Lunick struggled to get through the Ringtown Ranger Base's doors as the buildup of boxes in his hands blocked his vision.

"Solana? Are you in here? I have the decorations you wanted."

"Up here, Lunick."

Lunick struggled to see her as he peered behind the cardboard boxes.

"I can't see you."

"Put the boxes down."

"Down where?"

"To your left. Just place them down there. I'll pick them up later."

"You're gonna pick these up?" Lunick asked as he carefully placed the boxes down by the door.

"I'm gonna empty the boxes, Genius."

Lunick turned around to look for his friend. He began scanning the room. His eyes found her standing on a triple extension ladder, taping a long party streamer to the wall.

His eyes nearly bugged out of his head when he took not of her attire.

Solana was wearing mid-rise denim shorts that hugged her thighs and a black tank top with a white undershirt. Her hair was in a ponytail just as it was before, only it hung down instead of up like how she usually styled it when she went on a mission.

Her outfit wasn't that impressive but it was enough to turn Lunick's head. He was just wearing Camo Cargo shorts and an orange Tee.

Lunick could tell that she was struggling with the streamer.

"What are you doing up there?"

"Putting up decorations. Spenser deserves the best. He's a fantastic Leader."

"You're gonna hurt yourself."

"I know how to put up a streamer, Lunick."

"Never said you didn't. But you're struggling. You want any help?"

"Thanks. I'll call you if I need anything."

Lunick started scratching the side of his face.

"Hey, you bring anything to eat in here? I'm starving!"

"You're always starving."

"I didn't eat breakfast this morning."

"Neither did I."

"Yeah, but you never eat."

"Haha," she said dryly.

"I could do without the sarcasm, 'Lana."

"There's a plate of chicken quesadilla rolls that I made this morning over there by the elevator. Hey Plusle, pass me that balloon there please."

Plusle ran down the ladder and picked up a blue balloon before running back up the ladder and handing it her human.

Lunick leisurely walked over to the large glass coffee table by the elevator door. His eyes scanned over a variety of foods. When his eyes landed on the quesadillas, he picked one up and took a bite out of it.

Lunick froze as he swished the Mexican cuisine around in his mouth. He could feel his eye begin to twitch as his lips curled inward. He could feel a few tears roll down his face.

Minun looked at his human with worry as he saw the change in his features.

"Mai! Mai Mai!"

Plusle turned around to see her friend running around room with a panic-stricken face.

"Pla?"

"Mai! Mai Mai! Mai!"

"Plah!"

Plusle began nudging Solana to turn around. Solana glance at Plusle before looking down to see a panic-stricken Minun, and a stock-still Lunick.

"Lunick?" Solana asked warily.

Lunick still stood there, motionless.

"L-Lunick?"

Lunick's mouth struggled to move as he continued to stare off into space.

"This…this…"

"What's wrong?" Solana felt her heart flutter with anxiety.

Lunick's eyes burned as tears continued to fall down his face. He locked eyes with Solana.

"This quesadilla…"

Solana cringed. Lunick was really starting to worry her.

"What about it?"

Lunick sniffled as he stared deeply into his friend's eyes, slowly swallowing the Mexican food.

"It's…it's…"

Minun looked at his human with concern as he tried to read his face.

"What's wrong, Lunick? Tell me what's wrong?"

"It's…it's…"

"Lunick, you're really starting to creep me out."

"It's…"

"Lunick –"

"SO GOOD!" Lunick screamed as he began downing the rest Mexican roll into his mouth.

It was Minun's turn to be at a stock-still as he looked up at Lunick, speechless at what he had just said.

Plusle shook her head as she ran down the ladder to hand Solana another decoration to put up on the wall.

Sighing softly that it wasn't something more serious, Solana smiled as she faced the wall once more to reattached the balloon she held in her hands.

"You are something else, Lunick."

"I'm serious! These things are to die for! You made these?!"

"Yep. Right from scratch."

"No way," he said as he popped another roll in his mouth.

"It's true. I was feeling a little retro today. Besides, things always taste better when their made from scratch. I'm making more later on anyway," she said as she hung the streamer Plusle just handed her.

"I didn't know you could cook?"

"I don't know how I should to respond to that."

"Neither do I," he said as he put yet another Mexican roll in his mouth.

"Don't eat them all off!" Solana scolded.

"I thought you said you were gonna make more later on?"

"That doesn't give you the right to eat the ones that were already made."

"Fine," he said as he placed the plate back on the table, "Got anything to drink?"

"There's some passion fruit and some green berry punch in the fridge that I made last night."

"Man, you're just a little chef now, aren't you? Like those Saffron twins Rhoda and Rhonda." he said as he walked over to the fridge.

Solana chuckled.

"I just want Spenser to have the best birthday he's ever had," she said as she taped another balloon on the wall.

"Don't know if you could do that, but I applaud you for trying," he said as he poured himself a glass of the green punch Solana made. He nearly choked on the light liquid.

"Oh my…This is the best punch I've ever tasted!"

"Oh, stop it, Lunick. Honestly, you and food."

"Seriously! You made this from scratch too?"

"Kind of."

"Kind of?"

"Well, I made the passion fruit punch by scratch. You know, buying the fruit, squeezing the fruit, mixing the fruit, et cetera, et cetera. The green punch, though, is just a mixture of Green Berry Rush Hawaiian Punch and Sprite. Though, it wasmy preference and idea to mix them to create the soda berry mix," she said as Plusle handed her another decoration.

"It's still one of the best punches I've ever tasted," he said as he poured himself another glass.

"Don't eat off all my food, Lunick."

"I'm not eating, I'm drinking."

"You know what, Lunick –"

"Don't worry, I'm not drinking or eating anymore, see? I'm putting the mug away," he said as he placed the mug in the fridge.

Solana shook her head as she sent Plusle down to get her another decoration. She struggled to tape another streamer up to a spot far from her reach.

Lunick crossed his arms.

"You're gonna fall."

"I can reach it."

"No you can't. You have to move the ladder over a bit."

"I'm fine, Lunick."

"You're gonna hurt yourself."

"I'm fi –" Solana didn't finish he sentence as she fell off the ladder and began falling towards the ground. She gave a piecing scream.

"Plah Pla!"

"Solana!"

Lunick raced towards her as fast as he could. He skidded to a stop as he held out his arms to catch her.

To his surprise, he did! He caught her!

Right in his arms!

And he was even more surprise that he didn't fall from the force put on him when she landed in his arms.

Solana trembled as she gripped on tight onto Lunick's back.

"It's okay, Solana. I got you. I got you," she heard him say, brushing her hair in a fatherly manner.

Solana slowly stopped shaking as she pulled back to look at him.

His eyes were full of tenderness. They were soft and gentle.

Solana blinked a couple times before a faint blush started to form on her cheeks.

Likewise, Lunick's cheeks were also starting to turn a faint red. Looking at her shy auburn eyes, Lunick started to get a strange feeling inside of him, which only increased once he realized he was holding Solana bridal-style in his arms and very close to his body.

An awkward silence passed between the two for several moments.

Solana continued to blink several times while Lunick had trouble trying to figure out how to talk himself out of this situation.

A long 'Um' was all that escaped his lips.

Fortunately for Lunick, the ringing on his styler gave him enough of a reason to put Solana down and take the call.

If only it went that smoothly.

Not long after the styler sounded did Lunick struggle to put Solana down, which was even more complicated as Solana tried to push herself off of him as well.

After several moments of struggling, the two did manage to separate and Lunick was able to take the call. However, that did nothing to hide the fact that his voice went up an octave.

"H-Hello?"

"Hey, Lunick. It's Murph."

"H-Hey Murph."

"What's wrong? You sound like you've seen a Gastly."

"O-Oh. Um…"

"You okay?"

"Y-Yeah. I'm fine," he said as he began rubbing the back of his neck.

"Is Solana there?"

"Y-Yeah. S-She's here," he said as he uncomfortably looked over at his friend, who reflected that same look as she glanced over at him.

"Okay, good. Aria, Leilani, and I have taken Leader out for the day so that he doesn't see the surprise party you're throwing him. The other Area Leaders are doing that as well. I just got word from Leilani that Cameron and Joel are taking Leader out to the Capture Area. They're in a competition and they'll be at it all day. So you guys have all the time in the world to set up."

"Uh, okay. Thanks, Murph."

"No problem. Uh-Oh. Looks like Aria and Leilani are about to fight. Talk to you later, Lunick. Hey you guys! Please don't do this!"

Lunick could have sworn he heard a "Shut up!" coming from both girls before disconnecting the call.

It wasn't that long before the memory of what had transpired before the call came rushing back to him. Solana and Lunick continued to stare warily at each other.

Lunick again tried to break the awkward silence and hoped to get out more than a little interjection.

"I-I told you you were gonna fall," he said almost inaudibly.

"I didn't hurt myself?"

"That's because I caught you."

"Yeah, thanks for that."

"Don't mention it."

Another awkward silence passed between the two before Solana broke it.

"I didn't know you were that strong?"

"Well, you're not that heavy."

Solana paused for a while before looking back up at him and speaking again.

"Well, I guess I better get back to work," she said as she slowly walked over to the ladder.

"You want any help?"

"Please," she said as she began to mount it.

Lunick looked up at her cautiously.

"Solana, do we want a repeat of last time?"

"I wouldn't mind."

"Solana!"

"I'm kidding. No, I don't want a repeat of last time. I don't wanna fall down eight feet to the ground again. Who'd say you'd catch me the second time?"

"I would. I'd never let you fall and hurt yourself. No siree. Not when I'm around."

"Thanks for the sensitivity," she said as she climbed back down the ladder.

"Hey, Lunick?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you do me a favor?"

"Depends. What is it?"

"Lunick…"

"Kidding. You know I'd do it anyway."

Solana raised her eyebrow.

"What do you want me to do?" he asked.

"I have a whole lot of other arrangements that I need to take care of and I really need to finish cooking –"

"I don't cook, Solana."

"Not asking you to. I'd like you to finish decorating the walls for me while I take care of the other stuff."

"Sure, 'Lana. Whatever you say."

"Thanks, Lunie."

A look of disgust formed on Lunick's face.

"Eww! Don't call me, Lunie!"

"You call me, 'Lana?"

"Because it works! It sounds nice. 'Lana! Lunie sounds so…so…Eww!"

"Then what should I call you?" she asked, raiing her eyebrow once more.

"Just call me, Lunick!"

"That's not fair. You get to give me a nickname but I can't give you one?"

"That's because my name isn't nicknameable!"

"Nicknameable?"

"You know what I mean."

"But I want to give you a nickname too?"

"I just told you –"

"Lunick…" Solana started pouting her lip as she stared into her friend's eyes.

Lunick saw what she was doing and immediately clasped his hands over his eyes.

"No! Don't do this, Solana! That's not fair!"

"Please, Lunick?" she said as she began walking over to him.

"Solana, I'm asking you as a friend to –"

"Please?" she said as she began wrapping him up in a hug.

"Ah! Alright! Alright! I concede! I concede!" Lunick cried out as he began flailing his arms.

A large smile spread crossed Solana face as she pulled back.

"Really?"

"Yes! Yes! I give! I give! Just back up a bit, please." He said as he tried to push Solana away from him.

Solana smiled and hugged him tighter.

"Oh, thank you, Lunie! You're the best!" she gave him a peck on the cheek. "I'm gonna go get some more supplies! Thanks, Lunie!" And with that, she sprinted out of the base, Plusle right behind her.

A deep blush began to spread across Lunick's face. He placed a hand on the place where she just kissed him and looked back towards the door.

Minun began tapping his human's leg.

"Mai?"

Lunick looked down towards his partner.

"She kissed me."

Minun blinked a couple times before looking towards the door.

A small smile began to form across his face.

"I can't believe she actually kissed me," Lunick said quietly before turning back around and walking towards the box of decorations by the ladder.

Minun blinked a couple times as he continued to glance back and forth from his human to door where Solana exited the base.

Realizing he was not going to understand what was going on between the two them, Minun shook his head and walked over to the ladder to see if his human needed help with anything.