"It was no problem, Kallen."

Kallen sat up and mumbled someting about needing a hot shower and made to get up. Lelouch started to leave as Kallen spoke softly. He just barley heard her.

"You don't have to leave, you can stay if you like." she said as she dissapeared into the bathroom. Lelouch heard her shower turn on.

He looked at the Zero mask on the floor beside the bed, and thought about Kallen's unfaltering love for Zero. Now that she knew that Lelouch and Zero were one and the same, would she love the Lelouch side of him too? Should he have even told her? Would she turn on Zero? No, he chided himself, she lost her brother to this cause, even if she hated me, she'd do it for him. But will she still be as loyal?

But didn't she know that Zero and Leouch both loved her? Didn't she realize that ha antagonized her purley because she'd ignore him if he did nothing? He heard the shower shut off and heard a muffled sob. Had she been crying? He sat there, hoping with all his heart that she wasn't crying, and that he had been hearing things. He laid back on her bed trying not to think of Kallen, not even ten feet away, in nothing but a towel. He wanted no nosebleeds tonight, not here anyway. He closed his eyes and wondered if she would still love him after this, and if her love would extend to the Lelouch and Zero halves of him. A few moments later, Kallen came out of the bathroom, fully dressed in a t-shirt and sweats.

"Lelouch? Are you asleep?" she asked quietly - just in case.

"Hmmm?" he replied, he had to admit, he had begun to drift off-her bed was very comfortable. "No, I almost was though." he said, eyes still closed.

Kallen came over andsat on the edge of the bed while she watched the legendary Zero lay on her bed, in her room. Even if he really was Lelouch know-it-all Lamperouge.

"Um Kallen, I suppose you realize that I konw you're in love with Zero," the ebony-haired boy began, "is there any-"

"Yes," she said, in a small voice, "but do you feel the same?"

"Kallen, I made you my ace for two reasons. One, you're the most dedicated to this cause besides myself, and two, because you are exceptionally good at what you do."

"O.k., buthow does this show your feelings towards me?" Kallen asked quietly.

"Don't you see Kallen? I always want to be near you, wether you're yelling at me, or being my ace- I always want you to be close to me." Leloch said in a small voice that didn't fit his hero description.

Kallen laid down next to him. He had just told her he loved her. Not in so many words, but he did mean it that way.

"I guess I've been trying to say, I love you Kallen."

Now he says it. Kallen rolled over adn found her head on his chest. She made to get off incase he didn't want her there, but Leouch just sighed.

"You don't have to move Kallen, I don't mind. Besides, you can't imagine how good it feels to finally have you in my arms." He said as he wrapped his long arms around her. Kallen smiled to herself, as she laid her head gently back down on his chest. How she used to long for this, for his arms to be around her, how she had longed to hear the very words that he had just spoken. Under her head, she could feel the steady breathing, and the rythym of his heartbeat.

Kallen didn't remember falling asleep.

She looked up to find a pair of bright purple eyes staring at her