For a while, the two of them laid on the grass in silence, holding hands and simply enjoying the company of the other. It was a peaceful moment, one that neither of them wanted to disrupt by speaking. They simply wanted to enjoy the silence and each other for all that they could; it was a moment that was truly priceless.

At least, that was what Noire had thought was going on between the two of them... until she started to hear the sound of quiet snoring coming from her side. The black haired CPU sighed and turned slightly to look at her companion, her... Neptune, she supposed. There just wasn't a better word for what Neptune was to her than that.

And to think... In less than twenty four hours, she and Neptune would be married. It almost didn't seem real. How could it? Things had been moving so fast during just these past few hours alone, and they would probably only move faster still...

"Wait..." Sitting up and letting Neptune's hand fall gently into the grass, Noire put her hand to the chin as she began thinking. What had she just thought? It felt like she was forgetting something important, but she couldn't quite place it... "In less than twenty four hours, we'll be..."

Noire's eyes widened, a light gasp escaping her lips. That was it.

She'd gotten so caught up in everything that it hadn't fully sunk in yet, but... In less than a single day, she and Neptune would be stuck together for life — and what's more, they would be stuck together for life and they shared mutual feelings for each other. What had initially been a simple, selfless move to save her friend's life had turned into a dream come true.

Hesitantly, Noire pinched herself, just to make sure she was definitely awake. Ever since she'd woken up in Neptune's room, things had been so... unreal.

"Ow!" It hurt. It was still real. A grin erupted on Noire's face as the reality of what was happening, what was going to happen, started to hit her. Maybe that was why Neptune had gone to sleep? So she could be at the wedding that much sooner? Noire had half a mind to try to join her at this point!

"Noire? What's the matter?"

Oh, speak of the devil.

"Just thinking about tomorrow," Noire answered, laying back down on the grass to look over at Neptune, still grinning to herself. Though she didn't expect any specific reaction out of Neptune in particular, when Neptune frowned, it certainly made Noire worry a little. Her grin fading, Noire reached for Neptune's hand. "Neptune?"

"I'm just thinking..." Neptune sighed, seemingly unable to meet Noire's gaze. A light panic began to rise in Noire's chest as she watched the girl, clearly distressed, stare aimlessly towards the sky. It was a look that Noire was starting to recognize on Neptune, and that just made her worry more and more. "I- I'm so happy right now, but..."

Had Noire done something wrong?

What could she have done?

Well... I-It's not like she was going to walk on eggshells around Neptune just to keep her happy!

"I can't believe it. I mean, just a few days ago, I felt like I was gonna keel over and die any day!" Neptune shook her head and laughed, as if she'd told a really funny joke. "Now, here I am, all set to marry this drop dead gorgeous CPU — not as gorgeous as yours truly though — who I've realized that I'm crazy about, who I'm starting to realize I've been crazy about, and... And at the same time, though..."

This was bad. Definitely bad. Noire must've done something really bad to get Neptune down on this track. If she was dropping complements like that while looking so depressed, something had to be wrong-

"How long will it take for Nepgear to wake up...?" Neptune's voice was distant, as if she was somewhere else. "Histy said it could take a long time, but... I don't know if I'll be able to feel good about anything until she's up and being her square self again, you know what I mean? It's like... Even with all this good stuff happening... Do I have the right to enjoy it, when Nepgear's suffering like she is? Is it okay for me to be happy with you when Nepgear is..."

Neptune trailed off, as if the guilt she was feeling had eaten up the last of her words.

Oh.

Doing her best not to let out a sigh of relief that Neptune's change in mood hadn't been her fault, Noire gave Neptune's hand a comforting squeeze and laid her head down on the other girl's chest, much to the surprise of both of them — Neptune at the sudden touch of Noire, Noire at how bold she found herself being.

"Stupid..." Whether Noire meant herself or Neptune, she wasn't sure. "Listen, how do you think Nepgear will feel if she wakes up and finds out you did nothing but worry about her the entire time she was unconscious? Just be yourself!"

Neptune grinned sheepishly.

"If I know Nep Jr., she'd probably be thrilled to think I couldn't stop thinking about her."

"... W-Well..." Noire couldn't exactly argue that point. Nepgear adored getting attention from her sister, after all. It was both sweet and just a little bit creepy. Still, that attitude wasn't going to help Neptune any when she was feeling so guilty! "Listen, even Nepgear's love for you has limits! As much as she'll enjoy knowing that you cared enough about her to obsess over it, do you really think she'll be happy to know that you worked yourself to the bone over it? Do you really think she'll be happy to know that you stopped being you over it? That would probably break her heart, Neptune! I can tell you, it's certainly breaking mine!"

Neptune was silent. She knew, deep down, that Noire was right... But at the same time, she couldn't accept that. It wasn't just Nepgear, after all. It was her entire nation — not to mention herself as well, not that that was a big deal. It had been her, ultimately, who had caused this all in the first place after all.

But more than that... She didn't want Noire to get the wrong idea. She was so incredibly happy right now that it hurt — in fact, it did hurt. That was the problem.

"Don't get me wrong, Noire-" Neptune inhaled and paused, as if unsure how to continue. Noire herself paused from continuing, waiting to see just what Neptune would come up with. To her surprise, Neptune smiled softly at her, and Noire could almost feel her hopes rising in her chest. "It's not that I'm not happy about us. Believe me, I am! It's just..." The smile faded and Noire's hopes went crashing down with them. "Do I have the right to be?"

Noire's eyes lit up. Ohhh, she was starting to get really angry now.

"Of course you do, Neptune!" Noire had half a mind to grab onto the other CPU's shoulders and start shaking her, as if that might help any. "You're Neptune! Enjoying things and being happy is like... You don't just 'have the right' to be, it's practically your birthright or something!"

"It was me being me that got her into this to start with," Neptune said quietly, unable to meet Noire's gaze.

"So what? You're just going to stop being you?" Noire sat up, looking away from Neptune. Was this really the same girl that had so happily confessed to her such a short time ago? Was this really the state that Neptune had found herself in, despite all the wonderful things that were happening between the two of them...?

"If that's what it takes, then-"

"Stop it!" Grabbing Neptune's face, Noire pulled the other CPU up to meet her gaze head on. "Now you know that that's not what Nepgear would want!" A beat. "And it's not what I would want either... Or do I not matter to you? After everything you just told me- Was it all just words?"

Neptune bit her lip, simply choosing to look away from Noire.

So that was how it was going to be, huh?

"Damn it, Neptune! Stop the pity party and realize people love you just the way you are! Just because you're working harder doesn't mean you have to stop being who you are! Stupid!"

Dropping Neptune's face, Noire stood, shaking slightly. She knew Neptune had been hurting, she knew that — who had she been to put so much onto the other CPU? All of her childish fears and worries about their relationship... How could she have done that when Neptune had so many bigger things to worry about?

She... She just couldn't help it. If they were really going to be together, then... She wanted them to be happy! She wanted them to really be together! Was that so wrong?

"... Noire..." It seemed like Neptune had calmed down slightly, but who knew how long that would last for?

"What?" Noire hadn't meant to snap, but she had and now she regretted it. Running a hand through one of her twintails, Noire turned, looking down towards Neptune, who had sat herself upright to look up at Noire curiously.

"Sorry about this. I guess all that confessing got all my other emotions spilling out, haha..." Neptune ran a hand through her short hair and offered a smile, which Noire tentatively returned. She was silent for a few moments, and as Noire was glad to see Neptune back to herself again, she chose not to speak either. "Jeez, and after I go saying all that cool stuff about not being scared and everything...! Man, I must look totally stupid right now, huh?"

"You looking stupid is a charm point," Noire suggested, which got her a tongue stuck out in response. "Oh, come on! After everything you said about me, I think I've earned a few too. Haven't I?"

Neptune crossed her arms.

"I'll think about it."

"Oh, well then, in that case..." Noire rolled her eyes, offering a hand to Neptune. As long as Neptune was back to normal, then she could take whatever Neptune threw at her — or so she thought. Neptune took the offered hand, but instead of pulling herself up, Neptune grinned wolfishly and pulled Noire into her lap. "Wha- Hey! What're you doing!?"

Neptune's eyes had regained their sparkle, and she couldn't help but want to tease Noire now that she had been snapped out of the funk she'd been in. It was her way of saying thank you.

"So... When you said people love me just the way I am..." Neptune's grin widened as she watched Noire start to blush helplessly under Neptune's devious gaze. "Were you talking about Nepgear? Or was there someone else you were thinking about?"

"T-That's..." Noire didn't move, but at the same time, there was no way she could look Neptune in the eye either — not now. She hadn't expected the tables to turn on her so drastically like this, and now she was on the spot and... And...

"Weeeeell?" Neptune paused. "Don't tell me... Did you mean Vert!?"

Oh, to hell with it!

"Stupid!"

Before Neptune could let out a victory cry, Noire pushed her lips against Neptune's into a flustered kiss, as if she could force her way into Neptune and push aside all of the other CPU's worries through physical force and passion.

Noire knew then that they were going to be fine. If Neptune was going to keep her from being scared, then it was Noire's job to keep Neptune from being depressed. It wouldn't be right for her to get help but not give any.

Yeah... They were going to be fine.

"Wow... Noire, that was like, the most perverted kiss I've ever had!"

"S-Stupid! You haven't even had that many kisses!"

"What makes you say that?"

"Wha... H-Have you?"

"Wahaha! A lady never tells!"

"W-W-Whaaaat!? Get back here!"

... Probably.