Disclaimer: Crazy as it sounds; these characters still do not belong to me. Believe me I've tried to take them...but certain creative people coughJ&Gcough get a little upset when I try. So I decided to borrow them, once again. I will return them eventually.

I also do not own the story this is loosely based on. After reading this, you should be able to figure out which story I'm referring to...if you don't...check the endnotes.

Rating: PG

Thanks: Once again thank you my wonderful beta reader, DNash! Thanks for all your suggestions! You make me look good! I am forever in your debt. I would also like to thank Steph for a certain compilation CD she put together for me; one song in particular inspired this fic. Last but not least, Ryalin for her wonderful fic, The Lesson , and for allowing me to borrow Irina.

Notes: Ok, ok I admit it...I am a procrastinator. I meant to finish this in time for the last challenge fic deadline, but obviously I didn't and I barely finished it for this one. So don't be surprised when you see Pam's paragraph. Oh yeah, this takes place in S3 sometime after The Knife and before the end of the season.

Chapter One - The Hasty Heart

The sun slowly peeked through the trees surrounding the house. All of the inhabitants save one were awake and preparing for another day on the Plateau. Veronica and Finn were cooking breakfast, Challenger was in his lab as usual while Roxton, with a cup of coffee in hand, was making his way towards the resident late sleeper's room. He silently entered the room and placed the peace offering on the table next to the bed. The handsome lord admired the quiescent woman for a few minutes before all hell would break loose; he was going to try to wake her.

He gently shook the sleeping brunette as he spoke. "Come on, Sleeping Beauty, it's another beautiful day in paradise. Time to rise and shine."

The slumbering heiress mumbled, "Go away. It's too early," as she rolled over.

"Marguerite, last night you promised to go hunting with me today. So up and at 'em," the persistent hunter stated, waving the cup of coffee under her nose.

"What was I thinking?" the groggy adventuress asked, slowly opening her eyes. When she realized that coffee was within her grasp she sat up and reached for it.

Roxton was too quick for her and deftly moved it just out of her reach without spilling any.

"That wasn't very nice," Marguerite complained.

"I'm sorry but this is for my hunting companion," he grinned while continuing to hold the cup just out of reach.

"Wouldn't you rather go hunting with Finn?" the feisty brunette inquired still trying to grab her "necessity".

The hunter moved closer to his prey, speaking just barely above a whisper, "My hunting plans do not include Finn. I think she'd get rather bored with what I plan on hunting today."

Feigning shock, Marguerite solicited quietly, "Why Lord Roxton what do you plan on hunting?"

Grinning like a Cheshire cat, Roxton handed his ladylove her desired trophy. "We leave in half an hour. Think you'll be ready by then?" he inquired before releasing the mug to her.

"If I have to be," Marguerite teased, taking the coffee. John smiled as he walked out of the room.

While the enigmatic Miss Krux got ready, Lord Roxton went to the base of the Tree house to check on the supplies he had hidden from prying eyes. It had been quite some time since the older couple had been able to spend time alone. When he finished checking their supplies, the nobleman went back up to the living quarters to wait for his accomplice.

Marguerite emerged from her room several minutes later, dressed and ready to go. As the linguist made her way to the kitchen, carrying the empty cup, she was greeted by the sight of breakfast being cleared from the table.

"I was beginning to think you had fallen back asleep," the Englishman said as he replaced the cup with a piece of toast and some fruit. "Eat up," he suggested as he carried the cup to the sink. "We leave soon."

The beautiful heiress sighed. "Remind me again why I 'volunteered' for this?" she queried before eating.

"Because you said you hated weeding," Finn reminded her.

Veronica, Finn, and Roxton laughed when Marguerite rolled her eyes. Roxton held up Marguerite's pack while she slipped her arms through the straps. While walking towards the elevator he put his pack on. Once the two reached the base of the Tree house the titled hunter quickly went to the shed without saying a word to his traveling companion.

"Roxton, what are you doing?" the irritable adventuress posed. She hadn't slept well the night before. One of the many reoccurring nightmares she'd experienced in her life had kept her awake.

"I thought we'd go on a picnic," he replied, holding up a picnic basket he had stashed earlier that morning.

"I'm really not in the mood for a hike through the jungle just for a picnic," Marguerite complained, trying to keep her expression plain. Noticing her plain expression Roxton wondered what was bothering her. He knew eventually she'd fill him in on what was troubling her.

"Why is that? I thought you liked our picnics. The weather is beautiful for this. Come on...you still owe me a swim," Roxton said, smiling.

Realizing that he wasn't going to give up, Marguerite turned to face the person who could get past most of her defenses and saw the exuberant smile on the face of her heart's owner. Marguerite muttered, How can I resist that? under her breath before answering, "I'll go, but under duress."

"That's my girl," Roxton teased as he led the way.

Unseen someone was watching; had been watching the couple for months now. The silent observer followed as the pair made their way to the chosen picnic spot.

After what seemed like endless hours of walking, an exasperated Marguerite finally spoke. "Are we there yet?"

Noticing a hint of irritation in her tone, Roxton tried not to let it get the better of him.

"Not much further now, I promise. If you're a good girl and eat all of your lunch, I might let you take a nap," the handsome lord teased, hoping to lighten her mood.

Realizing she was being a bit cantankerous, Marguerite closed her eyes for a second or two and took a deep breath. She knew Roxton was only trying to give them some much needed private time, but for her today was not the day for it. Finally calm, the tired woman responded, "John, I..." She hesitated a bit.

"Yes?" the rugged hunter questioned. He knew what she was trying to say but wouldn't let her worm her way out of it.

The former triple agent knew there was no way the man in front of her would let her off the hook easily and she was too tired to play their usual game. "I'm sorry," was all she said.

"Want to talk about it?" John questioned as he took her hand and started walking again. At first he could feel a little resistance coming from her, but eventually she gave in and fell into step next to him.

Not wanting to discuss the nightmare she'd had, Marguerite quietly stated, "There's nothing to talk about really."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure. Don't worry about me. I'll be a good girl and eat all my lunch...I want a nap," the dark haired beauty replied, smiling a little.

The nobleman pulled their clasped hands to his lips and brushed a light kiss on the back of her hand. "Well if you pledge to cheer up then I might be persuaded to join you in that nap," he teased as they walked on.

The pair continued to walk for a few more miles until Roxton suddenly stopped. Marguerite's mind had wandered a bit after he'd kissed the back of her hand and hadn't been paying attention, which resulted in her colliding with him. The force of impact was just enough to set the heiress off balance and she landed on her derrière.

"Would you be kind enough to warn me the next time you want to just stop in the middle of the trail? Maybe with a running start I can bruise myself a little more," the petulant linguist snapped as she looked up at the cause of her bruised posterior.

"Well if you'd pay more attention to where you're going you wouldn't have run into me," he responded, offering his hand to help her up.

Marguerite looked at the hand offered to her, then at the face that belonged to it before accepting the help up. Once she was up, Roxton let go and walked away. He went towards a lake Marguerite didn't quite remember. She watched him as he went about choosing the perfect spot for their picnic. When it looked like he was satisfied with the place, he started unpacking the basket. She slowly walked over and began to help him. They worked quickly and soon were enjoying their lunch.

Once Marguerite was finished eating, she stretched out on her back on the blanket, looking up at the sky. As he packed up the remnants of their lunch, Roxton watched the woman next to him.

"What do you see?" he asked, lying next to her.

"Nothing really...just clouds," was her quiet response.

"Didn't you ever notice animals in clouds when you were a kid?" he questioned without realizing that he'd once again pried into her past.

Marguerite sat up with her back to him. "John, I am not in the mood to talk, especially about my non-existent childhood." She stood up and marched over to a boulder near the edge of the lake.

"Marguerite, I didn't mean..."

"Roxton, you never mean to, but you constantly do! When are you going to remember that some of us did not have a childhood?" she interrupted him.

The confused hunter closed the distance between them in a few short strides. He gently put his hands on her shoulders, turning her to face him. The look of pain and sadness in her eyes nearly broke his heart. He wanted to ease her pain, take it away, but it seemed that no matter what he did, he only made it worse.

"Marguerite, I'm sorry...I was only trying to..." he started but found he couldn't find the right words.

"To what? Remind me of how wonderful your childhood was? Or how horrible mine was?" she asked flatly, trying to pull away from him. As she moved, he only pulled her towards him more.

"Come on...let's sit down and talk about something else, whatever you want." He tried to placate her, make her see he was really sorry for dredging up the past. He really hadn't meant to.

The dark-haired woman looked at her companion. She knew he was really trying to get her to open up more with him. She knew he meant no harm by his innocent question. But the lack of sleep coupled with the memory of her nightmare had clouded her thinking and only fueled her anger. She could feel him gently rubbing her back, hoping to calm her down. When he turned her again to face him, she could feel what he wanted. He wanted to kiss her in hopes of chasing away her anger and fear. As much as she craved what he was about to offer, her recall of the frightening dream made her push him away.

"If you think I want... I'd rather kiss a frog!" Marguerite spat as she stormed past the man she loved.

Not sure what just happened, the bewildered nobleman watch as his ladylove walked towards home.

Best let her cool off before approaching her again, he thought to himself as he picked up the picnic basket and then blanket.

A sudden prickling sensation ran down his spine. He had learned the hard way not to ignore the sixth sense. But there was no variation in the usual sounds that filled the jungle – No, wait! Was that a flash of movement off to the left? Yes there it was again, barely a glimpse visible through the dense underbrush, but definitely moving closer. He waited guardedly, ready to dive for cover and defend himself if necessary. But nothing could have prepared him for what emerged from the trees a dozen yards away.