~Chapter 2: Green fingers~

Angelo sat calmly at his desk. He knew Yumiko would be back any minute and he did not want to be the way he was at this minute. The plants seemed to withdraw away from his frightening aura and small vials and jars of equipment where rattling on the table tops.

He took a few deep breaths and looked into his microscope, trying to concentrate on his work.

"Hello, I'm back," Yumiko walked into the laboratory and with a big smile on her face, "Hello father."

Angelo took a deep breath and didn't turn around, finding how much it hurt his heart to not turn and face her.

"Hello." He said as distant as he could.

Yumiko carefully placed the books down beside him and slowly approached him.

"Still working hard?" She didn't want to disturb him as she peeked at him and was tempted to steal a kiss, "I won't bother you."

Angelo' will was slipping and he turned to her slowly.

"I don't like…people staring at me when I work," he tried to force a smile, making a nice face, "c-could you go and water the plants over by the corner, please?"

"Oh…Ok." Yumiko slowly moved away to find the watering can, the books on the side catching her attention.

"Oh, I brought you that book you've been wanting," she reached out for it and held it out to him to hold, "I almost couldn't get it but a friend managed to reach it for me."

Angelo' eye seemed to twitch and the test tube he had just picked up slipped out of his grasp and fell to the floor, breaking into tiny pieces.

"D-damn!" He hissed and looked around quickly for the broom.

"Oh!" Yumiko jumped back when the glass had shattered and placed the book on the side quickly, bending over and carefully picking up the pieces with her bare hands, "I'm-I'm sorry! Did I startle you?"

Angelo turned suddenly holding the broom, a bit of his reserve breaking.

"DON'T...catch them…you-you might cut yourself. Could you leave me for the rest of the day? I'm not feeling to good." Angelo sighed and then smiled sheepishly, rubbing at his head and making it seem his 'headache' has worsened.

Angelo was hurt and angry, but he didn't want to take it out on her.

Yumiko looked at him with big eyes, still holding some shards in her hand and unsure of what to do.

"I-I'm sorry," she suddenly remembered his words and looked at him concerned, "you're not well? What's wrong?"

Angelo looked into her eyes and found he couldn't lie as her free hand touched his skin and he could feel her pulse against his cheek.

'Stop being an idiot Angelo!' He scolded himself and just looked into her eyes again.

"F-fiore…I-I…uh," he looked down, away from her gaze, "do you think you'll love me forever?"

Yumiko looked shocked and almost stepped back.

"W-what?" She gently grabbed his chin to make him look

At him properly, "Why on earth-How could…," she took a deep breath and looked at him very seriously, "of COURSE I'll love you forever. Why would you think otherwise?"

Angelo closed his eyes and gave a small sigh of relief.

"Oh, don't mind me I…uh," his tone dropped low, "I saw that other priest kissing your hand and…I think I got jealous."

Yumiko bit her lower lip and tried not to smile at how cute the whole scenario was.

"Oh…Angelo," she couldn't help but let out a small snort of laughter, turning it quickly into a cough, "You mean Father Abel? Oh…my love…my angel," she cupped either side of his face and placed her forehead against his, "oh, he's nothing more than an old friend. Goodness, he's about 5 or 6 years younger than me. I see him as a little brother. He was always trailing behind Maxwell and followed us three around like puppy. Was so cute."

Angelo rolled his eyes and broke the moment temporarily.

"A Maxwell follower, I like him already," he sighed and placed his hands on top of hers, "I'm sorry, I behaved irrationally and doubted you. It's just…this love of ours, it's like a dream. I'm afraid I might wake up." Angelo made a sad face like a puppy and Yumiko just shook her head.

"I know, you and Maxwell…I know. But he was my friend…and David…oh, he was adorable tailing after us. And if it is a dream, then I hope I never awaken and I'll stay trapped with your jealous puppy face." She tip-toed and pecked him on the tip of his nose, giggling at his blush.

"Fiore! Alright, alright, I'll control my jealous side!" He chuckled and embraced her, "but I better not see him kissing any more of you. That's my job."

He smiled cheekily and quickly pulled her up, smooching her silly.

"Ammmelo!" Yumiko' protest' and giggles were muffled against his lips. She pulled back with a blush that was stronger than his had just been.

"He's just a friend you silly thing!" She reached up and ruffled his hair as punishment, knowing it was his weak spot.

"Oh…Oh just a little more, please…I love when you do that. I love you! I love you so much so much belissima," Angelo made the happiest face ever and covered her face in kisses, "fiore, my fiore, amore."

Yumiko gave little kisses back, pulling away just as one became intense.

"Oh…oh it's getting late and you still need to work!" She pulled away, feeling a little guilty and with a sad pout, "I'm going to sleep in my room tonight and leave you with your work. Ok?" She resisted the urge to kiss him and ruffle his hair more.

"But-but-but…fioooooore," he groaned and slid down to the floor, acting like a wounded soul, clinging to her waist, "aww…alright. BUT tomorrow night you sleep with me…please?"

"Of course I will. I promise. But you will work tonight, right?"

She giggled and stroked his hair lovingly for a couple of minutes.

"Hmmm…yes, I promise! I'll finish this all tonight and the cultures only need a couple more hours, then I promise I'll spend a whole day with you! I'll be yours, fiore…and a whole night also." He chuckled cheekily.

"Silly thing, then until tomorrow." She pulled him up and onto his feet. She planted a small, gentle kiss against his cheek and let go of his hands before he got carried away (and she was scared of her own restraints also).

"Have a good night, don't push yourself and don't let your headache takeover!"

"Heada-Oh! Oh right, my headache!" He laughed nervously and took a little while to let her go.

He pressed a kiss against her forehead and told her he loved her before he eventually allowed her fingers to slip from between his. He watched her walk out with a small smile on her face, before the vision of her was gone.

Angelo smiled happily, feeling a lot better than before.

A short while later, in the kitchen…

"Kat, are you with Alex?" Yumiko opened the door to the kitchen and stood in the doorway, her hands covering her eyes just encase.

"Oh woman! We're not doing anything! Put those hands down!" A towel was thrown at her Yumiko' head in a sign of jest. Yumiko put down her hands and smiled at the happy sight of Alex sitting on a stool, happily drinking a cup of tea, whilst Kat cleaned up after a hard day.

"I've got some news! Did you know that Father Abel has come back?" Yumiko smiled, expecting a good response much like her own.

"Abel? You mean that little weirdo David?" Kat looked at her with a straight face, not looking amused AT ALL.

"No! Little David? Glasses? Shy?" Alex questioned looking a little shocked when Yumiko nodded to all of them.

"Rude, weird and used to taunt Angelo along with Maxwell?" Kat questioned sarcastically, knowing the two already knew the answer.

Alex and Yumiko just rolled their eyes and began happily chatting away.

"He looks SO much like Maxwell now! And he's just such a young gentlemen." Yumiko smiled and began to remember wonderful times from her childhood.

"I knew he'd turn out alright, I was his teacher." Alex said slightly smug.

"Yes, and remember who else you tutored and turned out like a bad apple?" Kat snuck up behind him and gently tapped him on his head with her spoon. Alex scowled slightly and made a note to spank her later.

"I just came to ask if you'd please, pleeeease bake a small cake for me for him? It'd be such a nice treat to welcome him back?" Yumiko looked at her sister with a sweet expression.

"…Fine. But he's not getting a chocolate cake!" Kat pouted and wrote down on a small notepad her task for tomorrow.

"Thank you sis!" Yumiko quickly reached over and hugged Kat with one arm, kissing her gently on the cheek also, "now it's way past bedtime! I shall see you two tomorrow. Nasai!"

"Goodnight Yumiko." Alex gently patted her head as he had done when she was little and allowed her to escape to her bedroom.

"I don't care what you two say," Kat turned and looked at Alex with an unhappy expression, "I DON'T like that boy. He reminds me too much of Maxwell."

Kat shrieked as Alex dove on her and pinned her against the counter, a small glare in his eye and a devilish grin on his face.

"I should really teach you to use that mouth for things other than saying unkind remarks about Maxwell and others." He swooped down and captured her lips in his, Kat suddenly realising there was no point in fighting and just enjoyed the feel of her husband' lips on hers.