Disclaimer: Is this really necesary? check same line in past chapters :P

Well, at last, here it is, the last chapter, I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing this fic. Please, let me know ;)

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Chapter eighteen: The commitment.

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The night was pleasantly warm, the wind blowing fresh air. It was accompanied by the soft and steady whispers the waves produced as they caressed the shore.

003 buried her bare feet in the sand a few inches and then watched as the water took the sand with it, exposing her feet again, the minuscule grains tickling her skin. She repeated her actions, apparently they kept her mind away from thinking.

The French cyborg gave a deep breath and then picked up a seashell, throwing it away into the ocean. She started walking slowly along the beach, being careful of not letting her feet leave the water; she liked the sensation.

"Francoise."

A voice she knew all to well reached her ears and she stopped her stroll. Moments latter 009 came after her, but 003 didn't turn around.

"Hey, I was just going to look for you at the restaurant, but somehow I knew you'd be here."

And somehow, she knew he'd know she would be there, but said none of this. "Well, here I am."

She started walking again. 009 followed her, placing himself at her side.

"Come on, don't be mad."

She walked faster, as fast as she could with her ankles now under the water. 009 accelerated his steps as well.

"Aw Francoise, come on, we need to talk."

"I don't feel like talking right now. I'd rather you to leave me alone."

"Now you are being childish."

003 turned back at those words with a cold look in her blue green eyes and pointed a finger to him. "How dare you to say I am the childish one here? It is you who doesn't know how to manage a serious relationship."

"That's not true! I mean, I'm learning! This whole thing is new to me."

003 resumed her walk, which now was more like a run, her legs splashing in the water as she got deeper into the sea. She held her skirt up her knees to prevent it from getting wet. 009 followed her, of course.

"Francoise! Come back!"

"No! You go back!"

"I won't!"

"I won't go back either!"

009 reached her and took her by the arm. But 003 was too angry.

"Let go of me Joe!"

"No! Not until you listen to me!"

003 pulled her arm out of his grab with energy. Maybe a little too much energy as she fell in the water with a loud splash.

"Oh Francoise, I'm sorry!"

009 was about to bend down to help her up, but In that very moment a particularly big wave arrived to the shore, --making 009 step back-- and when it receded, it uncovered a drenched 003; her hair all over her face, seaweed on top of her head. She spat out some salty water while she brushed the hair from of her eyes.

009 wasn't able to stop himself. The view was just too comical! He laughed, very hard, his hand on his head, the other one at his stomach.

"Hahahahaha! You look so funny! HA!"

003 frowned, her eyes dangerously narrow. Without warning she caught 009's foot and yanked it. 009 felt how the earth just disappeared beneath his feet and a second later he was soaked to the bone.

"Hey!" He complained as he removed his own chestnut hair from his eyes.

They looked at each other in total silence, a pucker on their lips. 003 threw some water right onto 009's face.

He seemed surprised at first at the terrible offense but after a second of consideration, he decided to imitate her actions, splashing her already dampened face. She, naturally, repeated the attack and so, the war was on.

Soon they both were immersed in a water fight; laughter filled the beach, mixing up with the splashing and the sound of the waves.

They stopped after some minutes, still laughing and panting hard. 009 looked into 003's eyes, smiling sweetly to her, and then stood up, water dripping from his body as the breeze cooled down his skin.

"Francoise, I am committed."

"What?" She asked looking up, a little shocked.

"I understand what you want, and I discovered that I want it as well. I'm committed to be there for you every time you fall."

He extended his hand to her and she took it, he then helped her to stand up. "I am committed to protect you from everything. Even from evil seaweed."

After those words, he removed some of the plants from her hair. She laughed at this and lowered her head as a soft, pink color crept up her cheeks. 009 took her by the chin and made her look at his chocolate eyes.

"I am committed to support you, but also to respect your individuality and understand your needs."

003's eyes started to water a little. "Oh Joe..."

"But over all things, I am committed to you, because I love you."

003 threw herself into his arms and hugged him with a force 009 didn't know she possessed. He placed his arms around her shoulders, loving the feeling of their closeness, her heat, the shape of her body against his.

009 suddenly had the urge to do something. He didn't think he had attempted to do something more impulsive in his life! But he looked deep inside of him... He knew he really wanted this, he felt it in the deepest reaches of his heart.

009 took 003 by the shoulders and separated her form him and after looking in her turquoise eyes, his decision was made. No doubts about it.

He knelt down in front of her. The water almost reaching his waist, but he didn't care.

"W-what are you doing?"

He took her hand between his and spoke. His eyes almost seemed to shine.

"I can't believe I'm saying this but, Francoise... Would you marry me?"

003 froze, her eyes went wide. Her mouth moved a couple of times but she only managed to gasp.

At last she could formulate some words.

"Joe... what are you saying to me?"

009 rose up and took her by the shoulders again. "Listen, I know that maybe we are too young, your cryogenic years don't count --he teased--, or that maybe we don't have that much money, but I also know that we risk our lives almost every day and… and I don't know what I'd do without you…" His voice trailed off at those words.

"And I don't want to lose even one single day, one single moment, not if I can spend it at your side… to the maximum." 009 felt his voice shaking with emotion, but he didn't bother in trying to hide it from her.

"I want to know the most important things about you, but also the little details, and I want to wake up next to you every morning like today, and fight over silly things again, and argue about who forgot whose birthday, or who will wash the dishes, or how shall we name our pets, or even, if you want… our kids --he blushed and smiled timidly at the last words and resumed his declaration--. I… I really want to live all of that with you. If you'll let me."

He then shut his eyelids down, squeezing her hands even tighter, and then he looked at her again; 003 felt herself melting at the love and tenderness that his beautiful, cinnamon eyes reflected.

"Francoise, I have no words to describe just how much I love you… I can't even start to understand the magnitude of this feeling you've woken up in me, let alone explain it, but believe me; I can't live without you, that's for sure," he finished with a wishful tone.

003's face blossomed in a warm smile as tears began falling down her cheeks, yet she seemed unable to answer for the time being. 009 then took one seaweed leaf from her shoulder and twisted it in a sort of circlet, he then released her hands and placed the leaf around her ring finger.

"I know this is not the best ring, but it's just a symbol."

009 then repeated his question, kissing her hand, 003 was covering her mouth with the other one.

"Francoise Arnoul. Would you do me the immense honor to become my wife?"

For a moment, only silence followed his question, a moment too large for 009.

Suddenly she threw herself into his arms, and taking his face between her hands, the crying girl spoke at last, her voice trembling with emotion. "Yes yes YES! Oh Joe of course I will!"

They joined in a breathtaking embrace. 009 couldn't help himself, he picked her up and started spinning her around, their laughter filling the air one more time.

Finally, he was too dizzy to keep on and lowered her. Now they both had tears on their eyes.

"I promise to make you very happy Joe."

"There is no way you couldn't."

They kissed one more time and then she hid her face in his chest, sighing. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, the waves moving them slowly from one side to the other.

"I can't believe it…" she said in a dreamy voice.

"Yeah…" His tone was very similar.

After that 003 looked at the improvised ring on her finger and teased him. "I'll get a better ring latter, won't I?"

009 chuckled. "If I say no, will you get mad at me and run to the house leaving me here all alone?"

003 narrowed her eyes, but she was grinning. She slapped him playfully on top of the head. "You had to have your payback. Didn't you?

"Absolutely."

009 kissed her head, tasting some more salty water on his lips. "Of course you'll get a better ring koishii, anything for my girl."

"You better." She smiled at him.

They started walking to the house, her head resting on his shoulder and his arms encircling her waist, but at the half of their way, they stopped as the same idea occurred to them. They looked at each other and 009 knew he was lost; there it was, that roguish smile. He was utterly powerless against it.

Without a single word they changed their path and headed to the cave.

Yeah… They'd break the news to the others tomorrow. That night was for them only.

FIN

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Don't go away yet. There's an extra scene coming soon ;) I guess you could say it's the epilogue and also, I'll answer to your reviews there. Thanks for all your support, and thanks so much to GA2, you've been a great beta reader.