Chapter 8

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When they got home, Lu and Nikko were ordered to bed instantly after dinner. It was the middle of the night, and even though Nikko wasn't tired, Lucrecia sure was. The next day though, Nikko woke up early and helped out with Cid's shop again, and things were back to normal. Lucrecia came over after awhile, bundled up in a coat and scarf.

"Hey you," She greeted when she strolled in. Nikko was just coming down the ladder. He hopped off and landed in front of her.

"Hello," He replied back. The fireplace in the accessory shop burned and flickered warmly, and Lucrecia took off her heavy coat and sat on the couch. "Want a hot chocolate?" Nikko asked hopping over the counter to Cid's secret coffee machine.

Lucrecia laughed and nodded. "I never knew Cid hid things behind his counter," She replied suspiciously.

"Well, you never asked, did you?" Nikko pointed out, bringing over two mugs to her. Lucrecia thanked him and took a slow careful sip, feeling her body warm up.

"Yum. I think I'll just stay here all day with you instead of waitressing in the cold," She declared taking another sip.

"Yeah, let Lola do all the work," Nikko replied and they laughed. They sat in silence for a little bit. "You know, I think I've changed a little," Nikko suddenly spoke up quietly.

"Really?" Lucrecia asked turning to look at him. "How?"

"Well, for one thing, I haven't been getting mad lately. I haven't had the need to carve or calm down at all this past week," He replied.

"Well, that's good. I hope you'll still carve though, I love your carvings," Lucrecia smiled.

"I've got to get rid of them. There's too many and I'm actually running out of ideas," He grumbled.

"Hey! I have an idea. Carve me!" Lucrecia suggested excitedly.

"That'd be way too hard," He replied grinning.

"You could try," Lucrecia insisted and pouted out her bottom lip. Nikko laughed.

"I'll try, but if you turn out deformed it's not my fault," He said getting up to get some wood.

"Yes it is!" She laughed. He found some extra wood laying about and started to carve.

"Stay still!" He ordered Lucrecia in fake irritation.

"Ok ok!" She giggled and stood up right. Nikko started carving for a bit, then when he looked up again to continue, his gaze just sort of stopped. "What?" Lucrecia asked smiling.

"Nothing. I can't really carve right now, I'll save it to when I need it," Nikko replied and put the partly carved piece of wood in one of his pockets. He then just looked at Lucrecia and she looked right back.

Suddenly she cried, "Ha! You blinked first," And started to laugh. Nikko looked at her oddly in a teasing way. "Don't look at me like that! It was starting to creep me out," Lu said and pushed him. Nikko pushed her back, and she whined in protest.

"Well, you started it!" Nikko replied laughing.

"Yeah, well. Beats serving coffee," She said and hugged him lightly. Nikko didn't know what to do while she hugged him, he just kinda sat there. Not that he didn't want to do anything, he just felt sort of embarrassed even if it was only them in the room. But who knows? Cid might pop out any minute. Lucrecia looked up at him and smiled. "I think I'll go, Lola must be erupting hot lava by now," She announced getting up off of him and the couch.

"Wait!" Nikko called out as she was about to put her coat on. He helped her and she laughed. "Well, thanks sir, but I have to get to work now," Lucrecia replied adjusting her hat.

Nikko smiled at her and kissed her cheek lightly, and backing away he said, "Have a nice day at work I guess."

"Yes Husband, I shall," She replied teasingly. Nikko laughed and walked her out. He watched his breath come out in white puffs of air and watched Lu do the same. He laughed again and Lu asked "What?" in a teasing voice.

"Nothing. I was just thinking how...I like you a lot," He confessed looking at her. She looked at him back, and into his eyes.

"I like you too...obviously," She replied hugging his arm.

"Well, yes of course obviously," Nikko chuckled. When they came to the Cafe Lucrecia didn't want to let go. "I'll come back for a break, ok?" He suggested laughing at Lu's facial expression.

"Ok," She replied softly. She kissed his nose and went inside the Cafe, waving goodbye. Nikko watched her go inside and walked back to the shop, and decided to finish that carving after all.

--

Nikko found it hard to continue the carving of Lu, so he just lay on the couch in the accessory shop looking up at the ceiling.

"Having a lazy day, eh?" Cid said to Nikko when he came back inside and still found him on the sofa.

"Yeah, well...I've just been day dreaming all day anyhow, so I don't think you want me to work today," Nikko replied.

"Day dreaming? Of...Lu maybe?" Cid wondered suspiciously.

"Maybe...," Nikko replied chuckling.

"Why don't ya go see her? I'll take care of the rest of-," Cid started but Nikko was already running out the door and calling out, "Thanks Cid!"

He tried to press down his hair with his fingers and strolled casually into the Café. He sat down at a table and smiled as he saw Lucrecia taking an order from a customer and looking absolutely bustled with work. Lucrecia strolled over to the table that she saw someone sit at from the corner of her eye. She didn't even realize who it was until she looked at them to take the order.

"Nikko!" She cried and flushed with embarrassment. "I can't believe it, I didn't even know it was you!"

"Oh gee, thanks!" He replied and they laughed.

"Lu, can you hurry up with that-oh, hi there Nikko," Lola said and looked up to him as she was walking past. Nikko waved.

"Break? Please?" Lucrecia begged. Lola sighed.

"5 minutes," She replied and walked away.

"Since the trip she's been pretty unbearable huh?" Nikko said after Lu sat down and heaved a sigh.

"Oh yeah, I guess raising two teenagers is no picnic," Lu replied laughing. Nikko's hand went over the table and grabbed hers. Lucrecia blushed a little. "Um...want me to go get us some coffee?" She asked.

"Uh, if you want some, I'm fine," He replied and smiled.

"Uh...Nikko, are you ok? You're a little too happy today," Lucrecia said laughing a little.

"I'm great! I've never felt better," He replied leaning back on the chair.

"So, you finish my carving?" Lucrecia asked.

"Nope...I'd rather watch the real thing," He replied with a little smirk.

"Oh," Lucrecia said back laughing nervously.

"Lu, wanna get to serving now?" Lola appeared out of nowhere.

"Oh, yeah," She replied. She turned to Nikko after getting up. "I have to go. But um...wanna do something later?" She asked.

"Wanna have a date at the Café?" Nikko asked jokingly.

"Sure!" Lu replied.

"I was kidding but, ok," Nikko said laughing. Lucrecia beamed and hurried over to the counter. Nikko waited a little while longer and finally no one else came by. Lucrecia slumped on the chair across from him once again and buried her head.

"Argh...I'm dead beat," She spoke with her voice being muffled. Lola sat with them awhile later.

"Today was busy, huh? I'm glad it's over," She said. She noticed Lucrecia. "I'm not the only one then," She commented. Lucrecia raised her head.

"Lola, you can go on home. I'll lock up for the night," She said. Nikko looked at Lola who looked at both of them.

"You sleeping at the house...or on some roof tonight?" She asked teasingly.

"Roof, most likely," Lucrecia said back laughing. Lola shrugged.

"Just don't stay up too late, I'm going off," Lola replied and got up yawning. After she left Lucrecia and Nikko laughed.

"Ugh, let me just take this off," Lu declared flourishing her apron off to the other side of the room.

"Let's sit at a table outside," Nikko suggested.

"How about some coffee for our date?" Lucrecia asked and made some real quick. They went outside and sat at a table, with Lucrecia setting the cups down on it and Nikko lighting a candle. "Ooh, this is so romantic!" Lucrecia cooed rubbing her hands together for warmth and sitting down. Nikko took a seat as well and nodded.

Lucrecia drank her coffee silently, wondering what to say. She liked how earlier Nikko had held her hand while she was at work...it felt as if they've been dating for ever and did that all the time to each other. Lu suddenly just smiled at Nikko, to let him know she was happy. He smiled back and just kinda fingered his coffee and gazed at the candle afterwards.

"So...what did you do to my carving anyway?" Lu wondered.

"Oh it's still at the shop...or my pocket, dunno which," He replied. Lu laughed.

"I wonder how long until we go to another trip...the Jungle was amazing," Lu commented dreamily.

"I doubt it will be too soon...with us always running off like that," Nikko replied.

"Hmm, yes but it was more fun than staying at camp the whole time...besides, if we had never gone to the lake we would've never-," Lucrecia started but stopped in embarrassment.

"Oh. Right, I'm sorry again for just attacking you like that," Nikko replied scratching the back of his neck embarrassingly.

"You didn't attack me! And I'm telling you, I loved it. Everything was perfect," Lucrecia protested.

"Yeah, you made that pretty clear when we were walking back and you attacked me," Nikko replied laughing. Lu kicked him lightly under the table.

"That wasn't an attack either! That wasn't even a real kiss. I was trembling from head to foot while I was debating on while to do that or not...seemed to prove effective though," She replied. Nikko shrugged, "It was better than mine. It was longer."

"No it wasn't, it was so light I barely felt it! I felt like kicking myself...," Lucrecia replied again sighing.

"Aww, don't feel that way," Nikko mocked in a baby voice.

"Shut-up!" Lucrecia cried teasingly and laughed. Nikko shrugged.

"Just trying to make you feel better," He replied.

"By mocking me? Oh, never mind," Lucrecia laughed.

"It worked, didn't it?" He replied. Lu shrugged and smiled at him.

"Hey...let's go to the roof now. Well, not really the roof just any roof...," She suggested. They put the mugs back and blew out the candle. They walked side by side with their arms linked together.

"Hey, Lu...I was wondering if maybe you'd like to travel around some day...and I don't know, look for your friend," Nikko proposed.

"Oh, we don't have to do that. I miss him terribly but I'm sure he's fine...wherever he is. But I'd love to travel around with you, that would be so much fun!" Lu agreed.

"Don't you want to find him?" Nikko asked.

"Sure, but...he's part of my old life you know? I just want to be with you now," Lucrecia replied wondering why Nikko cared so much. "Why do you ask anyway?" Lu asked.

"Well, I have nothing left of my old life...nothing I care about anyway. This friend of yours just seemed very special to you...," Nikko replied softly.

"He is, but...oh, let's talk about it some other day," Lucrecia replied snuggling into his shoulder. They got to the building in the Second District.

"Well, I haven't been here in awhile," Nikko noted, looking up at it. Lucrecia laughed and climbed on the crates to get up. Nikko gave her a boost and Lu got up on the roof. She spread the blanket she brought on the roof and lay down on it. Nikko came awhile later and Lu motioned him over and patted the area on the blanket next to her. Nikko laughed and ran over to her. He lay down on the blanket and turned to face her.

"Wanna play who gets tired first?" Lucrecia asked giggling.

"Sure, but no cheating or fake losing," Nikko added.

"Look whose talking!" Lu cried laughing.

"Do we look at the stars or...?" Nikko asked blushing.

"Either," Lu replied. She stared up to the sky, so Nikko did the same.

Suddenly Lu bolted up yelling, "Oh-my-gosh, did you see that?! Oh WOW!"

"What?" Nikko asked alarmingly.

"It was a shooting star! Oh I knew I'd see one someday," Lu replied somewhat dreamily. She took hold of Nikko's hands. "Hurry, make a wish!" She ordered and closed her eyes tight. Nikko laughed but did the same, and after awhile Lu let go and sighed. "Hope it comes true!" She beamed.

"Whatcha wish for?" Nikko wondered.

"Nikko! Don't you know the rules? I can't tell you!" Lu cried laughing.

"Ok, well, who won the game?" Nikko asked.

"How about...I did!" Lu announced proudly as if she won fair and square.

"Fine, I'll give you that one," Nikko replied and lay back down.

"I don't get a prize?" Lu pouted. Nikko laughed.

"Well, what do you want?" He asked sitting back up.

"Hmm...a kiss," Lu replied bashfully.

"Well...what kind?" Nikko asked.

"A Nikko one," She replied giggling. Nikko leaned in and they shared another kiss. "Happy?" He asked grinning.

"As always," She replied smiling back. After that they lay back down and watched the stars again. "I think that was our first kiss as an official couple," Lucrecia declared.

"My first one doesn't count?" Nikko asked sadly.

"Well, it does...sort of. That wasn't us kissing that was you kissing me," Lucrecia laughed.

"Well, it's just kissing, I'm not really keeping track of what type of kisses they are," Nikko said giving her an odd look.

Lucrecia laughed and replied, "Yeah, like you don't think about it after we kiss?"

"Not really, well, I don't keep track-," He started.

"I don't keep track! Sheesh!" Lu cried interrupting him.

"Ok, ok," He replied laughing. Lu lay her head on his shoulder and her hand on his chest and sighed sleepily.

"I think I'll go to sleep now...ok with you?" She asked.

"Aren't ya going to sing first? I can't sleep without your excellent singing," Nikko replied teasingly. Lu laughed and sang a little for good measure as the night slowly passed. With the stars twinkling up above and shooting stars passing quietly overhead, happiness overwhelmed Nikko like never before. In this stable moment of peace, he would never begin to imagine that something would happen to completely ruin this newlyfound nirvana...