Title: Failure - Chapter 7

Author: Star 'Banging head on table' Quality

Disclaimer: Well, I'm bashing my head on the table, so if I did own it... I don't.

Summary: Rimsy has finally achieved the one thing he longed for - Lister.

A/N: Read it, it's the last chapter. Ah, I enjoyed writing this fic, see the bottom for extensive thank-yous. It's another short one, but there's a wise old cat/human saying, that goes 'Start as you mean to go on'.. So, this is, 'Finish as you've been doing all along.' Hey, that even rhymes. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. (Wow, I like proverbs.)

Through sheer relief that he was alive, Lister went to hug Rimmer, who pushed him away slightly, giving him a jokily evil stare. "Uh-uh, you're not off the hook YET, laddie."

Lister pulled back and looked at him, confused, "Wha...?"

"You shouted at me! You hurt my feelings!" Rimmer tried a look of hurt, but it failed miserably, and they both ended up laughing.

"Now can I have a cuddle, ya smegger?"

"Course, Listy." he smiled. When he did, Lister could see the longing in his eyes.

He opened his arms, and Lister fell into them. He climbed onto the bed so that they were in a better position. They lay like that for awhile, just happy to be together again. Lister snuggled into Rimmer's well-kept body, and Rimmer held Lister as close as possible.

Lister looked up at Rimmer, who smiled back down at him. On impulse, Lister reached up and stroked Rimmer's cheek. "Glad to have you back, Arnold."

"Glad to be back. Listy." he placed his own hand over his re-instated lover's, and gently squeezed it.

"Never leave us again..." Lister put his head back on Rimmer's chest, "Or..."

"Or what, Listy?"

"Or..." Lister sat up, "I might just have to... Do this!"

Lister pulled his hand away from Rimmer's face and began to tickle him. Rimmer laughed, Lister thought he even heard him giggle, and beg for mercy. "Stop it, Listy!" Lister carried on, "Please!?" Still Lister continued, with a mischievous grin lighting up his face, "Alright, I promise."

"Good." Lister looked into Rimmer's brown eyes and sighed.

"What's up?" Rimmer asked, opening his arms out for another hug, which his partner gave him. "Hmm?"

Lister shook his head and wriggled so that he was closer to Rimmer, almost falling off the bed. "Rimsy..." His affectionate 'Rimsy' moved over for him, and they lay together for awhile. Just talking quietly, about anything. The Scouser did most of the talking, Rimmer just listened, he was quite content with that. He had been so starved of human contact, and now he wanted as much of it as possible - especially with Lister.

Sighing contently, Rimmer placed his hand under Lister's chin.

"God I love you, Lister."

"And I love you, Rimmer."

And then they kissed.

Finally, Rimmer felt as if he had achieved something.

'Love. In love; in a state of strong emotional attachment and usually sexual attraction. Fall in love; to become in love. A term of address, not necessarily for a person regarded as likeable. An endearment. A deep feeling of sexual attraction and desire. To like or desire to do something very much. Wholehearted liking for or pleasure in something. To have a great attachment to and affection for. To have passionate desire, or longing and feelings for someone.

The End.

No, really, that's it. It's over. Goodnight Vienna. Complete. Gone. It has FINISHED, my dears.

Hope you enjoyed it, I'm actually quite proud of it. I'd like to thank... Gee... Ummm...

Chris Barrie for being gorgeous and being delicious and being my smegging hero and being amazing and being wonderful and basically being perfect...

Craig Charles and Chris Barrie for being a cute on-screen 'couple'...

Doug Naylor and Rob Grant for starting the series...

Everyone that was in it... Robert, Danny, Hattie, Norman, Craig and... Someone else...

My boyfriend, John, for helping me, even if he did suggest that I kill Rimmer (Or something)...

My Mother for also helping me with words I wasn't sure of (See 're-instated')...

Mercedes (Tho she doesn't know it) for the 'Optimistic Pessimist' thing...

Chris Barrie for being so edible... (My 'well-kept body' line is just so true. I want his children.)

The reviewers for giving me encouragement. I would never have gone further than the third chapter if it wasn't for you guys, I hope you liked it...

Finally, I'd like to 'thank' Keane, as they sang 'Bedshaped', which actually inspired me during one of the chapters. And Tom Chaplin (Lead singer) looks nothing like a Hobbit. And if he does, he's the cutest damn Hobbit I've ever seen, and I want his children too. (Gosh, I'm going to busy.)

Thanks for reading - Seriously.
Ciao.
Star