A/N: Okay, I'm finally back online. Sorry for the delay all! My internet modem died before the weekend and I finally just got the new modem late today. So I've posted this as soon as I could! I hope you enjoy it! It is the last chapter!

Chapter Twelve: Takin' a Gamble

The following morning Beka planned to visit her Granny Fern so she returned to her rooms to gather a fresh set of clothes and her pack- and, though she didn't like to admit it, she wanted to check up on Rosto to see if he was okay.

When she arrived, Aniki was gone, but the healing woman was still there, checking Rosto's wounds. Rosto was also awake, sitting up on the bed, and when he saw Beka, he grinned. "I told you I'm a fast healer," he said.

"Good," retorted Beka, hiding her relief at finding him up. "Now you can go back to your own rooms."

"I told you I'd be willing to share," he grinned. "Aniki told me that rusher died in the cages last night, but wouldn't it be nice to have a cove like me around in case another rusher decides to attack?"

Beka gave him a look. "I have a feeling that the only rusher that I'll have to worry about getting in my rooms is you, Rosto."

He laughed, "You're a sharp mot, Beka Cooper."

The healer stood and began to pack her things. "You're doing well, Majesty," she told Rosto. "Another day's rest will put you in fine condition again. Your body just needs to sleep off the healing some more."

"Thank you," he told the woman. "Ask Aniki to pay you when you return to the Dancing Dove."

The woman nodded and took her leave.

"Well it looks I'll be staying here a little longer then," Rosto said teasingly. "It wouldn't do for the Rogue to faint on the way back to his rooms."

"That's what you'd deserve for breaking into a mot's room, you looby," replied Beka.

"If I hadn't then it'd be you lying here in this bed," he told her. "In that case, I'm glad it's me instead. It was my problem to settle with that scut anyway." Then he chuckled, "Though don't expect any flowers from me in the near future. The last two times I've tried to give them to you have not turned out well."

Remembering the incident with Dale Rowan yesterday morning, Beka looked away. Here, all Rosto had been trying to do was protect her- twice in one day!- and she had gone off on him like a crazed mot. Of course he had made mistakes as well, but she was acutely aware of her own, especially after last night. He had been hurt trying to protect her. It made her feel even guiltier for shouting at him and saying things she did not mean to say the morning before.

Without thinking, she said softly, "I'm sorry, Rosto."

"It's alright, you didn't hit me."

She looked up to tell him that was not what she was referring to, but when she saw his face, she stopped. By the steady, serious look in his eyes, she knew he was aware of what she was speaking about. He was very aware…and his questioning eyes urged her to say more, which is how she found herself apologizing for everything that happened the day before- especially the way she had acted toward him.

She was then in the middle of thanking him for looking out for her, when he interrupted. "Beka, there's no need to thank me. I would have done so even if you forbid me not to. I don't want anyone to hurt you, Beka, no sweetheart or Rat. I want people to think twice before attempting to harm you, and I don't care if you don't want me to look out for you, because I will anyway. That's what friends do, Beka."

They were silent for a moment, before Rosto continued, "Friends are also supposed to listen to each other, and I know that I didn't do that yesterday when I found Dale Rowan in your rooms, and I want to say I'm sorry. I jumped to conclusions and let my emotions get the best of me, Beka. You're also right about Dale Rowan, he's a far more decent cove than I gave him credit for." Seeing the slight surprise on her face, Rosto chuckled softly. "He paid me a visit in my rooms early last night."

Now Beka really did look surprised. "He visited you in the Dancing Dove?"

Rosto nodded. "And luckily he's a fast talker; otherwise he might very well have been on the bottom of the river right now."

"What did you talk about?"

He shrugged. "He just explained to me that he did not come to Corus to try and get you back, but was in truth just passing through, as you told me." He looked at her, "He also told me you haven't been together since Port Caynn."

Beka scrambled for an explanation, but was saved the effort when Rosto said, "Don't worry. I figure you'll tell me in time." Then he chuckled, "Though I do admit I have no regrets about hitting him, I feel better finding out that he's a good cove at least. I still told him he'd better not return to Corus if wishes to see the next Midwinter of course, but if I'm ever in Port Caynn, he's promised to teach me Gambler's Chance while I'm there."

She gave Rosto a grateful look, glad to have resolved what had happened between them the morning before. Rosto returned the look, feeling just as relieved

"Mayhap now we can return to the way things were before…" he ventured.

Beka nodded in agreement.

"Perhaps even more…" Their eyes locked, and Beka's face reddened. It was plain he still wanted her…but did she- could she- want him?

She was saved from saying anything by Kora, Ersken, and Aniki who came through the door at that moment, bringing breakfast with them. With a quick farewell, Beka left and headed for her Granny Fern's house. She couldn't allow herself to have any feelings for Rosto…the trouble was, she needed to tell her heart that.

Granny Fern was in one of her moods again that morning, beginning by telling Beka if she wanted to find and keep a man, she'd better start eating more so he'd have something to hold on to. After that greeting, Beka was convinced to make the visit short. Whenever Granny Fern found it necessary to remind Beka why she did not have a man, it put Beka in a sore mood not fit for company.

As Beka walked back to her lodgings, she thought over what Granny Fern had said. Dale Rowan had never complained, she told herself, and despite my 'slender form' and 'less than ample chest', as Granny Fern puts it, Rosto still makes it clear he wants me, too.

Suddenly sighing with annoyance at herself at where her thoughts had led her, Beka unconsciously started to walk more quickly. Pounce protested, but Beka wasn't listening. Unlike the cat, Achoo welcomed the quickened pace with a happy bark.

Rosto had been in her dreams again the night before. Unlike her other dreams, though, this time it had been similar to what had happened last night when Rosto chased the rusher out into the alley, but this time, the rusher had been the one to attack Rosto. As the two fought, Beka had tried to run to help, but the faster she ran, the farther away she seemed to get. When she saw Rosto fall, she had cried out, awakening herself from the dream. She had been sweating and panting, and had been even more surprised to find her eyes wet with tears.

She couldn't fall in love with Rosto, she told herself. He was the Rogue, and she a Dog; it would never work!

What about Tunstall and Lady Sabine, Kora and Ersken, and the countless others like them? asked a voice in her head.

But they're different, she thought with frustration, Rosto's the Rogue!

Her pace quickened even more as she had the familiar argument in her head over Rosto the Piper. She was so absorbed in her own thoughts that she didn't hear Mistress Trout's greeting when she passed her on her way into her lodgings. When Beka reached the top of the stairs, she was turning toward her door when she suddenly collided with someone.

She started to apologize when the person chuckled, "Anxious to get home, are we?"

Beka looked up to find that it was Rosto who she had run into. Great Merciful Mother, she thought, someone has got it in for me! He had his large hands gripped around her shoulders to steady her…or mayhap to steady himself as well. Suddenly remembering he was supposed to be resting still, Beka said heatedly, "Rosto the Piper, what are you doing up? The healer told you that you need more rest!"

He grinned lazily, "I'm fine, Beka. I've already taken a short walk through the city."

"Through the city-? Are you cracked, Rosto? Someone could have tried to attack you; you don't have all your strength back yet! It would have been a fine thing for someone to challenge you now, and then what would we do, with you dead and some cracknobbed new Rogue that just got lucky to catch you in such a weakened state, sitting on the throne?"

Rosto's grin widened as she spoke. Her eyes were heated with anger…and with worry. Beka was worried about him. This realization made Rosto grin all the more. Cupping her face in one of his strong hands, he ran his thumb gently across the corner of her mouth as he said, still grinning, "I didn't know you cared."

Suddenly flustered by his touch, Beka told him crossly, "Of course I care, you great big looby! If I didn't-"

She was cut off by Rosto pressing his lips to hers. It took her a moment to realize what was happening, and when she did, memories of those silly dreams of hers came rushing back. In those dreams, she would then wrap her arms around his neck, pulling him closer as she wound her fingers through his hair. His arms would then wrap around her waist, lifting her slightly off the ground. Then the next moment she would be in his arms, being carried toward…

Beka pulled away. She couldn't afford to lose her head, which, she admitted, was very difficult whenever his lips touched hers.

"What? No bite?" he asked, grinning broadly when she didn't move to hit him.

"Thank the gods that you're already hurt," she warned him, "otherwise you'd be on the floor right now."

He chuckled, "I doubt that. Just admit that you like my kisses, Beka."

"I do not!" she retorted a little too quickly. "I would hit you right now if you weren't already hurt, you spintry!"

"Then I guess I'll use it to my advantage while I'm still able," he said, moving closer.

"You wouldn't-"

He did. Placing his hand behind her head, he pulled her to him once more. With irritation- and slight wonder- Beka instantly realized that his lips were just as soft and warm as she had remembered them to be.

Then he released her again, grinning. It wasn't fair that his kisses were so intoxicating, Beka thought.

"So?" he asked, still grinning.

Beka folded her arms across her chest and tried to give him a hard look. It was somewhat difficult with her heart beating so wildly in her chest. "I think you're toying with your life, Rosto the Piper," she told him. She was thankful that at least her voice sounded calm.

"I told you I don't mind gamblin'," he said with a grin, "as long as it gets me what I want."

"I'll not be your mot, Rosto," she told him. "You're too old for me, anyway."

He laughed. "I thought by now you'd be tired of playing around with lads," he told her. His voice dropped lower. "What you need, love, is a real man."

He had moved closer so that her back was now pressed against the wall. Her heart was drumming madly. "Rosto, I don't need a man at all."

"I know that. I'm just still hoping to change your mind." He kissed her again.

Great gods! Surely the man was capable of changing the mind of the biggest stuffed shirt in all of Corus! she thought as his lips moved gently over hers. She was acutely aware of his hands as they slid down her waist to grip her hips. His kisses were getting longer- and her rationality was slipping away with every second. Soon thought would be lost to her completely.

"Did it work?" he asked her when he pulled back.

"You're no better than a spintry, using kisses to try and scramble a mot's head this way," she accused.

His voice was rough when he chuckled. "It's called persuasion."

"And you're far too good at it," she told him without thinking.

"It's only one of the many things I'm good at, love," he told her with a wicked smile.

When he leaned in again, Beka demanded, "Stop, Rosto, unless you truly do want to end up with a bashed-in head."

"As long as you keep protestin', Beka, I'll keep kissing you."

"But I don't want you to-!"

She was silenced once again by his lips…and this time was one too many times. She felt him stiffen for a moment as her own lips started to respond of their own accord, and then suddenly he was kissing her with more force and urgency. Beka matched his fervor with her own, forgetting all the reasons why she thought she shouldn't be doing this, because as much as she tried to deny it…she wanted this kiss just as much as Rosto did.

When he pulled back, Beka bit back the urge to pull his lips back to hers. He was looking at her in such a way that she had never seen before. His eyes were bright and warm, and as always, searching. She was glad to see that he was breathing as hard as she.

Apparently finding what he looked for, he stepped back and smiled at her. "I left something for you in your rooms," he told her. "I figured if Dale Rowan can give you gifts, I can too."

Beka began to say something when Rosto put a finger to her lips. Eyes dancing he said, "Remember, if you protest, I'll just have to start kissing you again."

She closed her mouth immediately. The problem was she wanted him to kiss her again. The thought was far too tempting, and she couldn't afford to lose her head.

Rosto chuckled, and then with one last quick kiss on the cheek, he turned to leave. She watched him go, hands in breeches pockets as he whistled a jaunty tune down the stairs. He had just disappeared from her sight when Pounce dropped something at her feet.

She glared at the cat and Achoo who had just sat there watching the whole time. "Where were you when I needed you?"

It looked like you had it all under control, Pounce told her. Besides, I didn't want to disrupt your obvious enjoyment.

"Of course not, the gods only like to meddle in human affairs when it isn't wanted," she muttered as she bent over for the small bundle Pounce had brought.

I've told you before, I am not a god, replied Pounce haughtily.

Beka ignored him as she unwrapped the package. When she saw what was inside, she gasped. Blue, orange, and red fire glowed from the stone. "It's a fire opal," she whispered. It was uncut and rough, much like the one she had lost in Port Caynn. With a horrible thought, she said, "He better not have stolen it."

Read the note, Pounce said.

Gripping the opal, Beka picked up the note underneath. It said:

He may have given you pretty jewels and pretty speech, but I know you better than he could ever hope.

He didn't sign his name, but in post script, he added:

And no, I did not steal it, so there's no reason to bite my head off about it later, love.

Beka shook her head at the note, unable to bite back the small smile that had formed unconsciously- and unknowingly- on her lips.

A/N: That's the end! I would like to thank you all for reading and reviewing, I greatly appreciate it!!!

In the meantime feel free to message me anytime!! I'd be glad to reply to any questions you might have or if you just want to talk about all things Tortall or whatever else, I'd be happy to!

Also, Rowena of Naxen and I are starting a Beka/Rosto community and forum, so I'll try to add some B/R stories to the community (which Rowena of Naxen has already started) and I'll be starting the forum hopefully in the next few days! They'll both be called 'Beka and the Rogue', so feel free to check them out and offer any topics for discussion in the forum or stories to add to the community!

Thank you again!!! Hope to see you in the community and forum!!

~*Starzgirl*

Wait. You didn't really think I'd just stop here did you? ;P For all of you that have been inquiring about a sequel…I'm working on it right now :D So all I'll say more is-

To be continued… ;D