RaeTWG: And we're back! Wow that took a looong time. Sorry. But all of the sudden school became very hectic. I must be a gluttin for punishment because, for some reason I signed up for science fair, french competition, and the food committee for Cultural Awareness Day. Plus I have art and french club. What's wrong with me? I don't know. Anyway on with the story...

Xelloss was brooding about this Filia thing. He'd already wasted four of his precious days trying to come up with what to do. He'd popped in and out and tried not to annoy Filia as much as usual, but now was the time for action. Yeah right. This isn't even funny anymore. He decided to start small, ask her out to dinner maybe. Yes, that would do nicely.

Filia was having a very tiring day. The shop had been very busy all afternoon - which was good, but Val wouldn't stop crying. Thankfully it was nearing closing time. Right now she was trying to quiet Val and deal with old Miss. Gebbin at the same time. When Xelloss appeared out of nowhere beside her, nearly giving the old woman a heart attack.

"Hullo, Fi-chan," Xelloss said cheerfully. "You look like you're having fun."

"Oh, yeah, time of my life," Filia said sarcastically. "Now would you please go away, I'm trying to run a business here - Oh, Val please be quiet fpr mommy just for a minute."

"Here," Xelloss said, taking Val from Filia's arms. "I'll watch him."

"No way!" Filia tried to get her baby back.

"Yare yare, Filia. You obviously need the help."

"Not from you! The Gods know what you'll d-"

"I won't hurt him."

Filia looked at him suspiciously, "What do you want?"

"Nothing much," Xelloss smiled. "And besides, you close in twent minutes. And Val wants me to, don't you, half-pint? You want a bottle, huh? You poor thing, so neglected..."

"Fine," Filia agreed out of the desperate need for a little quiet. "But don't you dare go anywhere!"

"Yes, ma'am!" Xelloss mocked soluting the dragon befor teleporting to her kitchen. Miss.Gebbin gave a small scream and fainted.

"Miss. Gebbin!" Filia cried as she rushed around the corner.

Xelloss chuckled as he gave Val his bottle. The little dragon drank happily, glad to have someone's full attention.

"Been harassing you're mother, ne little one?" Xelloss grinned. "Good boy."

The mazoku peered out the kitchen door to where Filia had revived the old woman and was now helping her out the door with a large carefully wrapped package. He watched her smile as she said good bye. Meanwhile, Val had finished his bottle and moved on to tugging on Xelloss's hair.

"Heeey," the mazoku whyined, trying to remove the baby dragon's claw from his hair. "Stop it."

"You nearly killed one of my best customers," Filia grumbled as she loked the door. "You can't just come pop in and out whenever you please while I'm-"

"Fiii, help," Xelloss said pathetically. Filia whirled around and burst into laughter.

"Come here, Val-chan," Filia cooed as she untangled Xelloss's hair from the little dragon's grasp and trying to supress her laughter. "Don't have much experiance with babies?"

"Wolf pups don't pull your hair," Xelloss complained as he ran a hand through his mussed hair. He glanced at Filia; she was looking at Val critically, as though she were checking to make sure Xelloss hadn't done anything to him. Xelloss cleared his throat, "I didn't do anything to him."

"So I can see. You were actually doing quite well untill he pulled your hair," Filia smiled then frowned. Xelloss could tell she was thinking something over carefully. Finally she sighed and said, "Xelloss, could I get you to do me a favor."

"If you'll do me one."

"What?"

"That's a secret," Xelloss said jovily. "You tell me first."

"I would never normally as you this... but, some of my friends asked me to this-this girls' night outh sort of thing and Jillas is visiting relatives and Gravos id out for the evening....so-so there's no one to mind Val. And you were doing an okay jo-"

"My, my, Fi-chan!" Xelloss faked great suprise. "Are you actually asking me to watch Val? I'm shocked! I thought you didn't trust me?! I can see we're really taking our relationship to the next level!"

"Enough!" Filia snapped. "Forget it!"

"No, no. I'll mind him."

"And you won't do anything?"

"I promise I'll be on my best behavior," Xelloss put on his most innocent look.

"You know it's supposed to be the kid that promises to be good," Filia sighed, looking worried. "But I guess I'll...trusr you. Just this once, because I'm desperate. Now what favor do I have to do for you?"

"I'll tell you when you get back. I promise it's nothing illegal or evil or . . . sexual," Xelloss grinned and Filia had the sinking feeling he was imagining the last one.

"I hate you!" the dragon shouted as she tried to keep from blushing.

"Yet, you'll let me take care of your child."

"Only out of desperation!" Filia huffed. "I'm going to go get ready...I can watch Val until I leave. You just...stay here."

Filia returned to find Xelloss sitting at her kitchen table reading a book and drinking a cup of tea. He lifted his head up when she came in, looked her over once, and frowned slightly.

"What?" Filia demanded.

She was looking as pretty as always in one of her normal dresses (she never wore her priestess' robes anymore), this one had a light blue bodice with dark blue sleeves and skirt that hung loose. The colour made her pale blue eyes stand out and shine. She didn't really need to wear make-up, and the little she wore just accentuated her natural beauty. She looked great except-

"You put your hair up," Xelloss said.

"Barely," Filia laughed, all she'd done was twist it into a clip. "So?"

"It looks better down," Xelloss said simply. "You have beautiful hair."

"Uh...I'm not taking beauty advice from you,"Filia said, slightly flustered.

Xelloss just shrugged.

"Okay, I need to leave. If you'll just give Val a bottle at..."Filia rambled on for a while before Xelloss got bored and interrupted her.

"Fi," he said sternly, "he'll be fine. I promise."

"Okay... I'll be back by ten," she handed Val over to Xelloss, hoping she souldn't regret this. She kissed the little dragon goodbye as she was walking out the door, "I'll be at the Blue Dragon Tavern. It's just around the corner-"

"Bye, Filia," Xelloss smiled as he closed the door in the dragon's face.

Filia walked into the crowded tavern, trying to forget her worries. At first she didn't know how she was going to find her friends. The tavern was packed; guys were getting drunk and trying to pick up girls at the bar, there was a loud card game going on at one table, three blacksmiths were having an argument over a new shipment of iron, and two girls seemed to be in a cat fight over some boy. Finally she spotted Sue at a table with her friends. Sue didn't live in town but she visited often. She was sort of wild and kind of naive. She always asked Filia a lot of questions about Xelloss. She stood out in the crowded room because of her long pure white hair.

"Hi guys!" Filia called.

"Filia! Hey!"

"I'm so glad you came!" Sue said as Filia sat down with them.

"Oh?"

"Yeah," Alisha, a lanky girl with long, strait brown hair, giggled. "She wants to fix you up with one of her friends."

"Huh? With who?" Filia asked.

"His name's Jet. He's real cute. And he's apparently taking you out this week," Sue giggled too.

"Oh, I don't know, Sue," Filia blushed a little.

"Why not?" Grace, the spunky red headed daughter of the town baker demanded. "You never date. Unless..."

"Unless what?" Filia questioned.

"Unless there's something going on with you and that guy...what's his name? Xelloss?"

"Ha!" Filia laughed, as if. "No way, you guys. Not him."

"Then why does he always come around your house?" Ardelia, the pretty black girl that ran the florist with her mother asked.

"Just to annoy me," Filia sighed.

"Sounds to me like he likes you, hun," Grace said. "And he is pretty cute, huh?"

"I don't find him attractive at all," Filia huffed. It was a lie.

"Well, I think it's good you don't like him, Filia," Sue piped up. "I don't trust him. Plus, Jet's much better looking."

"I'm sure," Filia smiled.

"Well he gets here day after tomorrow and you can see for yourself."

Xelloss was laying on Filia's bed. She had an annoyingly cheerful room, he noted. The walls were a pale yellow with lavander trim and she had a sunflower patterned quilt. She also had a yellow plaid arm chair. He closed his eyes and let his mind wander. Smells like tea. Filia smells like tea. Poor Val, gonna grow up smelling like tea. Heh heh. This has been really easy-

At that moment Val cried. Xelloss sat up and teleported into his nursery. More cheerfulness. Baby blue, stars and moons. He walked over to the crib and picked the little dragon up.

"What's the matter?" Xelloss rocked the little dragon until he quieted. "Your mommy's late, huh? You know, I don't think she'll think me baby-sitting will be fair trade for a date-" Val giggled-"You agree? Well what should I do? I am the 'Trickster Priest', Maybe I should live up to my name."

About twenty minutes later Xelloss was back on Filia's bed, Val in his arms, when the back door down stairs slammed. He herd Filia's voice call up the stairs, "Xelloss! I'm sorry I'm late! I lost track of time!"

"Shh," Xelloss had teleported behind her. "He just fell back asleep."

"Oh," Filia smiled and thought how strange it was to see Xelloss standing there with Val asleep in his arms. She walked up to him and took Val. "I'll just put him in his crib."

"You want some tea?"

"Okay."

Filia came back downstairs to once again find Xelloss sipping tea at her kitchen table. This time there was a cup waiting for her. She sat down, took a sip, and then looked intently at Xelloss.

"So what favor do I have to do for you?" the dragon inquired.

"Very simple," Xelloss smiled his usual smile, "All you have to do is play a little game."

"A game?" Filia said suspiciously. "What kind of game?"

"Ummmm...a guessing game," Xelloss went to her cabinet and got three small cups. He placed them upside-down on the table. Then he took a marble out of his pocket and placed it under the middle cup. "I mix the cups up and you guess which one the marble's under."

"Okay..." Filia agreed, it seemed harmless enough. He mixed the cups up well, but Filia was sure she knew which cup. "The one on the right," she told him confidently.

"Are you sure?" Xelloss grinned.

"Yes."

"Prove it, make a little wager with me."

"What?"

"If you're right I'll repaint your whole shop," Xelloss smiled, he could since her confidence.

"And if I'm wrong?"Filia wondered what he was up to.

"If you're wrong you have to go to dinner with me tomorrow."

"What?" Filia hadn't expected such an... innocent request. "Why?"

"That's a secret, my dear Fi-chan, but it doesn't really matter, because you're sure aren't you? What did you say? The one on the left?" He tapped the cup. And, unknown to Filia the marble instanly appeared beneath this piece of china.

"No," Filia realized he was playing games with her. She had been right and he was trying to confuse her. She was right and he would have to repaint her shop. She smiled back at him. "No, I said the one on the right. My right. And I'm sure. I'll take your bet."

"Positive?"

"Yes."

Xelloss lifted the cup. There was nothing there. Filia gaped. Then he lifted the left cup. The marble rolled out.

"What??" Filia moaned. "Oh, no."

"So, I'll pick you up at seven?" Xelloss asked cheerfully.

"Uh... no, I can't."

"Filia, you bet. Are you going to go back on your word? That's not very becoming."

"No, I mean I really can't. I'm going to the Fall Harvest party up at Colby Manor," She said thanking Cephied and hoping he would just demand something else.

"When?" Xelloss demanded.

"It goes from six to midnight and there serving dinner. So, why don't I just do something else for you?"

"No, we'll just go the next night," Xelloss said, a little annoyed.

"Actually," Filia blushed, "I have a date."

"What?!" Xelloss exclaimed. "Since when do you date? With who? Who would ask you out?"

"Excuse me!" Filia huffed. "But didn't you just ask me out? And it's none of your business whom I go out with!"

"Who is he?" Xelloss persisted.

"I don't see why it's any of your concern, mazoku. But his name is Jet. He's a friend of a friend."

"Oh, so it's a blind date," Xelloss sounded slightly mollified. "Then he didn't really ask you out."

"Oh, you are such a jerk! Get out of here!" Filia got up and raised her hand to slap him, but Xelloss was suddenly standing too. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her close to him.

"You made a deal," he said calmly, but his eyes were fierce and suddenly his words became as harsh. "And you will keep your word. I'll see you the next night, then. Don't make any plans. I'll pick you up at seven. Don't were a long dress. Oh, and don't put it up." Xelloss pulled the clip out of her hair. He could sense that she was scared and that he had gone to far. He let go of her arm and put back on his close-eyed smile, "Allright then, Fi-chan?"

"Sure," she said quietly. He disappeared. Filia leaned against the table and put a hand on her chest. Her heart was beating hard and fast. Her wrist hurt from where the mazoku had grabbed her and her scalp from when he'd pulled her hair and his words rang in her head. But it was how close she had been to those startling amethyst eyes that made her heart pound the most... and she couldn't understand why.

RTWG: *sigh* Xelloss, you have to be nice... Okay. I know nothing really good happened in this chapter, but the next one will be out in much less time and Xelloss decides to crash a party. I might also do Fi's date with Jet in the next chap. Haven't decided yet. Depends on how much time I hvae. Please R&R and thatnk you to all of you who reviewed the last chapter, I really appreciate it. /\/\