Hey! Thanks again Katt! Here ya go, you picky woman! Please review and PM me if you have any OC's or plot ideas! Here you go! A huge step in their relationship, no? Hehehehehehe

Sise

It had taken a considerable amount of will not to spill the male's honor, the only thing saving the human was Lucy. He would not kill him and be thrown into her bad graces. The mere thought of her not wanting his presence filled his hearts with despair and he went frantic. These... feelings were strange to Sise, his kind did not deal with feelings.

Especially when it came to courting a female. Sise didn't court! A female would often choose him to bear his offspring, he was a hero to his people and that made his genetics very suitable for the ideal warrior, sure. Sise was a very suitable mate, but not worth marrying into a political situation. No, he wasn't that powerful to be recognized in such a manner.

But seeing this male try to court his woman- Had he thought his woman? Do I really want her... as my mate? Sure... she gave him happiness... in a way he never thought. But he wouldn't tell her it, no, he couldn't, she would reject him all the same. But what could happen that was so bad? He was strong warrior, who cared for her! And with the pathetic male beside him.

He had found that, the outburst earlier was nothing about honor. He was jealous. He had felt threatened by this puny male. He could smell the arousal on him. And it could be all too true that Lucy, a jewel in his life of war and mindless fucks. Could choose him and leave Sise forever.

Sise snarled at the human beside him, causing him to flinch towards his knife. "Let us not fight, while she nearby. I do not wish to upset her," He commanded, the human looked thoughtful as he nodded.

A few minutes later, Lucy walked down but didn't say anything as the black-fringed human tried to light the fireplace, it was unnaturally cold out.

The Jiralhanae must have targeted the power stations, as the electricity did not function properly. Lucy had started to don off her various armor pieces, each piece being thrown into a organized pile.

Her 'fatigues' as she called them, were sticky to her small, hour-glass body. Sise would be lying if he had said his codpiece did not tighten at the sight of her as she peeled off her sticking articles of clothing. The removal of them showed her scared flesh of previous battles. Both on and off the field of hell fire. If her crazed demons that had taken over her body as the fever racked her fragile form were any indication.

Lucy had turned around and Sise noticed her bottom, it was round and he very much wanted to claim it as his. But alas, he would never take her without consent. Sighing as he took off his large and ornate helmet, he looked over to the black-fringed human and noticed the fevered look in his eyes as he stared hungrily at the woman. Sise emitted a warning to the male to back off, he stared wide eyed before once again trying to hastily start the fire.

He was staring at his helmet, it was large, splayed out in the back to display his rank were the two prongs upon his forehead. His status as Field Marshal was absolute. He could have commanded entire ships. But had chosen not to, he wanted his boots on the ground; to see the battle close, to feel the tides of battle flow in between the forces. He loved the rush of the fight, the chase when the enemy retreated under his awesome prowess in battle.

He was reminiscing the battle of Arkulus IV as he fought a horde of Brutes with only a handful of Zealots and Major's until they could retrieve a holy relic, it was a dangerous battle. He had lost many brethren to the Mongrels, but he hadn't noticed Lucy had sat next to him as he stared at the helmet. A reminder of the battles past. His past, forged by the crucible of fire and death of untold numbers. "What are you thinking about?" He heard a sweet melodic voice sing next to him.

He felt a strange sensation in his gut, he wanted to tell her, but should he? It was his past! Not hers... but he wanted to tell her. "I was reminiscing the battle of Arkulus IV, it was the place where I had taken the rank Field Marshal..." So he told her, the battle, his brothers of blood and fire dying around him as they ran out of plasma and needles, where they had to resort to Daggers and claws. She stared wide eyed at him as he told her, she was totally enraptured by the tale, and he was happy to tell her, truth be told.

"I was surrounded by five Apes and a chieftain, me and Zealot Maqk were the only ones left. But as the chieftain charged, he was obliterated by a hail of plasma by our Phantom. That was when we made it out and I was able to obtain Field Marshal. My brothers have fallen, but they will never be forgotten by me as long as I draw breath." As he finished, she was closer to him, basically leaning on his arm, staring at him in a way that made him want to purr, and to her and claim her voluptuous lips.

Sise mentally chastised himself, he wouldn't do that. He wouldn't harm her. Why did he have to fall for her. What changed during the fever? Why couldn't he stay mad at her?

"I... that's... I'm sorry their dead, Sise... I hope they rest peacefully, they died a warrior's death," She said with a smile and his hearts swelled at the phrase. The simple phrase. Basically told him he actually cared about his people. How they could find solace and happiness at the one death fit for their people.

"Lucy. Thank you for understanding," He said with pride.

"Your welcome, Sise..." She trailed off and started to fidget as the male human lit the fire, lighting the room up. The orange blaze casting everyone thing in acute shadows.

"Alright, you two, I am going to stand guard upstairs. Don't... whatever..." He said as he went upstairs, a scowl was on his face as he made his way out of earshot.

Lucy was staring after Zack and Sise felt a sting of jealously. But then he remembered the troubled girl he cares so much about. He couldn't help the scowl his own face had acquired to dissolve into one of pity and caring.

Lucy turned and noticed his face. "W-why do you keep looking at m-me l-l-l-like that?" She stuttered out in a tiny, frightened voice. "Wh-what d-did you hear me say whi-w-while I-I was out? D-d-did I d-do some-something wa-wrong?" Her eyes were huge and shining, as if she were going to cry. Was she that upset that he wouldn't tell her? Had he hurt her that much? Did he really matter that much to get such a reaction?

He shook his head no, and the relief in her features was like a blessing. "No, Lucy... you have done nothing wrong... but your dreams... they have revealed a past about you... I do not know if you wish to confide in me of your past..." He left off. Her eyes were wet and she looked angry, not at him, but at herself.

"What did I say?" She said quietly.

"About help. Your... mother. About earth and about not taking you away... and... Me."

"I... I don't wish to remember those times, Sise... they were horrid... please... some other time... when we are not about to die, please?" He nodded in understanding and she smiled, it was forced. He narrowed his eyes and tightened his grip slightly.

"What is it, Lucy?" He said. His mandibles pressed tightly together. She still looked distressed.

"You know... I fought my way onto the Ace of Spades, just to find out what happened to you? I missed you, Sise... you were my protector! You said so... then your Arbiter called you away... I know you don't care about me enough to give me warning but... I wanted to find you." She said. He went wide eyed and his mandibles had went slack. His departure had hurt her. He hurt her, and he left with the odd feeling in his hearts, not knowing what it meant in him as he last laid eyes on her of those dark days.

"Lucy, I didn't respect you, as I now do. You are a... friend? You are a valiant warrior, one that I would have beside me," He boasted, she smiled and gently grabbed his hand. He was stunned then firmly grasped hers back without thinking. His large four-fingered hand enveloped her smaller, five-fingered hand. "You are wrong. I uhm... do care, whether you live or die.."

Lucy gasped and jerked back. "Who are you and what have you done with Sise?!" She said as she blushed and laughed like crazy. "That is the most emotional thing and the nicest to me, ever!" In her mind, she was reeling and going crazy, bad memories springing up at the confession of his caring. To her, it would have been easier if he didn't care, now. Her feelings are feeling worse and more troublesome.

"I am regretting it," He deadpanned.

"Oh, don't be like that. Its nice to know you don't hate me, Sise. And It's even greater to know I'm like an equal to you!" She said in relief as she yawned greatly. "You and Zack are the only two people to actually like me... but... I'm so tired... can I go to bed now?" She asked while standing up, she was still clad in her underthings. And it was hard for Sise not to stare. It had taken every amount of will in his massive stature to not take her and proclaim his wishes of court ship to her in those moments.

"Yes, you can," He said, fighting the urge to try and help her as her body radiated sadness and other emotions he couldn't place.

He watched her stride away, her rear bouncing and his codpiece getting woefully tight. "Damn you, woman..."

Sise didn't noticed Zack come down the stairs and glare at him. "Leave her alone."

He jerked his head towards the black-fringed human and snarled at him. "You do not control me, human," He growled as he stood to his full height. His head almost touched the ceiling and his large and clunky boots hitting the edges of the couches and the table.

He nodded. "You're right, doesn't mean she deserves you!" He called out. Sise nearly ended the human there. She was his. Not this humans.

"Do not make me spill your Honor..." He threatened, his voice becoming more of a snarl. "And oh why, do I, a capable warrior, who cares deeplyfor her, do not deserve her?"

"Because you are a major root of her problems! Your people have slaughtered her family, killed her squads, and for one! You are not even HUMAN! What can you offer her?!"

Sise flinched at the honesty of his words. His people did cause grief, and he was not a human, but a Sangheili. But... he cared for her so much it heart his hearts to see the beautiful human upset. He didn't understand the feelings for her, they were as alien to him as he is to the Humans. But he was a highly notable Warrior who could let her live in luxury upon Sangheilios for the rest of their lives. He had never felt this way towards another being in the entire galaxy. That was why he would never give her up, never stop fighting for her.

He wanted her as his mate.

"She will be mine, human." He growled.

He stared at Sise with wide eyes. "Your serious? You like her? Your serious? Good luck man, I know she will choose me, a human. Not some freak-ass-squid face," He sneered.

"Do not make me kill you."

"No, you won't because if you truly care for Lucy, you won't do it, she'll never forgive you if kill me like you are so good at, because other than that, you are useless." He laughed and walked to the fireplace.

Sise was furious, he was right. Again. He could not kill the infuriating male unless he wanted to never speak to Lucy again. He smiled, oblivious to the male, he could have Lucy. She always leaned into him, she didn't hate him! But... how will I know she likes me? She couldn't love me... maybe I'll go check up on her.

Sise dodged the furniture and went up the stairs to the room lucy was at, he hadn't known which one she was in, so he had to check them all, until he saw her form under the blankets. Opening the door wider, his hearing had picked up her whimpering and soft crying.

He let out a quiet growl and moved to her side, she was dreaming in the terrors again. He bent his legs and knelled before her beautiful face. He cooed softly as he gently petted her hair. His hearts strings being pulled. What was wrong? He could barely make out her horrified expression in the pitch black of the room.

Sise whined in distress, he had no idea as to what to do! Without thinking, he had put his hand on her face and cooed. She instantly stopped and gave a small smile before it quickly vanished into a silent scream.

Sise got up and began to fumble at the magnetic clamps of his combat-harness. His mind was in a haze as the armor dropped around his chest and arms and left his body to his skintight under-suit. He walked over and sat on the bed, where he gently grabbed her and brought her uncouncious form to him. He cooed and gave quiet whispers as he wrapped an arm around her midsection, where she had relaxed and snuggled up to him, finding warmth as she was unnaturally cold. She was nearly on his lap as he laid on his back, where she cuddled with his left arm and buried her face into his muscled chest.

His hearts beat rapidly as he pulled her tight against his chest. She had stopped having the nightmare and latched onto him. She had a smile and he couldn't hold back a laugh as she looked so peaceful. So happy.

He could not have believed it, he was holding her. He was finally touching her in a way his heart ached for and it had nothing to do with mating. He was content as he gently rolled onto his side and positioned her along with his body, his head on top of her protectively. His mandibles rubbing her head soothingly and his arm over her side, keeping her against him.

He lifted his head up and looked at her features in devotion. "I have promised to protect you, Lucy... even from your own mind..." He laid his head back onto her head and purred deeply. "You said once to never make a promise to a girl you can't keep... I will keep this one..."

After awhile, he had let sleep claim him. With her in his arms.

Little did he know, she had awoken after he pulled her onto him.