-This is Why I Need You by Jesse Ruben-

Chapter 7: Sweet Kiss

If there was a path Arven had expected Juliana to take, having Miraidon ride on the high cliffs alongside the Pokemon League wasn't it.

"I remember you saying Miraidon was afraid of heights once," Juliana's laughter pealed over the mountain peaks.

"I wouldn't say it now." He clutched more firmly around her waist than he'd initially intended, not wanting to inadvertently be bucked off by mistake. "We're not going… to Area Zero, are we?" he blanched at the thought.

"No!" she sang cheerfully. "This is just a shortcut."

He realized that to Juliana, this was the first time she'd taken Miraidon out in 3 years. And by the look of it she was completely and utterly thrilled by the experience.

He spotted a Garchomp gliding in the distance, and he gulped. "We should probably head back down soon."

A giggle escaped her lips. "Remember what I said before?"

"Hold on tight?" he guessed with worry.

"Hold on tight!"

She winked at him playfully. Then without further ado they leapt into the evening air.

–

About an hour later they reached Porto Marinada, and Juliana nearly fell off of Miraidon.

"I guess I'm a little out of practice," she breathed happily. Then she patted Miraidon's face. "Thanks, buddy. I'll let you back out in a little while, but this next part is just for Arven and me."

"Gia…" Miraidon grudgingly went back into its ball, and they headed for the beach.

Juliana bravely grabbed Arven's hand, but he didn't pull away or show any signs of wanting to.

"You know," he stumbled tiredly beside her as they walked the pier. "In the future we could probably just take a flying taxi."

She said nothing until they reached a picnic blanket on the sand. "I know we could have." Juliana suddenly felt shy. "But… I had a reason."

Arven's eyes widened as he looked at the picnic blanket and back at her, noting the small feast with disbelief. "Renata helped with this?"

Juliana nodded, biting down a smile. "This is where you sat next to me on the beach and we talked for the first time."

He threw his head back. "If I'd only known it was you…"

They sat beside each other on the blanket, just as they'd done 3 years ago.

"Please don't run away," he murmured toward the sunset. "That's what I said to you."

She spread her fingertips across his palm and entwined her hand with his. "I wish I hadn't."

Suddenly he turned, his eyes blazing beneath the darkening sky. "Please don't ever run away again, Juliana."

Juliana's heart stuttered. There was no embarrassment this time of being in a crowded library surrounded by other students. It was just the two of them now, and steeling herself, she climbed onto his lap and faced him. Arven swallowed, speechless.

"Never," she said, barely a whisper. Then she swept his hair out of his eyes and pressed her lips gently to his.

Arven pulled back and gazed into her eyes, but the shock quickly wore off and he pulled her into a second, searing kiss. His hands glided up her shoulder blades and into her hair.

It was all she could do not to moan out loud. His lips meshing with her own so exquisitely it reminded her in a way of when they'd battled Titan pokemon together. Perfectly in sync. Her hands, clutching onto his vest desperately, began to trace the seam of his shirt and up his neck. Then weaving her hands into the hair on the back of his neck, she pulled closer wanting to deepen the kiss even more.

A Sandygast shuffled in the sand nearby, reminding Juliana of where they were. She grudgingly pulled backward, more winded than she'd been riding Miraidon.

"Maybe out on the beach surrounded by wild pokemon isn't the best place for this," she laughed breathlessly.

Arven grinned, resting his head on her shoulder. "Anywhere is the best place for this." Then he leaned in for a brief kiss that ended far too soon. "But we should probably eat."

The spread Renata had left them was fantastic with sandwiches that nearly rivaled Arven's and plenty of homegrown berries for their pokemon to enjoy as they ran around the beach.

After they'd finished eating Juliana watched Arven lay back and stretched out on the picnic blanket. Hesitantly she laid down on her side next to him, resting her head on his shoulder and draping an arm over his chest.

"I wish we could stay like this all night," she hummed happily.

"Why can't we?" He peeked over at her with a grin.

"Because," She traced her fingers along his tie. "Renata would kill us for one thing."

"Oh, right!" Arven propped himself up and glanced around warily, as if to find Renata spying on them. "Maybe we should return the picnic basket before it gets too late."

She laughed at his sudden panic. "You are adorable."

He leaned in to kiss her, but her Pawniard came running up, puffing his chest and throwing out his bladed arms.

"Pan," Juliana wrinkled her nose. "We like Arven, remember?"

The Pawniard threw his blades out in frustration and stomped away.

Arven smirked. "I think I may have some competition."

"He'll come around." Juliana packed up the basket and blanket and sighed. "It was just the two of us for a long time. Pan might need a little time to adjust."

They made their way back to town, their pokemon following closely, and they turned up the road with Renata's house.

Renata answered the door much quicker than usual. Looking them over, she exhaled with disapproval. "Come in and make yourselves more presentable. You've obviously been making out."

Arven just about choked at her words, and Juliana blushed madly.

Miraidon, Mabosstiff, and Pan each returned to their pokeballs. Arven went to the bathroom first to 'make himself more presentable' according to Renata's standards while Juliana followed the woman into the kitchen.

"Thank you for your help today, Renata." She set down the basket and embraced her guardian of the past three years. "Thank you for everything."

"Now that you've returned to your normal life, I still expect regular visits, at least once a month," she betrayed the hint of the smile on her lips, and Juliana beamed at her.

"Is it okay if I bring Arven sometimes?" she batted her eyes hopefully.

"You really are hopeless." She smoothed Juliana's hair down. "You two had better behave responsibly, especially during visits. If there's anything I couldn't stand about Turo and Sada, it was their constant public displays of affection."

Arven appeared in the doorway. "You knew my parents?"

"Of course," Renata replied offhandedly. "Why else would Professor Turo's robot counterpart send Juliana to me?"

His mouth fell open, and Juliana grimaced. There was a lot she hadn't told him yet that she probably should have by now.

The rest of the night was spent with Arven pressing Renata with questions about his parents, especially Sada, who had died when he was very young.

At some point Juliana began to fall asleep, her fingers still laced with Arven's, and she could have sworn she felt his lips brush lightly against her temple a few times.

She dreamed of their picnic on the beach, only this time, there was no wandering Sandygast to distract them.

Thanks for being here! And thank you for reading and your nice feedback. -V