Lina paced the dimly lit room as fast as her thoughts.

Val was back. Her lover's lost love was back. By some strange swist of fate, Val had encountered an unstable Lei Line and it brought back his memories. Memories of before Filia cared for him as a re-born baby dragon. The memories that included a romance he had with Zelgadis Greywiers. _Lina's_ Zelgadis Greywiers.

Not that she didn't like Valterria. She cared for him because he was important to Zel, and she could always count on Val to be there for Zel at any time she couldn't. Even if it was because Zel was drifting away from her to him. It was hard for Lina back then, but after a couple of blown up bandit camps and weeks of seeing how happy Zel was, Lina had surprised herself with a respect for their relationship. After all, Zel never stopped being her best friend.

So after Val seemingly died, it was only natural that sooner or later Lina and Zel would get back together. Not that he ever forgot Val.

"Lina." Val closed the door behind him. "So here you are."

"Oh, hey, Val." She smiled more weakly than she would have liked.

"Lina." Val looked at the floor for a moment. "Is there going to be a problem between us?"

"You mean because of Zel." Lina bided time to think.

Valterria nodded.

"Val." She stepped up to him. "I don't hate you." Lina stepped closer to the person so important to the one she loved more than anything. "I care about you because Zelgadis cares for you, and because you care so much for Zelgadis." *I wonder,* Lina though, *Is this the same way Zel caresses Val's cheek?*

Val smiled. Things would be OK. No matter who Zel chose to be with now. "Thank you, Lina." His cheek leaned into her slender hand.

"My pleasure, Val." She hugged him affectionately, leaning her weight into him and nuzzling his shoulder before resting.

Val held her back, chin over her shoulder. *Her hair smells so nice...* He closed his eyes. *Like flowers...* He opened his eyes. She seemed so small and soft against him, like a delicate child. The embrace felt so warm...

That was around the time the kiss happened. Lina stared up at his golden eyes. He stared down into her ruby depths.

"Lina...?..."

"Val..." she graced his cheek once more before kissing him again. *The same lips Zelgadis kisses...* She thought, as her tender skin gently nipped at his.

Val complied almost unconsciously. Hs lips and head swaying with her movements. He ran a hand down her back and she arched up into him, moaning, but continuing the kiss. Valterria could feel soft cushions of flesh press against his chest and her hips against him. With one of her legs between his, she bent her knee, as the rest of her writhed slowly. Her thigh came in contact with Val and he brought her over to the bed.

Clothes falling to the floor, Lina continued coming down to kiss Val. A canopy of red, shining fire cascaded around the dragon. And he took the face framed by the flames down to his.

"Lina." He breathed deeply and rushed. "I've never done this with a girl before." Golden eyes staring up nervously.

"It's OK, Val." She ran a hand through his aqua hair. Her fingertips came down his cheek reassuringly, her palm resting warm, over his heart. "I'll take care of you. As long as you take care of my Zel." Both her lips and hips came down to his.

Val gasped out at the sensation. Scrunching his eyes and clutching at Lina's shoulders, surprised to feel soft tresses there. He couldn't believe how it overpowered even the other new feelings. Lina was so different. Her entire body was so supple, and yet, he could still feel the muscles taut underneath. A firmness that betrayed the slender fragileness of her limbs. Her skin was softer than Zel's. Val opened his eyes, hearing the satisfied moaning of a soprano, rather than a soft male tenor. Her thighs cradling his, he pulled her down quickly for another kiss, holding her lips fast to his.

~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~

Zel wandered down the hall. He would have to choose one. But no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't figure anything out. He still _felt_ a love for both Lina and Valterria.

*Lina...* She was his first kiss, first love, first...lover. And she never stopped being his friend. Zel smiled at memories past and continuing, of Lina's crazy stunts and bold, yet cheery attitude. But every once in a while, she'd surprise you with gentle kindness.

*But Val...* He could come through for him just as much as Lina. With a spirit just as bold, if not less ostentatious and a little more sensitive. Zel sighed.

He would just have to talk to Val and Lina about things. Zel stopped in the hall. How fortunate. Lina's room was right here.

~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~

The door opened.

"Lina...!" Zel stuttered. "And Val!"

"Zel!" Lina pulled the sheet around herself and dashed for Zel before he could be out the door. Lina locked the exit. "We're going to talk about this."

Zel almost growled.

"This...just happened." Valterria squeaked out repentantly. He came to hold Zel from behind. "I still love you, Zel."

"Like hell!" Zel whirled around, shoving Val off of him and into the wall. He breathed deeply, staring at the dragon. Anger, disbelief...and the pain that came with still wanting him. He wanted Val's arms around him like that, but not amidst such a betrayal. Zel readied to yell out frustrations and profanities, when Lina hit him. He turned to her.

Never minding that the shield spell around her hand didn't fortify her palm well enough against Zel's stone skin, Lina just stared defiantly into his ice blue eyes. "I didn't do this to hurt you."

"How could you do this and not!?!"

"I only care for him because you love him!"

Zel quieted for a moment.

"That's what you feel, isn't it?" Lina asked almost painfully.

Zel stared back at her. He had no right. No right at all. Because even as he stared at the best friend he had ever had, who had loved him and who he had loved back for practically forever, he still felt something for Val. Zel froze and calmed wth guilt.

"He's important to you, isn't he?"

Zel glanced back at the dragon behind him, who was now favoring a bruise from Zel's harsh shove.

Val looked back with sad, yearning eyes, on the verge of tears.

"Val..." Zel reached out a hand to apologize, then remembered his other love. "Lina...I..." He began looking back and forth quickly between Lina and Val.

"Shhh..." She held Zel and gave him a quick kiss before continuing. "I know you care about both of us. and I care about both of you. I love you, Zel." Lina glanced over to Val. "And I'm grateful to him for loving you."

Valterria just watched in stunned silence. *Lina's good! ...Well, she has known him _much_ longer than I have...* He continued to watch in awe as Zel complied with her kiss now, when a moment ago, he would have chose to never speak to either of them again.

Lina released Zel's lips, just slightly. Still staring into Zel's eyes as he held her, she whispered, "Come here, Val."

Zel held still where he stood in more surprise and disbelief. Val was nuzzling his back now, with his hands atop Zel's shoulders, as Lina continually kissed Zel in front.

Zelgadis closed his eyes. "Lina...Val..." Knees weakened until they lead him towards the bed. Zel stared into Lina's eyes, entranced, as she pulled off his shirt. After Val had undid his pants, he put his arms around Zel's waist, pressing his chest against Zel's equally firm back. Zel leaned back into Val, his head wavering to the side, melting in compliance with Val's kisses about his neck. The dragon closed his eyes, savoring him, holding the chimera more tightly, as they began to breath slowly, heavily. Lina pressed her nude form against Zel's, holding his face to hers for a kiss. Through stifled moans, Zel put his arms around Lina, holding her small body to him.

Lina just slightly released herself from the intense heat between them, and fell back onto the bed, pulling Zel to follow atop her. He replaced his arms around her, caging over her with a hungry stare. Val watched as Zel kissed her deeply several times, his hands running through her silky sunset hair. Lina's hands pulled him down, and Zel lay flat on her, entering. Lina gasped loudly, as Zel made several movements. When she felt more aware of herself, she motioned towards Val and he came to join them.

Again, awash in pleasure, Lina wasn't very aware of what Val was doing exactly at Zel's back, but she thanked the dragon. There was more she wanted to give Zel, and Val would do nicely. The chimera struggled, captive between the two. Normally, under Val, he would clutch the bed sheets, but with Lina here, he chose to hold onto her. Val increased his movements and Zel fell even more against Lina, who had movements of her own. He held each of her arms tightly with every breath, his head falling against her shoulder and pressing hard, fighting for air. Val stopped for a minute, laying against Zel, and peeking over his shoulder. As they listened to their handiwork of Zel's ragged breaths, Lina smiled at Val and pulled his aqua-framed face to her lips. Her eyes glanced over again at Zel who was still fighting for a more stable form of consciousness at her shoulder, and she kissed Val once more.

Zel's breathing began to calm and he turned to the two, just leaving from their gentle kiss. He couldn't help but watch, until Lina squirmed.

"C'mon. You guys are heavy." she smiled in mock-annoyance. The two boys laughed at her, as they pulled off.

They came to rest for a moment. Zel on his side, with Val in his arms. Lina draped playfully over Zel's back, resting her chin in her own crossed arms, atop Zel's side. She watched the two with a smile. *They're so cute...*

"Lina?" Zel re-awakened, turning to her. The sorceress was currently sliding on her belly, over him, and caged herself over Val. The dragon awakened, a little surprised.

"Zel," she smiled wickedly. "Do you want to watch?"

Val gulped, still a little exhausted.

"No...I don't feel like just watching." Zel quickly pulled Lina to him. She giggled all the way, peaking Val's interest. Zel set her down beneath him, fondly caressing the body he had not explored quite as thoroughly earlier. His curious lips gradually found their way down her tender cheek, as she arched her neck, and grasped his shoulders. He continued onto both her soft breasts. Lina squeezed his shoulders tightly and tried to stifle a yell. One of Zel's palms traced over a tender orb, before running down her smooth frame. His kissing turned to suckling, causing Lina to move her legs restlessly beneath his.

Val watched her gasp out Zel's name continuously. He could feel the speed of his breaths matching Lina's forced panting as he listened.

Zel seemed determined to satisfy her, but Lina pushed him off, not ready to end it yet. She pounced him, exploring his body with her own lips and the occasional slide of her warm little tongue. She held him close, nibbling at his ear, her whole body throbbing and pulsing into his taut muscles. She mimicked his earlier caresses, but sliding her tender cheek against his chest. His stone arms around her, she admitted him into herself, watching his cries intently, as her hips worked to make him come. They finished it, as always, with a teasing kiss.

Zel could feel himself drift off towards sleep. But his blurring vision caught something in the fairly dark room. Lina was moving off of him. Val's gold eyes searched Zel intensely, enticed by what he had seen just displayed. Val's fingertips, tracing the chimera's jaw line, took care to outline and probe every crevice of every pebble. Val inched closer, pulling himself against Zel. Soon he forced Zel onto his back again.

"Val." Zel sighed in a tired voice.

The young man only propped himself atop Zel and grinned. Val leaned down to his ear. "I can't let Lina have all the fun. Just rest. For me, will you?" Zel's smile was caught by Val's lips. He pressed a cerulean hand against that ashen chest, feeling his weight rise and fall against his palm.

Lina watched the two with a smile. Both of their eyes closed to subtlety curved, little lines. Their lips engaged, leading their bodies to more exaggerated movements. Both of their builds fairly similar and straining against each other with an equal tension. The bed shook and sheets beneath them began to crumple.

Zel could feel Val stiff against his thigh. His was the same. And the chimera moaned in that soft tenor. Val became more demanding, and pressing himself even deeper against his love with his whole weight. Zel was easily effected, and as Val saw this, he wanted more. But Zel was slipping away, all feeling leaving him.

"Val, do you mind if I have my turn?" Zel thankfully heard Lina ask.

Val only smiled mischievously and reached for her. Lina tried to reassert herself on top, and Val fought. He entered her quickly, holding her close, with wildly fast movements against their clamped bodies.

Lina could feel his warm breath so near her, and she grasped for his tongue. Val held still against her mouth, letting her roll on top.

It wasn't that long afterwards, that Zel watched Val clench his teeth. He knew the dragon would come soon, beneath Lina.

"She's pretty good, hm?" Zel whispered into Val's ear lying against the sheets, the bed shaking with each of Lina's movements.

"...uh...huh..." creaked out of Val's throat. He was still unable to open his eyes.

Zel stroked his fingertips across Val's soft cheek, saffire eyes watching, entranced. He went on to kiss Val, who could do nothing against their teamed assaults. And he would not want to, even if Lina wasn't pinning down his arms. Val felt his heart speeding dangerously with Lina's. Zel, noticing this with each of their hastened pants, released the boy's lips, to allow him some air. At the peak of their climax, both Lina and Val screamed in unison for Zel. Said chimera answered Val's call with a kiss; afterwards, Lina wordlessly demanded to taste him too. She slid off Val, and into Zel's arms, relieving a very exhausted, aqua-haired young man.

~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~

Zel awoke when he felt one of his bedmates stirring. Val was still asleep, cradled to Zel's side with his right arm. Lina had made a place for herself on Zel's chest. She began to fidget.

"Lina?" Zel asked as she crept out of bed.

"Shh. You'll wake Val." She smiled, leaning over to give Zel a quick peck on the lips.

Zel glanced down at the young man who was still fast asleep in his arms. "Where are you going, Lina?" He whispered, watching her get dressed.

In the mirror, Lina checked the placement of her undergarments' hemlines across her body. "To eat." She grabbed a robe from the vanity dresser. "I'm starved!"