A/N: hey guys! I'm finally back with a vengeance! Sort of actually, since this is one of the last chapters I wrote before my year-long-and-running case of writer's block. I hope you like it since I wasn't really into this chapter as much.

Disclaimer: alright…you win…I'll stop trying to steal the paperwork saying that I don't own DW. I don't own DW. Or the characters. Or anything…

Ning finally says it!

Shang Xiang was sitting in her chambers, loafing around with Da and Xiao Qiao. There was a knock on the door and Sun said, "Just a minute!"

'I wonder who it could be?' she thought as she got up from her bed to open the door.

However, the ever-knowing Da said, "I'll get it Shang Xiang!" She winked at her sister, who instantly started giggling like a cheerleader who just got asked to prom.

She and Sun Ce had planned on Sun Jian stalling Gan Ning for a while so Ce could run to his sister's room, to the Qiao's that would be waiting nearby. They really wanted everything perfect for them. Seeing as Sun Jian REALLY didn't want to see his only daughter in Liu Bei's arms, he readily agreed.

Da opened the door to a panting pirate with his hands on his knees, and was keeling over slightly.

"You're late." She whispered. "What took you so long?"

He looked up towards her and said, "You knew I was coming?"

"Yessir."

"I'll get you for this Da Qiao! You set me up!"

Just then they were interrupted by Shang Xiang's voice. "Who is it Da?"

"Someone for you Xiang!" she replied.

Ning heard someone start walking from the other room and towards the doorway. Da winked at him as she went back to the room.

switch pov.

"Someone for you Xiang!" Da yelled back.

Shang Xiang got back up and threw Xiao a curious glance, when she smiled like Christmas had come early. Xiao immediately ceased her gleeful dance. Da motioned for Xiao to come with her. Da read the look of confusion on the princess's face and said, "I'll explain later. Let's take our leave, sister." Together the two Qiao sisters left, and prayed silently that everything would work out.

Shang Xiang followed the Qiao sisters to the door, and saw why they had decided to leave so suddenly. There stood the warrior she had dreamed about so many times, yearned after for so long. Her heart jumped clear out of her chest, and she gasped.

"Gan Ning…What brings you here? Aren't your quarters on the west side of the castle?"

"Well princess…"

"Just Shang Xiang, remember?" she said.

"Right, Shang Xiang." He corrected himself while smacking himself for not remembering. He was starting to get REALLY nervous, and she wasn't helping in the least.

"Oh, I'm sorry Ning! It was very rude of me to leave you standing out here! Please, come in and sit down." She said.

Xiang knew what her father said about letting strange men into her room when there were no guards or handmaidens, but the poor fellow looked like he was going to collapse onto the hallway floor. Then she wouldn't be able to shut the door with him lying face down in her doorway could she?

What Xiang DIDN'T know was that, by inviting him in, she made him into even more of a nervous wreck. She led him into her mini living room and steered him towards a large, overstuffed, velvet red chair. When they were both seated on the comfy chairs, there was a pause. A moment of complete silence passed when the pirate decided to take the initiative.

"Shang Xiang…I really don't know how to say this without making a fool out of myself and screwing up…" he started.

"Just relax and spit it out Ning! Really what has you so much of a wreck lately?" She smiled at him, and he managed to smile back, if a wee bit nervously.

"Shang Xiang. I was wondering if you found someone to be your husband yet, you know, with the deadline coming around the corner."

"Ning…I have, but if he doesn't return my feelings, I'm afraid that I will have to marry Liu Bei." A sad look fell upon the Wu Princess's freshly tear-streaked face.

"I'm sorry Lady Sun. If I knew you were sensitive to the subject, I wouldn't' have…"

"It's all right Ning, please continue."

"All right. I've avoided this long enough." His courage started building up and he said in a small voice, "I…l.l.love you, Sun Shang Xiang."

Gan Ning started fumbling with his fingers and desperately trying to suppress the blush that was determined to be known on his face.

A minute had passed since Ning had said what was in his heart, and had started to doubt if it was a good idea. In a strained kind of whisper, he heard her say, "You don't know how long I've wanted to hear that from you."

Ning looked up from his fingers and saw Sun smiling like a miracle had occurred. This in a sort of truth had indeed. She jumped onto the awestruck pirate, and he gently hugged her back. A smile crept up on his face, and he buried his face in the crook of her neck.

A/N: woohoo guys! I did it! I did it! I posted another chapter! Now I expect some reviews for my hard work. I'm not even kidding, you guys are lucky I finished this.