42. Start

"Um, can I hold your hand?" Sally looked at her flustered boyfriend while said boyfriend refused to meet her gaze. They were walking outside, snowflakes fluttering lazily in the air like paper airplanes. The air had a persistent chill about it, making Sally glad she was bundled up in warm clothing. The snow covered the ground like a thick, white blanket, gleaming in the sunlight and crunching beneath their feet as they continued their stroll.

"Of course you can, Shadow! You are my boyfriend, after all, so you really don't have to ask." Shadow grumbled something unintelligible, an embarrassed blush staining his cool cheeks as Sally laughed, her sapphire eyes twinkling like Christmas decorations. Even though they'd been dating for a while now, he was still stumbling through their relationship, feeling like a fish out of water sometimes. And although he knew she didn't hold it against him or was even bothered by it, he couldn't but wish he was better about matters of the heart.

He was soon reaching for her hand, holding it firmly in his own, marveling at how wonderful it felt to have her hand in his. He saw her smile a smile that made his heart nearly stop, her short, auburn locks framing her face, a few strands dancing in the wind as it continued to blow. Her cheeks were rosy from the cold, and her breath came out in white puffs of air. However, she exuded this aura of happiness, her eyes were full of warmth and mirth, and her laughter was sweet music ringing in his ears.

Sally's smiled softened, her gaze loving as she pressed herself closer to him, snuggling against him as he wrapped his arm around her waist, tugging her even closer, her hand still within his grasp. Such a simple act sent his heart racing. He wasn't used to such romantic affection, but Sally seemed deadest on changing that. Since they'd begun dating, she always doing little things like this. She showered him with wonderful hugs and sweet kisses, held his hands, and giving him gifts. When he crashed his motorcycle due to a mission from G.U.N., she not only fixed it, but bought him another one. Or when he got in an accident and broke his leg, she paid for his medical expenses and nursed him back to health, staying by his side unless something urgent prevented her from doing so.

Flattered and touched, he made sure to return the favor, sparing almost no expense for her. Whenever they had time to dates, he made sure to pay the bill. And if they went somewhere really fancy, he would sometimes rent out the whole place, giving them the privacy and peace to enjoy each other's company. He remembered her complaining about her wardrobe, so he had Chaos Controlled them to the mall and bought her whatever she wanted. Shoes, clothes, jewelry, electronics, it didn't matter. If she wanted it, he bought it.

And maybe it seemed over-the-top sometimes, but he just wanted her to know that their relationship wasn't one-side, that he'd gladly take care of him as she took care of him.

"Sorry. I've never dated anyone before, so certain protocols escape my mind," Shadow said, giving her hand a soft squeeze. "What compelled you to date me, princess? I'm not exactly boyfriend material." He tried to keep his voice neutral, but insecurity bled in his tone despite his best efforts, and he knew Sally would pick up on it.

Sure enough, they were stopping, Sally untangling herself from his warm embrace to stand in front of him, her glove covered hands cupping his cold cheeks as she stared at him.

"I'm well aware of who you are and what your past was like. I know you're the Ultimate Lifeform and how your existence came to be. I know you've done some unsavory, questionable things in the past, but who you were then and who you are now are two different people."

"You are a highly respected agent of G.U.N., you are an amazing friend, and I am proud to be your girlfriend. You're sweet, kind, funny, and handsome as hell." At that remark, he couldn't help but laugh, and soon she was laughing along with him. They were probably quite the sight, clutching each other as the sound of their rambunctious laughter echoed throughout the otherwise silent park.

"I'm glad my physical appearance pleases you." His voice sounded teasing with a hint of something else, something that made her feel suddenly weak in the knees. His lips curled into a knowing smirk, crimson eyes burning her with their gaze as he tilted her face to his.

"I'm not so shallow that I can't appreciate the many wonderful aspects of your charming personality, but you're definitely easy on the eyes. No wonder girls fawn over you. Maybe I should be worried," she joked, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"You shouldn't be. There's only one girl in my life, and that's you, princess." No more words were said or needed as their lips met in a kiss that made Shadow's spine tingle and threatened to steal the very breath from his lungs. And when they pulled apart and he saw how her normally bright sapphire eyes were smoldering, he knew she was having similar thoughts.

"Let's finish our walk, okay? Then we'll go to your place, and I'll gladly warm you up, princess." He brushed his lips against hers in a much softer kiss, smoothing her hair back in place as he held her hand once more, smiling as she snuggled against him, burying himself in his warmth once more.

He knew how she felt about him. He didn't need to be a genius to know that she loved him. He could easily tell from the way she acted around him that she did. How long has she felt this way? He wasn't entirely sure. They'd been dating for a good year and a half, so it could've happened at any time between the start of their relationship and now.

Shadow wasn't sure if he loved her yet, and he was almost certain that she knew it, but he knew she understood, that she wouldn't push him to feel something he wasn't ready to feel. But he knew falling in love with her would be easy. Hell, he was already beginning to fall for her already. How could he not? She made him want to fall in love with her, to get married and have a child or three, to stay together forever. If such a future was possible for him, he wanted to share it with her.

When he was completely sure of what he was feeling, he'd gladly tell her those three words that would have her smiling a smile that would outshine the very sun itself.