In the past three days, she did more thinking over Inaki and her relationship than before they started going out. As she went back to some of her old analytical ways, she marveled at how much she stopped thinking and started feeling.

Inaki had MORE than rubbed off on her.

She knew it was time to evaluate herself, the emotions for Inaki, and HOPEFULLY find out what he felt...provided she didn't chicken out and found a way to bring it up. She knew by now he would tell her anything if she asked, but that was part of the problem. Inaki's opinion had come to mean something to her – come to mean a LOT – and she was scared of what she might find out.

She was being paranoid and distrustful again, but she would be devastated if this was one-sided.

She went through the whole rainbow of thoughts and emotions. Old doubts rose to haunt her, but it was inevitable as it was understandable. After more than enough time of arguing with herself, she came to a conclusion she mildly expected, was stunned at, and knew without needing to dissect.

She was falling in love with Inaki.

She was falling for him in a big way and one only needed proof by observing how she acted around him. She flirted, let him willingly hold and kiss her, joked, smiled, laughed, stopped spending so much time on her studies, let him meet her family and friend, met his family and friends, and most importantly...told him her past.

He changed her so much in small ways and was such a big part of her routine, she marveled at how she was before he came into her life. She was a mix between past and present, and she actually LIKED it.

There was a sort of peace and comfort in coming to terms with it all. She grasped the idea and held onto it. It explained her behavior that night and the thoughts running through her head.

Now was the time to find out. She would get his attention later when nothing could distract him. It had to be genuine or there was no point. She figured she wouldn't be able to tell him, but she wasn't worried about that.

Green followed him around before her vision dropped to the grass. One hand took a thoughtful pose over her mouth. 'This is going to be harder than I thought...'

In the blink of an eye, a body appeared in front of her; hands pushed her back to an awkward position – though kept her balanced; very familiar lips touched hers; and she was staring in surprise at thick lashes. She didn't even have enough time to finish the gasp she started, or lose herself in the kiss, before she was pulled to sitting position.

Catcalls and cheers hit her ears, but she ignored them for the wide, evil grin meeting her eyes.

Her brow furrowed in confusion, though her back tingled at his touch. "What was that for?"

"Woo, she's shell-shocked! Good one Yamoi."

Teeth bit his lip to keep from laughing and slowly let go. He kneeled in front of her on the porch and propped his head up with his arms and her knees. "You were thinking of something serious on a gorgeous day like today and we can't have THAT. And you're my girlfriend – it's my right."

He looked like a little boy in his movements and expression, and was too cute to ignore. A smile spread. "At least you didn't throw a sparkler in my face."

Brown sparkled with mirth. "Wouldn't dream of it. You'd find ways to get back at me and I know it."

She reached up and tapped his nose with a sugary smile. "Better believe it sweetie."

"Care to talk about it?"

"Ah -" Some humor died down before she smiled to throw him off. A hand plopped on his head. "I'll tell you later when it's just us, okay?"

His brow furrowed a degree, but he bypassed it and nodded. He could be serious later. "I think you've sat long enough. Come light off some more fireworks with us madwoman." He pulled her to her feet and kissed her again, but she was smiling too much to get into it.

She was ruining their fun, but didn't mean to. She resolved to shove it to the backburner until she needed to ask him. Besides, she was here to have fun too!

Chass handed her a lighter and she dropped in front of the box. She targeted a small string of firecrackers and stood, looking around with a grin. "Clear the area boys!"

They backed up a few steps in confusion and watched her take in the air and ground. She lit the string, dropped the lighter, and threw the bunch high into the air. Just as it started descending, she stopped next to Inaki and looked up.

There were half a dozen tied together and all popped before they hit ground. When the noise stopped, there was a brief pause and she eyed the others.

"Cool, we can have a challenge!"

"That was SWEET dude!"

"I wanna try that!"

A hand patted her head and ruffled the hair she still didn't have time to cut. "Good job babe. They're officially impressed."

She spied Rob already trying her trick and giggled. "Doesn't take much, does it?"

He snorted and snaked an arm around her waist to tug her close. "We're guys. The fact that you like firecrackers period won them over."

She grinned and leaned her head on his shoulder. "And you too of course."

His head followed hers, smelling vanilla. "Of course."

They watched for a few minutes as the three took turns trying to beat each other at throwing higher and having their firecrackers pop farther in the air than the other.

Green finally rolled. "I've created a monster."

He grinned. "They're already monsters. You just gave their short attention spans something to do is all."

~*~*~

Dusk started settling in and that's when most of her fun began. She didn't mind lighting off the bigger fireworks and watching the colors, but sparklers were more her forte. She just had more fun where they were concerned. For such a simple tool, it had so many uses.

"Not funny K."

She giggled. "But that's how your culture says it."

"Yea but it IS getting old. You can stop configuring my name like that."

She ignored him and went to spell his last name first and first name last again in the air.

He lit one of his own and made for the middle of the backyard, stopping a little ways away. He gained her attention and started spelling her full name in his culture to annoy her.

It started with the names, but somehow shifted to swordplay she was familiar with before. As she did with Sam at times, she parried with Inaki like they were fencing. Of course she was no match, as he had all the experience, and the second her sparkler went out, he put his still burning one in her face to proclaim victor.

She had to admit, she was having fun by being out of her element again. She was at his friend's house, using their fireworks, and eating their food. She was forcing herself to not mind that because she at the Inaki's all the time in the past months.

As fun as it was, she was getting anxious for the talk she planned. She wanted it over with, but also hoped Inaki forgot she mentioned anything earlier.

The night was coming, but there was no way to get him alone. Not at Kelar's house with Rob and Chass there as well. She didn't want to ruin the fun of the holiday, but if she was going to get any agreement for things in the future, she HAD to know.

The adrenaline in her system kicked up a notch at that.

Taking a deep breath for courage, she walked up to him and rested a hand on his back. Talking to him would do no good here with everything and everyone familiar to him. She wanted a place where they both knew and were comfortable with.

And she knew of the perfect setting to get him to express his feelings.

Congenial brown met green, but he blinked at the nervous look in her eyes. "Something up K?"

She smiled to try and put him at ease. "You remember what I said earlier about wanting to have a talk?"

He nearly startled in remembrance, disbelieving he forgot all about it! He looked around the backyard at the other three clowning around, and to the windows of the kitchen where the parents were loitering. "You want to go for a walk?"

Teeth bit her lip as she looked away for the briefest of seconds. "Actually...I have an idea. If you don't mind the drive...they have fireworks in Miami around nine or ten when the sun is gone."

He smiled and turned to toss the smoke bombs he intended on lighting back into the box. "Sounds like a plan. Good way to finish up the fourth." He stepped around her to get to the others. "Yo, guys!" The others stopped their own sparkler fun to give him their attention. "K and I are going to head out for something else. I'll talk to you later."

"See ya Inaki!"

"Have fun now."

He waved them goodbye and wrapped an arm around her waist. "Shall we?"

~*~*~

The drive down was rather quiet and he wondered about it. She made little small talk and most of that was verbal prodding. He hoped this talk was nothing bad, but he also knew she had a tendency to get too worked up over things which turned out to be not that big a deal.

Pasting a gentle smile, the hand closest to her left his lap and hovered in the air. He waited long enough for her to take notice, but his palm felt nothing but air.

"Hey."

Green whipped from the darkening horizon and blinked at the appendage. "What? What is that for?"

His fingers wiggled. "Gimme." He playfully ordered, sneaking a few glances off the road.

She smiled and obliged, feeling a squeeze when their skin locked. She swallowed as her arm tingled a little and felt a small stab low in her abdomen. She took a subtle deep breath to calm down, even though that was useless with his finger rhythmetically moving over the back of her hand.

He did small things like these that made her heart beat a little faster and made her appreciate him even more. Even if he was comical in his initiation, the reason behind them was sweet.

"So...you're not intending on breaking up with me are you?"

Her head turned so fast it was surprising she didn't hurt anything. "WHAT?"

"You're all serious and you haven't said much. It's nothing bad is it?"

Her heart beat a little faster. "No! No, it's nothing bad, don't worry about that. I wouldn't break up with you, don't worry about it."

He gave her a soft smile and concentrated more on the road, ready to take the first turn into the city. He didn't think so, but one could never be sure with an enigma that was his girlfriend.

It was difficult to find a place to park and they ended up walking a few blocks just to get to the spot everyone was congregating at. He wished they had a blanket to sit on, but grass was fine for him. The park was crowded with residents and he looked for an open area with a good view.

They could have better luck in a nearby tree.

"There!"

Before he could find where she was pointing, his arm was jerked to movement and he followed. Even with the temperature in the mid-eighties, he still situated her to lean against his chest. The extra body heat was a small price for the feel of her skin against his.

"So how much longer do we have to wait again?"

She looked around, seeing people still moving for a place to sit. "It looks like we're still pretty early. The masses are pouring in yet." She took time to lean back and enjoy the feel of his arms around her, and the emotions he evoked by those arms.

Being so close, he didn't miss the whisper of a contented sigh and moved forward to lean against her head. "Happy are you?" He softly asked.

She smiled and turned to press against his head as she felt his lips pucker over her temple. "It's nice." She sidestepped.

His arms tightened. "You're evading the question." One hand disentangled and poked her in the stomach.

She yelped and jumped, trying to grab him to stop. "Don't torture me! Not fair!"

"Then answer my question."

She slumped against him in a pout. "You're going to end up raising my tolerance to being tickled, you know that?"

He grinned. "That'll take a while you know. So stop wishful thinking."

She humphed. Her head leaned against his shoulder, looking at his face. "I'm happy." She finally reported, smiling a little. "I like being with you."

He pressed another kiss to her temple, heart fluttering at that admission. "That's good."

The sea of people had definitely slowed after a while, though she didn't know how much time they had left. Neither had a watch and she didn't feel looking around for someone that did. She wanted to get this over with so they could both enjoy the fireworks. That WAS part of the reason for coming all the way back here.

"Inaki –" Her lips pressed together as she stared at the grass.

His attention focused on her again. "Yea?"

"I was...wondering recently..."

She didn't get a chance to continue as his arms laxed enough to move her to visual range. "What's wrong K?"

Her head shook, barely able to meet his eyes. She didn't want to see nothing if she looked. "Nothing's wrong. I was wondering recently...about you and me."

His brow furrowed as a hand moved. A finger moved her to see him, something he had to do less and less over time. Why he was doing it now told him whatever she was trying to get out was important. "You sure this is nothing bad?"

She gave a split smile at his attempt at humor, but it didn't last. "I just realized...well I'm a simpleton when it comes to these matters but –"

He let her go to move her to face him. It was an awkward, not to mention compromising, position, but everyone was practically forgotten in his concentration. "I'll restate this again for the record. You can tell me anything or ask me anything; all you have to do is ask."

Her vision averted for a second as she nodded. "Lately, I was pondering...what you...how you felt...about...me."

Why was he always right about her making too big a deal about something that wasn't? This was such a simple question, one she had a right to ask, and she made it so hard.

But he could see her tension and suddenly knew this meant a lot to her. She was anxious because of that, which meant she wasn't asking just to ask...she really wanted to know. She cared about what he would say.

His hands moved to cup her face before he thought to do so and intense emotions bared down on her. "Kalie...I... I comprehended something very important about myself AND you that day at the beach." Her brow furrowed. "I never told you, but now that you're asking, I will." One hand laxed to stroke her cheek. "I almost lost you and I realized how much I liked being around you. I like hanging out with you and being with you, even if we don't do a thing. If you left me, by death or not, I wouldn't be able to handle that."

Her eyes watered and widened a little. Her mind was trying to connect what he was saying and disassociate with the luxurious feel of his calluses over her face.

"A lot of people where I live know that I'm searching for that one person to be with. It's like my personal obsession verging on the borderline of annoyance. I've gone through so many girlfriends – you know this – because of that reason. But I knew I found the one I wanted when I knew I almost lost you."

A tear fell from the sheer emotion he invoked. So she didn't get words of love, but this seemed to be as important. She knew how many girlfriends he had but never asked questions because she didn't want to know. She didn't find it necessary to know how many he dated, though he did tell her. She didn't care about the past...she just wanted to know him in the present.

The one? That sounded pretty serious.

"I - I don't know what you mean...Inaki." She whispered, hardly recognizing probably a hundred or so people could see their show.

Brown softened as fingers moved to stroke her hair. His eyes followed their movements. "Everyone wants someone to come home to at the end of the day...someone to always be with...someone to count on. Stuff like that. Something inside me was needing to be completed – as cheesy as that sounds – and I spent my whole life looking for it ever since I knew what dating was." His eyes locked with hers. "I never thought the feeling would ever go away. And then I got the privilege of dating you."

Her heart beat faster than before, emotions mixing with adrenaline. What he was pointing out sounded heavy and rather permanent. This was definitely not a love announcement – it almost seemed to surpass it!

She didn't know whether or not she was looking to hear the words from his lips, but this would DEFINITELY do. She had her decision and knew what she was going to do in a month. Nervous anticipation hit her already, but she shoved it away.

She had a whole month to be worried about THAT.

She didn't bother answering him or asking any more questions. She leaned forward and gently kissed him, releasing bottled up feelings. His thumb ran over cheekbones and her face tingled. Her hands somehow found their way into his hair and there was that ever-present urge to unravel his braid.

What felt like a while later, a sudden noise and light startled her back to reality. Her face jerked behind as far as she could, finding the dying colors of a firecracker. She gave him a brief glance before sitting as before and breathed another contented sigh. His arms squeezed in a silent message that made her heart ping.

She was so in love it was almost pathetic.