Anton- Illisea's been dying to write this. Enjoy.

Lina Inverse looked over at her good friend and protector, Gourry Gabriev. There was a question that had been bugging her for a long time now. She wasn't sure she'd ever sum up the courage to ask him again. A scene echoed through her head like a loud voice in a big cave.

Flashback:

"So, uh, Gourry, we've been traveling together for a long time now, haven't we."

"Oh, has it been that long?"

Lina stretched her arms out in front of her. "Well, you know, it just- it just seems so natural to think of you being with me."

"Well Lina, I am your protector after all."

"So then, how long do you plan on protecting me?"

"I don't know. The rest of my life."

Lina turned beet red. "The rest of your-?" "Gourry, um, don't you have somebody waiting for you somebody... I don't know... someone that you really like?"

She looked over at him only to find him sleeping. She sweatdropped, then sighed. Lina hesitantly leaned against him.

Flashback over!

Lina looked over at him again. She didn't ever admit it to anyone, but she loved Gourry... a lot. Gourry was the only one who had ever been so kind to her. She'd depended on herself most of her life, but now Gourry was always there to depend on, and she didn't know whether he loved her back or not. She'd argued with herself many times over this.

"Lina, is there something bugging you?" Gourry asked, looking down at her.

She gave a start and looked at the ground in front of her. "Me? No way!"

He kept looking at her. "You can tell me what's wrong."

"No. Nothing, really," she insisted.

That's right Lina. Keep being a coward. The girl who faced down Shabranigdo can't even bring herself to ask her own best friend a question. No way was she going to be beaten by herself.

"I know something is wrong Lina. I've known you long enough to know that. You can tell me when you feel like it," he reassured her, setting her eyes back on the campfire.

"Gourry?"

"Yes Lina." He returned his eyes to her.

"Um, do you... have anybody you really like... waiting for you somewhere, or something?"

There. I said it.

Gourry blushed and looked back at the fire. "I, uh..."

"Well?" Lina urged. I bet he does. As if he could ever love me. Lina nearly started crying.

"I've actually been waiting for you."

Lina couldn't hide her surprise as her heart threatened to explode. "M-me? What do you mean you've been waiting for me?"

"Exactly what I said. I-I love you Lina."

She felt tears of joy coming to her eyes. "Why didn't you ever tell me?"

He looked her in the eye. "I'm afraid you don't feel the same."

"You're afraid I don't feel the same?" she repeated, dumbfounded.

"Well, I, uh... yeah."

"I feel like such an idiot." Lina chuckled at herself. Gourry seem curious. "Here I was, thinking you might not have loved me, and you were thinking the same thing about me."

"You mean-?"

"I love you Gourry," she confirmed. "I've loved you for a long time."

They spent a long time just staring at the beautiful night sky. Lina inched closer and leaned against him, blushing. Gourry put an arm around her shoulder. The wind seemed to whisper 'congratulations' in her ear, and the secrecy of the forest was a haven. Never had she seen or experienced a more perfect night than this. Both their hearts had huge weights lifted, and neither had felt better their whole lives.

I finally know my answer.

Illisea- So how was it? Good? Bad?

Anton- I vote good.

Verity sighs -The readers, dummy.

Anton- I knew that.

Verity- Of course you did.

Illisea- This has been plaguing my mind for a week... or two. I swear my head was going to explode if I didn't get this out. I really REALLY hope you all love it. Please Review!