Hey! As promised I've managed to get the chapter out before the week finished woop! All I can say is I hope you all enjoy reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. There's a part in this I know my friend is going to hate XD but it's all fun and games cant wait to see his reaction. Anyways enjoy!

Chapter 5:

"Go talk to him" Noelle encouraged Vanessa as they sat on stools positioned at the hide outs bar, "Even if it's just for you both to start talking again. At least it's something"

It had been a week since Finral's return home and as he rested on the couch talking to Grey and Magna, he had no idea he was being watched.

"I can't!" Vanessa complained, "Won't I come across as desperate or something if I talk to him after this long?"

"Or just someone who wants to be friends again..." Noelle pointed out, "Your over thinking it. Just go!"

Vanessa was pulled from her seat by her arm as Noelle forcefully shoved her towards where Finral was sat.

"Hey stop!" Vanessa fought back, "I can move on my own ya know!"

"Well move over there!" Noelle exclaimed as she gave the pink haired witch one more shove.

"Fine!" Vanessa huffed as she gave up and deliberately slowly walked towards where the spatial mage was sat.

"Hey guy's! What ya's talking about?" God she sounded so awkward. She just wanted the ground to swallow her up, especially when Finral refused to even acknowledge her.

"Hey Vanessa" Grey greeted through her fingers which were as always, hiding her face.

"Hey!" Magna also greeted loudly, "Erm... me and grey were just going... going to... train outside! Yeah that's it! Come on grey!"

"What?!" Grey exclaimed loudly, "But..."

"Come on!" Magna grunted as he grabbed the shy girls arm and dragged her off. Her face was beetroot red the whole time as she went.

Finral and Vanessa were left alone together rather suddenly and completely confused as to what had just happened. What they hadn't seen was Noelle stood a little behind them indicating to Magna to get him and Grey the hell out of there. The whole squad knew something was up between the two, so Magna had obliged Noelle without complaint. As long as harmony fell over the Black Bulls again, he didn't care.

"Erm... I'm going to go to my room" Finral spoke awkwardly. He still didn't make eye contact with her and as he slowly began to get up Vanessa couldn't do anything but watch. She was completely disheartened by his reaction to being left alone with her.

"That's it I've had enough!" Noelle marched over, "Both of you sit down and talk. I thought Me and Asta were supposed to be the kids of the group, but you two are putting us to shame. Now I'm going to sit over there and if I see any of you try to leave I'll glue you down! Now I expect you two to sort this out. Do I make myself clear?"

Both Finral and Vanessa stared back at her in shock and amazement. Being put in your place by a royal was bad enough, but when the royal is also fifteen and completely right, just humiliated them a little.

"Sit!" Noelle demanded again. This time they listened and quickly sat down, "Good. Now I'll be right over there as I said. Now talk!"

Noelle smiled deviously before flipping her hair and strutting away to her seat. Once there, she sat and positioned herself so she could keep an eye on them both but also so they could have some privacy in the fact they wouldn't see her looking.

For the first minute after Noelle had left, Finral stared at his hands on his lap and Vanessa stared towards the front entrance wishing she could escape.

"So err..." Finral began.

"No don't speak yet!" Vanessa interrupted him quickly gathering her courage. He stared back at her stunned, "I need to apologise to you first. You were right. I have no authority to tell you who you can and can't go out with. Your a grown man and I'm a grown woman, we can make our own decisions. Just because I don't like someone doesn't mean you can't. So... I'm sorry"

"Vanessa I..." Finral started then stopped, "Look I'm sorry to. I shouldn't have gone off at you the way I did. There was no excuse for it at all, I just thought you were being a little unfair that's all. To be honest, I really missed your company after that"

"Really?" Vanessa asked. She felt a little bit of joy build up inside her at his words.

"Yeah. You've been one of the main people that has helped me through this" he smiled at her gratefully.

"Finral, thank you" she blushed slightly.

"What for?" he asked confused.

"I don't know" she laughed, "I guess for saying something so nice to me. I've never had such an impact on someone before"

"The only reason I haven't spoke to you since getting back here, is because I didn't think you'd want to" Finral continued.

"Really? That's the only reason I haven't spoken to you either!" she chuckled at the realisation.

"Well it's official! We're both idiots" Finral shrugged.

"Agreed" Vanessa smiled, "But I really am sorry"

"Me to. And if I ever want to try your cooking again, I thought we had better become friends again" he joked.

"Well that's if I we are friends again?" Vanessa asked hopefully.

"I hope we are" he sounded just as hopeful as she did.

"But I want to be mo..." she bit her tongue to stop her from saying anything further. Inwardly scolding herself for being so careless and almost saying out loud what she was thinking in her head.

"You ok?" Finral asked concerned after seeing the flash of pain across her face.

"Yeah I'm good" she proclaimed loudly.

"You sure?" he was a little taken aback at her reaction.

"Yeah" she recovered, "So friend" she emphasised, "When's our first date?"

"How about next weekend?" he laughed at the sudden change of topic. It was nice they could go straight back to how things were before they fell out, "Hopefully I can use my magic again after next weeks sessions so we can go anywhere. Well, anywhere I've already been"

"Useless" she joked.

"Hey!" he pretended to take offence.

"It's a date" she agreed with a small laugh and without warning she gave him a sudden hug.

"What's this for?" he exclaimed, cheeks flushed brightly.

"My way of welcoming you back since I didn't when you first got here" she explained.

"Oh I see" he exhaled, "Thank you"

Noelle, still watching from a distance smiled to herself.

"My work here is done for the day" she thought smugly, "Now for my next step!"

"Finral come on let's go!" Vanessa called getting increasingly agitated, "I thought females were supposed to take the longest to get ready!"

Today was the day of Finral and Vanessa's first date and to say she was excited was an understatement. Her head had been filled with ideas of what Finral's plans could be and her excitement only grew. She knew he only thought it was a mate date as that nurse Rachel had annoyingly pointed out. But she hoped that maybe it could be something more before the end. Maybe Finral felt the same as her, or maybe she was just kidding herself. Either way the only way to find out was to tell him and that was exactly what she had planned.

"Calm down Vanessa, he's still not 100% you know. He might be struggling" Noelle reasoned as she smiled at her friends excitement, "Just don't chicken out ok? "

"I won't" Vanessa agreed, "If I don't do it today, I don't think I ever will"

"I'll tell him for you"

"No you won't!"

"Well you best stick to your word then" Noelle giggled as she tucked a stray hair behind Vanessa's ear.

"I'm here!" Finral panted as he practically ran through the door, "Sorry I had to collect something from Charmy"

True to his word, he was carrying a bag over one shoulder. It looked to be full of something, but if he wasn't going to tell them what it was, they weren't going to ask.

"Getting quicker on your feet by the day" Vanessa commented, she smiled with relief now he'd finally showed up.

"I told you, good motivation can do wonders" Finral smiled back, "Shall we go milady?" he bowed and gestured with his hand towards a portal he had just opened.

"I see your date manners have kicked in" Vanessa laughed as she stepped towards the portal after collecting Rouge onto her shoulder.

"Hey where are you guys going?" A loud voice echoed behind them.

All three turned to see Asta arriving looking rather perplexed.

"We're just going on our da..." Finral began.

"If you are going into tow, I could do with a portal!" Asta interrupted loudly, "I need to pick up a few things for Captain Yami"

He made his way towards the portal but before he could step into it, Noelle grabbed his shirt and pulled him back.

"Idiot their going somewhere just the two of them" she explained.

"But I won't be any bother! I just need to grab some things! I thought they liked hanging out with me" Asta looked offended and upset.

"They want privacy!"

"But why?"

"It's ok Noelle, I'll just make him a portal to send him to town" Finral offered with a smile.

With that Finral opened the said portal and gestured for Asta to walk through it.

"What are you not coming?" Asta asked confused.

"We're heading somewhere else"

"Asta!" Noelle shouted annoyed, "Get going!"

Noelle shoved him through the open portal.

"Sorry about the interruption. I hope you both have fun. As this thing is already open, I think I'm going to go with him" she smiled before following Asta through and the portal closed.

"Girls got it bad for him" Vanessa commented quietly with a smirk.

"What?" Finral asked.

"Nothing"

"Ok... Well before we have anymore interruptions, let's go!"

Finral offered Vanessa his arm and she took it gladly before they both vanished through a new portal he had opened.

"Wow this place is breath taking" Vanessa gaped as she took in the scenery.

Finral's portal had brought them both out on a cliff over looking the ocean. The scenery stretched for miles around and the light sea breeze blowing through her hair was enough to make Vanessa feel relaxed and happy.

"I thought you'd like it here" Finral smiled as he stood beside her, "If you look down there, you'll see the beach we all visited before leaving for the under water temple"

Finral pointed down towards a sandy area. Once she had spotted it, Vanessa could indeed see the beach they had all spent the day on. It seemed such a long time ago but really it had only been mere months.

"It's gorgeous here. But I thought you could only open portals where ever you've visited, so shouldn't we be down there?" Vanessa asked confused.

"Well in the week we spent there, I noticed the cliffs along the coast" he began to explain sheepishly, "I knew there would be a great place for a date up here somewhere, so I took a walk along them and decided on this spot"

"Ah so it wasn't something special just for me then?" Vanessa raised an eyebrow.

"Well to be honest, you are the first date I've brought here. And now I have and seen how much you love the view and how happy you seem here, I think I'll keep it just for you when ever you want to get away from reality"

Vanessa looked at Finral speechless, he was gazing out at the ocean not indicating he had noticed her sudden silence. For a moment she was lost in how handsome he was against the landscape but once recovered she managed to speak.

"Oh Finral, I... I don't know what to say. Thank you. I was just getting ready to give you a hard time about not being original. Now I just feel like a bitch for thinking that" Vanessa laughed a little, "But I'll only accept if you come here with me when I ask, ok?"

"Deal" Finral laughed back, "Now come sit down. I asked Charmy to make us a picnic and I don't think she'd be best pleased if we let it spoil"

"You brought a picnic?"

"Of course" he laid a blanket from the bag he had been carrying onto the floor, "You can't enjoy a view like this with in the space of a few minutes. So having food here seemed like a good idea"

"Well I must say, so far I'm impressed" Vanessa Commented as she sat down next to him.

"I should hope so" he winked back at her with a grin, "And now it's time to see what Charmy packed, because I have no idea myself"

"What Evers in there, hopefully we like it then" Vanessa joked.

"Well there's definitely something in here you like" Finral answered as he rummaged through the bag, "Looks like a bottle of wine and two glasses"

"You seemed surprised? And I'm a little insulted" Vanessa laughed.

"I asked if she could add something to drink. I meant like a soft drink or something" Finral admitted, "No worries, it's just a warm up for later"

"What do you mean?" Vanessa asked.

"That's a surprise"

"Tease!"

"Just trying to keep you in suspense"

Finral poured out two glasses of the wine and handed one over to Vanessa. He then placed what food Charmy had provided, out onto the blanket.

"I don't know what's what I'm afraid. So we'll have to guess" he smiled as he placed the items down in there wrappers.

For hours after that they sipped at the wine and ate sandwiches and cakes. They happily lost themselves in conversation as they teased each other and joked together. For a while they forgot about the world around them And even Rouge playfully chased a butterfly around the cliff top. As Finral placed empty wrappers into the bag he had brought he noticed something poking out of a pocket on the inside of it.

"What's this?" he asked himself as he took it out and began to unwrap it.

"Oooo chocolate sauce and strawberries. I didn't know you wanted to get that romantic on a first date Finral?" Vanessa giggled as she eyed them up.

"I...I had no idea they were in there! I swear I didn't ask for them. Charmy must have thought it would be funny!" Finral stuttered as he flushed red.

"Relax!" Vanessa laughed louder at his reaction before taking a sip of wine. She seductively turned to him again, "Will you feed me one please?" she asked playfully.

"Wh...what? But...I...uh"

Finral stammered over words as he grew more and more flustered. He nearly fainted when Vanessa closed her eyes and opened her mouth enough for him to place a strawberry in. Wide eyed and very much taken aback, he forgot how to think for a moment. It took for Vanessa to lean a little closer to him for his body to start working again. Giving his head a shake he gulped back any doubts and picked up a strawberry before dipping it into the chocolate. Slowly he brought it to her lips before placing it onto her tongue. She bit down and he pulled the rest away faster then he had meant to. She opened her eyes and began to chew whilst a small smile played at her lips.

"See that wasn't so bad was it?" she asked.

"No not at all!" Finral lied half laughing, and half trying to calm his heart beat. She had looked so cute and vulnerable in that moment, and he had felt a tinge of attraction towards her and it had scared him. He didn't want to get to attached to her, she wanted another guy not him. These feelings that kept bubbling up inside him were surely just his imagination, right?

"Come on then, its your turn" Vanessa offered.

"No, no, I'm good honestly" Finral protested.

"Aww don't you trust me" Vanessa tried to look offended as she blinked up at him through long eyelashes.

"Of course I do. I'm just not a big strawberry fan that's all" again he lied. Where as he did trust her, even with his very life, he was sure his heart would give out on him if he let her get to close.

"Aww come on" she argued back as she picked up a strawberry and dipped it, "Say ahhh"

She knelt on her knees and got closer to him before bringing the strawberry up to his mouth. For a moment Finral was caught up in her eyes. Quickly closing his own so she wouldn't guess what he was thinking, he opened his mouth and waited.

Quietly building up courage, Vanessa removed the strawberry from where she held it and slowly brought her face closer to his. Just as her lips were about to touch his, Rouge dived between them after the butterfly knocking the wine she had been holding everywhere.

"What was that?!" Finral asked snapping his eyes open.

"N...nothing! Just Rouge getting a little over excited that's all" Vanessa squeaked as she quickly began cleaning up the spillage.

"Don't worry about that, look over there"

Finral stopped her hasty cleaning by grabbing her hand. A shock ran through her body at the contact and she stopped what she was doing. Looking to where he was pointing, she noticed the sunset in front of them.

"It's Beautiful" she commented in aw.

If she had looked up in that moment she would have noticed Finral watching her and not the sunset at all. As the sun sank lower and lower they stood at the cliff edge, Rouge sat beside them neither of them speaking. Vanessa was a little disappointed her moment with Finral was ruined but for now she'd take this moment. She rested her head on his shoulder and sighed contentedly.

"I've had a really good time. Thank you" she spoke.

"Well it's not over yet you know?" Finral smirked.

"Really?" she asked curiously but still happy to hear this news.

Finral didn't answer. Instead he continued to watch the sun vanish over the horizon before turning back to Vanessa.

"Step through the portal" he smiled as he opened one up.

"I can't believe you decided to finish the night with a pub crawl!" Vanessa laughed loudly as she giddily filtered in and out of the crowds dragging Finral behind her by the hand.

"Well I thought it would be fun and you always complain no one ever comes for a drink with you!" Finral panted as he allowed himself to be dragged, "Can we slow down please?"

"Oh sorry" Vanessa slowed down and allowed him to catch his breath, "I keep forgetting your still not completely better. You hide it well these days"

"Don't worry about it. Any way's, where do you want to go?"

"Your the one in charge of the date, you pick" Vanessa teased.

"Ok follow me. I know of a little somewhere" Finral took the lead this time.

He lead Vanessa to a building where she could hear music drifting out through the doors.

"A dance hall?" Vanessa asked confused.

"Well there's a bar in here and the atmosphere is friendly, so yeah" Finral folded his arms and stuck his tongue out at her playfully.

"Fine, as I said your in charge. Let's go in" she surrendered.

Finral opened the door for her and Vanessa stepped into the building. There was a long bar across one wall and tables dotted around in front of it before stopping and leaving the rest of the room for a live band and floor. The floor was filled with happy couples ballroom dancing and cheery drinkers chatting at the bar side. Again Vanessa was taken aback.

"How did you know a place like this existed?" she asked.

"Where do you think I come to pick up women?" Finral laughed.

"Seriously? You dog"

"Hey! Free and single guys have to look somewhere you know"

"What ever" Vanessa huffed a little jealous.

"Come on, let's go get some drinks"

Finral led her to the bar and ordered two beers. Once they had been served they went and sat at a table facing the dance floor.

"I've never been anywhere like this before" Vanessa confessed as she watched the people dance.

"You don't strike me as the kind of person not to have investigated every drinking tavern in the land" Finral joked.

"Hey!" Vanessa gently slapped him on the shoulder, "I'm not that bad"

"I beg to differ"

Again he received a slightly harder slap on the shoulder.

"So do you know how to dance?" Vanessa asked.

"I was brought up in a noble household, of course I do"

"Really? You don't strike me as the kind of person to dance" Vanessa teased.

"Was that pay back?"

"Maybe..."

Finral finished his drink quickly and stood up. He bowed and offered one hand to Vanessa.

"Would you like to dance?" he asked.

"But I don't know how" she answered quietly.

"Don't worry. I'll lead"

She thought for a moment before grinning. She chugged back her beer, placed Rouge on her shoulders and grabbed his hand.

"Let's do it!" she accepted excitedly.

Finral led her to the middle of the floor and turned towards her. Without hesitation he placed her hand on his shoulder and his hand on her waist. Then bringing their joined hands up beside them, he began to move in time with the other dancers and music. Vanessa was lost in the steps Finral effortlessly led her through. Their eyes were locked together and she was blushing with how close they both were, just the touching alone was sending electric signals through her body. He however, didn't look the slightest bit affected by the contact. He was smiling, enjoying himself, he was showing her a part of him she'd never seen before. And as she followed his lead she rarely made a mistake. If she did, he laughed with her and was patient. Not once did he show any annoyance or embarrassment.

"Do you trust me?" he suddenly asked her.

"Yes" she answered without hesitation.

"Good" he smiled satisfied.

Before she knew what was happening, Finral threw their joined hands up into the air and twirled her around. For a moment the room span and she felt weightless, whether it was supposed to happen ot was her fault, she lost her footing. Before she fell, Finral had caught her in his arms. Breathless to say the least she turned to him. She needed to tell him how she felt now, before all the adrenaline wore off.

"Finral I need to tell you something"

"What is it?" he asked as he led them back into step.

"I...I...I have fee..."

Before she could finish a familiar figure appeared behind Finral and tapped him on the shoulder. Vanessa's heart immediately sank.

"Should you really be moving like that in your condition?" Rachel the nurse that had been taken care of Finral at the hospital asked. She wrapped herself around one of his arms.

"Oh hey Rachel. What are you doing here?" Finral asked surprised.

"Just thought I'd try somewhere knew and looks like I've bumped into some familiar faces" she smiled, "Hey Vanessa"

She greeted her politely, but Vanessa noticed the same nasty glint in her eyes she had seen back at the hospital.

"So is this the mate date you guys were talking about?" she asked sweetly, "So cute. Oh I'm sorry! I'm interrupting aren't I? I'll leave you guys to it"

"If you would" Vanessa agreed through narrowed eyes.

"It was nice to see you" Finral added through the tension as Rachel removed herself off of him.

"See you tomorrow Finral" Rachel finished as she strode away blowing him a kiss. She smugly glanced back at Vanessa and winked.

"What does she mean by that?" Vanessa asked him.

"Erm... well... we're going out tomorrow... for a date" Finral answered awkwardly.

"I see" Vanessa answered as straight faced as she could. Her whole world suddenly collapsing in on itself around her, "Erm... please can we go home now? I've suddenly gotten really tired" she tried to smile.

"S...sure" Finral agreed.

Ah don't you just love drama? Haha, well anyways hope you can't wait for the next chapter and are still enjoying it. Feel free to review and keep watching out for more updates!