"Personal Log, Bishop. Evening, Day Six

This is a one off log; I'll be going back to my reports after this one. This has more of a... personal subject.

Mia had told me that I was forgiven for the mistake with the pendant, but, when I gave it to her, she was blushing like crazy. Thanks to Fraiser's sharp eyes, I now know that she is also wearing it, which is apparently a sign that she's accepted it. This has led me to believe she may actually have a romantic interest in me. Which is the single weirdest feeling I've ever experienced.

I mean, she's a brilliant archer, and she's second-to-none at hunting, but I... I don't know, I mean, I've never really experienced love with a human, never mind what is basically a walking, talking fox. I'm not even sure if she's just wearing the pendant as a thank you, or for convenience, or... or what. I mean, she's lovely to be around, and her personality is so warm and kind, like she just radiates happiness. And she's teaching me how to hunt, the irony of that statement is not lost on me, and I'm teaching her how to shoot, and I just feel like we're getting closer and closer, but...

I don't know anything about keidran, except what Mia's told me. And she told me that, despite being the longest-lived subspecies, vulpine keidran only live to about 28 years old. Apparently, she's lucky. Wolves don't make it past 24. She's 11, which is about my age if the scales fit (I'm 24). I'll be roughly 40 when she dies. I don't know if I could handle loving someone, only to watch them grow old faster and die so young.

I... I just don't know.

Wait, she's coming back from the river.

I'm going to ask her. About the necklace.

Wish me luck, I guess."

"Hi Mia." I said casually.

This was the first time I'd actually looked at her with any emphasis on anything but her face. She was about my height, thinner than me, with long, jet-black hair tied, thanks to one of the tiger keidran, in a large braid down the left side of her head. Her eyes were pale blue, and she had black fur around her hands, feet, tip of the tail and tips of her ears. Her tail was large and bushy. She had, I noticed now I was paying attention, a beautiful, almost hourglass, figure. And someone would have bought her as a slave if I hadn't interfered. It made me hate slavers even more.

"Hello. Anything happen while I was gone?" she asked, sitting down and leaning up against the tree I was already sitting with my back to.

"Nope. Hey, Mia? What's that round your neck?" I decided to skip playing around and cut to the chase. I needed to know what was going on.

"What? I- I, uh, I don't... I don't know what you're talking about, J-James." she spluttered. If past events were any indication, she was blushing. Big time.

"What? I can see something around your neck. Is it a wound or something?" I asked. What happened next, I wasn't expecting.

"N-no, it's..." she sighed, "It's... It's that necklace you gave me."

"But I thought you weren't going to wear it becaus- mmph?..." I was interrupted quite suddenly by Mia planting a full-force kiss on my lips.

I'm willing to admit that, even given the situation, it was still unexpected.

She practically had me pinned to the tree. We were there for about five seconds, before she abruptly pulled away.

"I, I'm sorry, I don't know came over me there. I... I just..." she trailed off.

A million thoughts swirled through my head, before one fought it's way to the surface.

She clearly loves you, and, who cares if she ain't human, who cares what everyone else'll say, you clearly love her too, right? So, what the hell's stopping you? Get over there, you idiot!

This thought willed me into action, as I moved along the ground closer to where the blushing vixen now sat.

"Gods, James, I... I'm so sorry, I did-" It was my turn to interrupt her, returning her favour a little later than I maybe should have. Her eyes widened in surprise, but then softened and eventually closed as she realised what was happening and returned the kiss. I think it was right then that I got over the shock and realised just how good it felt. It was like putting your lips up against heaven. We stayed there until we were out of breath, when I at last pulled away, gasping slightly for air. Mia just stared at me, dumbstruck.

"I, I... I don't know what to say." she said at last.

I smiled and burst out laughing.

"Ha-hah, you know, me neither." I chuckled.

"I guess I don't really need to say anything, do I?" she asked, smiling.

"Nope. I got the message. And, the feeling's mutual, Mia."

She stated at me with those pale blue eyes, and they silently screamed 'Get back over here'.

I closed the distance between us again.

And for the first time since I got here, I felt truly at peace.

Well, that's the first majorly fluffy thing I've wrote since the last chapter of Second Chances. Any suggestions on how this scene can be improved, therefore, shall be graciously accepted.

On a side note, I just realised that I've got a chapter of Ghosts of the Past sitting on my hard drive, so expect that up soon.

Peace,

Wing.