"You both just 'fell asleep'?" Phin asked, making inverted comma signs with his fingers and raising his eyebrows.

"Yes, Phin," Quint groaned for the third time. "We fell asleep."

"Just fell asleep?"

"Yes! Just fell asleep! For sky's sake Phin!" Quint exclaimed, exasperated with his friend. Phin smirked.

"Suuuure you did."

"Phin!!" Quint snapped. "Nothing happened! We just fell asleep. End of story!" Phin looked at him suspiciously.

"Nothing happened?"

"Nothing happened!"

"Are you SURE nothing happened?" Phin persisted. Quint glared at him.

"Unless I suddenly have amnesia-"

"Which is entirely possible."

"-Nothing happened!" Quint finished angrily. Phin gave Quint a long, searching look, seemingly ignoring the fact that his friend was steaming at the ears.

"You like her don't you?" he said eventually. Quint blinked, his annoyance turning to confusion.

"Whaa-at?"

"You like Maris." Phin said firmly. Quint rolled his eyes.

"Oh, so now you've joined the League of Psychiatrists and Palm-readers?" he asked wryly. It was Phin's turn to look annoyed.

"Quit avoiding the question. You like her, don't you?"

"Well of course I-"

"As in like-like Quint, you know what I mean!"

Quint said nothing, his face colouring.

"Umm…."

Phin beamed.

"Ahh, the great Quintinius Verginix lost for words on the topic of his beautiful love Maris…" he pressed a hand to his heart and gazed dramatically at the ceiling, "Its so cute I think I might puke,"

"Shut up Phin!" Quint snapped, cringing and blushing harder as everyone watched them. There wasn't much privacy in the Eightways, especially on the lower benches. Phin merely grinned and lowered his voice, head resting in his hands.

"So, have you kissed her yet?" he asked. Quint gave him a strange look.

"Now that is none of your business," he replied firmly, folding his arms.

"Are you going to meet her tonight?"

"Maybe,"

"What are you going to do?"

"Nothing that concerns you."

"Should I expect you back before dawn?"

"I don't- PHIN!" Quint snapped, flushing. Phin laughed.

Quint glanced both ways as he approached the School of Mist apartment block. Linius's old apartments, where Maris, Welma and Tweezle were currently residing, were on the third floor. Maris had told him that her bedroom window was on the side wall, near the College of Gloom (What a horrible name, Quint thought, who would want to work there?). Without much difficulty he located it. His face fell as he saw there was no candle lit. Was she asleep? Well, she wouldn't be for much longer. After bending down to pick up some small pebbles, he glanced around to check no one was nearby. Quint raised his arm and threw a stone at the window. It missed and bounced off the wall, nearly hitting him on the head as it sailed past. The second and third missed too, but the forth, fifth and sixth hit the windowpane. There was a pause, then a candle lit up the room and someone came to the window. She gasped as she saw who it was.

"Quint!" she called softly, "What are you doing out here? I thought you-"

"I wanted to surprise you," he called back. Maris could see his smile in the dim moonlight. She smiled back.

"I'll come down,"

"I'll come up," he disagreed firmly. Checking once more to see if anyone was around, he dropped the rest of his pebbles and started to clamber up the woodivy that coated the entire East wall. In seconds he had reached her balcony and she hauled him inside.

The two of them paused, now both unsure of what to say. Quint coughed quietly and glanced around. Maris fiddled with her dress. They both avoided each other's gaze.

"Um…I better…you know…" she mumbled, nodding at the door, "Just in case…" Quint nodded mutely. Maris, relieved with a distraction, walked quickly over to the door and locked it. The two of them stood there in awkward silence.

Inside, Maris's mind was racing. What should she do - sit or stand? Sit on the bed or on a chair? Invite him to sit down? She didn't want to give him the wrong idea but…

"So, um, what shall we do? I mean there was a reason you came, right?" she asked. Quint blinked.

"I…er…" he grinned and rubbed the back of his neck somewhat sheepishly, "I didn't really think about that…" he mumbled. Maris laughed.

"I was going to come and see you but Welma made me stay in - she said the Cloudwatcher/Raintaster feud is flaring up again and she didn't want me to get caught in it."

Quint nodded. Maris, a little more relaxed, perched on the side of her bed. Quint sat beside her and the two stared into space.

"So…why ARE you here?" she asked eventually. Quint shrugged.

"No clue." He said truthfully, but cheerfully. He looked down at her. She gazed up at him.

And then suddenly, they were kissing. Neither of them knew why or how it had begun. It just felt right. Sure, they had shared a kiss by the Knight's Academy gates, but this was different. Instead of a soft goodbye kiss, this was fast, urgent, fiery. Maris's arms were looped around his neck. Quint's hands were on her waist…moving up…

They both broke for air. As he stared down into her emerald orbs, he saw uncertainty cloud them. Perhaps they were moving a bit too fast.

So instead of continuing, Quint smiled and held out his arms. Maris, a little surprised but relieved, shuffled across into his embrace. They both sat there holding each other tightly desperate not to let go.

Without thinking, Quint moved backwards on the bed and lay down, taking Maris with him. He wrapped his arms tighter around her and she shuffled backwards closer to him.

"Are you comfortable?" he asked.

"Mmm!"

"I'm not squashing you?"

"Uh-mm!"

"Are you-"

"Shut up Quint." She mumbled into her pillow. Quint grinned.

Phin was going to have a field day if he came back the next morning, Quint thought, just imagine what he would think! Well, it didn't matter anyway - he would go in a few minutes. When Maris was asleep. He would write her a nice note, tuck her into bed and sneak back. He wouldn't…he wouldn't…fall asleep…he was just…resting his…eyes…for a…few…moments…

Quint opened his eyes sharply, and started in surprise. Maris's face was millimetres from his, their noses practically touching. She had turned over in her sleep, now facing him. He could feel her hip resting against his thigh, one of her hands resting by his cheek. He leant forwards and kissed her gently on the lips. He couldn't help it - she looked so beautiful and peaceful asleep. Her eyes opened immediately and she smiled sleepily at him.

He had almost forgotten the noise that had awoken him - a sharp knocking at the door followed by:

"Maris? Mistress Maris?"

It was Welma! Maris jumped up.

"Hide!!" she hissed. Quint looked around frantically. The wardrobe or the bed?

"Maris? Maris!"

Quint decided on the bed and crawled under the sheets at the end. Maris piled up blankets so that the bump was completely hidden.

"MARIS?!"

"Just a minute!" Maris called back. She climbed back into bed, reached over and undid the lock. Welma burst in.

"Maris, why on the edge did you have the door locked?" she asked, still red in the face from shouting. Maris faked a nonchalant yawn.

"Why? Am I not allowed to?"

"No it's just that…" Welma's eyes narrowed as she saw something at the end of the bed. She frowned. Maris's heart hammered against her ribs. Had Welma noticed the huge lump?

"New shoes, dear?" she asked, holding up the large pair of shoes she had found on the floor. Maris froze. Those were Quint's shoes! She couldn't pretend they were hers - they were at least four sizes big and in men's style. Come on, Maris, think!!

"I…err…bought them in Undertown the other day. But the shopkeeper must have…gotten the boxes confused…and gave me those. I was going to take them back tomorrow." Maris said quickly.

Welma gave her a long look, as if trying to decide whether to believer her or not.

Suddenly, she grabbed the duvet and flung it back. Maris saw Quint's legs disappear just in time. Welma paused, and then straightened the covers, seemingly satisfied. She turned to her young charge.

"You…slept in your dress?" she asked quizzically, but not suspiciously. Maris grinned sheepishly.

"I was so tired last night I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. I forgot to change!" At least that part was true, Maris thought.

Welma smiled.

"Well, I've got breakfast all ready. Once you've changed you can come downstairs and-"

"Actually, Nanny Welma, I'm feeling rather lazy. Can I have breakfast up here?"

Maris gave Welma a large innocent grin. Welma laughed.

"Of course, my sugar dumpling. Two slices of oakbread with hyleberry jam?"

"Um…I'm really hungry," Maris patted her stomach, "Can I have four slices, please?"

"Four?" Welma raised her eyebrows, "Of…course, dear. Just don't make too much mess."

"Thank you Nanny Welma!" Maris exclaimed happily. Welma nodded and left the room, closing the door behind her. Maris jumped out of bed and pressed her ear to the door, listening to Welma's retreating footsteps.

Quint emerged from the bed sheets. His hair was a complete mess, as were all his clothes. They both waited until Welma could no longer be heard, then burst out laughing.

"Mmm!" Quint exclaimed as he bit into the bread, "Mmi mffmd mm-"

"Quint, finish your mouthful!" Maris giggled. Quint swallowed and grinned.

"Sorry. I haven't had hyleberry jam in months! We don't get much for breakfast at the Eightways!"

Maris smiled and nodded, finishing off her own breakfast. Quint gulped down the last of the tildermilk, then glanced at the door.

"I think I better go now - Welma's getting suspicious."

Maris pulled a face and took his hands. "Must you?"

Quint leant closer, "I'm going to be late for lessons…"

"You've already missed half of your first lesson. There's no point in going now. You'll just get told off. Wait till your second lesson starts."

Quint grinned, his arms snaking around her waist.

"You sound experienced." He whispered. She raised her eyebrows.

"You have no idea." She chuckled.

"Want to show me?" he murmured, his nose resting against hers.

"I think I might-"

"Mistress Maris? You've locked your door again!"

Maris pulled an irritated face.

"I'm just getting changed, Nanny Welma, I'll be there in a minute!" she called.

"I'm coming to change the sheets - I won't be a second. Open the door, Maris."

Maris paled as she turned to Quint.

"Move!" she hissed. Quint looked around.

"Where?"

"Back out the window! Go out onto the balcony, I'll distract her!"

Quint scurried out onto the balcony. Maris checked that he could not been seen from the bedroom and opened the door. Welma bustled in.

"I really don't like you locking the door Maris, sweetheart, please don't do it in the future."

Maris sighed, "Yes Nanny." Then, "Phew, its really stuffy in here! I think I'll go out for some fresh air."

As Maris turned to the balcony, Welma paused. Maris sure was acting strange today, Welma thought. Then she smiled. It was probably because she missed Quint! Yes, Welma concluded as she smoothed out the covers on the bed, Maris was acting strangely because she missed Quint.

Maris walked out onto the balcony and closed the doors behind her. Then she looked around. Where was Quint…?

Maris felt something touch her ear. She reached up a hand and found a small pink rose tucked into her hair. She spun around and there was Quint, grinning, hanging onto the balcony poles. She leant over the balustrade.

"Looks like I've got to go." He said softly. Maris stuck out her bottom lip and leant further over.

"Must you?"

Quint rolled his eyes, "I don't think this woodivy'll hold me much longer, Maris!"

Maris giggled. "Fine," then she pressed her lips firmly against his in a long, lingering kiss. Quint returned it, suddenly not caring at all about the woodivy.

"Mistress Maris?"

They both ignored the woodtroll. Neither of them wanted the other to go.

"Maris? Maris!"

Quint pulled back. He kissed Maris quickly on the end of the nose before jumping down off the woodivy. Maris turned around sharply, just as Welma opened the doors to the balcony.

"Maris, what is with you today?" Welma asked irritably.

"Sorry Nanny Welma," the girl mumbled. Welma sighed,

"Yes, well, you're acting like you're deaf. You don't seem to hear a word I say!"

But Maris wasn't listening. She was too busy watching the small figure on the ground creeping back to the Knight's Academy, her thoughts returning to a certain handsome young sky pirate captain…