Did you miss me?

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Anne rested her head on Knives' chest and ran her fingers lazily over the ridges of his muscles. Her fingers lingered on his stomach as she felt him tense a little. She grinned, realizing that he was ticklish. She explored the sensation, enjoying the feel of him under her fingers. Living body, breathing, pulse beating, here. Her mind was clear of thought or trouble, lingering in the happy haze of the afterglow. Knives ran his fingers softly through her hair, then rested his hand on the back of her head, cupping her close to him. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, then let his head fall back onto the pillow. Minutes passed, time measured only by heartbeats.

The thought was long in forming, and even longer incubated, but after a time Anne shifted enough to look up at him and give him a sleepy smile. "I missed you," she said.

He lifted his head a bit and quirked an eyebrow, eyes twinkling.

"No, not for that," she said, some of the drowsiness leaving her eyes. "Life is just so much more boring without you here. A pale imitation of what life should be. There is just so much less in it. Less love, less fun, less to think about." She paused to think, then continued. "Less aggravation, less trouble, less frustration."

"Hardly sounds like you want me to stay," he said softly.

"I hated every second that you weren't here," she said firmly. "I didn't notice it at the time, really. How much I missed you. I could pretend that life was fine without you. Not happy, not entirely pleasant, but fine all the same. That it was just a life, and that I didn't need to have you about to make it through." She turned her head so she was resting her chin on his chest. "But the difference between how I felt then and how happy I am now is amazing."

He mussed her hair. "I missed you, too." A short pause as he realized what he said, and then he amended, "A little."

She grinned and poked him in the side. He jumped, and she slid her head off his chest. "You don't have any reason to pretend that you don't like me anymore," she said as she sat up, resting her back on the headboard.

Knives sat up as well and slipped his arm around her. "I guess I don't, do I? It's a habit, though."

She snuggled close enough to rest her head on his shoulder. "Pointless habit. Who are you trying to fool, and why?" He scowled, and she laughed. "See, I'm right, aren't I?"

"Right about what?"

"That you love me. And that there is no reason to hide it."

"There are reasons." His voice was slightly petulant, and she stifled a chuckle. Less arguments, too, she thought but didn't voice. She liked arguing with him.

"Oh?" She echoed his arched eyebrow. "And these might be?"

"Someone might try to use the way I feel about you against me."

"Someone who?"

"The people you work for, perhaps."

She made a rude sound. "I can take care of myself."

"Like you managed a week ago?"

She sighed. "It's not last week anymore. If they decide to try to kill me now, it will be because they don't believe that humans and plants can ever live together in harmony. But I've at least forced them to look at the question of whether we can or can't. I'll fight back if I have to, but I'm not going to run and I'm not going to just let someone fear me with no real reason. And I'm certainly not going to let myself be put in a situation that's going to harm you." She paused. "So give me another reason."

"People might want to hurt you because it would pain me."

She laughed. "People who? Vash? Meryl? Hurt me how? My feelings?"

"You would take on my enemies, if they knew that I had feelings for you."

"I can take on your enemies. I'm not a helpless little girl, you know. I am a big, bad, ex-assassin plant. I can handle myself, no matter who your enemies are. As a matter of fact, your enemies should fear me.."

He sighed. "But I don't want parts of my life to try to hurt you. The thought that harm might come to you through my actions is disturbing."

"I knew you weren't safe the moment I first laid eyes on you. And you know what? I fell in love with you anyway. I can handle your life, you enemies, your troubles. And it's not a healthy start to our relationship if you want to try to keep me separate from parts of your life."

"You could get hurt."

She lifted her head enough to kiss his chin. "I know. And I love that you care that much about me. I don't want to see you get hurt anymore than you want me to. But you can't pretend that I'm not a part of your life if I am, and trying will only weaken you. You'll be too busy trying to pretend, and you'll leave yourself an opening to be hurt when I can be something that makes you strong."

"Strong? You'll help me fight the vermin then?" His voice was so full of hoped that she hated to dash it. Almost.

"In a word: no. But I will help you free the plants. Am helping." She sighed. "I want to be your partner. I want you to be mine. No more lies, no more pretending, no more deceit."

"I'm not the one who has been deceitful."

"I know. I'm sorry. I'll try to stick to the truth from now on, I promise."