AN: Thank you everyone for the reviews, both the good ones and the ones which critiqued. It will really help me on future endeavors. So here is the next chapter. It is not as long as I originally inteded to be, but hopefully the next one should. I look foreward to reading more reviews sent, so please keep them coming!

As always, i do not own full metal panic or its chars.

She looked back down at her cutting board, resuming her work making sure that carrot wished it had never been plucked out of the ground. She would have to find him something to wear. It was one thing to be distracted by his well toned body, another to be constantly reminded of all the scars he wore on the outside alone.

Before those thoughts could dominate her mind any longer, a knock was heard at the door. Forgetting all about the scars that concerned her before, she knocked him down flat into her room and slammed the door. She hurried to answer the knock, taking a second to compose herself before seeing who was there.

She opened the door expecting to see one of her friends from school, worried where she had been all this time. It was about time someone decided to check in on her! Instead what she saw on the other side almost required shock therapy to snap her out of her daze.

"T…Te….Tessa?"

The young woman entered without a word, obvious she had spend the entire time crying her little heart out. Her arms remained hanging lifelessly at her side as she made her way into the apartment never looking up from the floor and took a seat on the sofa, dropping the bags she held.

She had accepted that Kaname had won the Sgt. Major's heart, even though nothing was ever said but Sousuke Sagara remained a good friend to her, the only one she could relate to onboard the TDD-1. Sure she had Mao, but sometimes their age difference, however little it might seem, always left a certain longing.

She still sounded like a young girl, sweet and innocent though her body was defiantly that of a woman's. She never quite filled out like Kaname, but she was in no was less pretty. "When you left we…I forgot to give you his things. We knew he would want you to have them. I will be staying in town to finalize all the details regarding his…patrol." It hurt too much to admit to herself that he had passed on. On patrol…that meant there was a chance, however small, that he would one day come back.

She reached into her purse and pulled out a card of the place she was staying, her arm never stopped trembling. Kaname began to appreciate just what Sousuke meant to everyone and not just herself. The captain's usually meek voice came across new found resolve. "You can find me here, if you…if you just want to talk. I would appreciate it if you could extend me the same-"

The captain finally took in her surroundings. Kaname was wearing a rather pretty, somewhat revealing blue dress, a table set for two, candles accentuated by a dark romantic setting.

Her sweetness and innocence were soon replaced by unbridled rage. 'How could she betray his memory so soon! That witch!'

"Oh I see! So sorry to disturb you from the grieving process! I didn't realize you were expecting company so soon. I wouldn't want to keep you from him!" She quickly rose to her feet and stormed towards the door, taking one last moment to turn around and berate her once found friend one last time. "How could you….How could you do this to him! He loved you! We all could see it. And now…AND NOW!" her voice shattered as she spoke.

There was nothing Kaname could say or do. It had taken her entire being and part of someone else's she was sure to keep her anger in check. She couldn't break her promise to Sousuke, but Tessa's words stung her despite the fact she wasn't at fault. No there was nothing Kaname could do but let her friend think the worst of her, to take this assault that she would normally never accept. 'Tessa…please…just leave…please.. .' All she could do was hope. Hope brought her Sousuke back.

"I want to see the face of the man who has made you so quickly forget about Sousuke! You…You…ugly two-timing WITCH!"

Sousuke couldn't put her through this anymore. He had wished the Captain would just quietly leave, he would have made it up to Kaname someway, somehow, but there was no escaping this. All eyes focused intensely as the door to Kaname's bed opened and escaping from the depths of the shadows came the fallen here, Sousuke Sagara. He stood at attention and saluted.

"Captain, Sousuke Sagara reporting! Patrol all clear." He was all too familiar with the traditions aboard the TDD-1.

"Sous….Sous….Sousuke!" The captain sprang from her spot and attempted to leap clear across the room into the Sgt. Major's arms, but was backlashed by Kaname's grasp upon her with eyes of fire.

He relaxed from his military stance and looked softly upon Kaname, pleading her to control herself just a little bit longer. He approached the captain and gave her a quick and brief hug. Despite the recent events, he did not have an actual death wish. "I'm sorry Tessa, it's something I had to do. I'll explain in a moment." He adverted his gaze towards the distraught woman standing just a few feet away, Sousuke made special note that the cooking knife remained within her grasp. "Kaname, dear, would it be alright if she joined us for dinner?"

Kaname smiled and nodded. She of course saw through his ploy of using a pet name to disarm her. She would let him have his victory for now. Kaname Chidori would have her vengeance. No longer seeing need for the candles, she blew them out and flipped a switch, bringing light to the room. "Tessa, would you be so kind as to help me out in the kitchen. Oh and Sousuke, for the last time, REST!"

He stumbled back into the room hiding from the two would be chefs. Though he was not a religious man by any means, Sousuke actually prayed his wounds take their time in healing lest he have to deal with Kaname's wrath sooner rather than later. There always was a chance she would forget. Right? Right?

Once the time to eat had finally arrived, Sousuke recounted the events that led up to his perceived death. News of the nature of some of the men leading Mithril left the captain looking whiter than even her hair. Despite the militaristic nature of the organization, they were all in essence mercenaries, granted the right to leave at any time. To treat one of her crew in such a fashion…unforgivable! The rest of the dinner was eaten in silence, know one quite knowing what to say, until the young captain finally voiced what needed to be heard. Her voice was just as hurried as before, but this time a meekness to it.

"Kaname, I uh…about before, I'm sorry. I called you such mean things. I was just so angry at the thought…I'm sorry I didn't have more faith in you."

"Apology accepted Tessa. I would have thought the same. At least this way I get to show you my forgiving side! A ha ha ha ha ha ha!" That fake laugh Sousuke was all too familiar with. Kaname still held a grudge, anyone would after hearing those damning words. Sousuke was not the only one to have grown over the years. The ex-soldier reached out and placed his hand on hers, feeling the silkiness of her skin. Normally he saw little civilian uses for hand lotion, but now…

Sousuke looked deep into her eye exploring the emotions held within. He often saw such passion and desire locked away within them, released without a moments notice as she saw fit. Yet the passion merely overshadowed the pain always present within her. The fear of being alone, the fear she wasn't good enough for her family, her friends. She always managed to captivate him with her glances. Hoping to be locked within her eyes, he could then hope to finally drive her pain away.

Even Tessa could take a hint, feeling almost ignored. She was just happy Sousuke was alive. "Ahem, I will uh…take your leave. I will be here tomorrow at noon. We have much we still need to figure out. Things cannot be left as they stand." She daintily dabbed her mouth with a napkin and took her leave of the couple who could barely acknowledge her departure being too absorbed into one another.

Before there affections were like a dripping faucet, shown in small portions periodically. It took this latest ordeal to turn the handle and let the water flow without hindrance. Their trances were only broken when they heard the door click shut, alerting them their guest had left.

Without making a noise, the young man stood, and took the hand of the one he loved, helping her rise to her feet. He gracefully pulled her towards him, wrapping his arms around her slim waist, her arms around his neck. A cool breeze blew in through the windows, a taste of spring upon them. The couple danced bathed in the moonlight wishing their troubles away. Kaname's hurt fluttered as she found the peace hidden within the soldier. Together the two could do anything. As long as Kaname had Sousuke, as long as Sousuke had Kaname.

She rested her weary head against his shoulder taking in the scent flowing from the side of the neck. A spot commanded that it needed to be kissed, so just this once she would listen to a part of Sousuke. She felt the Goosebumps flock to the moist part of his neck, begging for a repeat performance but instead decided a little teasing was in order. Kaname stood upon the tip of her toes and leaned up to Sousuke's ear where she gave it just the tinniest nibble before unleashing her most arousing purr into it. She immediately felt his satisfaction pressed against her.

"At ease soldier, no need to salute." She whispered slowly into his ear.

"Uhh…"

"Setting up a tent, are we soldier" the pleasurable moan at 'soldier' certainly didn't help.

"Uhh…"

"Sousuke, you flirt you, wooing me with your words."

"Uhh…."

This time she leaned back and spoke directly to him. "Sousuke, whenever you keep saying 'uhh' like that what did we decide you should do?" Of course that meant Kaname decided for him.

A good soldier always follows all standing orders. He leaned in and immersed his lips upon hers, intoxicated once more by the sensation they gave allowing their lips to part ever so slightly, yet just enough. They put their very beings into their connection as they made their way to her bedroom still locked within their kiss wrapped in passion. The couple bumped against the bedroom door, their hands searching for the knob as both laughed at the awkwardness of the situation.

They made their way in and fell upon her bed, Sousuke laying on top. Finally their kiss stopped as he gazed down lovingly upon her, pushing aside a rogue strand of her flowing blue hair. He tempted her lips with hope for another kiss but before things went any further, he needed to know. "Kaname…are you sure this is what you want?" She didn't respond with words, for they weren't needed. She merely gave him the very kiss he had just been teasing her with. The raw feelings and emotions these two made assured one that the whole is indeed greater than its part.

The night progressed and Sousuke found himself wrapping his arms around her, Kaname, the first and only girl he had ever loved. She fidgeted within his clasp signaling for him to stroke her slender body as they lay there intertwined with one another. Sousuke's gentleness had truly surprised her. She had seen the viciousness within him on the battlefield, the harsh nature of his work first hand and yet he had exposed his gentle side, just for her. He put his trust in her by showing her vulnerabilities, and for that she truly loved him. It was a trust she would not betray. She rolled over onto her side, insisting Sousuke's hand follow suit and cradled a very sensitive part of her curves. She closed her eyes to fall asleep for the last time that night, but closed her eyes to the pain held within them forever.

Ok so thats the end of that chapter. What did you guys think? What will Tessa have to discuss with the young lovebirds and how will they resolve this little predicament? Care to find out? stay tuned for the next chapter! Please Read and Review. (It gives me a sense of urgency :-) )