Here's a new chapter for you guys to enjoy!(hopefully ;) ) Apologies that it's such a short one...but I feel really ill,a case of a bad cold that's making me wanna sleep most of the time and otherwise brings "lovely" headaches along!-_-' I hope I'll be better soon n able to write more. Please read&review though!:)

Disclaimer:Nope...me not owns nothin...just a stupid cold...n I don't even wanna own that one...-_-

To the men in my life

They sat quietly next to each other while listening to the distant sound of traffic.

"I have to thank you,Giglia." Richter eventually broke the silence.

She looked at him in surprise. "Why is that?" she asked.

"Well,you open me up in a way,make me talk." he admitted shrugging as if it wasn't a big deal "and although I might not look too happy about it,I think it's what I need."

Giglia smiled at him. "I'm a bit stunned by that,Commandante...I didn't want to force you or anything,I just care about you,'tis all."

"Giglia,I think it's time you stopped calling me Commandante Richter...my name is Maximillian." he said giving her one of his rare but therefore even more stunning true smiles.

"Well,I will gladly call you Max,Commandante...although I have to ask...how come you're offering me this now?I didn't think of this as an ideal opportunity...seeing how this evening began..."

"Giglia,it's not a big thing really," Richter lied a light blush creeping over his cheeks "it's just...I mean...you know...nothing..."

Giglia giggled softly and said: "It's alright Max...I care about you just as much."

And with that being said she put her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. After a while when she had drifted off to sleep,Richter watched her closely and gently brushed through her hair. He still couldn't quite grasp what this woman did to him,it was true...she had this aura about her...something that assured him that he could trust her. But additionally it made him want to forget his usual suspicions...he knew better than to trust complete strangers,put himself in such a vulnerable position and yet with her it was different...But when he looked at her,sleeping so peacefully leaning against him,he couldn't help but worry. She was poisoned...had been about a month ago and they had no idea what kind of poison it was,how strong it was,how easy it would be to find an antidote...but he knew that he couldn't stand the thought of losing her.

"Hey..." he whispered nudging her softly "I think it's time to go home."

But she only moaned reluctantly and wrapped her arms around him.

Richter felt the usual warmth spread through his body as he whispered again "Come on Giglia,Robert's probably worried."

This time Giglia lifted her head. "You're right." she said opening her eyes sleepily "Robert...I really need to talk to him."

Richter nodded in agreement and took back his jacket from her.

"But this time no mysterious disappearances,right?" she asked hopeful "I mean...we will see each other again soon,right Max?"

A soft smile was playing on his lips as he nodded and said "Of course,I promise."

The appartment was cloaked in darkness by the time Giglia got home which,in fact,wasn't all that surprising because it was 2 in the morning. She was about to quietly tiptoe to her room,when she saw a movement out of the corner of her eye.

"Giglia?" Robert mumbled and she followed his voice into the living room. He had been asleep on the couch.

"Hey,what are you doing here?" she whispered quietly.

"Well,I had to wait for you,make sure you were ok. And Vittoria was tired,so she went to bed."

Giglia smiled softly. "You're way too kind,Robert." she said lowering her head in shame "I'm sorry about what I said earlier."

"Don't worry about it anymore." he replied giving her one of his gentle,reassuring smiles.

"May I?" she asked wanting to lie down on the couch next to him.

"Sure." he said pulling back the blanket and allowing her to slip underneath it.

"So,what was going on tonight?I clearly missed something between you and Richter."

"Yes...he was behaving strangely...yet again...and wanted to run away...yet again..and I was just getting fed up with it all. But then we had a talk...and I mean a real talk...there were tears involved."

Upon hearing this remark Robert looked up surprisedly.

"Well,not really...but he told me quite a lot about him...why he's so bitter and hurt and...I can call him Max now."

Robert took a deep breath,about to voice what he was thinking.

"Robert,as I said before...I know you don't like him but the more I find out about him,the more I..feel..."

"Are you in love with him?"

"Yes,I think I am." she said quietly "but I don't think he is...I'm more like a daughter to him."