Csilla: Two years later... &this fic is finally done. I apologize for everyone who was waiting to find out how their one night was going to end... My stepdad's death back then really took its toll on me when it came to my current fics at the time, but just as things settled down: my work hours got all screwy. Thankfully I left that job back in October and am finally at a place when I'm not working myself to the point of hospitalizing myself -all stress related, by the way.

Chapter Four

Deciding that between possibly getting caught walking around by another cop patrolling the streets or slipping on another patch of ice, the duo reluctantly agreed the former would be less painful. They had been walking for a while and Allen was beginning to recognize his surroundings again: "So what were doing at my hotel? I mean, I ran off before you so I doubt you could have followed me there… Right?" The young Brit asked as they turned down another street, fiddling with whatever item -Allen really couldn't figure out what the fuck it was- he had in his jacket pocket.

Lavi laughed, "Don't worry, I actually was on my way there… You see, my gramps is an author and prefers staying in high-end hotels when it gets close to his deadline. Personally I think he does it so his editor can't find him," explaining with a smug gleam shining in his green eyes.

"He must trust you a lot if he's told you where he was staying…" Allen muttered, his mind currently focused on figuring out what was in his pocket.

Again the redhead laughed, this time gaining Allen's full attention: "Actually he only does it because I tease his editor relentlessly by saying things like 'oh gramps is staying up in Osaka' or 'sorry this is a bad time, gramps has died-"

His companion's expression deadpanned, "Lavi, that's awful!" suddenly feeling very sorry for the poor editor who had been on the receiving end of the redhead's teasing.

Rubbing the back of his neck, Lavi groaned: "Yeah, that damn panda nearly kicked me through my bedroom wall when he found out I said that" dropping his head as the memory surfaced to the forefront of his mind.

"P-Panda…?" For a moment Allen was sure he misheard his companion, surely Lavi hadn't just referred to his grandpa as-

"Yeah," Lavi added in mock astonishment before his hands moved in conjunction with his words as he continued: "He's got these huge dark circles under his eyes that he resembles a panda… not too mention he's small. I'll introduce you two sometime…"

…of course, Allen wasn't really knowledgeable when it came to what was normal -or abnormal- for families.

"I-I see… Maybe when we get back then," His suggestion felt hollow as it rolled off his tongue. He had only planned on being in town for a few days to visit Neah and then he would be on his way back to the UK. There was no point in meeting Lavi's grandpa…

They continued walking through the snowy town until Allen noticed that the redhead had slowed down, almost to a complete stop. Stopping in his tracks, mercury eyes glanced back in concern but before he could ask if Lavi was okay, the redhead cleared his throat.

"Say Allen, do you think…" The tone of his companion's voice was enough for his heart to thud painfully in the Brit's chest, Allen waited on bated breaths for Lavi to continue but instead the redhead shook his head adding, "…never mind, forget it"

Again before Allen had a chance to speak, the redhead brushed past him stating that the hotel was only a few streets away. What was Lavi going to ask him? What did he think of what?

Of this town?

Of Kanda?

Of Tyki?

Of the fact neither of them were over their exes?

Of moving past the break-up?

Questions like these buzzed one right after another in Allen's head as they finished the last leg of their trek back to the hotel. The lobby was void people aside from the lady working at the front desk and a man taking care of the garbage. It wasn't until they had crossed the empty lobby and were waiting for the doors of the elevator to close that Lavi finally spoke up again: "Do you think if we had met each other before Tyki and Kanda… do you think things would have turned out differently?"

"What do you mean?" Something about the way the redhead had phased his question had Allen thinking that Lavi meant something other than the obvious. Of course things would have been different, neither of them would be dealing with crushing break-ups then pretending to be over their exes.

Lightly pressing the red 'stop' button on the wall, Lavi kept his gaze low: "Do you think we could have…" his words losing volume quickly until they completely died out.

Concern growing, Allen's throat tightened as he spoke: "Could have…?" hoping that pushing the issue would help get whatever was bothering the redhead off his chest.

Inhaling deeply, Lavi blurted out: "Do you think we could haven fallen in love instead of having our hearts broken by those two assholes?" something that the Brit wasn't expecting and had trouble collecting his thoughts afterward…

"Lavi, I-"

Not even the voice over the intercom asking if everything was okay could pull Allen's attention away when the redhead added softly, "I think I love you, Allen"

"I think I love you," Lavi's eyes widened at his sudden confession – why did he say that? Yes, he had been thinking it but was quick to remind himself that it was most likely misplaced. The redhead had only wanted to ask if the two of them had met under different circumstances, did his companion think they might have hit things off like they had tonight?

Mercury eyes widened as well, "What?" Allen stepped towards Lavi -the redhead pressed the red button again to start the elevator again, silencing the voice over the intercom- hoping that his response would make his companion look at him instead of the wall in front of him.

Instead the young Brit found a bright red had erupted across Lavi's cheeks, which in turn caused his own face to betray him. Pushing forward, Allen forced himself to ask: "How can you say that? We barely know each other and not to mention, the only reason we ended up together tonight was so we could both lie to our ex-boyfriends... and probably a little to ourselves,"

Somewhere in the middle of his panicky rant, his words began to lose strength and by the end, the snowy-haired teen was mumbling more to himself than to Lavi, whose attention had been driven away from the elevator walls and onto Allen.

Lavi cleared his throat, causing their eyes to meet and unable to pull away, before he whispered: "Look, you're right. We barely know each other, but for some fluke reason I know that you have exactly 42 freckles scattered across your cheeks. Don't ask me how?" His voice gaining strength as well as playfulness, "Though I'm pretty sure it was when we were hiding after being chased tonight by Officer Hard Ass. You have a scar above your right eyebrow from the time you fell off your bike when you were nine. You hate math because you don't like thinking that every problem has a solution. Can't say I blame you for that. You like staying up late and reading books unlike most of our generation. It's easy to make you laugh and pretty hard to make you cry. And I cannot even believe in the small amount of time I've known you that I've managed to do just that. You love storms because the sound of rain hitting your window makes you feel less alone. I know that... and because of all that, I am in love with you, Allen"

To say the snowy-haired teen was stunned would be an understatement, he felt frozen to the floor despite a part of him telling him to run away out of fear the moment the elevator doors opened. He watched as Lavi took his silence as a chance to let him continue, "I can't promise you that things will be great if you were to accept my feelings, but I can guarentee that I won't ever break your heart the way Kanda did. And I sure as hell won't break your heart like Tyki did mine..."

"What about your feelings for Tyki?"

The question came out low and the redhead could feel the suspicion underneath it, with a sigh Lavi replied: "When I left school this afternoon, I was still in love with him... When I dragged you along to that party, I was still in love with him... When I saw you talking to Kanda, I was still in love with him... When Tyki started trash-talking us, I was still pathetically in love with him... but when I saw that look in your eye I'm positive that was the moment, I fell for you"

Again Lavi was met with silence, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his coat the redhead lowered his voice, "I understand if you're still not over Kanda... but when you are, please think of me"

The elevator dinged, signaling they had reached the redhead's floor, and Lavi walked out of the confide space, leaving his companion to his thoughts. Lavi knew this would be the last time he saw Allen -not that he could blame him. They had not even twelve hours ago and yet, the redhead confessed something pathetic like that.

The redhead was so in-tuned to his thoughts that he didn't even notice that someone had exited the elevator and was running over to him. At least he was until that someone crashed into him, grabbing the back of his coat in an attempt to stop him in his tracks.

"Lavi," Allen paused as he thought over to the events of the night -sure he was surprised at how much fun he had had being with Lavi, how much he didn't sulk despite being in the same town as Kanda, and above all: how much of his thoughts had begun revolving around the redhead instead of the raven. Yes, it was painstakingly clear who occupied his thoughts. Did that mean that somewhere in their silly act, he had actually gotten over Kanda? That somewhere in their lie, he had actually developed feelings for Lavi? No, he still stood by the statement that they barely knew one another well enough to decide whether what they felt was love, like, or a sense of accomplishment for getting over their broken hearts. Still, the redhead deserved to know at least this much: "I'm over Kanda…"

Green eyes widened in awe and relief washed over his features as Lavi chuckled breathlessly, "Talk about good timing on my part then,"

Allen's hands dropped, allowing the redhead the freedom to turn around and face him, before he suggested: "Let's start over the right way this time,"

"Agreed"

Extending his hand out, "Hello, my name is Allen Walker. I used to live here, but moved away a year ago and my reason for coming back is to visit my uncle..."

Mimicking the other's actions, Lavi responded in the same manner: "Nice to meet you, Allen. I'm Lavi Bookman, surprisingly enough I moved here a year ago because of my gramp's new job"

Csilla: Did anyone like that ending? I've had that ending more or less written up since I put it on hiatus...? Anyways, my goal is to finish my hiatus fics from two years ago so for any fans of "In My World" you guys will have your continuation before 2016 is over (hopefully)