After Kid left Maka just walked out of the room without a word to Soul. She stepped into the main hall and saw Stein standing by the door smoking a cigarette. He didnt say anything, and neither did she. After a couple secinds of awkward silence Maka turned to leave.

"Maka, if you need to talk you know where to find me," said Stein as he pushed off the wall and walked away.

"Thank you professor," she said as she walked to her and Souls place.

As she walked she ran into Tsubaki who was walking towards the lab.

"Hey Maka, how is Soul?" She asked.

Maka took a minute to mask her pain and gave Tsubaki a fake smile.

"Hes going to be let out tomorrow, the black blood helped heal him. Professor is keeping him another night to observe him."

"Thats good! Tomorrow around 8 we should get together at my and Black*Stars place to celebrate!" Said Tsubaki.

"Yeah sounds good," said Maka. "Ill catch up with you later I need to go."

Maka didnt let Tsubaki respond before she walked away quickly. As she walked her tears began to fall, not wanting to run into anyone anymore she ran back home.

×××××××××××××

Maka was able to avoid Soul the whole day next day. She heard him come home at 7 and she heard him get ready then leave for the party at 7:30. Maka got up and got ready herself. She didn't feel like getting dressed up so she just put on a pair of green sweatpants and a black long sleeve shirt.

Its not what she would normally wear, but she didnt care. She still had no idea what to say to Kid or Soul. Who does she even truly like? She didn't even know yet. She shook the thoughts from her head and grabed a pair of shoes and started making her way to Tsubaki's.

She got to Tsubaki's and knocked on the door and was let in. Tsubaki raised her eyebrow at her outfit but said nothing. Maka smiled when she saw Chrona was already there and she sat down by him, away from Soul to talk and catch up with him.

Once it hit 8 on the dot 8 knocks were heard on the door. In came Liz Patty and Kid. None of them looked at Maka, no doubt Kid told them what happened. They sat down and began conversing with Tsubaki and eachother.

"ALRIGHT PEASANTS! NOW THAT YOU ALL ARE HERE LETS BEGIN THE PARTY! I, YOUR GOD, IS READY FOR IT TO BEGIN!" Said Black*Star.

"Wheres the food at huh?" Said Ragnorak as he came out of Chrona.

"Right here Ragnorak, now stop and behave. Your making a scene and I dont know how to deal with that," said Chrona.

"Well get ready to learn PAL," replied Ragnorak as he began eating some of the food.

Everybody got food and began talking and the boys started playing video games. After about an hour passed Patty began to get bored.

"Hey Hey Hey! Lets play truth or dare guys! Itll be fun!" She chirped.

Everyone agreed and all sat in a circle with an empty bottle in the center. Soul spun first and it landed on Liz.

"Truth, I don't trust you guys," she said.

"Not cool but whatever. Are your nails real or fake?" He asked.

Liz scoffed as she responded "Real of course, these things take forever to grow, them you got to shape them and-"

"Fascinating but lets move on," said Ragnorak casue Liz to glare at him.

Liz took the bottle and spun it, it landed on Tsubaki.

"Truth," she responded.

"How can you stand to date Black*Star? Hes so much sometimes," said Liz.

"BECAUSE I AM A GOD, AND SHE IS MY GODDESS. ITS ONLY FITTING FOR US TO BE TOGETHER!" Said Black*Star as he stood up.

"He can be annoying sometimes," Black*star visibly deflated "But honestly he is so kind and loyal. He always has my back and never pushes me to talk about anything I dont want to, nor does he force me to do anything either. Hes the best partner, friend, and boy friend I could ever hope to have."

Black*Star blushed and sat down next to her.

"Thats nothing compared to you you know," he muttered.

Everyone awed at that and laughed at the bashful couple. Tsubaki spun the bottle and it landed on Soul.

"Cool guys chose dare so dare," he said.

Tsubaki was thinking when Liz leaned over and whispered something in her ear. Tsubaki laughed and nodded her head at Liz's suggestion.

"I dare you to lick the window and say 'these snozeberries taste like snozeberries'"

Everyone laughed as Soul glared at them saying "not cool" but went and did it. It took 5 minutes before everyone stopped laughing while Soul pouted before he could spin the bottle. It landed on Black*Star.

"DARE. BRING IT ON, YAHOO!" He said.

"I dare you to try to twerk for 1 minute," said Soul.

Black*Star blinked before shrugging and doing it. Everyone began laughing again at his failed attempt to twerk. Soul who was in charge of the stop watch let him go for another 30 seconds before stopping it to be mean. Black*Star sat down with a smirk on his face. After everyone calmed down again he spun the bottle and it landed on Patty.

"OOOOOOO! Dare Dare!" Said Patty.

"I dare you to swing by the ceiling pretending to be a monkey," he said pointing up at the rails he put in his ceiling to workout.

She smiled and did as he said and began swinging from the rails. Everyone cheered her on until one if the rails broke and she fell. Right on top of poor Chrona. Chrona saw her falling and made sure she landed purely on him and didnt hit the groun at all. He let out a pained "oof" as Patty laid on him catching her barrings. She sat up and looked at Chrona who began to blush heavily.

"Oopsie, I sorry Chrona," she said getting off him.

"N-No its fine. Are you alright?" He asked.

"Yup" she said popping the 'P' sound and giving him a smile that made him blush again.

"Patty dont scare me like that again, your big sis was so worried about you," cried Liz hugging Patty.

"There there," said Patty patting Lizs head.

Patty then spun the bottle and it landed on Chrona.

"Truth please. I dont know how to handle dares," he said hugging one of the couch cushions.

"I got one, do you mind if I take it Patty?" Said Liz. Patty shook her head. "So Chrona who do you like?" She purred giving him a knowing look.

"Eh!? Uh..." Chrona mumbled something in the pillow.

"WHAT!?" Said Ragnorak who heard him. "Your telling me you like the giraffe freak!?"

"HUH!?" Said everyone except Patty who blinked in surprise. Her face then turned a bit red and she smiled at Chrona. She got up and sat next to him and laid her head on his shoulder.

"I like you to," she chirped.

"Aw thats so cute," said Tsubaki.

"If Chrona makes his hair symmetrical ill approve," said Kid.

"Shut up you arent her father. Giving approval is my job,"said Liz. "Which I give."

"Wow never would have thought it," said Soul while Black*Star nodded.

"Im happy for you Chrona,"said Maka.

"Im not," muttered Ragnorak.

Once everyone fawned over the new, soon to be, couple Chrona spun the bottle and it landed on Kid.

"Hmmm Truth. I know you guys will dare me to make myself asymetrical or something like that," he said ignoring Black*Stars booing.

"Is it true that your eyes glow in the dark?" Asked Chrona.

"Yes it is, want to get the lights? Ill show you," he said.

Tsubaki turned off the lights and everyone saw Kids eyes glowing a bright yellow. Tsubaki turned back on the lights and then Kid spun the bottle and it landed on Maka.

"Truth," said Maka. She didnt want to know what she would be dared to do.

"Who do you really like?" Said Soul. "Between me and Kid?"

"... I would like to know that as well," said Kid.

Maka felt like she got punched in the gut and her face burned. She was embarassed and pissed. She stood up and glared at both if them.

"Neither one, you both are assholes!" She shouted as she grabbed her shoes and ran from Tsubaki's.

She didnt see Kid and Soul stand up to follow, nor did she see Black*Star grab there arms.

"Dont follow her she needs time," he said. The group decided to watch a movie till she got back.

Maka ran while tears fell down her face. She knew she couldnt go to her father. So she went to the person she trusted most to help her.

××××××××××

Stein let out a sigh as he cleaned some beakers from an experiment he just did. As he finished he heard a frantic knock at his door. He tilted his head and turned his screw a couple inches before going to answer it. He opened the door and saw Maka with tears in her eyes.

"I-Im sorry professor for the late visit, but I dont know who else to turn to. I-I need help," she said.

Stein invited her in and remembering the skills Marie taught him as a host he poured her some tea. They sat on his couch and he listened to her talk about her problem. Once she finished Stein thought over what she said and took a breath.

"Ill be honest, im not good with relationships. However I am good at science deduction to a question. The question here is who you like more, so Im going to ask you some questions to help you figure it out okay?"

Maka nodded as she drank the tea.

"When Soul got hurt yesterday, why were you not as worried about your safety like with Chrona?"

"Because I had backup with me," said Maka.

"If Kid wasnt there would you still feel safe?"

"... I dont know. Black*Star is a good guy but he can get carried away," she said looking away with a grimace.

"So you trusted Kid completely to protect you right? And you would trust him in any other situation to prioritize your protection first?"

"Yes."

"Now do you trust Soul 100% to help you in any situation?"

"... not 100%. If its life threatening or will cause me physical damage he will. But if its something embarassing or minor he will laugh and enjoy the moment first before helping me."

"Alright so Kid is trustworthy, and Soul protects you from harm correct but isnt the most trustworthy?"

Maka nodded as she set down the empty tea cup. "Soul cant keep his mouth shut either on anything. Kid would keep a secret."

"What did you think of both of them at first? And how do you feel about each of them now?"

"When I first met Soul I felt curious about him. He had an act to look intimating, but I didnt buy it. He was mysterious to me. When we became partners we went through so much and becane so close. I can count on him to have my back in a fight. He is... someone very important."

"And Kid?"

"I thought he was weird with his OCD obsession, but I saw he was loyal and kind to his weapons. As I got to know him I found he is someone who cares and surprisingly doesnt look down on people even given his lineage. He looks out for me and is smart and amazing."

"Last question, You've kissed both of them. How did you feel when you did? Lets start with Kid.''

"I felt..." she closed her eyes and thought about the times she kissed him. "Safe. Complete. There were sparks that made my stomach feel funny, but in a good way. I felt loved."

"And Soul?"

"Well I was scared at first, but when I shamefully relaxed, I felt good but it didnt feel right."

"So then, have you reached a conclusion?" Asked Stein with a knowing smile.

"Yeah. I love Kid," she said with a soft smile. "Soul is to much like a brother to me."

"Looks like you knew all along. You just needed a little logic and questions to figure it out. Im proud of you," said Stein putting his hand on her head.

"Thank you professor!" Said Maka hugging him. "Im glad I came to you!"

"Why didnt you go to your father?" He asked.

"Your more like a father than he is. You've given me so much advice on fighting and now love. Thats more than what papa did," said Maka.

Stein was shocked at that but smiled a small smile at that.

"Im glad to hear it Maka," he said. "You did good. Come back anytime you need,"

"Alright I will, thank you again!" She said as she left.

Stein waved her off with a small smile and then went to put away his dry beakers when his door opened again.

"Back already Spirit?" He called already knowing who it was.

"Why was my darling Maka here?" He asked as he took off his shoes. He reeked of alchohol.

"She needed advice and decided to come to me for it. You were busy with your 'ladies' to help her," said Stein.

Spirit stepped forward and hugged Stein from behind and put his head on his shoulder.

"Im a bad father," he mumbled.

"Yes you are," said Stein. "But thats okay cause I am here as basically her other father."

Stein reached up and held Spirits hands. He still felt a bit guilty about this. It had only been 3 months since Marie and him split. He didnt want to commit to her with marriage, and he didn't want a family. Those two things were dealbreakers, and Marie left him. But Spirit was there. Now they are in a... not quite relationship but more than friends with benefits. There definetly partners through and through. Lovers maybe?

The thoughts dissapeared when Stein felt Spirits lips on his, and he tasted of alchohol and cigarettes. The thoughts never came back that night as they went to Steins bedroom.