Man, I feel so sick right now. It reminds me of back in 9th grade during this time of the year. That's when Zoids was first really big, and that's when the zoids section began on fanfiction. I read just about every fic there was. (good times…I really miss those days. Man, now I'm getting all depressed…maybe that's why I feel sick.) Anyway, I was up until four in the morning writing and reading fanfiction…fanfiction that's been over for years. I was rereading a ton of Bit/Leena fics, plus I've been re-watching the series (I recorded it, so I have that lovely capability.) So a heads up for that…I know the series inside and out, so please do not challenge me on my Zoids knowledge. I can quote almost every episode! (should I really be taking pride in that?) Anyway, here's a chapter for you.

Merry Christmas, and don't forget to review. I love reviews. Maybe they'll help my rather sick, depressed, tired, and nostalgic mood. (God I miss the old days…)

Well, I hope you like this chapter! Lots of lip action, if you know what I mean. ;)Yay for fluffy, happy moments! (but there is still a bit of angst…hehe..angst…shutting up now…)

Disclaimer: So don't own Zoids, but I do own a few other characters in this story, and I wish I owned Leon and Bit. They're my favorites, in case you didn't notice.

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Maria smiled to herself as she walked down the hallway of the Backdraft base. She was rather happy right now. Despite everything that was currently happening in her life, she was in a cheerful mood. She was also on her way to visit Josh. She wanted to talk to him for a while. She couldn't tell anyone that though. If the Backdraft found out, she'd be in trouble.

"Maria," called a voice from behind her. She froze in place and slowly turned around, forcing a smile onto her face.

"Yes?" she asked sweetly. Standing before her was none other than her commanding officer, the leader of this faction of the Backdraft.

"Just where are you going?" he asked curiously, his dark eyes making her feel a bit nervous. She quickly racked her mind for an excuse.

"I'm gonna go check up on my zoid," she answered. "It got pretty banged up in that battle." Something told her that he didn't believe her. It was almost like he knew exactly where and what she was up to.

"Alright," he told her. "But Maria…stay away from the prison. I know you and Josh were close, but he's our enemy. He can't be trusted."

"I-I know," she stuttered a bit nervously. He just gave her a small nod and then walked away, heading back to his office. Maria just sighed, realizing that she could finally relax. Now she could go see Josh without having to worry too much. As she made her way towards the prison, she passed two guards who were walking and conversing. Normally she wasn't interested in such pathetic conversations, but this one was about Josh.

"That spy…" began one. "I give him a week."

"Two days," said the other. "Did you see what they did to him? I doubt he'll last much longer at this rate? The interrogators sure are harsh. Just watch. They'll shoot him next time." Maria just bit her lip and began running, wanting to reach Josh faster. Those guards were wrong. Josh was strong. He'd make it. However, Maria was going to have to face the facts. Eventually the interrogator would just kill off the boy. Without help, Josh was never going to survive. He needed to get out before it was too late.

"Josh?" Maria called as she finally reached his prison cell. However, she received no answer. Maybe he's asleep… However, she quickly shook that thought away and unlocked his cell, walking in. It was rather dark, and it took her eyes a moment to adjust. However, when they did, she felt her heart constrict at what she saw.

"Oh my God…" she whispered. Josh was in worse shape than before. His arm was still dislocated and a few ribs were broken, but there was so much more damage done this time. The side of his head was bleeding as if he had been smashed into the wall. A knife gash ran down his chest, and there was one along his good arm too. He was currently unconscious, slumped against the far wall of his cell.

"Josh?" asked Maria, worry filling her voice. "Hey Josh." She shook him just a bit, and he groaned, pain surging through his body.

"Maria?" he whispered, his voice sounding dazed.

"I'll be right back, okay?" she told him. "I'm gonna get some bandages." He would have nodded if he had had the strength, but he wasn't able to say or do anything. He just watched as Maria left his cell, going off to search for bandages. However, no matter what she did for him, there was no denying his fate. Sooner or later, the interrogator would kill him. It was just a matter of time.

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"We're leaving tomorrow," stated Star as she crossed her arms. Across from her sat John and Doctor Toros, both of which had been arguing with her for the last ten minutes. Star had brought up their plan, and the two adults were being a bit stubborn about this. Of course, Dr. Toros had brought up a good point at least. Leon was in no condition to go into a battle. He was still on the mend, and if they headed out tomorrow, he would come with. There was no way they could talk him out of it.

"I'm just asking you to wait two more days," began John. "Just two."

"Josh might not last that long," Star insisted. "Please John? I know we can pull this off. We'll bring Josh back, I promise. I just need your okay."

"Star…"

"Please?" she begged. "Everyone else agreed. In fact, it was their plan, not mine. Come on…" John just looked to Steve, wondering what they should say. The Blitz team belonged to Doc, so this was in part his decision to make. After all, this was a dangerous situation. It was possible that none of these warriors were going to come back alive.

"Well…" began Doc.

"Please dad?" began Leena as she walked in with Bit. "We'll be careful." Both John and Doc sighed, realizing that they just weren't going to win this argument. Their pilots were just a bit too headstrong. If they wanted to go take on a huge faction of the Backdraft, then that's exactly what they were about to do.

"Fine," sighed John, hoping that he was making the right decision. "You can go, but you'd better come back alive, and I expect to see Josh with you."

"Sure thing," responded Bit. "I'll be there, so you'll have nothing to worry about." They all just sighed as Leena grabbed Bit and dragged him out of the room. His cockiness wasn't going to help the situation any.

"Thanks," whispered Star. "I'll do my best to make it back alive."

"I know," John answered just as softly. "I wish you all luck. Make sure everyone comes back." Star just smiled before heading towards the door.

"I will," she told him. "Don't worry." And with that said, she left. She had a lot of preparations to make if they were heading out tomorrow morning.

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Maria had a box full of first aid equipment with her as she began bandaging some of Josh's wounds. Josh just remained quiet and watched her as her soft fingers brushed against his bruised skin. Didn't she understand that this was dangerous? It was dangerous for a number of different reasons, but the most severe probably hadn't even occurred to her. The members of the Backdraft would easily notice his bandages, and then they'd probably figure out it was her. Someone had probably found out already that she had fallen asleep with him in his cell the other day. If they didn't know, then they were at least probably aware that she had brought him food. Now she was healing wounds that had been caused through instructed interrogations. She was breaking the rules.

"You should leave," he managed to say, his voice a bit hoarse. "If they find you, they'll…"

"I don't care," she stated as she continued cleaning and bandaging his cuts. "I'm not gonna let you die here." Her fingers brushed over a rather tender section of skin, and he inhaled sharply. "Sorry," she said rather quickly, sounding somewhat ashamed. However, Josh wasn't sure he had inhaled out of pain. He kind of liked the way her fingers felt against his skin. She was soft, not someone you would think of to be in the Backdraft. This woman had probably never had her hands stained in blood. She was a beautiful woman. Come on, Josh. Keep your mind OUT of the gutter. This is Maria we're talking about. However, his mind was one thing and his body was another. He still found that he liked the way her fingers glided across his skin.

"You really should leave," he tried again. "They'll find out you did this. They'll go after you." She just ignored him and kept at her task. Josh was starting to get just a little frustrated. Didn't she understand that this was for her own good? She needed to leave. "You're lucky I can't move…or I'd be shoving you out that door myself."

"Well sorry," she began, sounding just a little irritated with him. "If you want me to leave that badly, I will." Now Josh felt guilty. He hadn't meant to hurt her. He just didn't want her to get in trouble for his sake.

"Sorry," he apologized. "I just…I don't want you getting hurt…by the Backdraft…or me."

"You'd never hurt me," she told him with a smile. However, the look in his eyes made her a bit nervous.

"I wouldn't be so sure," he stated as he began moving, "though I'd never hurt you intentionally." He cringed a bit as he stretched the wound on his chest. His still slightly good arm shot up to grab at his side as his ribs also began stinging. He had forgotten about those.

"Don't move!" Maria told him. "You'll hurt yourself. Just stay still, I was almost done." However, Josh just moved a bit more and then turned to look at her. He was sitting up now, looking down a bit into her eyes. She looked a little nervous right now.

"You should leave," he stated again. "Before I get us both in trouble."

"But I…" she began, placing her hand gently on his arm, on the area she had been mending. Josh inhaled a bit sharply.

"God…" he whispered breathlessly. "You just don't get it." He used that arm to reach towards her. He placed his hand gently on the side of her face, not wanting to startle her too badly with what he was about to do. In one fluid motion, he brought her closer to him, and his lips descended upon hers, capturing her mouth. Her whole body froze up, most likely from shock. However, Josh just kissed her, coaxing her gently to respond. Eventually she began relaxing and she shyly kissed him back. She sighed a bit, bringing out a small smirk from Josh. He just kissed her a bit harder, and she followed his lead, letting him do whatever he wanted.

After a while, both of them needed a moment to breath, so Josh pulled away first. He just moved back a little, wanting to see Maria a bit better. She was blushing. Well, that's only natural. At least she's not too startled.

"S-sorry," he responded a bit shakily. "You can slap me if you want…" However, she just smiled and leaned into him a bit. She moved next to him, resting her head against his shoulder. He was suddenly aware again of just where they were. "You really should leave…"

"Just a little longer," she told him. "I like it like this…" Josh was starting to get a bit worried now. If they find her like this with me…they might try using her to make me tell them about the ZBC. I can't let that happen! It wouldn't be fair! This is my problem, not hers!

"Maria," he began, his voice a bit more demanding this time. "You have to leave." She raised her head and gave him a small glare. He realized that she wasn't going to leave unless he really pushed her to. "Look, I'm fine now. I don't…n-need you here, so just go."

"But…"

"Please!" he begged, looking away. "Just go…" He heard her sigh and gather her medical equipment.

"So that's it?" she began a bit angrily. "One kiss and you're done with me?"

"It's not like that," he said rather quickly, not wanting her to get the wrong idea. "It's dangerous for you to be here."

"I know that, but I really like you, Josh!" She suddenly went mute, her cheeks covered in a soft blush. Josh couldn't fight back the small smile that pulled at his lips. However, as a shadow fell across the bars of his cell, his smile quickly disappeared.

"So…" began a deep voice, sending a chill down both their spines. Maria slowly turned around, her eyes meeting the stone cold ones of her commanding officer. There was a small smirk on his face. "This is where you've been…"

(Note, I could leave it here…but for the first time in a long time, I think I won't leave you with a cliffhanger. (especially since who knows when I'll update next. It just wouldn't be fair)

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Currently at the ZBC's hospital vicinity, Bit was lying on his back on his bed. They had all been given rooms as they stayed in the area. After all, their base was pretty far away. It would have taken way too long to go back and forth each day while Leon was in the hospital. Besides, he wouldn't have wanted to leave, and he knew Leena and Star would have stayed at the hospital whether or not they had been given a room. Leon was important to the two of them.

There was a knock at his door, which was somewhat surprising considering the fact that it was already eleven at night. He already knew he wouldn't be able to sleep tonight, so he might as well have some company.

"The door's open," he called, waiting to see who had decided to pay him a visit. He wasn't all that surprised to see Leena standing there in his open doorway. "Hey," he greeted with a smile. "Can't sleep?"

"Yeah," she said softly, obviously not wanting to wake the people who had been able to get some shuteye. After all, they all needed their rest for the battle tomorrow. She just stood there and watched as Bit sat up, giving her his signature grin.

"Well don't just stand there," he told her. "Come in." Leena just smiled and walked over, remembering to close the door first. She went over and sat next to Bit, a sigh escaping her lips.

"I really hope we can pull this off," she told him. "This means a lot to Star."

"We'll all do fine," stated Bit confidently. "We'll just charge in there and tear the whole base apart!"

"Um…Bit?" began Leena. "Star wants this to be a bit more covert."

"Covert?!" he nearly exclaimed. That was the opposite of his fighting style. He didn't want to remain inconspicuous. Why couldn't they just charge into battle like they usually did?

"Well yeah," she answered, giving him a look that questions his skepticism. "Our goal isn't to destroy the Backdraft. We're just saving Josh."

"But it's just…so unlike us," Bit stated.

"I know," she agreed. "I'm not too big on this idea either, but this is Star's mission. We're just going along with it. Besides…we can't risk hurting Josh in the process. After all, the whole point is to get him out of the building…alive." Bit just sighed deeply.

"This is gonna be harder than I thought…" Leena just smirked and leaned in a little, placing her head on Bit's shoulder.

"We should get some sleep," she stated, and Bit just nodded in return. They really did need to rest up for the battle. This brought Leena back to the reason as to why she had come here in the first place.

"Hey Bit?" she began softly.

"Yeah?"

"Can I stay with you tonight?" she asked a bit meekly, which was highly unlike her. She was usually so straightforward and confident. She seemed a little unsure right now. Bit just smiled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Of course," he stated. He turned a bit and was soon facing her, a smirk on his face. "But I want a goodnight kiss first." Leena just returned his smile. Bit began to bend down, his mouth descending upon hers. He soon felt her soft lips against his, and he started kissing her, wrapping his arms around her to keep her close. They slowly began leaning back onto Bit's bed, still wrapped up in each other's arms. To their dismay, they had to break their kiss, both in desperate need of air. Leena just smiled and snuggled up against Bit, resting her head against his chest. Her eyes gently closed as she felt exhaustion pulling at her mind.

"Goodnight Bit," she whispered. He just leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

"G'night," he responded, and in a whisper, added "I love you."

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Yay! Lots of romantic moments. I hope you liked this, though I was about fifteen minutes too late for this to be done on the 25th (at least according to my time). Oh well, this is still a nice Christmas present, right? RIGHT?! Sorry, just a little hyped up right now. I'm not feeling quite as sick anymore…maybe because I just spent three hours watching the second Inuyasha movie (bought it on Wednesday at Target! Even though I've had it for over a year now on my laptop…the dubbed version isn't bad at all! Curse those who say it is! Richard Cox is an amazing English voice actor!). The special features section put me in a happy mood…hehe…plushy action…yeah, scenes from Inuyasha were acted out with plushy characters. I nearly choked I was laughing so hard.

Well, enough about my insanity. I hope you enjoyed this, and so merry Christmas, happy holidays! I will update sooner next time!

Remember to review (cause that'd be a nice Christmas present…)

Until the next time, bye!