Laughter. Deep voices. Light female tones. Husky warm late night whispers. Music playing seductively- some cool jazz. Couples swaying. Unexpected partnerships forming. Glasses clinking, bottles being uncorked, the fizz of champagne, the easy glow of good company and sweet vibes. The party was going well; I could relax now and take a deep breath- it felt like the first one I had taken in days.

I walked into the kitchen, smiled at the waiters who were still silently going about their task, and drew a glass of cold water from the sink. I was exhausted mentally and physically and had an urge to curl up in my bed and leave them all to it. Not that I wasn't enjoying the night. It was just that I had done what I set out to do and was simply relieved. I let the satisfaction wash over me.

"Wondered where you were...." I heard Terry's voice and then felt his arms slip around my waist, resting his face on my neck and kissing. He smelt of whisky and cigars. I inhaled tentatively.

"Don't bother about me. You are THE MAN. Go and flirt with your girlfriends...dance with a Sister or two...have a drink with your mates..."

He chuckled but merely tightened his hold. "You OK? Tired?" I nodded. "You worked so hard. It's been such a great night. I didn't know how much it would mean to me. Everyone here- in our home... Thank you." A soft kiss to my neck and then he spun me round to find my mouth. I heard a cough and we both looked over. Dino was waving his glass.

"Get a room. On second thoughts- you may not find one empty...the air is thick with lust out there. If I don't get any, I am fucked if you are." Terry laughed, let me go and pulled on my hand, leading me over to the door, Dino following. A waiter stopped him in the hallway and asked for more Scotch; he excused himself and went down to the wine cellar.

"OK, Mac?" Dino asked, scrutinising my face in his way. I nodded. "Sure? You look a little drained. You're usually dancing naked on the tables by now..."

I smiled. "You wish, you dirty bugger. I'm fine. Entertaining on this scale has taxed my limited abilities. Has it gone well?"

Dino grinned. "Well, I would have preferred naked waitresses but, apart from that, it's been a blast. Good to see him like this. So relaxed. Like a different man. I used to think his frown was part of his facial appearance. He might be forty but he looks younger now than he did a couple of years ago."

"Yeah, but the picture in the attic looks pretty grim..." I giggled and he put his arm around me.

"OK we got a few minutes, what'll be...quick blow or I take you to heaven with my spectacular digits?" I groaned and pushed him away playfully.

"You are so crude. Find your own date. I owe Terry a birthday special."

A snort from Dino. "Get in the queue...there appears to be seven women ahead of you in that line if the conversation I overheard a moment ago is anything to go by. Something about... " (he put on a high pitched voice) "I want his bum...I already asked for his neck...are you mad, I want his belly hair...why do you always get the dick?...still his chest is pretty worthwhile. If you get his arms does that include his fingers...he can do some danger with them..."

I went off into a peal of laughter. "Did I miss the auctioning off of his best parts? Looks like I get the legs again. They will make me wait. They say- 'you get him 24/7'. Don't be greedy..."

At that Terry sauntered up and shook his clenched fist at Dino. "Piss off, you wanker...she's mine. Go and give your own a pull." They both laughed and helped themselves to more Scotch. If the Sisters didn't hurry up, they would find that the mind might be willing but the flesh would be weak...and soft...

Back in the main room, there was a distinct change in the air. The combined libidos of nine couples and three unattached Brothers had charged the atmosphere remarkably- add alcohol, good food and sexy music and there could be some fun and games in the next few hours. I wondered who would make it with whom and how many would be crawling out of the wrong bed shamefaced tomorrow morning. Suddenly I laughed at my own thought. It had never occurred to me that I might be one of the miscreants. What was to become of me? Would I be stripped of my perving insignia? Catching the sight of Terry dancing with one of his 'groupies', I realised that neither of them would.

I think I vaguely registered the doorbell; I remembered a slight feeling that something was up. In retrospect, I think it was more than that. I sensed him even before I heard anything. There was Terry dirty dancing to some crass Iglesias song and I raised my head and felt a stirring deep within me, a sudden ache in my breasts, and a movement in my womb. By now I should recognise Nemesis when she calls.

Time slipped into a slow motion segment; music and chatter seemed to fade, lights appeared to flicker and my secret mind registered a primal howling; the spirits of the night prowling, raising their dread warnings and shrieking their cruel enjoyment of the fate of the little men and women whose lives they toy with. I should have recognised the signs but I failed to see what was about to happen.

A cold wind shattered the warm fug of the room, people looked up as the stormy weather found its way into our haven. Voices in the hall suggested an arrival; all eyes looked to the door. A shadow. Something familiar.  A scent. I dropped my glass. My hand shot to my mouth to stop myself from crying out. I heard several muted gasps. The room gradually fell silent as one by one people turned towards the entrance. Terry tore their eyes away from his partner and looked.

Maximus.

He filled the doorway. In a second, every detail of him imprinted its future memory upon me. He wore black. Silk shirt, open at the collar, the leather thong and tooth necklace lying against the lightly haired flesh revealed. Well-cut jacket and pants. Italian leather boots. Hair perfectly groomed, short and so dark, his beard trimmed and elegant. In his hands he carried a bottle in a tube. It was a 30 year old Malt. A very expensive drink and one Terry would prize. All this I took in with the blink of an eye before I shot a glance over at Terry. Oh God, how would he react?

I saw Terry blink rapidly once or twice but that was all. He never missed a beat. Moving away, he crossed the room, face breaking into a smile, relaxed and easy. I think I have never been more proud of him.

"Hiya, mate! Glad you could make it!" He shook his hand, clapped Max on the back and prodded him into the room. "Beer? Something stronger? Cold night out there..." Max extended the gift, Terry looked at it and showed his approval in the tilt of his head and the moue of his lips. The two men nodded. A silent truce had been raised in a matter of seconds. I marvelled at the ability men have to establish territory so succinctly and completely.

Tension seemed to evaporate in an instant, relief evident in the air. I stood alone and watched the two men together, Terry handing him a tumbler of Scotch, his right hand still on his shoulder in an amicable fashion. I became aware of Hando flanking Max, he had moved by his side as soon as he had entered the room. A symbolic show of support for the interloper, a typically Hando-like gesture. He wore his colours openly as always.

Maximus smiled broadly at something Terry said, with that slightly bashful look he has, as if he is embarrassed by his own emotion. He turned to survey the room, cradling the glass and met my eye. He bowed, a half obeisance, a mannered movement, but his eyes did not leave me; he would have remarked the flush that crept over my cheeks and bosom at his probing glance. I felt naked before his gaze and our story seemed to unravel itself in his eyes.

Snapping from my hypnosis, I shot a look at Terry; he was watching me. Then he smiled, winked and nodded. There it was. Understanding. I threw back my shoulders and tossed my head. I had been shown the way- now I would reveal how much character I had. If he could be so generous to make Max feel wanted and a part of us again, then it was beholden on me to do the same.

"Max! You are very welcome! How was your flight? We've all eaten - you must be famished. Come on, I'll see what's left in the kitchen- not much after this lot attacked it..." I walked forward, kissed him lightly on the cheek and took his hand, dragging him out of the room. My eyes dared anyone to give an opinion.

Jack sat back pensively, Lachlan stared, truculence written on his face, Heather watched him.. Hando stepped back and joined Teener, who looked as if she would burst with pride at both his silent support and his quiet restraint. Jeff and Paul leaned against the wall and exchanged a few words- Jeff raised his glass in approval as I passed. They should consider themselves fortunate that they did not really understand the complex dynamic that was taking place.

By the door, we passed Stephen and Dino, like two sentinels flanking the portal. The former appeared to show no emotion other than curiosity, the latter was still and stony faced- a sure sign that he was angry. Arthur, pulling a flushed Angharad behind him, walked right in, having missed the whole episode, and greeted Maximus as if his presence was nothing more than fortuitous. I had an urge to giggle manically at the absurdity of it all.

Maximus sat at my kitchen table and I served him a plate of food. We were not alone. Waiters circulated, people wandered in and out, it was bright and public and yet the domestic location brought with it an unexpected intimacy. A man at a woman's table being fed.

"How are you, Uma? You look...exquisite tonight," his pause revealed the hesitance that he must have felt but, typically, he bit the bullet and did not run from me.

I wrapped an arm around myself, rubbing my elbow, instinctively shielding my body from his gaze. He smiled a half smile, recognising my reaction to his compliment and turned to his food, eating quietly. I watched him.

"How are you? I hear the job is difficult- you must have had a tense time." I poured him a glass of red wine

"It requires my full attention but there are lulls. It is not all work."

"No, last week appears to have been quiet. You had a visitor. How unconventional." I bit my lip when I said it, wishing I could reclaim the words. They sounded mean spirited.

Maximus put down his fork and picked up the glass, swirling the dark ruby wine and watching it thoughtfully. "Was that an observation or an opinion?"

I did not answer. Instead I turned away and found something to do stacking plates for the dishwasher, something that would hide the uncontrollable shake of my hands.

"Are you really well? You look thin. I expected that you would be growing fat and content these days. Like a wife should." His words were spoken in an even tone; had anyone else said them I would have laughed.

"I am not a wife. But I am well." I closed the topic. He did not pursue the line of thought.

Silence reigned for some time, an awkwardness. There was a distinct sense that both of us were just about to say something but neither did. It was rather sad.

"It didn't used to be hard to find suitable topics for conversation, did it, Max?"  He looked up and his startling eyes, so unexpectedly soft and pale against his skin, fixed me in their acute gaze.

"No. It did not. Once there was nothing beneath the sun that we could not say to each other. Or do."

I trembled at his words, but he refused to let my eyes leave his. His power was awesome, his presence filled the room, his scent swamping my nostrils until I felt light-headed and dizzy. It was all I could do to stay upright and not faint away. His strength seemed to sap mine and make me weak.

But just as I felt overcome, he looked away, the moment passed and normal function was resumed. "Your home is beautiful. Thank you for welcoming me here. I should have informed you of my intention to join you tonight but I was afraid that you might try to dissuade me. I wanted to come. Not to cause ill will or spoil the occasion, merely to extend the hand of friendship to my Brother on this auspicious night and to ...see you again, in an appropriate setting for our new relationship..." He spoke formally and I had a sense that he had thought out the words in advance- it was almost rehearsed. The idea made me smile inside. He was as nervous as I was. It was a charming admission of his vulnerability- a more dangerous weapon in his arsenal than any of his machismo and sexual mastery. But I doubt he realised that.

"Tibi semper mea domus, hic semper ex perfugiam tempestate invenies, dominus..."

(My home is always your home- here you will always find a shelter from the storm, sir...")

His head inclined again in acknowledgement and I placed a hand upon his shoulder. He covered it with his own. "Maximus...the mail you sent me after you read the diary about Terry's past. I...em...it was...very moving. I took a lot from it; I had never realised that you had such respect for him."

Maximus looked out into the room, past the bustling waiters, staring at some fixed point far away from where we were. "There are many things that I do not understand about this world but there is one thing that has never changed. Strength and honour are timeless qualities. I have never felt anything but respect for him. It is a pity that we have never been friends. He has much to teach me." It was quite an admission and I wondered what exactly it was that he wished to learn. But I did not enquire of him further.

"I have to join the others. When you have finished...?" I moved away and left the room, my heart pounding but a feeling of exhilaration sweeping over me. I was glad he had come. Tonight was a night of confirmation of many things and it was right and proper that here in our home we should lay aside the unworthy bitterness that had lain between us. I wanted everything to be as it should be in the best of all possible worlds. Time enough in the future for me to raise the Golem than might shatter us all.

It was late and the room was now only half full. I wondered where the others were. There was something heady in the knowledge that in rooms about me some of the men and women that I loved were making love, deep within their pleasure in each other, lost in desire and passion. There was a certain spirituality that I could not quite define but that seemed to bring with it a quasi-religious significance. They were anointing our home with their natures, marking it out as a place where we all belonged.

A piece of music came on; I had an urge to dance. There was only one man I wished to dance it with. Stepping over to where he was in conversation with another group, I placed a hand on his arm and whispered, "I think they're playing our song..."

Maximus turned, momentarily bemused, and then he held out his hand. I came into his arms, my hand slipping round his neck to caress the thick muscle beneath his hair line, my right found its place wrapped in his large palm. We moved slowly, rocking side by side and smiled at each other. It was good to be in his arms again.

Someday, when I'm awfully low
When the world is cold
I will feel a glow just thinking of you
And the way you look tonight 

Yes, you're lovely
With your smile so warm
And your cheeks so soft
There is nothing for me but to love you
And the way you look tonight 

With each word your tenderness grows
Tearing my fears apart
And that laugh that wrinkles your nose
Touches my foolish heart 

Lovely
Never ever change
Keep that breathless charm
Won't you please arrange it
Cause I love you?
And the way you look tonight 

I felt a presence. Terry had walked up and he touched Max on the shoulder. "Mind if I cut in?" There was no hint of tension or point scoring. Max stepped back and held out his hands, Terry swept me up and pulled me in close; I nestled against him. Over his shoulder, I saw Max, an enigmatic smile on his lips. I returned it. He knew and I knew. One day. But not yet...not yet...

Terry's lips were on my ear, his warm alcohol-tinged breath tickling. I heard his voice whisper the words of the song as we whirled round, oblivious to the others, now just him and me, everything so clear in my head. I sang the lyrics back at him.

"I was proud of you tonight," I murmured. 

He smiled. "And I was proud of you. What say we turf whoever's in our bed out on their bare arses and I'll show you just how proud?" I giggled, more than tempted at his offer, but we both knew we wouldn't. Tonight we would play the host and hostess; there was plenty of time in the future for the two of us.