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For a month since all the still available exorcists have been put on back to back missions, they had finally; after the longest time, returned home and just in time to see each other.

"Kanda!" Lavi yells, waving his hands frantically causing the samurai to roll his eyes. Suddenly he stops mid-eye-roll to find someone tapping his shoulder and turns to see Lenalee with Allen and Link in tow.

"It's good to see you, Kanda how are you?"

Before he can reply, Lavi wraps his arm around Kanda's neck in a brotherly embrace causing the long-haired exorcist to become irate but before he could give the redhead a piece of his mind; Link and Allen open the door together to see Cross asleep on his desk and Brigette sipping her tea.

They cautiously and quietly enter the room to stand in front of the sleeping Cross Marian who currently had his elbows on the desk and his big hands supporting his sharply defined jaw . Allen was pushed forward unintentionally by Lavi who Kanda managed to nudge off of him which in result caused Allen to almost lose his balance. He manages to find his footing and catches himself, letting out a sigh of relief but when he turns, he sees everyone silently urging him to wake up his mentor but Allen knew waking up Cross would only land him a bruise plus he was tired and battered up enough thanks to the mission he had just been on with his girlfriend and handler thus so Allen violently shakes his head in refusal causing Kanda to glare at him. The samurai himself was exhausted so he was intent on giving his report so he can return to his room.

Bridgette who was watching all this rolls her eyes and says in a voice loud enough for the occupants in the room to hear, "Amber is being hit on."

Cross wakes up with start and in a blink of an eye, he pulls out a huge shotgun from under his desk and points it in Allen's direction causing the white-haired teen to sweat profusely while everyone else minus Bridgette sweatdropped.

"Mr Marian. Amber is not being hit on, I just told you that to wake you up."

The Supervisor blinks once then twice then thrice before lowering the shotgun, looking around the room before putting back his firearm under his desk like before allowing Allen to breathe easy again.

"Idiot apprentice, you have returned.."

"Yes Master"

"Hn, pass me your reports."

Lavi, Kanda and Allen pulled out their reports from their jackets and handed them over without a hitch.

"If there is nothing else, you brats can leave. There aren't any missions available. You guys have covered them."

The exorcists didn't leave right away instead, they all breathed a sigh of relief in unison except Link who seemed curious.

"Do you always wake up when you hear something related to your daughter Cross?"

"Hn, not at first but eventually it became a habit."

"What caused it to become a habit?"

"She grew up."

Allen blinked his eyes in confusion and Cross rolled his eyes seeing this.

"You've seen her, can any one of you honestly tell me that I shouldn't be protective of my child? Seeing and knowing how she is?"

It barely took a second for anyone to nod in agreement, Amber is a charming girl after all.

'That reminds me, what kind of feelings do you all have for my daughter?"

Literally everyone in the group froze and Bridgette watched them curiously upon seeing their reaction.

"Don't act like you're surprised. While you were on that mission in Japan, my daughter made use of her sweet, warm and affectionate side of herself for Naomi Knight's personality which isn't far from her true personality, therefore making her an unintentional charmer. What sane heterosexual wouldn't find her attractive in one way or another?"

Allen guiltily blushed and even Link looked a little red. Cross saw this and casually takes a sip of his coffee before speaking again.

"Leenalee, your boyfriend committed emotional infidelity, not saying anything?"

Allen immediately panics causing Leenalee to laugh, "Like you said, it's not like I can blame Allen for finding Amber attractive. If I was a guy I would. Amber is usually really sweet and lovable."

All the guys on her team turned to Leenalee in surprise, impressed with her maturity until Cross spoke again, "So, out with it, what do each of you boys like about my daughter?"

Lavi was very very confused, "Why on earth are you even asking us this?"

"So that I know which of you are thinking about her in ways that you shouldn't."

They sweatdropped immediately.

"Allen start."

"Erm...I don't...I mean I'm her brother…"

"Adopted brother so answer before I shoot you."

"EHH?"

Cross narrows his eyes and Allen sees him reaching under the table. Pale, his answer comes out in a rush, "She's well-mannered, kind, compassionate, sweet and affectionate."

Cross drank in his answer, his face looking thoughtful, "Hmm, your answer tells me that you respect her and find her endearing. Fine, approved. You live."

Allen wipes the sweat from his brow as Link speaks next but much calmer compared to Allen.

"She's disciplined, polite, direct, intelligent and beguiling."

Cross nods, "Indicates respect on a peer level but acknowledges her charm. Approved. Next and Bookman? Better be honest. I know when somebody is lying even if it is a Bookman."

Lavi sweatdrops, what the hell was he supposed to say?

He liked Amber a lot, there were so many things he could list about Amber that he liked about her but he decided to speak from his heart. Cross did say he had, to be honest and he didn't want the general to gut him if he detected any deception Lavi could try.

"I'm waiting, brat." Cross cuts in, impatient.

"I-I...I think she's the sweetest thing I had ever seen and met in my entire life. I just...I like being close to her because I can hold her hand, I can pick her up, call her princess and tell her how pretty she is every day without saying how I really feel. She is just...so damn warm, kind, witty, funny and fun I just...I can't keep it in. So many times I wish I wasn't a Bookman whenever I look at her."

"Because people of the Bookman clan are not allowed to love," Bridgette says suddenly causing everyone else minus Link to be surprised by the new revelation and the fact that it came from the usually quiet French woman.

Lavi nods his head but cringes seeing the calculating look in Cross's eyes and bashfully ignores the looks his friends was giving him when he notices them.

The spectacled redhead's tone came out tightly clipped, obviously disliking what he heard, "Clearly has a romantic interest towards Amber, however, is restrained due to restrictions of his way of life. Pending for denied or approved. A possible accident resulting in injury in near future."

Lavi's eyes widens and Kanda frowns, obviously ignoring the one-eyed teenager's distress at what Cross has just said.

"Do I have to do this?"

"Do you have something to hide?"

Yes

"No"

"Then talk,"Cross tells the samurai with a no-nonsense look in his eyes,

Kanda sighs tiredly and took a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking truthfully of what he felt, "She's impressive, mature, dependable, secretive, cynical, emotional, mischievous and sometimes borderline rebellious."

Now everyone was looking at Kanda, wondering what made him say those things.

"These are traits that you like about Amber?" Leenalee asked, clearly confused.

Kanda explains, his voice clear and loud enough for all the occupants in the room to hear, "Everyone calls her a prodigy, a genius, the perfect soldier but she's more than that. She's a girl. Human, just like the rest of us. She can be vulnerable because she has weaknesses, She's not as strong and unbreakable as everybody claims her to be."

To say Cross was intrigued was an understatement, he was impressed. The Japanese exorcist had actually looked underneath all of Amber's outer persona and seen her for what she really is, A girl, a daughter and a friend.

"Kanda Yuu, someone of interest. An acute sense of perception. Clearly has a closeness to Amber so much so that he can see through her. Not fooled easily so for now, approved."

Kanda rose an eyebrow, "For now?"

Damn, that means Cross is going to keep an eye on me...

Cross nods, not saying anything else and then turns to Lavi.

"You've got some balls brat."

Lavi flinches under the man's hard stare, regretting his honest confession earlier.

"But if you want to be with my daughter, you need to brass up those balls of yours. Amber is the type to go for men with confidence however unfortunately for you, as long as I am alive, my daughter is off limits."

Bridgette scoffed suddenly causing everyone to turn and look at her, "If you died, I'm pretty sure you'll protect your daughter from beyond the grave and haunt whatever poor souls there are that actually dare to try to touch the little one."

"Fair point."

The exorcists sweatdrop, unsure of what to say until Leenalee speaks up.

"Is Amber around?"

"Working in her cellar. Why?"

"Well, could we see her? I want to."

Before anyone in her team could voice out any agreement, Cross nods and gets up from his chair, "Fine, I'll take you. I haven't seen my daughter either since she went down there."

"How come?" asks Link, surprised.

"Been busy. Come let's head down there."

Hours later, Lavi was pacing up and down in his room. After what happened in the cellar, the entire Order's peace was disturbed.

Much earlier on, Cross together with Allen, Link, Leenalee, Kanda and himself had all made their way down to the cellar to see Amber but instead they found the usually fiery redhead unconscious and pale, lying on the floor like a corpse. Before Lavi could even react, Cross was at his daughter's side, trying desperately to wake her up. Link appeared at her side next, taking the girl's pulse and once the former Crow guard told the man that Amber still had a pulse; Cross had picked up his daughter in his arms and was out of the room in a flash before Link could even finish what he wanted to say.

When the exorcists had finally arrived at the infirmary a little later, they found it locked. Allen knocked frantically on the door and a young nurse opened it seconds later and with a stern expression, she had told them all to leave because the Head Nurse was busy treating Amber. She shuts the door in their faces leaving the group of teens feeling a tangled mix of emotions; ranging from confusion, anger and dismay.

It was already after dinner time now and everyone was on edge. Amber was known by everyone not just by her reputation but by personal connections. Apparently, whenever Amber was free, she had gotten around to making friends with everybody; she visited other departments and chatted with them about work and other such things. Amber was sweet, humble and kind so naturally she was well-liked by everyone and after the story went out that she was found passed out in her cellar, the entire HQ had been restless because no one knew what happened to Amber. Some speculated she worked too hard mumbling something about the habit of Marians, others thought she was attacked while the rest were eager to just hear her diagnosis and if she was going to be okay. However, Cross had been out of sight since the incident but was suspected to probably be by his daughter's side but no one knew for sure because the infirmary was still locked so nobody could get any answers out of the nurses and even Bridgette was silent about the entire thing, quietly doing Cross's paperwork but it was easy to see that woman was just as perturbed by what had happened to the little redhead as everyone else.

Lavi groaned as he sat down on his bed, his mind racing. He wanted to know what was wrong. He wanted to be there. He wanted to see her.

"Idiot"

The one-eyed apprentice looks up to see his mentor looking at him from his perch on the windowsill.

"When-?"

"Unimportant. I heard from Cross you've developed feelings for that child."

Lavi froze, knowing he was going to be in for a lecture about relationships were a weakness and all that but to his surprise, he didn't receive one.

"I do not blame you. Marians have a way of attracting the attention and the hearts of all around them so it isn't something abnormal. However, you are a Bookman so you know your place when it comes to romance and Cross had made it clear that you remember this as well which is good. However, Lavi, this is your decision."

The eyepatch-wearing exorcists frowns, tilting his head in confusion but the old man continues despite seeing this.

"I am not going to tell you to stop your feelings for Amber Marian."

Lavi's eyes widen in surprise.

"You need to be your own man. Your own Bookman. I have taught you well enough. It is up to you how you want to live your new long life. The Bookman clan does not allow romance or marriage which is why when you became my disciple, you had given up what you had. If you really want to pursue something with this girl you need to think about the future and tell her what she'll be in for. It wouldn't be fair if you kept something like that from her."

Lavi sighed, running his long fingers through his hair before finally speaking, "Romance really bites."

"Why do you think the Bookmans restrain from it?" snorted the old man.

Lavi nods his head tiredly before meeting eyes with his mentor, "Did you come here just to talk to me about this or?"

"Don't let Cross kill you. Finding another disciple would be troublesome."

The apprentice does a snort himself, this time, giving the short man the cue to leave so he turns to do so but Lavi speaks again, stopping him.

"How is she? You know don't you?"

The old man sighs, wondering why youngsters were so difficult especially after seeing the pleading and desperate look on the young man's face,"The child will be fine. She'll probably wake up tomorrow. Honestly, I am unsurprised that something like this happened, she is a Marian after all."

Before Lavi could ask what he meant, the man left, leaving the apprentice alone to ponder over his thoughts.

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