I AM SO SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT!

I am an absolutely horrible person! I have about a billion excuses, but none of them are all that great, so I'll just cut to the chase. Without further ado, ladies and gentlemen I present the chapter that I should have posted weeks ago but didn't because I'm a lazy idiot!

I don't own Free!

Aiichirou practically skipped back to his his room that night. He wanted to run through the halls, screaming his head off, but it was long past curfew, so he contained his joy as much as possible. Rin had kissed him! And not only that, they were going on a date! Ai still had trouble believing that, and it was harder still to wrap his mind around the fact that it had been he who had asked Rin. He wasn't really sure how that had happened, he blushed just thinking about asking his senpai out. Yet here he was, his first date less than 24 hours away. Ai was sure he would never be able to frown again.

When Aiichirou reached his room, he paused for a moment to calm himself. He didn't want his roommate waking up and asking questions. Momotarou was a good friend, but he was also very loud and very noisy, and Ai wasn't so sure he wanted all of Samezuka to know this particular bit of gossip just yet. Not that he was at all ashamed, he just wanted a little time to settle down before their relationship went public, mainly because he wasn't entirely sure what that relationship was. He was fairly certain Rin was his boyfriend now (the very idea of that made Ai grin a little wider), but he wanted to really know what they were to each other before telling Momo (because telling Momo was pretty much the same thing as telling the entire world).

The door creaked open quietly, and Ai crept into the dark room. He was just about to slip out of his clothes and into bed, when the lights snapped on, revealing a grinning Momotarou. Ai didn't typically swear, but the string of words he let out then would be enough to make even Rin blush.

"What are you... Why...?" He stammered, heart beating fast. Then he pouted out his lower lip and grumbled "Idiot. You really scared me." His roommate just threw his head back and laughed. Then he leaned forward and said with a terrifying smile "How was your night?" Ai blinked, wondering if it was at all possible that Momo somehow knew. Then he shook the thought away, dismissing this behavior as just typical weird Momo behavior. He turned and started to change into his pajamas. "Fine, until I got back to my room and was scared half to death. What are you still doing up, anyway?"

"I could ask you the same thing."

"You're just a first year, don't question upperclassmen." for a minute, Momo was quiet and Ai thought the conversation was over, but then the backstroke swimmer whispered something that made him turn his head so fast he practically got whip lash and gasp for air like a beached fish.

"Did you have fun with Rin?" When Ai had somewhat recovered, he stared at the younger boy, jaw hanging open. "But, but how do you-"

"Sousuke and Ai were there."

Ai groaned. Of course they were. Anything else would have been too easy. "Alright." he sighed "I might as well tell you, since you probably already figured it out. Rin and I are... well, we're not exactly dating yet, but I... um... asked him out and he said yes." As he talked, Ai felt his face grow hotter and hotter. How would his friend react? Would he be alright with it? Momotarou just laughed "I KNEW you liked him! I'm just surprised you had the guts to tell him. Ai let out a faint giggle. "I was pretty obvious, wasn't I?"

"Completely. You were constantly talking about him. I don't think we've ever ad a conversation where you didn't say 'Rin said this' or 'Did you know that Rin could do this?' or 'I remember when Rin...' He was all you ever thought about!"

"I'm not sure about that."

"It's true. You were all," he paused for a moment, bugging his eyes and smiling happily. When he spoke again, he was doing a rather poor impression of Ai "'I think that Rin-Senpai is the smartest, coolest, funniest, nicest, bravest guy in the entire world! He's so strong and handsome! I love him soooooo much!"

Ai rolled his his eyes and tried to hide his embarrassment, even though he could feel his ears turning bright red. "I never said that." he mumbled. "Come on," said Momo "You worshipped him. When I first got here, I assumed you two were already dating."

Nitori coughed to his embarrassment. "Alright, whatever." he said, with a slightly forced smile "Just promise me something, OK?"

"Sure. What is it?"

Don't tell anyone. At least, not until we have our first date." Suddenly, the otter saw something interesting on the ceiling. "Momotarou?" Ai said slowly, "Is everything all right?"

"S-sure it is. Wow, look at the time! We should probably get to bed. This was a fun talk, goodnight!" As the redhead rushed to climb the ladder to the top bunk, Ai reached out and grabbed the back of his shirt. "Momotarou?" he said, in a voice more menacing than he had even thought possible "What did you do?"

"Well, when we left the pool after seeing... you know... Sousuke told me not to say anything. But then when I got back, my brother called, and I had to tell him." Ai sighed. "All right, I guss that's fine-"

"And then I had my phone in my hand, so I figured I should probably text some of the guys on the swim team."

"How many?"

"Just a few."

"HOW MANY?"

"...All of them." It took all the will power Ai had not to punch the little idiot. Closing his eyes and letting his hands drop to his sides, he said "Anyone else?"

"Well..."

"Momo?"

"Just a couple of guys in my class, Gou, and the Iwatobi Swim club."

"Is there anyone you DIDN"T tell?!"

"I didn't say anything to the coach..."

"Ok-"

"But I did send a text to his son that used to be in my class, andI'm pretty sure he said something." Ai sat down on his bed. Oh, well. He thought At least I won't have to worry about how to tell everyone. To Momo, he said "Alright. I'm not mad. Just try not to text the details of my private life to everyone in Japan again, ok?"

"I didn't text everyone in-"

"Goodnight."

Momo scampered up the ladder and into bed, leaving Ai to turn off the light and flop down on his bed. Nervously, he pulled out his phone, and saw that it was flooded with texts telling him that it was about time and giving congratulations, and a concerned text (although it was more like a letter) from Makoto telling him that Momotarou had texted and he wasn't sure whether Ai knew and wanted him to be telling people, then happily saying "I told you so.", and asking if he needed any advice on the upcoming date (no one had actually told him that, he had just guessed). Finally, he saw a single text from Rin: "I'm gonna kill Mikoshiba." Ai texted back "Don't. He's an idiot, but he didn't want to hurt us. He just made a mistake." A few minutes passed, then a reply came.

"That doesn't change the fact I got a text from pretty much every one I've ever met tonight."

"I know. I did too, but I think he already feels pretty awful. Go easy on him."

The reply took a few minutes, and when it did come, Ai could practically see Rin sighng in exasperation.

"Fine."

He grinned, thinking of the face Rin was almost definitely making right now. It was the face he made whenever Ai talked him out of something. He would bare his shark teeth and huff, then sigh loudly and over-dramatically while roll his eyes and pouting slightly.

"I'm going to bed. See you tomorrow."

"See you. And Ai?"

"What is it?"

"I really meant what I said tonight. I love you."

Ai felt his heart flutter, and he blushed as he texted

"I love you too."

Rin woke up early the next day, even though he didn't really have to. There was no school, no practice, no reason to leave his room until...

Until his date with Ai.

Just thinking about it sent a wave of excitement through him. He jumped out of bed and went to the bathroom to brush his teeth and hair. Then he began rummaging through his drawers to find something to wear.

"Rin?"

"Good morning, Sousuke."

"What are you doing up?"

"I'm just getting ready for my date."

"Your date."

"Yeah."

"With Ai."

"Uh-huh."

"That's tonight at 7:00."

"Yes. Why?" Sousuke rolled his eyes and flopped back on the bed. "You idiot. It's 6:30 in the morning! You have over 12 hours." Rin turned back to trying to find something to wear. "I know," he said, "but I really want everything to be perfect." Sousuke climbed out of bed "Whatever. I'm going out, and I probably won't be back until after you leave. Have fun."

At 1:00, Rin was getting desperate. Unsure what to do, and with clothes strewn all over the room, he pulled out his phone and called the first person he thought of.

"Hey Haru!" Makoto called from the kitchen. They were at his house, babysitting the twins, and Haruka was entertaining them as Makoto cleaned up lunch (they had worked out a deal long ago that Haru made the meals and Makoto cleaned up afterwards. This saved everyone from Makoto's cooking). Haru poked his head through the door, Ren hanging around his neck and Ran on his back. "What is it?" he said, completely unfazed by the squealing children. "Your phone is ringing." Said Makoto, moving forward and taking the twins. "It's Rin." Haru took the phone and gave Makoto a quick, grateful look for taking the kids.

"Rin." he said, putting the phone to his ear. "What do you want?" He listened for a minute, then rolled his eyes. "How should I know? Just wear whatever is most comfortable." He listened again, then huffed and yelled "Makoto?" The other boy came back from setting up a movie for the twins. "What is it?" he asked. Haru gave another eye roll. "Rin needs help with something stupid." Makoto ignored the muffled yell of "I heard that coming from the phone and put it to his ear. "What's wrong, Rin?"

A couple of hours passed, and Makoto and Haruka were just getting ready to take Ren and Ran to the park when Makoto's phone rang. Haruka grunted in annoyance. "Don't answer if it's Rin. He'll probably just ask more stupid questions." Makoto gave him a scolding look and answered the phone. "Hello. Ai? What is it?" he cupped a hand over the cellphone to block his voice and whispered "Same problem as Rin.". Haru rolled his eyes. Isn't their date still 4 hours away?" he asked. Makoto just smiled. "Their just nervous." he said before returning to his conversation with Ai. "Ok. Calm down. You have plenty of time." Haru shook his head and bent down to help Ran tie her shoe lace. Makoto was far to nice for his own good.

Ai sighed and fell back on his bed. Makoto had been very helpful, but it was approaching 5:00 and he still hadn't picked an outfit. Momotarou walked in, and, noticing his distress, plopped down nextto him and asked "What's wrong?"

"I don't know what I should wear, and it's almost time to go."

"You have two hours."

"Exactly!" Ai sighed. "I really wanted everything to be perfect, and I can't even decide on what to wear." Momo laughed and got up. "That's the most ridiculous problem I've ever heard. Just wear whatever you want, no one is going to care about your clothes."

"This coming from the guy who spends 3 hours getting ready when there's a chance we might get to see Kou."

"That is completely besides the point. Just wear what you normally do when you guys hang out." Ai nodded. "I know. I just..." he laughed shakily "I'm really nervous."

"Well, don't be."

At 7:00 exactly, Rin stood outside the door of his old room and messed with the hem of his shirt. For some reason, he was having difficulty finding the courage to knock on the door. Finally, he took a deep breath and raised his hand. "Ai?" he called awkwardly, the seconds feeling like hours. After what seemed like forever, the door opened to reveal Ai, blushing softly. "H-hello Rin-Senpai, I mean... Rin." He stammered. Rin just stood there sheepishly. Ai was just in his normal, every day jeans and t-shirt, nut he looked fantastic. Rin coughed and looked the other way. "You...um...you look really..." He trailed off, gulped and tried again. "You look...erm...you look really good." Ai's blush deepened and he turned his focus to his feet. "Thanks." He said quietly. "You look really good, too." At that point, Rin was fairly certain he couldn't get any redder, so he decided to change the subject. "So, do you want to go to dinner and then maybe a movie?" He asked, bringing his hand up to the back of his neck. Ai nodded, and they turned and walked towards the door.

Next time(which will be very soon, sorry again): the big date! Please leave a review, and thanks for reading:)