LOVE

I woke with a start. Realizing I had left Spirit unattended for Kami knows how long, I bolted up into a sitting position. That was as far as I got, because my head abruptly started spinning and I had to lean back. I heard the talking that was in the background abruptly stop, and as my eyes focused I squeaked in abject terror.

NOOOOOOOOO!

Stein was in the nurse's office. Much worse, he was in my room. I whimpered, drawing his and Mira Nygus' attention. He grinned in a dead on parody of the madness I had seen upon him all of once, saying, "What's up Wen-wen?"

I squeaked painfully and hid my head under the blanket. Childish, yes, but a natural defense when I saw Stein. I heard Mira dimly talking to him, then shooing him out. Whimpering, I refused to take off the blanket until Mira yanked it off. Stern blue eyes remonstrated me without a word. Mira and I had shared medical aspirations in school, but she didn't get too far with it since she had a steady meister partner.

She was competent enough, though, that she had aided Stein until my arrival put an end to that psychopath's reign of terror in the nurse's office. Now, she aided me when I had something too big for just me and Acacia. Like Spirit's wounds, for instance.

"Stein wouldn't injure you. Half- if not all of- the academy would be down on his head if he did."

Mira's statement made sense, but I didn't believe the bit about the whole academy being mad. I mean, I was still a newbie... Practically still on probation with the students. The staff, on the other hand, I knew. Stein I knew all too well... Him and his disturbing creepiness...

"BUN-BUN-CHAN!"

I yelped when I felt an overenthusiastic Marie pounce on me. Wincing, I patted her back gingerly while she squealed at me- half obscenities and half pleas never to scare her like that ever ever ever again. I sighed, patiently waiting for my heart-sister to wind down.

When she did, I spoke, "Has Spirit stirred? Did he make it?"

"Of COURSE he did, Bun-chan. Sprit-kun is too stubborn to die," Marie giggled, grinning and still cuddling.

I sighed with relief, submitting to the cuddling. Just then, a troupe of kids entered the room- Soul being one of them, Maka at his side. And then I spotted a kid I knew very well- after all, I had been his favorite babysitter.

"Kiddo-chan! How is everything," I asked, beaming at my little buddy. Who wasn't so little anymore, and had two girls on either side of him.

His pale cheeks flushed (symmetrically might I add) as he said, "Wendy, don't call me that..."

I chuckled, "You'll always be Kiddo-chan to me, Kiddo. Now, could you help me get Marie-chan off?"

He nodded compliantly, murmuring about the off symmetry when Marie was hugging like that. I didn't really care, but it got Marie off me and pouting. I couldn't seem to care at that point though- I had to see Spirit for myself. I tried to stand up, only to sit back down very abruptly again. I could vaguely hear Kiddo scolding me for standing up without thinking, and I shook my head to clear it.

"Yo... Maka says I should say thanks, nurse lady..."

I smiled a little at the surliness in the boy's tone. A Maka Chop had likely driven him into this- Soul was not in the habit of thanking people.

"Your welcome, Soul-san, but this is my job," I said with a wry smile, "Healing you kids after you get into mischief."

The kids snickered a bit, and while they were busy I eased into standing. Making my quiet way over towards the door to Spirit's room, I felt Kidd's eyes on me. Turning my head, I smiled at him before slipping into Spirit's room. Instantly after my departure, the room turned loud and boisterous with the appearance of a certain star-headed gaki.

My lips curled into a tiny smile as I ghosted into Spirit's room. It was empty of all save the patient and Acacia, who startled upon seeing me.

"S-s-sensei!"

"Tadaima," I joked, smiling at Acacia, who looked relieved.

"There's been no change, so far. He's stable though, which is a blessing," the slant-eyed meister said, eyes calming down.

"Good," I murmured softly, prowling over to Spirit's side. He still looked disturbingly peaceful, and I gently reached out one of my hands to press on his heart. When I could feel the reassuring beat of the organ, I sighed in silent relief. Spirit was alive. He would survive another day. Absentmindedly, my hand trailed down to meet Spirit's.

My eyes prickled when I felt how big his hands were, how strong his fingers, compared to my doll like hands and delicate digits. A little shudder ran through me as, unbidden, the old fantasies spread through my head at the touch of his hand on mine.

Fantasy/Memory Start

Spirit's lips were rough, and yet warm. Moaning, I wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing my body close to him. His large, pawlike hands fisted themselves into my then waist length white hair. Every moan I heard from him was a tiny victory for me. I was curled around him like ivy on an oak; fragile and durable, weak and strong, we were yin and yang. Dark and Light. But I wasn't too sure which was which anymore.

With a little cry, I felt his hand on my breast. Arching backward, I allowed him to caress my breasts with wild abandon. My body was soaked, hot, and needing him inside me badly. Little, whimpering cries escaped my mouth, muffled by his lips. He eased me down, onto a surface that felt like eiderdown.

I could feel my nipples tightening as he exposed them to cold air, and then I cried out as I felt his warm, wet mouth on the tips of my breasts. His skilled tongue swirled them until I felt I was ready to burst; then, he withdrew. Whimpering in need, I squirmed as he yanked off his own shirt.

Then, then he leaned down again.

Reality

I was called back to reality when I felt another soul in the room. A stained soul, one who was steeped in madness. Without looking, I knew it was Stein.

I stiffened, but remained oddly calm. Without realizing it, I was clasping Spirit's hand. Maybe I was borrowing a little of his tolerance to the Mad Meister of Shibusen. Whatever it was, I was serene with Stein in the room, something I thought was an impossibility long ago.

"Hey, Stein."

I focused on Spirit's face. Maybe he wouldn't talk to me. Maybe he'd ignore me in favor of looking over Spirit, checking my medical job because in his paranoia he didn't trust me...

"Wen-wen."

Or maybe a Hydra will act like a fluffy bunny.

I didn't comment. I just focused on Spirit's face. So serene. Unaware of what anguish he caused his daughter and wife. And me. Without warning, I felt my heart clench and my eyes start to fill without my consent. I started to hiccup, desperately trying to hide the signs of my pain from Stein. Stein, who had nearly driven Spirit to madness several times. Stein, who biopsied Spirit sans permission. Who killed in his madness like it was nothing at all.

I didn't make it three minutes before I started to bawl. In this way, Marie and I were dangerously alike. We were both easy criers. We had always thought we would be close- her married to Stein, me to Spirit. Kamia changed all that.

My knees buckled, and I crashed to the cold floor, wailing. Or I would have, if a scientist hadn't caught me.

I stared up at him in utter shock, tears halted for a moment. He roughly put me down in one of the chairs, and I kept staring up at him, tears falling unheeded down my pale cheeks.

"You remind me of Marie."

"..."

It was Stein's turn to look away. He adjusted his glasses, and growled, "You're also her friend. She'd cry if she saw you like this."

NOW I got his point. He related everything back to Marie... One of his few learning points on the interactions of semi-normal humanity. Spirit was the only other interaction point I could think of.

My eyes must have portrayed the feelings in my heart, because Stein glared at me, something sure to send me squealing in fright normally. I simply endured it, looking back at him. Now it was his turn to look unnerved. But it was only for moment. He turned and left afterward. I could only stare at the area for several minutes, considering the odd one sided conversation that had just gone on. Considering Stein's state... This was incredible.

He hadn't taunted me once. He hadn't teased. Stein had just stated his reasons and left.

Shaking my head, I scrubbed at my eyes. It wouldn't do to look like I'd cried if Kamia or Maka visited. I had to be strong when they couldn't. I was once told that when others collapsed, I kept trucking. That person was a dear friend to me even today.

Spirt-kun... You had better wake up soon.

Hey all! I'm updating this story really fast thanks to you guys and girls' support! TheMikuTwins, Nth Degree, LadyNightrose and Professor Maka, thank you all for reviewing!

What do you think of Stein? How about the little tidbit of SteinXMarie? How about Bunny standing up to Stein? Stein's odd care after she started crying? ;) I even want to know what you thought of the risque part of this chappie! Especially that... Didn't know Bunny was this naughty huh? :)

Longest update yet! Wooo-hoo!

Love, hugs and virtual cookies to all who review!

-June