-Double Helping of Angel Confession Special-

"..."

Neither of them could find the presence of mind to speak. Here they were, in front of the whole Brigade, holding hands and Ranpha still blushing. She came to her senses gradually, taking in each of her coworkers reactions.

"Oh my..."

"But, Ranpha, you said... I'm confused..."

"Forte, is something going on?"

It was Normad though, that snapped them out of their trance.

Poor Ranpha. So desperate for a man in her life that she settled for the most masculine of women.

"SHUT IT!"

A good three shots went through him before the gun came down.

As if I had anything to shut...

Interesting, Forte hadn't let go of Ranpha's hand when she drew her weapon. Mint seemed to stiffen her upper ears, as though listening for something not audible.

"But it would seem that you have reached some kind of understanding. It isn't difficult to see that you are closer than you were earlier."

So here was the moment of truth. Ranpha looked at Milfeulle's perplexed expression, then at Vanilla's air of silent judgment, and knew that she couldn't lie to them. She looked then to Forte. The older woman squeezed her hand, indicating it was okay to reveal their feelings.

"It's true. I don't care if it's silly of me, I l-like Forte."

"And I feel the same way."

Volcott looked bemused, but didn't seem to disapprove. Mint just smiled cannily, as if she had been anticipating this for months. Vanilla's expression didn't change, and she didn't disapprove either. A solemn saying would have been her method of criticism, but she was silent. And Milfeulle...

"That's... that's..." Her eyes sparkled as if she might cry. "So cute!" She clapped, looking inspired. "I'll have to make you something to celebrate your getting together."

Before anyone could comment, the girl skipped off to kitchen. Ranpha just couldn't help herself. She burst out laughing from happiness. That could have gone so much worse... but it didn't!

Later, the Angel Brigade sat down to enjoy another of Milfeulle's delicious desert courses. The ones she had made for Ranpha and Forte had special decorations. They were a little embarrassing, but endearing, much like the chef who had baked them.

"See, there's a purple gun for Forte, and a red crystal ball for Ranpha."

There the usual compliments on the cooking. As the pink haired girl cleared the plates, she paused to whisper to Ranpha.

"You know, I always hoped you'd find someone special. I know how important love is to you. I've very happy for you."

"Aw. Thank you."

Milfeulle smiled again and said to the whole room,

"I guess her heart was 'Stollen'."

And the angels tried not to wince. Forte and Ranpha left for the now empty common room.

"Ranpha, she wanted you to find someone... you don't think..."

"... that it was her luck? It could be, but..."

"... isn't this kind of a strange outcome? I mean, there are plenty of guys it could have been."

"Yet so far this is the only relationship I can remember being in that hasn't ended in an explosion."

She paused for a moment. None of her past loves really tugged at her heart strings as she thought about them. Except... Darling. He had just been an android, but he had gotten into her heart in more meaningfully than most real men. She could never get him back, and even if she could have, what would be the point? Loving a machine that was programmed to give her unconditional affection, not even capable of making his own decisions like Normad, it was ridiculous. Ranpha gazed up at Forte.

Forte wasn't even obligated to like her, and after all that Ranpha had put her through it would have been reasonable for her to hate her. And all the pain must have been compounded by watching her chase futilely after men when she was interested in Ranpha herself. But Forte still felt for her, despite it all. She had offered to take her on a lifelong vacation because of nothing more than a desire to be with her. She had pretended to be dead just so Ranpha could keep a guy. It was no wonder Forte had aimed her gun at her after all the frustration she must have been through. All this time she had never truly appreciated all that Forte did for her. What could she possibly say that conveyed even a fraction of this to her? All she could think to do was embrace her. This time, unlike when they had been sitting on the edge of Forte's coffin, her embrace was returned. The redhead pulled back after a minute and looked at her quizzically.

"You know, I'm still curious. Just what were you about to say before the doors opened?"

She considered her position, and decided that what she had been about to say was even more appropriate now. She trusted Forte with all her heart, and she knew that was why she had been able to stand there with the gun pointed at her and not feel fear. Deep down, they both knew: she never would have pulled the trigger.

"That if you want me, you can have me."

Forte blushed almost as red as her hair. She looked strangely feminine at that moment. No way was she a surrogate man. She was just herself, neither here or there, and Ranpha loved her. There were tears in the blond girl's eyes as they shared their first kiss.

-After Dinner Mint-

Mint smiled to herself as she picked up a few stray thoughts from the next room. She had mixed feelings about the events that had transpired. It had always been fun to watch Forte's jealousy and Ranpha's self denial, so she would miss that. But at the same time it had been frustrating knowing what they didn't and seeing them not getting anywhere. She had done her part to get them together subtly, as was her wont. Her teasing had been directed to make them think about the way they truly felt. As much as Mint may have used and abused the other angels, they were her friends. And so she was happy for them. Hopefully watching the two hammer out a new relationship would be as entertaining as watching them dance around the issue had been.