That night was one of the best sleeps I've had for as long as I could remember. My entire life, or at least as far back as memory reached, I had never really slept. I always either found myself in Maxwell's domain or stayed just on the edge of consciousness. I hardly believed it the next morning when I woke up actually feeling well-rested and peaceful. Somewhere near me, I could smell fresh water, most likely a pond, and in the same direction of the scene another, more pleasant scent. I yawned and stretched and made my way towards it.

I felt a warm smile come to my face, something so rare for me, as I spotted Roslyn splashing and somersaulting in the sunlit pool. She spotted me and grinned. "Come on!" She called, laughing. "It's great!" Her necklace had been placed on a flat rock by where she was now.

Oh, why not? I sauntered to the edge of the water, feeling the ripples of water caused by her play tugging against my paws. Her eyes lit up as I neared her and dove under the water for a second before reappearing just feet away from me and splashing me with her tail.

"Hey!" I protested, feeling my own mirth swell up in my chest. It was odd... I had truly never felt happy like this before. Her eyes widened in mock fear and tried to swim away, but I was still close enough to feel rock and I was able to launch myself towards her and grab her shoulders. She laughed again before diving again and popping back up on the surface behind me, pushing me towards the center of the lake. She splashed towards land again and climbed up on the rock shelf where her necklace was. A few seconds later I followed her, shaking myself dry. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be back with your troop?"

"No- well, yeah, but I'd prefer to hang out here! With you!" She pressed up against me. "Also... that reminds me..." Roslyn looked away but did not move. "I've been... wanting to ask you something."

I tipped my head. "What's up?"

"What am I to you?"

I was shocked for a second at her question. "What do you mean?" Did I do something?

"Well," she looked embarrassed. "I mean... what am I? Your friend... your acquaintance... that one weird prime ape who freed you..." She looked up at me, blinking her wide, hopeful eyes. "Someone... someone you could grow to love?"

...Love?

Love?

LOVE.

NO. OH MY GOD NO. THAT'S WHAT THIS FEELING IS. THAT'S WHY IT'S SO WEIRD.

WHAT DO I DO? WHAT DO I DO?

"I... you aren't someone... I could... grow to love," I whispered uneasily.

Her tail drooped and she looked down once more. "I understand... sorry I-"

"No." I grabbed her front paws and smiled as she looked up again. "I mean... I think... I think I already do love you."

"What do you mean... think?"

"Well..." I started, dropping her paws and sitting down, facing away from her and towards the lake. "I mean... I've never felt like this before."

"How do you feel?" She prompted.

"Like... like I actually... want to smile and laugh... not just put on a show. I want to talk to you and listen to you... I've never been in love before... is this... is this what that is?"

She pressed against me. Once more I could feel the way her heart was pounding, quicker than normal. Or is that me? I wondered, noticing or the first time that my own heart was mirroring her's. "I've never loved either," she admitted. "And I never thought..."

"It'd be someone like me," I murmured.

"That I ever would," she corrected. "But you are describing exactly what I feel..."

I looked at her, a tiny smile forcing its way onto my face, but the second I turned she locked me in another hug. I was shocked at first then calmed, resting my head on her shoulder and hugging her back, a content sigh bubbling out of my throat. "I hardly know you..."

"but it feels like I've known you forever," she breathed, squeezing me tighter.

"Honestly, I never expected, if I was to fall in love, that you'd basically come flipping and fighting into my life," I laughed lightly, my chest growing tight.

"I never expected you to be staring at me while I'm flipping and fighting." She sighed, releasing me from the hug but still putting almost all of her weight against me. "Everyone I talked to spoke to me like I was some precious gemstone to be traded and admired, but not truly appreciated," she growled. "They didn't let me do much for myself."

"You taught yourself how to fight..."

"That's why I fight differently than almost all prime apes. And I thought... well, more like hoped, that if I started fighting dragoons they'd realize I wasn't just a delicate flower."

"But you were wrong..."

"I was... but if I didn't start doing that... I wouldn't be here right now... feeling my mind all tripped up on itself as I try to comprehend what this is. Is this love? Is this appreciation? Is this the feeling like I belong? Whatever it is... I only really get it with you. And... I need it. I feel like I need it. Now that I've felt it I can't get enough." She clamped her mouth shut and looked at me, looking slightly embarrassed. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to dump my whole life story on you."

"No no no... keep talking."

A smile twitched at the edge of her lips. "I... no one... no one has ever asked for me to talk..."

"Well, I am."

"What about your group? You can't... I thought you can't stay here."

"I shouldn't... I'll let you know now so it doesn't come as a surprise to you later, but I'm a bit of a rule breaker."

"Later? You mean you're staying?"

"If... if I can't find my group very soon... I will consider staying."

"Oh thank you thank you!" She cried, wrapping her arms around my neck affectionately.

Oh dear... what have I just gotten myself into? I wondered, but before I could say anything more she wrestled off her necklace and held it for a few seconds before putting it over my own neck. I blinked, slightly shocked. "I thought I was supposed to be something special to even touch your necklace?" I exclaimed, baffled.

She leaned her head on my shoulder. "You are something special," she whispered, covering my paw with her's. "You're my soulmate."

A/N: Yep... that just happened... Wow, okay. First time writing a confession scene, I will say that, so... yeah... may not be the best, but -throws arms in air- I tried!