(A/N: So I haven't written in awhile. I confess, this fic has drifted to the back of my mind in lieu of Christmas and what-not. But now I'm back and ready to write again!)

(A/N Part 2: This is also about a week after last chapter. Just putting that out there.)

Marie studied herself in the mirror. Was this the right dress? What about the last one? Or the one before that…she really liked how this one made her hips look, but the last one made her legs look long. The last one also got a big thumbs down from both Kami and Yumi for being "too skanky".

Would Stein think she was too skanky? Would he even care about what she was wearing? They were just going to dinner. In fact, was a formal dress really necessary?

"Marie, you're doubting yourself." Kami said, gently, "This dress is perfect for you. Just put some cute shoes with it, maybe some simple jewelry and you'll be good to go."

Marie nodded, silently. Maybe this was the right dress. It did go with her eyes. And a little black dress was always in style. Yes. She would wear this.

Stein nervously studied himself in the bathroom mirror of his small home. He had moved in here under Lord Death's orders after the whole thing with his parents and the doctors last summer. He didn't like to talk about it. He continued fiddling with the buttons on his shirt nervously. Would Marie like it?

"Stop being such a girl," Spirit called from the other room, "If you picked her up wearing a garbage bag she'd still love you."

"She doesn't love me," Stein insisted for the billionth time that night, "She tolerates me. Just like I barely tolerate you."

"And do you tolerate her?"

Silence.

"I thought so."

Stein grimaced and stepped out of the bathroom, tightening his tie for the billionth time. Maybe he could just suffocate himself and save himself from this whole damn night.

Why did he have to listen to Spirit and his stupid ideas?

"Come on. Ask her."

"No."

"Stein, ask her already."

"NO."

"Don't make me do it for you."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Probably not. But do you want to see if I can prove you wrong?"

"I'll dismember you in your sleep."

"Good luck with that. Oh, here she comes. Ask her already!"

So he did. And now he was going to dinner with her.

It wasn't that he wasn't happy about going out on a date. He really did like Marie. A lot. And the thought of spending time with her made him both nervous and happy.

He just didn't like felling vulnerable, feeling pressured. He was being pushed out of his element. It made him feel edgy and anxious.

"Stein. You there?"

Spirit's voice brought him back down to Earth. "Yeah."

"It's nearly 6. You should go."

"Yeah."

Dinner went great. They both made light small-talk the entire time. Somehow, they ended up walking in Death City's central park. Paved pathways wound through trees and small clearings with tables and benches and fountains. It was very pretty at night, there were small lanterns hanging everywhere giving everything a soft, light glow.

"You know, from the first moment I saw you, I knew we were going to be friends."

Stein looked down at Marie, intrigued. "How so?"

"You were nice to me. I dunno. I just kind of felt it."

"Hmm."

"You know I've always wondered something."

"Do tell."

"You're so shy around everyone else. Why did you talk to me in the first place? Wasn't I just another stranger?"

"No."

A minute of silence.

"Care to elaborate on that?"

"I talked to you because I felt like, somehow, I had to. Something was pushing me towards you, telling me to help you."

"So it was fate."

"You could say that."

"Well fate or not, I'm glad it happened."

"Me too."

Soon they came to a bench. They sat in comfortable silence for awhile, listening to the calm running water of a nearby fountain.

Stein looked over at Marie. The lanterns around her gave her a beautiful, bright aura. She looked at him with those eyes he loved, smiling slightly. She was glowing. Suddenly, he had the desire to kiss her.

And, as he always did, Stein followed his desires.

(A/N: Everybody on three: One, Two, Three: Awwwwwwwww!)