Fangurl led Alan into the Phantomhive Manor and up to her room. She lay Alan down on the bed and left to retrieve a cold washcloth. The girl silently walked back in, sat down on the bed, and began to wipe his face to help him cool off and to wash the blood off his chin and lips.

"I'm sorry; I should've known Eric would try something like that," Alan whispered.

"Honey it's not your fault, I should've gotten there sooner," Fangurl replied. She reached down and lightly pressed her lips against the Shinigami's.

Alan pulled away and sat up. "Don't . . ." he stopped.

"I'm sorry, did I hurt you?" Fangurl asked.

"No, it's just . . ." Alan started. He turned away from her and closed his eyes.

Fangurl scooted closer to Alan and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "What's wrong Alan?" she whispered gently.

"Eric has touched me, and violated me, and you don't even act like it's affecting how you look at me," Alan explained.

"Is that what this is about? You think that because Eric did all those things to you that I won't love you the same?" Fangurl questioned.

The brunette nodded and let a few tears slide down his face. Fangurl turned Alan's face towards her and wiped the tears away with her thumbs. "Just because something like that happened doesn't mean I don't love you. He did all that forcibly on you, and you didn't want it. You are not at fault here. You are still the same beautiful brunette I fell in love with a year ago."

Alan's eyes widened and he asked quietly "You've had feelings for me for over a year?"

"Yes, but I never let anyone know, because I was with Ronnie and you were with Eric, but if I'd known that Eric was treating you like he was, I could've helped you sooner," Fangurl replied. "I wanted to tell you a few months ago, but I didn't want to overstep any boundaries."

The brunette continued to look at her before leaning forward and kissed her lips again. "I've had a crush on you for a while too," Alan admitted.

Fangurl began to blush. "For how long?" she wondered.

"Several months, ever since the office party when Ronald was allowed to bring you; I loved getting to see both sides of your personality," Alan explained as he cupped her face in his hands.

"Do you love me Alan?" Fangurl asked looking into Alan's eyes.

The brunette Shinigami froze. How could she ask that? Did she not know by now that he did have feelings for her? Maybe she was just confused, considering all that had happened over the past few days. "Yes, I love you Fangurl. Do you love me?"

"Yes Alan, I love you a lot," Fangurl replied. She leaned forward and kissed him on the lips gently, trying to be gentle against the wounds that Eric had put on him. Fangurl ran her hand through Alan's hair before placing both hands on his face.

The girl then wrapped her arms around Alan's already exposed torso and pulled him closer to her. The Shinigami protectively wrapped his arms around Fangurl as he placed light kisses on her neck. Alan looked up at Fangurl, worried that what he was about to do was wrong. "It's okay, it's okay," she quietly promised as she nodded her head.

Alan lay her down gently on the bed, not breaking their kissing. The Shinigami quickly sat up and burst into tears. "I can't do it," he cried. Fangurl sat up and hugged him lovingly. "It's all his fault."

"Just wait until you feel ready, I'll wait for as long as you need," Fangurl promised.

"Are you sure?" Alan asked as he looked at her.

Fangurl kissed him gently before assuring "I just want you to be happy and not have any memories lingering in your mind that will make you feel unwanted; and if it takes days or weeks, then I'll wait that long for you."

Alan brought his knees to his chest as he lowered his head. Fangurl wrapped her arms around his trembling body before laying her head on his and placing a kiss on the back of his neck. "I'm sorry Fangurl," he whispered.

"It's okay sweetheart, I promise," Fangurl replied. Alan raised his head to look at the one girl he loved. She smiled at him before catching his tears with her lips as she kissed them away. "I love you."

The brunette Shinigami leaned his head against her neck as she stroked his hair and held him while he finished crying. When Alan had finished sobbing, Fangurl discovered that her friend had fallen asleep, so she laid him down and covered him up on her bed. She was just about to walk away when something reached out and grabbed her hand. "Please don't leave Fangurl. I can't lose you, not after all this," he muttered.

Fangurl said nothing but lay down in bed beside Alan and wrapped her arms around him as she felt the Shinigami get as close to her body as he could. She knew that Eric had hurt him and possibly scarred him emotionally but she would be there for him through all of it.

In the middle of the night, Alan awoke and heard it pouring down rain outside. He looked over at Fangurl and saw her still sleeping. Quietly and stealthily, Alan wrapped his arms around Fangurl as he moved to hover over her and lightly lower his head to kiss her lips. The girl opened her eyes to find him on top of her. "Alan?" she whispered.

"I'm happiest when I'm with you, and by being with you, it drives out all unwanted memories from my mind," the brunette Shinigami muttered. He kissed her gently again as he felt Fangurl run her fingers over his back.

Alan quivered slightly underneath her delicate touch as he pushed the memories of Eric out of his mind and began to replace them with Fangurl. As he was doing this, Alan felt warmth flow all over his body as he opened his eyes.

"It's okay, it's just heating body oil; it gets warmer when you touch it more," Fangurl informed. "It'll help you relax more." Closing his eyes, Alan felt Fangurl rub his back as he grew warmer with every gentle stroke of her fingers over his body.

The brunette Shinigami pressed his lips against her neck and trailed them up to her own lips. There, Alan slid his tongue gently over Fangurl's lips before feeling the girl run the back of her hand slowly across his face. Her warm fingers lightly touched his neck as she sent her hands to his back again.

Alan heard Fangurl whisper to him "I'll always be here for you, no matter what."

The Shinigami ran his lips down her neck once again before replying "I want you now Fangurl. I can't last another hour or even another minute without you." Leaning up, Alan began to pull Fangurl's shirt off her body.

"You're sure?" Fangurl checked. Instead of verbally responding, Alan kissed her mouth. "In that case, I'll be very gentle with you."