Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Soul Eater character; neither I make any profit with this story. All the praise and glory belongs to Atsushi Ookubo for creating such a wonderful story!

Author's note: Just for you to know, I'm not a native English speaker, so I apologize for any mistakes I do xD

He wasn't aware of when he had fallen asleep again, but once he opened his eyes, he found himself still on her bed, wrapped in blue sheets that still had impregnated a faint scent of flowers. However, what really caught his attention was that she wasn't sleeping next to him anymore. Spirit was about to panic, until he noticed another scent coming from downstairs. He wrapped the sheet around his waist and bolted to the kitchen. Sure, he almost tripped with a couple of steps, but there was no way he was going to wait any longer to get a bite of those sweet, delicious and fluffy "Waffles!" He chirped enthusiastically. His eyes immediately scanned the room and found a tower of buttery waffles, topped with whipped cream and strawberries. Girly breakfast his ass! That stuff was a little taste of heaven on his mouth!

Suddenly he felt her against his back. One of her hands was gently placed on his shoulder, and the other one offered him a cup of hot black coffee. Sweet Grimm Reaper, he felt like a King right now.

"Was 'bout time you got out of bed." She kissed his neck and Spirit sighed in delight, just letting her have her way with him.

"You made breakfast for me!" Happily he turned around –holding his cup, of course- to face her, placing a wide and somehow amusing smile on his face.

And there she was.

She wasn't what could be described as tall. Spirit was about a feet taller than her, and he found that just perfect. He didn't mind having to lean down to kiss her, and he enjoyed how her head rested on his chest every time he hugged her. Whenever he looked at her, the first thing that popped out and got his attention were her bright blue eyes (although he had to admit that sometimes the first thing he looked at were her breasts. Or her butt. It pretty much depended on whether she was facing him or not). Her skin was slightly more tanned than his, which wasn't weird. He had to admit he was actually kind of pale, perhaps because he was always clad in that black suit. He had to say that although he preferred women with long hair, those shoulder-length strawberry blonde waves suited her just right. She was wearing her hair tied up in a messy bun and, to his delight, she wore nothing else but his half buttoned white shirt…

She was simply breathtaking.

Her name was Crystal.

"Oh my, don't act as if it was that weird for me to cook." She arched a brow, and smirking, stood on her toes and poked Spirit's cheek. He reacted by attempting to bit her, but to be honest he didn't try that hard. Those waffles were calling his name so seductively! "Go on, you know you want to. Just eat them already before you start drooling on my floor." She giggled playfully, but was caught off guard when Spirit tilted his head, devouring her with his eyes before adding in a teasing low chuckle.

"I must say that drooling is a very plausible option. I take that you are not wearing anything underneath that shirt?" He scratched his chin as his smile became impish, but before his mind began to drown in the lovely curves of the lady standing in front of him, she placed a hand on his chest, and pushed him so he fell into a chair. "All right, all right, you win." He shrugged his shoulders, and it took him less than a second to stuff the first waffle onto his mouth. Tears of sheer happiness rolled down his eyes. He was a single man trying to survive after an 18 year old marriage. His diet consisted of nothing more than instantaneous soup-in-a-cup! Of course he was going to shove it all down and lick the dish clean!

"Sho ghooh!!" He shrieked, his mouth full of food. Crystal giggled and sat next to him. She reached for a glass of juice she had nearby, drinking a little. "You're not eating?" He managed to say clearly, after he had swallowed what was in his mouth.

"Nah, I already did. " Crystal replied and tilted her head. However, a little sigh escaped her moans. "Besides, you know I have to watch my carbs…"

Swallowing another big chunk of waffles and strawberries, Spirit rolled his eyes. "What's with women and their obsession with dieting anyways? You are perfect the way you are!" And to emphasize it, he pointed at her with his fork holding a strawberry. "Besides, you are going to get a lot of exercise now that you'll start at your new job. You'll be able to eat whatever you want and still burn it up, ne?" Oh yes, he was so wise. And now the strawberry that rested in the tip of his fork rested now in his stomach.

"I taught you already gave me all the exercise I needed." She glanced at him with mischievous eyes, causing Spirit to almost choke with his coffee.

"Aaa… bah…well… I… hee hee. I do, don't I?" Childishly blabbing Spirit blushed and scratched his cheek. Said cheek received a kiss, as Crystal got closer and slowly ran his fingers trough the strands of red hair. She could almost hear him purring like a content kitty.

He swore that sometimes she made him forgot he was 36 years old and made him feel like he were 16 again.

"Thanks for getting me that interview with Shinigami-sama, anyways."

"It was nothing, really. After all you graduated top of your class." He answered back in a happy murmur, tilting his head to her so she could do whatever she wanted with his hair. "Maybe you'll even find a new partner there. Your soul count is what? 88? 87?"

"83." She pouted. "I don't know… what are the chances I'll be able to get 16 more souls without a technician? Or kill a witch?"

"Don't worry, everything will work out." He finished what was left on his plate, and he literally could feel how his waist grew several inches. "You could always get those souls by yourself, right? It won't be the first time that a weapon works without a meister." Spirit crossed his arms and nodded, thinking about what he just said.

"Ehhh… I don't think I'm that good as a weapon." She confessed with a nervous giggle, and a couple of sweat droplets ran down the side of her head.

"None sense! You're special!" Spirit leaned back against his chair, chirping enthusiastically. However, his expression became serious all of a sudden, and he stared at a blank point in front of him.

Indeed, she was something special.

…

"You know Crystal… about earlier…" Suddenly, his voice sounded so… small. It was as if his whole confidence had abandoned his body.

"You don't have to say anything Spirit. It's ok." She smiled at him compressively. But he wouldn't listen to her this time. He had many things to say.

"Just… just listen to me, ok." It was time to man up. His left thumb and middle finger went to massage his temple. He was feeling really anxious at this moment, and he couldn't help to wonder if he was about to do the right thing.

He didn't want to hurt anybody again.

He didn't want to hurt her.

"You are going to end up hating me, I'm sure." He tried to say something, but panicked as he found out he had gone mute.

Somehow, she knew where the conversation headed, and her eyes seemed to sadden and lose their brightness. She always knew that things between them weren't going to last. He had been honest to her since day one, so she wasn't surprised.

Still hurt, tough.

He getting a job interview for her at Shibusen hadn't been the greatest idea, but he insisted he wanted to help her out. She'll simply have to avoid jumping into him in the hallways until she was trough the whole break up.

She sat in silence, waiting for him to say something, but he never did. He just lowered his head, as if he was trying to avoid her gaze.

"Come on Spirit! Say something!" He tried! But the words wouldn't come out!

"It's ok Spirit, really." There was a faint smile on her lips. "I know your daughter is coming back next week. We had fun for a while." She sighed. "We can still be friends, right?"

"I… I don't want us…" He still wouldn't look at her eyes.

"Oh… I see." Well, she wasn't expecting that. She bit her lip, and since the room had became quite uncomfortable to be in, she grabbed Spirit's dish and headed to the sink.

She didn't expect the strong hand that grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her back, making her sit on his lap. Crystal's eyes were wide open in surprise when he wrapped his arms around her waist, and rested his face on her bosom.

"I don't want us to be just friends." He said in the smallest voice, and held her tighter, trembling. "I want us to be more than friends. I will try to… you know… not to… try to… AGH!" He yelled exasperated. He really meant it when he said she made him feel 16 years old all over again. He looked up at her, and she was surprised to see tears building up in his eyes. "I want to be a one-woman man. I really do."

He meant it. And he meant it too when he made Kami that promise.

But if he couldn't live up to that? Would Crystal also end up hating him? If the great Death Scythe was afraid of something, was hurting everyone he cared for. Loosing everyone he loved. Unfortunately, history had proved he was pretty damn good at it.

She cupped his face with both her hands, and looked at his eyes. She could see no evil on reflected on them.

"Are you sure, Spirit?"

"I am." He said. "Move in with me. My place is bigger; you'll be more comfortable there. You can even have the dog you wanted and your landlady didn't let you have! And I'll help you get those 17 souls you are missing. And we will spend every morning like this one, together..." She could almost hear his heartbeats, pleading her to say yes.

Moving in with him? That was such a huge step…

Was he really sure he could handle it? She wouldn't deny she wanted their relationship to be more than just bedbuddies. But if he wasn't prepared to take that decision and stick to it, she didn't mind waiting… better that than getting hurt.

Yet, she knew there was always a chance of getting hurt. But considering his situation…

"What about your daughter?" She knew how much Spirit loved her. He didn't bring her much to conversation when they were together; she didn't even know the girl's name. And apparently that was strange, since the ladies at the bar told her that all he used to do all day long was talk about her. Crystal taught she knew why Spirit didn't talk to her much about it. Not only did he missed her, but he was also terrified of his daughter's reaction if she found out he was having a semi-formal relationship…kind of… thing.

If he didn't talk to her about the most important thing on the world for him, was because that was the last barrier he could place between them. If he didn't talk to her about his daughter, then she'd never be really close to him, and so, it wouldn't hurt so much if he were to walk away someday because the little girl didn't liked the idea of having his daddy dating another woman.

Besides, Crystal wasn't sure she was ready to be anybody's setpmommy.

Yet, he was now asking her to move in together and try to make things work between them.

"We'll just… keep it a secret for a while. I'll talk to her, try to make her understand how I feel when I'm with you. She's a great girl. If she has still a little place in her heart for me, she'll understand…"

And if she didn't?

"None sense Spirit. Your Maka will understand. She will understand".

She closed her eyes and shook slowly her head. "So, you want to keep it discrete at the same time that we live and work together?"

"Strangest things have happened. You do realize we transform into weapons that the Grimm Reaper itself uses in battle, right?"

"No, you transform into the Reaper's favorite weapon. I just transform in a regular one that anybody can have." She grinned, but her eyes still reflected doubts.

"You're missing the point!" He cried. He could feel his whole body tense up with nerves and anxiety. Why on earth were relationships that complicated?

"Sorry." Crystal smiled sheepishly. He wasn't the only one with a lot of things going through his mind. She couldn't help to wonder what would happen if Spirit's daughter didn't approve their relationship. When it came to choose between the girl and her, Crystal knew she was in disadvantage.

However, at the end of the day, it all came down to a simple question.

"Do you really believe we can make it work?" She asked as blue eyes met green. He held her tighter against him, and hid his face in the curvature of her neck.

"I can't promise you I won't screw things up. But what I can promise is that I will try my best."

"Do you love me, Spirit?" Now it was her voice the one that was so small. She closed her eyes tightly, realizing she was afraid of that answer.

Did he love her? They had only been together for two months. Was that enough?

Was he ready to give his hearth to another one, knowing which where the risks?

Was she willing to take him, despite his oh, so many flaws, and the chances that he couldn't remain faithful?

Actions speak louder than words, they say. Gently, he cupped his chin and kissed her with a sweetness he hadn't showed to her yet. He was caring, he was loving, and he was surrendering his soul in that kiss. There wasn't a single hint of lust –or worse, hesitation- in the way his lips met hers…

After what seemed an eternity for both of them, they separated, and she looked at her. Her skin was all flushed, and her lips were still slightly open, since the sensation of his kiss still lingered on them.

Did he love her? "I… I think I do."

"… why?" She asked in a whisper. That was probably a cruel thing to be asked in his place, but she needed to know for sure that if they tried this now, they weren't doomed to imminent failure.

There was no trace of nervous or anxiety now. His eyes reflected such confidence, compared to the doubt and hurt that they had shown just a seconds later, that Crystal became confused.

"Because you make me feel like there is still hope for me to be happy."

That was all she needed to hear. This time she was the one reaching out for a kiss, and although her eyes were closed, she could feel when their lips met again that Spirit had the most beautiful smile traced on his face. Hands entwined, she rested her forehead on his, eyes still closed, but smiling.

"I love you too." She finally said, and he felt as if he could fly…

"Is that a yes?" He asked like a curious child, and that mischievous grin that she adored appeared again on his lips. "Uh? Uh? Will you move in with me?" She laughed, and he taught he had never heard something that beautiful, perhaps only excluding Maka's first laugh.

"Yes, you dummy. I will move in with you." And that was her final answer. She was exposing herself to great probabilities of getting hurt in so many ways, but at her eyes, he was worth it. What if he had a record as a serial womanizer? What if she wasn't ready to deal with a daughter? What if the little girl ended up hating her and made their life miserable? The beautiful thing about being young, was that there only existed one tense to worry about: the present.

He swept her off her feet and carried her bridal style, twirling around the small department with her in his arms as if they were a couple of kids goofing around. Between kisses and laughter, she didn't notice that he had so cleverly tossed her on the couch.

"You know, you never answered me." He cocked an eyebrow and then wiggled both of them in a silly manner.

"What do you mean? I just told you I loved you and I'll move in with you!" She replied amused, but when his smile acquired a more seductive tone, she blushed.

"Not that. You never answered me if you were wearing anything underneath my shirt." He whispered on her ear, and his hand found its way up her thighs with such a torturing slow pace that she could literally feel her body temperature rising degree by degree.

The sheet that was wrapped around his waist didn't last there much longer either.