"You heard me." Fliqpy said, glimpsing the boy sitting behind his back.

"Sorry, Fliqpy." Flippy muttered. The soldier didn't know his evil half was feeling left out all this time. Still, he hated Fliqpy for killing his friends, though he couldn't deny that he had saved him a number of times.

"Apology accepted." Fliqpy snorted, casually taking out a cigarette and a lighter. "I just want you to know how I feel about her. That's all."

"If you love her, you should not hurt her again." Flippy pointed out seriously.

"I'm not going to hurt her." His evil counterpart tittered. "But I can't guarantee your other friends' safety. Old habits die hard. And I have to admit, some of your friends are really annoying."

Flippy sighed but oddly didn't retort his other half. "I should have known you'd say that. Just…as long as you don't hurt Flaky, I'll be glad."

"So, you aren't jealous?"

"I am, to be honest." Flippy admitted. "But I can't do anything about it, can I? You and I are the same person anyway."

"Right, and don't you dare get rid of me again or else-"

"You don't go that far with your stupid killing spree. Then, I'm not going to make you disappear. Deal?"

The evil boy pondered for a moment before nodding with an artful smile, sheathing his bowie knife at once.

"Deal."

Flaky was right by his side when Flippy woke up. He was more than gleeful to see her angelic face. Although his body ached traumatically, his heart was somehow relieved by the sight of his lover. At least, they had put a temporary end to their constant fight with Fliqpy.

"Fli-Flippy!" Flaky hugged the boy happily. He wished he could return her welcoming embrace but his arms were wrapped in cast. The soldier didn't expect his injuries to be so severe. Fliqpy must have gone too far with that fight. It bugged Flippy to know that he was always the one taking over the mess and suffering from the aftermath.

"This is the hospital…" Flaky informed. "You've been in coma for a week."

"What? A week? How…about the city?" Flippy widened his eyes and asked. "And the others?"

"They've all come back to life…And Splendid was back from his trip so he's helped re-build the city…"

"I-I'm sorry." Flippy apologized in shame, knowing what happened had got to be the greatest headline in months- City Destroyed by Superhero and War Veteran.

"It's okay, Flippy." The redhead smiled. Just then, their friends entered the ward carrying blessing cards and fruit baskets.

"Hey, Flip, looking well, huh?" Cuddles nudged his friend's elbow teasingly. Giggles chuckled alongside her mate as Petunia went over to change the flowers in the vase. Handy, the amputee, was trying to hand the soldier an apple when he suddenly realized that he lacked hands. Everyone was acting as though nothing catastrophic had happened.

"Guys…I'm sorry."

"Why are you apologizing, dude?" Toothy frowned. "It isn't your fault."

"Yes, it's Splendont who started it all." Cuddles nodded in agreement and joked. "And you know what, I think it's been my messiest death in months!"

The others responded with a crack of laughter before someone asked. "Um…where's Splendont?"

"Don't worry, I've taken care of him." A deep, raspy voice said behind the door. A blue-haired boy with red mask soon entered the room with a goofy smile.

"Hi, Flippy, recovering well?" Splendid waved.

"Yeah, pretty good."The soldier feigned a smile, not knowing how to respond to his question considering the only part of his body without a bandage on was his face.

"I'm sorry my twin has caused so much trouble for you all, citizens." The blue hero apologized. "And it is totally understandable that you're just trying to protect your girlfriend, Flippy. So, don't you worry about Splendont's death."

To be frank, the soldier never worried about the red hero's death.

"Um…are you sure he won't mess around again?" Petunia asked nervously.

"He's totally under my control now." Splendid winked at the girl, shooting everyone one of his confident smiles which sent chills down the soldier's already-broken spine.

"Hope so." Cuddles crossed his arms and grunted. "You should lock him up, man."

"I'll take your opinion into great consideration, Cuddles." Splendid grinned. "Anyway, I can't stop for long. I've got quite a lot of heroic things to do. See you guys later."

With one leap, Splendid stormed out of the room through the window. The shattered glasses dropped down to the street, stabbing one of the pedestrians which happened to be Lumpy.

When everyone left for lunch, Flaky stayed behind with her boyfriend. She watched as he reached out his hand, aiming for a pack of chocolate chips Nutty had left on the table. She pulled him back anxiously, motioning him not to move.

"Flakes, I'm perfectly fine." The soldier showed the girl one of his cheerful smiles.

"No…" The redhead said, hands on her hips. "You also said you were alright when you had the overdose... I am most definitely not falling for your tricks again, Flippy. Now be a good boy and I will feed you." Flaky tore off the package, suddenly realizing that the boy hadn't had a proper meal yet.

"What's wrong? Aren't you going to feed me?" He nibbled his lips, growing increasingly impatient for his favorite chocolate snacks.

"No, you should have lunch first."

"Really, Flakes." Flippy taunted. "You're becoming like my mom. Guess our little Flaky here could be one of those responsible and committed mothers. A cute one."

The girl blushed at his sarcastic compliment. She had never thought of having kids, probably because the paranoid redhead was too scared to have any. But she couldn't help thinking what it would be like to have children with Flippy.

"Flaky?" The soldier snapped her out of her reveries.

"Yes?"

"Aren't you going to get me lunch?" He smirked.

"O-Oh yes." The redhead stood up abruptly and put the chocolate chips back on the table. On second thought though, she would bring them with her in case the boy stole a piece or two. He chuckled as she left the room. A few minutes later, the girl returned with a bowl of congee.

"Urgh, congee..." The soldier grumbled like a child, pulling on one of his trademark grimace. "I was actually expecting something more tasty."

"Like what?"

The boy laughed and leaned in to steal a kiss from the redhead. Flaky gasped and turned away to hide her blushing face.

"Ah, that's better."

"Er...why would you do that?" The girl flushed with embarrassment.

"S-Sorry Flakes, but somehow I felt like doing it." The soldier grinned. "There's something I have to tell you though. You see, the medication Sniffles gave me before was trying to merge me and Fliqpy together but then we stopped right in the middle of the process. Somehow, that guy is acting as a part of me these days. If I ever act weird, it has got to be him that's making the move. Still, we had a talk earlier on and he's promised me to never hurt you again."

"I know." The redhead smiled. "I understand it."

"Flaky, I'm so sorry for what I've put you through." The boy sighed once more. "Fliqpy and I will make it up to you, I swear. You're all I've left in this world. I knew Fliqpy has told you what happened in wars…I was such a weakling. When I was being hunted down, I could only think of you. Fliqpy was the reason I survived. I simply couldn't die because I had to return to see you. As I kept telling myself, even just for once, I had to see your face again. I gave in to Fliqpy, letting him take over my senses and slaughter thousands of innocents."

Tears began to rim the soldier's eyes as he recalled his difficult times in the battlefield. The redhead hugged him tightly to comfort him. "Please if you ever have to cry, I'll cry with you."

Flippy quickly wiped away his tears and smiled. "You're really sweet, Flaky. Do you remember I used to have a sister when I was small? You're just as sweet and caring as her."

The redhead nodded. Of course she remembered. Both Flippy and she were born outside Happy Tree Town. They came from somewhere else, somewhere where there's no resurrection curse, somewhere everything could happen every day to cause death. The redhead's parents died in a car crash. Flippy lost his family in a civil war. They met when we moved into this town, when she was barely seven and him twelve. They were both so lonely then, without any families to cling to. They quickly became friends. He said she looked like his beloved sister and so, from then on, he took great care of her, protecting her like a porcelain doll.

"Why must you join the army?" Flaky once asked him. He contemplated for a long moment before replying. "Because, Flakes, my family died in a war. That's why I am afraid of wars. But then I figured I have to do something. I can't hide from my fear all my life. I have to face it. And I wish wars could make me stronger, possibly much stronger so that I got to protect you for the rest of my life."

Well, it hit her again to realize that everything he did was intended for her...He went to wars for her. He fought and survived for her. He suffered because of her. Just like what Fliqpy had said, the redhead was the reason for his sickness and anguish.

"And Flaky…there's another thing I need to tell you…" Flippy confessed. "You think I was normal before I joined the army but you're wrong. I was never normal…"

"What do you mean?" Flaky raised her brows, mystified.

"Sorry, Flakes, I should have told you this earlier. Actually, Fliqpy has always been inside me since I was a child. The first time Fliqpy came out was not during the Tiger Bomb Operation, but the civil war that happened back in my hometown. After I saw my parents brutally murdered and my sister strangled to death, I mentally created Fliqpy out of fear and rage. He only came out for a very short moment though. When the civil war ended, I regained my consciousness and got transferred to Happy Tree Town. I met new friends here and I grew afraid of having Fliqpy with me. So, I knocked him out in my subconsciousness for a very long time. He was simply put into sleep….That's why Fliqpy never existed in those days I spent with you before I joined the army. But then, once I was brought back to the battlefield and got chased down by the Tiger Soldiers, my nightmare returned. I thought I could handle things without him but I was wrong…In the end, I had to summon Fliqpy to save me. After so many years of being neglected and buried deep inside my mind, that guy was finally out and he basically went insane. I totally lost control of him. Even after I came back from the Tiger Bomb Operation, I was never able to make him disappear again….So you see that's how I'm now stuck with him. I'm really sorry for not telling you the truth sooner because I never thought I would need Fiqpy. I hate him and I thought I could get rid of him forever… But I was wrong...Very wrong… He's the essential part of me that yearns for survival. And I'm a bastard for using him to defend myself and then tossing him away like a piece of trash. That's why he's always so resentful and violent. He's protected me so many times and I've never thanked him enough. He is angry that I've ignored him for so many years...I've let him down. I've hurt him…The fact is, we two are one and have been one since a long time ago. And I'm practically responsible for what he's done to everyone else, especially to you…"

The girl listened silently, her ruby eyes revealing so much understanding and tolerance. Swiftly, she leaned against the boy's shoulder and cuddled him, feeling his grief as he retrieved his awful memory. The loss of his family and his sufferings in the battlefield were clearly something he would never wish to talk about but he had done it for her and only her.

"Thanks again, for telling me the truth." The redhead cooed gratefully.

"It's something I must do." The soldier said and patted her on the head. "If Fliqpy has the courage to confess everything, then, I should hide nothing from you. I'm not gonna lose to him. But Flaky?"

"Yes?"

"I'm starving."

"Oh, I almost forgot." Quickly, Flaky pulled away from her lover and headed to the table, only to stumble over a chair and slam her face straight on the ground. The bowl toppled over with its contents spraying all over the ground.

"Are you okay, Flakes?!" The boy asked in concern.

The girl got up in haste and cleaned the mess.

"I'm so terribly sorry!" She cried. "I'll get another one for you!"

"Take your time, sweetheart" Flippy laughed."I think I'll take a bite of these chips in the meantime."

After the fatal fight between the hero and the war veteran, everything returned to normal in Happy Tree Town. Flippy was home again, with Flaky. Their life became peaceful all at once, though the soldier's evil half still made his occasional appearance. But he kept his promise of never hurting the redhead. The girl had a hard time loving the two boys as the same person, for they were completely different from each other. Flippy was soft and loving, highly self-conscious and considerate. His evil half though could as well be regarded as possessive and sentimental. He enjoyed teasing the redhead, to the point that all she could do in front of him was blush and shy away.

Flaky was woken by the chipping sound of birds. She stretched out her arms and yawned. She fluttered her ruby eyes and peeked at her boyfriend, who was still sound asleep. She giggled at the way he hugged the teddy bear and slipped out of their cozy bed wordlessly.

The couple had been living together for months now and everything was seemingly well. Fliqpy had reduced his killing counts so his other half had felt more confident with working. Although he had a lot of savings and military pensions, he insisted on taking his old job as the town's Liberian. Sometimes he helped out at the market, taught kids sports at school and volunteered whenever possible. The redhead, conversely, worked as a waitress at Petunia's diner.

After preparing breakfast, Flaky went back upstairs.

"Flippy, wake up." She called, shaking his arms. The boy twitched a bit but did not open his eyes.

"Flippy". Flaky raised her voice. "G-Get up."

"Five minutes." He muttered and flipped over, burying his face in his pillow. The girl pouted and ran to the other side of the bed. "Fl-Flippy, aren't you supposed to be on duty as a sheriff today?"

"Yes...whatever." He rambled, pulling over his duvet. Frustrated, the girl decided to play the final trick. "Now listen, if you don't wake up, no chocolate dessert for today...This is the final call."

With that, the soldier spun up, his eyes pried open.

"Really." He exclaimed. "That's way too mean, Flakes."

The redhead grinned triumphantly.

The two had breakfast together before the boy headed out for work.

"Why do they want you as a sheriff today?" Flaky asked curiously.

"Good question." Her boyfriend smirked. "Because our clever neighbor got bitten by some stray dogs yesterday. They run out of people so they call me."

"O-Our neighbor? You mean Lumpy?"

"Exactly."

"But I am off-duty today." Flaky said with slight disappointment. Somehow, she wanted Flippy to stay home with her. It's simply boring without him around.

"Can't you hang out with the other girls?" Flippy asked.

"No…they aren't free."

"Then go shopping and buy something you want."

"O-Okay…" The redhead nodded. In fact, she had grown tired of shopping long ago. The soldier treated her so well that he always left her money to do her shopping. She never used it though. There was simply nothing she had to buy when she had got everything she wants.

"I'll come back as early as possible." Flippy planted a light kiss on her forehead. "Oh, I almost forgot. Please, Flakes, if you do go shopping, come home before six."

"Why?"

"Because I have something in mind." The soldier blushed a little and scratched the back of his neck timidly.

"S-Sure." Flaky smiled, suddenly feeling more relieved as at least she had the mysterious evening event to look forward to.

By dusk, the redhead had cleaned the house and prepared dinner. She put on a glamorous black gown and glanced into the mirror, blushing slightly at the sight. The deep-V gown was far too sexy, in her opinion. It was something this tomboyish girl had never worn before. She wasn't feeling particularly comfortable with her cleavage clearly exposed to the air. But since it was a present from her lover, she decided to put it on anyway.

She sat on the couch and waited patiently for Flippy's return.

At six sharp, the door creaked open and the soldier stepped in. The redhead scurried to give him a welcome-home hug.

"Oh Flaky, you look ravishing." The boy smirked. "Though I would say red suits you better."

"Red?" Flaky widened her eyes and frowned. "Isn't this what you bought me last week on my birthday?"

"Did I?" The soldier raised his brows and shrugged. As far as he remembered, he had never bought such type of clothing for her or did he forget that he did so.

"Yes…you left this on my bed…"

"It's not me."

"Not you?"

"No." Flippy laughed. "I bought you the necklace. It's that perverted brat who bought you this."

Immediately, the redhead flushed as she came to a realization that the gift was none other than one of Fliqpy's pranks.

"He always says he likes you in black." Flippy sighed. "He must be so damn happy now."

"I'm sorry I don't know-"

"Don't apologize, Flakes." The boy tittered. "You apologize too much. Plus, you look really pretty tonight."

After they had a fabulous dinner, the redhead started getting nervous about this surprise Flippy had prepared for her. Unable to suppress her impatience, she finally asked. "Well…you said you have something in mind…What's it?"

"Oh yes." The soldier stood up from the chair briskly and got down on one of his knees. He pulled out a little red box from his pocket and opened it, revealing a shimmering diamond ring. "Look, Flaky, we've been living together for some time now and I really love you. I've always loved you. Even before I joined the military, I used to have a crush on you. When I lost my family, I was completely alone in this world. And then…I met you. You gave me the reason to live on. I want you as my family. Would you…would you marry me?"

The redhead staggered backwards, knocking down one of the plates. Overwhelmed by both shock and ecstasy, she did not know how to respond. She knew she certainly wanted to be a part of his family, but she doubted if their relationship was proceeding too fast. Still, she covered her face with joyous tears.

"I-I…"

"It's okay, Flakes." Flippy smiled. "Just say it."

"Yes! I will." She affirmed eventually.

The boy grinned happily and slid the diamond ring around her finger.

"Well, someone wants to say something, too." He said. Slowly, his pupils shrank and his eyes were flashing yellow.

"F-Fliqpy?"

"God damn it." Fliqpy cursed. "He's a fucking liar. I have nothing to say to you."

"You're blushing." The redhead said bashfully.

The soldier quickly turned away, which made Flaky snicker. "Look, if he's going to propose to you, I don't see why I'm involved." Although the boy had said it so straightforwardly, his crimson face clearly betrayed his speech.

"Really? You don't mind?"

The soldier frowned and snarled. "I don't propose to girls, Flaky! If I want to marry someone, I don't ask her 'yes' or 'no'. Like it or not, she is going to MARRY me if I want her to. Clear?"

The redhead smiled sheepishly and nodded.

"Okay, I've done my talking here. And don't you dare lose that ring. I spent so much on it." THe boy said with a devious grin. "Unless of course, you want some punishment."

"Oh, I…will never lose the ring." The girl said, her hands behind her back.

"Good girl. Love ya."

Flaky watched as Flippy's eyes turned back to jade-green.

"Well, I hope you don't mind. I figured if I'm going to propose to you, he has got to know too. I'm sorry he's kind of rough on you, but we all know that's how he is."

"I know."

"I love you, Flaky." Flippy whispered to his lover.

"I love you both." Flaky chuckled and hugged him back.