hey everyone! sorry for the wait again, and i regret to inform you that the next chapter could easily take longer. This is the creamy center. This is what you've been waiting for, if i've done my job right. So with no further ado, enjoy.

0-0-0-0-0

As everyone knows, the minute one decides to finally do something is the minute they find a way to put it off until the very last minute. Such was the case for Pegasus. Every time he was with Megan on Friday, he either was called away for work or found an excuse to not confess to her. She'd brought up another topic, they didn't have enough time, the setting just wasn't right, the list went on and on. Eventually, it was evening, and she still didn't know.

With a sigh, Pegasus looked at the clock in his study. It was already 10:30, and he was stuck here doing paperwork. Megan was off in her room, and there was enough work to keep him busy long past whenever she went to sleep. He looked blankly at the document in front of him, reading the same line over and over again. It wasn't worth losing Megan to get this done. But all the same, he couldn't make himself get up and go see her.

"Pegasus, you coward…" he chided himself. "You just don't want her to say 'no'…"

And it was true. He'd only had the experience of confessing his love to a girl once before, but he'd been just as nervous and procrastinated just as much that time. Just as he was now, he'd been afraid of rejection. However horrible it was not knowing, it would be worse if he knew she'd said no.

Would it really be that bad if she got away? He wondered. He didn't even need to answer himself. He'd never realized the depths of his loneliness without Cecilia until Megan had come in to fill the emptiness. He hadn't known how much he missed having someone to wrap his arms around until he'd found himself longing to wrap them around her. He'd been able to live for years with just a memory, but after finding Megan he couldn't go back. It would be hell if she left his life now.

Don't be a coward, he told himself. Don't leave this until it's too late…You've only got tonight.

His thoughts were interrupted, however, by a somewhat timid knock on the door.

"Yes, come in," he said, picking up his head.

Nothing happened for a moment, then the door creaked open slowly. Megan poked her head in the room. "Hey, can I come in?"

"Yes, of course," he answered, pushing some papers off of a chair and pulling it up next to him. "Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing, it's just-" she drew back the hand she'd had reaching a little forward, clenching it into a loose fist as if she was stopping herself from saying something. "It's nothing, just a little lonely."

"Who isn't?" he smiled at her. "Come, sit down."

"Well…I mean, I didn't mean to…to stay long…" She was avoiding his eyes, looking everywhere but at him. "I just…I mean…" with a distressed little sigh, she took a step back toward the door. "It's nothing, nevermind…I shouldn't bother you…"

"What is it? You're not bothering me, this is a perfect excuse to slack off."

She didn't say anything, though it looked like she was trying to force herself to speak. "I…well…I mean…" She looked around the room, tugging absently on a lock of hair and choosing her words very carefully. "I…I don't wanna be a burden or anything…but…but I'm leaving tomorrow…I can't just not tell you…"

Pegasus' heart sped up. Could she really be about to say what he thought she was? Or was he just wishing in vain?

"I…It's hard but…" she looked down at her feet and mumbled, "oh come on, just say it— I LOVE YOU!" She yelled, bringing her head back up and finally looking him tearfully in the face. She immediately looked away again, for the first time since Pegasus had known her looking awkward and shy. "I know…I mean, you love her, don't you? Cecilia." She looked up again, more bold now that she'd said it once. "But I love you…I always have."

Pegasus stood up, pushing his chair behind him. He didn't say anything for a minute, moving rather slowly in front of his desk. "You lied to me, then."
"What?"

"Last week." He was smiling a little now, but Megan, looking at the floor, couldn't see. "You said you didn't love me."

"Well…I didn't say that…not really. I said I didn't love you like I did when I came here. I…even then, last week I mean…I love you for real now. So I didn't lie." A couple of teardrops fell onto the carpet. "I'm sorry…I didn't want to bother you…not after you told me about her."

"Now why are you crying?" He asked, walking until he was standing right in front of her.

"I—it's just—I don't know."

"You have no reason to cry." He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her into a hug. Her tearful green eyes opened, and she looked up at his smiling face.

"You mean…?" The rest of the words caught in her throat, as sad tears turned to happy ones. But her meaning couldn't have been clearer.

"Yes," he said simply, drawing her closer.

"So you're the one who lied," she answered, moving her arms around his waist.

"What? Never!"

She giggled into the soft fabric of his suit at his indignant tone. "You told me it wasn't gonna work, didn't you? You said you didn't love me."

"Not in those words."

"But you meant it."

"I never said it. You can't say I said it."

"You were thinking it."

He laughed, and put a hand behind her head. With a slight movement he turned it upward, from his jacket to his face. She giggled again and flushed a delicate pink, but stretched up eagerly to receive the kiss he gave her.

Pegasus smiled and looked over his shoulder at the pile of work that still had to be done. "Come on, I'll put all this away and we can go somewhere more quiet."

"No." She hugged him tighter and started to rock back and forth on her feet. "I don't wanna let go."

He chuckled softly and disengaged her arms from his waist. He laced his fingers through hers. "Then let's just go. There's too much work in here."

"Aw, c'mon," she whined, swinging the hand holding his and leaning onto him. "I dun wanna move."

There was a knock on the door. Megan jumped slightly, straightening herself. Pegasus gently pulled his hand away, and answered it.

"Sir, I really need to collect those papers for—" Croquet cut off seeing Megan in the room. "I can come back tomorrow," he said with the lightest hint of a knowing smile. He ducked back out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Megan giggled, stepping back up to him and taking his hand. "Fine, you win. Let's go." Pulling the door open gently, she walked into the hall and then took off, stopping only for long enough to yell "Catch me if you can!"

Pegasus stood looking after her for a moment, not running until she went to turn a corner so as not to lose her. She must have a great memory, he thought, to know which way his room was from here. And that was just the path she was taking. When he turned the corner, she stood waiting at the bottom of a staircase.

"Slowpoke! C'mon!" She ran up the stairs laughing. And just as happily, laughing just as much, he followed.