AN: A terrifying thing is occurring... I'm CATCHING UP TO WHAT I'VE WRITTEN! ARGH! I need more motivation :/

Anyway, ignoring that outburst, here's the next chapter :)

She was grinning like a Cheshire cat, looking at him with a joy in her eyes that he hadn't seen directed at him for years. He took a few steps across the cool stone, looking proudly upon the project he had been working on. It may not have been all his work, but he was proud of it nonetheless.

As his wife ran off towards the bell-tower, he felt a poke in his mind. He frowned, opening the connection.

Ah, Hieronymous! Her thinking voice was as shrill and joyful as her actual voice, and he sighed.

What is it, Petunia?

I'm afraid something has come up, and I will not be able to come and work on the church today.

Somehow, he didn't feel surprised. He rolled his eyes. More like you saw another opportunity… You knew Arianna was coming with me today.

Oh is she? How wonderful! He sighed, hearing the fake surprise in her thoughts. Shall I send you a picnic? She asked genuinely.

What? No! he thought angrily.

Oh why ever not, Hieronymous? It's a lovely day; have a picnic with your wife!

I don't want to.

Hogwash!

If you send a picnic… I will refuse to eat it, and leave immediately. You want me to spend time with her? I will. WITHOUT your help.

The connection ended, and he got the sense that she was quietly satisfied with her handiwork. He sighed, following after his wife with a mixture between a smile and a scowl on his face.

"Hieronymous!" he heard her voice call from the tower. "Come up here! The view is amazing!" He smirked as he began to ascend the stairs of the tower. He had seen the view from the bell-tower once or twice before, although he wasn't sure if he should call it a bell-tower, considering the lack of bells. They had decided not to reinstate those… He wondered what Petunia intended to do with the space, but then he still didn't know why she even wanted the church in the first place, so he dismissed the questions as he reached the top.

She was facing away from him, the sun streaming through the window she was at, catching her hair and turning it into gold as the light summer breeze ruffled it lightly. He walked over to stand beside her.

"Isn't it beautiful?" she asked, grinning as she looked out over the valley. In the distance, she saw the forest which concealed Iris Academy from prying eyes rolling up with the mountains. The highest peaks were veiled by a thin misty cloud, one of only a few that dotted the sky that day. A small river wound its way through the forest, leading to a glittering lake a little way from the church. The sun glanced off the surface of the shimmering water as it rippled in the cool wind.

"Indeed it is." He said. "Perhaps this is one of Petunia's reasons for taking on the project." He speculated.

"Maybe." She replied brightly. "It's reason enough. I love views like this… Nothing like home." He looked at her, and noticed her grin had faded into a small, sad smile. "Well… Nothing like what used to be home." she corrected herself. "Iris is home now… So I guess it is like home…" she sounded wistful, and he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Yes, it is your home." He said, prompting her to look at him. "Home is where you belong. You belong at Iris Academy. As do I." she frowned slightly and he looked out at the valley again. "I may still have my father, but I do not see his house as home…" he explained. "Nor do I see England as my home." He added quietly.

"Don't you miss it sometimes?" she couldn't help asking, and suddenly looked away, ready to move away from his hand, but he squeezed her shoulder and she paused.

"It's alright. I do not miss the weather. I do not miss my father. I do not miss the bustling streets of London. All I could miss from England is long gone." He muttered, looking at her again, and seeing tears glistening in her bright emerald eyes. He tutted as they fell, wiping his thumb across her cheeks to catch them. "Why are you crying?"

"I…" she looked down, rubbing her eyes furiously.

"You are crying because you feel sorry for me?" he asked, barely hiding the irritation in his voice. Her eyes widened.

"I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to-"

He pressed a finger to her lips, and she was silent. "You are an emotional person; I should not blame you for getting upset at upsetting things. I long since came to terms with being alone, Arianna. Do not pity me."

"You aren't alone." She stated. He frowned and stepped away to look at her. "Or do I not count as company?" she asked, halfway between teasing and a genuine question tainted with sadness. He felt his mouth open to protest, but couldn't find the words at first… Finally, he sighed.

"I did not mean to imply that. I merely meant… I am used to being alone… I am not sure how to react to any other situation. I forgot how to a long time ago."

Suddenly, she wrapped her arms around him, laying her head on his chest with her eyes closed. After a brief moment of shock, he let his arms settle around her shoulders.

"You'd think after a month and a half of my constant company, you'd be used to me being around by now."

"I… Have prevented myself from getting used to it. I am always prepared for the day you do not appear." He explained, as though it was a certainty. She pushed away to frown at him.

"Hieronymous… Are you ever going to stop avoiding this?" she asked quietly, and he frowned.

"Avoiding what?"

"Us… Me. You keep telling yourself I'm going to lose interest…"

"What interest?" he asked, quite serious. She sighed, leaning up to plant a chaste kiss to his lips. He stared at her in shock as she stepped back, rocking on her heels, blushing.

"That interest." She answered finally. For a long moment, he was speechless, staring at her for all the world like she'd just grown a second head. She didn't look up, biting her lip and wringing her hands instead.

"Arianna, what-"

"I'm sorry! It's just… You're always so distant, and you said before that you were afraid of loving me… I know you have your reasons, but that doesn't stop me getting impatient." She babbled. "I mean, if you really don't want to pursue anything, I'll understand. But you've been so vague and this is my first time really liking anyone and I'm scared too and-"

He cut her off, pulling her into another kiss. This time, it wasn't a greeting… it wasn't a friendly gesture. She felt herself go dizzy with sensation as his hand rested at the back of her neck, pulling her up onto her toes to deepen the kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck and threaded her hands in his thick hair. It was soft under her fingers, so much softer than she could have imagined, and his lips were warm as they moved against hers.

When they broke apart for air, they were both flushed and out of breath, but a bright smile lit up her face, and he gave her a small, genuine smile back.

"That was…" she couldn't find the words. She thought she might melt in a gooey puddle on the floor, or burst into a cloud of butterflies, there were so many in her stomach and chest… His smile turned into a slightly evil smirk as he read the expression on her face. Surprise, happiness, shock…

"What have you done to me, Arianna?" he asked, an incredulous smile replacing the smirk on his face. She was practically glowing, as one does after a particularly impressive kiss, and she laughed lightly, wrapping her arms around his shoulders again and burying her face in the crease between his neck and shoulder. He sighed, letting his arms encircle her again, and resting his chin on the top of her head, closing his eyes. She was warm, but her arms were cool, free to the summer breeze as they were.

They stayed like that for a while, before spending the day walking around the church. Well, Hieronymous walked. Arianna flounced around, fascinated by the brick-work, the pillars, the pews… She found it magical in a way that the pentachromatic system didn't teach, and he was content to watch his young wife act childish for a day.

Fluffy fluff fluffness for you all!

Reviews keep me writing! xx