Roddy Geiger stepped out of court, looking pale but composed. Drew was at his side and Monroe flanked him like a guardian. Nick, who had been in the court room in a semi-official capacity, gave Roddy an inquisitive look.

"How about we get something to eat?" he offered.

"Sure," was the soft reply.

The trial had been… trying. No pun intended. The case had been clear and simple, there had been more than enough evidence, but to face the killer of his father had been hard on the young reinigen.

Henry Dossam had been charged, tried and found guilty of second degree murder and sentenced to seventy-five months in prison.

Since damages caused to people as a result of drunkenness were not dischargeable in bankruptcy, Dossam would have to pay. Frank had made sure of it.

The jagerbar joined them in the small café close to the court not much later, ordering coffee and two slices of apple pie.

"What can I say?" he remarked, happily digging into the pie. "Court makes me crave sweets."

Roddy played with his chips. He had found a black suit from somewhere, though it looked at least ten years old. His hair was neatly combed, his shoes polished. He looked uncomfortable, but also relieved in a way that told Nick that the younger man was glad everything was over.

"Hey," Nick said softly. "You okay?"

"Yeah, fine."

Nick let the matter rest, but he shot Monroe a quick look. The blutbad nodded slightly.

X

Monroe dropped Roddy and Drew off at their place after their sandwiches and cake. Roddy promised to stay in contact and even managed a smile. It would take a while for the young man to get over the ordeal, but Monroe would be there for him. As would be Nick.

X

The case was over. Finally. Completely. The man who had run over Ephram Geiger was behind bars. It didn't bring back Roddy's father, but it had been justice.

Nick finally took a long weekend. Hank shooed him away, claiming he would enjoy a few days without his partner.

"You need it, Nick. Go and relax."

The wink had been unnecessary, but Nick knew he would be in for light ribbing from now on. Nothing that would hint at who the other person in his life was, but Hank had accepted his choice and he had incorporated it all into his world view.

Sean had done nothing at all, hadn't taken Hank aside to talk to him, and work proceeded as normal.

Nick hoped it would keep this way.

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

A weekend away in a luxurious lodge that probably cost more than Nick made in a month for this Friday-to-Sunday booking: it had been Sean's gift, one he hadn't accepted any arguments over, one he claimed was something he wanted his mate to have and enjoy.

Nick truly did enjoy it, right down to the long hikes through the forest and hills and along peaceful lakes. Sean was there with him, looking just as relaxed, the psychic link reflecting nothing but calm balance and warmth, a placid connection that hummed in the back of his mind.

He also enjoyed his mate, exploring the tall, muscular form, having him relax under his hands and mouth. He liked to bring him off with his mouth, later sliding into the heat that was tight and snug around him.

Nick was glad that they were alone, especially when they got slightly more kinky, at least in his eyes. Having Sean on his knees in front of him, Nick with his back against a massive tree, had been incredible. Having Renard fuck him on the porch had been even more exhibitionistic. And the whirlpool was a perfect way to unwind and explore and simply taste each other.

The fact that he finally got his mate to drop his façade and take him in his full wesen mode had Nick come so hard, he nearly blacked out. He didn't mind the renewed claim mark that ached long after he clawed his way out of the post-coital haze. He didn't care that he had bruises blossoming on his hips or the traces of claws that hadn't broken skin but scratched it.

He had needed this so badly. He had wanted Sean completely, without restraint, and after everything that had happened he hadn't wanted to hold back.

Yes, Nick Burkhardt could be kinky and he had it bad for a terrifyingly powerful wesen.

Damn.

Nick breathed hard, feeling high strung and like he was a puddle on the mattress. Sean nuzzled his mark, cleaning away the blood that had leaked and run in a thin line down one shoulder. Looking into the gold-flecked eyes, Nick smiled lazily. He reached up and drew the other close, kissing him softly. The sharp-cut features, so very much no longer plain human, melted into the more human façade.

"Got it out of your system?" Sean asked with a feral grin.

"I can't get you out of my system," was the easy reply.

"Good."

"Thought as much." Nick drew him into a new kiss.

Sean's caresses were distracting, especially when they came close to the more sensitive areas. He kissed him harder, moving into the teasing touch.

"Hungry much?" came the teasing whisper.

"Ravenous."

Well, leaving the bed or the cabin wasn't really an option.

X

It wasn't all fun and games, though. Renard used the fact that they were on their own in the forest and the surrounding hills to train with Nick some more. And none of those very serious training exercises ended in naked fun. Nick got his ass handed to him in a different way, after four hours of tracking, fighting, running and rolling down muddy hills.

It was somehow a reminder of just a few days ago when a blutbad had pushed him down a steep incline.

Now it was his mate.

Not so different since he ended up muddy and slightly banged up, though Renard wasn't really out to kill him.

But Nick learned a few new tricks and he managed to give as good as he got, once even landing a very hard kick to Sean's ribs that had the Guardian go down and wheeze. The expression in the clear green eyes was priceless and truly a Kodak moment.

The Grimm smirked.

The regnant smiled darkly and got to his feet.

Round two.

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Nick gave a contented sigh, interlaced fingers resting on his stomach. The TV was on, running a documentary, and he listened to it, lazily watching the images flicker over the screen. A hand was caressing his head, stroking his hair, and he snuggled deeper into the warm hold of his mate, who was totally engrossed in the program. Nick smiled fondly.

Lunch had been great but the TV cuddling on the comfy couch was even better. It was three in the afternoon, the sun was high in the sky, life happened outside, but he couldn't care less. This was their day, their weekend, as slow and lazy as they could make it.

He dozed off after some time, coming around to the aroma of coffee and the absence of the warmth he had felt next to him before. Opening his eyes he discovered Renard walking over from the kitchen, carrying two mugs. It was just past four, so he hadn't slept more than an hour.

"Coffee?" the other man murmured, smiling.

"Yeah, thanks. Must've dozed off." He smiled slightly as he sat up, yawning.

There was a tender warmth in Sean's face that was never seen outside these walls, a warmth reserved only for his mate. Nick sipped at the hot, black liquid. He watched Renard over the rim of his mug, took in the relaxed stance, the faint smile. He needed this man most of all, aside from the bare basics without no one could survive. But Renard was his mate, his partner, his friend, his balance. He had found him and nothing would ever make him give up what he felt when Renard was there.

He loved him. Plain and simple.

Finally Nick set down the mug and rose. Renard looked up, a quizzical expression in his eyes and Nick just held out his hand.

It was taken, the expression still there.

Nick brushed his lips over Renard's, pulling him close. The mouth underneath his lips opened and tongues brushed against each other. Nick's fingers quickly found their way underneath the t-shirt shirt, touching bare skin, caressing and teasing it. Renard moaned softly in appreciation and Nick began to maneuver them toward the bedroom. His hints were eagerly taken and Renard kicked the door shut behind them.

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Sunlight spread through the lowered blinds, finding a way through the obstruction between the small openings that hadn't been completely closed last night, and Renard watched the sun rise on his sheets. Spread out in the growing sunlight next to him was Nick. Naked, on his stomach, head buried in his pillow. Renard watched him, too, smiling as he remembered the last night; filled with sensual passion and slow love-making that had melted a few more of his braincells into goo. No frenzy, no harsh taking or claiming, just a wonderful time or exploring and reveling in the feel of this man with him.

Lucky, his sister had once called him. He had been so lucky. What the coins hadn't given him, Nick had handed over freely. Himself. All of him, body and soul.

Nick had somehow pierced through all the walls he had erected around himself, shove away every single barrier and look directly into his soul that he had buried long ago. And he had found something that responded to him, that wanted him so badly, and he had wanted that being in return.

Sitting up against the headrest, Sean watched the sun, one hand stroking over Nick's longish hair, down to the shoulders. He loved the feel of the deceptively soft skin that stretched over quite a package of muscle.

Nick mumbled something and suddenly blinked his eyes open. Gray eyes sharpened. A slow smiled stretched over his features as he looked at Renard.

"Mornin'."

"Good morning, Nick."

"Slept well?"

"Very."

Nick turned on his back and stretched a little, still on full display. Not that Sean had anything against it. He very much appreciated the sight. Nick rolled around once more, resting his head on Sean's thigh, looking sleepily at him.

Today was their last day of this prolonged weekend getaway and they would return to the city by evening. Until then they wanted to make the best of their time left. Sean couldn't think of anything better than his mate with him, just being together, feeling the soft hum of the psychic link between them, the presence he craved more than anything close by.

There had been no calls from Monroe or anyone else. The blutbad knew Nick was on vacation and he had promised Renard to field every and all calls, give them the necessary time.

He had made good on that promise.

Nick finally sat up and slid out of bed, giving the Guardian a wonderful view of a naked backside that was deliciously slowly going into the bathroom.

Sean grinned. What was the old saying? Save water, shower with a friend.

With these good intentions in mind, a smiling Renard slipped into the bathroom and closed the door.

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

It shouldn't have come as a surprise, but somehow it did nevertheless. Mireille had a sixth sense, had always had, and she was also a very persistent sister. Sometimes Renard wondered why she had taken to Nick like that, but then he only had to look at himself to understand. Because of Nick his contact with Mireille had become closer, more like family, and it was… nice.

"Sean!" Mireille said cheerfully. "How is my favorite little brother!"

"I'm the only younger brother you have."

"Details, details. You're my favorite brother. Better?"

"I'd be shocked if you preferred Maurice."

She chuckled. "I'd be shocked and disgusted by myself. Now, how is my Grimm-in-law doing?"

"Don't you usually know that a lot better than me?"

"I do, but I want to hear it from you. Especially after the whole problem with his partner."

"And of course you know about that." Sean rolled his eyes, something she couldn't see over the phone but probably knew.

"Of course. So?"

"Hank has accepted the relationship."

Mireille was silent for a moment, then a soft hum could be heard. "Good. I'd hate to deal with those complications."

"You?"

"Sean," she said, sounding like a schoolteacher. "Nick and I talk."

"I know."

"He would talk to me about this."

"I'm very much aware of it."

"So I would have to listen to him telling me about your reactions, your probably very regnant way of dealing with things, and explaining to your Grimm why you did what you had done."

Sean let his head fall back against the couch with a groan.

"You really need to talk to him."

"I do, Miri."

"Of course you do. In your own way. You really think a few lessons in wesen politics and regnant history will educate him enough to understand you?" She was audibly smiling. "Try again, Sean. Wrap your head around the fact that your Grimm was never taught anything at all and everything he does know is self-acquired. He has to go to a jagerbar and a blutbad to understand your behavior! Seriously!"

He sighed again.

"And with his partner finding out about you and him… Sean…?"

"I know," he muttered. "I know, I know, I know. And I made it up to him."

"Giving him a long weekend to remember isn't the solution," his sister told him neutrally. "Though I bet you two had fun." Now there was the teasing not he had expected.

"Yes, we did. And I know it isn't. I never expected this to be… so hard, Mireille."

"A relationship? A mate? Finding the one person who you can't control?"

Renard gazed at the ceiling, smiling to himself. "Yes."

"Well, bugger for you then. It is hard. Andrew and I aren't the lovey-dovey rose-colored couple either. We fight, we make up, we talk. We talked a lot in the beginning, Sean. I needed to explain a lot there, too. And Andrew is a wesen; he knew so much already. All I had to do was slowly ease him into the world of politics that comes with being a regnant's mate. Nick… Nick is sweet and kind and lovely and all kinds of things, as well as deadly and dangerous and incredibly powerful as a Grimm. But he misses the knowledge any wesen has growing up. You need to remind yourself of it. You need to remember that when you go regnant on him, dear."

"Trying, Miri. I'm trying."

"Try harder. He is loyal to you and he won't ever betray you, but he needs to know about you in a different way, too. What happened with Griffin showed it very clearly. Just be glad that problem was so easily solved."

"I am. Don't ever think I'm not."

"Would you have killed him?" his sister asked bluntly.

Renard closed his eyes. "No."

"Why?"

"It would have hurt Nick and destroyed what we have."

She chuckled. "Oh, he so has you already, little brother. You know that you can kick all your ideas about being the more dominant of alphas in the wind."

He laughed. "I guess."

"No guessing, just facts." Mireille grew serious again. "Next time, listen to the bond. I bet it was telling you everything and you weren't listening. And if all else fails, call me. Big sisters know best."

"Big sisters are the nosiest of them all," he agreed.

"Of course. It's our birthright."

He chuckled. "Probably."

"Just be glad it's me, not Maurice, Nick is attempting to make a family out of."

Renard grimaced. "Heavens…" he muttered. "But it's working."

"With his boyish charm it is. Take good care of him, Sean. Talk to him. Let him know about what you take for granted. And stop shocking him with being such a hardass regnant."

He laughed softly. "I'll try."

And he would. Too much was at stake.

Renard looked at the now dark phone, silence around him, the darkness outside kind of surprising. How long had he talked to his sister? A quick glance at the time told him that it must have been at least two hours.

He smiled a little.

Yes, Nick had brought him and Mireille closer together than any of them would ever have been able to get on their own. Regnants just weren't family-oriented wesen. They were too much loners for that to happen. But his sister was now part and parcel of it all, a sounding board and consultant for his mate.

Like Frank Rabe was an advisor and Monroe was the Grimm's best friend and encyclopedia to all things wesen.

He would take better care; he would make sure not to let the same happen again. It was a matter of learning by doing, Renard mused. He acted, barely ever reacted, and Nick was left wondering how much was posturing, how much was true threat, much was just for political reasons.

Yes, Sean Renard had a lot to learn still. In a way he was as new to this as Nick was to being a Grimm, but Nick seemed a whole lot more adaptable, a very fast learner, and Sean had to adapt to that, too.

Well, he was up for the challenge.

X

fin for this one!