Marie felt bad; really bad. She was standing outside Stein's door with Stein, Spirit, and Maka who were discussing what to do until the fireworks started…but she wanted to be selfish…just this once. But oddly she felt good at the same time. While she would be doing something rather "selfish" she would at the same time be doing something for what she believed was for Maka's own good. She was going to do something she didn't normally do.

"Alright! My Maka wants to shop and so that's what we're going to do!" Spirit said with unparalleled enthusiasm.

They all began to walk down the street when a yelp of pain was heard as Marie fell to the ground.

"Marie!" Stein said startled as he lifted her up but was shocked when he saw her wink at him.

"Ahhh! It hurts! My stomach is killing me! My head is pounding! Ooooh…" Marie wailed.

"What do we do Professor Stein?" Maka asked in a hurry; Spirit just stood in shock.

"I-I just want to go home. I want to lie down. Ohhh it hurts…" Marie groaned pitifully.

"I'm taking her home." Stein said frankly.

"I-I'm sorry Maka…" Marie said softly.

"No no! You go home and get some rest ok." Maka said in a motherly tone.

"Thank you…and Maka..please, try and have fun." Marie breathed before Stein carried her back to the house.

When they got inside he let her down and locked the door behind them.

"Well well Marie…I've never seen you do something like that before. That was quite the impressive lie there." Stein said jokingly.

"I don't feel proud of lying…and Maka wanted us to go…but…I sorta want to be home with you. And on top of that I really want Maka to try and get along with her father. She needs to try…" Marie trailed off.

"You deserve to do something for yourself Marie." Stein said.

"I know but I would have felt bad if I just said no to her." She said sighing.

"You're always doing things for others Marie. Even back there you were doing something for Maka's own good. And so, I think it's fine that you wanted to do something for yourself." Stein told her.

Marie looked up and smiled.

"I know what I want." She smiled at him.

Stein returned the smile genuinely and carried her upstairs where they practically ripped each other's clothes off. There was some foreplay of course but they both really just wanted to pick back up where they left off.

In the short period they had been home, Marie's core was already soaking and Stein's member was fully hard. He placed himself at her entrance once again.

"Ready?" he asked her looking into her pure beautiful eye.

"Yes…" she said quietly.

Stein nodded and pushed forward, watching her face closely, as well as her wavelength closely, and as he expected she showed some discomfort, though she was trying to hide it.

"It hurts doesn't it?" Stein said sadly.

"I'll be alright…" Marie said sweetly.

"We don't have to if it hurts." Stein said.

Making love to Marie was the most amazing thing he had ever done and he wanted more; in fact he craved more. He wanted to keep Marie in mind though. She always went through so much because of him and he didn't want her to have to do things she didn't want to just to make him happy.

"I told you…I'll be alright…" Marie whispered.

"Just to be sure Marie, you're not doing this for me are you?" Stein asked seriously.

"You think too much Stein…it's annoying." Marie said with a smirk as she drew him down into a passionate kiss.

She grinded her slender hips up into his, urging him to continue, causing Stein to groan in response.

He started out like before, moving slowly and carefully. Though his intentions were good, Marie wouldn't have it. She abruptly pulled away from the kiss and looked him in the eye; her eye practically burrowed into his soul.

"You're making love to a death scythe Stein. I want more. Mmmm don't make me punch you." Marie said seductively, lacing her fingers in his hair.

In hearing those words, Stein was reassured.

In a matter of seconds Stein was moving in and out of her as fast as he possibly could; the pleasure was immeasurable.

"Aaaangh!" Marie cried out. "Harder! Deeper!" she begged, gripping onto his shoulders tightly.

Stein obeyed and in moments was groaning passionately himself.

"Ahhh! Nnnnn…ooh…." Marie moaned.

"That's not my name." Stein said seriously. The tone in his voice sent shivers down her spine.

"Mmmmm" Marie sighed.

"That's not my name Marie. Say it." He told her more firmly.

He slammed into her more deeply than he thought was possible, pressing her into the mattress.

"AAAH!" she cried out as her head went back and her eyes pinched shut.

Stein could feel himself getting closer; almost there. He could tell by the way Marie's walls tightened around him, her body shook, and the way she breathed, that she was close too.

"STEIN! AAAH!" Marie practically sobbed as she finally released.

All Stein could do was groan passionately as he came.

Marie's eyes were still closed and she was panting slowly; she was spent. Stein took a few deep breaths and pulled out of her and laid next to her. Marie looked over at the clock on her nightstand.

"Only 11:45" she said breathlessly. She turned and smiled at him.

"Let's sleep till it's time for the fireworks ok?" she whispered; Stein nodded.

"I'll bet we can see them from the roof of your house…." She said sleepily.

After a few minutes the two fell asleep in each other's arms once again.

8 hours later…..

"Nnnnnn…" Marie began to wake up.

"St-Stein…you awake?" she asked quietly.

"Yeah…" he replied.

"We should go up now. I think they're about to start." Marie said more energetically this time with a smile on her cute face; Stein nodded at her with a drowsy smile.

Stein and Marie put on their usual outfits and slowly made their way to the roof.

Just a few minutes after they got settled in the first boom of a firework being shot up was head. Seconds later a large crackling sound echoed through Death City as an explosion of gold an blue sparkled and lit up the night sky. Showers of greens, purples, reds, and silvers filled the skies. Some sparkled like colorful stars and others showered down like colored streams of water, cascading through the night sky. Some of the fireworks exploded into different shapes: hearts, smiles, stars, and yes even skulls, littered the skies, outshining Death City's ever crescent moon.

"Beautiful…" Marie whispered in awe.

Stein remained silent, but had a half smile on his face. Part of the smile was because he knew Marie was happy and the other half was from him imagining Spirit exploding into showers of red, red, and more red.

Then he heard Marie gasp in delight as the finale finally came. Showers of colors covered the entire sky and even Stein had to admit it was rather amazing.

Marie rested her head on his shoulder and Stein wrapped an arm around her.

"Stein?" Marie said gently.

"Yes?"

"You're always going to be with me right?" she whispered nuzzling her face into him.

Stein looked surprised for a moment. He honestly hadn't expected a question like that to come from Marie all of the sudden.

"Unless I die." He answered.

Highly unromantic. But that was just how Stein was. He wasn't a sugar coater.

"Don't die." She said sounding sad.

"I don't plan to any time soon." He replied trying to make her feel better.

"So…you said "unless I die"…does that mean you'll stay with me then?" she asked hopefully.

"Why does she want to be with me so badly?" Stein thought to himself.

"Yes." Stein answered her while looking strait at her, smiling reassuringly.

"You promise?" Marie said with a tear in the corner of her eye.

Oh boy a promise…promises are stressful…but Stein knew that he wasn't going to abandon her..unless…

He shook the thought from his head.

"Yes." He answered her firmly.

"Will you…pinky swear on it?" Marie asked sweetly, offering her small pinky to him.

"Pinky swear? How old are you again?" Stein asked her; she rolled her eyes.

"Pinky swear on it?" she repeated.

Without a word Stein reached out his hand and linked his finger with hers.

"I love you." She said smiling as the tear in her eye finally slid down her cheek.

"I love you too." He replied; and it was the truth.

She leaned in and kissed him, fully sure of his love and loyalty.

"Stein…thank you…" she thought with a smile.

(A/N: I've always dreamed of watching fireworks with someone I love. Ugh sorry readers for my shitty guesstimation on when the more heated and actionous parts were going to get here. I thought in chapter 8 that I was going to be into it by now. But I do promise this time that they next chapter is definitely going to be a tense one. Action will ensue shortly after that. Thank you again for reading! And reviews make me smile :D )