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So anyway, masteraaran and I are hard at work on our NaNo story for this year.

Day 10: 3,577 words written, five pages. (Total this week: 26,712 - Running total for the month: 38,079)

Goal: 100,000 words between two authors for the month

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Slowly, Tisha came out of her daze, the sound of Marco's voice helping her pull herself together, as his arm supported her. She gave a shake of her head, then buried her face in his fur, holding him tightly as her body started shaking uncontrollably. "H...He was.... g...going to... k...kill you..." she sobbed into his chest, her arms slipping around him as he comforted her.

What Marco knew about this situation was that an Indian had just tried to attack him, she had saved him, and he had nearly knocked out the Indian. Now, logic told him that the only Indians in this area would be the Lakota, which meant she might know that Indian...and if she knew the Indian, that meant he might have been trying to protect HER. He rubbed her back softly as she shook in his arms and clung to him, "But he didn't... You saved me, I'm here and we're safe... He might have been trying to protect you, thinking I was an intruder."

Tisha looked up at him, her hands flattening against his chest as she checked over him with the fingers and palms to make sure that he was fine. Satisfied, she turned to look at the Lakota male laying on the ground and let out a gasp. She did know him, and she again turned to bury her face in Marco's fur. Her mind snapped and she started laughing and crying at the same time, the sound bordering on the edge of hysteria. The Indian was her best friend growing up, the Lakota chief's son. Unaware of what had happened to her, or Marco's role in saving her, he just saw her with Marco and assumed the worst.

Marco wasn't entirely sure what to do or make of all this. He took from her glance that she did know the male that had attacked him, and then she began to go into hysterics. He shook his head and gripped her by the shoulders, giving her a gentle shake. "TISHA!" he nearly shouted, trying to bring her out of it. She was snapping and he couldn't stop it. "TISH!" he growled, snarling as he gave her another shake, intending to force her back to the present. "We should see if he's ok..."

Tisha felt Marco shaking her and the loud tone to his voice, and it snapped her back. Marco hadn't shouted at her, had he? He never raised his voice to her. Looking up at him, her eyes, once more clear, focusing on his. She wiggled from his arms, staying close to him, not moving far from his side as she crouched next to the Lakota warrior. Her fingers found his pulse, found it steady, then she pulled her hand away, slipping her hand into Marco's paw again. "He's fine. Probably going to have one hell of a headache, but that's his own fault."

Marco felt bad for yelling at her in the first place, but it had the desired effect. There was only warmth in his eyes when she looked up at him, and then he went with her over to where the Lakota was laying. He waited while she checked him, and then her hand slipped back into his own furry paw. He squeezed it, "I'm sorry for yelling at you..." he murmured, "I didn't know what else to do to bring you back..."

Tisha snuggled against him, her eyes clear of the cloudy haze that showed up when she was losing her grip on reality, especially after everything that happened to her in the last few days. She stretched up on her tip toes and gave his nose a playful nuzzle with her own nose. As long as they were together, she could handle almost anything. Her foot nudged her friend's side, forcing a groan from the Lakota warrior, while her body remained plastered to Marco's side. She wasn't giving the warrior a chance to attack Marco again.

Marco let her snuggle up to him, not wanting her to be anywhere else at that moment. To tell the truth, when she had thrown that dagger at the Lakota, and then the warrior had jumped on him, he hadn't thought of his own safety, but what might happen to Tisha if he were to fail or to be killed or hurt. He was glad that it had worked out, and he would have to apologize to this male, but hopefully she could explain it to him well enough that he wouldn't be angry. Either way though, he kept his arm around her waist as she pushed up against him, "You know him then?"

"Hehakasapa," she murmured, pronouncing the name 'Hay-hah-kah-sah-pah'. "The chief's son, and my best friend growing up. His name means Black Elk. I guess he was trying to protect me, but I just saw..." Her body let out another shudder and she buried her face against his chest, fighting the memory. She just wanted the peace that she and Marco had experienced that morning. No one but them. She knew that things would be changing when others arrived, but she wanted the peace and quiet for as long as she could get it, and having Black Elk here was not conducive to peace and quiet.

Marco repeated it quietly, but decided that he would probably stick with 'black elk' for the time being. He rubbed her shoulders when she buried her face in his chest again, and he sighed, "Alright, well, we should at least get him inside probably. Don't need to leave him laying here in the dirt. And you'll have to explain to him when he wakes up who I am, so he doesn't try to get me again." He swallowed and kissed the top of her head, then licked her forehead and pulled her head back to smile down at her. "Ok?"

Tisha nodded as she looked up at him, a blush crossing her cheeks as he gave her a kiss, but she snuggled closer to him. As he tilted her head back, he could easily see her embarrassment in her eyes, though she didn't pull her attention from him as his tongue slid over her forehead. "You drag him inside. I doubt we'll get to finish the garden today or our ride in. I'll have to yell at him for ruining our planned day."

He laughed softly at her, even though he could see the embarrassment she held in her eyes. It was actually rather cute, but he didn't want her to be uncomfortable. He nuzzled her softly and then nodded, "I'll get him in there... we'll talk about it later, and if he tries to stop us from sleeping together or anything..." he trailed off and shrugged.

Tisha nodded. "I'll put the rest of the gardening things away, and join you inside. If he wakes up, give me a yell so I can stop him from attacking you again." She nuzzled his chest, smiling as strands of his fur stuck to her sweaty face as she inhaled his scent. She moved into the garden and starting picking up the seed packets and putting them into the small wagon to pull back to the shed, though before she did, she took the watering cans to the creek and filled them up, and watered the freshly planted seeds. The only ones left to plant were the fruit trees and the ground vegetables such as carrots and potatoes.

He nodded to her and smiled, then bent and lifted the Lakota from the ground. He hefted him, then turned and drug him across the ground toward the house. About halfway there he decided, "Fuck this," and lifted him over his shoulder to carry him the rest of the way. He took the male up to the house, then inside, and gingerly put him on the couch, before backing up and moving to stand in the doorway so that he could have plenty of room to move should Black Elk wake up and decide that he hadn't had enough, before Tisha could get there.

Tisha took the wagon back after the seeds were watered and Marco had taken Black Elk into the house, then washed up quickly before entering the house. She was getting tired of drinking coffee all the time, she thought to herself as she eyed the coffee pot. Her eyes drifted up to meet Marco's and she walked over to him, nuzzling into his chest as her arms wrapped around his waist. "Are you sure you're not injured, Marco?" she whispered, her eyes not leaving his as she held onto him. The last few days had been so peaceful, so quiet... well as quiet as could be with Selina around, but still, nothing like this incident, and she felt a strange... melting-like sensation in her chest. Was she? Could she be? She lost herself in his eyes and knew the answer to it, and she thought she knew the answer, but she didn't want to push it right now. But she did know that she never wanted to lose him. She wouldn't be able to handle that.

Marco was watching the Indian when she came into the kitchen. He turned to look at her then, still leaning against the doorway, looking as hunky as ever without even meaning to. His muscles were well defined, especially since he wore only his t-shirt and jeans. He opened his arms and let her walk right up to him, slipping her own around his waist and pressing her face to his chest. He smiled softly and his fingers rubbed over her back. He nodded. "Yes, I'm fine...he didn't hurt me," he said softly, looking back into her eyes. They were so deep, there was something there...something in them that stirred something within himself that he knew was there. He had been terrified for her earlier, not himself, he cared for her more than anything, especially now... he knew that he never wanted to leave her or have her taken from him.

On the couch, Black Elk was stirring, coming out of the daze that Marco's punch had sent him into, and, while Tisha heard it, she was too lost in Marco's gaze to pay attention. She slid her hands up his chest, and stretched up on her toes, pressing her lips against his, whispering against his lips, "And no one better ever hurt you, Marco." Slowly, the sound behind them infiltrated her dazed mind and she sank back to her feet, turning to look at Black Elk. "Sica," she hissed at him, her eyes narrowed as she pointed at her lifelong friend. "Marco, waste! Hehakasapa, sica!" The tone said everything, she was really scolding her friend. "Is waste lake iye!" The last words seemed to floor her as she turned back to look into Marco's eyes, finding herself there.

The tall husky leaning in the doorway of the living room, felt her hands rubbing up over his chest. He felt her pressing in against him, touching at him, and then, leaning up to kiss him. Their lips met for the first time, and it was like fireworks had gone off inside of him. He sucked in a breath and kissed her back, a bit more passionately, before letting her release him, unsure what to think of her actions. A smile twisted the corner of his lips, but before he could say anything, she evidently noticed the stirring Indian. And that's when her fiery side came out, lashing out at the form laying on the couch, saying things in Lakota that he didn't quite catch, though he heard his name associated with 'waste' which he knew meant good. He wasn't sure about the rest, but as her words died, she was suddenly looking back at him with this curious expression on her face, like she had said something she didn't mean to. "What?" he asked softly.

Tisha smiled at him, having admitted to herself, as well as Black Elk that she loved Marco. But she still needed to tell Marco, and she didn't feel like doing it in front of someone else, even though that person knew how she felt. Giving another look over her shoulder at Black Elk, she hissed, "Enaon!" Her hand slipped to Marco's paw, and she gently tugged on him, wanting him to join her in the other room.

Marco sighed out and tilted his head to the side, wondering what was going on exactly. He let her take his paw though, and allowed her to tug him away, into the kitchen. He paused when they were out of sight of Black Elk and alone once again. Whatever she had to say was important enough that she didn't want the Indian there, or she would have just said it in the other room. "What is it, Tish?"

Tisha blushed as she looked up at Marco, then moved into his arms, looking up into his eyes as if she was drawing on his strength. Her mood swings seemed to be violently one side or the other, but she never seemed to lash out at him. Others that were about to attack him, yes; but him, never. Her fingers slid into the lush fur on his shoulders, and she leaned up towards him, her voice dropping. "Is waste lake iye means 'I love him' in Lakota, Marco. And I meant every word I said when I said that to Black Elk. I.." She blushed and chuckled self-consciously as her words dissolved into the air before looking back up at Marco. "It's much harder to say it now. But... I love you, Marco."

He would have to learn how to deal with any mood swings she had, but so far he had seen no evidence that she would get violent with any of them. At least not toward him, and as long as she didn't, then he could deal with it. He looked into her eyes and could see that there was more there than had been before. Yes, he could see that she looked up at him differently, perhaps with even a hint of embarrassment. He let her back into his arms though, slipping his hands to her waist as she looked up at him and told him what was on her mind. He went silent, not saying or doing anything as she got it out, then, abruptly, he leaned down to kiss her. He pressed his lips to hers gently but firmly, and held her that way until he had to pull back to let them both breathe.... "Oh...I love you too, Tish..." he whispered, "I....I don't want to be without you again."

Tisha smiled at Marco, the gracious curve of her lips once more making her face light up the way she had for him once before. The way she always seemed to light up for him and only him. She giggled and looked to Black Elk, an idea coming to her mind. She knew that she missed Bri's wedding for her graduation party, so she thought it might be a good idea for her to set up a marriage with the chief, completely unaware that Theron had already talked to the chief about this very subject. But she also wondered... "Marco... If we could arrange to get married, would you want to?"

Marco held her against his body while she looked up at him, clearly in love with him just from the look on her face. And, inside, he knew that he too was in love with her. There was just something about her. It had only been a space of two or three days, but already he felt a deep connection to her, one that went far beyond simple care, one that extended fully into love. He looked into her face, and when she asked him that question, he had to think for all of about a millisecond before nodding. "I would be honored to ask for your hand in marriage, Tisha..."

Grinning wickedly, Tisha grabbed his paw and dragged him back into the living room where Black Elk lay on the couch still, not even daring to sit up after Tisha's hissed order to him. Leading Marco to the large plush chair, she pushed on his shoulders to get him to sit down, then sat in his lap as she looked at Black Elk. She used English to have the rest of the conversation so Marco could follow it. "Black Elk, I know that Brielle and Melanie are coming up, and I know Brielle and Theron were supposed to get married the other day. Can you talk your father into a wedding for them when the girls get here, in about a week's time?"

Marco grinned and followed her back into the living room, feeling like she was half-dragging him there. He laughed and then plopped down where she pushed him, falling into the seat easily and then feeling her climb up on his lap. Now this was a position he could get used to... Tisha on his lap. He smiled and his paws immediately went about her waist, then he nuzzled her neck as she spoke.

The Lakota male on the couch slowly sat up, rubbing the back of his head with his hand as he did so, and easing himself into an upright position. "Tisha.... your friend packs a punch. Kindly tell him not to hit me like that again." He chuckled wryly and then said, "I suppose you wouldn't know..." He trailed off a moment and laughed, finding it fun that he had gotten one up on her, even unintentionally. "Theron already asked father if he would marry them when they reached here. He asked him when he was here earlier this week with the rest of the tribe getting everything ready."

Tisha shook her head at Black Elk's first words, and said, "You can tell him yourself. He understands English. He doesn't speak much Lakota yet, but I am teaching him as time goes on. Besides, he wouldn't have thrown that punch, but I... I was lost in a very bad memory, and it was the fastest way for him to get to me without turning his back on you." Looking up at Marco, she grinned, giving him a light kiss before turning her eyes on Black Elk again. "Black Elk, my childhood friend, I would like you to meet Marco, my.. my knight in shining armor and my love." Giving another shake of her head, she looked at the Lakota warrior again, and sighed. "Well, then, will you ask your father if he would be willing to do a ceremony for Marco and myself at the same time?"

Black Elk raised his eyebrows, evidently curious about what she was talking about, but not going to question her words. He knew and trusted Tisha, he had known her all his life basically. He nodded, "Well, I promise I wasn't trying to hurt you. I thought he was the intruder. It's all in the past now anyway." he shrugged, then again raised his eyebrows, "You wish to be married to the husky?" he asked, glancing at Marco, then back at her, as if he were considering it, then sighing and nodding, "I will ask him. He'll want to meet your friend before he says yes."

Tisha nodded in response to Black Elk's question, her head leaning against Marco's chest. "Marco keeps me sane at night, Black Elk. I doubt I would be here now if it wasn't for him." Her body stiffened slightly, then she gave a low sigh, knowing she would have to talk about this to the chief when he met Marco and wanted to make sure about their feelings for each other. "Black Elk, this isn't easy for me to talk about, but maybe this will help you understand what's going on. When Theron was up here, did he mention anything about the power suddenly going off?"

The Indian licked his lips, still not quite understanding what she meant when she said that Marco kept her sane at night. He placed a hand on his hip and rubbed his head with the other, feeling a throbbing ache in it. "Yeah, he said something about it botching up the wedding and that it seemed to be off all over. Why?"

Her hand laced with Marco's paw, drawing strength from the husky as she looked at Black Elk. Another sigh escaped her. At least he knew that the power was gone, and things were going to revert to an earlier time in American history. She hoped he knew exactly what that was going to mean to the Lakota and the other Indians in the tribe. "Well, the day after the power went out, I got grabbed off the streets by a group of thugs. There were five of them. They..." Her eyes closed and a shudder raced through her as the memory of that morning came back to her. Opening her eyes again, she looked directly at Black Elk, and whispered, "This is hard to speak of, and Marco knows what happened since he stopped it, but other than that, I haven't spoken of this to anyone else. And It's hard enough telling you, and I know I have to tell your father when I talk to him about Marco and I getting married. But other than that, I never want to talk about this again..."