Alder '05: This

He smiled and initiated it, a soft, warm kiss purposeful and familiar running thick with all those greater intangibles - all those greater intangibles.

It was safe, this kiss, this here for it.

The hugely open, endless blue sky yawning overhead. The low, golden angles of sun in the final hours of day. The bulky bodies of the horses to either side of them, standing nestled in between.

As it finished he pressed closer for a moment then drew away and smiled again. An easy smile - a soft, warm curl that distracted his hard features into something intimate and kind.

His eyes closed and he leaned forward.

Arms came about him, firm and sure, drawing him tighter.

This perfect fit.

He held just as tightly back, arms slid neat beneath the long coat. His head rested without thought on a shoulder and he sighed.

A complete, willing, this - for us, for me, here, even here - was wonderfully fine sigh.

Fine indeed.

After endless moments he pulled away, his now much warmed hand gliding unconsciously up, fitting around that proud jaw, thumb stroking the time-perfected cheek.

He smiled again, submitting to the so-pleased and mildly surprised eyes that roved his face in tender, subdued delight.

A bounding advancement between them and for each, benchmarked with deceptive casualness, and undercurrents - and undercurrents.

He nodded then moved away.

The hands anchored, anchoring, to his hips squeezed then let him go.

They mounted up in easy silence and the horses nickered, eager and ready.

Buck peeled off first, Lady's head bobbing as her feet lifted and teased over the rocky earth.

Chris watched him go, waited his turn.

He looked back and pulled the brim of his hat, acknowledging and saying goodbye for now to the silent crosses, and all that lay beneath - and all that lay beneath - that he and Buck had come here to see this day.

This day in particular.

It seemed without a doubt they were smiling back at him.

Pony started after without prompting and Chris didn't argue it.