Disclaimer: I do NOT own these characters. But I DO own the events that follow. Enjoy!

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Sitting on the ground of a dark, damp cave, she lowered her hood and allowed her thick ebony hair to spill out. She leaned back against the wall of the cave, its rough texture and icy feel sent a slight shiver throughout her frail body. Her big azure eyes began to wander around their makeshift shelter from the storm. Faint sounds of water dripping into the cave could be heard somewhere off near the back, though the rain pounding down outside overpowered it greatly, only allowing it to be heard as the rain would slowly begin to lift before pouring down even more, filling the two with a false hope of the rain's upcoming end.

Before they knew it, day turned to night, and light turned to darkness, leaving the two stranded deep within the dense woods, inside a dank cave. Though she was shielded from the cold rain, shivers still ran through her now and again due to the steadily decreasing temperature inside their little cave. She cast her eyes downwards, locking her gaze onto the dirt ground and the few stray pebbles, her slender arms crossed tightly around her body, seeking as much warmth from herself as she could manage. He found himself willing his eyes to part from her form, "Just once, just for now…" he kept telling himself, begging his mind to find something else of interest before she noticed his pleading eyes.

"She's a strange one. She's always so chipper normally…but now she won't even speak. I wonder what's troubling her…maybe…maybe I could help? No…someone like me could never help her…I'm lucky to even be in the company of a princess…and such a beautiful one at that." He thought, watching her closely, "Wait, what! What are you thinking, Zelgadis! You ARE lucky to even be in the presence of such a creature! Don't mess it up now by sticking your blue nose in someone else's business! Just stay out of it! Look away! Forget you ever noticed something was wrong!" he fought, "But she looks so weary…she may catch cold if exposed to this atmosphere much more…it would only slow down our journey…right? So I should at least help with that…shouldn't I?"

Her eyes were starting to feel very heavy, her body was beginning to feel numb all over as her thoughts began to wander, "I've got to get out of this cave soon…before I fall ill…no one ever accomplished anything laying around sick all day…how're you supposed to defend justice if-", she stopped, her thoughts being interrupted by a slight nudge on her shoulder.

She lifted her azure gaze from the dirt covered ground only to meet that of his, a faint yet confused smile forming on her thin lips.

"Why…err…is there something wrong, Mister Zelgadis?" she questioned.

He shook his head sternly and kneeled down beside her, resting his pack on the ground in front of them both and tugged out a mossy colored wool blanket, a little weathered from all his travels, but still in one piece nevertheless. Offering the blanket over to her, she leaned away quickly as an itchy sneeze came over her. He chuckled a bit and offered over the blanket again.

Smiling nervously, her cheeks tanned cheeks became all the more flushed as she realized how close he was sitting to her, the faint heat from his body practically being absorbed by her own.

"Oh, t-thank you, Mister Zelgadis." She stuttered, though not sure whether it was due to her shivering or if she really was that embarrassed.

"It's no trouble, Princess." He assured, moving to get back to his feet. He was stopped though, by a light tug on his arm. Curious, he glanced down to find the princess holding tight to his sleeve, her dark blue eyes seeming to be filled with so much sorrow, enough to tear a heart right in two. "Princess?"

Slowly, she released his sleeve and lowered her arm back to her side, her head lowering as well, "Sorry…"she apologized, her voice soft, "I…sorry."

More confused now than he thought ever possible, he returned to his seat at her side, watching her closely, "Something the matter, Princess?"

"Don't call me that…please…Zelgadis, I have a name…Princess isn't a name…it's only a title…"

Stunned, he had all he could do to merely blink, "Oh. My apologies, Pri-…err…Amelia." He felt so guilty, "Was that what was bothering her this whole time? Me?"

She nodded and lifted her head slightly, sitting a bit more upright, "It's fine, you didn't know I didn't like it. But now you do, and I'll be expecting you to remember it too." She said with a smirk, quickly glancing in his direction.

"Glad to see you're getting back to your old self again, Amelia." He stated, deliberately emphasizing her name.

She only smiled and nodded again, blinking and leaning back as he reached around her and wrapped the blanket around her carefully, "You should keep warm."

She welcomed the friendly gesture and snuggled into the warmth of the blanket, sighing in content and closing her eyes peacefully, "Thank you…Mister…Zelgadis…" she thanked, drifting off to sleep in mid sentence.

He blushed, glancing down at the sleeping princess as her head fell against his shoulder for support, resting all her weight against him. He awkwardly pulled up his arm and placed it around her shoulder so keep it from going stiff, her head moving further along his shoulder as she slept. Leaning against the wall of the cave comfortably, he rested his head back and closed his eyes as well, holding her close to him, keeping her warm, protecting her, sheltering her from the world, from the rain.

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A/N: Okay, guys! You all wanted it and here it is! Ask and you shall receive! Phew...that was a challenge. xx A little longer than the first chapter, yes, but awkwardly enough...I liked it. As the Japanese say: Suki deshita kara! "Because I liked it!" o.O; Yeah...anyways...Hope you enjoyed!

Stay tuned and follow up! R&R to be lovelled to death forever! XD

--dances all triumphantly--