She woke to the sound of bells.

They were happy bells, the kind of bells that made you want to awake and see what was so wonderfully magnificent that it had garnered the use of those lovely instruments.

She had awoken in such a manner every day for almost a month.

Those bells reminded her why she wanted to stay.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, golden and warm and wonderful. The room was filled with butterfly haze. She sat up and looked next to her instinctively.

He wasn't there.

She didn't mind so much. He had business to attend to. Kingly business. And he had showered her with attention every minute he had free.

She yawned and sat up, stretching her muscles. She was wearing a white, spaghetti-strapped nightgown that ended just above her knees.

The nightgown remained untouched. They'd slept in the same bed every night, but never went farther than that. Never even kissed. She minded that a bit more. But she knew why, or at least she hoped she did. He was so fragile…to take that step would be dangerous for him, and for her.

Neither could take it until they were sure.

She stripped the nightgown off quickly and slipped on a dress, a simple pale blue one with a skirt that went just below her knees. It was far too warm out for anything longer. She brushed her hair, hair that now curled around the shoulders and bounced when she moved. She looked in the mirror and considered make up, but, no. He always said she was the most beautiful without any alterations.

She walked out of her room just as she ran into another girl with short, curly pink hair, dark skin big blue eyes. She smiled down at her, and then cringed when she started to yell.

"Geez Hitomi, you're so lazy! I was just coming to wake you up, Lord Van wanted to see you!"

Hitomi smiled and nodded. "Thanks, Merle," she said. Merle had already told her she had accepted the two of them as a couple, which made Hitomi a little bit shy. Where they really that? Yes…and no.

Not until they were sure. Not of each other, they were already sure of each others. Hitomi knew Van loved her, and Van knew that she did, too…they told each other every day.

No, they needed to be sure that Hitomi would make a decision…they could not take another step until Hitomi decided to stay.

She knew, in the end she would, but…

Amano, she knew, would be alright without her. He and Yukari had gotten together; she could feel it and see it.

But she missed them so much. Was it fair that to gain Van, to gain this wonderful world, she had to lose them?

No, it wasn't fair or sane or right. But he needed her, and they didn't.

And she needed him, too.

All this musing had brought her to his study. Their study. She smiled at him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders from behind. He stiffened in surprise at first, and then relaxed. "You called me, Van?" she asked in a relaxed voice.

"Yeah…" he mumbled. "I wanted to see you, and make sure you hadn't died in your sleep or something. You slept so late!"

"I was up late last night, thinking about things."

"What things?"

He knew very well what things. And she knew it. She also knew he was desperate for an answer. He was a man. He had needs, especially now that he was getting past the age of being a teenager. But it wasn't just that, either. He wanted to be with her, to claim her as his own, and to make her a part of him.

She wanted the same thing.

But she didn't answer, merely nuzzled his neck. He sighed and took this as a semi-acceptable answer, for the time being, anyway. "So, Hitomi, did you have any dreams last night?" he asked, the slightest bit of worry in his voice. She had nightmares sometimes, and she would always awake screaming and sobbing in his arms as he petted her hair and tried to make her relax. She smiled softly into his hair.

"I had a lovely one about a beautiful boy with angel wings who carried me into the sky and I could see everything. It was absolutely wonderful," she said with a smile.

He smiled and looked back at her, his brown eyes dancing with happiness. "Consider it done," he said, grabbing her and carrying her bride style out the door and to the courtyard. Milerna, Allen and Celena, Chid, even Dryden (who had decided that he was now worthy of Milerna, was trying his hardest to make her fall for him…it seemed to working, too) had all come to visit and to see Hitomi again, and saw the two, Van with the child-like expression on his face not quite fitting for a King at the age of 19, almost 20, and yet perfectly fitting for just Van, and Hitomi's expression caught between fear, surprise, and elation. They all laughed and waved as they flew into the sky.

"Van!" she yelled, trying to tighten her grip on the boy. "Don't let me fall!"

"Wouldn't dream of it," he laughed as he flew into the sky.

As they floated there, Hitomi looked at him. He was mostly unchanged from when she'd seen him almost two years ago. But he was stronger, but still lanky. His eyes had a more thoughtful look to them, although they would never be able to replace the fire in his brown orbs. He was usually, more somber, too…made a king too young, the burden rested heavily upon his shoulders. But he was still Van, and he still loved her.

And he still needed her.

Floating high above the city, trying not to fall, she wrapped her legs around his middle, and she felt his hands on her thighs holding them there. She blushed. He arms were wrapped tightly around his neck, and as she stared up at him, she knew her answer.

She stretched to meet his lips, but he turned his head, her eyes widened in hurt and surprise.

"I…I can't, Hitomi," he mumbled, but his words conflicted with his actions; he pulled her closer. "I can't allow myself to…I need to know you love me enough to stay before I give you…before I give you that. Before I kiss you. It's selfish, but…"

"Not, it's not," she interrupted, smiling sadly at him. "It makes perfect sense. But that's what I wanted to tell you, Van. I've made my decision."

The sadness in his expression turned to hope.

"I've decided to stay," she said.

And then, he kissed her so passionately the two very nearly fell out of the sky. He was everywhere, and everywhere was alive because of him. Every cell, every nerve in her body tingled, and her mouth was positively on fire. His tongue, his hands, pulling her closer (if that was possible) to him. She could feel his heartbeat sputtering erratically against her ribcage, and her's was just as fast.

When they pulled away to breathe, he rested his head on her shoulder, and she sighed into his hair.

"Say it again," he whispered against her neck, and his breath tickled.

"I will stay," she said again, and this time there was no blush and no awkwardness, merely the two of them, together.

E/N: Okay, I'm planning this as a two-shot...Next chapter will be full of lemony goodness! Woo! D