"Who's at the door Al?" Lavie repeated once again, her gray eyes looked right at the door as she watched the blonde girl open the door to a black cloaked man. This time it wasn't a Guild member of Delphine's clan, it was none other than Alex....

"Alex? ALEX ROW!?" She stuttered, not believing what her eyes showed before her face. This must be an illusion, there was no way he could have survived. Even if Delphine was still breathing, she swore he had been done with long ago.

" How did you-- why didn't you come sooner?" She questioned, his brown eyes looked over to the side where he stood. Looking right at her he smiled slowly, that once empty looking face she remember changed before her eyes.

" I've tried to make contact with any of you-- but with the hearings of Delphine about," He looked at Alvis, "I couldn't have myself found," Lavie nodded, it wouldn't be easy being known as a dead man. Alex had to conceal his identity for 'this' long?

"Where's Sophia? Can you.. tell met that," She had always been wondering what the princess had been doing since the last time they ever saw her. The troubles of taking care of the scars still open in the fleets worried her. Delphine was an unforgivable person.

"She's safely doing her ordered duties," His amber eyes were so visible in the near dark, walking in with his billowing cape about him. Lavie felt strange, seeing him in his original clothes, while the rest wore the outfits that were newly made.

" Hello there," Dio introduced himself into the picture smoothly," We've met, have we not Captain?" He shook Alex Row's hand lightly, not as tight as a grip as his sister would've done.

The door was still open, a sound of echoing footsteps slithered into the room where the crew stood. A boy with blond hair stepped through the open passageway, looking right at Lavie who held a pillow around her arms.

"Lavie," He came right where she sat on the bed, his reluctant and relieved sky blue eyes looking at her. She smiled weakly, taking the strands of red hair from her face, her face turned red from how close they were.

" C---Claus...Claus! Our Captain is here!" Lavie had to be careful, any man of the Guild could be wired into their conversation. Claus turned slowly seeing Alex Row's tall shadow loom over him, those half-open amber eyes staring down at him.

" Alex!" He nearly spoke in a whisper his name, his pupils went small, he hadn't even seen the Silvana captain since his supposed 'death'. "It's good to see such a great Captain again!" Alex smiled at that, a compliment was rare from Claus nowadays.

The six sat and stood in silence, what was there to say after such a long departure? From one another, even from the ones they thought were truly gone. Al held close to Lucciola, she feared that the Ruler of the Silvana would hate her and Lavie for loving Guild members.

" Alex," Al said softly, her silver eyes looking right into his, wide and pleading," Don't hate me and Lavie," She felt tears burning in her eyes," Lavie..." She wiped tears away, slowly smiling up at the man before her.

He just grinned, looking at her, then Lucciola, he bowed looking more kind then what Alvis suspected. When the two had first met, he had knocked out the leader of the vanship crew, Al laughed remembering that day. How scared and amazed she was...

The wind chilled their souls as a figure appeared before the doors, a black cape, as dark as the night fluttered in the winds. Hazel eyes slowly examining each person in the room, making sure none were hidden or had left.

" My Lady knows of your existence," It had been none other than Lucciola's brother, he was shocked at first but then bit his lip angrily. A smirk appeared upon the look of triumph on the man's face, he looked at Dio, Lavie, and Claus.

" You needn't worry Dio," His laugh sounded as a deathly whisper," You will return to us soon." With those words spoken he left silently, the door closing behind him.

Dio scowled, looking at the others as his hazel eyes held a deathly flickering flame. How he hated his sister, of all the things she caused. To kill someone as Lavie or Lucciola just to get to him was too much. He fell back on the bed, placing his palm atop his forehead. Even the smallest of comfort could release this terrible pain.

"Dio," His hazel pupils looked to the side of him, Al held her lamb in her arms as she always did when little. Glancing down at the doll she slowly placed the lamb in his arm, Dio laughed touching her cheek.

"Thank you." He whispered, closing his weary eyes just to fall back from all the troubles confronting them. Lavie stroke his forehead, his bangs brushed back with the rest of his pure white hair. She saw how peaceful he looked when asleep.

Her heart pounded and she quickly snapped into reality, looking back at Alex Row, her hand placed softly on Dio's chest.

" I wish we could all forget about the Guild," Strength slowly rose inside of her as she firmly spoke these words," Dio will die if we--" Alex placed his hand on her shoulder, she swallowed hard, looking at him.

" Are lives are in peril, but love can't determine who is our enemies," Her gray eyes widened at his words, she shoved herself away... was it true what he spoke? Could the two possibly turn their backs on them?

The redhead glared at the captain of the Silvana, pointing down the hall angrily," You can stay here, but 'they' aren't leaving," And when she spoke 'they' he knew right when she spoke that word what Lavie meant.

---

Lavie lay atop the flannel sheets, seeing a smile on Dio's lips as he was bundled up in them so comfortably. She was afraid to sleep, at any time could Delphine come and finish off her and the others in one direct signal to her men.

She shivered, looking over to see him blinking, his hazel eyes blinking but to see Lavie lying there right beside him. He swallowed hard closing his eyes once more, knowing the girl before him was just a trick of his eye.

Sure enough when he peeked to see if Lavie was there when he was sure she wasn't looking, the redhead was truly lying next to him. Her warm breath chilled his skin from the cold of the air conditioner, the machine must be broken...

" Dio, I won't let you leave," She whispered, holding his hand tightly, Dio's eyes widened feeling her strong hold," I won't have you taken away, I love you...I can't even sleep now," Her weary gray eyes met his own.

" Lavie," He touched her cheek, she smiled placing her hand over his own. Closing her eyes as if his touch made her fall asleep easier, but those cheeks flushed red and she giggled softly.

Opening her eyes she wrapped her arms around Dio's neck, her nose touched his and she winked." I just gave you an Eskimo kiss!" He smiled, feeling her lips slowly touch his own.

Ever since Claus was secluded from her life she had never kissed anyone since, but now that she actually kissed him upon the lips....

A sound caught his ear, breaking the kiss he looked about the room, Lucciola was asleep peacefully on the couch with Al curled up as a cat on the living room rug.

" Lucciola," Dio whispered, he saw his friend move a bit, but his eyes were still closed," Lucciola!" Silence was the second reply given to him, worried and infuriated he rose from the comforter, sitting in his boxers on the bed.

" LUCCIOLA!" He said louder and crisper, Lucciola immediately woke up, falling off the couch. His face hit the floor hard, rubbing his nose in confusion he sat up. Lucciola brushed stray creamy blonde strands back from his face, seeing his master, Dio sitting on the comforter worriedly.

" Yes sir," Dio finally perked up seeing that he was awake and listening, he laughed seeing his droopy face. If it was one thing that made Dio laugh most, was the look of his friend's face when he woke him from slumber.

" I heard a noise," Lucciola yawned, his master sounded like he was a child, back when he was a little boy that is. He chuckled, standing to his feet Dio staggered over to him sleepily." Come outside with me," His hand was placed softly on Lucciola's shoulder, he blushed red seeing the affection he showed him.

The two men stepped out into the backyard, the open garden around them, Lucciola knelt down, taking whiffs of the flowers surrounding them. " A poppy flower," Dio looked over seeing him pluck the flower from the soft soil.

"What are you doing Lucciola? The poor thing must be crying in pain! Did you kill it?" He laughed shaking his head at the man who acted so much like a innocent child. The breeze chilled them, no ominous feeling was about.

Lucciola tucked the flower in Dio's hair," Let's go inside shall we Lord Dio?" Dio nodded embracing his friend for a moment, he was shocked, standing as if frozen.

"Sir--"

" I have a pain in my chest, it feels as if the scars of my past are still new, but those haunting memories.." Dio sniffled slightly," How she was, my sister did nothing but use me as a tool, just as you were used, Lucciola don't protect me!"

He wiped his cold hand on his tear streaked cheeks," I can't bare this pain, she has done such horrible things...just promise me, you won't ever protect me," Dio continued, biting his lip," You died, to save me...if you told the truth..it would be me, that was to die."

Lucciola gasped, his master spoke in such ways that frightened him...was Dio truly willing to rid of the pain altogether? He put his hands firmly on his shoulders," You have people who care for you," He swallowed hard," Even love you Lord Dio, it's more than what a person could wish for."

"Don't call me that," Dio whispered," I'm not 'Lord Dio', I'm not a superior to you Lucciola," He couldn't find his voice to speak to his friend now, the whole thought of Dio being his cold master was gone.

" Yes...," Lucciola rested his cheek atop Dio's head of white hair," Dio."

- Dio why do you have a poppy in your hair?-laughs-Well...-stops-My poppy flowers! Dio those were my Poppies!-sighs- Now you've done it! -But I! -wailing- Next time on Last Exile: Feelings Exposed in Time!-