Hi. Alex here again with a new fic for the holidays. this was going to be a one shot but once i had finished writing like 20 pages i realized that maybe i should divide it into chapters. This will hopefully be a nice fluffy fic. I may not write the best fluff but i'm getting betta. this is a different way that Numair and Daine confessed their love for each other. All during a walk in the rain.

This fic may be a tad confusing. for those of you who have read Drowning this is not a knew concept. i really liked getting into Numair's head and i thought this would be a perfect time to do so. I have also gotten into daine's head which, like Numair, never fails to be an...interesting place.

the following code shall help you understand:

words, phrases and complete paragraphs that are in italics are Numy's thoughts.

stuff that are underlined is Daine's thoughts.

well, happy holidays and have a Merry Christmas today!

The rain beat upon the windows and a merry fire crackled in the hearth. Perfect weather to read and that was what the two mages were doing, or, at least, trying to do. They were preoccupied, though the other didn't know it. I wasn't the rain that was distracting either.

Numair Salmalin peered over the top of his book at his companion. There was something about her. Something that made his heart soar and his stomach plummet at the same time. It was love, plain and simple.

Plain and simple though? More like complicated. I wonder what would happen if I went over and just snogged her brains out.

He decided against it. Couldn't work up the nerve.

Besides, what if it offended her? I don't think I could bear it! Hmmm. Why can't I just tell her how I feel? How could I possibly be scared-no-terrified at the thought of saying, 'Hey Daine, I love you in more than a teacher-student way,' I mean, me, The Great Numair Salmalin have fought many battles and accomplished many things can't work up the courage to say three small words. I man, come on! None of them even exceed one syllable!

He quickly looked back down and read the first sentence of the page. Then he looked back up, then back down and read the same sentence again. He had been reading that sentence over and over again for more than an hour. He hadn't even taken a word of it in. I can't believe this. I am in love with my student.

Numair had been so busy making sure Daine hadn't caught him staring at her that he didn't notice that his student hadn't been turning any pages either.

I wonder what would happen if I just snogged his brains out. He probably wouldn't like it. Come on Numair…Say it. Say it! Just three words! None of them even exceed one syllable! Maybe I should just say them. I mean, how hard could it be? Just say, "Hey Numair, I love you in more than a student-teacher way.' Then I could snog his brains out. No! He wouldn't like that I bet. Look at he women he gets involved with! I'm nothing like that. What if I dyed my hair blond? Some how gained bigger breasts? Is that possible? Hmmm, 'Numair, would you love me if I had big boobs?' nope. Not going to say that.

Daine's eyes flicked to her teacher then back down at her book. She had read the same sentence for over an hour. Unlike Numair, however, she was getting something from it. It just wasn't what the author had intended. It was supposed to be about ostriches but somehow Daine was reading "I love Numair,' over and over.

This is a good book. Gahh! Stop it! I'm going mad! I can't believe this! I'm in love with my teacher!

The rain was beating a tattoo in Numair's brain, "I love Daine,' over an over.

You are absolutely correct, Rain and I hate you for it. Hey rain… There was something about Daine that made him want to be spontaneous.

"Let's go for a walk," ooh, original. I should have said something like, "Let's go tp Alanna's room and then run. The key word here is run.

"What?" Daine asked as Numair snapped his book closed.

"Let's go for a walk," he said again.

Why does he want to go for a walk?...I wonder if he's ever gone tping.

Daine sat up and shut her book as well.

"But…It's raining," she protested.

You see, Numair. That would be why we're all indoors today. Numair had already pulled on his boots. Daine watched.

"Here, let me help you," he said kneeling before her and picking up her boot. His hand had absentmindedly stroked the bottom of her foot.

Oh yes, do that again. She wiggled her toes. Numair avoided her eyes and stared at her feet. "You have beautiful feet, Magelet," he remarked as he slid on the boot.

"Thank you," He thinks I have beautiful feet! Hoorah! Wait…Is that all he finds attractive? Just my feet? Oh Gods! I do need bigger boobs.

The mage helped his student to her feet and pulled her to the door.

"Come on. Let's go,"

"But, it's raining," she tried again. But really she did want to go.

Oh Gods she doesn't want to go. Is it me? Does she not want to do stuff with me?"

He's holding my hand! He's holding my hand!

She's holding my hand! She's holding my hand! Ah hah! If she really didn't want to go then she would have dropped my hand by now. Seeing how she hasn't then she obviously wants to go. Right? Right?

Numair pulled her down the corridors and finally they reached the door. All they had to do was open the door and step out. They just stopped.

Why is this so hard? Just turn the knob and push. You've done it billions of times before. No, wait! Do you push or pull?

"Well, let's go," the mage said finally. I sound like a broken record. Daine tried one more time, "But, it's raining," I sound like a broken record. Numair flashed a smile,

"So I've heard. Now, what do you have against the rain?" Please let the answer be something like, "nothing, it's just that I'd rather snuggle with you because I love you,"

"Nothing, it's just-" so far so good… "It'll be cold and-and it will be wet and…" she trailed off. And I fear that I am taking this the wrong way. That I'm seeing this as some romantic jaunt and you're about to confess your love any minute.

"Are you done stating the obvious, Magelet?" If you are, then I notice that it is not obvious that I love you. Good. No, that's bad! I don't know! Ahhh. Say it Numair! I love you! Just say it! No, it's not right. I can't do this to her.

Daine nodded. I wish it was obvious that you loved me. No, it's not right. I can't do this to him.

They stood there awkwardly for a few moments. Both were thinking abut how to get the other to basically propose marriage on the spot and were too self conscience to realize what was right in front of them. It was times like these when it was obvious that they loved each other but they were too frightened to notice. Now the door was open.

Good. I remembered it was a push.

Glad he opened the door. I thought it was a pull…

"Well," he said.

"Well," she answered.

I must look like a complete idiot.

I must look like a complete idiot.

Come on…It's just the rain…The rain and Daine.

Come on…It's just the rain…The rain and Numair.

They shifted uncomfortably before Numair executed an exaggerated bow,

"Most esteemed and gorgeous ladies first," No! Nuamir! The object is to not let the girl know you love her! Stupid! Stupid! Daine giggled.

He's not looking at my feet again is he? If he finds them attractive now, it's the boots, not me. She tried to catch his gaze or see if he was in fact, staring at her feet. His eyes avoided her completely. She was devastated.

I made her laugh! Oh thank Mithros for her smile. He tried to catch her gaze now but it was too late. Now he was the one who was being avoided. He felt his heart sink.

Maybe she was only laughing to be polite.

Maybe he only complimented me to be polite. As Daine walked past her companion she slightly brushed him. She faltered a bit but kept walking. Numair bit back a groan of longing. He nearly gave in to his heart and wrapped his arms around her. He resisted the urge…barely.

As Daine brushed past she shivered slightly on contact. She wasn't sure it was an accident or not. She wanted to just turn around and jump into his arms. It was the safest place in the world.

I want him so bad! What could it cost me to jus tell him how I feel? My whole world, that's what.

Numair may have overpowered his heart but it had been a barely. The barely counted as a lot. He couldn't resist. Not completely. The mage had just brushed her hair with his fingertips when he totally mastered himself.

I want her so bad! So bad, dammit! I can't tell her though, can I? He almost did but then she turned. Her face asked "What do you think your doing?"

I can't do it! I just can't! She would never love me. What if she finds out and she leaves? She is my life! I can't live without her. Can't exist. As he followed his student out the door into the pouring rain he looked up with a sour expression.

You torture me, you know that? Who ever it is up there that's responsible for it, you're just cruel.

Daine thought she had felt Numair brush her hair.

He touched me! Imagination? Please don't let it be imagination. Please, please, please!

The door closed behind them and they were in the rain. It was pouring. It was coming down in buckets. It was the kind of storm where it is merely water and not thunder and lightning.

"Well, Magelet," began Numair, "I do believe you are correct. It is wet. And, correct me if I'm wrong, it is also cold,"

"Oh shut up," she pushed him playfully and he narrowly missed stepping in a puddle. They both laughed before walking.

They walked in silence for several minutes, skirting puddles and thinking their separate thoughts. Actually, that term is incorrect. Their thoughts were running along very similar line at the moment. They just didn't know it.

Daine shivered, and before Numair knew what was happening, his arm had snaked out and about her shoulders and he had pulled her close. Diane didn't notice until after it was there that her arm had gone around his waist.

Oh Mithros! I did not just put my arm around her. No Numair! No! No! No! She knows for sure how I feel. Now she will leave me.

Horse Lords. Is my arm actually around his waist? When did that happen? How did it happen? You'll scare him off Daine. You shouldn't have done it.

What am I going to do? I can't just let go suddenly. It will be too obvious. Can't let it stay there either. It looks exactly like something her lover would do…

Now what? I can't just let go! Way too obvious.

A small voice in the back of her head kept nagging her. She would have loved to listen to it.

Ah, but why is his arm around you then?

He is trying to keep me warm. He cares about me.

Yes he cares about you.

Yes cares! Probably in a brotherly way or in a (gulp) dare I say it? Fatherly way? Could he possibly see me as a child?

…Yes her lover. Something I shall never be. Look at all the boys who flock around her! She has so many admirers. Why would she even care to glance in my direction? I shall never have her. I will grow old alone while she gets married. Mithros! Don't let her choose Perin the stupid bastard. I can never have her. He thought bitterly. In the small flash of anger his arm around her tightened.

Oh damn.

well, whataya think? i shall add more if i get a few reviews.

if you want more of Numy's thoughts read Drowning (not Choking on the Pain. Drowning is better. it's a reworking on it and it is not a dream. if you have already read Choking on the Pain read Drowning anyways. it's better. has some laughs very deep if i do say so my self.)

Also Eunae has posted chapter two on Race Against Death. The sequal to Fate Has Led Us. it's really good again if i do say so my self. you should check it out

tell me what you think and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

alex