I love this, and I hope you will too.

It was utter torture because even though Soul could see Maka at the table, see the ornament in her hair that meant not only did she read the note but maybe she even accepted it, he had absolutely no opportunity to rush to her side. Everything in him was begging for a soft whisper from her of some kind of acknowledgment but he'd have to wait for at least twelve dances before he could even get close enough.

Dancing was an art that supposedly screamed of regality, but it was a pastime that Soul barely had a handle on. He was positive that he was the one ill-equipped for this test and he spent most of the night agonizing over not stepping on toes. There were a few unfortunate failures in that regard, even worse that not one of the girls even managed to squeak an admonishment at him for his lack of finesse. Instead, he was showered with praise and asinine questions or requests.

None of it mattered as Maka moved forward, her gloved hand outstretched to him. "Still wearing them?" he murmured as he brought her close.

"Medusa's watching very intently," Maka faked a smile for that, an air-headed line looking alien on her lips but at least giving the illusion of easy conversation. "I gave her some half-baked excuse about propriety and now I'm stuck with it. Will you let me lead?"

"Worried about your toes?" he grinned.

"I watched you with the other girls, so yes." Her stubbornness won, stealing the dance from him even though he knew he was happy to lose it. "You've missed two doses so far. How do you feel?"

Soul's attention was split, trying to trail the words on her lips but also being completely entranced by the pin in her hair. It looked even more beautiful tucked in her tresses and he was overwhelmed with wanting to know the secret of it. "Not bad. I slept better last night, but that could have been the wine."

Her eyebrows jutted for just a moment before she plastered the smile back on. "You were drunk?"

Soul's laugh was awkward and sharp, "Liquid courage. I should have known Black Star was up to something when he brought wine."

"Courage?"

"The letter and…" he murmured as he refused the urge to move her hair. All he could manage was clearing his throat, "I hope it's alright."

"It's…" he watched her lip tremble before she forced it back to that thin smile that he wished was closer to the one on the fairgrounds. "It's lovely. Thank you."

"Still not sure I should take the credit," he sighed. But he would take the blush on her cheeks, especially as his eyes went back to lingering on the ornament, desperately urging his mind forward.

"Do you often get drunk?" For once, her eyes were elsewhere, trailing the room as she spun them.

"Sometimes, and only with Black Star. I don't make a habit of it, if that's what you're worried about."

"I'm not worried," came back snappishly.

He squeezed her hand in his, fingers toying with the leather with his eyes still locked on the sparkling gems in her hair. Suddenly the noise seemed to drown out behind him, slipping away and rushing back as something completely different. It wasn't the ballroom but the market and he was nervous. Her hand was in his and he knew he'd asked for it and in his mind, the idea kept repeating. "A love bond that never ends," he murmured to her.

Her eyes shot open and her smile disappeared.

"That's what honeysuckle is," his voice was still hazy and he had to snap his eyes open and closed a few times before everything fell back into place and he was really with her again. "It's your favorite. I asked you, and you told me, and by the end of the day I'd made a deal with the jeweler. That's why I made you go home by yourself from the market. I probably shouldn't have done that, it was dangerous, but I wanted to surprise you."

"Did you… did you remember that on your own?"

"Yeah," he grinned. "Just stared at it long enough and… Maka, don't cry, please." It was scrambling horror as he saw her eyes fill to the brim.

"I'm fine," she squeaked as she tried to force air and sense back to her head. "I'm happy that you… that you're starting to remember on your own. That's wonderful." Another shaking breath accompanied that as her hand flexed in his.

"It could be missing the potions too." He was grasping at straws, trying to find some kind of encouragement to keep her from letting the tears loose.

The music saved her, the swell of the instruments slowly winding down. "It's over," she murmured sharply.

He watched her slip away from him and within a few minutes she was no longer even in the hall, giving him no more chances for memories.

Maka was dressing after what she had started to consider her habit of bathing in jasmine when there was a knock at the door. Black Star stuck his head in slowly, a slick smile on his face. "I have a letter for you, my lady."

"Oh, did you get him drunk again?" Maka hissed as she socked him in the shoulder. "He's ill."

"And wine cures all," Black Star chuckled as he rubbed dramatically at the point of impact. "And that's the only way he got the guts to give you the goods, so you should be singing my praises."

A line of pink hit her cheeks before she displayed her palm to him. "Can I have my letter?"

"Can't wait until the two of you are married so I can stop playing errand boy," Black Star muttered as he tossed the paper into her palm.

The pink turned red. "He hasn't made his decision yet."

"Sure, sure," Black Star rolled his eyes. "Is there anything else, your majesty, or am I free to go?"

"Get out," Maka made an attempt at sounding annoyed but her order was mostly breathless.

"See ya, my Queen," he added with one last hearty laugh before sneaking out the door to barely avoid another fist.

She flipped the paper between her fingers, not even daring to touch the seal because the contents felt more dangerous to her than anything she'd ever faced. He remembered today, on his own, just by concentrating hard enough. It's probably the potions that were keeping those things from him and now if he keeps avoiding them I could have my answer. This, right now, could be my answer. That made her blood thunder in her ears and she scrambled to a seat to collapse, letting her head hit the cushioning and her eyes squeeze shut against the idea of letting any more tears loose.

You are Maka Albarn. You are strong. You've killed witches, you've protected your village, you've helped countless people. She choked on the air as she tried to fill her lungs. You're heartbroken. You're scared. The words snuck in like thieves, stealing away any comfort from the last.

Before she thumbed the seal she reached over to the table, grabbed the hairpin and held it like a talisman.

Maka,

I won't be on the bench tonight. I'm not avoiding you, I just don't have much to think about right now. I guess remembering things should be frightening but the only thing that bothered me today was that it could hurt you. I hope you know that's the last thing I want.

Tomorrow, the only test is supposed to be me meeting with each girl. I don't think I've gotten why any of these stupid trials matter and wasting six hours of my time sounds like hell. I just need you to know that I'll be coming to visit you last and it will take a fucking annoying amount of time to get to you but I hope you'll wait.

Soul

Soul was dreaming, enthralled by the idea that it wasn't the same repetitive nightmare that always echoed in his mind but the sweetest reprieve. His room was filled with the smell of jasmine and Maka was there, her face leaning over his with a soft smile. Maybe he wished it was that glowing, brilliant one from before but beggars couldn't be choosers and he mirrored it back at her easily. When she laid her hand on his bare chest a bright trickle of nerves fluttered from her fingers down into his stomach. A hazy warmth drifted the other way, filling his head with that white light again.

"Why are you crying?"

He watched her jump and in a hurry, she was clearing her face. "I'm not. I told you to leave me alone."

"Maka," he grumbled as he sat down next to her, almost laughing as she scooted to add distance between them.

"Why can't you just listen?" she spat at him.

"Why are you crying?" he urged again as he slid closer.

"See? Do you not have ears? I told you to leave me alone!"

"Maka-"

"Soul," she bellowed back as another wave of liquid rolled over her cheeks. "You can't help, so I don't know why-"

Against all of his better judgment, he grabbed her, arms wrapping tightly around her shoulders to pull her to his chest. She gasped but didn't fight as he expected, just settled as her hands only delicately pinched at the fabric of his shirt at his sides. "Why are you crying?" There was more than enough time to count the seconds it took her before she spoke again, but he was too busy happily counting breaths as they trickled across his neck. Oh, that feeling was better than any other he'd had before, and even with her sorrow, he let himself be fleetingly overwhelmed with joy.

"They still haven't found my mother." She was swallowing back more tears and he tightened his hold on her, finding even less resistance than before.

"I'm sorry," he murmured.

"I should have stopped hoping." Her fingers started to move, her arms finally wrapping around him and bringing a new heat crawling up his spine. "She's been gone for so many years. I'm stupid, so stupid…"

"No," he answered back quickly. "Don't give up. That's one of the best things about you, you never give up, and that's definitely not something that's stupid. It's… amazing, alright? So stop."

A warbled sigh came hotly from her lips to his neck. "Thank you."

Soul clasped his hand over top of hers, "You're here. It's not a dream."

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "This is definitely improper."

"You snuck into my room." A grin pulled at his lips as a delirious laugh trickled from his throat.

"You're surprisingly not well guarded," Maka laughed softly. "And I'm almost sure you couldn't be woken from sleep even in the middle of a battle."

Soul chuckled, "It's because I was actually sleeping. I thought… well, I thought I was dreaming about you. Not necessarily something I wanted to wake up from."

"Oh," Maka tore her eyes from him, and in the moonlight, he could see a soft pink coming to her cheeks.

He tightened his fingers over hers, "Did you need something?"

"I wanted to make sure you were comfortable," she answered quickly. "That's why I touched you, I just wanted to give you some relief since tomorrow does sound like it will be trying for you. I know you hate talking to begin with and all those strangers…"

"Thank you," he murmured. Maka tried to pull her hand away but he refused her. The fight wasn't long or intense and when it was done he was gently running his thumb over her knuckles. "I'm sorry if I pissed you off today."

A trembling laugh left her lips before she shook her head. "It wasn't you."

"Then why were you crying?"

"I wasn't crying." This time it wasn't a snapping yell but a weak whisper, her finger tapping at his chest.

"Fine," he sighed. "Why were you almost crying?"

That soft smile came back to her lips before it died quickly, her eyes still blinking out into the darkness. "That gift was…" a sigh left her lips that bordered on a whimper. "Maybe I'm just not as good as I thought I was at guarding my heart."

His swift movement did disturb her and he was sure that she was going to topple off the bed but his hands got to her first, gripping into her sleeves to keep her from getting away. How easily that moment slipped back into the memory exhilarated him. It was a soft gasp from her mouth but no fighting and it lit his skin on fire. He wondered what the old him would have thought of Maka's cheek pressed against skin instead of shirt or her hands having nowhere to go but his bare back. "Then don't."

"Soul, tomorrow-"

"I told you to just wait for me." It was an order and it brought only silence between them. He held her for a few more minutes before he allowed her to slip away, Maka quickly getting to her feet and moving towards the window. He followed after her, suddenly afraid especially as she sat on the sill. "Hey-"

"This is the way I came," she whispered quickly. "There's enough hand and footholds. Don't worry."

As if that ever gets rid of anyone's worry. "I'm sure I can sneak you out of the door."

"No." She slipped off the edge before he could object again, his fingers grasping at nothing but air.

His breath caught in his throat and he rushed to look over the edge, just seeing her blond head bobbing as she navigated the wall. He watched her to the ground, his breath catching with every few holds even though she showed no signs of trouble. As she dropped to the ground, her eyes trailed back up to him. He didn't know what he hated more, the fact that she wasn't smiling, that her cheeks were tear-stained, or that she was no longer in his arms.

Maka was glad to have Marie, have the soft, soothing hands in hers as they waited together. Marie's touch was like her own but different at the same time, always having the ability to dull any pain like chewing on willow bark. She had always assumed that was why Stein loved her since he always craved that stark difference from the life he led. "It's late," Maka murmured.

"Those girls are probably talking his ear off," Marie smiled as she rubbed her thumb over Maka's knuckles again. "Last desperate pleas, you know?"

"Is that what I should do?" Maka wondered out loud.

"I would let him talk. I doubt he's gotten much of that today," Marie sighed as she looked towards the door. "I do wish he'd hurry up though."

"Me, too," she sighed.

It came to the two of them staring at the door, willing his presence for the last few minutes. Even with the expectation, when the knock came both of them jumped, Marie letting out a soft laugh as she opened the door. "Hello, my prince."

"Hello, Lady Marie," Soul bowed, catching her off guard. As he moved into the room, he kept his eyes on her. "I hope you'll forgive me. I… it's taken me time to come back to myself and I feel like my original greeting to you wasn't fitting. The time I spent with you and Stein was the best in my life and I should have treated you with the honor that comes with. I'm sorry."

"Oh," Marie blinked at him. "I'm just happy that you're feeling more yourself, my prince."

"If you don't mind, in this company I'd prefer that you call me by my name."

Marie let out a short laugh, "Of course, Soul."

"Thank you, Marie." He nodded towards her before motioning at the seat that Marie had vacated. "Do you mind?"

"Only if you promise to stop being so formal," Maka smiled.

"Yeah," he laughed sharply. "Sorry, it's been… a long fucking day."

"That's better." Maka extended a hand towards the chair and he sat, leaning forward with his hands on his knees. Marie took to the corner desk, trying to look busy.

Soul sighed, "I feel like there are some things you should know especially about my condition."

"Alright," Maka murmured, her brow crinkling in concern.

Marie interrupted, "Do you mind if I write this down, send the particulars to Stein? It might help him work towards something to fix this situation or at least control it."

"As long as you're sure it's not going to get out," Soul shrugged. "The kingdom right now has no idea about it and I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be good if it became common knowledge."

"Of course not," Marie shook her head swiftly. "I'll keep it with me, to be taken back when we return. No one will see it but he and me."

"Fine." Soul watched and waited for Marie to gather a pen and paper. "I think it's safe to say the memory problem was Medusa's bullshit with the potions. I know she treated me from the first minute so it would have been easy to slip me something then to start the process. But the rest of it… I've been calling it the black blood mostly because that's what it is. If I cut myself, it's not red anymore but black, oily, and for the most part any wound since then has closed up a lot quicker than you would expect, not that I've been putting myself in the position to get wounded."

Soul turned his eyes to Maka, "When I do, I have to be careful. Getting too worked up… Black Star has had to knock me out a few times since I become, well, out of control. I know what's happening but I feel totally powerless. That demon just whispers and… I don't know."

Maka leaned back in the chair thoughtfully, her eyes wondering at the ceiling. "Have you ever tried talking to him?"

"No," Soul blinked. "I kinda thought a demon was a demon."

"Maybe that's your next step," Maka shrugged. "Once Medusa's poisons have left your system, maybe you'll be strong enough to temper it, maybe reason with it. It offers you power, right? You said something about fear, too."

"Enough power to end fear," Soul murmured. "But you think it's a good idea?"

"Well, I could be there to make sure you don't go over that deep end," Maka nodded as she continued to picture the scenario. "Like giving you a safe space to try especially since I can only seem to quiet it down rather than drive it away. I guess anything would be worth a shot."

"You'd try that with me?" He raised his eyebrows at her.

"Of course," Maka shook her head incredulously. "I told you, Queen or not I'm going to help you."

"Yeah," he looked at his hands as a sigh escaped his lips. "There's more."

"Alright," Maka echoed herself again.

"I, uh…" Soul sucked in a healthy amount of air before he turned his eyes to her again. "I'm terrible at dancing. I hate it, and I was glad you were leading, but I'd honestly prefer to never do it again."

"What?" Maka asked breathlessly.

Marie dropped her pen.

"And the way you ride," he laughed shortly. "You mind teaching me that? Because I'm not bad, but I'll be eating a mound of dirt as soon as I try to aim a bow from the saddle."

"I…" Maka started but stopped, her mouth gaping.

"And I'm going to drink with Black Star. I know you two are mostly on each other's last nerves but he's my best friend, and when he offers a skin of wine I'm most likely going to take it." Soul was grinning even in the face of her confusion. "Not to say I'll get drunk every night. He's already been mourning the idea of me becoming a married man so he's well aware my time's going to be spent differently."

"I don't understand," Maka whispered.

"And I guess the last one, maybe the most important, is just because the sun's up, I am most definitely not going to be. I'll stay in bed for most of the morning unless I'm bothered, usually by that asshole previously mentioned but if you try to wake me it'll, uh," he dared a glance at Marie before he leaned closer to Maka to whisper the last part, "it'll be like last night. Sleep of the dead."

"Soul…" Maka almost balked as he took her hands in his but she had no power to move, none of her muscles giving in to any orders of her mind.

"I figured that those were the things that my wife would need to know," Soul shrugged. "Though, I guess plenty more will come up either during the betrothal or the first few weeks. I can't say that I'm that complicated, but who knows what else I'll remember even though you're kind of already aware of all of that, I guess. But the most important part is to ask you, really. I don't want to announce tomorrow that you're my princess, the future Queen without at least getting you to say yes."

Marie palmed a squeal which brought a jolly laugh from Soul's chest. Regardless of the other reactions, Maka was frozen, her body feeling a million miles away as her mind raced through the reality. I won, but it's not even about winning, it's him. That smile is in his eyes and he knows me, or at least he's on his way to knowing me the way he used to. He's on the cusp of remembering it all and I could have my answers but have my sworn duty at the same time. I can help people, I can change this world and make it safe.

"Maka," Soul urged softly as he ran a finger over her knuckles.

The tender caress brought her eyes and her mind back. "You chose me?"

"Wasn't really that hard," Soul laughed, "but don't get mad that I said that. Not saying you're the best offer I got but… maybe I don't remember everything, I might never, I don't know, but when I look at you, when you and I are together, I feel something. I know that's not exactly what you wanted to hear or to know, but I can promise that you're not marrying a stranger. I'm, I hope, at least your friend and I'll help you whatever way I can since I know you have plans as Queen."

My friend. The idea surged in her heart, bringing with it excitement and melancholy all rolled into one. "I'll be objected to," she murmured.

"Sure you will," Soul shook his head dismissively. "But let me handle that, OK? I think I've got enough old Soul in me to get the job done."

"I…" It wasn't the first time she ever found herself stammering in his presence or felt the pinpricks of heat in her eyes.

Soul cleared his throat, "If you don't want to give me an answer right now, I can… give you time. Meet you tonight in the music room if that's better, if that makes you… more comfortable."

Maka looked down at the fingers that were so dedicatedly trying to soothe her own before looking back into his eyes. He was floundering, obviously at a loss but at the same time offering all the relief he possibly could because… He feels something with me. That's what he said. Maybe it's a something that could be… "I accept."

A dizzy little laugh came from his throat but he cleared his throat again to drive it away. "Great. Really great. I, uh, fuck," he murmured as he pulled one hand from hers, letting it run over his face. "Alright. I should… there are some things I should probably set up for tomorrow's idiocy. I'm hoping it'll be just the hemming and hawing kind of objections but I'll have some plans for the heads rolling alternative. Just, if things start going to hell, you go with Black Star, alright?"

"If I have to," Maka muttered.

Soul chuckled, "Maybe he'll grow on you."

"I doubt it, but… I trust you, Soul." Maka smiled softly as she pulled her other hand away and stood from her seat. Soul followed her and the two of them stood, eyes locked and hands antsy at their sides.

"I'll go for now," he murmured.

"Alright."

"I probably can't meet you again tonight."

"Alright."

"I'll send another letter if I can, but otherwise just… try to relax."

"Yes, you too."

Soul's feet shuffled. "I, uh, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yes."

"If there's anything you need…"

"I know."

"And if, I don't know, you change your mind or…"

"I won't."

Air trembled from his lips, "Maka…"

"Soul…" she mimicked and the amused smile that was starting to grace her lips made matters worse. Maka continued to watch as he chewed over words on his tongue, as his hands fluttered at his side like they were ready for movement but always thought better of it. Behind him, Maka could see Marie stifling a laugh but also she was turning in her chair, taking a decided view of the wall that sent a clear message to Maka, enough to make her cheeks flare with color.

Waiting for Soul was something that Maka had felt she'd done her whole life. As children, waiting for him to figure out what he meant to her. Then forlornly waiting for his return or at least some acknowledgment that the life that they had was over, that there was no hope in dreaming anymore. Until today it had been waiting on his choice as well, another thing tangled in her desires. At that moment, as she took a step towards him, she was also taking a step towards not waiting for him. She circled her arms around his waist, letting her head plant on his chest like she had the night before.

He unwound with a long sigh, his hands gently caressing the span of her back, daring to tangle at the ends of her hair. There were no more stuttering words or jittery movement, just his touch that now spoke for him. You're my princess, my Queen, my wife. Though he only held her, that was enough, at least for now. For the rest, Maka would wait.