Labyrinth is slightly AU and begins at Two Days Before, just after the prank is done and the group has fallen asleep in the barn. This is partly inspired by what I thought was going to happen when I first started reading the book.

I woke abruptly to a sharp ache in my ass. I must have shifted in my sleep and bumped the bruise I knew would be there, courtesy of that damned swan. I lifted my throbbing head and blinked groggily in the grey light as I let my eyes adjust. Lara was asleep against me; my arm tucked around her and her fingers loosely intertwined with mine. I felt her sigh in her sleep and she gently squeezed my hand, causing my stomach to flutter and my skin tingle. Even though it was still relatively dark, she looked so adorable with her dark curls lazing about her face and her lips curled in that kind of peaceful, half-smile that people only had when they were dreaming. I rested my head back down, shuffled up against her more and entertained myself with thoughts of what she might have been dreaming about.

I closed my eyes and smiled a little as I had just began to picture the looks on the Weekday Warriors' faces when they found out about the progress reports Alaska and the Colonel had sent out. I saw Kevin, all red-faced and blue-haired looking like an overgrown, angry Smurf. I almost chuckled to myself when another quiet and distant giggle beat me to it and interrupted my thoughts. I opened my eyes and lifted my head again, wincing at the aching throb that seemed to worsen with even the slightest movement. That's the first and last time I'm climbing Strawberry Hill… I thought with a grimace, even though I knew it most likely wouldn't be. I craned my neck to look over the top of Lara and the puffs of sleeping bag towards the entrance of the barn when I heard the faint giggle ring again through the early morning air. Alaska.

"Shh...!" she whispered and laughed again. It was such a sweet sound, high and soft. She was sitting, leaning against the outside of the barn wall. I could see her foot tapping to an imaginary beat and puffs of smoke glowing against the shadowy darkness. Every now and then her hand would flop in to view as she carelessly flicked the ash from her cigarette. Alaska giggled again, a little louder this time but her laughter was cut short and replaced by a gentle sigh and then the sound of two people making out. She was with someone. My first, automatic thought was Jake but there was no way... I frowned and lifted my head a little more as I tried to get a better look without waking up Lara.

"God, you're even sexier when you smoke," Alaska said and then I saw the shadowy outline of her body as she fell back while another, much larger and stockier, figure leant over her and kissed her. I was definitely not expecting this and that was definitely not Jake. My lips parted and my eyes widened in surprise when my brain finally kicked into gear and I realised who was on top of Alaska. I couldn't believe it, that bastard! And so much for all that 'but I love my boyfriend' shit. She was right, I didn't know who I loved. This wasn't the Alaska I knew, but then again, did I even know her? With all her mysteriousness and intentional vagueness I would be lying if I said I was totally surprised. It was more who she was making out with that completely shocked me.

"I'm so drunk," Alaska sighed, shooting the breeze. She stretched her arms above her head and the Colonel used the opportunity to kiss her neck.

What the actual fuck?!

Alaska giggled again and dropped her cigarette. A thin line of smoke twisted upwards from the loose bits of dry hay that lay scattered around the entrance.

Oh, God, please notice, please notice... Shit.

"Oops," she said, sounding almost amused as she looked at the dropped cigarette upside down and then rolled over beneath the Colonel.

"Christ, Alaska!" the Colonel shout-whispered and scrambled to his feet just as a flame erupted right in front of Alaska's face. I saw her eyes widen in the orange glow and she shuffled backwards and grabbed the Colonel's arm as she pulled herself to her feet.

He stomped his foot down on the small flame until it was finally put out and I heard him sigh in relief. "It's like you wanna die," he said to Alaska.

"Maybe I do," she replied.

"Don't speak like that, you know it's stupid," the Colonel said and I could almost hear him rolling his eyes at her. "You're drunk, I'm drunk and that was too close. All of it."

I saw him begin to make his way back into the barn and I quickly pretended like I was sleeping. Luckily it was still fairly dark. I heard his footsteps suddenly stop and thought for a second that he'd noticed me, but it was only Alaska pulling him back.

"You're awfully sexy when you're serious, you know," she said and I could tell she was smiling as she spoke. That god-damned amazing smile with those god-damned amazing lips that I wanted to kiss and had come so close to. But she had told me not to ruin it. Ruin what? What did that even mean now that she was kissing the Colonel and cheating on Jake? I knew it was wrong to be jealous while Lara, the girl I'd just asked to be my girlfriend, was asleep in my arms, but I couldn't help it and I squeezed my eyes shut tighter and tried to block out the image of Alaska and the Colonel making out as I heard them return to their own sleeping bags. I wanted so badly to get up and knock the Colonel's block off, but for now that would have to wait. Our mission wasn't over yet and I didn't want to be the one to fuck it up because of my own stupid feelings. Besides, I had Lara now...