Nero: Um, next chapter. I'm making it funnier than it should be, but hey. I'm a happy person.

Almost the entire room was crying with Cross, save a few people. Allen couldn't believe this. Had his master been a coward or the bravest man he had ever met? Was this real or some sick practical joke? And to top it all off, as far as he could decipher from Cross' message, he was now responsible for Gabriel. He wasn't even a legal adult!!

"Well, seeing as she lost her memory, I assume the Arc Generals have no use for her?" Komui turned to Link and Rouvelier.

"Hmph, well. If she had truly lost her memories is yet to be proven. Till then, Link," Rouvelier turned to the former Crow. "I expect a daily report." With that the official left in a huffy. Another victim of his war crazed insanity saved by a hair.

Allen let out a breath he was unaware of holding. Gabriel was safe. For now.

"Well, now that we now what's going on, how are we going to deal with it," Reever addressed in a business like manner.

"Chibi already lives here and she has potential to be an exorcist, so we can't kick her out," Kanda pointed out dryly.

"We could have her train under a general."

"But she'd be a burden till she found her Innocence, we'll just keep her here. Like a maid or cleaning lady."

"Lavi, that's just cruel. She can take care of herself and you need to learn how to do laundry!!"

"But he has a point. She's useless unless she gets Innocence."

Every other person suddenly had a suggestion on what Gabriel should do in the order. It was driving Allen up the wall!!

"Just stop talking!!" Allen shouted in rage and irritation. "I'll take responsibility for her, in accordance with Master Cross' departing wish!! End of story!!"

Allen glared, daring anyone to question him. He left the Science Department in such a huff, they all wondered if Kanda had rubbed off on the teen.

It wasn't that Allen was pissed at them, but he was really confused. He never had parents besides Mana and now he was the guardian of a girl two years younger than him with no memory of her past. How lovely is that? Allen burst into his room and slammed the door shut behind him. Numbly, he stumbled onto his bed and buried his head in his hands.

Gabriel's room was three rooms over from Allen's. When she heard the stomping, she slipped out of bed to take a look at who it was. Like she guessed, it was Allen. She could always tell when he was in a bad mood. Although she couldn't remember anything from before the time she was found, the few memories she held dearest were the ones with Allen in them. He was the one person whose opinion mattered most to her. Like a daughter trying to live up to her father's reputation.

Gabriel snuck into Allen's room. Noticing right away Allen was upset about something. Though he didn't notice her, she still moved freely in the room, taking a chair from the corner and settng it in front of him so they faced each other.

"Hey," she said.

Allen just sighed.

"Care to explain the water works?"

No response worth mentioning.

"Come on, Allen. You know you want to talk about it."

"Huh?"

"Pardon me, couldn't quite catch that."

"I didn't say anything."

"You just did."

Allen and Gabriel chuckled quietly. He hadn't lifted his head, but he wasn't covering his face anymore. It was then that Gabriel could really see the tears.

"What did I say about crying? It'll give you wrinkles," she sighed and wiped them away with her thumb. "But then again, maybe you could use a few more wrinkles."

Allen looked at his new charge. She was so small, even smaller than him when he was fifteen and that was something deserving of a medal. But to have someone so small and young in a war like their own, he just couldn't forgive that. She was precious to him as Mana was precious and it hurt to acknowledge that he could lose her in an instant just because he wasn't strong enough.

"Gabriel?"

"Hm."

"What do you think of war?"

"...What kind of question is that!? I hate war!! Its useless and evil and no one ever wins, no matter what anyone says!!" Gabriel shouted.

"Ah, then what about the people who are involved in the war? Are they evil too?" Allen asked grinning sadly.

Gabriel sighed. Allen was asking things that couldn't be answered. Not by anyone. But she knew what he meant. Sometimes his hero complex really got on her nerves. Gabriel got up and hugged Allen close. He didn't resist, Allen leaned into Gabriel's open arms and wrapped his own arms around her.

"You are not evil. But you're not good, either. You are Allen Walker. You are human. I am Gabriel and I'm human too, as much as we both hate it. And we are family. And if you want to say otherwise then shut up."

Allen laughed. "How straight forward."

"Just one of my many talents," she said grinning.

"Hmph, I guess its true about what they say. Ignorance is bliss."

Gabriel shrugged, she had no idea he was talking about the fact she didn't remember anything about where she came from. Allen pulled away and wiped his eyes. Thanking Gabriel for her understanding.

"Hey, no problem." Then she did something he didn't expect. She climbed into his bed and crawled under the covers.

"Eh!? G-Gabriel, what are you doing!?"

Little did either of them know, a certain rabbit and his accomplices had empty glasses pressed to the door.

"What do you mean what am I doing? Isn't it obvious?"

"Well, we can't!! We haven't known each other long enough to-."

Lavi and Lenalee leaned in. What couldn't they do?

"Oh calm down. It'll be fun, I promise."

What would be fun for the two of them?

"B-but, I'm two years your senior!!"

Lavi whispered to Lenalee, "Allen really is a gentleman, huh?"

"Shhhh!! I'm trying to listen!!"

"Your point? Look, you called me and I expect you to take responsibility for you actions. Now hop into bed, pull up the covers and get it over with!!"

"I didn't call you!!"

Allen was horrified. A girl. In his bed. At night!! He was a teen with raging hormones for Innocence sake and Gabriel was this tiny girl showing no signs of resistance what so ever. At this point, Gabriel and Allen had two completely different mind sets. Allen was being a typical teenage boy, while Gabriel, being shielded for most of her life and having no clue how babies are made, just wants to go to bed, but was too tired to walk back to her room.

Allen took a deep and calming breath. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"I thought I made that clear," Gabriel groaned in annoyance.

Allen took another deep breath. Well, Gabriel was a nice girl. She wasn't ugly. Not to Allen. And she clearly gave her consent. Allen slowly got under the covers, taking caution not to go too fast. The bed springs creaked under their weight as Allen settled beside Gabriel, not bothering to change. Gabriel made herself comfortable and cuddled into Allen. His room was colder than she preferred, but Allen took this the wrong way and stiffened up.

"Mm, you're warm," Gabriel purred and fell asleep.

Lavi and Lenalee burst into the room with cameras a flashing. They rushed out of the room before Allen realized what happened.

"Aw, to hell with it!!" he exclaimed and pulled Gabriel closer. He was tired and he could always get Lavi back for this later.

Nero: Yes, pairings are starting to appear. AllenxGabriel, LavixLenalee. Maybe, but remember, Allen is taking the situation in a wholly wrong way. But we'll see.