Caution: Be aware of the increase in rating for this story as mild adult language and content in this particular chapter I found questionable. You have been warned so read on at your own risk.

Previously…

Misaki finally breaks the enticing contact and murmurs against his lips, "Right now, I realize I'm rough around the edges and I might never become quite good enough…but I will always be yours."

Completely entranced by the stimulating touch of her alluring lips, Takumi adoringly murmurs back, "Must I remind you that you will always be my everything. You will always be my Demon Prez…as I will always be your Perverted Alien."

Chapter 9: Promises

4:05 a.m.

As Misaki lays the side of her head against his chest, she listens to the erratic beating of his heart which gives her an indication that he is pleasantly affected by her arousing kiss. A desire to encircle her body completely in his grasp, Takumi coaxes her body to turn around to face him. As she wraps her arms around his waist and snuggles comfortably in the security of his arms, she finds herself feeling a deep contentment while enveloped in his warm and safe embrace as if this is where she truly belongs. She feels him rest his chin atop her head, and his arms wraps more tightly around her. She could not keep within her a deep sigh of satisfaction. The combination of the rhythmic patter of the light drizzling raindrops on the glass pane and the hypnotic warmth radiating from his body lulls her mind into a deep sense of peace. A sudden yawn surprisingly escapes her lips. He chuckles while he places a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"My apologies for cutting short your much needed rest. Place all the blame on the fact that I was overcome by my selfishness for wanting to monopolize all of my beautiful girlfriend's time."

He brings out from his pants pocket his now most-prized possession, his gifted timepiece. He sighs as he opens it to read the time. "I hate that our time is running short, but I want to be unquestionably clear before I depart that you grasp all the implications of these circumstances so that there is no misunderstanding between us."

She turns her gaze to look up at him quizzically. Expecting the question that she was about to voice, he explains, "What I mean is that I want to ensure that you understand the situation as it is somewhat more complicated than just appeasing my family. I want you to know that I'm leaving…to let you go…but I will come back to find you again. When that time comes, no one, not even my grandfather can tear us apart and we can be together with no constraints or censorship."

He stops to scrutinize Misaki's reaction and finds that she is waiting patiently for him to resume with his explanation. Sensing his hesitation, she soothingly strokes his forearm to encourage him to continue. He takes a deep calming breath and recounts the details of the impromptu reunion with Gerard and his first encounter with his Obaa-san, Sayuri Walker.

Takumi concludes his explanation, "As per my agreement with my grandfather regarding my cooperation with the critical family affairs as well as aiding with the recuperation of Gerard's health, he made a required stipulation that I must not contact you, physically or verbally. He claims that you will be a distraction for me from accomplishing my objectives. But if I successfully fulfill my end of this arrangement, I will no longer be bound by the familial duties that have chained me for all of my life. I will be free to choose how to live my life…and with whom to live my life with. I made the decision that the outcome outweighs the differences of opinion."

He observes Misaki carefully hoping to see understanding in her eyes, but only finds a contemplative expression. Then she begins to speak nonchalantly, "I would to like put on record that this idea of yours, in my honest opinion, is absolutely insane."

He shrugs his shoulders, "I only had the best intentions in mind for the both of us when this plan was conceived."

She begins to poke her finger repeatedly on his chest as her voice grows louder with increasing agitation. "It is just crazy to trust that your family will actually let you just walk away even after you have given them what they wanted. From what I have witnessed and I have heard, they are all very condescending, greedy and manipulative bunch of self-absorbed snobs."

Then, unexpectedly, she smiles confidently at him. "But, with all the time that I have spent with you, I have come to realize that out of all the people I know, you are definitely the only person that is crazy, stupid and stubborn enough to pull off such a hair-brain scheme. So, of course, you have my complete support."

He laughs joyfully as he pulls her closely against him in a firm grip. "Only you would think this is a hair-brain scheme. But how did I ever deserve such an understanding and supportive girlfriend?"

"Actually, I'm still trying to figure that out myself. You're so much like a mysterious incurable disease. I just can't get rid of you."

"Well, I hope that you do not find the cure for this disease."

He tenderly gazes down at her with a hint of remorse. "I just want you to know that my only regret in this matter is that I will be apart from you for an unknown amount of time…but I hope that you don't think that a meager command to deny me from contacting you will stop me from communicating to you in one way or another."

"What do you mean by that?"

He leans downs to give her quick peck on her lips and smiles mischievously, "Did you forget who you are talking to? I am of course your number one perverted stalker, and I do have my outer-space alien ways. You'll just have to wait and find out."

She raises a brow in irritation at that last statement as she hates being kept in the dark. She ponders on his words but then looks as if she is caught in a disturbing thought. "I don't know why I can't get the phrase, out of sight,out of mind, from my head. I don't know if I can come to grips with the reality that you will no longer be by my side."

Misaki's face becomes apprehensive with uncertainty. "What if this situation you speak of takes longer than you expect? What if you are gone so long that our memories and feelings for each other begin to change…or even worse, fade away? What will you do then?"

"Do you trust me?"

Without any hesitation, she replies, "I trust you with all my heart."

He squeezes her gently to acknowledge his approval at her immediate response. "Then trust me when I tell you this."

Takumi caresses her cheek in reassurance as he feels her anxiety trembling throughout her body. "Although you may be a non-believer, I believe that fate has brought us together. So no matter the distance, I believe that fate will lead us back together as I sense deep within my soul we are meant for each other. My feelings for you are not so superficial that it can easily be altered due to mere miles that may separate us. But if I must, when I return to you and find that your feelings have changed, I will just have to make you fall for me all over again."

He abruptly begins to search through his pockets as he speaks, "Which reminds me, I would like to give you something. So, close your eyes."

She looks at him suspiciously. He sighs as he answers her unspoken question, "No, I am not going to do anything perverted to you, although I would be lying if I said that I wouldn't be tempted."

Even though she still gives him a wary glance, she promptly closes her eyes. She can sense him move behind her. She startlingly feels the cold smoothness of metal touch her sensitive skin above her sternum. An unexpected squeak escapes her lips.

Takumi couldn't help the grin that came to his face after hearing such an uncharacteristic sound come from his adorable girlfriend. "I did not realize that my little maid could squeak like a mouse, and may I add a very cute mouse at that. I wonder what else I can do to recreate that sound from your lips."

He leans down close to her ear as he whispers seductively, "Or maybe produce some other delightful sounds."

She immediately punched him firmly on his upper arm that is currently draped around her waist.

"Ouch! What did you do that for? Weren't you planning to curb your violent behavior?"

She opens her eyes to turn and harshly scowl at him. ""Sorry but old habits die hard so don't expect a miraculous change overnight. Serves you right, though. You just said that you wouldn't do anything perverted."

He gives her his signature smirk, "Although I agreed that I wouldn't do anything perverted, doesn't mean that I couldn't say anything perverted. It's so difficult to pass up on such a golden opportunity as you are always so absolutely delectable to tease."

Misaki lets out a defeated sigh although she couldn't help a small grin escape her face. "You are completely hopeless."

"But would you have me any other way?"

"When you say it that way, I guess you wouldn't be the perverted alien that I fell in love with if you did not try to tease me."

As she tries to turn her attention away from her flirtatious boyfriend standing behind her, she turns her gaze to the object that he placed around her neck. What she sees is an oval pendant with a portrait of a bouquet of beautifully unique blossoms of various vibrant colors attached to long slender stalks. She has seen them before but just cannot recall the name of this particular flower.

Takumi answers her unspoken inquiry, "Gladiolus has for ages represented strength of character…which I find in abundance within you. I can identify that this flower appropriately symbolizes the beautiful truth I genuinely see in you. I have to admit that I have been told that it was also my mother's favorite flower as she found solace within their hardy petals. I must say that I can relate to her attachment with these flowers as I experience the same sentiment whenever I am around you."

Misaki is disconcertingly unable to meet his gaze at hearing the emphatic tone in his voice. She looks at the pendant more closely and finds that it is actually a locket. Curious, she opens it to surprisingly discover a familiar picture of Takumi and herself taken at his apartment on her previous birthday, the same photo that she has embarrassing seen as the wallpaper of his phone.

He grins as he watches her inspect his gift. "Just knowing that we will now be able to look at this same photo each day gives me such a feeling of contentment. I'm sure you remember that wonderful fun-filled day we had together. It was such an amazing day that I wished it would never end. This picture is to provide you with solid proof of how perfectly suitable we look together. Do we not look like the epitome of a blissfully happy couple? I just love that beautiful natural blush that adorned your face as it indicated to me how much you care about me."

Flustered by the reminder of that auspicious day, she turns her gaze onto the other side and notices a small antiquated skeleton key with an unusual star-shaped design for the head embedded within the locket. After closer inspection, an inscription that reads C'est la vie is found on it.

She looks at Takumi inquisitively, "What is this?"

He jokingly responds, "Would you think it sappy if I replied that it is the key to my heart?"

She could not keep the disgruntled look off her face. "Not only would I think that line is sappy, but it would be down right creepy."

He laughs at her candor, but immediately sobers as he realizes that he must explain the significance of this particular gift. He takes the locket from Misaki's hand. As she looks on with interest, he gentle presses down on the key to surprisingly reveal that it detaches from its secure compartment within the locket. "Well then, to be honest, this locket as well as this key's original owner was my mother, and it is my only token I have of hers that was given to me at the final request of my mother before she died. I can recall many pictures of her wearing it around her neck. It appears that this locket and key held tremendous value to her as she had worn it constantly for many years, but I was told that it is still a mystery as to what this key actually unlocks."

He twirls the key around in the palm of his hand. Wearing a contemplative expression, he continues, "Come to find out, my mother loves to stargaze. The star shape on this key represents Polaris or the 'North Star', her favorite star as it is always steady and guiding which comforted her when everything else in her life were allusive and delusional. Also, the phrase, C'est la vie translates as That is life which my obaa-san has explained to me was my mother's beloved motto. As you know now, I have recently found that she was a very intelligent and competent businesswoman whom built the current family business from the ground up. My mother was a very carefree and resilient person all her life. She viewed failures as life's required lessons…learning experiences to obtain one's desired outcome…obstacles to be overcome so that it may deliver the strength necessary to create the indomitable character that all is capable of achieving."

His voice falters into a dejected tone, "In the end, all her efforts brought about such high expectations and demands from the family that she developed so much anxiety and stress. This drove her to become the rampant woman described to me since as a young child who was my mother."

He places the key in the palm of her hand and encloses her hand with his. "You may have thought it was sappy and creepy when I joked about this key being the key to my heart. Indeed this is definitely not the key to my heart, and you may think what you will but…you are the key to my heart."

With a serious voice he justifies his reason for giving her such sentimental objects. "I am entrusting you, my most prized treasure, to safeguard my mother's prized treasure until I return. Now this key and locket hold a two-fold value to me as it represents my past as well as my future. These mere items not only link me to my mother, but they represent the binding promise I make to you now. With this, I vow that whatever it takes, I will come back to you. Even if I must come crawling back to you, I will."

Misaki could hear the slight tremor of emotion in his voice. She feels honored to be given such a vital responsibility and finds herself drawn even more close to him as he shares such intimate details regarding his mother as well as his own fervent commitment to their relationship.

"My grandfather may view you as my greatest weakness, but he does not realize that you are my greatest strength."

He takes the key from her hand and returns it to its secure enclosure and shuts the locket close. "I would like for you to promise me something."

"What might that be?"

"Please promise to be my North Star…continue to remain the same strong and clever Misaki that I know and love because I do not know what I would do if I become your Achilles heel."

She gives him a baffled expression. "Huh, what's an Achilles heel?"

"Without going into a detailed explanation, let's just say that it's a popular American idiom for one's vulnerability."

He coughs to desperately keep the laughter within as he witnesses the proverbial light bulb turn on above her head. Then her demeanor changes to irritation. "What makes you think that you can ever become…what did you call it…my 'Achilles heel'? I could never consider you as a weakness. In fact, you have made me even stronger by opening my eyes to the benefits of loosening up every once in a while. I have learned from you that it does not make me a lesser person to allow others to help when I need it the most."

Takumi cannot help but feel gratified to know that Misaki does not view him as her frailty. But he knows that they are wasting valuable time by deviating from his intentions. "I am pleased to hear that but let's get back to my point. Since I'm not going to be around to protect you, I want you to be careful. Try to keep out of trouble while I'm gone."

She gives him her best innocent expression. "Of course I'll be careful. You know me."

He sighs with dismay, "That is what I'm afraid of."

She angrily snaps, "What is that suppose to mean?"

He surpasses her recently used innocent expression with one of his own. "Oh, nothing…but should I remind you about the school's sports day, the Miyabigaoka incident not to mention the footman audition and—"

Misaki indignantly interjects, "Okay, okay, you don't need to go on. I've got the picture."

He affectionately smiles as he gently caresses her cheek. She does not miss though a slight tremor in his touch as he speaks with a concerned voice, "It's difficult to relive those moments for me as they are reminders of how closely Misaki may have gotten seriously hurt, but I only mention them in hopes to enlighten you of how reckless you can be. You may not be aware but you have this very dangerous tendency to act before you think."

Misaki lets out a huff of indignation. "Shouldn't you practice what you preach? You can act just as reckless even to the extreme that you have gotten yourself hurt on countless time…because of me."

He grimaces as she points out this contradiction. "Touché."

She grumbles with great concern, "Why do you go to such lengths?"

"Isn't it obvious? My recklessness is the result from my need to protect you so you are worth every pain I ever suffered."

She instinctively blushes and her body stiffens in embarrassment at his tender words and expression but after silently contemplating those events that he had recounted, she frustratingly concedes, "Of course, it would be much simpler for me to just give up on us…but when have I ever done anything simple? I just can't walk away from a challenge. So I acknowledge that my recklessness have led me to certain misfortunes that may have ended up with very different outcomes…if your outer space alien self hadn't appeared right when I needed you the most. I now realize that I have caused you unnecessary pain. So, I will agree to at least try my best to think before I act."

He gazes at her in relief. He then notices how her hands are clenching tightly by her sides in balled fists. He draws one of her fists and caresses it to ease her tension. Once her fist relaxes and loosens, he places a soft kiss on the back of her smooth hand. He gently murmurs, "You will be the death of me…but it would be such a sweet death that I would gladly welcome. I do appreciate your consent in this matter. I know that I will be lost without my North Star."

She could not find an adequate response to such a furtive declaration of his devotion. An alarming dark premonition manifests itself in her mind. She contemplates on what actions that she can take to abate her concerns. Then an idea occurs to her, but she is not sure if she is daring enough to actually proclaim such a peculiar request. She begins to fidget with her indecisiveness. Subsequently, she realizes that she has been behaving very out of character all night so what would one more uncharacteristic action hurt. When she glances at Takumi, her nervousness appears to dissipate when she sees his calm and patient expression.

Takumi could not help but smile indulgently at her sudden timidity. He wonders what could be going on in her adorable little head of hers now. He did not have long to wait. She shyly whispers, "Since I have agreed to your promises…it is only fair…um…it is only fair that you agree to…um…at least one promise…of my own in return."

He kneels on one knee and bows before her. "What is thy bidding, my master?"

She rolls her eyes in agitation at how his statement and action reverses their mock roles that he enjoys to always remind her every chance he got. Abruptly, she recognizes that line from a certain popular science fiction movie. "Why in the world would you want to quote from a movie in a way that makes you sound so sarcastic?"

He just shrugs nonchalantly. "I thought it was very appropriate at the time."

She glares at him in indignation. He stands up and tries to soothingly calm her agitation by stating, "Whatever you ask, it will be my utmost pleasure to give you."

His debonair words make her very self-conscious about her request. She aggressively responds, "You don't have to say something so gallant either."

She takes a deep encouraging breath. "Just promise me that you will not forget me because if I thought you would, the gods help you, I will hunt you down, fight whoever gets in my way and drag your ass back to Japan with me and keep you by my side until you remember nothing but ME!"

The emotion in her voice intensifies by the last portion of her statement to a ferocious pitch. He couldn't help but smirk with pride at hearing her possessive tone. "Why would you want to tempt me with such a tantalizing punishment? Of course, your appealing promise I can easily give you as your image is in my every thought. Every reflection of you reminds me that I am not so alone. You fulfill my greatest desire, the desire, to which I would like to quote your own words, 'to belong to you...and only you.' So, how can I ever forget you? You are so...unforgettable."

She finally lets out the breath that she had unknowingly been holding until hearing his response and smiles with relief. "It's so ironic. I cannot believe that someone as unforgettable as you would think that I'm unforgettable too."

"You shouldn't be so surprised. I have been acting like an addict for such a long time. You are my addiction that I never want to recover."

He draws her into his warm embrace which to Misaki, feels so natural and instinctively molds her body close to his. He feels her relax but did not miss the slight quiver of her shoulders. He can tell that a trifling amount of doubt must still be lingering in her thoughts and gazes at her with concern. "But if it would alleviate your anxiety, I can guarantee the approximate time I will be thinking of you each day. Let me just say that dawn will never mean the same for me as the world I once knew will disappear within the coming dawn. For every dawn that passes for now until I am back by your side will only serve as a reminder to me the certainty that a new day begins without you. So each morning, my mind will be devoted to the mundane tasks of resolving my family's business and personal affairs, but each evening, all my thoughts will be devoted to you…anticipating the day when we will be reunited once more."

Misaki pulls away from his grasp to look at him in complete amazement. "How can you stand there and say something so bizarre but sound so serious?"

He provocatively speaks in her ear, "What is so bizarre about pledging all my nights to the woman I love?"

"That's not what I mean!" Complete mortification covers her face as she assumes his words to mean something perverted. She looks away in embarrassment as she continues, "It's…it's just…it's just I can't believe that you can declare such a commitment so confidently. So many unknown factors could interfere with your good intentions. What kind of person are you to be able to predict such certainties?"

"You fail to remember that I'm your everyday run-of-the-mill stalker. It's in the job description to be a psychic."

She sighs in defeat, "I shouldn't be so surprised by your weird answers, but it is comforting just knowing that you will be thinking of me and even when you will be thinking of me."

She smiles confidently, "It's strange that your assurance is actually the best thing to wash away my doubts."

She gingerly brushes her fingers against his cheek. "In the end, you're the best thing I never knew I needed. I regret that it has taken me this long to figure it out. You are one of the few who can test my limits. I will miss you challenging me as with every challenge you raise my competitive spirit giving me the determination to prove myself as your equal and to even attempt to surpass you."

He grasps her fingers and kisses each one, and he daringly declares, "Well then, would you like to make one final challenge with me before I leave?"

She grouchily mutters, "You sure are asking a lot out of me tonight."

"Do you blame me? Since we are not going to see or speak to each other for quite some time, I'm trying to acquire as much as I can while I still have the time."

She can only nod in concession with his rationality. Taking her nod as agreement, Takumi announces, "Dusk falls approximately 7:00 p.m. in England. Due to the difference in time zone, that would make it approximately 3:00 a.m. here in Japan. As I have already informed you that my thoughts will be with you when dusk falls, I do not have any qualms to gaze at the early evening moon and speak to it as if I am having a conversation with you if I know that you will be gazing at the same moon and talking to it as if you are speaking to me thousands of miles away. We can act just as I had never left, and you can tell me all about your day or even, dare I say it, your thoughts and fears."

She gives him such an incredulous look as though he has completely lost his marbles. "Only you would think it would be so natural to talk to oneself like a lunatic in middle of the night. Why should I speak words that I know you will never hear? What are you trying to do, rub off your alien tendencies on me?"

"If I ever do, that would be a miracle that will need to be logged in the record book. And to answer your previous question, I will have my alien ways to hear your words."

A melodious giggle escapes her lips catching Takumi off-guard. Such a pleasantly foreign sound coming from his somewhat stern girlfriend he always finds thoroughly enchanting. With amusement she confesses, "But you know what? All joking aside, I think I may actually now be foolish enough to try it. What can it hurt…except maybe everyone that may hear me will think I am crazy? But what does it really matter what people think of me now? The only opinion that matters to me is yours."

She has to turn her gaze away from the bright smile of delight that he bestows upon her. He seizes her unexpectedly in a crushing embrace. Oblivious to their surrounding, the couple has unknowingly positioned themselves in which his action knocks them over prostrating their bodies onto the sofa. Being any red-blooded male, Takumi takes advantage of their current situation and plunges for a searing mind-blowing kiss while his body moves against hers seductively. Misaki is speechless by this new level of intimacy and unable to grasp any clear thought. When he sexily moans and boldly caresses her lips with his tongue, it seems that her mind finally begins to work, and her arms instinctively push him away causing him to fall roughly on the floor.

"What in the hell was that all about!"

Although sexually frustrated, he comprehends that he has overstepped that unspoken boundary. She may have labeled him as a pervert, but understanding she may be unprepared for more intimacy than what she has previously allowed, he accepts and respects her modesty. He knows he should just be thankful that their relationship has developed to the extent that he can kiss and hug her without her blushing so profusely as if she will ignite at any moment.

He speaks contritely, "I'm sorry for going too far. I just could not help myself."

Seeing that he is truly remorseful, she says, "I'll let it slide this time…but I'm unsure…when I'll be ready for that level of affection. I'm just getting use to your hugs and kisses…which, by the way, I cannot see the reason for that much display of affection."

As he watches her reposition herself upright on the sofa, he emphatically replies, "The reason, in other words, is that I love you."

His simple but sweet words painfully accelerate her heartbeat arousing an unaccustomed sensation within her making her forget at the moment his recent transgression. Trying to divert her attention from the man who has stolen her heart, her gaze is drawn back to the beautiful locket. She reverently strokes its smooth surface as she mournfully whispers, "It seems I don't have anything suitable to give you as a parting gift. What could someone common as me possibly have to offer that would even compare to the priceless keepsake you have given me?"

He kneels before her and grasps a wisp of her raven locks between his fingers and presses the ends gently against his lips. He greedily inhales the distinct intoxicating aroma of Misaki mixed with the fragrance he can now identify as jasmine.

"How many times must I remind you that anything coming from you I would deem it to be the most precious treasure in the world? You have given me so much already tonight for me to treasure but I can tell by your melancholy expression that you feel duty bound to give me something else, something equal to what I have given you."

While continuing to hold her silky hair in his hand, his expression changes to a look of deep reflection. Struck by a sudden inspiration, a brilliant smile comes across his face.

"If you are determined to give me a parting gift, then I only ask for one special trinket."

"What might that be?"

He once more brings the soft and fragrant midnight tresses to lips. "I would like a lock of your beautiful raven hair."

She looks at him in astonishment. "Such a simple thing as that, I'll gladly give you but it is of no valuable comparison to what you have given me."

"It seems I must repeat myself again tonight. The value that I place in anything I receive from you is immeasurable. The measure of importance that a gift may have can be only determined by the recipient. So as I am the recipient, I do not think I must explain how much I will treasure even as simple an item as a lock of your hair. It will be a tangible reminder to me of the promises that I have made to you."

How can she argue with such a poignant reply? After a moment of deliberation, she makes up her mind and moves away from Takumi to where her bag lay and begins rummaging through it. He watches inquisitively as he is unsure of what she is searching for. She suddenly stops her quest.

"Ah ha! I knew I saw it earlier. I almost forgot that Suzuna had put this in my bag this week."

She pulls from her bag a small pair of scissors and mumbles, "She constantly reminds me to always be prepared. For once, I'm glad that she's right."

Without another word, Misaki takes a small lock of her hair at the back of her neck, ties the end in a knot then cuts it near her scalp. As she pulls the rest of her hair back down to cover the clipped spot she grumbles, "I'll just have to be careful to cover this spot when I wear my hair up." Of course, one would have to look very closely to even tell that a portion of her hair is missing.

She turns to find Takumi sitting with a surprised look on his face. She grins to herself as she can tell that he was not expecting her to actually acquiesce to his request with no more argument. Without thinking, he automatically holds out his hand, and she delicately places the long lock in his awaiting palm. "I shouldn't be so surprised that a super stalker such as your alien self would ask for such a trivial object. Is that all that you would ask from me?"

He smirks as he wishes he could confide to her the depths of his actions that his stalker-like ways has already accomplished. As he tightly holds his prized trinket in his hand, he again pulls Misaki into his arms, grateful that she does not reject his touch in hindsight of his recent indiscretion. He clasps her even tighter like a drowning man holding on for his dear life knowing that he must find the resolve to let her go, but he just cannot find enough at the moment to release her as her body feels like it is right where it belongs. He leans down to capture and drink from her delectably juicy lips as if he was a parched man in need of water. He feels her hands clutching his shirt desperately as she is being overwhelmed by his desire for her which only fuels his yearning to devour her. He commits to memory every surface, every muscle, every bone, every feature, every scent…every essence that is the woman he loves without any shadow of a doubt in his mind. For, he knows that these memories must sustain him for an indefinite period of time.

Very reluctantly, he releases her kissable lips to arrogantly find them swollen and bruised proving that they were thoroughly kissed. He nuzzles his nose in his currently dazed beloved's hair. "What more could I ask for? You have given me in just a fleeting moment all I ever needed or wanted."

A/N: I would like to dedicate this chapter to Shark's Fin who is my kindred spirit. Without you, I may have never found the courage to publish this meager fiction.

To all my readers, I apologize again for my long absence. Factors such as new changes in my life have taken alot of my time and effort. I must admit that these changes are thankfully for the better. Of course, that does not excuse my unintentional neglect to this story as well as my readers. I find it curious though, the longer I take time, whether deliberate or not, to write the longer my chapters become. So I hope that you do think this is too long or boring. Also, I would like to point out that I have made some minor changes to previous chapters to aid in the flow of the story.

I would like to request that if my readers would like bestow upon me a belated birthday (which was on October 26 for those that may not have read my profile) gift, please send a review whether it is one word or one chapter. Of course the longer the better, but I enjoy reading the readers' reactions and opinions to each chapter. At least give me kudos for getting this chapter published exactly one month after my birthday.

And for those that observe this holiday, Happy belated Thanksgiving. There is so much that everyone should be thankful for. Every day that we are given to live on this Earth is a blessing.

Completion Date: 11/26/2011