Adder took Snake past the central park and was walking up to the Hudson river edge A smile spread along her face as she could see this place she found coming up, Snake followed her, he looked around keeping an eye on his surroundings as he never came out this far. Adder ran to the banks of the Hudson and pointed to the corner where the river bends.

"It's round here, it's a great place to loose yourself." Said Adder

Snake smiled and raised an eyebrow.

"I'm trusting you." Joked Snake

Adder bounced and ran off round the corner, Snake rolled his eyes.

"Hyped up puppy dog." Muttered Snake with a smile

He jogged after Adder who was miles ahead and had disappeared round the corner, Snake looked round and saw nothing, he kept going and suddenly a tree slowly appeared in front of him and Adder was sitting under it smiling, it had it's own mini beach and the river was not too close and not too far, Snake stopped jogging and walked to catch back his breath, he went over to Adder and sat on the little grassy bit under the tree next to her.

"Okay you've done bloody well to find this place." Gruffed Snake still catching his breath

Adder laughed as Snake leaned back trying to get more air.

"All them years of smoking have finally caught you up," Joked Adder

Snake grinned

"Yeah I gave up two years ago." Replied Snake

Adder started clapping him, Snake just laughed and shook his head and then poked Adder

"Hey you keep that up I'll break your finger." Laughed Adder

"oooh I'm really scared." Joked Snake as he continued to poke her now and again.

"I done it before." Replied Adder

"You closed the door on me." Whined Snake smiling

"You shouldn't have been that close sneaking up behind me." Replied Adder

Snake laughed,he remembered what happened to him that day and then smiled frowning.

"You broke my trigger finger, do you know how hard it is having to adapt?" Asked Snake

Adder just smiled and laughed as Snake blamed her and playfully pushed her away grinning, Adder folded her arms and smiled,Snake looked up and saw the autumn leaves falling down leaving a scattered pile on the floor near him, Snake smiled he grabbed a handful of leaves and chucked them at Adder, She just waited for them to settle on her and then shook them off, she stood up and pushed Snake over in the pile and covered him in the leaves, Snake grabbed her leg and pulled her to the ground, he crouched over her and poked her nose, Adder batted his hand away playfully and folded her arms.

"So come on then Kid what's this thing you got to tell me?" Asked Snake

Adder went quiet for a bit.

"Oh it's nothing." Replied Adder reluctantly

Snake raised an eyebrow and gave Adder that look of "yeah sure it's nothing."Adder sighed she sat up and looked at Snake square in the eyes.

"Oh man you're just gonna freak if I tell you." Replied Adder
"Try me."Gruffed Snake smiling

Adder bowed her head and covered her face with her hands.

"I really like you."Muttered Adder

"And?" Asked Snake

Adder peeped through the gaps of her fingers and sighed

"I fancied you for years and I still do."Sighed Adder

Snake sniggered a bit and hung his head, Adder removed her hands from her face and was blushing a bit, he looked at her and smiled and then held out his hand.

"So how long has this been going on?" Questioned Snake

He helped Adder up as she crouched in front of him smiling and blushing, She scratched the top of her head and looked down at the ground.

"Since I was sixteen and it was when you were helping me defend myself." Muttered Adder

"No one can resist my charms." Joked Snake

Adder pushed him over, he sat up and shook the leaves from his head, Adder sat there laughing, Snake pushed her over with his foot, Adder sat up and noticed Snake crawling over to her and sitting next to her. He turned and looked at her and smiled.

"Well you're not looking to bad yourself, surprised you ain't got men chasing after you." Gruffed Snake

Adder blushed

"Nah you're just saying that to make me feel better." Replied Adder chucking leaves at him, Snake shook his head and sighed.

"No I'm being serious, you are looking very fine." Replied Snake seriously

Adder pulled her hood up and covered her face, Snake smiled and shook his head.

"Always one to to go shy on me when I give you a compliment." Said Snake softly

He pushed her over into the leaves and laughed.

Flash Back

Adder was sitting on Snake's black leather couch, taking in the sheer size of the front room, the cream walls, the forty two inch LCD Television on the wall opposite the couch with Playstation 2 hooked up to it, Coffee table with Gamer magazines sprawled all over it and others. Snake had helped patch Adder's wounds up and was in the kitchen washing up after they had something to eat

(Burger and Chips, You can't beat it) Adder was drinking the coffee he made her and looked over to the Playstation 2, sitting there begging to be played with, Adder held herself back but the eagerness was overpowering her.

"Snake please can I play with your Playstation 2 before I break under the pressure and end up playing it without your permission?" Asked Adder

Snake came out from the Kitchen and looked at Adder who was slowly crawling towards the Playstation, Snake rolled his eyes and laughed, he shook the suds off his hands.

"Go on then." Gruffed Snake

He set the Television up as Adder flicked the Playstation on and pounced on the controller.

"I have Dead or Alive two in there." Said Snake as he walked into the kitchen

Adder grinned and looked at the Television screen with evilness in her eyes, controller gripped tightly, Snake was putting the plates and stuff away, he could hear screams of terror and pain from the television, he popped out of the kitchen, chucked the drying towel over his shoulder and leaned on the door frame watching Adder kicking the crap out of every single opponent that dare come near her, Snake chuckled to himself, Adder turned around and paused the game.

"What?" Asked Adder with a frown

"I hate to be the next person who has to fight you." Replied Snake laughing

Adder shrugged her shoulders and continued beating the hell out of her opponents while Snake put the last of the things away, he put the towel down on the side and ran up to the couch, he jumped up and landed on the couch laying down staring at the screen, Adder was getting mad as one of her opponents was beating the hell out of her, she was just about to get her character to jump up and kick the guy in the face but the other character beat her to it and killed her off, Adder growled, Snake leant over to get the controller off her but fell off the couch.

"You could have just asked." Said Adder

"Yeah well I'm inpatient." Replied Snake

He leant up against the couch and snatched the controller from Adder's hands.

"Hey" Whined Adder

"Watch a pro." Replied Snake Smiling

"I'm a pro god damn it." Moaned Adder

"Oh yeah sure you are when you just got owned by that last bloke." Joked Snake

Adder frowned and stuck her tongue out at him, Snake just smiled and started beating up opponents from left,right and centre, Adder sat there fidgeting waiting for her go but Snake was just whipping through the opponents like they were water. Fifty opponents later and Snake was still going.

"I'm only ten off your record now." Said Snake

Adder rolled her eyes and watched as Snake got his character to push another through a window, she winced as she watch the guy fall to his death.

"oooow that's gonna hurt." cringed Adder

The character jumped up and punched the fallen victim in the groin.

"No that's gotta hurt more." Replied Snake laughing.

A couple of hours later and a few hundred swear words, Snake had finally given up the ghost with his character and died, Adder sighed, she stood up and saluted him. Snake laughed and saluted back.

"Now that's how a pro does it." Said Snake sarcasticly

"Yeah all right smart ass." Sighed Adder

Snake raised the controller and blew on it like it was a smoking gun, Adder shook her head and grinned at him, he handed her the controller.

"Your turn I guess." Gruffed Snake

"Oh and how the hell do you suggest I beat one hundred opponents?" Asked Adder

Snake shrugged his shoulders and lazily fell back on the couch, Adder put the controller down and sat next to Snake as the Dead or Alive Title screen was left up on the screen.

"So come on then ain't you supposed to be teaching me?" Asked Adder

Snake looked at Adder and grinned

"Oh yeah you just reminded me." Replied Snake smiling

He stood up on the couch and jumped over it and dragged it back with Adder still sitting on it, she was giggling, Snake stopped pulling the couch back, he leaned over and ruffled Adder's hair with both of his hands.

"Come on, you can give me a hand moving the table out of the way." Said Snake

He walked round and smiled at Adder, she got off the couch and walked over to the coffee table grabbing one end as Snake grabbed the other and kicked the controller out of the way.

"On the count of three. Okay." Said Snake

"Is that on three or after three?" Asked Adder

Snake just grinned.

"On three." Replied Snake

Adder nodded. Snake counted up to three and they moved the table out of the way leaving a huge clear space in the centre of the room. Snake walked into the centre of the space and pointed at Adder to stand in front of him, Adder shuffled over and stood in front of him, she looked uncomfortable in the face of danger, Snake looked at her and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Okay first step, Relax, just think for now that you're standing here chatting to me."Said Snake

Adder looked at Snake and smiled. She relaxed herself and did not look so rigid any more.

"Right now since your nice and relaxed I want you to raise your hands, like you're trying to stop something or your going to cover your nose before you sneeze." Gruffed Snake

Adder laughed.

"I'll pretend I'm stopping something." Laughed Adder

She raised up her hands and grinned at Snake, he just shrugged his shoulders and smiled.

"Okay good start, want to know why you got to keep your hands up?" Asked Snake

"Yeah go on tell me." Replied Adder

"It's like having your guns loaded, you have your weapons there in front of you in case something kicks off and it acts as a warning." Gruffed Snake

Adder nodded in agreement, she still had her hands up. Snake raised up his right hand and clenched it into a fist.

"Okay I'm going to come at you with a straight forward punch, thing is I'll have to get on my knee's because I'm taller then you." Joked Snake

Adder grinned and shook her head.

"Okay I won't then but as I'm coming towards you I want you to use you right hand to push the attack out of the way and the left hand is your weapon. Grab my arm, shoulder whatever just enough to say to me you got me. Bear in mind you also have to move your body out of the way too, you can't just stand there because I'll get you." Said Snake

"Don't come at me too quick." Said Adder

"Don't worry I'll come at you slowly." Replied Snake

Snake pointed to his right fist and Adder nodded, He slowly come towards her simulating a straight forward punch and Adder done exactly what he asked her to do.

"Good, we'll go again shall we?" Asked Snake

Adder nodded and again Snake came at her slowly and again Adder done what he asked her to do.

"Your doing well Kid." Said Snake

Adder just beamed a smile at him and bounced back to her starting point, back in front of Snake.

"Okay we'll try the left hand this time, this is where your brain works that bit harder." Replied Snake

And again Snake came towards her slowly, Adder stumbled a bit but she got there in the end, Snake grinned at her.

"Right we'll go two on the left, two on the right, just to get you used to both attacks." Said Snake

"Fine by me." Replied Adder

So Snake set off throwing punches at Adder and getting her to respond by moving out of the way, it was a basic manoeuvre but it was vital, one that Adder needed to learn in order to look after herself.

"Come on we'll knock it up a gear." Gruffed Snake

Adder smiled and nodded.

"Go on then." Replied Adder

A huge grin spread across her face as she was starting to get used to the whole idea, Snake grinned, he came at Adder a bit quicker and Adder responded more quickly to the attack, two came in from the left and two from the right and with every attack Adder dealt with it just like Snake said, They got to the end of the room and Snake stopped the Attacks.

"Come on you come at me." Suggested Snake

"But you'll kick my ass." Replied Adder with a smile

"I'll go easy on you, promise." Said Snake hand on his heart

Adder nodded in agreement, she lunged at Snake and he just repeated what he taught Adder to do only a bit more quicker. This was going on for a few hours, the attacks got quicker and Adder's reflexes were getting quicker too, Snake felt it was an ideal opportunity to move the teaching onto the next level.

"Okay look you've got that down to a tee, so I'm going to show you the most easiest and basic moves to get someone onto the floor." gruffed Snake

"Easy for you." Replied Adder

"Trust me, the way you're going you'll get it quick enough." Replied Snake

He wiped the sweat from his brow with his arm and then took off his jumper and chucked it to the floor. Adder came at him with her punch and Snake moved it out of the way like he taught her and then stopped.

"Right you know your right arm you stopped the attack with, you move that up to your opponents neck and your left hand you place on the kidneys, as you're doing this move with the way you want to go, in this case straight ahead and you got to put the two attacks together. Got that?" Asked Snake

"I think so." Replied Adder

"Look I'll do it on you first." Gruffed Snake

"But that floor don't look to comfortable to land on." Joked Adder

"Don't worry I'll lower you to the floor." Replied Snake

"You better." Replied Adder

"Trust me." Said Snake

He dealt with the attack and then carried out the move he described to Adder slowly so she took it all in, he took Adder off balance and gently lowered her to the ground like he said he would, Adder closed her eyes, unsure if she was going to be dropped by accident.

"See told you to trust me." Gruffed Snake

Adder opened her eyes and saw Snake crouching over her smiling.

"That was not too bad. Was it?" Asked Snake

Adder stared into Snake's green eyes, this feeling inside just came over her, a feeling of warmth, belonging. It was hard to describe but it was defiantly a feeling she never experienced before.

"Love?" Thought Adder

Snake held out his hand, Adder just grinned at Snake and laughed.

"Okay what?" Asked Snake

"I don't know I just felt like laughing." Replied Adder

Snake grinned and gave her an odd look, Adder took his hand and he pulled her up onto her feet.

"Come on, your turn on me." Said Snake

"What happens if I fuck it up?" Asked Adder

"Don't worry, I'll guide you through." Replied Snake

Snake came at Adder this time round and Adder performed the counter attack on Snake, she got him off balance pretty well but as he fell back Adder fell with him and landed on her knees, Snake was all right he was use to it.

"You okay kid?" Asked Snake

"yes I'm fine, what about you?" Asked Adder

"I'm use to it." Said Snake

He sat up and looked at Adder sitting on the floor.

"Well That's good for a first timer. Ready to go again?" Asked Snake

"Oh you know I can handle you." Said Adder playfully

"Tough talk huh? Well we'll see." Replied Snake

The pair of them got up and started all over again, throwing punches at one another and knocking each other to the ground. It went on for hours, up to midnight in fact but Adder could not figure out this feeling she had, it was still with her and every time she stared into Snake's eye's it just got stronger and stronger. Maybe it was love but what the hell would Snake see in her? She was always told she was ugly, too much of a man wannabe to get herself a boyfriend. Adder tried to shake it off but it would not go away no matter how hard she tried.

Snake signalled for the practice to stop.

"It's getting late and you need to get some sleep." Gruffed Snake

"On the couch." Replied Adder

"Yes on the couch, I'm going to make friends with the floor." Joked Snake

Adder laughed As Snake went to grab two duvets and some pillows for them to sleep on, Adder wiped the sweat off her brow and then watched as Snake walked out of the room, that feeling she had was going mad.

"What the hell?" Muttered Adder Snake turned round and looked at Adder

"You okay kid?" Asked Snake

"Err yeah fine my knee it just twinging a bit nothing to serious." Replied Adder

Snake grinned and stuck his thumb up.

"Hey Snake, thanks for that." Said Adder

"Think nothing of it kid. I'm going to train you up good." Replied Snake

He went upstairs and rummaged around getting a few spare duvets and pillows leaving Adder downstairs with her thoughts and trying to figure out what the hell this feeling was.

"So you've had this feeling with you since you were sixteen?" Asked Snake

Adder snapped out of her flashback and looked over to Snake.

" Yeah, Sorry Snake miles away." Replied Adder

"Noticed" Joked Snake

Adder grinned at him as she sat in the pile of leaves he pushed her in.

"Well why did you not tell me?" Asked Snake

"I was sixteen, you was twenty two." replied Adder laughing

"Ah I see where you're coming from." Replied Snake giggling

He sat down in front of Adder and looked into her eyes, she just smiled at him and then covered her face.

"Hey listen, I don't mind honestly." Said Snake

Adder slowly removed her hands from her face and looked at Snake smiling at her, she went red with embarrassment.

"It just that a thought, the last thing you want is an ugly person like me chasing around after you. I mean come on I ain't that great looking." Replied Adder

Snake bowed his head and the looked back at Adder

"Don't be saying that."Gruffed Snake

"Why?" Asked Adder

"In my mind your the most attractive woman walking around New York and I mean that."Replied Snake

Adder just laughed and shook her head.

"No you don't mean that."Said Adder Giggling

Snake shook his head and sighed.

"Look into my eye's, you'll tell I'm not lying" Replied Snake

"I can't." Replied Adder

Snake frowned and grinned mischievously, he pushed Adder to the ground and knelt over Adder grinning.

"I'll make you look into my eyes."Gruffed Snake

He pinned down Adders arms and bent over her so he was looking at her face to face, eye to eye, Adder just grinned at him.

"told you I'll make you look into my eyes." Whispered Snake

"Okay well say what you just said a few minutes ago to me." Replied Adder

"Fine. In my mind you're the most attractive woman walking around New York." Gruffed Snake smiling

Adder grinned, she tried to wriggle free from Snake's grasp but he had pinned her down good, Snake gave her a coy smile Adder smiled back at Snake and grabbed his shoulders, he wrapped his hands under Adders shoulders and lifted her up to him.

"Snake you git, you stole my heart at sixteen, I want it back." Joked Adder

"Well you're stealing mine right now." Replied Snake

"And how are you going to get it back from me?" Asked Adder

"The only way I know how." Replied Snake

He smiled at Adder, she smiled back and wrapped her hands around his neck as he wrapped his around her back.

"So you going to tell me how?" Asked Adder

Snake shook his head, he drew Adder close.

"I'll show you instead." Whispered Snake

He kissed Adder on the lips, Adder embraced him as he gently lowered her to the floor kissing her gently on the lips, Adder clung to him tightly, the man who stole her heart was making sure he kept hold of it.