whoa it's been forever.... anywho, I'm back! Sorry about the wait! I had the play to get done with first before I could even think of updating. YAY!!! TIS DONE NOW THOUGH!!! WOOT!!!! Here we go! Warming up for our holiday special! WOOT!

Thanks to those that favorited and reviewed! as well as put into alerts! YOU MAKE ME FEEL LOVED!!!!! T.T

PrancingTiger86: Ah yes.. Dante the unknown softy.... He's just kind of a puddle of goo at times... specially if you turn on the puppy eyes....

Flowing Tears: I'm glad, in a strange sort of way, that you felt sad at the end. It's what I was going for. As for Kyrie... sadly... we haven't seen the end of her....

Sanguinary Tears: Ah yes, Lady... gotta love those kinds of entrances though... As for the wanting to come read it over again, well feel free to and I'm going to try and keep that same feel throughout this. This, in all honesty, is the first real, honest to toast, romance I've written... ever. All my others have had something else that was the main focus but this is a first. So we'll see how it goes!

Bitbyboth: Heh, yes! Huggle the Nero!!! Eh, he'd probably kill me. Ah well. We'll let Dante do that then! We all know he's dying to!

SirenaLoreley: Wow... I'm glad you liked it though! And emotional, eh, I know what you mean.

Amon2: Yes, Dante does have some amazing surprises up his sleeve. Kinda makes you wonder why he keeps it hidden... but then it's a case of remembering it's Dante... ^-^''

The Hard Way

Mission 3: Snow Fall

Nero cracked open his eyes and blinked, his feet suddenly feeling cold. He lifted his head and searched around his room. The clock nearby read with the glowing red numbers 5:43 am. He blinked again, rubbing his eyes and sitting up. 5:43? What the hell was he doing up at 5:43 in the morning!? He shook his head and frowned, grabbing the comforter he'd thrown to the floor in his sleep and pulling it over himself once more. Now warm, he lay back down and rolled onto his side, facing the windows. His windows were glowing orange. His eyes opened once more and he sat up. Last he'd checked, the street light outside didn't make that much of a glow. Chancing the cold, he stepped out of the bed and onto the cold wooden floors. A soft, almost inaudible yelp escaped him, but he ignored it, making his way to the window.

He drew back the blinds and blinked, eyes widening. The world beyond the glass was white and fluffy. The ground was coated in a thick layer of the sparkling crystals and even more was still falling from the sky. He breathed out a small sound of awe and slid open his window, a crisp blast of cold air hitting him dead on, but bringing with it a fresh, almost clean smell.

"Wow..." he whispered to himself.

"First time you've ever seen snow kid?"

Nero blinked, looking down at the ground below. Looking up at him from the 'yard' was Dante. The elder half demon wore his usual jacket, a light coating of snow dusting his hair and clothes. He laughed slightly as surprise registered on Nero's face, beckoning him down.

"Come on down, kid!"

Nero blinked and nodded, closing the window. Already he'd been under Dante's careful watch for a month. So far, Dante hadn't given him any assignments or asked him to join him on a job. No. Instead, Nero was allowed to adjust and answer the phone every now and then.

He made his way to the dresser and pulled out a pair of pants and a shirt, slipping into them quickly. He was thankful to Dante for the time to ease into life here, but he couldn't deny it, he was getting fidgety. He was just too bored. He needed something to do. Slipping his hoodie on, he shook his head and grabbed his boots before heading down the stairs and to his jacket.

He stepped outside only to get an icy blast that nearly stole the air from his lungs. He blinked and slowly released a gasp before stumbling further out the door, the wooden door falling shut behind him. A laugh sounded to his left and he turned to look at the other.

Dante just smiled and walked over. "Well?"

"It's cold!"

"Of course it is! It's snowing!"

"But-"

"You know, little frozen rain drops..." Dante explained at the look on Nero's face. The teen blushed slightly and smacked the elder's arm.

"Shut it! I know what snow is! I've just.... never seen it before..." He trailed off, glare disappearing as he turned his head to look out towards the streets. What had once been a gloomy city had somehow been transformed into a beautiful, silver world in one night.

"Really?" Dante asked, tilted his head and getting a wicked gleam in his eyes. Nero blinked and looked at him, frowning.

"Dante... what're you-ACK!" he stumbled back as ball of... snow? He blinked, wiping the snow from his face and shaking his head. Mere feet from him, Dante was doubled over, laughing as he gripped his side and slapped a knee.

"Hot damn, kid! The look on your face!" he howled. Nero frowned before smirking. He knelt down and scooped up a handful, experimentally packing it in his hands before launching it. The snowball hit Dante smack in the side of the head, the force knocking him off his feet and to the ground. It was Nero's turn to laugh.

"Now THAT was a work of art!"

Dante blinked and sat up, shaking his head. Clumps of snow fell from his hair, a few flakes melting on his nose. His gaze darted to Nero and he chuckled, getting up.

"Oh this is war..." He stated, dusting himself off before scooping up another handful.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

SMACK! Dante face planted it in the snow for what seemed like the fifteenth time that morning. It was still dark, barely even 6:20 and already they'd made the once untouched snow resemble a war zone. From behind him fort of snow, Nero laughed. With a snort, Dante picked himself up and used his elbows to rest on as he glared at the teen.

"Think this is funny, dontchya?"

"Hell yes." Nero stated, walking over. So far, Dante seemed to be down for the count. "Face it, old man... you just can't beat me..."

Dante snorted. "We'll see about that..." he stated, hand shooting out and grabbing Nero's ankle. In seconds, he had the teen sprawled on his back, laughing hysterically as he tried to fight off Dante, the elder attempting to shove a hand full of snow down the younger's shirt. After a few minutes of struggle, Dante finally gave up and flopped onto his back, chuckling.

Nero, still on his back, slowly inched closer, a grin in place. "You're... getting old, old man..." he panted out, calming his breathing from the struggle.

Dante chuckled, his breathing calming as well. "Shut it, kid... you gave up just as fast I did..."

The two lay there in the sun together, just enjoying the feel of the snow. It was falling in larger, fluffy flakes now. The sky was slowly getting brighter, the sun having risen behind the light grey clouds over head. Eventually, the snow stopped and the sun managed to peak through the clouds. The light bounced off the snow, the city glittering and nearly taking Nero's breath away for a second time.

"What ya think, kid..?"

"It's beautiful...it's..." he whispered.

"Amazing... I know... My mother used to talk about... how.... if the snow was a doorway to the gates above... she hoped it were like this was what heaven looked like..." Dante's voice trailed off and slowly, Nero rolled onto his side to face the other.

Dante was on his back, arms folded behind his head like a pillow. His blue eyed gaze was focused on the sky, the light of the sun reflecting its own kind of snow in those irises. Nero blinked before he slowly turned his gaze away. For some reason, he felt the need to keep that glance to himself. As if telling Dante what he'd seen in his eyes... would only ruin the strengthening bond they'd formed within the last month. He looked back at the world around him and suddenly... snow... was so... huantingly beautiful... it hurt.