I didn't know where I was going. I started out heading for Maka's house, but I didn't know what I would say to her. I couldn't tell her the truth about why Kid threw me out, and I was an awful liar, so that was out too. So I kept walking aimlessly, turning down alleys and taking back streets I had never seen before. After a little while it began to rain, gently at first, but growing steadily heavier. I started looking for a place to stay the night, but I had no money. Eventually I realized I was lost. I sat down on the side of the road, soaked and freezing, and started to cry.

That's when Professor Stein found me.

I didn't notice him at first, because I had my face buried in my arms. I realized he was there when I heard the click of his lighter. I looked up and there he was, standing under an umbrella, looking down at me with a hint of amusement etched into his face. I smiled up at him, more relieved to see him than I was to have been found. He held out his hand to me and hoisted me up.

"You're shivering," he said.

"Yeah, I'm kind of soaked…" My anger and sadness had receded to a dull ache in the back of my mind, and I started feeling uncannily good humored.

"Here," Professor Stein said, offering me his lab-coat.

I took it gratefully and wrapped myself in it. It was warm, and smelled faintly of cigarette smoke. There was something else too, a smell I couldn't place, a residue of Professor Stein's natural aroma that the coat had picked up naturally. I liked it. Professor Stein put his arm around my shoulders and pulled me in close under his umbrella. We began to walk back the way I had come.

"I assume I'm not taking you back to Kid's house?" Stein asked.

"Yeah… We sort of had a fight."

"Did he find out?"

I nodded.

"And he threw you out? I'll have to talk to him."

"No, please don't... I... I didn't tell him. He just found out. I think he's right to be mad. I couldn't explain. There was nothing I could say."

"What do you mean he just found out? What happened?"

"I had a dream. Asura came and unlocked my box, and then Kid woke me up with his weapons pointed at my head."

"So you undid your Soul Protect unconsciously?"

"I guess so. I didn't even know that could happen."

"Is that all that happened in your dream?"

"Well, no… Asura said something, too. He told me I don't belong here." I shuddered, remembering those eyes boring into my skull, seeing all my secrets.

We walked in silence for a few minutes. Professor Stein pulled out another cigarette and offered one to me, lighting it as we walked.

"You know that's not true, right?" he asked.

"Sorry?"

"You do belong here. You're not evil."

He sounded so worried, like I might just leave at any moment. I wondered briefly if I cared. It seemed to me that Professor Stein wanted me around, that he would be genuinely hurt if I left the Academy, or rather, if I left him. I realized that I didn't mind. It felt good to be wanted by someone who knew who I was, even if that person was an older man, one of my professors. I smiled sheepishly, even though he couldn't see it.

"Yeah, I know. I'm not going anywhere."

He let out a sigh of relief and I stopped walking, looking up at him. He turned to me, his face unreadable.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

He looked down the street in the direction we had been walking. He seemed to make a decision then. "I was going to take you back to my place."

"Alright," I said impassively, even though inside I was glowing.

"Is that okay?" he asked.

"Yes, that's fine. I don't have anywhere else to go anyway."

We started walking again. We stayed silent for the rest of the walk back to his house, each consumed in our own thoughts. I realized that I wanted him, more than I had ever wanted anyone. I had loved Kid, but he hadn't known who I really was. As soon as he found out, he left. But Professor Stein knew exactly who I was, and he seemed to only love me more for it. That thought filled me with hope. Students seemed to really like Professor Stein. He was young for his job, so they could relate to him. Maybe if he told them that witches aren't inherently bad, they would listen. Maybe everything would be okay.

Professor Stein unlocked his door and let me in first, coming in behind me and shutting the door before flicking the light switch on the wall. I surveyed the room as he walked past me, heading off into another room. I followed him into the kitchen and watched as he put a kettle of water on the stove to boil.

"I assume you've eaten," he said. "But I'm making some tea, if you want it."

"Actually yes, that sounds lovely, but I'd like to shower first if that's okay."

"That's fine, the bathroom is down the hall. There should be clean towels under the sink."

"Thanks," I said. Clutching my duffle bag to my chest I made my way to the bathroom. I turned on the shower and let the steam heat up the room before peeling off my soaked clothes. I hung Professor Stein's lab-coat on the door, but left my own clothes in a pile in the corner.

I sat in the shower for a long time, letting the warmth seep back into my bones. I quickly washed my hair and body using what I found in the bathroom. It made me feel sneaky, using Professor Stein's shampoo and soap.

After I was clean I wrapped myself in a shower and unzipped my duffel bag, looking for pajamas. The rain had soaked my duffel bag, and my clothes were all damp. I cursed. I would have to ask to borrow some clothes. But I realized that meant I would have to step out into the professor's house without any clothes on. I considered wrapping myself in his lab-coat, rather than a towel, but somehow that felt worse than just accepting that I had no clothes, so I tucked my towel tightly around my body and ventured out of the bathroom.

Professor Stein wasn't in the kitchen or the living room. I walked back towards the bathroom and noticed that the door across the hall was ajar. I pushed it open gently, calling for the professor as I did.

He was on the other side of the room, changing. He wasn't wearing a shirt and his baggy sweatpants were hanging off his hips in a way that made my legs involuntarily clench together.

"Sorry," I muttered. "I just, um…" I looked away so I could concentrate on what I was saying. "My clothes got wet and I was wondering if I could borrow something to wear to sleep."

"Of course," he said, rifling through his closet before he found a pair of cotton shorts and a baggy shirt. He looked much more confident than I felt, striding around his room in front of me, shirtless. But at least he was wearing pants. I just had my towel, and my hair was still dripping, running down my back in rivulets that made me shudder. At least I think it was the wetness that made me shudder. It could have been the beautiful man striding toward me, offering his own clothes to me.

I took them and muttered my thanks, but when I turned to leave he stopped me. I turned back around and he caught my face in his hands. His eyes met mine, asking for permission. I moved my body in closer and lifted my face up to his, letting my lips part very slightly.

He took that as permission enough and kissed me hard. His eagerness surprised me and I moaned into the kiss, which only caused him to kiss me harder. His arms moved around to my back to hold me in place and I let my finger entangle themselves in his hair.

He pulled away and smiled at me, and I grinned back like a fool.

"I love you, Emily. I don't know why, but I do."

I laughed. "I don't know why either, Professor, but I'm glad. And I love you too," I added, bringing my hands around to caress his face.

"Maybe you should call me Stein, at lease while we're away from school."

My heart fluttered. Stein. I let the name bounce around in my head for a moment. No more Professor, only Stein. "Alright, Stein."

"The water I put on for tea is ready. What kind would you like?"

"Do you have anything fruity?"

"I think I have some peach black tea."

"That sounds perfect."

"Alright. I'll go make it. You can change here. Come out when you're ready." He kissed me gently before he left, closing the door behind me.

I listened to his footsteps fade back to the kitchen. When I was sure he was out of earshot I let out a squeal. I changed quickly and braided my hair before walking out to the kitchen. Stein (Stein) handed me a mug of tea and guided me to the table. He brought out some crackers and set them on a plate between us. We drank our tea and ate the crackers, and when we were finished I followed him to his room.

He sat down on the edge of his bed and held his arms out to me. I sat on his lap, my legs on either side of his hips. He put his hands on the small of my back and peered up at me. I slowly took his glasses and set them on the bedside table, then I pushed him down by his shoulders and kissed him deeply.

I heard him moan and felt his hips buck up into mine. I rolled off and crawled farther onto the bed, pulling him over so he was above me. He sat back on his heels and ran his hands down my thighs. I sighed and put my hands on top of his, stopping him.

"I'm sorry, Stein, but I'm very worn out. It's been a long night."

He grinned at me. "Of course. It's late." He looked at the clock on the wall, which read 2:30. "Or early," he corrected. "Whatever the case, you have school tomorrow."

"You do too," I complained, and he laughed.

"Yes, I do. So we both should get to bed."

I nodded and moved over so he had room to lie down, then curled up next to him, breathing in his scent. He kissed the top of my head and stroked my waist. That's the last I remember before I fell asleep.

A.N. Oops that was way longer than I had meant it to be... Anyway, I just wanted to mention that I always assumed the Academy is college, so the students are all 18-22. I also picture Stein as pretty young, like 25 maybe. So, yeah, awkward relationship, but not as awkward as it could be...