New: Will You Remember? 5/? (LOTRps Viggo/Elijah) [NC-17]

[saklani2.livejournal.com]

Hi all!

Well, this took me forever to get betaed, but here it is! I hope you enjoy this 36 pages part. I am going to go collapse now. In fact, its so big I needed to cut in half to post! Please Enjoy!

*falls in heap*

Saklani

 Title: Will You Remember
Author: Saklani (saklani@wildmail.com) and Wushu
Codes: Viggo/Elijah
Rating: NC-17
Beta: Wymsie *covers her with kisses*
Disclaimer:We do not own these men, or anything else mentioned here. We are not looking to make money from this... God forbid. And We are NOT them nor is what we put down here real.
Summary: An artist and photographer strikes up an unlikely partnership with a prostitute.
Author's Notes: This story was inspired by a line in one of Curthose's lovely Viggo/Elijah fictions. I would tell you which line, but that would give away a lot of plot, so I'm holding out on everyone. This is definitely an AU with large liberties taken with both men. Please forgive us our trespasses. I hope you enjoy!

Sweetheart, sweetheart, sweetheart,
Though our paths may sever,
To life's last faint ember,
Will you remember?





Viggo awoke lazily from a dream about swimming in the depths of impossibly blue eyes and blinked a few sleepy times at the ceiling. He rolled over and noted the clock said it was just passed eight am. Forcing himself out of the warm cocoon of his bed, he pulled on an old robe, slipped on a pair of slippers and padded toward the kitchen. Turning on the central heat, a comfort installed by the previous owner, he paused to peer in on his guest. A smile blossomed on his face, as he noted only an unruly mop of hair sticking out from beneath the checkered quilt. Viggo went softly by, not wanting to disturb his model from the bliss of slumber. In a moment, the smell of brewing cocoa filled the cabin, as Viggo mixed a cup of his favorite morning vice.

//What was that smell?"// Elijah thought as he started to wake. Getting up from the bed and squinting at the light, he managed to keep the bedding wrapped around him, even covering his head so all that could be seen was a forehead and two eyes as he followed the smell into the kitchen.

Viggo sat at the table, sipping his chocolate and examining a camera. He looked up, hearing a soft rustling nose, and began to laugh softly. Not speaking a word, he lofted the camera and snapped four quick pictures. "Good morning, Monkey. Warm enough?"

"What's that smell?" Elijah could not get his mind beyond that simple question.

"Hot chocolate," Viggo said. "Want some?" He did not wait for an answer, getting up to make another cup. "And what do you want for breakfast?"

"Food? Too early!" Taking the mug between both hands and still holding the bedding around himself, he blew on the liquid in the cup until he could sip safely.

"Early?" Viggo laughed and went to the kitchen window, peering out into the woods. "Its not early, Monkey. All the animals have been awake for hours. Did you hear the chorus of birds at dawn? I love it here." He rested his elbows on the sill and stared out contentedly.

Elijah shuffled his way over to the table, sitting down and looking over at Viggo. "How can you be so cheerful?" He took several small sips from the mug. "This is good, though."

"Would you rather I be testy and cross?" Viggo asked, watching a Stellar's Jay perch on a nearby tree and squawk noisily at a passing squirrel. "And I'm glad you like it. Ghiradelli's own. Nothing but the best."

Elijah nodded, pretending he understood what Viggo said. He did not look out the window, but asked, "Do they have to be so loud? Its so early."

Unable to control himself, Viggo began chuckling. He clutched his stomach a little and just let the laughter roll over him in gentle waves. "Go back to bed, Monkey," he said finally. "I won't subject you to the morning if you're going to be so adverse to it."

Elijah managed to grumble, "I'm awake now... I won't be able to get back to sleep... not with all this noise." His grumpy expression started to clear, a small smile on his lips.

"Yes, damn those birds for wanting to sing," Viggo said with a completely straight face. He went to the fridge and got out some milk. He filled a bowl with granola and added the milk, carrying them and a new mug of cocoa to the table. Digging in, he said between bites, "Did you sleep well in my bed?"

"I slept very well, thank you. I had some interesting dreams, too." He grinned a little, his eyes moving as he watched Viggo eat, and still swaddled in the warm bedclothes. "Thank you for the extra quilt."

"I dreamed a lot, too, though I can't remember what exactly anymore," Viggo said, shoveling in another large mouthful of granola. "I think you were there, though."

"You dreamed about me?" Elijah grinned, liking that idea a great deal. "What was I doing it?"

Viggo tried to picture the dream, but all he got was swirling images of blue eyes and a vague notion of drowning in them. He shook his head finally, smiling ruefully. "Sorry, it won't come back to me. I know it was a good dream though. I was sorry to wake up." He polished off the granola, letting his spoon fall into the bowl with a satisfying clatter.

"You don't look sorry to be up. In fact, I think you're reveling in it!" Elijah shook his head, a full-fledged grin on his lips now. "You are a strange man, but you're ok!"

"I'm glad I meet with your approval," Viggo said with a smile in return. "I'm going to go put on some clothes and test the morning. Take your time. We'll start whenever you feel ready." He reached out and tugged the covers playfully, before heading for his bedroom again and depositing the dish in the sink on the way.

Elijah did not move, just snuggled into the covers and watched the world with slowly focusing eyes, sipping his mug until the hot chocolate was all gone.

Pulling on extra layers, Viggo grabbed his backpack and went back to the kitchen. Grinning at the sight of the still groggy Monkey, he began filling it with lunch food and snacks. Satisfied he had enough for his hungry model, he grabbed his camera, a few lenses and headed outside to test them out.

"Where are you going?" Elijah pouted as Viggo started to walk away.

Stopping at the door, Viggo looked back over his shoulder. He set down the bags and wandered back to the kitchen. "You need something?"

"I was kinda thinking the other way around... unless you don't want to photograph me..."

"I do want to photograph you," Viggo said reassuringly. "I just planned on going outside while you got ready. I can definitely see that I should not have made you get up so early."

Elijah giggled a little. "Sorry. I've been woken up with glasses of water more often than I care to remember."

Viggo sat down heavily in the chair next to him. "I- I don't know what to say... how fucking inconsiderate comes to mind."

Elijah looked more than a little surprised at Viggo's reply. "I didn't expect you to say that..."

"It is," Viggo said vehemently. "I don't care what the circumstances."

"I got used to it..." He stood suddenly and with his usual energy. "I'm awake now. I will get ready." He flashed Viggo a much brighter smile before heading toward the bedroom.

Viggo traced idle patterns on the table, thinking about his passionate reaction to what his model viewed as perfectly ordinary behavior. He loathed that someone so young, someone who had so many layers and so much spirit, should be indifferent to such treatment. The book needed to say that somehow-- if not in the pictures, than perhaps in text.

Elijah unwrapped himself in the bedroom, making the bed before he got changed. He dressed in his newest, and therefore thickest, pair of blue jeans, a white singlet and a t-shirt. He added a button down, deep blue, and then grabbed his only warm jacket- a battered and well-loved tan bomber . Checking himself in the mirror, Elijah nodded and made his way out into the kitchen again. "Is this ok?"

"You look... perfect," Viggo said lamely, his mouth wanting to supply several other words first. He smiled and gestured to the fridge. " Eat first?"

Elijah shook his head. "It takes my body a while to realize it's awake, and my stomach is the last thing. I won't be hungry for a few hours. Want to start tramping the wild?"

"Yes, I do," Viggo said. He grabbed them a few drinks, which he forgot to pack before and then stopped. "Here, put these in my backpack, please. I need to get you some gloves." He hurried back into his room, emerging a few moments later with a pair of handmade mittens.

Taking them, Elijah looked up at Viggo. "They look like someone made them... not just bought from a store."

"My mother made them for me when I was a teenager," Viggo said, "though I refused to wear something so utterly childish as mittens made by my mother." He laughed a little at himself and then took one of his model's small hands, slipping on the mitten. "Perfect."

"I-" Elijah blinked a few times, looking down at their hands, not wanting Viggo to see the tears in his eyes. "They are... thank you."

Slipping the other one on, Viggo said, "You seem to get cold so easily. I don't want your hands to freeze." He squeezed the mittened hand easily before hefting his backpack and heading for the door. "Off we go, into the wild blue yonder."

"Do you want me to carry something?" He followed Viggo, tugging on a strap from Viggo's bag.

"Nope, its all my burden. You get to romp around free, so I can take pictures as we go." He pulled out his camera, putting on one of the shorter lenses. "Just do whatever you want, unless I tell you otherwise."

Stepping out of the house, Elijah looked around with a smile before slipping his sunglasses on. "So, you think I'll do what you tell me to do?"

Viggo took a snap of the impish smile and then started walking toward a small path to their right. He considered answering the question, but there seemed no right answer. So, he merely continued walking, turning now to take photographs.

Elijah ignored Viggo's camera, letting himself be natural. For a moment, he stayed where he was and turned around in a slow circle, looking at everything. "Its very pretty here."

"Yes," Viggo said, looking away from the camera and toward the scenery. "I love it here. Things seem more real here than in the city. People tire me out sometimes, so I come here to replenish my spirit."

"Do you bring people here much?" Elijah stopped turning around when he was facing Viggo fully.

"No," Viggo said. "My son sometimes. Once in awhile, a close friend who needs a vacation from life. And you." He took a photograph of the bright face turned toward him, the cold making his cheeks and nose pink.

"Thank you."

Viggo led them to a fork in the trail and asked, "Left or right? You get to choose."

Elijah looked down at his mittened hands, and then pointed with his left hand, toward the right. "That way!"

"Like the mittens?" Viggo asked, walking the way indicated. "This way leads to a lovely vista, so you made a good choice."

"Like the mittens? I don't understand..." Elijah trotted a few steps until he was beside Viggo and looked up at him, his expression questioning.

"Do you like them?" Viggo asked, slowing a little as they started to climb up a steeper section of trail.

"They are very warm and snuggly. Thank you for lending them to me." Elijah looped his arm through Viggo's as they climbed, hoping the older man would not mind and wanting the contact with him enough to dare.

"There's a fallen log ahead," Viggo said, taking one of the mittened hands in his own. "Its taller than either of us. Are you afraid of heights? I'd like to take a few photographs of you walking on the top, but not if you don't like heights.... and you can keep the mittens."

"I'm fine with heights." Elijah paused as Viggo's last words sunk in. "You're Mom made them for you, Viggo! I can't keep them! They are like a family heirloom! I'm sure Henry could use them or something! They are part of his family..."

"Oh, don't worry. She knitted him a pair every year for Christmas until he wanted to throw them at her," Viggo said, laughing into the cold air. His breath puffed out before them, wafting away. "I want you to have them."

Elijah did not know what to say to the last except, "Thank you." He felt a little overwhelmed and squeezed Viggo's hand.

There loomed suddenly by the edge of the trail an uprooted tree, its roots pointing out toward them in a jumbled, tangled mess. "Here's the tree," Viggo said, gently releasing the small hand with a final squeeze. "I would like a few photographs by the roots, before we find a way up."

Elijah walked over to the tree, looking back at Viggo asking softly, "What happened to it?" Pulling off one of his mittens, he reached to touch the rough bark, running his fingers over it slowly.

"The same thing that happens to all of us in the end," Viggo said, taking pictures all the while, "if we're lucky. Old age finally caught up with this tree, after seven hundred years of watching the world go by. Imagine being here through all that history... all those lifetimes of a human." He walked over to pat the trunk himself.

Elijah expression turned pensive and sad, and the same emotions colored his voice when he spoke, "I wish I'd seen it before it fell. It must have been a beautiful tree." Leaning forward even more, Elijah pressed his cheek to the bark, moving his head just enough to feel the rough scratch.

"You do see it, all around you," Viggo said, gesturing to the other trees. "These are its offspring, its friends, its relatives. Nothing ever really dies." He smiled and held out a hand to his model. "How do you want to get up?"

"I don't know..." He eyed the tree even as he reached out to take Viggo's hand. "How about you carry me on your back?" Elijah teased lightly as he tried to map a route to climb the tree.

"I can, if you really want me to," Viggo said, returning the smile.

"Hey! I'm not that small! Take that back!" He stomped his foot and put his hands on his hips. He still held Viggo's hand and pulled the larger man closer. "Pick on someone your own size!"

"You asked," Viggo reminded him mildly. He grinned wickedly and then used their close position to grab his model and toss him over one shoulder. "Now, let me see," he said, pacing along the edge of the tree, "how shall I do this?"

"You put me down before someone gets hurt! I mean... an old guy like you doesn't have the stamina ne thinks he does..." A wicked chuckle colored Elijah's voice as he spoke, wriggling madly as he tried to free himself.

Viggo smacked him once, though not hard, in response to that comment and found a place to clamber up the tree. "My son weighs more than you, and I can still haul him around." He got a tighter grip and began to climb. "Better hold on up there, Monkey."

Feeling Viggo start to climb, Elijah went still, not wanting to throw Viggo's balance, and wrapped both his legs and arms around Viggo's torso. " If you drop me, I'm so taking you to the cleaners."

Not answering, Viggo grabbed a high branch and pulled them both up to the top. He placed his model down, grinned once and jumped back to the ground. "There, perfect. And I'm not" -he let out a few pants for effect- "not even winded. So much for your old man theory!"

Elijah leaned over the side of the trunk, looking down at Viggo. "Wait until you try and keep up with me all night long" -although the words were meant to be inflectionless Elijah could not keep all the desire out of his voice- "and then we'll continue the conversation about old men."

Viggo snapped a picture of him peeking over. "That'll be a classic. Want to walk along the tree for me?" He angled to get some better shots and then called out, "And don't think I won't take you up on that, brat! Old man, indeed."

Elijah snorted, muttering to himself, "You have no idea what it means to take me up on that offer, Viggo... the things I want to do to you." He shook his head, closing his mouth with an audible snap, very glad Viggo could not hear him, and started walking up the tree as requested.

Viggo followed along in pace at first, then stopped and took some pictures while still. Just as Viggo opened his mouth to say they were done with the tree, a stream of light filtered through the branches and formed a halo around his model. "Wait! Stop there. Like it was made to order..." He stood there gazing through his lenses, the camera whirring as quickly as he could make it go. "You look- transcendent."

Elijah stared down at Viggo, holding almost completely still. His eyes looked a million years old, filled with breathtaking knowledge and pain.

Walking forward, Viggo kept snapping pictures, until he focused in just on the face- the expression and beauty. When the camera began to whine futilely, out of film, he lowered it and gazed up in rapture. "This is where I belong," he said into the still air, "looking up at you."

"You shouldn't put me on a pedestal, Viggo. I'll stumble and fall... and no one will be there to catch me."

"No pedestals," Viggo said, still looking up at him, "and I'm here, if you want to get down." He reached up, offering assistance.

Elijah looked down at Viggo's hand, reached out to take it, leaning almost dangerously forward, and tugged. "Come up."

"All right, let me put the camera away." He tucked it safely back in its bag and slung the bag over his shoulder. Grasping branches, he climbed up easily to stand with his model. Viggo placed one hand gently on a small shoulder and looked around. "Lovely, is it not?"

Elijah's arm crawled around Viggo, draping over Viggo's hip as Elijah stared out into the day. "Very lovely. I wouldn't mind a view like this all the time."

"Wait until we clear the trees near the top of the trail, and you can see the view spread out before you. There are miles of unblemished land here, and you can truly see forever."

"Forever? I'd like to see forever..." Elijah smiled, leaning against Viggo a little more. "Will you show me?"

"Yes, and we can eat something while we gaze over it," Viggo said, supporting the slight body.

"Sounds like a plan to me. But... in a minute... I like the view here, and I wanna savor it for a little while more."

"Of course. Let's sit down, and just enjoy the surroundings for a bit. I'm hoping those birds are not as annoying as they were earlier," Viggo said, as a group of Chestnut-backed Chickadees landed in a tree nearby, making a racket. He watched them for a moment and then pursed his lips, making little "Psss pssss pssss" noises at them. For a moment, nothing happened and then the curious birds began flying over to investigate. They landed close to the pair or hung upside-down from nearby limbs to stare at them.

Elijah waited for Viggo to sit down before he did, sitting so their bodies were pressed against each other. "No, I'm awake now..." Elijah's voice fell to a whisper as the birds watched them. "Suddenly, I'm really glad I never saw that Hitchcock movie or this could be freaky."

"I love them," Viggo said, still making the silly noises. "Chickadees are so full of life... so fun. They are not afraid of anything, even though they're little. I could almost reach out and touch some of them."

"That would probably make them fly away though, wouldn't it?" Elijah leaned his head on Viggo's shoulder. "I like them. They seem very curious."

"They are... I don't know why. They respond to any kind of weird noise, as long as it's not threatening. " He reached up and brushed some dark hair away from blue eyes. " Your face is cold. Do you need a scarf?"

Nibbling on his lip for a moment, Elijah imitated the noise and grinned when more of the birds turned toward him. "I'm fine, Vig. Don't worry about me." He smiled, making the sound again, giggling when more birds came.

"They like you," Viggo said with a laugh that mingled with the giggles. "Oh, look on that tree over there. See the little bird skittering up the trunk? Near the knothole in the middle now. That's a Brown Creeper.... I wish I could climb like that."

Elijah ginned, turning to look up at Viggo, their faces only a few inches apart. "You really love this place, don't you?"

"Yes. I was brought up in a rural area with the animals and the birds. I hope you're enjoy being here as much as I do."

"I enjoy it a great, great deal... but I'm not sure I can match you." He grinned at Viggo a little more and instinctively leaned closer, so close their breath mingled.

"Well, I suppose I tend to go a little overboard," Viggo admitted sheepishly. He noticed the tempting lips suddenly so near, the warm breath huffing over his mouth. Swallowing hard, he said, "Monkey... what- I mean- uh-?"

"What do you mean?" Elijah did not move away, licking his suddenly dry lips. He stared up into Viggo's eyes, feeling almost mesmerized by the pale blue, something people told him his eyes did to them, but had never felt before himself.

"I have no idea," Viggo said, feeling incredibly stupid all of a sudden. He glanced away, unable to meet the intense stare and trying to pull his thoughts together.

Elijah sighed softly when Viggo looked away, dropping his gaze to Viggo's shoulder level. He felt like a total fool, and a rejected one at that. Shaking himself mentally, he looked back over at the birds, asking in a normal voice, "How long will they be around? The birds still watching us, I mean."

Looking back up and around them, Viggo said, "They will probably fly off in a moment or two, when we are not of interest any longer." He reached out and twined his fingers again with a small, red-mittened hand. "Shall we go on, Monkey?"

Elijah nodded. "I think that's a good idea... after all, you still have forever to show me." Elijah gave Viggo a real, if deliberate, smile.

"Shall I toss you over my shoulder again to carry you down?" Viggo teased, smiling again.

"Thanks, but no." With a grin at Viggo, Elijah wriggled forward on his ass, not stopping until he slid down the side of the tree and landed neatly on his feet. "Maybe I should have made you that offer."

Lifting an eyebrow, Viggo wiggled, deliberately being a little over energetic, until he jumped off the side and landed with a thump on his feet. "Actually, I regret not letting you try," he said with a wink. He practically skipped away, feeling giddy again.

Elijah giggled, watching a man as old as his father skip down the path, and started following him.

"What's so funny?" Viggo demanded in a mock severe tone, stopping to catch a giggle with his camera, which he pulled quickly and expertly out of his pack.

"You- skipping. What else?" Elijah jogged a little to catch up with Viggo.

"Its fun," Viggo said. He held out a hand. "Try it with me and see!"

"Why not?" Elijah took Viggo's hand. "Just remember my legs are a lot shorter than yours!"

"Right. On three. One. Two. Three!" He began to skip, keeping his paces short. "See, now isn't this fun?"

Elijah laughed too hard to answer. He had problems keeping up with Viggo, despite his shortened stride, although it was more from the laughter than anything else.

Viggo stopped suddenly as they came to a steep section of trail, pulling the other man into a playful hug.

Elijah made a soft little sound of surprise that turned into one of contentment as Viggo hugged him. He returned it, letting his mind wander for a moment, but just a moment lest his body betray him. "I think you are one of the strangest people I have met in my life."

"I'll take that as a compliment, as I am sure it was intended," Viggo said. His eyes and mouth beamed a smile down at his model, before hugging him again. "You're a good influence on me." He began to hike slowly up the hill, not letting go of the small hand in his.

Elijah walked next to Viggo, very appreciative of the slow pace. "I am?" Elijah thought about Viggo's words for a little while before asking, "How? I mean... how am I good for you?"

"You make me happy," Viggo said simply. "And you make me think more about this world and the people in it... I just feel more alive with you, I guess. And you inspire my work, too. I hope I repay you in some small way, beyond the money." He looked over at his companion, his expression quiet and hopeful.

"How- how do you think you could repay me, besides the money?"

"Well, I'd like to think I make you happy," Viggo said. "That you feel you can trust me... that we can stay friends once I finish the photographs."

"I do trust you, Viggo, or I never would have agreed to come away with you. And so far, I have been happier here than I can remember in a long time. So, you're doing pretty well so far. As for remaining friends after... we'll see if you still want to when we're done ok?"

"That's all I ask," Viggo said, stopping for a moment to let them both catch their breath. "It's harder to breathe up here, and this is not a small hill. I hope you don't mind the climb. "

"If I need a break I'll let you know." Elijah watched the scenery as they walked, listening to the birds and generally enjoying himself. The exercise started to warm him up enough that he took the mittens off, carefully putting them in his pocket before taking Viggo's hand again, bare fingers curling around Viggo's.

"Almost there," Viggo promised after another few moments of silent walking. He felt little prickles of sensation from the soft fingers wrapped around his. His brain set about deconstructing these feelings, but he shut it off, wanting to enjoy the moment without worrying about what everything meant.

"It's so pretty." A slight breathlessness suffused Elijah's voice, both from the wonderful view and the exercise.

They ascended at last, and Viggo deliberately had to keep himself at a relaxed pace to keep from dragging his poor companion up the rest of the trail at breakneck speed to get to the view. Eventually, the trees began to thin and then they walked out on to a grassy knoll. "Voila."

Spread out before them was range after range of mountains, interspersed with valleys. Not a sign of man could be seen in the trees that stretched out endlessly. The autumn sun shone weakly, but its wispy light gave the view an aura of otherworldliness.

"I like this forever." Elijah's expression showed his amazement clearly.

Knowing his way around, Viggo led them to a patch of flat rocks and sat down. He opened his backpack and pulled out a soda, wordlessly offering it to his companion. A sandwich and apple shortly followed. Content to munch in silence, Viggo stared into the distance.

Elijah sat where he had the best view, munching on his food as he looked at the panoramic view. He found himself unable to find the words to express his feelings at the sight.

"I will take some photographs, before we leave," Viggo said. "Many have tried to capture this view with pen or paint or film, but some things elude our poor attempts. Still, I cannot help but try again. Tis perhaps a human failing."

Speaking softly Elijah quoted as if in answer, "We are not now that strength which in old days Moved heart and Heaven, that which we are, we are,-- One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."

"Oh, I don't know," Viggo said after a pause, "some of us still have strong hearts, though perhaps not heroic in the original sense, yet still heroic. If you can find the courage to love, I believe your heart to be heroic."

"I've always loved that last line- 'To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.' Thank you for showing me this."

"This earth is not meant for one person, nor one set of persons nor one species alone... it is meant to be shared. I am merely doing my part to make sure that sharing gets done." Viggo offered Elijah a cookie. "Chocolate chip with little chunks of peanut butter. And I think yielding can be worthwhile."

"It would depend what you were yielding to I guess." Elijah leaned forward and took a bite of the cookie. His smile turned incandescent when the flavors exploded across his taste buds. "S'goo'."

"You're allowed to have the whole cookie, silly Monkey." Viggo pressed the cookie into a small hand and then pulled out another for himself. "Yes, that's true. What would you yield to?"

Elijah felt put out when Viggo gave him the cookie. He liked the idea of eating it from Viggo's hands, but it tasted far too good to fuss about. Chewing, he thought about the question. "I- I guess I'd yield to love, to someone I loved."

Viggo smiled and nodded several times enthusiastically. "Yes. Oh, yes." He finished his cookie quickly, in order to pull out his camera. "I suspect it would take someone special to capture your heart."

Elijah did not notice what Viggo was doing. His gaze turned completely inward as something dark and painful flashed through his mind. Elijah saw himself, on a bed. A shadow lurked behind him. It could have been a person, but the only thing in focus was his own face, staring back at him. Tears fell from his eyes, and naked pain was written across his face.

Elijah shook his head, trying to place the image. The sensation felt like a memory, but he could not remember it. It was like looking at a picture in his mind- a single image of pain that had no connection or reference to anything else.

"Are you all right?" Viggo asked, his voice thick with concern. The intense pain on his model's face sent cold pulses through his body and set his heart still as stone. "I'm sorry if I did or said anything that distressed you. I would never hurt you. Monkey, please... say something!"

Elijah snapped out of his introspection. The image slid away to hide in the back of his mind, leaving him confused and blinking at Viggo. "I... er... um... you..." Elijah looked flustered as he tried to process what had just happened.
Viggo scooted closer and offered an arm to the confused man. "You looked scared and in pain. Are you all right?"

I don't remember." Elijah went from looking flustered to confused, "It was like I remembered something, for a second and then it was gone! I- I don't understand!"

"A snatch of dream, perhaps?" Viggo suggested, his arm dangling in mid air, the offer not taken. "A repressed memory?" He swallowed a little, thinking a person like his model might have more to repress than either of them could deal with.

Elijah finally noticed Viggo's arm and scooted into Viggo's side, trembling slightly with a rush of emotions. Where the emotions came from, he did not know, but that did not lessen the power of the fear and anger. He clung to Viggo's body like a child to his parent. "I don't know."

Viggo wrapped his other arm around him, hugging him tightly and rocking gently. Small shudders shook the smaller man's frame, and Viggo did his best to wrap around him like a security blanket. "Whatever it was, you're safe here. Nobody can hurt you while you're with me. I promise."

"I don't understand..." He sounded lost, confused, and overwhelmed. He clung to Viggo, his body shaking with fear and hurt. Suddenly, it stopped and Elijah went totally and utterly still for what seemed like a lifetime, before drawing in a deep breath. He felt hollow from the abrupt lack of feelings that only a moment ago almost consumed him.

For a few moments, Viggo kept rocking and then he paused, looking down with a puzzled and worried expression. "Do you want to go back?"

"No. I- I'll be ok in a moment. I... it's like... for a moment there, I was drowning in something and then... like a switch, it turned of." Elijah looked up at Viggo, confusion written across his face.

"I wish I knew what to tell you," Viggo said softly. "I'm here for you, if you need me... if you fear again..." He smiled a little uncertainly. "At this moment, I wish I knew more about psychology than paint."

Elijah surprised himself by letting out the tiniest breath of a laugh. "So do I, Mr. Artist Man, so do I."

"Are you sure you don't want to go back now?" Viggo asked. "We can start up a fire, brew hot chocolate and pass a lazy afternoon and evening."

"I don't know. There is a part of me that would like nothing more to go back an hide under the covers in" -he smiled slightly- "your bed. But another part wants to keep going because no memory, especially one I cannot even remember, is going to spoil my day."

"If you're sure. You can hide under the covers of my bed later," Viggo said, smiling in return. "And I do want photographs of you here."

"Then we will stay... for a while at least." He looked and felt more at ease, but made no move to leave Viggo's embrace. "That was really strange, you know."

"On the bright side, I got to give you this really long hug," Viggo said, trying to lighten the mood.

"That's true. I- I don't get a whole lot of hugs anymore."

Viggo struggled to find some sort of answer to that and then tightened his grip a little, thinking that was the best answer.

Elijah sighed, a pleasant little sound, resting his head against Viggo's shoulder and soaking in the affection of the embrace.

Digging out another cookie, Viggo broke off a piece and held it up to be eaten. "Cookies and hugs are sure cures."

Elijah took the cookie, chewing it slowly, before nodding. "Yes, they are very nice... comfort for the body and soul.," Gazing into Viggo's eyes deeply, Elijah looked almost embarrassed as he said softly, "Thank you, Viggo."

"Anytime," Viggo said sincerely.

Elijah smiled, pressing a very soft kiss to Viggo's cheek. "You're a good person, Viggo. I- I hope I don't take advantage of you."

"How strange for you to say that," Viggo said, "I worry that I do the same to you."

"How on earth could you take advantage of me Viggo? I don't have anything for someone to advantage themselves with!"

"You have a most precious thing for someone to abuse," Viggo countered softly, "you."

Elijah shook his head. "You say the silliest things."

"Do you feel up to taking a few more photographs? We can't linger much longer. It will get cold as the sun sets." Viggo tilted his head, finally asking, "Why was that silly?"

"Because it was... anyway... I can take care of myself- I have for years. And sure about the pictures... what do you want to photograph?"

"Just you and the background," Viggo said, jerking his chin toward the vista, which was glowing even more in the fading sunlight. He gently pulled away, getting his camera ready again. " Just choose a place to stand or sit or lie- whatever feels natural to you. This is about nature, so what feels comfortable is best."

Elijah nodded, looking around thoughtfully, before he got up and headed over to a tree that sat at the very top of the hill. If you stood at a certain angle it's branches framed the view. He climbed up into the lower branches, looked back at Viggo, swung his legs and smiled. "This feels good."

Following after him a certain number of paces, Viggo knelt down and took a roll of photographs. He changed views, assuming strange positions to get his model from every angle. The sun sank below the line of trees to the West before he finally set aside his camera and said, "That was perfect. Thank you. Now, we better hurry back before it gets dark and cold."

Elijah nodded and looked at the ground, considering jumping down.

Viggo walked over to stand beneath the branch, setting his pack aside. "Jump! I'll catch you."

It was all the encouragement Elijah needed, and he jumped, falling the short distance into Viggo's arms with a wild laugh.

Catching him easily, Viggo twirled him before setting him safely on the ground with an echoing laugh. "Let's hurry back. I have a sudden wild desire to taste your chicken." He slung the pack over his shoulder and reached instantly for a small hand.

"Ohh! I almost forgot!" Elijah grinned, taking Viggo's hand and following his lead as they started back. "It will take a little while to cook.; I hope that's okay. It has to simmer in the sauce for a bit."

"No, that's fine. More time to get a fire going, curl up in front of it and doze for a while before dinner. I can live with that." They practically ran down the path. Viggo was careful not to drag the smaller man along."

Elijah panted lightly as he did his best to keep up with Viggo. He resisted the desire to giggle, knowing he needed the air. "Why are we running? Are we afraid the cabin is going to disappear with the sun?"

Viggo screeched to a halt, nearly tripping over his own feet and sprawling into a tree. "Oh, sorry. I thought it was a good way to get there fast and keep warm." H e shook himself a little and began to walk very slowly, almost like a snail.

"You know... you're kinda sensitive... I did not mind... it just struck me as funny, and I was wondering why." Elijah tightened his grip on Viggo's hand and used it to tug on his arm, as he started speeding back up. "Come on... warm is a very good idea!!"

"I'm an artist, I'm supposed to be sensitive," Viggo protested, skipping along easily. "Its a part of the aura, the- the mystique... you know, a part of the glamorous lifestyle." Viggo nodded emphatically, neatly pulling them both in a circle.

"The glamorous lifestyle? Well, from what I've seen" -Elijah giggled- "when you start living the glamour again, please let me know so I can tell it apart from the rest, okay?" He grinned up at Viggo, before saying suddenly, "I like you."

"Good," Viggo said, walking them along toward the cabin again. "I was hoping you might. As for the glamorous lifestyle, well... I'm supposed to live one, but I really don't know how. Maybe it's my lack of fashion sense?"

"I don't know that word... fashion? What does it mean?"

"Something about clothes," Viggo said. "They're supposed to match colors... or clash in a sexy way... or be low cut... something..." He pantomimed a huge, idiotic grin.

Elijah just shook his head, looking baffled. "Why bother?" He managed to make it sound like he cared nothing for appearance, even though they both knew his profession demanded the right image.

"In my case, it would be a sad waste of money. If fashion came up and took a chunk out of my ass with its teeth, I still would end up dressing like a sideshow freak." He shrugged expansively, as they emerged back into the clearing near the cabin. By this time, the shadows had fallen everywhere, and only a dim outline of the building appeared in the gloom. "Just in time."

As the darkness grew around them, Elijah sped up, making for the cabin. "It's dark... isn't it?"

"Yes." Viggo stopped and looked up toward the sky. "Here, you can actually see the stars. T hank the Gods." He blew a lazy breath in the air, watching the vapor puff away from his lips.

"Um..." Elijah sped up even more, making for where he remembered the door was unable to see it in the darkness. "Um... lets get inside... it's- er- it's a little cold." He glanced around as if expecting someone to jump out at them.

Puzzled, Viggo ambled after him, easily finding the door and opening it. "I'll start some hot chocolate and then a fire for you, Monkey. We do not have to get up early tomorrow, so we might as well warm up before starting dinner." He placed a warm hand on the center of his model's back, rubbing in a gentle circle.