OK, I guess I'm writing more, haha. I'm terrible at letting a fic go.

When I came out of the bathroom, freshly showering and newly dressed because I still could not bring myself to parade for him, Soul was sitting on the bed, watching the door. "Waiting for a show?" I smirked playfully but still felt the blush touch my cheeks.

He laughed in reply as he stood slowly from the bed I found myself frozen in place, waiting breathlessly as he walked towards me. Even after waking up tangled in his arms there was still a distinctive surreal feeling to every moment. Something in him had been unlocked, and I guess the same could be said for me, because when we met toe to toe one arm wrapped around my waist while the other dug into my still damp hair, bringing my eagerly waiting lips to his. Hesitation, embarrassment and all the feelings in between had disappeared, leaving just elation and contentment in their place. After what felt like only seconds of that wonderful pressure, Soul parted from me and let his hand settled at the base of my neck. "We should probably call Kid today."

I hated the reality check and was at least comforted by the fact that his face told me the same. "And we'll go home soon," I weakly added.

"Maka," it sounded as if he were scolding me and I had to narrow my eyes at the smirk that followed it. "I told you, it'll be different. No more just partners, OK? I actually almost started to hate the word because it wasn't enough. I know it's probably lame but… I guess I want to try out girlfriend, boyfriend."

I tried to cut the glow out of my smile but it barely worked, the sides of my face aching almost instantly. "Significant others? Perhaps you're my gentleman caller?"

"Lame," he rolled his eyes but he pulled me a little tighter.

"Lovers," I murmured as I leaned in to peck at his lip.

"Not yet." To my surprise his hand slipped a little under my shirt, his calloused hands touching the bare skin of the small of my back.

The muscles of my stomach fluttered, remembering the not so subtle promise of when we were alone, sober, and ready. "Soulmates," I whispered.

"That kind of works," he laughed. "Our souls do fit."

"But… I'm your girlfriend?" Again my smile ached and I had to convince myself not to let loose a silly little laugh, afraid he might read it as finding this moment funny instead of the truth that I was completely spellbound.

The pause after that question wasn't thought, it was his lips searching mine again as if he needed to sample that word off my tongue. "As long as you want to be."

"I do."

He stole one more kiss before huffing out a sigh. "Call Kid."

"Yes, sir," I sighed back before laughing at his eye roll in return. I walked back into the still steamy bathroom, scrawling the numbers on the mirror with my finger. Kid was always quick to answer and this time was no different, his face drenched it what could be mistaken for apathy. "Maka and Soul reporting in!" I couldn't stop the sing-song tone to my voice and that placid exterior of Kid's cracked a little, one eyebrow curling upwards.

"Everything alright?"

"Everything's going well," I beamed at my own understatement. Boyfriend, girlfriend pitter-pattered through my heart. "Soul's dad is being transferred Monday, so we should be back then."

Kid nodded solemnly for a moment before letting a sigh leak from his lips. "I'll have to ask you to come back as soon as that's complete. I have something that I think I'll need you and Black Star on. Plan to leave Monday night as soon as you've returned."

"Oh, sure." That elation was faltering and I felt that hateful wave of reality come back again. From this to a mission, just like that. "Any information on the target?" There I was, slipping back into DWMA, feeling some of that life draining away from me.

It was Soul's hand that brought a swift and much-needed reminder as his fingers touched my lower back as he slipped into the bathroom. "Target?" he murmured to me, lips almost a little too close to my ear.

"Good timing, Soul," Kid waved nonchalantly. "Another remnant of the madness, unfortunately. A rumor of a clown in Belize."

"Another clown?" Soul groaned.

"What I wouldn't give to never see another clown in my life," I sighed, receiving a grunt of a laugh in reply from Soul.

"Agreed," Kid let out a minute smile before clearing it back to all seriousness. "That's why you'll be teaming up with Black Star. I expect you to take it out quickly."

Soul's voice came at my ear again, "We're leaving now, then?"

"Monday night." I turned my head to answer him, seeing his face so close to mine still managed to produce a blush at the closeness.

"Kid," Soul turned his tentative eyes from mine to the mirror. "You don't have to take it easy on me. If you need us to leave now, we'll leave."

"Monday night should be soon enough," Kid replied sharply as if scolding Soul for even trying. "Just make sure you're taking advantage of the downtime."

The last few words rang in my head like a bell, spurring that little knot in my stomach to start to wind again. "Thank you, Kid," I murmured through the haze of my hopes for the time we had left.

"See you soon." With that his image blanked out, replaced with my own face reflecting back at me, Soul's head bobbing over my shoulder.

"I don't see why he didn't want us to come now," Soul grumbled.

"Take advantage of the downtime," I repeated in Kid's tone. "If I didn't know any better I'd think Kid was insinuating something."

I felt his hands first, tentatively touching my hips before wrapping around my waist, pulling my back to his chest so his breath ran across my neck. "I told him I loved you."

"Before you told me?" My complaint came out breathless and weak as the heat that ignited under his fingers tipped my heart into thundering.

"It was way easier," he chuckled. "Though he did call me an idiot just like I had thought you would."

"Why an idiot?"

Soul's grip tightened as he paused to press his lips against my neck, a sensation that lit up every nerve in my body and I was lucky I wanted the answer to my question so badly or else I would have interrupted to beg for it again. "The morning after I was drunk, before we talked about it, I called him to beg for him to call you back. Asked him to find some reason to get you to go back home without me."

His words started to cool me, enough that I was able to resist the urge to stay put. I turned in his arms, seeing the half-smile still pulling at his mouth. "You were pushing me away."

"Told you, that's what I'm good at," Soul shrugged. "He didn't buy it for a second. Told me I had to spill or he'd put us on indefinite leave until I dealt with it myself." One of his hands moved from my waist and moved to grasp at the base of my neck, his fingers delicately running along my jaw. "He said I was an idiot for worrying about it and that pushing you out now was going to do the opposite of what I wanted. He didn't say anything about taking advantage of the downtime but telling you was kind of an order."

"So both our boss and your mother ordered you to be with me," I couldn't help but laugh at the ridiculousness of it all.

"Technically, ordered me to have the guts to try to be with you." He didn't laugh in return, just pulled my chin forward until our lips barely brushed together. "And I was going to tell you, or at least try to until Wes interrupted. Then that whole nerve thing fizzled until you were naked. Really, even that wasn't enough of a hint. Cool guys can be kind of dense, I guess."

"So dense," I kind of wanted to shake him but all I could manage was another laugh.

"I feel like you were supposed to disagree," he muttered before taking away my chance to by capturing my lips again. This one was slow, a little searching, and I let my body sway into him until I had pressed him against the wall of the bathroom. A grunt bubbled from his throat as he pressed my neck just enough to get us to part. "OK, I'm not too proud to admit the taking charge thing really does it for me," his whisper was husky and quick, "And I'm going to need a fucking cold shower before we go downstairs."

There was a boldness in me being fed, gobbling up this idea that I could turn him on, that I wasn't just something but someone who he desired. It was the dress all over again and I found myself refusing to budge, focusing on the way his eyes glazed over as I sunk my hand under his shirt. "Is this enough of a hint?"

"Loud and clear," he grumbled as he grasped at my moving hand and kept it in its place. "But you're not being fair. We agreed-"

"To wait," I let my hand fall not with a sigh but a smirk. "Just… wanted to remind you that I'm thinking about it, too. I want to touch you."

Soul's head fell against the wall with an almost delirious laugh. "Believe me, that sentence is going to be etched into my mind for a good long time." I let my fingers just barely graze his skin as he pulled my hand from beneath his shirt. "Borderline cruelty," he hissed.

"Sorry," I couldn't stop the giggle from bubbling up. "I'll just… I'll go downstairs."

His eyes were cooling, that fire starting to burn out over the next set of words, "Don't tell Mom we're leaving yet, OK? I promise I'll talk to her about it."

"Yeah, of course." I took a slow step back, eyeing him for further change and when finding none turned to exit the room. I was about five steps into the bedroom when I heard the shuffle of his feet.

"Maka?" He was peeking his head out of the bathroom.

I couldn't help the amusement on my face at the nervous little smile on his lips. "Yeah?"

"I love you," he seemed to stutter through it before adding, "I can say that, right? It's not too much or…"

I knew I was blushing but laughed anyway. "Yes, whenever you want." I retraced my steps just enough so I could lean to plant a peck on his lips. "I love you, too."

Soul's contented chuckle sent renewed color to my cheeks. "OK, downstairs."

"I'm going." But I was slow, stealing another glance at him just as he did with me, both of us memorizing the satisfaction. I started for the stairs with an extra bounce in my step, my stomach still fluttering away as I tried to steady my pace.

Wes was at the end of the corridor and he paused for me, giving a gentle wave. "I hope you enjoyed yourself last night."

"Ah, yes," and I couldn't control the extra blush that added to that statement.

Wes cleared his throat, words coming slow to tread lightly. "I'm sorry if my mother assumed that you two, well…"

Here I faced a conundrum since was it my news to tell? I wanted to gush, to shout out loud that we were finally on the other side of that borderline we'd toed for years but his relationship with his family was tenuous. "She wasn't wrong."

"Oh… oh." Wes seemed to lose any of the rest of his train of thought.

"But I'm sorry if that left you taking care of the house," I tried to save myself from having to further expand. I started with a tentative step down the stairs and Wes followed, seeming to be relieved by the change.

"Mom was well-behaved," Wes chuckled. "But she was dying for the finer details even while the evening was happening, so be ready for interrogation this morning."

"That's why Soul sent me down first," I tried to roll my eyes dramatically but the action collapsed into a joyous laugh.

"That sounds like ecstatic laughter!" Regina chimed while we were still drifting through the hallway and I let her hear it again. As we walked through the doorway Regina was already on the edge of her seat, hands gripping her teacup like a lifeline. "Well?"

"Mom, you have to ask a question first before begging for the answer." Wes motioned me towards the table and busied himself with getting cups before moving to the coffee maker.

Regina released a Soul style smirk at her son before turning her glowing eyes back to me. "Tell me everything about last night."

I couldn't stop the blush from rising on my cheeks and let it throw me into a whole new panic of what she could assume from that. "Well, the club was wonderful," I found my eyes still moving from her to the door, anxiously awaiting the reprieve of Soul. "Did it always have that greenhouse?"

"Oh, since the place opened, yes," Regina nodded through the small details. "Did he show you the lake? Next to the lilacs?"

Yes, and he kissed me there and it was one of the best moments of my life. "It was a little dark, but I'm sure it's lovely in the light."

"Soul has the best taste in secret spots," her voice gleamed with a strange sort of pride. "And I think I can vouch that you're the first person he's ever brought there."

Wes arrived at the table, sliding a cup in front of me before settling his hands around his own. I took a slow sip, feeling Regina's eyes still asking for more answers. "I heard it wasn't the first date he's had there, though." Since Soul was not present at the very least he could take the brunt of the conversation.

Confusion crossed Regina's face, tightening her eyebrows before they raised with the memory. "Oh! Phoebe!" Regina unlatched one of her hands from her tea and let it rest on one of mine. "Oh, he hated that night, completely. I was sure he wouldn't talk to me for an entire week afterward." She squeezed my hand, her face completely taken over again by her smile. "But I'm going to assume this one will happily replace that memory."

I was starting to feel that she completely knew what she was doing, that couple hadn't been an assumption of hers but a hope. If Wes hadn't been there, I might have considered asking her, but I was trapped. "It was our best date yet," and I could say that with all honesty but hope in my heart that there would be moments to top it.

"Morning." Soul was slow to amble in, stopping first at his mother to plant a kiss on her cheek before walking past me, running his hand across my shoulders.

"Good morning." Regina waited for her son to take the seat across from me before starting in on him. "Maka has declared that your night last night was your best date yet."

Soul blinked at me for a moment before snorting out a short laugh. "Technically correct."

"Technically?" Regina offered, obviously curious.

Soul planted his elbow on the table, tilting his head so his cheek met the palm of his hand. "Not that many dates to choose from. The whole couple thing is kind of new and with work," he interrupted himself with a shrug, "Dates could be few and far between. But if last night was the best, guess I have some work to do."

My face must have flared red since I could hear Wes smother a laugh. I tried to formulate some words but the heat in my cheeks had gone straight to my head.

Soul suddenly filled the space, bringing me back to myself. "But speaking of work, Mom…" He reached out, offering his open hand to her so that Regina would take it, now forming a chain between the three of us. "Monday after we move Dad, Maka and I are going to have to leave."

"Oh, yes, alright." The color and life seemed to drain from her.

I could see Soul falter and he looked to me, his mouth firmly set. "But, we talked about it," I took over, watching as his lips relaxed. "And Soul and I plan on coming back as often as possible. We're going to aim for at least once a month, full weekend visits." That was technically not exactly what we'd talked about, and I could see some of the skepticism cross Soul's face, but the offer seemed to abate the terror growing on Regina's face.

"It'll depend on work," Soul cautioned, "but we're going to try, Mom. I swear. I'm going to try, OK? I… I love you."

"I love you, too." Regina seemed to reluctantly release my hand and move her second to Soul's, clutching at him desperately. "We're all trying, Soul." Those words didn't come easily for either of them and the determined way they held onto one another made me sure there was weight behind them. I wondered how strange it must feel for Soul going from rarely having those words in his life to offering them twice in the same hour and to different people. When I finally looked at his face I could stop wondering, seeing not that smirk that he hid behind but a vibrant, contented smile. He was starting to be a man sure of what he wanted and what he had.

Dropping Soul's dad off, saying goodbye to his family, driving home at top speed and sitting through a mission briefing all seemed nothing more than a whirlwind. I tried not to see Kid's sideways glances during the report, those cold, analytical eyes examining each move between Soul and I. While we hadn't expressly talked about it, it seemed like as soon as we stepped foot on DWMA we were just partners again, all those longing glances and tentative touches put aside.

This wasn't a complaint exactly because this was work, but I found myself keenly missing it nonetheless, while my mind in the background calculated how much time it would be before I'd be allowed those new, wonderful behaviors. I had to push all of that aside, listening to the break down of a new enemy and then the subsequent cawing of Black Star about his invincibility and our soon to be victory. All the while Tsubaki sent short, worried glances my way and I started to wonder if it was like a smell on me, that people in the room would just know that I was settled in love now.

Tsubaki held her tongue until we were practically alone on the flight to Belize, Soul far gone with his headphones in his ears and Black Star saturating his own shirt in his drool. "You were gone for a while," Tsubaki started, never with a question that would make you uncomfortable to answer.

"Uh, yeah," I glanced at Soul to see him motionless before continuing. "Soul's dad was in the hospital but they just moved him. He should be fine."

The information was cycling through her mind, her eyebrows furrowing with skepticism. "And he asked you to go with him?"

"Ah," a nervous laugh leaked from my lips. "We both know he doesn't ask."

"So you told," Tsubaki smiled softly. "But he listened?"

"Just barely." I didn't know where to take this conversation, whether to just beam at her and let that part of me go that wanted to scream he kissed me! We hadn't discussed it though, and things still felt so unsettled, that I tried my best to wipe any mystery from my face and smile at her. "It was no big deal, really. Just a little segue from work. A nice reminder we're human, I guess."

"We're human?" Tsubaki mused. "Doesn't feel like that much anymore."

"Rarely." I let my eyes fall on him again, happily finding his eyes lift to half-lidded before blinking open at her, a smirk gracing his lips. Maybe not so rarely now.