Yo! Sorry for the delay again cos I had project submission... Actually I'm still in the middle of it but what the heck LOL! Thanks again for tuning in to this story, the reviews really enouraged me to go on or at least end this episode :P So it'll be pretty lengthy and I did edit it do make it less wordy so bear with me! . I hope you'll enjoy it~!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything HnKnA... I so hate saying this again and again! T-T

Previously on The Solitary Heart:

Cobalt eyes locked on her teal ones before realizing that their faces were inches away from each other. It was too close, but he couldn't find the strength to pull away.

And someone help him, he didn't want to.

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Chapter 4: Holding On

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"Once you had a taste of having someone by your side, how do you go back to accept being alone?"

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...

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Alice stared up, lost in those beautiful night-blue eyes again. Julius. There were so much unspoken words lined with loneliness behind them. So much she didn't understand about the man even after living with him for so long.

His grip on her wrists was firm but gentle, the hard edges of his face softened. His sleek raven hair surrounded them like a veil, caressing her face. It was replaced by his hand, his thumb stroking, almost hesitantly and afraid, across her lips. What's going on? Her heart began to race as he lowered his face.

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As Julius closed the distance between their lips, he notices her smaller frame trembling beneath his touch. What the hell's happening to me? He diverted, pulling to the side instead, nuzzling her neck and breathing in her scent. Did she always smell this good? He never knew, never noticed. I didn't mean to scare her this much. His hand left her face to stroke her soft brown hair reassuringly while his lips began their own exploration, trailing upwards. If only she knew the predicament he was in.

Alice could feel his warm breath against her skin and she felt her face grow hotter. She hadn't expected him to act this way. No, certainly not this way. She felt his lips brush against her ear, breathing into it. It's too much. She had to do something! Alice shut her eyes tightly.

"J-Julius-?"

"…have no idea at all… why can't you understand…," his low and timbre voice mumbled, whispering into her ear and reverberated through her body. "Alice…"

His dejected voice tore at her heart. Why did he have to sound that way?

"Julius, you're asking too much from me."

That snapped him out. He propped himself up to see forlorn aquamarine eyes looking back. He grimaced inwardly. Crud! Why did he always have to put that look on her face? He moved his body away to give them some space, and watched her slowly sit and move off the table. Alice walked towards the door and pauses, yet not wanting to look at him.

"You're right, Julius. I don't understand you at all. But how can you expect me to when you've never let me in your heart before?" She concludes, wiping the tears off her eyes with her arms before disappearing towards her bedroom.

Julius slumps back on his chair and palmed his face. Urgh! Women… will he ever be able to understand them? He had made her cry again and was emotionally exhausted for once. This is a fine mess he has gotten himself into and he was at a total loss of what to do.

Crap, he felt pathetic. He did start this fight so he had to do something to resolve it. He heaved a sigh and made his way to her room, knocking on the wooden-framed door cautiously.

"Alice? May I come in?" But when no reply came he turned the heavy brass handle silently and peered in, not wanting to disturb her if she didn't really want to see him. He just wanted to know if she was ok.

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"Alice? I-"

"Julius?" Alice snapped out of her train of thoughts and turned her gaze from her window to the door. She quickly wiped the tears off her eyes once more before facing the distressed looking man from her bed she was sitting on. She felt awful about saying those mean things to him when she knew Julius was not one to act without a proper reason. What would he think of me now?

"I-I'm sorry, I was just thinking… I didn't hear you come in… I'm… really sorry…" her tears started to pour before she could stop them. Stupid bodily reactions! Why do I have to cry now?

She quickly turned away from Julius's probing eyes, pressing her palms to her own to stem the flow. "S-sorry! I didn't mean to cry…" But admitting his presence in her room only increased it instead.

Julius…Julius…Someone… help me!

Immediately, strong arms wrapped around her from behind, encasing her in warmth while slender fingers held onto her wrists tenderly away from her eyes, urging her, pleading her silently not to hold back those precious tears. Her back was pressed against a larger, more solid frame and somehow it made her feel secure. She allowed her body to relax against it.

He made her feel secure again.

She wanted to turn to look at him but he held her still, his head pressed against the side of hers as he nestle his face against her hair.

"Julius?-"

"It's never your fault to begin with. I'm the one who should be sorry." His voice sounded husky as he spoke against those golden strands.

It was hard for him to see her apologizing over and over again needlessly. Julius didn't know what came over him when he did that. All he could think of was stopping those blasted tears that he seemed so apt at creating.

And he'd be damned if he lets her see his face right now when his emotions were probably written clearly all over. He didn't want to confuse her any more than he had to.

"Alice," he tested his voice again. "You don't have to go if you don't want to, if you don't mind having a person like me for company. I will never force your compliance. You can leave and come back whenever you want, but you don't have to stay because of me."

Please stay.

"But Julius, you know I never wanted to stay anywhere else. I like it here with you." Alice replied. I said the same before so why is this sounding more like a love confession?, she wondered. Julius answered by hugging her even more tightly, but she was aware he was careful not to 'strangle' her like the last time. It made her heart flip at the subtle gesture.

"Living with me isn't exactly the safest option. I just don't want to see you to get hurt." Julius closed his eyes, afraid that if he opened them she might disappear.

"Were you… worried for me?"

He releases his hold around her, taken aback with that familiar word. What's with these people? First Nightmare and now Alice? Is it that obvious? His hand covered his mouth as he looks away, suddenly taking interest in a dusty corner of her room as she turned to face him.

Alice giggled as she takes in his crimson face. "I'm not scared. I know Julius will protect me, right?"

He frowned slightly at her now lit-up face. How can she be so trusting and certain? But at last, he resigned and sighed.

"You're so troublesome you know that? But…" Julius ruffles her hair, feeling the corners of his lips turning up. "…if it's you then I guess I don't mind."

He actually smiled, she thought, suddenly feeling a blush tinting her cheeks. He should definitely smile more. Suddenly, the hand on her head pulled her close and she felt him press a gentle kiss on her forehead, causing a tingling and warm sensation to run all over her body. It made her want to snuggle closer.

But before she could speak, he took her face with both hands, tilting upwards slowly and placing his forehead on hers, and suddenly she was overly aware of how close he was. He rubbed the tip of their noses a little and she wanted to shy away, yet part of her desired to bask in the connection that she felt was growing deeper between them.

"Alice?" Julius asked.

"Y-yes?" She could practically feel her face burning up.

"I'd love to have that cup of coffee you offered just now."

"S-sure! O-of c-course!" God, I really should stop stammering like that! He released her and she patted her flaming cheeks as she hurriedly exited her room, beaming like an idiot at his request. Julius chuckled silently as he observed her reactions. He could get used to teasing her.

He watched her figure leave before staring down at his open hands. If I have to protect her with my life just to see her smile like that then that's what I'll do...

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"Julius! I'm off to the Castle now, is there anything you need me to get?" Alice's melodic voice called out as she appeared at the door of his workshop.

"No." He replied curtly, not looking up from his loupe in case it broke his concentration. Hmmm, the balance assembly seems in place... "Have fun."

"Okay. Oh! And Julius?"

"Hm?" he hummed, eyes still glues to his apparatus. Guess it's just a mainspring barrel problem then...

"I'll come back soon."

He stopped in his assessment and turned his attention to catch a glimpse of her leaving the doorway, her light footsteps slowly fading as she descended the spiral staircase. He let out a sigh as his eyes lingering at the spot where she stood.

"I know you will."

Julius smiled to himself and went back to his work. No matter where she went, she'll always come back to him. And his ticking clock found solace in that fact.

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You wanted to see a kiss didn't you lol! (I know Fate did! *wink*) I was tempted to put it in but I was reserving it for later episodes thought I'm not sure if I should continue since it is pretty rounded up :/

If I did, in the next chapter,Alice decides to give Julius a present and there will be a THIRD unwelcomed visitor! Also you can expect more Nightmare! Hope that didn't spoil too much lol! Plus I'll try to change my style a bit cos writing with 2 perspective is pretty tiring and longwinded :P

So DO REVIEW if you like to see more and if there is any suggestions in how I can improve my writing! Thanks for reading!