A/N: I wanted to capture those moments right after the end of the last book. I think we all wanted to experience their first kiss, so this is one of two scenes I wrote. I hope you enjoy!

I raced for the stairs. My heart leapt. Sunshine streamed through clouds. Birds burst into song. At least that's what they were doing in my head. I couldn't contain the joy I felt.

I clomped down the stairs, wanting to release all this crazy pent up emotion. There he was, his hand on the door.

"Anthony!" His first name sounded strange coming from my lips, but the moment needed something else. Needed something more personal than just the standard ol' Lockwood that everyone else called him. His face lifted to watch my descent, eyebrows shooting up in surprise.

One hand was fingering the sapphire necklace as I unceremoniously clattered down the last flight of steps, my other hand following the banister as I did so. His smile widened as I approached, he took a step forward…

And then on the second to last step I tripped. My arms cartwheeled most unattractively as gravity's force sought to claim me like a welcoming ghost. Lockwood's smile turned to shock. He dashed to catch my fall. I hit his chest hard, causing both of us to stagger back to where the front door abruptly stopped our momentum, but not before my head bumped towards his and our lips smashed together. Lockwood's arms were already around me from his attempt at catching me, my hands planted firmly against his chest. Warmth, thrill, and what the heck is happening right now jarred through my brain before I pushed myself away.

"I – I'm sorry. That was an accident." I straightened my skirt and grimaced wanting to teleport a million miles away just for a minute or two so I could soundly kick myself.

Just then George popped his head into the hallway. "Everything okay? I thought I heard something collide."

Lockwood cleared his throat. "Nope, everything's fine here, George."

I couldn't find anything as fascinating as the wooden floor boards right then. The grain pattern was just so rich and warm in the light of the crystal skull lantern. Replacing the wood after it had been bled all over with the mahogany had been a good choice.

"Luce."

"Huh, yeah?" I finally met Lockwood's dark eyes. They were twinkling. Crap.

"We were going on a walk, yeah?"

"Yes. Yes, absolutely. Let us perambulate."

He opened the door for me and we walked out into the somber day. The sun was hidden behind clouds. The birds were out to lunch. And I was feeling mortified. Was that our first kiss? Or wasn't it? I'd completely ruined it, if it was. And the kiss was what? A lousy accident? I groaned inwardly.

"Perambulate, huh?" Lockwood said, a casual tone in his voice. We turned the corner at Arif's store and strolled down the block. I shoved my hands into my pockets to avoid punching myself. "You usually don't go for the sophisticated vocabulary. You okay?"

"Yeaaahh…. Nope. Nope, I'm not okay."

He smiled expectantly in my direction. My throat did uncomfortable constricting things.

Thinking a change of subject was in order, I scrambled to find something suitable. "I, uh, I thought I saw Skull glowing a bit in my room just now."

"Really?"

"Yeah. So maybe, he might be coming back."

"That would be great. I know you miss his stimulating conversation."

I snorted and opened my mouth with a comeback but then just shrugged. "His insults were a tiny bit endearing. And let's face it, he comes in handy in tight spots, doesn't he?"

"And if he doesn't come back?"

"I hope he finds what he's looking for, I guess."

We walked awhile without saying anything, but then Lockwood gently extricated my hand from my pocket and held it in his. My heart did a backflip. "Thanks to you, Lucy, I was able to find what I was looking for. I'm so grateful for you."

We stopped at a little bridge where the street crossed over a runnel of water beneath it. The water gurgled along, or maybe that was my nervous stomach. I turned to him, bringing out the beautiful sapphire gemstone around my neck. "This necklace. Does it mean what I think it means, or am I just reading too much into things?"

He grinned. "Before I answer that, can you just say my name again?"

Puzzled, I said, "Lockwood?"

"No, my first name."

"Oh." I laughed a little. "Anthony."

He sighed, relief relaxing his features with happiness. "Every time Marissa Fittes called me Anthony, it made me cringe, but I held it in because I had better things to do with my anger. Hearing you say my name cancels out all of that. I think I'll need to hear it about a million more times, though, to get the full affect."

I grinned back. "You've got it, Anthony. Tony?"

"No, just Anthony."

We laughed. He suddenly grew serious. "To answer your question, you remember the story I told you about the necklace and how my father gave it to my mother?"

I nodded.

"Well…" He ran his hand through his hair. Cleared his throat. He rested a hand on the pommel of his rapier. "I… That is to say…"

I raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"

"Just so you know," he finally blurted. "This isn't an accident." He grabbed my shoulders and brought his lips to mine in the most un-accidental way possible. The kiss was soft, and warm and full of everything Lockwood and I had ever shared together. I wrapped my arms around his waist, relishing every second. Even if in a few hours from this moment we'd be swashbuckling it together, banishing ghosts back to the Other Side, right now Lockwood was here with me, and he was mine, mine, all mine.

And what do you know? The sun flexed its rays from behind the clouds and those cheeky birds showed up and sang us a little tune. At least I think so. I was a bit too busy to really notice.