A/N Yeah, I know, its a short and sucky chapter, but I have loads going on right now! Its so hectic, so I hope you aren't too disheartened by this chapter. For those of you that are hardcore x-Moondancing Milly-x fans, you should check out the latest installment of Lady of the Night, its getting awesome!

But for now, read and review, please!

Chapter 9

OK, maybe it wasn't THAT ridiculous. After all, Susannah had fallen for me when I was a ghost, and people do all sorts of silly things like that in these books I find on Susannah's shelf.

And Lily was the ideal love interest. Sceptical, petite, ever-so British...

You gotta love a heroine like that.

So I sat on my cheap hotel bedspread just like, trying to make sense of this new discovery, when I was rudely interupted.

"Jesse! You open this door right now, or I will exorcise this little friend you have!"

"I would like to see her try," came a humorous giggle in my ear. I saw with delight that Lily was back. She stood adamant with her arms crossed.

"Jesse!" Susannah banged with her fists on my door. "Don't think I'm not serious! Your little British friend won't last long if I have any say in the matter!"

"Oh, don't doubt her," I said to Lily, refusing to answer my ex-fiancee. "She means what she says. I just can't help but find it all a little amusing."

"What I seem to find amazing," she replied. "Was the fact that you could love something that is standing the hall with nothing but short trousers and a strappy tunic-"

"- otherwise known as shorts and T-shirt, Lil."

"-yes, but they are very small. And she is yelling for England - America - whatever."

I laughed at Lily's last word. I never thought I would see the day Lily said 'whatever' with meaning.

"What?" she said, her adorable little upturned nose scrunched in confusion. "What do you find so amusing?"

"You," I replied simply, and reached across to hug her small thin body. She froze, a little surprised, but patted my shoulder all the same.

"I'm glad you feel so affectionate, Hector," she said stiffly. I released her at once.

"HECTOR?!"

"Yes. It is amazing what you can learn when you eavesdrop."

"I am Jesse. No one has called me Hector since 1850."

"You look a little under 150 to me, Jesse," she replied. "Or perhaps my eyes deceive me."

"Perhaps I do not care to share my information," I retorted, finding myself imitating her formal tone. I shook my head and turned my attention to the screaming Susannah outside my door.

"JESSE!!!!! I CAN HEAR YOU, YOU PRICK!"

Lily shook her head. "Such curses," she whispered. I muttered a feeble "Excuse me," and strode across the room to open the door.

"Good morning Susannah," I said pleasantly. "And what brings you to my bedchamber so early?"

"Don't you pull that British crap on me," she spat. "You're not even BRITISH!"

"Such curses," I repeated, shaking my head, as Lily burst into peals of laughter behind me.

"I'll get you, bitch!" Susannah yelled, and she tried to get past me into my room.

"Susannah, have you forgotten your manners? I'm sure your mother would disapprove."

When Susannah told me where to stick my manners, however, I uttered a hasty "Goodbye, Susannah," and shut the door.

Lily smiled. "I am impressed," she said. "You truly have learned to contain yourself."

"I suppose my affection for Susannah has died," I whispered slowly, and it was not my imagination that Lily's face lit up after my speech."I am rather attached to someone else, you know."

"Oh," Lily replied, and it was funny to see how she was dying not to burst. "If you tell me it is your friend Paul you are yearning for I may burst with frustration!"

I laughed, and took Lily in my arms at once. Her blushes only made me smile, and I looked into her big blue eyes, and tucked a curl behind her ear.

"Lily?" I said softly, my warm breath tickling her soft white cheek. "I love you, of course."

And then I kissed her.