Damien sat outside on the table, in the backyard, looking up in the sky. He knew it was late, but as always he couldn't sleep so he had decided to take the chance to look at the stars. He had never seen the stars and it was relaxing...the silence and the pale light of the moon.

His ear twitched at a sound behind him. Damien turns his head quickly, and sees Herman. Herman holds up his hands, "Easy son." And he begins to walk over to the table sitting across from Damien. "Can't sleep?"

Damien nods. "Yeah I can't sometimes. Why are you up?"

Herman smiles at him. "I was looking for a snack. But I decided not to eat anything." His face grows more serious. "I..uh I wanted to thank you for saving Alice in that school fight. I know you didn't have to. And also for watching over her."

Damien looks down at Herman, "Your welcome, sir. She actually helps me with things too."

Herman looked at him in the eyes.."From what I see, you are a good hearted person. But all I ask of you as her friend is please don't drag her into anything dangerous." The silence fills the air as Damien thought about what he said. Technically by being here he was already going what against her dad wanted. But Damien couldn't even tell Alice what was bothering him, much less about the storm that was brewing.

Herman drums the table lightly, snapping Damien out of his thoughts, "I'm gonna head to back to bed, I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

Damien nods at him, "Night sir, I'm just gonna be out here a little longer."

He wished Alice was sitting next to him, she always kept his negative thoughts at bay. What am I saying? That Alice...that she means something to me? Could I like her? He got mad at himself for thinking such things. Remembering what countless adults told himself, predator and prey don't mix. He knew that her dad was telling him not to cause trouble cause he was a predator, and being a predator meant trouble followed you.

That's when he felt a presence behind him again, and hears Alice's voice. "What are you doing out here?" He didn't look at her as she sat next to him.

"I decided to look at the stars...since I couldn't sleep I thought it might be the perfect chance. All I can say is that...I'm impressed." He responded, smiling down at her.

"Told you." She said as she bumped him with her shoulder. "Hey you want to go for a walk?"

Her father's voice remained in his head but he knew she'd be safe cause she was with him. "Sure." He stood and followed her to the orchard of trees a little ways off from the house. The soil was nice and cool beneath his paws. As he walked up the slight hill the orchard sat on he took in the clean air, the feel of the place. It made him feel warm...like how home should.

Alice had walked a bit ahead of him and he had lost her in the trees. He noticed that he couldn't hear or see Alice, even though she had just been ahead of him. Damien smells the air, but too many new smells crowd his nostrils. "Gotcha!" She yells as she grabs him from behind. He doesn't jump or get scared just looks at her with a smile as he continues walking.

Alice could see something was bothering Damien that's why she offered for them to go for a walk. Plus she wanted to ask what he thought of her home. "What do you think Damien?" She asks as they continue to walk to the top of the orchard.

"I think it's nice. I like how simple things are...do guys ever get trouble out here?"

Alice nods sadly, " Yeah there are some people here that steal our fruit and things but we still get by."

"Other bunnies stealing from you?" Damien asks confused.

"No, predators. My dad thinks it's the foxes that about two farms away, but it is what it is." She shrugs.

When they reached the top, they stopped and Damien looked around at the area...fields upon fields of different types of vegetables and fruits. He could see a small cluster of buildings a little towards the west. "What's that?" He asks Alice, motioning to the buildings.

"Oh that? That's our little town where we can buy our clothes and extras, plus they also have the circus there every year."

Standing there in silence for a few minutes they both looked at the area under the moonlight. Alice could see Damiens eyes drift towards her. "What?" She asked looking up at him, locking eyes.

Damien looked away. "Thanks...for bringing me here, for even being my friend."

"I should be thanking you for that." She said. "I was just a random bunny, but you..you became my friend so thanks."

He shook his head, "There's alot more to what I'm saying Fluff. I just can't talk about it. In the time I've known you...my life has gotten better." Alice felt her cheeks get slightly warm at the sentence.

Damien saw Alice looking at him, intently watching him. But then he looked away and sat down on the ground, leaning against one of the apple trees. He pulled out his phone, "Is it okay that I play some music for a bit?" She nods, wondering what he'd play and it was just some light EDM music. She sat next to him, grabbing his fluffy tail. "Hey!" He looked surprised.

"What?" She asked with a smile on her face.

"Didn't your parents tell you not to touch other people's tails?" His face became sly and he played with her ears. She felt a chill when his finger brushed her cheek. "Wolf got your tongue Fluff?" He asks.

She just pursed her lips and shook her head...how did he unnerve her so easily?

He stared at the moon, his tail flicking back and forth. "What's wrong Damien?"

Damien didn't look at her as he spoke, "Nothing really...I think I've worried and thought about so much I don't really know how to be content anymore."

She laid her paw on his shoulder. "You know you could always use me, talk to me...I'm here for you." She felt a shiver run through her when he turned and looked at her. He seemed so old and beaten...she saw the loneliness there too and it hurt to see. How could she help him? And why by being so close to him did her heart beat so fast?

Thats when she could hear the lyrics to another song that had started to play when they were talking..."..Just grab my hand and don't let go...right before the fear takes hold." How true that was right now. The past few weeks she had felt something, a feeling, for Damien...and she didn't know what it was the whole time till now being here with him...

Damien also heard the lyrics to the song...he felt embarrassed that Alice knew he listened to something like that. But the song held some truth in what he wanted.."I'm drowning..just grab my hand and don't let go, I'm drowning.." "Hey Fluff..do you ever feel alone? Even when your around people?"

She nods her head slowly..."Maybe not like you...but I've felt alone in things before."

As the song ended, it left a strange air between the two, neither of them saying a word as they turned to look at the moon. Alice felt so much in the moment but she didn't know how to put it into words. Did Damien feel something for her? How could they make it work? Could they last against what everyone else thought of them?

Meanwhile Damien was having his own mental battle with how he felt about Alice. All he seemed to do for people was cause trouble, that wasn't what he wanted to do to Alice. Both were too afraid to take the leap cause they were afraid the other wouldn't catch them.

Alice, without thinking, then laid her head on Damiens arm, taking in his scent of pine. It was strange how just his scent could calm and relax her. She could feel Damien shift slightly but then he relaxed. Sleep was making things hazy for her..."Damien..." she said his name softly.

Damien was drifting off to sleep. He had felt Alice put her head on his shoulder, which was oddly comforting for him. He put his paw over hers and put his tail around her. His eyelids were getting extremely heavy. He wasn't sure if what he felt with her in that moment was real or even if it would last. Would he ever tell her what he felt? As he drifted off, his arm wrapped gently around her...protecting her from any harm. He knew in the morning it would probably mean nothing...but right now...being with her was all that mattered.

Dear readers: I'm sorry I haven't posted lately, I've been quite busy with my classes and such. But I have some time off for a few days so I'll upload another chapter soon. Hope to see you in the next chapter. Let me know if your liking it or even just to tell me criticism. Thank you.