Chapter 2 What Lies Ahead

It was quiet in the Library that morning. Not many of the stitchpunks were up yet, but in the next hour, the rest would probably be stirring. In 9's room 5 was just now waking up. As he slowly did, the first thing he noticed was that he wasn't in his own room. He immediately froze, looking around him. When he saw 9 asleep next to him in the bed, the night before replayed in his head. If stitchpunks could blush, he would be beet red right now. Oh God, last night to him was more than anything he could have ever hoped or asked for. He had finally told 9 how he felt, and when 9 returned his feelings, and then they did what they did, it was like everything was complete now.

He smiled as he turned on his side and put one of his arms around his lover now, snuggling up close to him and closing his eyes again. 9 woke up with a start, eyes flying open and coming face to face with 5's. The first thing he noticed was that 5 was asleep, eyes closed with one of his arms draped around his waist. 9 calmed down a bit and smiled as he remembered last night all to well. Finally after so long he found the missing piece of his life. It's funny when you think about it. Things just happen and they all fall into place. 9 moved his head to 5's and gently placed a kiss on it. 5 slowly opened up his eyes again and smiled at 9. 9 smiled back.

"Morning love. How do you feel today?"

Once 9 said those words, 5 got this tingling feeling through his body again, kinda like he did last night. 5 slowly sat up in the bed And smiled at 9 as he sat up to.

"I feel great 9. Really great. I hope this never ends." 9 just laughed and hugged 5, but before he could get another word out out, he heard a chuckle coming from his door. They both turned their heads, and froze. There, standing in the door way leaning on his cane was 2. 9 and 5 quickly climbed out of the bed and looked at the floor in embarrassment. 2 just shook his head.

"Nothing to worry about my boys. Your secret is safe with me. I was just wondering where 5 was at and got worried when he didn't return to the Shop last night. From the looks of it, I had nothing to worry about at all. By the way 9, 1 needs you to go out today and look for supplies. And 5, if your rested up, I need your help in the Workshop. Thanks to what we found yesterday, we have enough to create another Telescope. I already installed a new bucket system to the top floor last night as well, but the telescope will be a lot tricker. " With that 2 left still smiling to himself about the two. Young love was always cute.

9 just groaned as he looked around for his Light Staff, finding it on the floor to the right of the bed. As he picked it up, he looked at 5 and smiled.

"Well, I guess I better be going before 1 has my head. Will you be alright without me for a bit 5?"

5 looked up at him with a bit of sadness in his eyes, but knowing that he would be back soon, he smiled weakly and nodded his head.

"Sure, but I'll miss you to. I guess this is 1's way of getting back at you from last night huh?"

9 laughed at this and kissed him gently on the lips before pulling away.

"I'm not worried. Besides, 1's just being grumpy as always. He'll get over it quickly and then I'll be back myself before you know it to."

5 smiled at him, giving 9 a hug before he watched him go out the door. As 5 himself went out it heading to the new bucket system, he had to admit, everything will be okay. No one was going to separate them or get in their way.

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Meanwhile at the Top of the Library, 7 was keeping watch. She looked down as she saw a small figure leaving it and heading into the Emptiness. ALONE. She growled inwardly knowing it was 1's doing from last night. Sending out probably 9 off to get supplies for getting his way of punishing 5. Remembering her fight with him as well last night, she pulled down her helmet and grasped her spear tightly. Then she leapt from the roof down to another part of the structure planning on going with him to help out. No way was she about to let anyone go out there alone with those few machines still out. Besides, she promised 6 she would go out early anyway to look around for some paper for him. As she jumped down to another part of the Libraries roof to the ground, she began to run to catch up with 9, still musing over the fight.

*Flashback*

As 7 head what sounded like 1 yelling at 2, she looked around behind her and sighed. Knowing that she was next, she just got herself ready for it. She didn't mean to scare poor 5. She just knew that was the quickest way of getting the thread off of him since they still hadn't found any scissors yet or had any time to really look around the Library for a pair. She didn't have long to wait though. She just put her hand on her hip as 1 came up there with 8 behind him glaring at him. 1 was just glaring right back.

"And you! Just what do you think you were doing scaring 5 like that 7?! Surely you could have found another way to get that blasted thread off from around him?!"

She just held her position and yelled right back.

"Yes, and I suppose you know where the hell a pair of scissors are in here so we can?!"

1, not ready to be out done by this girl, just growled and pointed his staff at her.

"Don't you dare yell at me girl! What if you were to have cut him up or ripped him to shreds?! Then what?! You need to think before you act!"

7 was taken aback a bit by this remark. How dare he say such thing! As if she didn't know her own weapon or how to use it carefully! She got right up in his face by this time and growled very lowly.

"How dare you! How dare you say that! As if I don't know my own weapon or how to use it! I know full well what I was doing! You take that back right now!" The last part she growled out very lowly, but before she could say anything else, she was shoved on her back by a strong force. As she looked up from the ground, she was met face to face with 8. Damn! She had forgotten he was there! She looked at 1 again and saw him smiling behind 8. She just hisses before getting up and leaping to another part of the roof above them.

"You can't hide behind 8 forever 1! One of these days when hes not there I'll give you a good smack right across the face like you deserve!"

1 just looked up above him really mad now. As he made his last remark before storming off with 8 in tow, he knew that one day 7 probably would do it. Knowing her and how fiery she was, yes, she wouldn't give a second thought to it. But could she really pull it off? After all, he was their leader.

"You can try it girl! And when you do, I'll hit you right back! I'm not afraid of you! And I'm not hiding behind anyone! 8 is just here to make sure no one gets hurt!"

As he stormed off, 8 just looked up for a second before following 1 back inside. He felt bad for pushing 7, but she did get in 1's face. And 1 was the oldest of them all and their leader to. He needed protecting, and 8 was the only one that could do it.

*End Flashback*

As 7 finally caught up with the figure, she smiled to herself as she saw it was indeed 9. Forgetting the night before and cooling down a bit, she suddenly got an ideal. Deciding to make a little mischief, she hid behind some rubble and picked up a small rock. Peeking around it, she saw that 9 had stopped and was inspecting what appeared to be a round wheel off of something. "Perfect" she though. Looking at the rubble above him, she threw the rock into it. It made a clanking noise as it seemed to hit something hard up there, then the noise of something shattering soon followed. 9 nearly jumped out of his skin and dove for cover as he forgot the wheel completely.

"What in the-?!"

But he was cut off as he heard laughing. Peering around from the can he was currently hiding behind, he saw 7 on the ground laughing her ass off. He just smacked his hand to his head.

"Real funny 7. What are you doing out here? I thought you were on Guard Duty?"

She picked herself off the floor, wiping the oil tears away from her eyes, (Yes they can cry. I thought that would be cute for later on. You'll see why.) and still trying to recompose herself, she looked at 9 and replied.

" I saw you leaving out and knowing 1 sent you out here alone, I *giggle* decided to follow you and lend a helping hand. Besides I also promised 6 I would go out early today and look around for some paper for him. You should have seen your face! You thought a Machine was fixen to tear you to shreds!"

9 smiled at her as he turned on his light staff again. Then he went over and picked up the wheel again.

"You would have thought the same thing 7. And thanks for putting me on edge to." 9 said jokingly "I think I saw some paper at the top of that pile of rubble over there, but I'm not sure." He pointed to the pile to the left of where 7 threw whatever she did at.

7 pulled down her skull cap again before climbing and jumping up to the top of it. Sure enough, there was blank paper up there. She grabbed most of it, and then jumped back down to the bottom of the pile before putting it in 9's cart he was pulling with him. She also noticed that 9's cart was already almost full with various other things. Deciding they had enough supplies for now, she motioned for 9 to follow her back.

"I think from the looks of it 9, your cart is over filled with things. Lets head back for now and see if anyone can use any of this stuff."

9 smiled to himself, pushing the cart ahead of him and following 7 back to the Library. He kept on glancing back down at the bottom at the two things he had wrapped down in it. He knew the stitchpunks they were meant for would be happy when he gave them to them. One would be overly excited for sure. With those thoughts in his head, he continued the long haul back.

A/N: I also have watched many Animes in the past, and from one of them, this Song I listened to as I typed up this next part. Listen to it as you read it. It's called Kimi=Hana, You=Flower, and it's from the Anime Junjo Romantica. Words for it are here . and here is a link to the Song as well. .com/watch?v=1WoH6L-RE9w This Song in my eyes, has and always will fit 9 and 5 perfectly. It describes them both waaay to much.

Meanwhile, back in 2 and 5's Workshop, they were just putting on the finishing touches on the new Telescope. As 5 was making sure the Telescope rotated right, 2 smiled at him and began to ask the questions that would make 5 realize just how much he needed and missed 9.

"So 5, how did your's and 9's relationship start?"

A bit nervous about answering at first, but then realizing this was 2 he was talking to and his Mentor as well, 5 smiled back and answered.

"Well, it really started last night, but for the longest both of us as it turns out had these feelings that neither of us really ever understood. It wasn't till then we realized that it was love. One thing just lead to another, and before you knew it, well...."

He trailed off at this point, but 2 just laughed and nodded in understanding.

"I understand 5. Sometimes it works like that. You never know when it hits you or when, but once it does, it is a very wonderful feeling indeed."

5 smiled up again at his Mentor. Everything was ready with the new Telescope, and as they pushed it into the other bucket at the top of the roof to take it to the place was 7 was standing guard at, he realized then what 2 had really just said. As he pulled up the rope taking them to the very top of it, and after they began to push it into place, he asked him now the question.

"2, you have a lover to?"

2 smiled at him as he made the last adjustments to the Telescope, both of them realizing 7 had gone out to probably to get 6's paper, before answering him.

"I know what love is my boy, and I know the feelings of it to. As for me being in love with someone, I do have feelings for a certain someone here, but I'm waiting on the right moment to tell them. By the way, if you look through the Telescope, I think you might find something interesting."

As soon as 2 said those words, 5 looked through it. He looked down to the ground level, and his heart leapt to his throat. There coming up was 7 with 9 pushing a cart full of things behind her. Before 2 could say anything else, 5 was gone in a flash. 2 just busted out laughing again before heading back to the Workshop. Yes, young love was very beautiful and funny indeed.

As 7 and 9 came inside of the Library doors, they were ambushed with the twins. 3 and 4 began to flash to 7 and 9 rapidly, and it didn't take to long for them both to figure out what they were asking. 7 just laughed as she patted both of their heads going through 9's cart. After pulling out a few papers and a small book, she gave it to them.

"9 found these for you two and I think you might like it."

As they looked at the papers realizing they were about the War and the book was part of a keychain that broke off that they could take notes in themselves, they rushed up and hugged 9 from both sides. 9 just laughed and hugged them right back.

"I thought you two might like that stuff. That's why I grabbed it after I saw them."

They flashed at 7 and 9 a few more times before scampering off. 7 promising to come by later to help them out, went off to the fireplace to go see 6 and give him the paper she found, knowing he would be really happy about it.

As 9 was unpacking the rest of the things, before he could grab the last two items he wrapped up in the bottom of the cart, he felt arms wrap around his waist and someone bury their head in his back. 9 smiled as he gently put his hands over the ones on his front.

"I take it someone missed me while I was out?"

5 sighed as he nuzzled 9 from behind.

"You have no ideal 9. I missed you sooo much. Even if you were only gone for most of the day, it felt like forever to me. I couldn't stop worrying about you out there alone, wondering if a Machine got to you, or if something else had happened. I had no ideal 7 went with you. I wasn't to sure if she did or not"

By this point 5 realized he was crying, and he couldn't help it. If he lost 9, he didn't know what he would do. 9 meant everything to him. Meant more than the world to him. If 9 wasn't in this world, if he never met him, he often wondered how he would be today. 9 gently took his hands from around his waist and turned around to look at him in the eyes. Smiling he knew he had to reassure him everything was okay.

"I didn't get hurt 5. 7 was with me the whole time, and you shouldn't worry when I go out. I'll always be careful. You know that. And I'll always be here to protect you to no matter what. So don't worry okay? I'm not going anywhere for a very long time to come."

9 then kissed 5 on the lips, neither one of them hearing the footsteps coming out of the bucket from the upper floor, or them coming around the corner till it was to late.

"What in the hell is the meaning of this?!"

9 and 5 broke away immediately and whirled around only to see the last thing both of them could ever want to see. Standing there was 1 with a very enraged look on his face with 8 behind him looking like his jaw was going to drop off at any moment.