Hey there! Shadowmistx98 here!

Disclaimer: I do not own Soul Eater.

Stein looked at Marie as they sat across the campfire. Marie was looking down.

"Marie?" Stein called out her name.

"Hm? What is it?" Marie looked at him.

"Why do you... Why are you so determined to find Joe's killer?" Marie smiled weakly.

"That's an easy question... Even though our relationship lasted for only a short time I still loved him..."

"Love?"

"Yes... Have you... felt it, Stein?" Stein looked away and thought about it.

"No..." he replied.

"Oh, I see..." Marie bowed her head and thought about his answer. Stein was her first love when she enrolled at Shibusen a long time ago.

"But..." Marie looked at Stein. "I may have already experienced it... I guess I just don't know how it feels like..." Marie stared at him.

"Tell me, Marie... How does it feel like? To love someone?" Stein asked as the fire between them slightly rose up. Marie gently smiled again.

"To love is to care for someone precious to you... Your family... friends... students... You can never stand the thought of losing them. Once you lose them, it's like the whole world crashing down at you..."

Stein stared at her as she tried to pull back her tears. She sniffed.

"Then... I have felt it" Stein said. Marie looked at him in surprise.

"I care about everyone here... I can't stand the thought of losing everyone around me... Lord Death, Spirit, Sid, Nygus, Azusa, Maka, Soul, BlackStar, Tsubaki, Kid, Liz, Patty, Ox, Harvar, Kim Jackie, Kilik and the Pots of Fire and Thunder... They all are important to me."

Marie smiled and bowed her head again. She was happy for him, that he was finally able to see it, even though he didn't mention her name.

"And you, Marie.." Marie's eyes widened.

"When Medusa was taking advantage of my madness... There was one thing I really fear... It's you... I fear that I may hurt you when the madness is taking over me... So I tried my best not to not get the madness the best of me..." Stein stood up. Marie continued to stare at him. Stein approached Marie and patted her on the head. He smiled at her.

"We better rest up now, we have a very busy morning ahead of us" Stein said as he removed his hand on her head. Marie nodded. Stein then headed to his small tent. Marie looked at him as he entered it. It was the first time she ever saw him smile like that. So gentle... so natural... You can tell that he was really sincere with his feelings. Marie stood up and headed to her tent. She put her hands on her chest and whispered his name. She smiled.

"Stein..."

I Just thought of being a little different other than SoulxMaka... I love Marie and I definitely love Stein too :)
Te story takes place after Spirit and the others let him go instead of bringing him to Shinigami-sama and takes Marie with him to find BJ's killer in Chapter 40 of Soul Eater Manga.