A/N: Update! Yay! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, read, favorited, or followed this fanfic! 3 Not even close to finishing but I'm so grateful to those who read my fics. :D

D: Declaration

"I believe I understand what you mean," Amelia said softly, staring at the artwork on the walls of Delbert's observatory, setting the star chart she had in her hand on top of a specific pile of other charts.

"Finally someone does," he muttered, shoving a few of his star charts into his desk drawer.

Sarah had offered to help him organize his observatory, and he'd gotten a bit frustrated that she hadn't been able to comprehend his haphazard filing system. Amelia offered to take her place, and Delbert had almost burst into happy tears when she simply followed his system rather than try to change things.

"But honestly, Delbert. You'd think that as long as you've been an astrophysicist you would have a slightly easier filing system."

"Well, I've been a bit busy the past few weeks," Delbert said defensively, watching her roll up the charts near his telescope.

"Doing what, exactly?" Amelia said somewhat distractedly.

"Oh, well... Helping Sarah out at The Benbow, giving speeches at the Academy…" Delbert's cheeks burned as he spoke. "Spending time with you…"

Amelia hesitated, then crossed the room and handed the rolled charts to Delbert so he could rubberband them together.

"You have been quite the busy bee, haven't you?" she said with a smile, allowing her eyes to meet his as she passed it to him.

Delbert smiled, then suddenly lost himself in her emerald eyes. They stood there in silence for a moment, before she finally looked away, the tips of her ears burning.

"Anyway… That's the chart for the Lagoon Nebula."

Delbert blinked, remembering what they were supposed to be doing. He blushed, turning to put the chart in its proper place.

"Speaking of the Lagoon Nebula… James mentioned something about seeing it in Flint's portal back on Treasure Planet." Amelia said thoughtfully, turning back to him.

"O-Oh, um...yes. I wonder if that portal is still active?" Delbert asked, closing the drawer he'd opened.

"I wouldn't think so," Amelia said softly, glad that they could change the subject so quickly. "The planet did explode."

"But perhaps the basics of the portal are still intact. Perhaps one day portals will be the main method of travel."

"I would hope not," Amelia said with a smile. "Then I'd be out of a job. Your average Joe would merely need to buy a small dinghy and would be able to go wherever they like in a flash."

"Amelia, I'm sure someone would still book voyages. Nothing compares to a ride on The Legacy. Even under the condescending hand of a certain Captain Amelia." Delbert said with a smile, and Amelia rolled her eyes.

"Delbert, you must admit, it wasn't all bad."

The smile she saw on his face made her heart jump.

"No, no it wasn't."

His tone was soft, tender in a way she couldn't describe.

Suddenly, an alarm went off on the telescope.

"What is that?"

Delbert hurried to the telescope, turning off the alarm. He peered into the eyepiece, and a grin spread over his lips. Amelia joined him at his side, her head tilted inquisitively.

"What is it?"

Delbert jumped a bit, apparently not aware that she had joined him. He cleared his throat, then gestured to the eyepiece.

"T-Take a look."

Amelia looked at him with her eyebrow raised, then looked into the telescope. Seeing something akin to the black hole they'd seen on the Treasure Planet voyage, she gasped. Brilliant red, orange, and yellow streaks pierced the dark blue Etherium, and Amelia realized that she had been so panicked on the voyage that she never got to appreciate the black hole for what it was.

"Oh my… Delbert, what…?"

"Neither of us really got an o-opportunity to um...Appreciate the phenomenon on the Treasure Planet voyage so...When I saw that there was going to be a star going supernova soon, I set an alarm."

She straightened, giving him an odd look.

"But, Delbert...The chances of a supernova star turning into a black hole is...very low. How did you…?"

Delbert's face flushed, and he rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

"I've been...monitoring several stars. I...I wanted to make sure I could show you when...when it happened."

"Delbert...I…I don't know what to say...That was beautiful, thank you." she smiled, her heart jumping a bit in her chest at the idea of Delbert dedicated that much time to something just for her.

"You're welcome."

They were quiet for a while, Amelia returning her gaze to the telescope, making quiet sounds of amazement.

"Amelia?"

She looked over at him lazily, as if he was interrupting her time. But the teasing smile on her face told him otherwise. She was simply enjoying herself.

"Yes, Delbert?"

Amelia searched his face, wondering why he seemed so… hesitant. I mean, sure, she was hesitant about their relationship too. But somehow being able to see his hesitancy hurt her.

But why? Why did it seem like sometimes he was more important to her than her own self? Why was seeing him the highlight of her day? Why did she suddenly want to be with him at all hours of the day...When she hadn't wanted to be with anyone in years? Why did she give him chance after chance when he messed up? If anyone else had messed up that badly, they would've gotten quite a verbal berating and Amelia would've disassociated herself with them. What made Delbert so different?

Perhaps it was the way he looked at her when he thought she wasn't paying attention. Maybe it was how he went out of his way to do something special for her, such as monitoring several stars on a daily basis, just so she could see a black hole form without the danger. Maybe it was the way he showed so much concern when she was mildly inconvenienced, or the way he listened to her as if she were the most important, spectacular person in all the world. Like she was his rose in a field of dandelions. And maybe to him...She was.

"Delbert? Are you alright?" she said softly, her eyes locked with his. She took a step toward him, concern lacing her tone.

Delbert bit his lip. Why did he feel this way about her? How could just seeing her brighten up his day? How could hearing her laugh make his heart swell? Why did he think about her so often? It was as if night and day didn't matter anymore. Amelia was his sun, his moon, his everything. She was all he thought about; all he ever wanted to think about. This feeling… This unbelievable feeling of purpose… As if he lived to make her smile, and lived to comfort her when she needed it.

"It's nothing, Amelia. I'm fine." he smiled, resisting the urge to take her hand in his.

Amelia smiled, then her smile faded and the look in her eyes startled Delbert a bit.

'Well, I've been thinking, and... I have to tell you something.."

"Anything." Delbert smiled, confused when Amelia suddenly blushed furiously and avoided his eyes.

"I… I think I...h-have feelings for you..." she mumbled, tugging a strand of her hair nervously.

"H-Huh?"

Delbert blushed furiously, his whole body stiff as Amelia's eyes finally met his. Had he heard her correctly? It was then that he was able to decipher the look in her eyes...and it shocked him.

"I love you, Delbert."

A/N: I wrote this while listening to Incredible by Celine Dion ft. Ne-Yoso I'm just like eeeeeeh yaaaaaaaaaaas XD