The day she got paid a visit by that mother of his the whole game changed.

She sailed into her dorm room, head high and eyes chilly. Apparently, there wasn't anyone here she cared to charm. That was fine, Briallen wasn't in much of a mood to be charming herself.

"Miss Davis," the Snow Queen took off her posh sunglasses and meticulously folded them into an expensive case, slowly placing it into her ostentatious clutch, "I have come to talk to you about Philip, but I assume you understand it, since we hardly have any other topics available for a conversation." She lifted her cold eyes and gave Bri an appraising look. "I will also be direct and abrupt, and you will have to excuse me. Philip is quite infatuated with you, Miss Davis," her tone quite obviously showed she had no idea idea why Phil would be, "And it worries me. Do not get me wrong, I do not judge or object to you personally, but he is at this stage of his life when he needs to concentrate on his studies, without… distractions. To say nothing of the fact that him flying back and forth is plain dangerous."

"Woman, I have neither the time nor patience to put up with you. Say what you mean to say, then leave. I've an early morning coming. You worried about Phil flyin' back 'n forth, you take it up with him. It ain't like he's listened to me yet anyways."

Phil's mom pursed her lips and Bri saw her jaw tense. She looked a lot like her brother at that moment, at least the way he looked in those photos Wren sent by the truckloads. They had a lot of fun mocking him through Skype while Wren drew sombreros and funky glasses on his photos. Wren was relaxed about her love life.

"Miss Davis, I would prefer you watch your tone."

"And I'd prefer you were in London; I guess we're both doomed to disappointment. "

"You should be careful whom you talk back to, Miss Davis. I came here with a certain intention and I will say what I need. My son is young, and you are in no way any more equipped to place judgement on your budding romance," the last word was dripping with venom, "So as a responsible adult I'm making the decision for the two of you. It will end. You will end it to be specific. As you put it these days, you will let him down gently. If you value the resemblance of career that you are building in this place you call a research laboratory."

"Are you actually implying what I think you're implying, Ma'am?" She put as much sarcasm as her poor sleep deprived mind could in the honorific. Seriously, being accosted in her own room late at night in nothing but an oversized sleep tee did nothing for her manners.

"I am not implying, Miss Davis. I am telling you I will end your career and any sort of semi-satisfying future you might have ahead of you if you do not cease your association with my son."

Briallen took a moment to just stare at the woman. Y'know, she didn't even realize this level of anger existed until now. Briallen was about to have that cold fish's liver for afternoon tea, forget the fava beans and chianti. Madame Durinson was about to discover she hadn't cornered a terrified seal pup, but an Orca. She started to advance on the older woman, backing her towards the door with a predatory grin and eerie light in her eyes. "Let's make a few things clear, shall we?

"Item one: maybe you didn't know this, but I'm a redneck. I'm stubborn. I would rather walk through Hell backwards than give you the satisfaction. Philip's a big boy; he can make up his own mind about who he wants or don't want, and I sure as hell don't need anyone telling me who I'm good enough or ain't good enough for.

"Item two: I worked my ass off to earn everything I have, and you think your privileged little self is going to waltz in and take it all away if I don't cooperate? I'll see you dead first. I literally won't have anything left to lose.

"Item three: There is enough documented crazy in my family I'll never stand trial if they do manage to find your remains.

"Item four: I just spent the last four years learning every single current, predator, and bottom feeder in the entire Gulf of Mexico. Jimmy Hoffa will not have disappeared as completely as you will.

"Now, Mrs. Durinson, do we understand each other?"

It took Briallen several minutes to calm down. The moment that shark left her room, her knees gave and her hands started shaking. She dropped her face into her hands and concentrated on air in, and air out.

Philip's mother thought she was a threat.

Philip was serious.

Heaven help her, Philip was serious.

"Briallen!" She never thought to hear that mix of worry and fear in Philip's voice. The thundering knocks on her door that followed it assured her she hadn't imagined it. She stumbled to open as fast as her watery eyes would let her. She did not want to be the central character in 'As the Sea Lab Churns". No soap operas here, thank you.

"Briallen, Love, are you alright?" She would not admit how comforting his arms around her felt, even as she dove into them, rubbing her tears on his soft green tee shirt. Nope.

"How, why?" Apparently, it was her turn to be incoherent. How life does love irony.

"It was rather easy to guess when Mum came back to the Hotel spitting and hissing about "ignorant, septic trash that didn't know her place." I'm afraid I brushed right past her without so much as a backward glance." That earned him a teary half giggle and he squeezed her tight, her face comfortably buried in his chest. She was not going to move, but his legs were starting to lock up. "Can we move someplace a little less leg cramping?"

"Not moving. Shush." She squeaked when he scooped her up. Thankfully, he didn't throw her over his shoulder. She worried a moment he was headed for the bed, the largest target in the room. Then she worried he wasn't. Wait, what? "Alright, fine. Bed. you know, nice big soft thing center of room?" She cuddled tighter against his vibrating chest as he settled his considerable frame against her worn quilts and pillows, she settled herself against him with a soft sigh of contentment.

"Bri, I don't think now is the time." He sounded a little off.

"I just got threatened by your Mum, and in turn, I threatened to bury her with the fishes. I'm allowed right now. " He had a hard time making out what she said, as she was mumbling into his neck. Which in itself was distracting. It took a moment for her words to sink in.

Philip laughed in spite of himself. "You did what?"

"I told her Jimmy Hoffa'd have a better chance of being found than she would."

It was some reassurance that he didn't toss her on the floor. He was still holding her, and despite it all, his heartbeat was lulling her. His cologne, though, was working on other centers.

"So, now what? I threatened your Mum. If you don't want anything to do with me, I'd understand."

"And what would you say if that reassured me instead?"

"Beg Pardon?"

"Obviously, Mum's not going to cow you or scare you off. Besides, it was time she ran into someone that'd bite back." That caused Bri to giggle faintly.

"I've been calling her Sharkie in my mind. This time, she ran into an orca."

"No, too pretty to be an orca." Philip's eyes were deep and serious as they roamed her tear streaked face. One hand was stroking her hair, and the other holding her close to him. She realized she couldn't keep meeting his gaze; it was too intense. She dropped her eyes to his mouth, and froze.

"Philip, you're 're dead serious."

"Have been, Love." When he quirked that lip at her, she lost it. She kissed him with all her pent up frustration and emotion. Philip was ready and met her stroke for stroke. An unsteady, needy hum broke from Briallen, stoking both his ego and need. It was no wonder his hands were slightly shaking.

"Bri, Love, if you're…" He didn't get any further. She knew what he was asking.

"You've had me so addled and off kilter, Momma insisted I get on the pill. "

Philip rolled over her on the bed. His hands slipping under her oversized tee to skim over her bare skin. He dropped kisses on her chin, neck, and chest. Briallen buried both hands in his long lovely mane, pulling him down on top of her, relishing the feel of his body against hers.

"Are you sure?" Philip was currently nuzzling her ear, when this question made its way past the growing haze in Briallen's mind.

"No, but I want you anyways." Philip just hoped she didn't regret it in the morning. The brilliant smile and loving arms he woke to in the morning said it all.

The End.

A/N Well, for this adventure. Who knows what else these two will get up to and demand I share with you guys?