"Why did I ask him such a thing?" I asked myself as I sat on the bed, by face flushed from embarrassment. I then shook my head. I knew why I asked him. It was the same reason I always waited for that knock on the door every night since I asked him. A part of me hoped he said no. Really, if the shoe was on the other foot, I would have been as beside himself as he was. But if he said yes…

I was taken out of my thoughts when I heard the knock on the door. I stared at the door for a few moments. After that, I sighed. I stood up from my bed and walked over to the door and grabbed the knob. After some hesitation, I twisted the knob and opened the door.

As I expected, Fox was there. I looked at the Lylatian, taking in the outfit he was wearing – a pair of green pajama pants, a black t-shirt, and a pair of black socks with matching sandals. No doubt he was in his bed before he came here. I also saw the faint blush on his face. I couldn't help but smirk – I knew he wasn't expecting me to answer the door in nothing but a pink satin robe.

"Hey Peach," he whispered.

"Hey Fox," I greeted back. "Come in. Leave your sandals by the door."

He walked inside and stepped off to the right. He stepped out of his sandals as I closed the door behind him. I stood still for a moment, then twisted the lock. I turned around and leaned back against the door. I watched him as he walked into the middle of the room and looked around, taking in the décor not unlike the one I had in my room back in the castle of Mushroom Kingdom.

"Nice room," he said.

"Thank you," I replied. "I'm sure your room is just as nice."

"It's not." He turned around and smiled slightly. "But it's more than comfortable."

"That's good." I took in a breath. I knew we were beating around the bush. I pushed myself off of the door and walked up to him slowly. "But we're not here to talk about rooms, are we? I asked you for a favor, and you'd say you'd think about it. And now you're here. If you're here to say no, I won't hold it against you. But, you wouldn't have come here at this time of night to tell me that." I stopped a couple of feet short of him. "…Are you here to say yes?"

Fox blinked a few times. He then looked off to the side. "I don't know," he replied. "I… I have mixed feelings about what you asked of me." He looked back at me. "No one has ever asked me to be…"

"Friends with benefits?" I finished for him. He nodded. "If it makes you feel any better, this is the first time I ever asked anyone to be… that."

He grimaced. "Well, I never had sex with someone outside of a relationship before." He sighed. "It's not something I do… but… I don't want to see you hurt anymore."

It was my turned to grimace as I closed my eyes.

After a long time, Mario and I called it quits. It was something we mutually agreed and I hold nothing against him. I still consider him my friend. But it was still heartbreaking for me. I was a wreck and Fox, being Fox, knew it – he took me out to dinner and did everything he could to make me feel better. Even during that dinner, I was on the verge of tears. I really shouldn't have put this on him. So I wasn't surprised when he asked me…

"Why me?"

"…" I opened my eyes and looked at him. "…You reached out to me," I said. "You saw how hurt I was and you reached out to me. And during that time, I was looking for someone that can hold me over until I wasn't heartbroken anymore." I stepped up to him then took his hands with my own. He looked down at our hands for a moment then looked at me. I didn't know what he was thinking, but he didn't pull his hands away. So, I kept on holding onto them before I continued. "I always found you intriguing, really. You're a mercenary, yet you have morals right up there with the finest of heroes. You're deadly, and yet so gentle and friendly. And caring. So much so that I almost hope you turn me down because you deserve someone who doesn't want to just use you for sex." I frowned. "I'm lonely, Fox. Do you know what that is like?"

"…I do," he whispered as he averted his gaze. I continued to look at him.

"What's her name?" I asked.

He took in a breath. "Her name is Krystal." Slowly, he looked forward and into my eyes. "I met her on Planet Sauria. We grew close over time, especially after she joined Star Fox." He smiled a bit. "I loved her. I was happy with her. She was fierce, a warrior through and through. But she was oh so kind and gentle and her hugs alone could put me at ease." The smile faded and might heart sunk a bit. "Unfortunately, her planet needed her. I… I wanted to leave Star Fox for her, but she convinced me not to. She said the Lylat System needed me too much." He furrowed his eyebrows as he bowed his head. "She was right, but that was a bitter pill to swallow." He chuckled bitterly as he shook his head. "It times like that makes me wish I could leave the mercenary life behind me. Maybe then I can have what I want."

I gave him a sympathetic smile, I let go his hands before I brought my hands on to his cheek. Gently, I turned his head towards me. When I saw his eyes, I could see the hurt in them. "…You're heartbroken, too," I said. He sighed and nodded.

At that moment, I was given pause. I saw the opening I wanted. I knew I could take him right then and there. And I felt horrible for thinking so. This wasn't right. I knew that. I was ready to tell him to go. He didn't deserve to be taken advantage of a wreck like me.

"…I'll do it," Fox said. My eyes widened. I then tilted my head as I gave him a questioning look.

"Are you sure?" I asked. "I don't want you to feel pressured or obligated."

"Peach." He brought his hands on to mine and grabbed of them. He lowered them from his face, but kept a hold on them. "I've been thinking about it a long time. And I really do care about you." He smiled slightly. "I'll be there for you… as long as you need me."

"Oh Fox!" I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him into a hug. I felt his arms wrap around me and I couldn't help but sigh as I savored the contact. I wondered if he was that good at hugging or if I missed being touched that much.

Perhaps both?

I nuzzled his neck for a moment, feeling his pulse. "I promise I'll take care of you while this arrangement lasts." I then pulled away and looked him in the eye as I smiled. "I'll never deny you."

"Likewise, Peach," he said quietly. He then averted his gaze. I could have sworn I saw a bit of crimson in his cheeks, but it was hard to tell. "Um… so, how do we…?" He trailed off. I couldn't help but smile slightly.

Foxes are shy, huh?

Then again, it wasn't like I wasn't nervous either. Asking this of him was one thing, and so was him agreeing. But actually doing it – something I've only done with only one guy in my whole entire life? Well, that was the hurdle.

I took in a deep breath. I gently brought my hand up and cupped his chin with it. I turned his head towards me and looked straight into his green eyes. After swallowing, I spoke. "Let me be in control tonight."

"Okay," he replied, not even showing a hint of opposition. That put me a little bit at ease. But, there was one more thing I wanted to make clear.

"But… if I'm going too fast for you, let me know, okay?" I added.

"I will."

I nodded. "Okay." I swallowed. "Um… can you lie down on my bed? On your back?"

He nodded before he walked over to my bed. He sat down on it before he turned his body and scooted to the middle of it before he brought his back down onto the mattress. I walked over towards him before I placed my right knee on the space right next to his left side before I brought my left over him. I was reminded that I wasn't wearing anything underneath the robe I had on when I felt a draft. I felt my face flush as I sat down on him, straddling his waist. I looked at him. His ears were perked up as he looked at me in anticipation.

My heart started to race as a 100 million questions came across my mind. Did he find me attractive? Did he find me beautiful? Would a Lylatian find a human attractive? What if I wasn't a good lover for him? What if…?

"Are you okay?" he asked. That question took me out of my thoughts, making me realize I zoned out. I let loose a breath.

"I don't know," I replied. "…I'm nervous. I guess I wasn't as prepared for this as I thought."

"I see."

"…It's awkward, isn't it?"

"A bit." He frowned a bit. "…May I please have your hand?" I gave him a bit of a questioning look, but I decided to oblige him as I lifted up my left hand. He grabbed hold of it gently before he placed it onto his chest. I felt his heartbeat, which was rather rapid. I raised my eyebrows as I looked at his chest curiously. "…I'm nervous, too."

I looked him in the eye curiously. A part of me wanted to laugh at the irony. Fox McCloud – a mercenary that saved his home system time and time again and braved many a dangerous situation that would have killed even a slightly lesser man 100 times over – was nervous about this. But more than being humorous, it was… comforting. It made me more at ease. I smiled at him.

"…Thank you," I said. He chuckled.

"For what?" he asked.

"Being you." I took that moment to swoop down and place a quick kiss on his lips. I pulled away slightly, blushing a bit. I then gave him another peck – this one being fully reciprocated – and another before I decided to commit and place my lips against his for a more prolonged kiss. During this, I rested my hands on his chest. In a few moments, I felt his hands on my back moving gently up and down. I moaned during the kiss, wanting more of the contact. I wanted to what his hands felt like on bare skin.

…I wanted to really know what his fur felt like.

I broke the kiss before I scooted back a bit. "Sit up for me," I said. And he did just that. After he did that, I reached down and grabbed the bottom of his shirt before I pulled it upward. Be brought his arms up, allowing me to pull the shirt of him. I tossed the shirt to the side. After that, I undid the knot that held the two belts of my robe together. I held my robe closed after that as my faced heated up. I swallowed the lump in my throat before I quickly removed the robe and tossed it aside. I barely had time to notice the look of surprise on Fox's face before I wrapped my arms around him pulled him close, sending face into my bare chest. I held him close, keeping my left arm round his head as I slowly rubbed his back with my right hand. I took in the feeling of his fur, surprised by how soft it felt. I ran my fingers through it, which caused him to purr. I paused, a bit caught off guard. I then smiled as I continued to gently rake my fingers through his fur again and tightened my embrace. Between the softness of his fur and his purring, I was almost content to remain like this for the rest of the night.

Almost.

We consumed each other for hours. We took turns taking the lead. Some of our rounds were tender and even loving. Some of our rounds were just rough and carnal. Once we reached our final peaks, we collapsed on to the mattress. I was about ready to pass out, only staying awake when I felt Fox pull out of me. I whined before I turned over and wrapped my arms around him. I pulled him down against me before I closed my eyes. Even as I felt him adjusting his position on top of me, I drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, I woke up with a groan. I looked up at the ceiling for some moments. As I breathed, I smelled the lingering scent of sex in the air, no doubt from all the times Fox and I took our sessions away from the bed.

Speaking of Fox, I looked over to my left to see him laid out next to me on his back as he snored very lightly. I grimaced. I felt regret and shame creeping in – not just for the arrangement itself, but also for dragging Fox into it. With a sigh sat up before I turned my body until my feet were on the floor. I just sat there, trying to think of the best way to tell Fox that this couldn't happen again. A part of me figured he'd understand, having been beside himself when I first asked him. A part of me was afraid he'd be angry that I tossed him aside after I used him for what would essentially be a one night stand.

I shook my head. "Good job, Peach," I said to myself in a bitter whisper. "Good fucking job."

Before I could beat myself up even more, a pair of arms slowly wrapped themselves around me. I wanted to pull away and tell Fox to get out – for his sake. But I felt too comfortable and at ease. So, when he placed his chin on my shoulder, I brought my hand on his head and gently held it there.

"How long are you going to bear with me?" I asked.

"For however long you'll need me," he replied in a whisper.

"So no regrets?" The fur on his face brushed against my cheek as he shook his head, causing me to giggle a bit. I then leaned back into him and closed my eyes.

I wasn't okay. I was heartbroken and I still missed Mario a ton. And a part of me still felt bad for getting Fox entangled into this. But, as he held me tight, I no longer had any urges to break things off.