I had a problem with the previous chapter, formatting issue. It's resolved now. Thanks, dyallon! Hope you guys enjoy this next chapter. I appreciate the kind reviews.

The next day, after they were alone, Dante asked her about her nightmares. "You had a pretty bad dream last night. Do you want to tell me about it?"

"It's nothing really."

"Nothing? Lulu, you were so panicked that I thought you might pass out. Please, just talk to me." He took her hands in his and looked into her eyes.

"Okay. It's always the same dream. Someone is chasing me. I don't know who. I don't want to know. Sometimes it continues with them catching me and well, you know." She lowered her gaze. Tears formed right on the brink of her eyelids. One spilled over and onto her cheek. He wiped it away.

"Lucky told me that this happens almost every night. Is that true?"

"Um, yeah." Her tears fell a little faster. He put his arm around her, while her head rested on his shoulder.

"You know that you can talk to me anytime, right? There's no need for you to go through this alone." She started to protest. He held his hand up to silence her. "I know you're strong, but that only takes you so far. Please, just come to me, okay?"

She looked up at him and nodded. "I will."

"So, do you have any plans for today?" Dante asked.

"Well, I don't guess so, but I should probably-" she replied.

"Good. Meet me back down here in an hour."

"Aren't you going to tell me what we're doing?"

"You'll see."

"Okay?" She gave him a questioning look.

As she got up, she lost her balance. Dante caught her. They both gazed into each others' eyes. Fear and excitement seized them both. Lulu was the first to break away. She blushed a little and ran up the stairs, head down, so that he couldn't see.

"Falconeri, you idiot!" he said to himself. "Why would you scare the girl like that?" Deep down, though, he didn't feel all that guilty. A part of him wished that the moment hadn't ended.

Awhile later, Lulu came down the stairs. "Dante? I'm ready!"

He walked out of the kitchen, with a large basket. "Let's go, then." Along the way, he found himself unable to take his eyes off of her. Her long, blond hair was pulled up in a ponytail, a few strands framed her delicate face. She wore a bright red shirt that set off her tanned complexion.

"So, you still haven't told me. Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise."