KT – DA: Here we are, once again. Another chapter for all my loving fans!

Marth: Milady, did you spend all of your schooltime writing this chapter?

KT – DA: ah… well, not ALL of it…

Roy: Aw, man! /throws gameboy against wall/

Link: Lose Fire Emblem again, Roy?

Roy: /growls/

KT – DA: Roy, I need you to do the stuff. Now.

Roy: Wha? Oh, oh yeah, right. Okay. Kuroi Tenshi – Dark Angel does not own SSBM or any of its characters.

KT – DA: I'm still working on owning Marth, though. For some reason, Nintendo keeps sending my letters of request back…

Link: right… we like reviews. Give them to us. Now.

Marth: Here's the chapter!

Getting Over Out Troubles - Trust

Sarah Holly leaned back against the headboard of her bed and closed her eyes. She forced her thoughts into a black chamber in the back of her mind, calming herself. She couldn't let herself dwell on them for long or she would lock up, freeze in place.

Slowly, Sarah let the memories return, let them come out of the chamber one by one. She kept an iron hold on her emotions, not allowing herself to panic upon remembering. Once they were all out, she took a deep breath. She was about to do something she had never done completely.

She was going to talk about the rape.

She opened her eyes to see Marth looking at her, concern just beginning to appear in his eyes.

"When I was thirteen, my family lived in an apartment. Mom and Daddy both worked, and they usually got home late. My brother got a job, since he was older than me, but he usually only worked for a few hours during the day.

"One night, my brother was asked to work the night shift, and I was staying at home alone. I'd stayed alone before, so I wasn't worried. I just put something in the oven for dinner and went to watch television. I didn't hear the window break in my parent's bedroom.

"The man snuck up behind me and grabbed me. I started to scream, but he just stuffed something in my mouth. Once I realized what he meant to do, I started kicking at him. He'd tied my hands over my head to a bedpost. I hadn't even realized he'd been carrying me to another room until then. I fought him as hard as I could, but obviously he was much stronger than me.

"My brother came home and found me in the bedroom. He told me later that he knew something was wrong when he saw that my dinner was burning. The man was long gone by then, but I just couldn't make myself move from that spot. My brother called 911 and then my parents, then tried to clean me up a little, I wouldn't let him touch me. I couldn't.

"My parents arrived not two minutes after the ambulance. They were very angry when the emergency crew wouldn't let them come in the ambulance with me. They said we wouldn't all fit.

"I don't really remember much after that. I know I was at the hospital for a while, and I remember that I wouldn't let the male doctors near me. I think I was fading in and out of consciousness the whole time.

"Once I was sufficiently recovered, I went back home. That was when I found out that I really could not stand having men touch me. Even Daddy and my brother can't touch me. I've finally managed to get my reaction down to nothing more than a little twitch, but it still bothers me so much."

Sarah realized that she was crying, but did nothing to stop her tears.

Marth said nothing for a long while. He looked out the window for a long moment, then back at her. "Does it make you nervous to be alone in here with me, Milady?"

Sarah looked up at him slowly. "No. Not you. Maybe Roy or Link, or any other guy, but not you. You're my best friend. I trust you."

"I'm your best friend?" The prince looked surprised.

"Yes. You're the only one who never asked me about it. Even Roy asked once, and even though I know it was out of concern for me, it still bothered me," Sarah brushed a tear away.

Marth shifted positions a little on the bed. "Then you think we have a good enough relationship for me to know about it? You haven't told many people about this, have you?"

"No, Marth, I haven't. It's just like you and Altea; I don't like to talk about it," Sarah replied. She wiped at her eyes more fiercely, but the tears didn't stop.

Marth bit his lip. "I… appreciate you telling me, Milady."

"Oh! Stop calling me that! Especially after I've told you…"

Marth slipped his hand under her chin and turned her head toward him gently. "No, Milady. I will continue calling you so. The fact that you managed to find a way to live after experiencing something so heinous makes you even more of a lady to me."

Sarah gulped back a sob. "Marth… you… your hand…"

The prince removed the hand quickly, looking ashamed of himself. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"No, that's not what I meant." Sarah said quickly. "It didn't bother me at all…"

Marth's eyes widened slightly. Sarah wiped her eyes on her sleeve, then held out a hand to the prince. Marth looked at her questioningly for a moment. He took her hand lightly into his. Nothing happened.

"Sarah…" Marth trailed off right away.

Sarah remembered something. "You held me. Before I fainted on the stage, you held me. I didn't want you to at the time, but… it didn't scare me then. It didn't make me remember like it does with other men. You never make me remember."

Marth still held her hand in his as he leaned forward to kiss her lightly on the lips.

Marth: /blushes madly/

Roy: whoo! Marth's getting' it on!

KT – DA: Oh, it was only a little kiss. Calm down.

Link: Heh… it was still a kiss. And why are you putting Marth in a romance story with someone other than you?

KT – DA: Because nobody likes reading self-insertions, and because Marth's so darn romantic. Okay, maybe only in my mind… but…

Link: Whatever.

Marth: /stunned/ I…. I… kissed…I…

KT – DA: Please review!