Now I know you're my true north, 'cause I am lost in the woods.

[forachange]

Wembley glanced around at what he could see of the surrounding forest. It wasn't much, honestly, with the snow coming down as thick as it was. It wouldn't be the first time he and Gobo had been in a tight spot while exploring together, but this was a much bigger space to be stuck in than back at the Rock. Colder, too. He hadn't been this cold since that one disastrous Festival of the Bells.

He was worried, and not exactly happy - despite his best efforts. But he wasn't scared, not yet. He was with Gobo, after all. If he had faith in anyone, it was Gobo. The other Fraggle was brave, clever, resourceful, charming... Scratch that last one. That last one was not what he was supposed to be thinking. He was trying - so hard! - not to think that way anymore. He'd admitted his feelings to Boober, who had been wonderfully understanding, but just because Boober thought it was okay didn't mean Gobo would. He didn't think things had been awkward, so it seemed he'd succeeded in hiding how he felt, but it wasn't easy.

Walking was also getting increasing difficult, as the snow started to really pile up on the ground. Wembley frowned and reached over to tap Gobo's shoulder. "Uh, Gobo...? Are we lost?"

Comments

[gobetween]

"Stay with us..."

It was quiet, and honestly rather Wembley of him, repeating the last thing someone said. But while that was part of Wembley's wembling, in Gobo it was something more serious. He instinctively burrowed a bit more into the warmth of Scrooge's coat, tucking a spread poofball of a tail up around his own body.

[forachange]

"No, no, Gobo, you gotta..." He had to what? Wembley wasn't sure of much beyond that he didn't like this. It was worse than being in the tree had been, because this- This wasn't his Gobo. Now, finally, he felt fear, and he made a strangled sound of distress, too nervous to otherwise alert Scrooge to Gobo's condition.

[moneymatters]

Scrooge, thankfully, was already aware. It was hard to miss the shivering of someone so tight against his body, and he knew the Fraggle well enough to worry about the same signs Wembley did. When he heard that soft whine, he tucked them a bit tighter and came to a stop.

"I'm going to get you home quickly. Gobo- he'll be fine, if there's one thing I know a lot about it's surviving a snowstorm." He tilted his head enough to look at Wembley specifically, hopefully catch his eye. "What I'm goin' to do... it may be frightening, but it's still me." He started walking forward again and, faintly on the ground behind him, the edges of his shadow frizzled. "It's magic, and it'll get you home quicker. So don't worry. I've got you."

His steps quickened and Wembley may be aware of a feeling of change rippling over Scrooge, though he didn't seem to actually shift anything, save for the color of the depths of his eyes to a shining gold. Then there was a strange sound behind him as ethereal wings formed, and with it other lights of magic sparked around him- hazy horns above his head, a great tail stretched behind him, claws around his hands and feet. The wings flapped, wispy enough to pass through the trees but solid enough to still lift him and his precious cargo off the ground. The rest of the trip back would be in the air.

[forachange]

"Wow!"

It was certainly a shock, but there was a somewhat familiar feeling to that ripple of change... Magic. And magic was good, so far as Wembley knew, so though this was alarming, it wasn't exactly frightening, after all. Plus, they'd be home faster this way. And if Scrooge said Gobo would be fine... Well... He was right, wasn't he?

He had to be.

[gobetween]

Gobo half stirred at the change and as they took flight, though he didn't have any significant reaction of his own, itself still worrying. He was only faintly aware of the trip back to the manor, of being received by the others and set up between a blanket and a low-set heating pad. This was to bring him back from the brink slowly, to prevent shock, and Wembley likewise set up beside him.

From there it was a confusing while for the Fraggle, the true time spent unclear in a sea of foggy images and distant voices, the occasional clear dose of warm liquid, then back into unconsciousness. When he finally roused into lucidity it was light outside, and quiet; the storm had gone. He looked up and around them, recognizing the manor, then let his head sink back with a soft groan.

...Then almost immediately sit back up, looking around him in panic.

"Wembley?? Wembley-!!"

[forachange]

Wembley had fallen halfway-asleep a few times, but he couldn't stay asleep, because he needed to know Gobo was really, truly okay. Of course, the last of those few times coincided with Gobo properly waking, himself.

But when he heard Gobo say his name, he just couldn't sit up fast enough - once he did so, he leaned against Gobo. "I'm here. I'm always here."

[gobetween]

He wrapped his arms around him in the same moment, squeezing him tightly. A rush of emotions all fought for dominance: relief that he was okay, that they were out of danger; anger at himself for taking the risks he did; hurt, for having put Wembley in danger again; and affection at that lean, at his presence.

He could hardly talk, his voice caught in his throat, and he only shook his head slightly as he embraced him, body trembling now and again.

[forachange]

While the hug itself wasn't a surprise, the intensity of it sort of was, and Wembley was quick to hold Gobo in return.

"It's okay, Gobo. It's okay. We're safe now."

[gobetween]

"W-Wembley, I-..."

He leaned back to look at him, his eyes wet, and suddenly he knew what he wanted to say.

"...I love you. I didn't- want to say it because that doesn't make anything.. any easier, but..." He sighed, leaning forward until he could rest his head against Wembley's shoulder, arms falling down loosely behind him; submissive and understated. "...I don't want something like that to happen again without me having gotten that out."

[forachange]

He breathed in sharply, speechless for a moment where he could just nod, and then...

"Nothing's easy, Gobo. At least, not for me," he giggled. A pause, and he reached over to take Gobo's hands in his own. "Well... Most things aren't. This is. It's not, but it is - what I mean is, I love you, too."

He kissed Gobo's cheek.

"We'll figure it out. We all will."

Although... He suspected that maybe they already had, that something deep in each of five hearts had always known how it felt. Now their minds just needed to catch up... It wouldn't be a bad thing. Maybe a little tricky, but never bad.

[gobetween]

His head rose and he looked at Wembley in surprise, then smiled and nodded, tucking him a bit closer.

"...Yeah. We will."

Though, as happy as he was, there was something else that needed to be cleared.

"Wembley, I'm... I'm sorry. I should've never gone out there when the snow was so bad, and then it got worse and.." He looked at him again. "We almost died. We would have! if.. if Uncle Scrooge hadn't shown up when he did. I..." His voice faltered and he looked away, the rest of his sentence unsaid but, with someone as close to him as Wembley, likely heard anyway.

I messed everything up again.

[forachange]

"It... It..."

He wasn't sure how to phrase this next part without being dishonest. It wasn't okay, what had happened, but... It was? How could he explain? Slowly, gently, Wembley leaned away, shaking his head.

"I'm not upset with you. I said I wanted to explore with you, and I meant it - and I still do! No matter what we were to each other, I knew I wanted that. I've always known that part. It's... One of the only things I can really be sure about." He gave Gobo's hands a squeeze. "No matter what happens, I'm always going to be with you, because, well, I believe in you. Even when you make a mistake. Even when you don't believe in you."

[gobetween]

He was already looking down, which was good because when the tears came, shaking his shoulders, his head didn't have far to drop. He grasped Wembley's hands in return, holding on until he was able to take a steadying breath, and when he looked up his eyes were still wet, but he was smiling.

"R..right... And I'm gonna always be with you too, Wembley. You were the first person to believe in me, and because of you- I've got all the others, too."

[forachange]

Wembley smiled, and he threw his arms around Gobo's neck. "I hope you know how happy you make me," he whispered, tucking his head against Gobo's chest. "'Cause you make me so happy."

He was quiet for a moment or two, just feeling the rise and fall as Gobo breathed, and then - quite abruptly - he sat up. "Oh, um, Gobo... Did you know you... I mean, last night, we... A-And I'd like to..."

Asking for a kiss should not have been this hard.

[gobetween]

Gobo sat back when Wembley did, and he tilted his head a little bit, giving him a curious glance.

"Honestly, last night's kind of a blur, sorry Wembley. What happened...?"

[forachange]

"Oh, it's okay! It really is, you, uh, had just..." He kept twining and un-twining his fingers, before he took a deep breath and let his hands relax. A nervous and sheepish laugh, then, "You kissed me."

[gobetween]

His eyes widened a bit, then he laughed gently, suddenly a bit nervous, hands drumming in his lap.

"I did?"

[forachange]

"Yeah... Oh, it was nice, of course! It made things... Really okay, even when they weren't, you know? Like, um, no matter what happened... I felt like I wouldn't mind."

He ruffled his own hair with a laugh. "That probably sounds silly, huh?"

[gobetween]

Gobo watched Wembley, kneading his lap a little. The idea of it... it does sound nice, and he must've agreed last night if he'd done it, even without remembering. ...That might've made his confession a moment ago moot, but no point wondering over that now, they were past it and he knew Wembley was okay with everything.

So, without any pause and thus with his typical forwardness, he- albeit gently -took Wembley by the front of his shirt and pulled him into another kiss, this one full on and lingering.

[forachange]

Wembley inhaled sharply through his nose, taken by surprise at first, but... Yes, he could get used to this. Absolutely. He giggled once they parted, and this time, it was Gobo's hair he reached up to muss.

"Thanks, Gobo."

[gobetween]

He laughed softly, half-heartedly pushing Wembley's hand back but with a fond smile all the same.

"Yeah. Sure, Wembs."

[takeittothebridge]

There was a moment of silence that followed, but it didn't last long before Bridge peeked from around the corner, spotting the two on the couch.

"Hey, guys," he said. "How're you doing?"

[forachange]

Wembley turned to look at Bridge with a smile. "I think we're doing a lot better. Hi."