Disclaimer: Still, nothing belongs to me…pity!!

For the last time, thanks to all who wrote a review: VandySkyXBridge, Forsaken18, B.A.D.Child, Scottishwriter, 66Witch, Mouse Kaiser, Medora Redtree, Black-Rose23, vizzini13, black lady knight and Nightmareahed!

8. Chapter

Late Monday morning in the lair was quite turbulent. Tommy was carrying Merton's stuff down again before Becky would come home while the Goth was busy to remove the silver nitrate jelly from his windows.

After he had dropped the last boxes of old books and plaster skulls, the jock sat down on the bed, pausing for breath, and secretly amusing himself by watching Merton buzzing around.

"Hmm, the little skull was on that shelf with the necromantic books, and this crossbow appertains to the left wall, between the holy water pistol and the wooden stakes…" murmured the Goth to himself as he was unpacking another box.

"You know, you look like a hyperactive bee on caffeine" chuckled Tommy.

"I just want everything back in place. Who knows when the next creepy slimy something will appear, and I don't want to risk our lives because I can't find my consecrated salt in time.

Besides," he added with a mischievous wink "the sooner I'm done here, the earlier I can enjoy the rest of the day with a certain sexy werewolf."

"Good argument" agreed the jock.

Sometime later Merton was finished and sat down beside Tommy on the bed. He took his friends head in his lap and after gently caressing his scalp for a while to relax him he finally asked the question that was preying on his mind.

"Have you already decided what you'll do on the day of the winter solstice?"

Tommy frowned, it took him a few seconds to realise what the Goth was talking about.

"I thought you've said there will be no more danger of my animal side taking over after I have found my mate."

"Well, as your mate I'm quietening your wolf and strengthening your human side so that there is no more danger that you'll change and disappear into the woods for good. Nevertheless, the increasing energy of your wolf remains, and I'm convinced he still wants to take over you. My influence only makes sure that he returns control to you again. Of course you could try to fight against him, but remember, he's a very strong, yet undefeated alpha male."

Tommy was thinking hard about what Merton had said, finally he asked: "How would this change transpire anyway? I mean, what would I need to do to make it happen and what would be the consequences?"

"You don't need to do a thing, for it's a natural occurrence. There aren't needed any fixings this time, only a location that is somewhat special for you and your wolf, preferably somewhere secluded so that no one disturbs you." explained the Goth.

"The consequences, according to the experts from Lycantria, seem to differ; it depends mostly on your wolf. What is sure is that it will intensify your connection, and only you can tell if that's a good thing, for you're the only one so far who had contact to him, in your vision. So the question is, do you want to deepen your bond, do you trust your wolf?"

The jock felt his animal side stir at this question; he could sense his wolfs intent anticipation.

He thought back to their first encounter, the calm, soothing eyes, and how his wolf had used the energy of the blue moon solely to patiently explain things to his stupid human side again instead of wreaking havoc as they had feared. Tommy smiled, his answer was clear.

"Yes, I trust him."

Merton nodded "Then we only need to find a good place."

"I already know the perfect place," said the jock, thinking of his favourite cliff above the lake.

"It's actually so isolated that not even a beaten path leads to it." He looked up at the Goth apologetically. "Guess you'll have to ride on my back to get there."

Merton was amazed "You want me to be with you when you change?"

Tommy frowned at this –to him- pointless question. "Of course I want you with me."

The Goth beamed and kissed him fervently, he had not dared to hope to get to see this mystical event. Tommy didn't know what caused this reaction of his friend, but didn't bother and instead returned the kiss with equal passion.

Soon they laid on the bed, kissing and stroking each other, moaning heavy. When Merton started to open the jocks fly, Tommy broke the kiss and panted "How much time do we have left until your little sister returns?"

"Don't worry, Becky said she and Janet would watch some DVD's, they'll be most likely busy for the whole afternoon." assured the Goth eagerly.

As on cue, a loud shriek sounded from the first floor. Merton and Tommy separated with a jerk and rose from the bed just in time before a very pissed Becky stormed in.

"Freaker!! What's that creepy reptile of yours doing in MY room?!"

Merton cursed himself; amidst all the books, skulls and stuff he had entirely forgotten Rasputin! In this moment, Becky spotted Tommy, and luckily her reaction on the tall, handsome football player was the same as always.

Blushing madly she whispered a shy "Hey Tommy." Thus mollified she simply told Merton to remove his critter from her room before she would come back this evening and left the lair, still clutching two DVDs that she apparently had fetched.

Both boys exhaled and collapsed down on the bed.

"Damn, that was close! If my kid sister doesn't finally learn to knock before entering, she's bound to catch us one day…what am I going to tell her then?" worried Merton.

"Tell her to see the positive side, at least one member of the Dingle family managed to get a sexy boyfriend" answered a grinning jock.

Imagining Becky's response the Goth couldn't help it and chuckled. "She would kill me."

"Nah, I would never allow someone or something to hurt you." reassured Tommy his friend, giving him a little kiss on the nose. "Now come on, let's get your scaly pet back here where it belongs so we can enjoy the rest of our Becky-free time without further disturbance."

Together they carried Rasputin, his food, heat lamp and heavy terrarium downstairs.

"I slowly feel like a furniture mover" grumbled Merton.

"Relax buddy, we are done here, and later we only need to rearrange a little thing back in our room at the dorm."

At this remark from his friend the Goth's expression turned into one big asking sign. What did he mean, what did they need to rearrange in their room?

"Well, you see" Tommy started explaining in a mock serious tone that made Merton chuckle again "right now, there are at least ten feet between your bed and mine."

The jock blinked with raised eyebrows, looking like an owl.

"That's an absolutely impossible status that needs to be corrected without delay."

He went on with his normal voice and a deep look into the Goths eyes.

"I don't want to wake up ever again without having you by my side."

Merton had tears in his eyes; this simple but serious statement from his friend was probably the best love declaration he had heard in his whole life.

He leaned in to kiss his romantic werewolf and felt himself being pulled towards his bed. They laid down once more and continued were Becky had interrupted them.

When Tommy unbuttoned the Goths shirt and started to kiss his way down his chest, it suddenly dawned upon Merton how amazing the consequences were of what had happened this weekend.

All these new, wonderful sensations weren't transitory but were going to last for good. Merton gasped as a hot mouth found its target below his waistline, his last coherent though was how great their future together would be.

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Late at night, at the date of the winter solstice, a wolfed out Tommy carried Merton on his back through the woods towards their destination.

When the werewolf left the trees behind, the Goth climbed down from him. Merton was amazed at this beautiful lake in the middle of nowhere.

"You were right, this is the perfect place" he whispered, not daring to break the peaceful silence.

"Yeah, I often come here to think or just to enjoy the night. Its like something is dragging me here, even in my vision I ended up on this cliff."

He turned to Merton. "Now that we're here, what shall I do next?"

"Take off your clothes to increase the effect of the moonlight, and then we'll simply have to wait and see. Luckily we already have a gibbous moon again, that should be more than enough to trigger the transformation."

The jock followed his friend's instructions and undressed, strangely enough he didn't feel any cold despite being late December.

Standing completely naked on a cliff late at night, Tommy didn't felt that comfortable and thinking of why he did it made things only worse.

The Goth, sensing his love's insecurity and tension, whispered "Relax. Just follow your instincts."

The werewolf took a deep breath and tried his best to calm down, finally his wandering eyes halted at the moon. The sight of the silver white orb made him forget his surroundings, his breathing slowed down and he took a few steps further onto the cliff. Driven by an urge he couldn't name he dropped down on his knees but kept on staring wide eyed at the moon.

Merton watched him quietly from the side; the jock looked like a statue made of shadows and moonlit skin. It was one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen.

Tommy's eyes focused solely on the moon, without blinking, until he saw nothing else but the bright light. He felt the warm presence in his chest that was his wolf increase, yet he wasn't afraid. His human mind drowned in a tidal wave of lucid moonlight.

Suddenly, the moonlit patches on Tommy's skin expanded, until his whole body seemed to be wrapped in moonlight. Then, with one fluid motion, the silhouette shifted from a kneeling human to a sitting wolf. The glowing faded; the wolf stood up with a little shake and looked down onto the lake.

Deep inside the wolf, Tommy was still conscious; although he couldn't control the movement of the body he was in, he still heard and saw everything. He saw the wolf's reflection on the surface of the lake and was grateful that his alter ego showed him this sure sign that the change had happened; otherwise Tommy would have almost missed it. He had expected a slowly, painful transformation, like in the movies, and not this swift, fuss-free change.

Merton was overwhelmed with wonder; he had seen the sudden glow engulf his friend and how the outline changed without much ado, and then the light was gone, and so was Tommy. He watched the giant wolf awestruck, trying to memorise every little detail.

Thick light brown fur with silver tips, and now that the wolf was approaching him he noticed his beautiful amber eyes, too. The animals gaze was calm and friendly, his pace slowly and unthreatening, in order not to frighten his mate.

Merton, sitting on a tree trunk, was actually on eyelevel with this huge creature and guessed it weighed about the same as the tall football player, all fangs, claws and muscles.

If he didn't know that this was Tommy's wolf the Goth would have died on the spot out of pure fear. But since it was, he was just totally amazed and carefully lifted a hand to pet him.

The wolf leaned into the touch happily and took one more step forward, laying his head on Merton's shoulder, just like the werewolf had done in the night of the blue moon. The response of his mate was still the same; trustingly Merton embraced the feral animal, burying his face deep in the wolf's luxuriant fur. A content growl and a soft wagging of its tail was his answer.

Within the wolf, Tommy witnessed the interaction between the Goth and the animal; he was surprised how calmly his friend took the whole situation.

However, what surprised him even more were the strong affections he could sense in the wolf's mind; there was no doubt that the wolf loved his mate as well as Tommy loved Merton himself, and that the wolf cared a great deal for his human side, considering him as a true friend.

The jock reciprocated this feeling wholeheartedly, somehow during these last weeks he had come to regard his wolf as more than just something that makes him strong enough to fight evil monsters but as someone he could rely on, more than only an ally, a friend.

And now that he knew his wolfs mind, the last little doubts deep inside his heart about deepening their bond vanished.

The Goth was still stroking the silken fur, staring at the great being in wonder.

"You are so beautiful; wonderful" he said dreamy, looking deep into golden eyes.

"I love you, no matter which shape."

Tommy was speechless; if he could he would have kissed his friend senseless for these sincere words. The wolf though seemed to feel the same and started licking the Goths face and neck tenderly, his tail wagging so much Merton could hear a faint flapping sound.

The pale boy didn't even flinch as he was being licked by this huge beast, nor did he felt any fear as lethal fangs occasional brushed his neck in the process, he just smiled and kept on caressing the soft fur lovingly.

Some when the feeling of Merton's fingers brushing through his fur changed to fingers brushing over his skin, without noticing Tommy was back in his human shape, holding his beloved in his arms, kissing him instead of licking. Only after they needed to break the kiss for air he realized what has happened.

Still wolfed out but in control of his body again he stood up and pulled Merton against his chest.

"I love you too, no matter which shape."

The Goth smiled happy and leaned in for another kiss. As his arms encircled the jock's waist he felt fur, and both realized that Tommy still had his wolf tail. He just shrugged it off.

"Guess I'll have to make an extra-hole into my jeans at my coccyx for patrolling."

The Goth however had a sudden vision of this soft furry tail wagging all over his body and pulled his lover in for a passionate kiss.

Soon their hands started to wander and Merton used Tommy's lack of clothing merciless to drive him insane. With a low growl the werewolf eventually broke the embrace apart.

"I think we should return to your lair, now."

"You take the words right out of my mouth."

The jock pulled his clothes back on in record-time, easily ripping a hole in the back of his jeans with his sharp claws.

But before he took Merton on his back to run home, there was one last thing to do.

With his arms around his mate the werewolf turned towards the moon, waiting for the familiar prickling inside his throat.

Then, totally at peace with the world and himself, he released his first true wolfish howl.

------------------------- The End -------------------------------

Note: Wow, it's done. My first fic ever is finished. Thank you all for reading and reviewing, without your support I couldn't have made it. Your comments were what made me stay awake and typing in the wee hours.

Somehow this story got more reviews than I ever thought it would get readers, so I guess you like it, too. Maybe that's why I'm somewhat reluctant to declare it finished…and because there's a little idea dancing in the back of my skull. Something about an evil opponent that Tommy can't just beat up and send away like the rest…

Which leads me to the question: would you like to read how this story goes on? I won't start writing it right now – my muse keeps on bugging me to write a Highlander slashfic next – but definitely this year, most likely before summer. This little idea still needs some cooking in the back of my mind, and I can't start until it's done…LOLOL….if you want me to go on, that is.

So please, tell me what you think!

Peya Luna

(And if someone remembers, please write me the name of the Lycantria-Princess, too!!)