(From this point on, I'll be shortening her name down to Dell, unless someone specifically refers to her as Edelweiss.)

Chapter 10

Dell at in the car on the way back, Berwald kept checking his rearview to make sure she hadn't jumped out of the car or anything. They'd taken Gil to the airport and before they separated, he'd grabbed her and pulled her in close. Berwald was about to jump in to separate them, as the girl had looked terrified, before his lips claimed hers. Berwald could only stare in shock as she startled so badly she wasn't able to move for a moment before pushing him away harshly. He grinned and patted her on the head before turning and walking down the busy hallway.

Ever since, she looked absolutely terrified. "Ye alr't?" He asked, looking back and she startled again, sitting up and stared at him before her shoulders relaxed.

"Yeah, sorry, I'm just a little... God dammit, he's my uncle. That's so gross." She shivered and Berwald couldn't help but smile.

"He's n't r'lly yer 'ncle, Ja?"

"Not... really, but he's still always been my uncle. Just because I found out he's not really Arthur's brother, doesn't make him any less my uncle, in my eyes." She sighed, leaning against the window and stared out. She looked lost in thought before her eyes widened, her pupils dilated and she shivered again. Berwald couldn't help but chuckle. No, Gilbert would not be a rival for her affections.

"Ye c'nsider A'thur t' be yer father?" Berwald glanced to the mirror again and watched as the girl nodded.

"Even though Al says he's his brother, all of us states know better. Arthur raised him, trained him, turned him into the man he is today. That's not a brother, a father does that. He's been there for all of us on many occasions, and has honestly taken good care of us, even after him and Al had their fall out. It may not be the most... loving family, but we're still a family, right?" She glanced over, seeing as Berwald nodded, an appreciative smile coming to his face. It wasn't very often someone spoke like this around him. She was just happy for what she had. No catch, no gimmick, just a smile.

"I w'n't tell Nor." Berwald stated and she shivered again.

"No, I'll do that. Not like it was an affection thing anyway. What in the hell?!" She paled as she remembered. "You know, he confessed last night? I told him he's my uncle, and that was disturbing." She watched as Berwald chuckled at her discomfort.

They made it back to the house, and Dell thanked Berwald for driving them, as she didn't have an international drivers' license. Honestly, she didn't feel she'd need one. She walked into the house and Berwald felt his knees go weak with laughter as she ran right to her bedroom and came out with a large bottle of mouthwash, already pouring it into her mouth.

"You alright?" Tino walked in and stared at the unusual sight, as Berwald pointed to the woman at the top of the stairs, still swishing while waiting for the bathroom to become available.

"Why are you... in the hallway doing that?" Tino stared, a bit surprised as Simon came out and she ran in, the burning in her mouth becoming a bit too strong.

"He kissed me!" She yelled, before making a sound of absolute and utter devastation. Lukas came out into the entryway after hearing the yelling and stilled, confused as to what was going on as Simon stood outside of the bathroom, staring in at her with his elbow propped on the door frame.

"He what?"

She came out of the bathroom with the bottle in her hand, but hadn't screwed the lid back on yet.

"He grabbed me and yanked me over and kissed me! Like a real kiss and everything! He even... with his tongue..." She shivered before refilling her mouth with the blue liquid.

Lukas couldn't help but be a little angry at the thought, but seeing her response to it made him feel a little better. She couldn't help but wonder if she'd respond like that if-

No, those thoughts were dangerous. He sighed. He glanced up as Berwald almost slid to the floor through his laughter while Tino stood tall, his hand over his mouth as he laughed. Simon chuckled before starting. "Maybe you should have Lukas give ya a kiss, to wipe the last one away!" He grinned and Dell went back into the bathroom. They could hear her spit the liquid out before stating, quite loudly:

"No! I don't want a kiss just because someone else did it!" Simon's laughter screeched to a halt, realizing the meaning behind her words.

She wanted him to kiss her on his own, not just because of someone else.

"Well, damn." He stared, a bit surprised at the admission when she came back out and sighed.

"I don't know if my mouth is ever going to feel pure again." She groaned and Tino's laughter finally caused him to fall over, rolling on the floor.

She sighed as she started down the stairs, large bottle of mouthwash still in her hand and glanced down, seeing Lukas staring at her with wide eyes and red cheeks. "Ah, sorry if you had to hear all of that."

"It's... fine." He stated softly as she walked past. He'd missed her smile, knowing she wouldn't have to tell him about being kissed and now he knew her response to it as well. Taken care of in one shot!

She smiled as she sat down on the couch.

Lukas shuffled in a few minutes later and sat beside her, curious and a little anxious as he sat and looked over. She smiled as she leaned back and lifted the remote, flipping through channels for a while before sighing and handing over the remote, not understanding any of what they were saying. "You were being awfully cuddly yesterday." Lukas' eyes shifted down as he lifted the remote to the television, but wasn't actually paying enough attention to realize he hadn't switched the channel.

"I'm sorry." She seemed to move away.

Lukas' arm reached out and pulled her to his chest, resting her comfortably against him with his arm over her shoulders. "I wasn't complaining. I'd actually started to miss it." He said as he finally switched the channel, unable to see the girl turn red under his arm.

They didn't move til lunch, and neither of them noticed no one else came into the living room, which was really unusual. They came in and everyone stared at them, waiting. "What?" Dell said as she sat and Simon shook his head, ashamed.

Emil was the first to speak. "You really want to try and tell us you're not together after you spent both last night and most of this morning curled up together like that on the couch?"

"We're not." Lukas stated flatly, not noticing the wince of the woman beside him. Emil shot her a pitying glance as Berwald passed out the plates, but patted her on the back, not noticing Simon pull out his cell phone. Lukas did notice, on the other hand and shot him a dark glare as Simon slipped the phone back into his pocket after pressing a few buttons. Lunch was fairly quiet, and afterward, Dell did the dishes, telling Berwald to go and enjoy himself. She stood in the sunlight coming in from the window and decided after she was done with this, she'd go ahead and run downstairs and work out for a while. She'd just slip her bathing suit on and throw some shorts on over it, so she could swim after. She smiled, content with her idea, not even realizing Emil was just standing, watching her.

"Are you alright?" She screamed and fell to the floor, startling Emil who looked down at her in shock. "Hvað í fjandanum? Are you alright again?"

"Sorry!" She jumped up, wiping the water from where she'd had a dish in her hands off as she lifted the mug and sighed. Fortunately no breaks, but she felt stupid as could be.

"You really startle easily, don't you?"

"That's how they found me originally, you know? I was in the woods when they walked by, some people from the city, and one of them was drunk. He yelled out at the bears to come and attack him and I screamed and fell out of a tree." She giggled, thinking back on the memory. "I was still just a baby at the time, so I guess I've always been this way." She smiled as Emil shook his head. He knew what she was doing.

"About Lukas, are you okay?" He asked again and she sighed, nodding.

"I tried to tell Tino. I guess he got my hopes up." She stated sadly and Emil patted her back.

"You looked like you were about to cry."

"No, nothing like that. I'd actually just been thinking that I should go work out after I get done with the dishes. Work out some. I feel like you guys have been pampering me too much and I've put on some weight." She giggled and Emil smiled.

"Maybe you should take him down, give you two a chance to be alone and you can talk to him about it. I know this sounds odd, but I really think my brother is happier with you than he ever was before." Emil stated and watched as Dell shook her head.

"No, he made it quite clear that's not what he wants." She said as she finished the dining dishes and moved on to the cooking utensils.

"He didn't say that's not what he wants, he said that nothing is currently established." Emil said and watched as her shoulders and ears turned pink. "You've been here for almost two months, and in that time I don't think I've ever seen my brother smile so much. Trust me. Talk to him."

"I can't." She held her head down, sighing as she started washing faster. "I'm not... I'm too weak. Too much a coward. I can't." She said, her hands moving on instinct at this point. Emil sighed and leaned back.

They were never going to get together at this rate. He rolled his eyes over, seeing Berwald watching from the hallway, but he didn't want to disturb the conversation. Emil waved him in and the taller man came in and grabbed a cup and a bottle of juice from the fridge. "He's right." Was all that was stated.

"I can't." She sounded like she was about to cry and Berwald understood after looking at her.

She'd already been rejected once, she didn't think she could handle it again. "Is, she can't." His eyes shifted over to the other, and Emil realized something was going on he didn't know about.

"That's too bad." He sighed as he shoved his hands into his pockets and walked from the room.

"I can't, Sve." She'd picked up the nickname from Tino. "I can't say something like that to him. It's too embarrassing." She stated, her cheeks still red, and Berwald realized it wasn't from being near tears.

He almost laughed at her. He smiled as he patted her head. "'M sure e'll fig're 't out." Berwald watched as she nodded and finished the dishes.

"I hope so." She huffed and for a moment Berwald remembered Romano. This woman, he realized, was really similar. They could be strong when they needed to, and cared deeply for those they call friends, but were horribly afraid. They both startle easily, and need affection. He patted her head and watched as the action caused her to giggle, then physically relax. He grinned, wondering if they could find a way to use this to their advantage.

Maybe they could use this to make them finally admit to each other.

oooOOOXXXOOOooo

Lunch had just finished and Lukas went back to the couch, plopping down in the spot he'd been in for the last two days, but it didn't feel right. It wasn't as comfortable as it had been. He shifted around, trying to find the comfort he'd been having when a cell phone was thrust before his face. "Look, Nor. Look at her." Lukas looked at the phone and frowned. "That's the look she had after you said in such a tone that you weren't together. She was heartbroken."

"It was probably because you guys said that in the first place. You probably startled her. That would explain why she decided to stay in the kitchen. Jævla! I can't get comfortable!" Lukas frowned as he turned, punching the spot that seemed to be lumping behind his back.

"It's because she's not beside you." Simon stated and Lukas stilled, his eyes wide. "You need her to be beside you to feel as warm as you have since last night."

"What exactly is it you think telling me this is going to do? She's still heartbroken over the last guy, and I'm just... stuck!" Lukas punched the couch beside him and Simon stared.

"You're an oblivious idiot! Did you not hear what she said earlier? About you kissing her?"

"She didn't want me to! That's what she said." He turned dejected at the last line and Simon laughed.

"No, she said she didn't want you to kiss her because of someone else, which means she wants you to kiss her because you want to kiss her, for no other reason."

"You're wrong. She really is still broken up over Mattie." Lukas frowned and Tino decided to make his presence known.

"You're wrong." Tino sat down. "I've been talking with her almost every day, and though I can't say what we talk about, really, she stopped even mentioning him over a month ago. He's out of her mind." Tino said before frowning and grabbing the remote.

"But don't just run in there and kiss her. Plan something romantic and confess properly." Tino stated, turning to Lukas with shining eyes.

"You really... think so?" Lukas shifted uncomfortably in his seat, this time due to the conversation, rather than the couch.

"Yeah, I do." Tino didn't even have to think about it.

Lukas sat still, hearing footfalls tread softly up the stairs a few minutes later and thought. Romance wasn't his strong suit. It never had been, but on the other hand, she didn't seem the type to get into the traditional 'romance' things anyway. What would she see as romantic? What would she get into?

"Maybe you should go work out." Emil stated. "You do most of your best thinking when you're not paying attention like that."

"Ja, okay." He stood and stretched. He wasn't able to get comfortable anyway, so why not? He went to his room and changed, walking into the workout room with his head still muddled from the previous conversation. His eyes shifted up when he heard sound and stilled, seeing Dell leaning against one of the machines, her brow low, her eyes sharp and focused. She winced as she pulled her arms forward, lifting much more weight than he even figured was possible from the wall.

Damn, she was strong!

Figures, her being Alfred's sister. He sat and started on his workout, deciding not to bother her. When she was this focused, he'd either not get her attention, or she'd startle, scream and fall to the floor. He chuckled at the thought, and could only sigh when a moment later she screamed and he heard a 'thud'.

Really?

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you." He said as he started his work out, hearing her awkward chuckle from behind him. He couldn't help but smile at the sound.

"It's fine. Just getting to be too common of an occurrence." She stated as she started back into pushing out her arms.

"So, I was wondering, uh..." He swallowed hard. He was hoping he could think of something, but instead he jumped into asking before any ideas had come to mind. "What kind of things would you want to do? Like, if you were asked on a... date?" He froze, realizing he hadn't even hidden it.

Too obvious!

"Me? Well, I'm weird, so I wouldn't take my opinion to heart, but... camping." She smiled.

He shifted his arms back up to the starting position and turned to her, a bit surprised. "Camping? Really?"

"Yeah! Going for a hike, set up the tent and cook over a fire. No distractions, just yourselves and nature. And at the end of the day, if it's been good, you can share a tent, yeah?" She giggled and Lukas nodded, turning back.

"Yeah." He chuckled. "So, You want to go camping sometime?" He asked, already knowing his cheeks were burning from embarrassment.

"Are you asking me on a date?" She asked, feeling a bit silly til he answered.

"Ja." He heard a crash and turned, seeing her staring at him, her eyes wide, her hand bent back. "Faen! Your hand!" He dashed over as she curled her fingers, showing it didn't hurt.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to startle you!" She spoke quickly, again using her higher pitched voice in panic and he stared, chuckling at the look on her face.

Her cheeks were as red as could be. Her eyes were wide, her hands clasped over her chest. "Did I ask you too fast?" He asked and she jumped up, shaking her head.

"I'd be happy to!" She nearly yelled and covered her mouth. "Really happy to." Her blush brightened and he smiled, reaching out and ran a thumb over her cheek.

"Really? You're alright with me asking you out on a date?" He asked, his voice a little husky from the panic and excitement from asking, as well as hearing her response.

"I've... been hoping you'd ask me." She spoke softly and he smiled, leaning over and giving her a soft hug.

"Tomorrow, then?"

"That sounds good." She looked up into his eyes, blushing and smiling, a light sigh escaping her. He couldn't help but smile as he walked back over to the machine and started working, figuring actually doing a workout now would hide that he was only down here to think of a way of doing what he'd just done.

After a workout, a swim and a good half our sat in the sauna, Dell stood and stretched. "Better go shopping if we're going camping tomorrow. I'll see ya later." She stretched and Lukas frowned.

"I'll go with you. I should grab a few things as well." He stated as he stood.

Yeah, like camping supplies. He hadn't been camping in close to fifty years. All of his stuff had gone when his house collapsed, and since he didn't go camping anymore, why bother buying more stuff?

"Alright!" She grinned, seemingly happier about the shopping now that he'd be with her.

"You really do like spending time with me, don't you?" Lukas asked as they slid out of the room, immediately breaking out in goosebumps from the chill of the air outside.

"It wouldn't be much of a date if I didn't." She stated and he had to laugh.

They went and did the shopping, which made Lukas admit he didn't keep camping supplies. Dell helped him choose a few things, and after, chose some things on their own. They got back to the house just before dinner. "Hey, Me and Lukas aren't gonna be around after tonight until tomorrow night." Dell stated as they sat down at dinner.

"Disappearing overnight?" Simon grinned and Lukas stared, that shadow coming over his face as Dell blushed.

"We're going camping." She said and glanced over at Tino and Berwald both started choking. Berwald was able to save himself fairly quickly, but Dell had to smack Tino on the back to dislodge the lump in his throat.

"Camping, huh?" He glanced over, a blue sheen showing over his face and Dell paused, remembering what she'd told him a while ago. For her, camping was like an aphrodisiac. She loved it. Nothing made her think someone was sexy more than seeing them out versus the wild.

"Oh, yeah." She stared, the two kind of just paling as they looked at one another.

"Can you forget what I told you before?" Dell asked at the same time Tino spoke.

"Can I forget what you told me before?" They both stared for a moment before bursting into laughter, causing Berwald to shake his head.

"What did you tell him before?" Simon glanced over with an excited grin and Dell turned to him with heavy lidded eyes.

"Do you really wanna know?" She asked with a dark grin creeping over her face and Simon suddenly realized.

"No, No I don't." He shivered at the look. He knew what that sort of look meant.

"Good luck, Lukas." He stated as they started eating.