That night Soul laid in his bed with his arms behind his head, staring up at the ceiling…thinking about Maka. He kept thinking about that kiss as consistently as the loud bangs of thunder roared outside, making it very hard to fall asleep.

He finally began to drift off, when he heard his door creak open. His eyes shot open and focused on the doorway. He watched a dark silhouette that was shaped much like Maka sneak into his room. The room lit up from the storm as she lifted his covers without saying a word and crawled into his bed beside him. She faced away from him, allowing her body to slightly touch his.

He was smiling. "Maka? You okay," he asked. She smiled. "Couldn't sleep. Is this alright?"

"Of course," Soul said still smirking, not moving. She crunched herself closer to his body. Happy by her surprise appearance, he rolled over to face her as she burrowed herself even closer into his chest. He placed his arm around her waist underneath the covers. There was no gap between their perfectly aligned bodies. Soul intertwined his fingers with hers and nestled his face in the nape of her neck.

He closed his eyes listening to the rain pound on the roof when suddenly Maka turned around and, without warning, planted a strong kiss on his lips. Soul's heart skipped a beat when she pushed him onto his back and climbed on top of him, straddling him, not severing the kiss she had enforced.

Soul's heart was pounding as his instincts immediately took hold of him. He placed one hand behind her neck and one on her thigh, pressing her closer into him. Her fingers twisted and turned in his messy, white hair as their tongues once again met. A deep desire to be closer to Maka burned inside of Soul. He forced his lips harder on to hers as if it wasn't enough. He wanted more. He grabbed Maka passionately, and pushed her even closer into him. Hot waves of euphoria soared through their bodies when suddenly, his desire turned into a blatant fear. His heart fought against his visceral crave for her.

He lowered his head to part with her lips so he could breathe. "We should stop," he heaved. Maka stared down at him for a few seconds processing the words that came out of his mouth. "…oh," she said as she rolled off him. "I'm sorry," she whispered. She stood out of the bed and slowly began to walk out of the room. "Where're you going?" Soul asked. Maka didn't answer as she continued out into the living room. Soul sprang up alarmed by her silence. By the time he was to the door of his bedroom, Maka had opened the door to the apartment and was staring into the rain. "Maka?!" Soul yelled in confusion as he clutched the wall between the hallway and the kitchen. He observed as she slowly turned to look in his direction. He saw her eyes glisten and watched as a single tear fell down her cheek. Without saying anything she suddenly dashed into the rain.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" Soul immediately burst into a sprint after her. Maka was running as fast as she could, not knowing where she was going. Her only desire at that point was to run. Just run. Rain drenched their hair and clothes but Maka didn't care. She kept a steady pace distancing herself from the apartment. Soul was directly behind her, slowly gaining on her. "MAKA! STOP!" Soul opened his arms to grab her but she ducked and dodged the tackle.

She began running in the other direction. Soul didn't stop and continued to sprint in the same direction Maka was headed. He ran parallel to her, never taking his eyes off her. "STOP!" He finally lunged and tackled her. They both fell to the ground. They were lying face to face with Soul's arms wrapped tightly around her.

"LET GO OF ME, SOUL!" Maka yelled over the rain. Her eyes burned with fire as she stared back at Soul. She struggled against his forceful grip. "I WON'T!" Soul screamed back not breaking eye contact.

He held her on the ground for a while as they both breathed rapidly waiting for their heart rates to calm. Soul sat up and drug her into an embrace between his legs. She finally quit struggling and relaxed her back against his chest. He laid his cheek against her head while breathing heavily and calmly whispered into her ear, "you remember the last time we did this, right? I let you go that time. I'm not doing that again."

Maka didn't respond immediately. She steadily breathed while staring at the ground.

They didn't move as the rain continued to beat down on them.

Maka began to sob uncontrollably. Soul's heart seared with pain. "No. No, no. Please. Maka." His eyes swelled with tears as he listened to her cries. He held her even closer as he whispered in her ear. "Let's go back." Maka shook her head violently. "Please…" he begged.

Maka calmed down and let him hold her in his arms.

"Please, let's go back and we can talk through this."

Soul stood up and walked back to the apartment with an arm around her waist. He left her in the living room while he grabbed a towel from the bathroom to wrap around her. She slid down the front door as he came back in; tears started to roll down her face.

"I don't… understand," she choked. "If you…if you don't want this. Just tell me. Just tell me and I'll understand. Tell me now. And I'll get over you… so it won't hurt as much."

Soul bent down in front of her and put his hands on her shoulders. "Maka...You have to believe me. I want this. I really, really do. You have no idea what you do to me…what you just did to me. I'm just…" Soul broke eye contact to look down.

"You're just what?" Maka narrowed her eyes towards Soul. Her retinas burned with fire as she glared at him.

Soul stared at the floor contemplating how to proceed with his answer. Maka waited patiently. Finally, he looked up at her.

"I'm just scared. And I'm sorry. I'm really sorry that I hurt you."

Maka's eyes remained focused on Soul. "Bullshit," she said.

Soul sighed, closed his eyes and shook his head. "I'm telling you the truth…I am scared."

"Why are you scared?" she asked cutting him off.

"I'm afraid of… rushing into this relationship, I guess. I don't know."

"Why?" Maka asked coldly.

"… I want to take things slowly with you."

"Why?"

Soul looked away.

"Because I want this to work. I'm afraid…something bad will happen."

"Like what?"

Soul didn't immediately respond. He sighed heavily. "…Like."

"Like WHAT, Soul?" Maka demanded impatiently.

"Like…we… might end up like your parents." Soul had a hard time saying that out loud.

Maka sat in silence for a minute taking in all the information until her eyes narrowed toward Soul once again. "So, what? We just stay friends forever?"

Dispirited, Soul looked at her. "I didn't say that."

Maka's voice began to grow louder as she cut him off. "Well what then, Soul? What is it you want? I can put my feelings on hold and remain friends with you, but for how long? Are you eventually going to just leave?! Do what my dad did to my mom?"

Soul's heart sank. "Maka, stop. You know damn well I wouldn't do any of that to you."

"How do I know that, Soul?" She spat the words coldly making Soul go numb. He closed his eyes. It felt as if his heart was being torn from his chest. "I want you more than ever," she continued. "And you seem to have no trouble resisting me."

Maka paused and breathed for a couple of seconds. "Are you only saying this to spare my feelings? Because please don't. I can't… if this isn't what you want I need to know right now. Don't lie to me."

Maka's eyes remained focused on Soul as he watched a tiny wet sparkle stream down her cheek. She averted her eyes to the floor and wouldn't look at him. Soul's breathing shallowed; his lungs were having a difficult time bringing in air. His own eyes welled up with tears listening to her words.

"Please listen to me." Soul pleaded. "You still don't understand. I, in no way, am going to walk out on you or hurt you... I couldn't hurt you, Maka. It hurts to even hear you say that." He paused for a second.

Soul shook his head as he continued. "I've known you since we were kids... Do you remember what you told me that night we brought you back from the hospital? That it's always been me…you admitted that so easily to me. Do you really think I don't feel the same way about you?" He grabbed her hand and paused. "God, Maka. You are so stupid!"

His voice rose.

"When Tsubaki called me, and said that there was a possibility that you could die, I pretty much lost it." Tears began to form in the crease of his eyes. His voice began to crack. "I felt like I was going to die. My whole world was falling apart and everything was entirely out of my control. I have never, in my life, felt like that before – everything was just…fear…and pain. Emotional and physical pain! Pain in my stomach, in my throat…" Soul held back a tear and choked. "…in my heart…It hurt to breathe. It hurt to move… Everything hurt! I didn't know what to do. Imagine what would happen if I did lose you. It nearly killed me then…" Soul stared at her for a moment before going on as more tears streamed down his face. "The last thing I want to do, Maka, is screw this up. What we have now is good. It's all I ask for…is to have you with me. I'm afraid of things changing…of us changing. I need you, Maka! I don't want to lose you... I'm terrified of it…" He gripped her hands tighter and began to cry, "…I'm so sorry, Maka. I'm sorry, this happened. That I wasn't there for you..."

Maka's eyes were focused on Soul. Tears fell down her face as she gripped his biceps and bowed her head. "Stop! It wasn't your fault, Soul! I'm afraid too," she choked. "I'm so afraid of losing you…I don't want to lose you…" Soul could feel her trembling through the fingertips that dug into his biceps.

"Maka," Soul said as he grabbed her and pulled her onto his lap for a close hug.

He released her, placed his hands on her neck and gently lifted her jaw with his thumbs until he could make eye contact. "You aren't going to lose me, you hear me? I won't let that happen."

He stared into her eyes for several seconds until he, suddenly and forcefully, pressed his lips against hers, pressing his body as close as he could into her. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she returned the fiery kiss. They could taste the salt from their tears that streamed down their faces.

Once again, they were embracing each other passionately. Eventually the passion died down and Maka rested her head on Soul's shoulder. Soul held her tightly, rubbing her back. They sat there like that in silence listening to the surrounding storm.

"It's always been you. Forever," Soul started. "I've never had a thought about anybody else. I don't want anybody else… When we were younger and I was a stupid idiot, I would tease you all the time about your looks but I was so full of shit. You are the most beautiful girl I've ever laid my eyes on. But it's even better than that because your beauty is much more than skin deep. You have a beautiful soul that I've… fallen in love with. And it's not the form that matters right, it's the Soul…" Maka smiled silently to herself in Soul's shoulder.

Soul continued. "And honestly from the bottom of my heart, I'm sorry that you don't realize exactly how much you mean to me…how much I need you."

Maka's cheeks grew warm. Soul pushed her back so he could look into her eyes.

"Do you honestly think I don't care about you? Are you crazy," he asked.

Maka smiled. "I just wish you showed it more."

He closed his eyes. "I promise, I will from now on. I'm truly sorry."

Soul and Maka went into their rooms to change out of their wet clothes. When Soul was done, he waited for Maka to come back into his room. But she didn't. He finally ventured over to her bedroom door and knocked. "Come in," she said. He opened the door to find her in her bed.

He wasn't wearing a shirt and Maka couldn't help but notice the line of abs that contoured his body. He looked so good.

"I thought you were going to sleep in my room tonight," he said.

"Wasn't sure if you wanted me to." Maka said, teasingly.

"Are you going to continuously test me forever?" Soul smirked.

"Maybe."

He walked over to her bed and picked her up, bridal style. "You don't have a choice tonight. You're coming with me."

He placed her gently in his bed and turned out his light. He crawled into the bed and snuggled close against her back. Maka snuggled deeper into his chest.

Maka stayed in Soul's arms until she fell asleep. Soul didn't fall asleep immediately. He listened to her breathing as he slowly drifted out of consciousness.

The sun began to stream through the blinds straight into Soul's eyes. He slowly opened them and looked around. Maka wasn't in the bed. He sniffed the air and smelled…bacon?

Soul walked into the kitchen, still half asleep, noticing the sound of eggs sizzling in the skillet. Maka was running back and forth making pancakes, eggs, and bacon for breakfast. "Oh. Good morning!" She yelled cheerfully.

Soul scratched his head with one eye open. "Good morning? What's all this about?"

"I just thought, you've been doing so much for me these past few weeks, that I would do something for you." Maka smiled as she flopped 3 pancakes onto a plate with eggs and bacon and handed it to Soul. He didn't complain as he walked over to get a fork and sat down at the table.

At that moment, Blair walked in. "Good morning, guys," She cheerfully said as she took a second to examine all the food Maka prepared. "Wow, Maka. You've outdone yourself this morning. Special occasion?" Blair winked and smiled wider than normal. Maka blushed, "no, silly. I just thought I'd do something for both of you since you've been so good to me the past few weeks. Grab a plate!"

"Wow, thanks!" Blair made herself a plate and sat down next to Soul at the table. Maka eventually followed and the three were too busy eating to talk.

When they were finished, Maka began to stack the plates to take them to the sink to be washed. "Here I'll get it, Maka," Soul said as he grabbed hold of the stack. Maka shot him a look. "No, let me." Soul didn't feel like arguing and let go. He followed Maka over to the sink and leaned on the counter as she began to scrub each dish.

"So, I think I may go back to the academy tomorrow," Soul said. Maka kept scrubbing the dish when she said, "Oh? I guess it's been a few weeks huh."

"Yeah, I think it would help push things along so we can finally get this over with. I want things to go back to normal."

Maka sighed. "They will, Soul. You just have to be patient."

Soul turned his back to the counter and leaned against it, propping himself up on his elbows. "I'm just so tired of it all…sick of playing this charade."

"I hear ya," Maka laughed. "I'm sure it's worse for you since you have to pretend to be interested in that creep."

Soul laughed. "You have no idea." He paused to look over at Maka through the corner of his eye as the crease of his lips twisted into a mischievous smile. "What if she tries to kiss me again? And maybe next time I won't be able to stop her..."

Maka's face didn't change as she gently placed the plate in the dishwasher. "You better hope that does not happen," she said calmly.

Soul remained smirking as his eyes rolled the other way. "Cool guys like me can't be denying kisses, Maka."

"Are you trying to make me jealous or something?" Maka blushed.

"Maybe…Is it working?" Soul reached out for Maka's hand and grabbed it as he stood upright. A surge traveled through Maka's body at his touch. She stopped and turned toward him. Butterflies were swarming around in her stomach.

Maka's heart began to pound as he pulled her into an embrace. She backed away slightly and looked up at his handsome face.

He smiled down at her as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Might be. A little bit." Maka said, blushing. Soul slowly began to close the gap between their lips as Maka forgot what they were talking about.


Later that night, Maka strolled into Soul's room and found him organizing his stuff for the academy the next day. "Hey, wanna watch a movie," she asked.

He slightly laughed. "Yeah, as long as you let me pick."

"You always pick," she growled.

"Yeah, well. I pick the cool ones."

Maka made a face that looked like she wanted to Maka-chop him on the head.

"Alright, alright. Whatcha wanna watch?"

She smiled and brought two movies from behind her back and held them in front of her face. She looked over the top of the cases to get a good look at his reaction as Soul inspected the covers.

One looked like a romantic comedy and the other looked like some sort of B rated horror movie.

"Yup, if I have a choice between these, let's go with the B rated horror film," he said as he finished putting the rest of his stuff in his backpack.

She lowered the movies. "Awwwh c'mon, Soul! I've wanted to watch this forever."

She pointed to the other case.

Soul smirked as he zipped up his backpack and put it on his desk. "Then why give me the choice? That looks like some stupid romantic comedy."

Maka flipped the cases over and glanced at both of them. "Alright, we will watch the scary movie. But you have to watch this one with me at some point!"

"Deal," Soul said as he grabbed the movie and jogged out to the living room.

By the time Maka followed him to the living room, he had already popped the movie into the DVD player and landed in a cozy spot on the right end of the couch. He had the remote and was clicking a button when he said, "get the light."

Maka went and flipped the light switch and sat down on the left side of the couch. "Can you hand me the blanket," Maka asked. Soul smirked.

"What if I want the blanket?"

Maka blushed. "We can share?"

"Good deal," Soul said as he spread the blanket over both of them. The previews were just beginning to start. Soul clicked a few buttons to go to the main menu and start the movie skipping the previews. The opening scenes began and Soul reclined into the couch; his focus was on the screen. Maka shifted her focus to the TV screen but started to pay attention to what Soul was doing. He wasn't moving. He seemed to be completely entranced by the movie.

Maka's thoughts began to overpower her focus on the movie. She secretly wanted him to pull her close. She wanted to watch her first movie with Soul as more than just friends. Why wasn't he reaching out for her? Did he want her to make the first move?

I will not. Maka refused to take the first action.

As the movie played on, Soul continued to sit still, not moving. Maka watched his sock covered feet that lay on the coffee table in front of him. He looked so cute in his yellow t-shirt and sweatpants. Maka felt her face begin to grow warm.

Suddenly, there was a loud awful noise from the movie as a cat jumped out and scared the main character. Maka's heart leapt into her throat as she physically jumped. When everything calmed, she heard Soul cackling.

"Scared, are you?" He smirked.

"No!" Maka said crossing her arms.

He reached out and tugged on her right bicep. He pulled her close to him as he said, "don't worry. I'll protect you."

Maka scooted close and leaned into his chest. This is better…she thought.

Soul's fingers eventually found Maka's which she had laid on his chest. He began to play with them until he interlaced his with hers, holding her delicate hand in his own. He smiled to himself as he began to rub his thumb over Maka's in which she returned the gesture.

This is much better…Soul thought to himself thinking about the night he had to hold hands with Kara.

When the movie ended, Soul looked down at the sleeping Maka on his chest. She looked so cute and peaceful…he had a hard time gaining the heart to move her.

He turned off the TV with the remote and slowly began to crawl out from under Maka. He gently picked her up bridal style and stood in the hallway between his and her room. He looked towards her door and back at his contemplating putting her in his bed. Ugh. What kinda guy am I?

Soul opened her bedroom door and made his way across her room. He began to pull back the covers and lay her down.

"Wait…" Maka had woken up and softly whispered to him. "Hmm?" Soul stopped to look at her laying loosely in his arms.

"Wait…" She said again.

"What?" Soul asked.

"Take me with you."

Soul blinked a couple of times. "With me…to my bedroom?"

Maka's arm still laid lightly around Soul's neck. She pulled herself up to give him a close hug. "Yes, I want to go with you…if that's alright."

Soul returned the hug and smiled. "Of course, it's alright."

He picked her back up, carried her into his room, and laid her gently on the bed.

He climbed in the bed behind her as she snuggled closer into his body. He once again found her fingers.
This is everything.