A month had passed since their meeting in the Great Fox, and although a lot of time had passed, life was still hard, still difficult to try and pick up the pieces to become whole again. Fox and Katt's relationship was now different, yet neither one of them could really say how…They still did many of their normal activities together, spent time together, gave each other real time and effort into their part of the relationship.

But it just didn't feel the same…It didn't feel right. Perhaps it never would again.

Fox's inner shell had been cracked, pierced from Katt's lies before, and it had never fully healed from such a fracture. They fought a lot, and argued all the time, much to Katt's disappointment and sadness for the two. Their relationship wasn't withstanding the test of time like she was desperately trying to keep together. But sometimes when you force something to stay together for two long, through means of coercion, it just blows up in your face even more so.

"Fox wait please!" She went after the man as he began to exit the feline's home, all this arguing had given the vulpine a headache, as he reached for his shades to put them over his eyes as he departed the home. "Hey!" She reached for his hand stopping him from exiting her small home as the two just stood in the doorway.

"I'm sorry…Let's just talk. Come back inside." He turned to face her grim look, a look he partially caused as his heart felt heavy. But he couldn't talk anymore, right now he just needed to be alone, perhaps some fresh air to clear his mind.

"I can't talk anymore Katt." He gave back to her quietly, his grasp on her hand weakening. "We've been talking and arguing for hours, I'm sick of it!" He finally snapped as the vulpine lost all his patience, throwing her hand to the side as he tried to calm down. But it was so hard, he loved her, but she was so infuriating at the same time. Fox turned toward the feline to just let her have it.

"I can't stop what I do because you're insecure about our relationship. Why are you the insecure one anyway!? I'm the one that…-"Fox cut himself off right there as he looked away, trying to regain his composure as he didn't want to hurt the feline any more than he already had. Katt began to tear up and tried to choke back her feelings through a broken voice. Sometimes it's better to quit while you're ahead.

"Fox…What can I do to show that I love you?" She desperately wanted to know.

"I don't know Katt, I don't have all the answers." He looked to the side, at nothing in particular as he let go of his breath. "I've been fighting for years, we've been fighting together for a long time, but now we're just fighting one another. We're arguing more than we ever had before. This isn't healthy for us Katt."

He turned to widened, sad eyes as he gave her his decision…At least for now. She didn't know what to say, what she could even say or do to change his mind…Fox wanted to be done for now, to be on a break.

"Are you asking me to…?"

"We need a break Katt, this" Fox used his hands swirling around the two as he locked eye contact. "This isn't working out, we are not working out. I need time, I need some time to clear my head and…Think about what I really want in life. You do as well. This fighting that we're doing isn't healthy for us, and it's not healthy for our relationship either."

"I know what I want in life. I want you, I want a new beginning. That's all I've ever truly wanted…After all this time why are you fighting me now?" She tried to wipe her unending tears away as the two looked toward one another, for the last time for a while. Life is all about finding who you are, and what you want. Life has a path that must be traveled at its own pace, and things in life can't be rushed or forced.

"Well I don't know what I want Katt. All I know is that I love you, but what I also know is that things are different between us…And not in a good way. I'm not saying that we are over, I just…Need some time to myself for a while." Fox began to walk away from the crying feline as she reached for his hand again, his back still turned toward her.

"You know I love you, right?" He turned to face the broken woman as the tears ran down her face. "I love you so much…"

"I love you too Katt…But sometimes, love isn't enough. I'm going for a run." Fox let their joint grasp crumble away as he headed for the sidewalk and began his jog into the city. Katt left it at that, just watching him go as she bowed her head in sadness, and went back into her small suburban home. She closed the door as she leaned against its frame, slowly sliding and crumbling to the floor as she sat there just letting her tears run down her face and fall down to the ground.

Katt felt for the first time in a long time, she couldn't be any lower. She felt like she was rock bottom and was still finding ways to plummet even further than before. Into the abyss. She didn't know why her and Fox's relationship just wasn't working anymore. Perhaps such deep wounds needed more time to heal, or perhaps that level of trust needed would never be there again. Or maybe perhaps…They just weren't meant to be. Katt silently prayed still sitting there in the dust on her floor, hoping the Makers would give her a miracle to bring their broken relationship back together again.

However, they weren't the only ones having troubles.

X

The two sisters sat in their living room, on opposite sides neither one of them talking to the other, just spacing out on their own. They were both on their phones doing this or that, Garnette playing some kind of game while Krystal planned around her job, marking dates on her calendar and planning for future sales. The fireplace was on as it was warm, just mindlessly tending to their devices as the plasma screen continued on its news broadcast.

"A story still in the making. The love triangle between Fox McCloud, former captain of the Star Fox team now model and businessman. Katt Monroe former captain of the Macbeth Space Force, now the famous model known for her work in women's rights. And Falco Lombardi, former member of the Star Fox team and now captain in the Corneria Special Forces, keeps unwinding new development and new juicy gossip." The feline reporter took a pause as she looked to her co-anchors, as this was a popular gossip channel between the four women. They were known for getting into the thick of their debates, with fiery attitudes and entertaining communication.

"So do you think the situation is really Fox McCloud's fault?"

"Of course it is! He's the homewrecker and he shouldn't be sticking his nose in other people's business!"

"He obviously didn't know, I personally don't think he did anything wrong. It was Monroe who was leading him on and essentially playing the both of them."

"Well the relationship between the bird and the cat are now officially over, that means she has the vulpine all to herself now and vice versa."

"But it doesn't seem to be that way! Media reports the two constantly fighting and bickering, sounds like their relationship is all down here from here!"

"Monroe was playing them both and now she's going to end up losing them both!"

"However we know that McCloud and Monroe's relationship goes a long way, further than most other relationships of today's time."

"Time doesn't mean anything necessarily! It's all about input! Give and take, effort, and meaning! Just because they've been together on and off throughout time doesn't mean it's going to stay that way!"

"Very true…I mean look at his other past relationships."

"Fara Phoenix ate up a lot of his time, and they were together for quite a while before they finally broke apart. Perhaps he'll go back to the fennec billionaire. After he's done with Monroe."

"Or maybe he'll go to someone else! Who knows, time will tell!"

"Men can be just as confusing as women."

"I can't believe people actually care about this stuff." Krystal shook her head as she looked to the screen, losing interest after that. "Who cares about what Fox McCloud does in his life?"

"It's just gossip Krystal." Garnette gave back, still tentative to her game on her phone. "People can't help to be curious, it's a being trait after all."

"What does it matter? It's his fault in the end."

"Krystal!" Garnette locked eyes with her older sister as she gave her a harsh glare. "Fox didn't know, I'm sure if he did he wouldn't have been okay with still continuing his relationship with Miss Monroe. I don't know him that well, but I know him well enough about his morals and beliefs on what he would have done."

"You and every other woman on this planet Garnette. For whatever reason that I don't know people actually care what happens in his life. Everyone except me." Krystal gave her sister a sly smile, as she teased the vulpine.

"You really don't like him do you?"

"No it's not that it's…I'd like to say I'm indifferent. I don't like him, but I don't dislike him either. I don't know…I don't know anything about him. I'm just neutral." Krystal admitted. It's not that she didn't like the vulpine for who he was, since she knew virtually nothing about it. It's more that she didn't see why he was such a big deal in the media. It was more of an irritable, cranky kind of dislike than actual dissatisfaction with the vulpine.

"Well he did help us." Garnette paused as she stood up, putting her phone down. "He did help me after all."

"You're right Garnette…Perhaps I'm being too harsh on him. He sounds like a nice enough man, I guess I should meet him myself before I judge him."

"He's came over here before…You're just never around when he does."

"Unfortunate for me." Krystal gave back in a sarcastic tone as Garnette just rolled her eyes and let go of her breath. Krystal stood up quickly as she threw her phone to the couch. "I'm so bored. I'm so used to working all the time I never had downtime, and I never really got bored either."

"Well what's John doing today?" Garnette asked her older sister, until the two shared an equal frown. "Is he still taking care of his dad?"

"Well of course…They can't afford a personal assistant or nurse or whatever."

"Perhaps he needs to put his dad into one of those nursing homes. Since what happened ya know?"

"He's thought about it. I think he's going too…He just doesn't have the time to be with his dad all the time. I think they're selling their property also." Krystal admitted as her thoughts trailed off to her silver vulpine.

John's father, the elder Vachano had a stroke, and was life crippled, and mute. He could no longer speak, though had most of his normal brain functioning despite slightly paralyzed. John spent basically all his free time away from work to tend to his father, though he wouldn't be able to do it much longer on his own. They had other family fly in from the other side of Corneria, however they were getting burnt out on taking care of John's father while the vulpine was away. Krystal had hardly seen or spoken to John since then, a good couple of weeks ago. She had offered to give her aid, however John didn't want their help. Not because he couldn't have used it, but he felt as though it would be embarrassing and ironic for his father after how poorly he had treated Krystal and her sister.

They were thinking about selling their property, the elder man no longer capable of doing any maintenance on the building despite rarely doing it regardless. And they were talking about moving him to a nursing home so he could have regular attention along with other elders, however the 24/7 constant live-in care was just so expensive…John had thought about requesting a transfer to the nursing home, since the hospital and this particular nursing home was owned by the same people. However it was just a thought for now. He had little time left for Krystal since then. She had offered to help him several times yet he always refused. He was different now than he was before his father's stroke…Not necessarily in a bad way, just slightly. However it was enough to throw the vixen off.

"I need some air." Krystal admitted as she headed for her room for a new change of clothes.

"Are you okay Krystal?"

"I don't know Garnette…Everything is just so strange now. Everything is out of balance."

"What do you mean?" The younger sister asked as she followed Krystal to her room, and stood in the doorway as she changed attire.

"Everything feels so upside down. Ever since his father's stroke…Well even before that honestly." Krystal pondered the thoughts in her mind, about herself and John's relationship…And that it felt strange, it felt wrong for some reason despite not knowing why.

"You've went on a few dates…did they not go well?" Garnette sounded concerned as Krystal tried to sum up an answer.

"No they were fine…In fact they were wonderful, a lot of fun. But…Something just feels off, we aren't clicking." Krystal finally looked to her younger sister as she held a face of disappointment for the older sister. "It just doesn't feel right, it doesn't feel like we're supposed to be together…"

"Do you think it's just all the stress causing your own self-doubts?"

"You know I thought about that but…" She paused as the elder sister trailed off again. "I don't think that's it. Something in my gut, something about my instincts tells me that this isn't the way, and that perhaps he isn't the one for me…" Krystal sounded so sad to mutter those words.

"I don't know Krystal." Garnette merely shook her head as she crossed her arms. "I suppose it doesn't have to be John, it could be literally anyone you want. But maybe you're both just stressed out…Or maybe you need more time together to really get to know one another."

"Perhaps Garnette, but it isn't about time. It's about connecting, you know getting in-sync with one another. We just aren't connected. I will give it more time…We aren't officially dating or exclusive, but you know with the dealings with his father John's a bit on the touchy side right now. I'll give it time, see what happens I guess." Krystal admitted as she had just finished putting on her attire, thin jogging pants and a dark tank-top as she stretched for a moment.

"Going for a run sister?"

"Yea, running has been helping with my stress, its fun and it keeps me in shape. Perhaps you should join me one of these days Garnette." Krystal teased her younger sister as Garnette gave her a face of disbelief, what did she just say?

"Are you saying I'm fat!?" She sounded angered, insulted, and for good reason too.

"I'm not saying anything Garnette!" Krystal cracked a sly smile as she let out a few small giggles. "I'm just saying you are welcome to join me whenever you want."

"Thanks but no thanks, as you can imagine I'm not exactly in the mood right now. I wouldn't want to slow you down with my slow and heavy strides." Garnette excused herself as she left it at that. Krystal went back into the living room to grab her phone, and prepare for her run.

"I love you Garnette, I should be back soon."

"I won't hold my breath!" She was still upset as Krystal giggled, and went out the door.

"Make sure you stop eating because you're bored!"

X

Running was always one of Krystal's favorite things to do when she had free time, it had just been so long since she could actively run it was no small feat for her. Although she had gained some weight, and was beginning to get healthier, she had a long ways to go to build back up all the muscle she had lost over the years. It was a hard task, but she got out in this beautiful weather and saw some of the sights. Time out here gave the vixen time to think, about many different things.

She ran by the pier where boats came in and out as the water looked so clear and clean, and Sol shinned so brightly on the water's reflective surface. Millions of sparkles on the water, as the sky was so clear and bright, a wonderful day. It was hard to believe that it was late October and this beautiful weather would disappear into the cold nights that were to come. Krystal wasn't running anywhere in particular, just around the city outskirts trying to get some fresh air to clear her mind.

Everything was beginning to turn into one jumbled mess. Their lives had changed for the better, but overtime they weren't changing positively anymore, they were just staying neutral, or even yet were getting worse. It seemed like troubling times were in store for everyone. Even Fox McCloud had his current troubles.

Krystal's job as a manager wasn't exactly difficult, but it was definitely stressful at the time. And although she was no stranger to stress and pressure, it wasn't something you were always comfortable around either. Her relationship with John was messy, things didn't fit into place like she had first thought, and now with his father things were just going downhill from there. She would give it more time, but she didn't know if more time would do anything or not. Perhaps he just wasn't the one for her.

It was like they tried to force and shove the puzzle piece that was their relationship into a slot that didn't fit perfectly, smooth along all the edges. A natural, perfect completion to the puzzle that was their relationship. But it just didn't work.

Krystal knew she should have been sad to have these thoughts, being on this world he was the only one who she had any feelings for, who showed them any kind of generosity or acceptance, it felt wrong in a way to turn her back on the man. She didn't want to give the impression the vixen was only after his credits and not the man of his being. But that was life after all, some things don't always pan out the way you hope, and forcing things to work out in relationships was never a good idea. She just felt…for a lack of better words weird.

The vixen felt strange, she wasn't happy or sad…about anything in her life that should embark and spark some kind of other emotional feeling. She was just in the middle, indecisive, and just felt dull. Her life was boring. Krystal was stuck in place, things had gotten better, but things were just staying put for now. Life in general seemed kind of boring, uneventful, though much more easy and enjoyable at the same time with all her free time. Krystal was ready, she urged for something new in her life. New experiences, unknown faces, and perhaps new interests as well.

With as many beings there were on this world, different species, rich and poor, out for life or in for privacy, Krystal was bound to meet and fall in love with someone else. She didn't yearn for love, though would accept it as well if the opportunity presented itself, or himself. What Krystal really yearned for was a sense of action, and purpose. She was waiting for what life would show just around the next corner.

However little did these two being knows and realize what was awaiting for them around the corner. When these two souls coincidentally run into each other they find the only common factor in their completely different lives: is that True Love finds its way and always hits its mark. Even across the cosmos. Even across the stars.

Two beings smacked hard right into one another as they both turned the corner going faster than they should have been, both falling to the ground letting out aching groans of pain. Krystal slowly picked herself up, holding her throbbing head as she sat on her knees.

"I'm sorry, are you alright miss?" A voice called out to her, Krystal saw his hand to her right as she put her own into his, the man pulling both of them standing on their feet.

"Yea…I think I'm okay." The vulpine pulled both of them up, and that's when they finally looked to see one another.

Fox McCloud and Krystal Cerin stood close to one another, both in a complete daze holding one another's hands. They just stood there, staring into one another's eyes for several moments. It's as if the world around them had slowed down, come to a complete halt as they gazed upon another, completely unaware to what was going on around them. Their entire focus was on the other.

"Hi."

"Hello." They gently exchanged between the two. Krystal looked up the man head-to-toe, as a slight blush came across her face. She was just entirely captivated to this stranger holding her hand, standing close. Completely mesmerized by his being.

He did the same to her, Fox was just completely bewitched by this woman, whether she meant to or not. As Krystal captivated his senses and thoughts. She was just so stunning, so beautiful. He knew it was her, this had to be her for the two to finally meet. This was Garnette's older sister, Krystal Cerin. She was lovely he knew, but he never would have thought she would be this beautiful.

"Oh I'm sorry." Fox's face flushed once he realized the two were still holding hands, as she did the same as well following his nervous lead.

"It's alright." Krystal calmed his nerves. Something in the pit of her stomach gave her massive butterflies, something beyond logical reasoning and judgment told her that this was the man she had been seeking. All this time something told her that being with John wasn't the answer, even when she couldn't see the answer with her eyes, she could feel it with her heart. This vulpine had to be the man she was looking for, even though Krystal hardly knew what she was looking for herself. Something deep within completely overpowered her logical reasoning. This butterfly feeling was nothing like she had felt before, never this powerful. In all that was going wrong in her life, this man felt all that was supposed to be true in the world.

The same went for Fox. Something along the lines of instinct told him that this woman, Krystal, was supposed to special. She was supposed to be very dear to his heart. Very special indeed as he was just completely charmed by those turquoise-blue colored eyes. He felt something deep inside awaken in him, something that demanded to be released. Naïve love. Although no answers could explain it, something about this woman felt natural, and right.

"Do I…know you?" Krystal got out slowly, still hadn't taken her eyes off of him. "You look…very familiar."

Fox didn't quite know how to respond. This was the first time the two had met, at least where they could exchange words. But for him to not be recognizable struck him as odd. He was one of the most famous people on this planet, let alone the entire system. People he had never met before had recognized the vulpine, even from afar. Yet this girl couldn't put his face to his known persona.

"No I don't think so." He gave the vixen, concealing his true identity. Fox didn't know why, but part of him felt like he shouldn't reveal who he is…at least not yet. Something told him that he should keep hidden his true name until later, however he couldn't keep his eyes off her figure either as the two obliviously stared at one another. Something told him to keep it back for the time being, perhaps his true identity could scare her away before the two could really talk.

"Well what's your name?" Krystal asked, desperately wanting to know. It took Fox several moments to come up with a name, if he wasn't going to give her his real name for now.

"I'm…James." Fox gave her the false name for now with a heart-warming smile. "James Cloud. May I ask your name miss?" The vulpine presented the question to the woman, even though he already knew her true name.

"I'm Krystal. Krystal Cerin." She didn't even realize she was blushing as the blue vixen gave her name to this stranger.

"A pleasure to meet your acquaintance Miss Cerin."

"Likewise." Krystal looked to the ground to see a pair of shades that had fallen off the man's face. "Oh I'm terribly sorry."

"It's alright." As she handed the shades back to the vulpine did he start to put together perhaps why Krystal didn't recognize him. The shades, along with the outfit of running pants and a half zipped up jacket probably made him look much different than what he would normally look like compared to the white tuxedo. These shades were larger than the ones he normally wore, to keep the sunlight out of his eyes as his head already throbbed before the initial run-in. The hair on the top of his head was actually messy, as these last few days of stress arguing with the feline kept him untidy and out of line, just like his emotions. However all this stress had brought him face-to-face of a creature that was the embodiment of beauty, and bliss. Right now his mind had completely forgotten about the pink feline, and was completely focused on this blue vixen standing in front of him.

"Out for an afternoon run?"

"Yea. Trying to relieve some stress." Fox admitted under his false pretense of a name as he took the shades from her, putting them back on his head. "The shades are to help with my migraine. Keep everything a bit darker so the bright lights don't agitate my head even more."

"Makes perfect sense, so listen James…I was…" Krystal stopped herself right there before she could complete her question. She was going to invite James to lunch with her, however she caught herself asking why. Why was she being so forward with this stranger? This man she didn't even know. She couldn't deny the feelings within her heart, that this man felt so right with her, something was telling the blue vixen to try and push it forward. She was driven by something much stronger than logical thought, she was driven by what felt fate, perhaps her fate with this man. However her mind was halting her expansion.

That is until she saw the pensive eyes of James again, he had taken off his shades to maintain eye-contact with the blue vixen, and she was entranced by his pupils again.

"Yes?" He urged her to go on, a hint of desire under his tone as well.

"I was wondering…If you wanted to maybe grab some lunch with me?" She asked in a nervous, innocent kind of tone as Krystal gave an embarrassed smile. That smile melted the vulpine's heart as his smiled widened without noticing.

"Of course. I'd love too."

X

The two found themselves entering the shop at which Krystal worked and managed. However before Fox entered the store, he decided to put his shades back on. Krystal may not have recognized him, but that didn't mean others would. And if they took note of his true identity before he had told Krystal, it would probably not end well for him in the end. He entered the shop behind the blue vixen as she gave him a questioning yet concerned look.

"Are you alright James?"

"Yea I am Krystal, sorry about my shades. Whether natural light or not bright lights just hurt my head when I have a migraine."

"I'm sorry about our little bump-in. It probably made your headache worse."

"Don't worry about it." He peeled back the shades just enough to send the vixen a flirtatious wink, one that gave her a bit more confidence to what she was going to do next.

"Well, I'll grab us some lunch, how about you grab us somewhere to sit?"

"Oh don't you need help paying for it?" Fox asked, he didn't want the vixen to go out of her way for him.

"Leave it to me." Krystal gave back the same kind of gesture with a wink to the vulpine, and went toward the front counter, leaving him in an upbeat mood. Fox looked around the shop as he grabbed a booth back in the corner, away from most of the crowd. For whatever reason the vulpine felt nervous, as his palms began to sweat and he could feel his heartbeat increasing. It was like he was on a blind date, because at this point technically they were.

No what Fox was most worried about was the fact they were in a public place where anybody could have blown his cover, and he would lose the trust of Krystal's heart. Something he wanted to desperately hold onto this point, even if he couldn't explain the logic behind it. He just kept staring at his own two hands, and tried to calm down.

"Krystal, who is that guy you're with?" Jennet asked the blue vixen as they pointed to the vulpine in the way back. She turned to meet them with a sheepish smile.

"A friend."

"A friend? Is that your boyfriend? The one you had been talking about nonstop since last month?"

"No! And John isn't my boyfriend by the way?"

"Really?" Natasha sounded surprised. "Because by the way you were talking about him he sure seemed like it. What happened? Did you two split up?"

"You can't exactly split up when you were never truly together to begin with ya know."

"Then what happened?" Jennet gave the vixen a serious question as the two locked eye-contact."

"I don't know…" Krystal sounded sad, and with good reason. What was she doing here with James? She had someone who loved her…Even if she didn't love him back. "I guess we didn't just click together."

"So you're keeping your options open?"

"Yes but…It sounds so bad when you put it like that." Krystal admitted as she felt a bit shady, being out with another man without John knowing. Even if they weren't officially together, it still felt dirty, like sneaking around.

"You shouldn't feel bad Krystal. That's how dating works after all. You bounce from person-to-person until you find someone that's worth sticking around with." Natasha helped put her friend's mind at ease, and Krystal perked up a bit.

"Really?"

"Come on Krystal don't tell me you've never even had a boyfriend or went out dating before? Not even before you came to Corneria?" Natasha asked as she finished up the two meals.

"No, never." Krystal admitted. Though she didn't feel any shame in it despite the shocked faces of her two friends. "Is that weird?"

"I mean…its not common Krystal. Most people by our age have had at least a few boyfriends, dating partners, whatever you want to call them. You didn't even have a crush on a boy when you were younger?"

"I mean of course I did. But where I come from things are different than from here…" Krystal admitted again, though she felt a bit saddened. It hurt a little to feel as though she had missed out on some life experiences. Jennet finally shut Natasha up as she gave her a hard elbow.

"It's okay Krystal. It's not bad at all. Besides don't look so sad! That vulpine looks very cute." Jennet perked her friend as well as boss up as Krystal smiled.

"You think? Oh gosh I hope I don't blush in front of him. I'm getting all sweaty and heated." Krystal began to feel a little flushed, the feeling that came with a nervous crush.

"Is it just me or…does he look familiar?" Natasha said aloud as the three looked to the man sitting alone at the table. As he rolled his neck and cracked it rather loud.

"Kind of?" Jennet gave as the two turned toward their blue furred friend. "What's his name?"

"James."

"Well he's very cute Krystal, have fun and good luck!" The two girls placed the meals in the blue vixen's hands and rushed her back to the table with a bit of a hard shove. Krystal glared at the two as he started walking back to the table, and turned to see a bit of a pleasant surprise. James had taken off his shades again, and those emerald eyes captivated her mind once again and made her heart skip a beat.

"Is everything okay Krystal?" That heavenly voice sung her name as she gave a gentle smile, and sat down to join him.

"No everything's alright. Here it's the special."

"Thank you so much." He gave her a nice smile, a smile that was melting her heart as she looked to her food with a light blush. "What do I owe you?"

"Nothing, it has its perks when you are the manager of a restaurant."

"Oh wow." He seemed impressed, and Krystal felt relieved as James smiled to her. "That's so cool. Do you like working here?"

"I didn't use to but now it's a lot more pleasant than when I was working here as a supervisor." Krystal admitted as she thought back to the time she had spent in this shop as a grunt, a peon to her old cold-hearted manager. Those memories felt so long ago but it's only been a month. She had a lot of memories coming here at the crack of Sol and leaving long before Sol went down and the lights came on to illuminate the city.

"Well I'm glad to hear it."

"What about you? What do you do for a living?" Krystal was just curious as she took a bite out of her sandwich.

"Me? Uhhh…" Fox didn't know exactly what to tell her. He could tell her many different things, but he didn't know if any one thing was going to give away his identity. The vulpine didn't know if he should lie and tell her something completely false, or just smudge the truth a bit and not reveal it all.

"You may think it's kind of dumb." Fox told the blue vixen in a nervous tone, though he really said that to buy some time to think of something to say.

"I'm sure I won't. I promise." Krystal gave the man a happy face as her eyes held a type of innocence, the innocence that was curiosity as to what James did with his time and his life.

"Well…I used to be a pilot."

"Used to?" Krystal asked in a questioning tone. "That sounds very adventurous, why did you quit that?"

"It's not all what it's cracked up to be honestly." Fox admitted as he looked at the vixen with a serious expression. "I fought in the war years ago, and since then…I don't really have a taste for flying. I go flying for the joyride of a pleasant experience, but I don't do anything with it for a way of living."

"I can't say I know what it feels like James, I'm so sorry." Although Krystal was relatively new to Corneria, countless people had told her about the terrible war not even 10 years ago. About how some madman scientist Andross nearly brought total oblivion to Corneria and the Lylat System. And how Fox McCloud, and his elite team Star Fox spearheaded the Lylat resistance and saved the system from total annihilation. That's how Fox McCloud got so famous after all. She wasn't completely living under a rock.

"It's alright, but thank you for compassion Krystal. Anyway what I do now days is much different than what I used to do. I've done a little bit of everything. I used to work with the military. An actor, a singer…a model."

"You're a model?" Krystal gazed upon his body right in front of him, as it made the vulpine blush. "I guess that makes sense."

"Dang Krystal, am I that ugly?" He teased her as he took a bite of his meal.

"No I just don't know anyone who does modeling, except Katt Monroe."

"Well I'm not as famous as she is. A lot of people compare me to Fox McCloud though, they say I look a lot like him."

"You know now that you mention it, you do look kind of like him. From what I've seen of him on the plasma screens. You're much more attractive though."

"Much more?" Fox thought it was strange yet amusing that Krystal thought he was more attractive than…himself. It seems like as long as Krystal didn't put the name to the face, she couldn't tell the difference between Fox and James.

That's when Krystal realized her mistake, as her face lit ablaze. "I mean don't me wrong you're very handsome! I mean-!" Krystal didn't know what to say or do, she just sat there in a jumbled up, blushing mess.

"I appreciate the compliment Krystal." James gave her a confident look as she calmed down, and smiled along with him.

"Well to be a model you have to be attractive, and in good shape."

"You're very stunning yourself Krystal." Fox gave the vixen the compliment as she smiled on.

"Thank you, so do you like your jobs?"

"To be honest I have a lot of funds from my work in the war I don't really need to work. I just do it because it keeps me entertained. Though I've thought about stopping lately." Fox admitted under his false pretense of a name even though the feeling of quitting his career was true. Everything felt like it was slipping, in his work life and his personal life. Part of him felt like he was old news, washed up despite being on some kind of broadcasting show every day.

"You should do what makes you happy then I suppose." Even though Krystal was only giving her two cents on what the vulpine should do, her words spoke a type of clarity he hadn't heard from anyone else before. Fox didn't need to work, he just did it because he liked the attention it brought to him. But lately that desire to be the center of attention, to be the spotlight was dying down. Ever since everything came crashing down with Katt…

"Thank you Krystal, I think I honestly needed to hear that. Others have told me I shouldn't but…It's nice to hear someone siding with me for a change."

"Having a rough couple of days?" Krystal sounded concerned as the vulpine was surprised. She hardly knew him and he could just tell she was concerned for a stranger's wellbeing.

"More like a rough couple of weeks."

"To be honest with you…So have I. My life has changed drastically within the last few months, some of it for the good. But some of it, not so much."

"I'm sorry Krystal." This date was quickly becoming a petty party as the two were sulking, however once they looked in the other in the eyes, they help lifted each other's hearts and spirits.

"Thank you James, but that is life after all isn't it? Live and learn."

"You're right, live and learn. Some things don't always work out the way you want them to. But sometimes…You have to let things go and see what life has in store for you."

"I have a feeling I already know." Krystal said a little bit louder than she meant as her face quickly lit ablaze, as well as the vulpine's. A nervous atmosphere built up between the two of them as the two broke the eye contact, and looked away.

Great Krystal, now he's going to think you're some kind of creepy stalker. I may never see him again… The blue vixen looked to James as she was surprised, he gave her a comforting look that no one else had shown her before. It's almost as if…He knew exactly what she was thinking, and exactly what she was feeling as well.

"Me too Krystal." Fox gave her with the most sincere tone he could muster, and it made Krystal's heart beat like crazy. However even though this was comforting, it was also depressing.

Krystal was sitting here head over heels for this complete stranger, when the man she knew she should have these feelings for gave everything the vixen ever wanted to her. He gave her anything from credits when they needed it to food when they were hungry. He gave his compassion, his home, his strength, and his heart to Krystal.

And how was she repaying him? By backstabbing him. By double-crossing the silver vulpine being with James. Krystal felt sad, she almost felt like crying as she hated herself in this exact moment.

"Krystal, are you alright?" However one look from James was all she needed to uplift her spirits, and all but forget John as she smiled.

"I'm fine, thank you though James." Truth be told, Fox kind of felt the same way. He had known Katt for years, loved her for years. They weren't married, they had never even talked about the idea. But they both knew that one day that was to be their fate, to be together forever. Or so they at least thought…Fox showed a fake smile, however he felt the same dismal feelings Krystal must have been feeling. This date was completely bi-polar going from happiness to sadness in the blink of an eye, back and forth they go. However with a smile and a look from the other, both these souls were able to heal, and forget the past and focus on the now. Focus on one another.

They talked for hours, long after Sol had went down and the sandwich shop was becoming empty. Jennet and Natasha looked at the two every now and then. They were just sitting there, talking, smiling, laughing, and bonding…

However Krystal was snapped out of her trance by the loud ringing that was her PSC, to see Garnette calling her as she hit the receptor.

"Yes Garnette?"

"Krystal!? Where have you been you've been gone for hours! Its nearly 11 at night!"

"What!?" Krystal yelled as she stood up suddenly from her seat, startling James and what few people were around them.

"Oh my gosh I'm so sorry Garnette."

"It's okay Krystal…I was just beginning to worry if something happened to you."

"No I'm alright. I just…met a new friend is all." Krystal smiled to James as she was still talking to her sister standing in place of her seat.

"Are you going to be home soon?"

"Yes I'm on my way now Garnette, love you."

"Love you too." The two sisters hung up the phone as the blue vixen looked to the brown vulpine as he began to tidy up their mess from hours before.

"I'm sorry James that was my sister. I have to go."

"It's okay Krystal, It is getting pretty late I didn't even realize." Fox rubbed the temples of his head and let out a deep breath, cracking his neck in the process.

"I didn't either…Time sure flies." Krystal admitted to herself as she was deep in thought, even though she had James walking out right beside her. The two stood outside the entrance to the shop, as Krystal had her arms wrapped around her chest and looked to the ground. While James had his hands in his coat jacket.

"Are you alright Krystal?"

"James…" She took a pause as Krystal turned toward the man, trying to be sincere and apologetic while giving him the bad news. "I had a wonderful time, but-"

"I know Krystal." He gave her a half-hearted smile. She may have never said it, but Fox thought she was easy to read. "It was pretty obvious that there was someone else. I'm sorry I just…didn't want you to go."

"So…Is there someone else?" He had figured her out, now she wanted the same kind of confirmation.

"There is…" Fox admitted as he looked away, feeling dirty. He had given Katt more than an earful about what she had been doing, and now look at him doing the same thing. He was no better, in fact he was worse. He was a hypocrite.

"But-"

"It hasn't been going well." James looked to the woman looking up to him as she had read him just as well. "I know the feeling."

"You too?'

"Yes…" She paused as Krystal looked away, staring out to the darkened street. "As much as it pains me to admit it…It's true."

"Same here." The two didn't even realize they were stepping closer to one another. They both knew the other's struggle, because they were living the same kind of life. Even though the rest of their lives were completely different. They were fighting through what seemed almost like a burden at this point. They both knew they should have been happy for those that loved them, but at the same time…They just couldn't deny the bond, the attraction to each other. As much as Krystal wanted to forget James so she could focus on John, his smile and voice just wouldn't leave her mind in peace.

Fox felt the exact same way. As much as he knew he should be in love with Katt, for all that she had given him through the years. Krystal's eyes and upbeat persona was entrancing him to want more. The two were playing a dangerous game, walking a thin line of right and wrong, and it was getting thinner by the minute. They were tied together by something much stronger than the will of a man or a woman. They were brought together by what seemed like fate.

The two were inching closer and closer to each other, first a few feet apart, then a foot, half a foot, until they were mere inches away from each other's face. They closed in slowly on the other, following in a rhythm and motion that you didn't think of with your mind or see with your eyes, but what you felt with your heart.

That is until Fox fell short, and pulled away slowly. He could tell Krystal was hurt, even though she understood exactly why he pulled away. Because it was wrong.

"I'm sorry." Fox started off. "I swear it isn't you it's just-"

"I know James." Krystal looked at him not with glaring eyes or an angered face, but with a face of understanding and a small smile as she looked upon him with a simple gaze. "I'm sorry too. I'm no better than yourself."

There was a long awkward silence between the two, as they both just stood there now a bit of space between them. Krystal let down her saddened and disappointed face as she began to walk away from James, into the darkness that would lead her to home…alone and isolated in the dark.

"Will I see you again?" She turned to look at James as he held a strange expression. He was sad, and looked like he was almost in an anxious panic. Wondering if he would ever see the vixen of his dreams again. He wanted to see her much more than just in his dreams, he wanted her to be a part of his reality.

Krystal knew this, and it made her heart sing and her face blush as she spoke slowly and softly. "Well…You know where I work now." She tried to play funny with him as Fox gave an amused chuckle, and looked at the building.

"I guess I do."

"You could always call me. Perhaps we can meet up again." Krystal sounded a bit afraid, and with good reason. She was afraid he would say no, and she would never get to see James again. After all it was a big world filled with cold hearts, she wanted to stay nearby one that she knew was warm and full of love for her, even if it wasn't John's heart.

He gave her a relieved smile as he blushed a bit himself. "I would love to."

"Okay." Krystal walked back to him as she grabbed his hand, holding it within her own as his body heat felt rejuvenating, freeing her doubts and worries from her mind. She reached for a pen and started to right her number in the palm of his hand, being cute leaving a heart at the end.

"Call me sometime." Krystal gave plainly as she let go of his hand, wishing she didn't have to as she started to walk away back toward her home.

"I will. Goodnight Krystal."

"Goodnight James. I hope to see you again." Krystal turned her back on the man as she headed home in the dark, even though she felt isolated and alone, she knew his spirit would never leave her. It was crazy, she knew nothing about James, absolutely nothing about his life and past experiences. But part of her didn't care. Krystal couldn't deny the feelings in her heart, she had fallen in love with him.

Fox just watched her go, until he realized how late it was and he needed to be heading home as well. He started walking away in the opposite direction, into the darkness alone as well as he looked to his palm, with the vixen of his dream's number in it. He stopped to look at Krystal who was still walking away, for only a moment as he headed back. But in that moment, he knew he loved her. Even though he didn't know why, even though he had absolutely no reason to love this stranger. He just knew. His father James had always told his son to trust his instincts, and his instincts told him that next time he would always want to be with her.

That's when Krystal looked back to him as well walking away in the Darkness toward the opposite direction, wishing he didn't have to leave her. The two did this several times over, however when one stopped to look at the other, their back was facing them. They both knew that deep down, beyond all logical reasoning, they had fallen in love with the other. Complete strangers living completely different lives, yet completely the same type of love for the other. The type of love you can have for someone who makes you feel whole, that you never want to let go.

Before long they had lost sight of the other, heading to separate beds, and separate loved ones for the night. However even though they had to leave one another in presence, they would never truly be alone in spirit. The love for one another may be dormant in time, but it would never truly disappear.

One day these two will meet again, and when that day comes. They may never leave each other again.

Author's Notes

Yea it's been a while. Long story short I graduated from college, worked full time for the past month. Then I had problems at school because for whatever reason they are telling me I didn't graduate. Been applying to different jobs, doing this, doing that.

But it's nice to update again! Can't wait to hear what you all think

Take it easy

Zythxx.