Disclaimer: Cyborg 009 belongs to some one else.

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Chapter Thirteen: Those pendant conversations.

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All the cyborgs were reunited around the table, enjoying the ebi tempura, makis, and tepanyaki 006 had prepared specially for 009. Even if they were not his specialty, he had promised Baguettes, delicious fondue and wine for dinner to 003.

"It is so good to see you both but separate."

"Thanks 005. We are glad too," 003 and 009 answered at the same time. Their teammates stopped their activities at this and looked at them but no one said a thing.

"Yeah. It was not a pretty sight to see 009 eating in your body, I think he made you gain like two pounds... Well, I don't mean that you look fat or something," 008 commented and 003 blinked at him.

He tensed. "Please don't look at my underwear!"

The entire table laughed at 008's terrified face.

"Now I have some doubts, like, how did you manage to get dressed?" asked 002. 003 answered him but she sounded somewhat annoyed.

"Eyes closed. If you must know."

"Ha! that must have been pretty embarrassing." 002 responded.

009 thought it was not a proper question and said, "Ok, we won´t answer any other questions of that kind."

007, who was sitting next to 009 put a hand on his shoulder and said with a huge grin, "Relax man, it was just a joke, besides he could have asked something worse like, how did you take a shower?"

004 added his own question: "Or who decided what dress to wear?"

Strong laughter filled the room and more than one clutched his stomach. 009, however was not laughing, and neither was 003. 009 stood up and left the room and she went after him with laughter still following them.

003 found her former mind-mate already sitting on the deck, his gaze fixed into the skyline. She sat beside him and said in a quiet tone, "they didn´t mean to be rude."

"I know." He kept his eyes on the blue horizon.

"They just don't understand what we lived through."

"I don't know if I understand it either. It feels so strange being back in my own body, even If I can't deny I am very glad for it. But I got so used to feel your thoughts. To feel near you... and now I miss that."

003 smiled and got closer to him. "I will not go far. Remember?"

009 turned his head to her. She was so beautiful to him. The sun reflected on her golden hair making her look like if she had an halo around her head, as if she were an angel, his personal angel.

"Francoise..." he whispered her name. Thousands of emotions contained in one simple word.

They started getting closer, he could feel her breath, she could hear his heartbeat getting faster. They were only inches away. 009 cupped her cheek softly and they closed their eyes, shivering in anticipation. And then...

"Hey, the celebration is for you two! So come back for dessert! Oops sorry. Did I interrupt something?"

It was 006. 003 and 009 woke from their mutual trance. 003 turned her head away from 006, but if 009's eyes were daggers, 006 wouldn't be preparing the fondue that night, or any other meal ever again.

The brown eyed cyborg answered with a sigh, "we're coming."

006 bit his tongue and headed back to the kitchen. 009 stood up and gave 003 a hand. She stood up as well and they got inside, sharing an understanding look, a mysterious smile and some words before. It was as if they could communicate without words.

"Here," she said.

"At midnight," he finished.

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When 009 reached the mutually agreed meeting point, 003 was already there. Her back to him. She was looking at the sea. There was a full moon that night and its cold blue light sent sparks to the constantly moving water surface. 003 was wearing a sleeveless pale blue dress, her hair was moving with the marine breeze. To 009. It seemed as if the lights in the water surrounded the girl, as if it was her the one producing the sparks.

He felt his heart quicken, and his hands started to sweat. He knew she knew he was standing there, so he clutched his fist determined and walked towards his rendez-vous.

"Beautiful night, huh?"

That was the best line he could come with? He cursed himself.

"It is indeed," she said and turned to him, smiling. He stood next to her and spoke after a pause.

"Well, here we are."

The waves made a constant and calming noise as the Dolphin floated calmly on the water. That night the ship was not traveling due to some repairs that were yet to be done and they both had known that when they made the appointment.

Here and there could be heard the sound of some fish jumping out of the water, along with the soft waves touching the hull of the Dolphin.

"I think we have some conversations to finish." It was 003 who spoke.

"Yeah, like, what trousers was I wearing when you X-rayed me?"

003 laughed and answered him, "the red ones, those ones with the wasted elastic, if you really want to know."

009 laughed as well, a little ashamed. Some clouds obscured the moon, leaving the couple in almost complete darkness.

"003, have you felt kind of weird? Like if we were somehow connected?"

"Yeah... maybe it is some kind of aftermath effect from the mind transferer. But I don't feel uncomfortable about it... Au contraire."

"I like it as well. This closeness with you."

They approached a little more. In that moment the moon was visible again and its cold blue light discovered them inches away from the other's face.

003 spoke in almost a whisper, her breath touched 009's cheek and it sent heat waves through his body.

"You said I was more than a friend to you."

009 closed his eyes and touched 003 with his nose and started moving the tip of it across her nose and cheek, barely touching her. She felt chills running down her spine and closed her eyes as well. 009 whispered back.

"Yes. I did."

009 traveled lightly the tips of his fingers down her bare shoulder. She shivered and asked again with trembling voice.

"Y-you said I was cute."

She rested her hands on his chest and stretched her neck to one side as his nose was now caressing that very place. She could feel his hot breath against her skin, his other hand encircled her waist.

"You are beautiful."

003 didn't feel she had any forces left in her legs, but managed to keep on her feet. She touched his lips with one finger, tracing its contours, then moved her hand to his cheek and cupped it. 009 spoke, his voice breaking from emotion.

"You said you loved me."

And after that he pulled her closer, making their bodies enter in total contact. 003 moaned at the feeling and answered in an unsteady voice.

"I--I don't recall that."

009 spoke, his mouth in front of hers, just two inches from touching. "Last night.... you were sleeping, but I felt your dreams. You said it to me in your dreams."

He got closer and she trembled in anticipation, but he kissed her chin instead and then moved to her jaw line, leaving delicious wet traces after his kisses. She finally gave up to her legs and rested all her weight on him. At that moment she noticed something hard against her leg, but it didn't scare her. Nothing in him could scare her.

"Oh... the dream... now I remember."

009 cupped her cheek and spoke to her ear, "this is no dream Francoise, and I am here. Say it to me."

His hand traveled up and down her back, making slow circles. She rested her chin on his shoulders and smelt his essence.

"What will you answer?"

"You already know the answer."

She looked him right into the eyes. She felt so nervous and excited at the same time. Her heart went so fast that she thought it would come out of her chest. Finally she grabbed courage, but it was not difficult; the words came out of her mouth as the most natural and truthful thing in the world.

"Joe... I... I love you."

Once again, he was inches from her lips and said in a deep tone, "I love you too, Francoise. I don't ever want to be away from you."

"Neither do I. I need you Joe."

"I am here, always."

With those words they finally kissed. They felt an incredible electricity the moment their lips touched and moaned in ecstasy. He wrapped his strong arms around her back and waist and she did the same with his neck. Their tongues duelled as they explored their mouths for the first time and their hands started moving up and down their bodies in a frenzy, their youth and feelings overpowering them.

Soon, their caresses became more exploratory, their kisses deepened, probing and tasting every secret corner in their mouths, and there was not a single void space between their bodies now, but they didn't seem to care as they were immersed into the incredible new sensations they were discovering. 009 looked at her in the eyes and said in a husky voice, his eyes heavy, "Want to go somewhere else more private?"

003 bit her lip in anticipation, a roguish smile forming in her lips, but when she was about to nod, something made her stop.

"No. Joe, we can't do this."

He tried to kiss her again, his arms still firm around her, but he desisted, then he let go of her and took a few moments to breathe. He passed his hand over his rebellious chestnut hair.

"Right... It's too soon. I am sorry. I didn't want to rush you into anything. But I meant what I said, I love you, it's not only physical, I swear. I--"

003 observed amused as 009 apologized over and over and finally, she put a soft finger over his lips.

"Shhh... I mean, we can't do this right now... We need to wait for another three days at least."

His face revealed his understanding as he remembered the torturous morning ritual.

"Oh... yeah. I had forgotten."

They hugged, her head on his chest. She embraced him by the waist and he encircled her shoulders. They stayed like that for at least five minutes, waiting for they rushed emotions to slow down. At last she spoke:

"For not having much experience with women, you are really good at this, Joe Shimamura."

He laughed softly and then kept quiet.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" he said finally.

"What? You mean starting a relationship with you? Or the other thing?"

"Eh... both."

"Let me think... --she placed a finger under her chin, pretending to be thinking hard, her eyes rolling up -- uhm... Oui. To both questions."

He hugged her even stronger, then she spoke in a very shy voice, her head against his shoulder. Her eyes closed.

"It will be my first time."

She felt her face burn as she hugged him tighter. 009 kissed her head and said in an even shyer voice.

"It will be my first time too."

"Really?" She looked up a little surprised. Joe gave her that timid smile of him that never failed in making her melt.

"Yep."

"Then it will be even more beautiful."

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Alright, sorry for the delay but Murphy law and real life got in the way :P
I appreciate all of your comments.

Thanks for all your Help GA2 ;)