Title: Rainy Day Love
Paring: AschxNatalia
Series: Tales of The Abyss
Type: Two-Shot
Rated: M

Part I: Rainy Day

It was a cloudy day at the Fabre Mansion, near the castle in Baticul, and Asch was at the manor on Natalia's request, to spend some much needed time with her.

The two sat beneath a large shady tree, Asch leaning against the trunk, and Natalia leaning on him, wrapped up in his arms, staring up at the flush green boughs above them.

"Natalia..." Asch started to say, as said girl looked up at him curiously. "When we're older...let's change this country, just the two of us..."

Natalia's eyes went large as she recalled the special 'promise' they had made when they were kids, smiling as she sat up, taking Asch's hand. "I'd be more than happy to make that dream come true Asch." She stood, tugging at his hand. "Let's go for a stroll."

Asch grudgingly moved from his spot on the ground, brushing off his clothes as the Kimlascan Princess combed through his hair with her small cute, fingers, separating the two front locks from the rest, pausing to grip them for a moment before letting them fall, and rest herself against Asch's chest, sighing.

"Natalia...?" Asch gave her a small hug, before softly gripping her shoulders and pulling her away a bit.

"It's nothing Asch, I'm alright." She shook her head, and blinked, taking the redhead's hand. "Let's get our walk started shall we?" She brightly smiled, and tugged Asch in the direction of the castle garden.

They walked for about half-an-hour before stopping on the cobblestones to stand still, gazing up at the sky.

"It looks like it might rain." Nataila said with a slight frown. "The weather was just so nice."

Asch glanced at her. "Indeed it does...let's just hope we can finish our walk."

The two walked a bit more, and when the clouds broke and they escaped under a large tree as the rain came down upon the earth. They gazed at one another, watching water droplets drip off their hair, as Asch brought up a hand to cup Natalia's face, his gaze softening.

"Natalia...you're so beautiful..."

The Princess's face went bright red, as she smiled, wrapping her arms around Asch and twining her fingers in his hair. "Oh, Asch..."

The former God-General took Natalia's chin in his hand, and leaned his head down to kiss her, closing his eyes, and moving his free arm around her waist. She kissed back passionately, her arms moving up to encircle his neck.

The tree boughs above them broke down, heavy with rain, and the liquid cascaded down upon the couple, soaking them in warm rivers of water, but the two didn't mind, they were kissing in the rain, and loving it.

A few moments later Natalia pulled away, breathing a bit hard and shivering, leaning into Asch. He graciously opened his tabard to allow her inside the cloth and held her against his chest as they walked through the rain to the manor.

She slipped, and crashed into a bush, slick and covered in mud. Yelling out, she clung to Asch's arm as she fell, screaming, "Asch!" and dragging him down to one knee, as his eyes went wide in concern for her.

"Natalia! Are you alright?" His green eyes were worried as he picked the dirty Princess up in his arms, holding her tightly against his chest, feeling her shiver uncontrollably.

"A-Asch..." Her words came out as nothing but a chatter of her teeth, eyes closing in an effort to stay calm and not get to freaked about being cold, dirty, and scared now.

"Let's get you inside..." Asch held her close, as he walked to the manor doors, heading inside to the wing with their rooms. He set her down and called some maids over to help warm Natalia up with large fluffy towels. He asked two of the maids to get her washed and clothed, and to keep her in her room to stay warm. They lead her away slowly, and Asch turned to Luke's room to grab things to shower himself.