A week had passed since that fateful day, and things, as we predicted, had indeed gotten very busy. Reports had been filed, and I was fielding calls and briefings with High Command on a daily basis. They were rightly concerned with the idea of the Sirens hollowing out islands to set up as hidden forward bases, especially given the number of said islands that were close to our headquarters. But even with all the chaos and reports and general busywork that accompanied such a major threat to security, against all the odds, I managed to find time every day to meet with Bismarck for tea and biscuits. Granted, it was usually at lunch, so it was less tea and biscuits and more sandwiches and coffee, but we both agreed that traditions must be upheld. Even ones that barely lasted a day.

We were finishing one such lunch that Friday when Bismarck spoke up. "So, how's the rumor mill going?" she asked as she dabbed the corners of her mouth with a napkin.

I smiled ruefully and shrugged. "It's blowing up bigger than I expected. The story of the valiant Lord Bismarck rushing in with a massive fleet to fight off an entire hidden Siren base just to save four of her comrades has really set the imagination of the entire harbor alight. I'm sure U-556's generous appraisal of your skills in battle since she got back has only exacerbated the situation."

She leaned back in her chair with a soft sigh, but I saw the corners of her mouth twitch upward in a slight smile. From what I'd heard from Z23 and a few others, she and U-556 had been spending a bit more time together, which I took to be a good sign. "Her heart's in the right place, I'll give her that."

"Speaking of U-556, that reminds me, I have a few pieces of good news." I fished an envelope out of my jacket pocket and slid it across the table to Bismarck. She raised an eyebrow at me, but took the envelope and began to open it.

I watched and awaited her response as she read the brief letter contained within. "...Naval Service Medal for courageous conduct. So, U-556's earned herself a medal from Azur Lane itself?"

"High Command was pretty resistant to it, considering those are supposed to go to Azur Lane personnel specifically and factions are supposed to issue awards to their own ships, but I pulled a few strings and made a strong push for it. Kid went through hell and came up swinging. As far as I'm concerned, she earned that medal."

"That she did…" Bismarck agreed as she began to stare off into space, a thoughtful expression on her face.

I waited for a few seconds for her to come back down to earth before I asked, "Penny for your thoughts?"

That snapped her back to reality, blinking as she looked over at me. "Oh! Entschuldige, I had an idea…"

"I'd love to hear it," I said with a smile, leaning forward in my chair.

"Just thinking that if Azur Lane is awarding U-556 a medal, the Iron Blood would be remiss in not doing the same for one of its ships. And perhaps we could use this...gossip to our advantage at the same time."

"What did you have in mind?"

"The Iron Blood has been a partner to Azur Lane, but more often than not a silent partner. No longer. I propose a banquet to welcome our comrades from other nations, and to honor U-556 for her gallant service." She sat up straight in her chair as she spoke, becoming the regal and proud ruler of the Iron Blood. It was strange sometimes, watching her slip into this regal and formal...persona...for lack of a better word. The more time we spent together, the more I noticed it. It didn't even seem to be a conscious decision on her part, she just...shifted gears and became Bismarck, Lord of the Ironblood.

In any case, it was a good idea, but I wasn't expecting it from her. "I thought you'd hate the idea of hosting a banquet, being the center of attention," I remarked.

Bismarck visibly deflated and slumped back into her chair. "I absolutely hate it," she sighed, "But as leader of the Iron Blood, there are things that I must say and do that I do not believe in."

"The burdens of leadership."

"Indeed. But we can't lose sight of who we are. For me, I don't want to lose sight again, and I hope you never do…" Her expression grew morose and I reached over to her, taking her hand in mine.

"I hope so, too," I smiled warmly, "But if I ever do, I hope I have your courage, strength, and will to find my way back."

A blush spread across her cheeks as she looked away, a faint smile returning to her face. "You are too kind, Herr Kommandant. I still have a long way to go."

"Maybe," I shrugged, "but this is a good step. You'll be more than just this mysterious figure of myth and legend. You'll be seen as an actual flesh-and-blood woman, and it will help to have people continue to see you in a positive light. Just because a journey is long, it doesn't mean that it's not worthwhile."

Bismarck fixed me with an approving look. "That's a very wise statement."

I couldn't help but smile sheepishly and shrug my shoulders. "Thanks. I have them from time to time." We looked into each other's eyes, still holding hands as we knew the moment would be upon us soon.

Right on cue, Z23 cleared her throat, getting our attention. At least we had stopped jumping by that point. "Herr Kommandant, there is-"

"A matter that requires my attention back in my office, thank you, Nimi," I finished as my hand slipped from Bismarck's. It seemed every time we started to get close, Z23 would interrupt with an urgent message and both of us had started to take notice. Neither of us thought Nimi was doing it on purpose, but the timing was amusing and uncanny, to say the least. The destroyer stared at me with a quizzical expression on her face as I stood up while Bismarck did her best to hide her bemused grin.

"Have I been saying that a lot?" Nimi asked with a worried tone.

"A little bit," I admitted, "But don't worry about it, if I'm needed, I'm needed." As I stood up, I picked up my cap and turned to face Bismarck with a smile. "Until we meet again, Lord Bismarck. Auf Wiedersehen."

"Auf Wiedersehen, Herr Kommandant," she replied, bowing her head slightly. "Until next time."

The next morning, I woke up and decided to take things easy for a bit. It was a Saturday, and as such, I had no appointments or meetings scheduled, and the little bit of paperwork that remained at the office could wait awhile. So I made myself a cup of coffee and a leisurely breakfast and watched the sun come up over the base.

After a brief shower, I was getting dressed when I heard a knock on my door. I glanced at the clock as I went to answer it, making sure I wasn't running too late. When I opened the door, I found U-556 standing there with a broad grin on her face. She snapped to attention, saluted smartly, and proudly declared, "Lord Bismarck requests your presence!"

Again, I glanced back at the clock, then at my wristwatch to make sure neither of them stopped working. "Now?" I ask, still confused.

U-556 eagerly nodded. "Yep! 'As soon as possible', were her exact words."

My interest was now well and truly piqued. If my watch was correct and it was still mid-morning, it wouldn't be tea-time, certainly not lunchtime, and barring some sort of major issue, not anything related to base operations. "Well, uh...give me five minutes and I'll be right over. Usual meeting place?"

"Nope! She said to meet you in the banquet hall and if you don't know where that is, I, Parzival of the seas, shall aid you once more!" U-556 giggled and I couldn't help but chuckle at her infectious enthusiasm.

"Your assistance is most appreciated, U-556. Be right back." She beamed back at me, rocking back and forth on her heels as I closed the door to get changed.

While I was fairly certain of where the banquet hall was, I decided to humor U-556...and I didn't want to get lost on my own base. While the Royal Navy got the most use out of it, it was open to any of the factions, provided you booked it ahead of time. And when I stopped to check the registry, written in her flowing script, was Bismarck's reservation, two weeks from now. I did some calculations in my head and agreed with the date-that should be plenty of time to get everything sorted and prepared.

Finally, U-556 stopped in front of one of the anterooms and gestured for me to go inside. I patted her on the head and went in, almost stopping dead in my tracks as soon as I did. Inside the anteroom, sitting near the far wall, was a beautiful grand piano. It's polished ebony surface shined, and as I drew closer, I noticed the edges were gilded as well. I made a noise of joy and surprise as I quickly walked over to it, running my hands lightly over the keys, inspecting the entire instrument, and marveling at just how well made it was.

"Ah, I see you've found it already, good." Bismarck's voice snapped me back to reality and I turned to see her standing in the doorway. The first thing I noticed was her outfit. Instead of her typical uniform, she was wearing a cream-colored cable-knit turtleneck sweater and tan khakis. Even when in such casual dress, she was still a stunning, beautiful woman, and it was all I could to keep my jaw from hitting the floor.

My staring, once again, did not go unnoticed and she looked herself up and down before glancing back at me. "Was? Haven't you ever seen me in this before?"

I dumbly shook my head and she giggled softly. "Good. This was the first time I've worn it outside of the dorms. Since it was the weekend, and since I wanted to be discrete, I thought I would try something more casual. Plus, when people see me, they see the uniform as much as they see the woman. Perhaps they won't even notice me out and about today."

It was about that time that my brain kicked back into gear and I could do more than nod mutely. "We'll find out come Monday," I finally said. "If everyone's talking about Bismarck's new look, then we'll know it didn't work. But if nobody notices, as the old saying goes, no news is good news."

"An excellent point," she conceded. "And what do you think? Would you be able to spot me in a crowd or on the street?"

"Honestly, at first, it took me a second," I admitted, "But only a second. You're a hard woman to forget or ignore. I'm also a little bit biased so I'm probably not the same as the person on the street who's only heard of you or seen you in uniform."

Bismarck thought it over, then nodded in agreement. "True. In any case, as you said, we'll find out how that went later. For now, I wanted to show you this," She gestured towards the grand piano. "It took some doing, but I managed to have them import this from Wilhelmshaven. I had them ship it over under the pretense of using it for the banquet, which we will, but...I wanted to present it to you. It will be here until the banquet, and then afterward we will move it to the Iron Blood dorms and made available to you whenever you wish."

"Th-thank you," I said, stunned by her generosity. "This is...this is amazing."

"It was the least I could do for you after all you have done for the Iron Blood," she paused for a moment, shaking her head. "Nein. After all you have done for me. This is a gift from me, personally, to you, Herr Kommandant. I hope you will accept it, and the spirit it was presented in."

"It's overwhelming," I replied, "And I cannot thank you enough for a gift this generous. But if you like, I could play you something?"

Her smile lit up not just the room, but the entire banquet hall. "That would be wonderful."

I sat down at the piano and cracked my fingers, getting as comfortable as possible as Bismarck stood behind me, her arms draping over my shoulders. "Any requests?"

"Moonlight Sonata."

I grinned at her request. It would seem she has a very good memory. "As Lord Bismarck wishes," I quipped and began to play. It had been a while since I last played, and even with muscle memory, I made more than my fair share of mistakes. But as the song went on and I felt my fingers fall into the old familiar patterns, I was able to close my eyes and lose myself in the beautiful music.

When the song came to its end, I waited for the last note to fade away before letting out a long, satisfied sigh. I leaned my head back to look up at Bismarck, who was looking down at me with a soft smile. We looked into each other's eyes, becoming lost in the simple joy of being in each other's company.

"You play quite well," she said softly after a while.

"Glad you enjoyed it, it's been a while for me."

"You seemed to shake the rust off pretty quickly. Listening to you play...I felt calm, at peace, almost."

"Even the…?"

"The scherzo?" She finished for me. When I nodded, she shook her head slightly, some of her blonde hair spilling over her shoulders and draping over mine. "It has fallen silent for the most part. It's still there, but even when everything is quiet, it still remains a quiet background noise, like a fan in the distance. Perhaps it was simply my own self-doubt or a seed planted in my head by the traitorous Sirens, but I do know that I have you to thank for helping to silence it, Herr Kommandant."

"I'm glad that I was able to do my own small part in helping you find happiness, Bismarck," I smiled back up at her. Her own smile faltered and I felt a sudden surge of anxiety. Did I say something wrong? Too much? Not enough?

"Mein Kommandant, may I speak frankly?" she asked solemnly and I nodded as my smile faded. She took a seat next to me and tucked some of her golden hair behind her ear before speaking. "I'm not the best at expressing myself, but...I want you to know I've enjoyed the time we've spent together. I've always had to be the solemn, proud leader of the Iron Blood, spearheading our mighty fleet. The Bismarck that wrestled with her true feelings, who struggled to express herself, who wanted to set aside her burden, even for just a little while...I had to lock her away. But with you, I can let her out, try and express myself...to be me. And I am forever grateful for that. You've been a true friend…" her voice trailed off, and I suspected there was more that she wanted to say.

"I feel a 'but' coming on…"

She chuckled softly and nodded, taking my hand in hers. "Quite so. You've been a true friend, but it feels like...more. I've never had many friends where I could just be myself before, but...this…" she gestured between us, "...this feels different. Am I wrong? Is this just friendship? Or is this just more?"

Bismarck, once again, was spot on. This was becoming far more than friends, even best friends. So many times I found myself lost in those beautiful grey eyes of hers, taken in by her beauty, her strength, and at the same time, her vulnerability and humanity. I shook my head. "No, you're right. This is more. Or it can be, if you want it to be. I wake up in the morning and I find myself thinking about you. You're the favorite part of my day and I want you in my life as much as possible. If you feel the same way, that is."

"I do!" Bismarck blurted out, and we both chuckled at her enthusiasm. "So...what do we do now about it?"

"I...uh...I don't know, exactly," I answered, "Normally Z23 interrupts us well before now."

She threw her head back and laughed, the melodic sound echoing throughout the anteroom. "Well then, we'd best not waste any more time before she gets here, then." With that, she cups my cheeks and pulls me close for a hungry kiss. I barely have any time to register the surprise before it is overridden by the tidal wave of passion and joy finally allowed to come to the surface. We fiercely embrace one another, holding each other close as we finally allow ourselves to truly express how we feel for one another. When we finally break for air, gasping and gulping in great lungfuls, Bismarck gave me the most euphoric smile I've ever seen, and I'm sure I was giving one just as ecstatic as hers.

"I have to admit," I grinned, "I really like the way you're expressing yourself right now."

"Oh? Then we're going to need to do this more often then…"

The next couple of weeks flew by, and before I knew it, I was getting ready for the big night. As I looked myself over in the full-length mirror, I made a few last-minute adjustments just to make sure everything was in its proper place. Once that was done, I grabbed my ceremonial cutlass and made sure it was affixed properly on my belt. Normally I would never wear this outside of something as serious as a court-martial or a visit by High Command, but I would need my blade before the night's end. Nothing dark or violent, I assure you, but I would need it all the same. One last adjustment of my jacket and sash, and I was ready to go.

While Bismarck and I would not be able to the banquet hall together, she still asked me to stop by her dorm to get my opinion on her dress for the evening and help "with something". What that something was, I had no idea, but I imagined I would find out shortly.

After making my way through the dorms, I knocked on her door and waited for her response. Whatever I was planning on saying, it left my mind as soon as she opened the door and took my breath away. She wore a black silk evening gown that managed to be both seductive and militaristic at the same time. The dress hugged her curves, with the material slit up to her upper thigh, revealing black stockings and quite a bit of bare skin. Her left shoulder was also bare, but the right shoulder had a gold epaulet and half-cape, along with several gilded braids and ribbons that attached to her ship's personal heraldry. Flared, black, fingerless gloves and a cane topped with a Maltese cross and anchor completed the ensemble.

"Guten abend, Mein Liebling," she greeted me with a playful smile, knowing full well the effect that dress was having on me. "Do you like the outfit?"

"I love it!" I exclaimed, "It's beautiful on you."

"Flatterer. You say that about everything I wear."

I grinned and shrugged. "Well, everything looks beautiful on you."

"..and what about nothing at all?" she asked with a tentative smile on her face, her cheeks red.

My eyes grew as wide as dinner plates and I felt my cheeks burn at what she was suggesting. "That...ah….that would be a glorious sight…" I managed to get out.

"Tonight, then" she promised, "After the banquet."

If I wasn't already excited for tonight before, well, I was doubly so now. I couldn't keep the eager smile off my face as I nodded. "Tonight," I repeated. "In the meantime, you said you needed my help with something?"

"Ah, yes," her smile faded somewhat, replaced by one of embarrassment. "While the banquet does extend an open invitation to any and all who wish to attend, I wanted to extend a personal invitation to Tirpitz. But...apologies, I'm still not sure how to invite her myself. Could you…?"

"Of course," I answered her unfinished question. "I'd be happy to. Which room is hers?"

"Danke. Take the hall to the left and two doors down."

"I'll go and get her, then. See you at the banquet hall, Mein Schatzi," I said and we both leaned in for a quick kiss.

We lingered for a brief moment, our lips brushing against each other's before parting again. "See you soon," she replied before she slipped off down the hall and I went off in search of Tirpitz's room.

Following Bismarck's directions, I managed to find it without any trouble, and once again, knocked on the door of Bismarck-class ship. This time I was waiting for a few moments before Tirpitz answered, wearing almost the exact same evening gown as Bismarck. Hers, though, was a brilliant white and her epaulet was on her left side instead of her right, along with her own personal heraldry. She looked me up and down and smirked slightly.

"Bismarck couldn't think of a way to invite me to the party and asked you to come, hmmm?" she remarked. I opened my mouth to speak and she shook her head to cut me off. "It's alright, Herr Kommandant. We'd best not keep her waiting for too long."

As we made our way to the banquet hall, I decided to pry a little bit into her relationship with her sister. "So…" I began nonchalantly, "How're things going with Bismarck?"

"Truthfully," she sighed, "I still have a hard time talking to her...but things are getting better. It feels like the ice is slowly melting between us. One day, we will be as true sisters should, but we aren't there yet. And what about you, hmmm? You and she are growing especially close, ja?"

"Ja," I agreed with a smile. We were still keeping our relationship somewhat hidden, so I couldn't say much about it. "She means a lot to me."

"Good. She needs more people in her life who are as honest with their feelings as you are, and I think you and her are good for each other, for what it's worth."

"It's worth quite a bit, Tirpitz. Thank you."

"Bitte." She paused a moment before eyeing me up and down again. "So what is with the sword?"

We arrived to find the banquet in full swing, with girls from all the nations in attendance. Most were keeping to their own factions, but more than a few were mingling among the others. I caught sight of Z23 in an excited exchange with Javelin while Ayanami and Laffey laconically looked on and Zuikaku and Enterprise discussing what looked to be some sort of aerial maneuvers. And there, at the end of the red carpet, on a gilded throne of ebony, sat Bismarck, who seemed to be in a pleasant exchange with Hood. I decided not to interrupt them and mingled a bit, waiting for the two of them to go their own separate ways.

Once Hood curtseyed and took her leave, I made my way to the throne. As I approached, I noticed that a large broadsword was propped up against it, and not for the first or last time that night, my curiosity was piqued.

"Lord Bismarck," I greeted her, bowing low before her regal gaze. "I am at your service."

She acknowledged my greeting with a raised eyebrow and a playful smirk. "Danke, Herr Kommandant. Your service is always appreciated."

"So how's the evening going thus far?"

"Better than I'd hoped," she smiled. "Everyone is having a good time, everything is running efficiently and on schedule, and all I have to do to keep people happy is to sit here with a smile."

I raised an eyebrow in a gesture of mock surprise. "Just sit there? But what about a dance?"

Bismarck blinked in surprise and sputtered, "A dance...? Oh, no, I wouldn't turn one down, I just haven't been asked until now…"

Just then, the music shifted to a waltz, and a triumphant smile crossed my face. "It would seem that 'now' has arrived." I bowed to her, with my hand outstretched. "Lord Bismarck, will you give me the honor of a dance with you?"

Bismarck blushed furiously, but she couldn't keep the smile on her face. "As you wish, Mein Kommandant," she acquiesced and placed her hand in mine.

All eyes were on us as I led her out to the dance floor and turned to face her. Bismarck was still smiling, but I could sense how nervous she was. "Well, if they didn't know about us before, they will now," she weakly joked.

I shrugged, placing a hand on her hip in preparation for the dance. "Let 'em talk. Let's just focus on the now."

"Speaking of, it's been...a long while since I've danced. Be gentle."

"It's alright, I've never done the waltz with anyone before," I laughed softly. "Guess we'll just figure this out as we go together."

Bismarck smiled, "There isn't anyone else I'd rather have at my side than you."

I smiled back at her and with a quick, reassuring squeeze of her hand, we began to dance. As we glided around the banquet hall, I finally understood what Bismarck meant all those weeks ago. It was all I could do to focus on the music, the steps, and the person in my arms. You truly do shut out all else, whatever worries or cares you have, whatever people are thinking about you, there's no room for it. You are simply following your hearts and the beat of the music. I looked into Bismarck's eyes and saw only joy and happiness, without even a hint of melancholy or regrets. I think, for the first time in a long while, she was truly happy.

It seemed to last for only a few seconds, but before we knew it, the music had stopped, the crowd was applauding, and we were out of breath. Bismarck and I shared a knowing look and laughed before bowing to the crowd and making our way off the dance floor for others who wished to follow.

"Oh, how I've missed that!" Bismarck whispered excitedly, her smile still broad and beaming. "I'd almost forgotten how much fun that can be."

"I certainly understand what you mean now," I agreed. "That was...an amazing experience. Thank you."

There was a twinkle in her eye and her smile somehow grew larger. "Would you like to go again?" I couldn't help but smile back.

We continued to dance for some time, and while I would have loved to have danced the entire night away with my beautiful lady, we needed time to rest and prepare ourselves for the ceremonies to come.

As things finally began to wind down for everyone else, Bismarck signaled for the band to stop. As people took notice of the sudden silence, she then tapped on her wine glass with a spoon, the soft yet shrill noise quickly grabbing everyone's attention.

"My fellow compatriots," she began, her voice loud and strong, "Thank you so much for coming and enjoying the hospitality of the Iron Blood. But as you know, this is not just for pleasure, it is to honor one who has been of great service to the Iron Blood, and myself, personally. U-556, step forward!"

The throng of shipgirls parted to reveal U-556, her normal attire gone in favor of a white party dress with black trim. She quickly made her way down the red carpet, stopped in front of Bismarck, and saluted sharply. "U-556, reporting!"

Bismarck slowly stood and returned the salute with one of her own. "U-556, in recognition of your valorous deeds in service of the Iron Blood, it is my distinct and extreme honor to award you the Knight's Cross, with Oak Leaves." Tirpitz stepped forward from behind the throne, medal case in hand, and Bismarck took the decoration from the box. She bowed before U-556 and affixed the medal to her chest. U-556, for her part, was beaming bright enough to light up the entire eastern seaboard, her eyes beginning to well up with tears. Bismarck caught that as well and quietly said, "No tears just yet, little Parzival. We're not quite finished here."

When Bismarck stood, she smartly saluted U-556, who returned it with one of her own. "This, however, is not the end of commendations for U-556. Our own Kommandant from Azur Lane has an award to bestow upon Parzival as well."

I stepped forward as Bismarck stepped to the side, saluting U-556 with a smile before addressing the crowd. "It is rare that Azur Lane give any awards to any single member-nation, but in light of U-556's heroism and dedication, it has been decided that she has earned just that. U-556, in light of your heroic actions against superior Siren forces, and steadfast devotion to safeguarding others, Azur Lane presents you with the Naval Service Medal for valorous conduct in combat. You have upheld the highest traditions of naval service, and earned the respect and honor of Azur Lane. Congratulations."

Bismarck appeared at my side, medal case in hand, and I pinned the platinum award to the left of Bismarck's, giving Parzival a little wink and a grin as I did so. I straightened up and saluted smartly, which she returned again. I then surprised nearly everyone in the crowd when I announced. "But that is not the only award!"

A murmur ran through the crowd, and even U-556 looked confused by what was going on. Only Bismarck and Tirpitz, who had been kept in the loop, kept proud smiles on their faces. "As you all know, we have many knights in many of our factions. But what we do not have is a knightly order for Azur Lane itself. That ends tonight. U-556!"

U-556 snapped to attention instinctively. "Sir?"

"On the honor of the Parzival name, and before Neptune, Lord of the Seas, do you swear to protect all who require your aid, be it on the sea, the land, or in the sky?"

"I swear!"

I drew my cutlass. "Then kneel."

U-556 kneeled before me, her head solemnly bowed and I rested the blade of my sword on one shoulder, then the other. "U-556, I dub thee Dame Parzival, Knight of Azur Lane of the Sacred Order of the Archipelago. Rise, and be known by your peers."

As U-556 stood on shaky legs, the crowd erupted into cheers and wild applause. Had there been seats, I'm certain it would have been a standing ovation. Parzival, for her part, looked up at me, tears of pride and joy in her eyes, and crashed into me with the strength of a torpedo. I chuckled and hugged her back as she fiercely embraced me for a moment before moving on to Bismarck and Tirpitz. As things calmed down, Bismarck again addressed the crowd.

"Before we all go our separate ways for the evening, I have arranged a beautiful fireworks display to end the night. If you will please exit on the south side of the building, the show will begin shortly."

Again, a pleasant murmur ran through the crowd and they all began filing out the doors. Before I could join them, Bismarck gently grabbed my arm and whispered in my ear. "Come with me," she said and led me towards the back.

As it happened, the banquet hall had a balcony on the second floor, which would give us both a commanding view of the fireworks, and some privacy. Bismarck ushered me outside before closing the door behind us, making sure we wouldn't be disturbed for a little while, at least.

"What you did was really sweet," she said as she leaned against the balcony railing, gazing off into the harbor. "She's going to remember that night for the rest of her life."

"She's not the only one," I said, smiling, as I joined her. "This night has already been unforgettable for me as well, and it's not even over."

Bismarck smiled and nodded slowly, turning her attention back to me. "Very true. I don't know how often we'll do something like this again, but I would love to spend more time dancing with you."

"Absolutely," I nodded emphatically, "I loved dancing with you. The look in your eyes, seeing how happy it made you...it made me realize something." I took a deep breath, steadied myself, and took the plunge. "I love you. I love being with you, I love making you happy, and I hope that you feel the same way."

Bismarck let out a happy sigh, her smile growing ever larger, and nodded. "Of course. I love you, too, mein Liebling. There is nowhere I would rather be, no one I would rather be with." My arms wrapped around her waist, and I pulled her in for a tender kiss. We broke when the first firework went off, a round of applause and admiration rippling through the audience below us. Bismarck took the opportunity to grab a pair of unique, gilded wine glasses, each filled with a dark red liquid. She handed one to me and lifted the other in a toast.

"To tea and biscuits, and the love we've found because of them," she declared.

I raised my glass high and clinked it against hers. "To biscuits with Bismarck."

A/N-And thus ends "Biscuits with Bismarck". I had a TON of fun writing this one, and I hope you guys had just as much fun reading it. Also, this is the first story where I've been able to complete one chapter a week and get it up on the same day each week. Yay, consistency! As usual, gonna take a bit of a break, work on the IJN Akagi a bit more(she's got paint on now!), and then get back to writing. Up next is another chapter for New Year's Anthology titled "Sisters", I'm sure you can guess what that's about, and then on to the next, and last(planned) series featuring everyone's favorite vampiric battleship, Duke of York! Thank you for reading, thank you so much for all your kind words, and as always, fair winds and following seas!