Marie awoke slowly, making a tiny moaning sound. Her lids fluttered open cutely a bit at a time…something was weird. Her lips were pressed against something…opening her eyes completely she found it to be the side of Stein's neck.

"Ah!" she immediately screamed, pushing away and falling out of bed.

The sound of Marie's cry and the thud on the floor woke Stein up. But he wasn't alarmed. Instead he sat up slowly and yawned a bit, calmly waking up. Noticing Marie was absent, he coolly spoke up.

"Are you ok?" he asked lazily, glancing over to the edge of the bed.

"Um…yes!" she said, standing up sharply.

Stein's expression turned to one that practically said "ummm….oh…". Marie didn't understand until she looked down and cried out in embarrassment.

She forgot how she was dressed! She had gone to bed in a rather skimpy, white, thin camisole that was now pulled down quite far, almost revealing her nipples. She hadn't worn any sleep pants, and was just in a pair of pink underwear with white lace, that rode very low on her body, almost revealing the small triangle between her legs…oh boy.

"I-I-I don't look!" she cried falling back down to the floor.

Stein had been so shell shocked at the sight of Marie so lightly dressed that he had kept on staring in her direction. He finally turned away and adjusted the screw in his head a few clicks, trying to push the thought of a half-naked Marie out of his mind.

He heard the blankets rustle and saw that Marie had wrapped them around her body like a towel. Her face was flushed in an adorable manner, but she was obviously completely humiliated.

This is so embarrassing!...I wonder if he thought I looked good. Agh, stop it Marie! Yes, it's not like I want Stein to want me or something….I wonder if he does. Ah! Stop!

Looking up her face turned an even more brilliant shade of red when she saw that Stein was still shirtless. Sighing he stood up with almost facing the opposite way of her and turned his neck from side to side and moved his shoulders about to loosen up. Marie swallowed. His movements had shown off the muscles on his back…mmm…he was so—

I need to stop! Why can't I just forget it?

Despite her thoughts, Marie's eyes instinctively drifted lower….her could see his hip bones….that pale skin…so smooth and toned. She wanted to touch it.

She mentally slapped herself again.

"Something wrong Marie?" Stein asked, noticing her intent gaze.

"N-no! I was just um….uhhh…wondering if you wanted something to eat! I'm a good cook! I should make breakfast…haha…" she blurted.

Stein raised an eyebrow at her odd behavior but mentally shrugged it off. Marie walked around the bed and stood next to him.

"Wh-what I mean is that….ummm…" she became distracted again, by Stein's smooth skin and muscular body. She couldn't deny it; it was turning her on.

"There's no food in the house." Stein said, trying to end her talking that was obviously going nowhere.

"No food! Stein, you need to take better care of yourself!" Marie cried.

"I'm fine, Marie. I'm alive aren't I?" he said dully.

"That's no excuse!" she insisted.

Despite her rant, Stein ignored her and bent down to gather his clothes…uncomfortably. He wanted to keep this conversation (though it was more or less one sided) short; he needed to get out of the situation as fast as he could before Marie noticed his…ahem…issues below the belt.

"Are you listening to me?" she whined.

"If it bothers you so much then go get some groceries." Stein said dully, with his back still facing her.

Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a few bills.

"W-wait…shouldn't I pay? You're already letting me stay here and—."

Marie sighed at being ignored once again, watching Stein retreat from the room wordlessly.

"He probably thinks I'm annoying…" she said to herself. Looking at the money in her hand she closed her eye and took a deep breath before getting dressed. "Guess I'll go shopping…Stein you dummy, I'm not going to let you starve!"

Marie walked through Death City with a smile on her face, taking a look around her. Death City…it had been her home for a long time, and the more she thought about it, the more she realized she had missed it. After walking for about 15 minutes Marie froze in mid stride.

"Um wait….where's the grocery store again? Uh….oh yeah! Over there!" Marie said cheerfully.

This process continued over and over again until somebody who had seen her go in circles, told her where the grocery store was.

Back at home Stein sat at his rolling chair staring off into space. He reached up with a frustrated expression and turned the screw in his head at least 10 times. What the hell. Why couldn't he get that image of her out of his head? Why was her smile plaguing his mind despite his efforts to prevent it? He already knew the answer in the back of his mind and in the bottom of his heart, but he wasn't prepared to allow those feelings to resurface.

Marie is here until Asura is defeated. Then she'll go home again. Besides, I'm going mad and it would be completely ridiculous to expect Marie to stay with me. She would be a fool in doing so…why have faith in someone who could so easily put your life in jeopardy? It would be so easy for me to suddenly lose myself and dissect her…dissect Marie….the way she looked this morning…so lovely; such perfect skin…..lovely body…I wonder what that beautiful body would look like sliced open. She's right here, so easily accessible to me….I could do so many things to Marie….

Without having even realized it, Stein had lost control. What started out as some simple thinking, had turned into morbid imagery of Marie. As if he were under complete control, Stein became entranced by his computer screen….dismember, dismember, dismember, dismember, madness wavelength, madness wavelength, madness wavelength. He observed the words with a crazed expression….yes, this was what he wanted….and he had a specimen right in his very home….he could dissect her!

"What are you doing sitting here in the dark?" a soft voice asked.

Stein chuckled; he couldn't here Marie right now…all he could do was imagine tearing something apart. He felt a hand on his shoulder. Ah his Marie….he could dissect her right now!

"Hey do you hear me?" Marie asked more delicately, but with some concern.

Marie…..her voice….yes that was her voice….so kind and warm…and that hand on his shoulder…soothing…Marie…

"Marie." He finally said, looking at her with a slightly tense expression.

Marie of course regained her cheery spirit and offered to make tea. She had explained to him all about the golem incident, and that Lord Death wanted to hear his opinion on the subject. Apparently someone had sent for her while she was out getting groceries. She began to complain about how she got lost in the city, then when she finally got groceries she had to go to the Death Room, and then she got lost on the way back home.

Yes…he would have to go to the library about this. This was good. He could get some work done, distract himself from the madness, and he could forget about Marie….

"And after all that work to make us tea….Stein you're so boring…why can't you just sit down and have tea with me." Marie whined to herself.

Walking out into the living room she plopped down on the stitched couch and groaned.

"Stein works too hard….he hasn't changed a bit with that. I'm probably just in his way…ugh why can't I do anything! Hmmm I know! Stein probably won't get home until late because of his workaholic habits! I'll make him dinner to reward him for working so hard…even if he does too much of it." Marie said happily. She couldn't help but let out a girly giggle. She felt like a little house wife.

It's almost like being married! Oh gee….married to Stein? Yeah right…he would never. But still, this is going to be so fun! EEE! I hope he gets used to me staying here because there's no way he's getting rid of me! I wonder…is it so bad to just pretend that we're sort of married in my mind? Of course it's bad! No…I'm just having fun! I'm going to be the cute housewife! And those kids at the DWMA are so darling….oh I want kids too! I wonder what my kids would look like if I had them with Stein…wait! Ok that's overstepping the boundary, Marie! I can't think that far ahead!

Marie giggled and looked up at the clock on the wall.

"Ah! It's 4:00 already? Did I really get lost for that long?" she cried. But then she smiled brightly. "Alright then! I'm going to get started!" and with that Marie rushed into the kitchen, humming to herself, as she began to prepare dinner. Making dinner…this was something she used to always do with her mom when she was young…

Flashback:

"Like this mommy?" a small seven year old Marie asked cutely, looking up at her mother with large bubbly eyes. Marie had a large wooden spoon in her hand and was stirring chocolate chips into a cookie dough.

"Mm hmm! You're a natural cook, Marie! I'm so proud of you." Her mother said happily, hugging her daughter from behind.

Marie giggled happily at her mother's touch.

"My little girl…you're so cute! I love you." Her blonde haired mother said, kissing her cheek.

"I love you too mommy!" Marie said brightly.

"I have a surprise for you." Her mother said winking at her.

Marie's smile grew wider than the ocean as she jumped up and down.

"What is it?" she asked excitedly.

Her mother laughed at her daughter's excitement. "Close your eyes and noooo peaking!" she said.

Marie cupped her cheeks and made a girl squeal of excitement while her eyes were shut tightly.

"Alright open them." Her mother said.

When Marie opened her caramel eyes, they sparkled brightly and her smile grew even bigger.

"It's your own little apron. I thought that since you're going to be my little helper, you should have one of your own." Her mother said, looking down at her daughter with her brilliant green eyes.

The apron was so tiny and cute…just the size for a little girl. It was a light pink color and had a little cupcake with sprinkles in the middle of it, with Marie's name below it.

"I love it! Thank you mommy!" Marie cried jumping into her mother's arms.

"You know Marie…when you grow up you're going to be the most adorable little housewife. You're going to get married to a strong and handsome man and he's going to think you're just as wonderful as I do." Her mother said sweetly.

"Really mommy? Really?" Marie asked excitedly.

"Mm hmm. Pinky promise." Her mother said winking, and holding out her little finger which Marie took hold of with hers instantly.

"Is he gonna be a handsome prince?" Marie asked cutely. Her mother laughed.

"Well I don't know about that, but I know he'll be perfect for you. Just wait for the right one to come along, Marie. When it's him…you'll know." Her mother said petting Marie's head.

"Heheh ok!" Marie laughed.

"Buuuuuut" her mother added. "You better make sure he's as cute as you!"

End Flashback:

Yes, her mother really had been wonderful…she was just as bright and lovely as Marie. That same warmth and cheer; the admiration for the smallest of life's wonders…just like Marie.

Marie stopped her work and looked up for a moment.

"Are you watching me mom? Don't I still look cute?" Marie said happily. "I know I'm not married yet, but I will be some day! Hehe and if you're watching, I promise he isn't as creepy as he looks." Marie said with a laugh.

With Stein:

Stein sighed, in the process exhaling a large amount of cigarette smoke. He was on his way home now. He had spent a couple hours in the library doing research, and decided after some time to check out the books and bring them home for further analysis.

Flicking the cigarette butt off to the side, he took in a deep breath.

I hope Marie hasn't gotten into anything in the lab. If she knocked anything over or broke anything, she's going to have to pay for it…

Stein laughed to himself a bit at the image of Marie's face if he told her she would have to pay for the broken object. Marie had the cutest faces….no, he couldn't think about that. It was pointless. Whatever they used to have was OVER. Completely OVER. Stopping at his front door he sighed, and turned the screw a few turns before stepping in. The house smelled…like food? He couldn't remember the last time his house smelled like this…wait…now he did. When he turned 21 and Marie had visited, she made him lots of home-cooked meals.

Suddenly her head popped out of the kitchen.

"Hey, I thought it was you! You're just in time; I made dinner. And no excuses! You're eating, mister!" Marie said holding up her index finger cutely.

"Alright." Stein said. Why argue? Marie would either go on a rant until the sun went down or punch him. Neither of which sounded appealing right now…and besides…

After setting down the books, Stein stole a glance at Marie. She was smiling brightly….she was so happy…and the way she had acted earlier was so incredibly Marie….she was so cute.

But I can't think about her like that. She's not that person to me anymore…she's nothing more than a friend…nothing whatsoever.

Walking into the kitchen Stein immediately sweat-dropped.

"That's right! I bought silver wear, dishes, and all the pots and pans we'll ever need! When I came in here before I went grocery shopping, I couldn't believe how pitiful it was!" Marie said with a smile, while placing her hands on her hips. "I bought them with my own money so you better use them." She said.

Sitting down Stein was surprised at how much she had made. Yeah…she had gone the whole nine yards here. Roast beef, mashed potatoes, asparagus, and…of course…strawberry cake.

"Ok, now what do you say?" Marie asked cutely.

"Why did you make all of this?" Stein replied.

…

"Stein, you meanie! You're supposed to say thank you! I made it because you haven't been eating well, I was bored, and to reward you for all your hard work!" Marie pouted.

Stein finally couldn't help but start laughing a bit. A bit at a time he started cracking up, until he was covering his mouth to avoid, looking completely ridiculous.

"What's so funny?" she whined.

"You're dumb." He answered.

Marie's face turned red, and her shoulders hunched upward.

"Wh-why you!" she started.

"You're acting like a child. Why do all of this for me? Seems dumb." Stein finished, looking at her with a curious smile.

Her face cooled a bit as she stared at him, blinking with confusion.

"So um…now you've completely lost me." She said.

"I'm saying thank you." He replied.

After staring at him blankly for a few more moments, Marie laughed and sat down at the opposite side of the table.

Yeah he's weird, I know mom. But he's sort of cute, don't you think? I think he is. I wish you could meet him mom. I think you'd like him too…but not as much as I do, but that's because nobody could ever like Stein as much as me…he may not be my husband, but I can at least pretend, right mom!

(A/N: Holy crap Marie is so cute! I love her so much! XD I had way too much fun writing this chapter. It just made me smile the whole way through. And the apron part reminded me so much of my mom…she made me a little yellow apron with a cake on the front with my name below it. I love my mom ^_^ Haha well I will be bringing more chapters very soon! Thank you all for reading my stories; it makes me super duper happy!)