"  Raising a hand, he pointed.  They saw a shadow separate from the trees, moving nearly as fast as Roark was.

          "Rodolphus?"

          A nod, and a smile from the two blocking the doorway.  "Yes.  Rodolphus."

                                                                               cccVccc

          Roark hurried down the flagstone path that led to the small pond behind the house.  He saw him, moving out of the woods, coming to meet him.  His lover.  The missing piece of himself.  The piece he had never realized he HAD been missing until he had met this man.

          "RODOLPHUS!!" he called out desperately, throwing himself into his arms as soon as he was close enough, feeling them close around him, pulling him tight against him.

          "Shh..." he murmured as he bent his head, taking in his scent, hugging him against him.  "Easy now, darling.  Calm yourself before you set fire to everything around us," though little fires were already appearing, which Rodolphus immediately doused.  "It's okay.  I have you," he went on in a soft, calming tone, his cheek coming to rest on top of Roark's silky midnight hair, his head snuggling into his chest just under his chin.  "It's going to be alright now, Rory."

           "Yes.  Yes, it will," he breathed, trying to snuggle himself closer yet, his scent filling his nose, calming everything from his fear to his runaway emotions.  "I have never been so glad to see someone as I am to see you.  GODS, Dolph, I've missed you so much."

           "Just as I have missed you," came back just as softly, feeling his shudders beginning to ease as his hands moved over his back.  His head lifted suddenly, eyes narrowing as he looked up at the house.  "They're watching us, you know?"

          A soft snort sounded as he drew back from him, feeling much steadier, calmer.  He looked back over his shoulder.  "Of course they are, but no worries.  Harry and Rabastan will make sure we have at least a few centons."

          Turning back to him, he blinked in surprise as he realized what Rodolphus was wearing.  "You're in uniform," he reached up to touch the gleaming pins on the collar of his scarlet leather jacket.  "Lt. Colonel."

          Rodolphus laughed at the surprise on both his face and in his voice.  "Of course, I'm in uniform.  I'm not undercover at the moment."

          Roark stepped back just enough to raise his hands to his broad, muscular chest.  "You look positively yummy in that uniform, Rodolphus," he said, his silver eyes moving over him slowly, before raising to meet his sherry gaze.

          Rodolphus's brow shot up as amusement flared in his eyes.  "Did you REALLY just say yummy?"

          Roark's face flushed.  "I did, and you are.  Of course, you look good in anything you wear, but this uniform..." his eyes began to sparkle with desire, "you really do look good."

          Rodolphus threw his head back and laughed heartily.  "Oh Roark," he said once he had himself back under control, though he was still chuckling.  "I love you," he said, slipping his arms back around him to draw him flush against him, head lowering to claim his lips in a passionate kiss.

          They both moaned, lips parting immediately to allow tongues in to explore, to duel, Roark's hands fisting against his chest.  Slowly, the kiss ended, Rodolphus lifting his head just a touch, his hand coming up to smooth the backs of his fingers over the warm, flushed cheek, smiling when Roark turned into the caress,

          "As much as I would love to continue that, Adama has pushed his way past our brothers and is on his way down.  Harry and Rabastan are following."

          Roark turned his head, his face suddenly paling when he saw his grandfather, read through some of his surface thoughts.  "He's going to try to prevent us from being together," he murmured, turning his head to look up at his lover and saw the shuttered, narrow-eyed gaze.  "Dolph?"

          "Oh, he certainly intends to try, but remember this, darling," his eyes cleared as he looked down.  "It is our lives, and only we can decide how to live it."

          "He thinks we shouldn't be together.  Because the relation is so close."

          "Hum...To him, perhaps we shouldn't.  Come back to Ravenwood with me.  We will need to talk about this, and a few other things besides.  We will also need to sit down with Severus, Ethan, and Roan."  Brushing his lips to his forehead, he said, "We'll work this out, Roark, I promise."  He stepped past him.  "Good morning, Commander Adama," he said, giving the man a salute.  : Do stop worrying so much, babe.  I love you.  We'll figure it out, but now isn't the time, nor is it the place to do so. :

          : Agreed.  I love you too, : he stepped up beside him, their hands brushing.  "Grandfather, may I present Lt. Colonel Rodolphus Lestrange, Colonial Counter-Intelligence."

          "The Terminator."

          "That is, of course, only one of the many names I have acquired while working undercover these last fourteen yahren."

          A heavy silence as he regarded him.  "So, this is what they have been keeping so quiet about.  You and your brother are Counter-Intelligence Officers.  Well, I am happy to meet you, Lt. Colonel Rodolphus Lestrange."