A/N: A bonus holiday chapter!? I'm just as surprised as you guys are. =) But I have made a lot more progress on this fic than I originally thought I would over this time period. Enjoy.

Chapter 6: Recovery

"Lenalee! Allen! Over here!" Lavi waved at them from across the cafeteria.

"We'll be there after we get some food," she called back, raising her free hand in acknowledgement. Her other hand was occupied with Allen's, her grip on his casual. In the past couple of days, holding hands like this was starting to feel natural. She was hoping that he was beginning to feel more comfortable being with her like this in front of their peers at the Order, too. More than a week had passed since she and Allen had decided to try giving dating a chance, and he had since been released from the infirmary.

Looking back at Allen, Lenalee smiled reassuringly and was met with a slightly shy but sweet smile. She opened her mouth to say something, but before she could, the sound of loud rumbling filled the air between them.

"I'm hungry," he admitted ruefully.

"Then let's get you some food. I'm sure Jeryy is looking forward to seeing you this morning," she told him, pulling him towards the kitchen.

She knew how his hunger pangs in the morning bothered him more than other times. It was because sleeping for long, consecutive hours didn't allow for snacks in between, he had once explained to her.

Suddenly, she felt Allen freeze beside her and try to tug his hand away from hers. Eyes narrowing, she tightened her grip. Only one thing could get this response out of Allen; she knew that her brother was close.

Even though over a week had passed since their dream, their agreement, and Komui finding out that she and Allen had mutual feelings for one another, the young General still feared her brother. Although she couldn't really blame Allen for being scared, she still didn't want to feel like they were hiding every time he was near. It wasn't fair to them, and it wasn't fair to Komui.

With a sigh, Lenalee recalled the morning that had followed the wonderful dream in which they had talked frankly about their feelings for one another and had discussed the correct means to pursue them in the future. It had resulted in Lenalee rushing to the medical ward early in the morning to find Komui insisting that Allen put on a ridiculous, padded, bubble like suit in order to ensure her safety. It was at that moment, she had pulled her brother away from the still then bedridden (and terrified looking) Allen, thus saving the young General. In the moments following, she had had a lot to explain to her brother.

Komui had accepted the fact that Lenalee was interested in Allen better than she had been expecting. Although he had cried (so loudly that the matron kicked them out of the infirmary waiting area), he had also seemed somewhat reluctantly understanding. She suspected that Reever had helped her cause by talking to him about the possibility before she did; she needed to be sure to thank him properly for that.

Two robots had been sent after Allen in the following week ("to discourage Allen and test if his feelings were true," as Komui had explained). She had had to destroy both of them to keep Allen, as well as the rest of Headquarters, safe. In the next few days, she had spent a lot of time with her brother, reassuring him and trying to explain that this was something she felt that she really had to do. It had been hard, but she had tried to display her resolve and hoped that Komui could respect her wishes. Soon after that, Allen had been released infirmary, allowing the two of them to start spending time together as a couple.

Things between the two of them hadn't really changed. The physical closeness was nice: the kisses, embraces, and the feeling of someone there by her side. There was a certain degree of reassurance knowing that Allen chose to be next to her, that he chose to spend his time with her, and that he chose to hold her close. But her sixth sense told her that things hadn't really changed between them, emotionally. It wasn't as if the attraction and emotional bond wasn't there; it always had been. However, she was expecting them to become closer during their time together. Perhaps she was expecting too much.

Although it pained her to see Allen hiding things from her with that false smile, she reminded herself to be patient with him and that her patience would be rewarded in the end. But now was not the time to be thinking about things like that, not with her brother closing in on them.

"Good morning, nii-san," Lenalee addressed her brother, as he joined them in line for food. While smiling at her brother, she squeezed Allen's hand slightly, and he stopped trying to pull it away.

"G-go-good morning, Komui-san," Allen stammered nervously, bowing his head politely.

Lenalee looked expectantly at Komui.

"Good morning, Lenalee, General Walker." He said her name with his normal cheer but addressed Allen in dull tones.

"So," Allen said, as if trying to overcome the awkwardness with conversation about work. "Have you spotted any more stray Akuma?"

Allen's plan seemed to work, as Komui straightened in posture and pushed up his glasses, a clear indication that he was going into business mode. "Actually, yes," he said. "Near the Barcelona area. We sent Kanda there on his route back to headquarters."

"Oh," Allen said, the disappointment rang clearly in his voice.

Lenalee wasn't sure what Allen was more upset with, the fact that he wasn't going to be able to exorcise the Akumas or that Kanda was headed back to Headquarters. However, Lenalee did not share the same views as her boyfriend did on Kanda and was thrilled that one of her oldest friends was coming home.

Within the following minutes, Komui had ordered and taken his food back to the lab. Lenalee and Allen had also gathered their meals and were heading towards where Lavi was sitting. The two of them settled in the seats across from their friend, and Lenalee set one of the two trays that she was carrying in front of Allen. (She had learned early on in their relationship that although it was amusing to watch Allen struggle with carrying four trays that it was generally easier to just offer to carry one for him.)

"Thank you!" he said, rewarding her with his usual boyish charm.

When he was genuine with her, it wiped out all feelings of doubt that she had. She just shook her head, indicating that it was nothing.

"So," Lavi said, his mouth full. "What do you two lovebirds plan on doing today?"

Lenaleee shrugged. "I've got some duties to take care of in the Science Department, and Allen should be resting." She gave the boy next to her a sloe eyed glance to check his reaction.

"I'm fine now," Allen said waving a hand in between mouthfuls of food. "Matron said I didn't need to stay in the infirmary any longer."

"You shouldn't tax yourself physically, at least not right away," Lenalee warned. "I know you want the physical activity in order to get in shape again, but if you push yourself too hard, you'll just end up hurt again."

"But the boy doesn't understand the concept of relaxing," Lavi interjected laughingly.

"How can I rest when Akuma are still around?"

"See what I mean!" Lavi said, gesturing with his hands. "You know," he said addressing the young General, "If you think about Akuma all of the time, you'll lose sight of other important things in your life." He gently nodded his head towards Lenalee.

Allen's eyes widened, and he tried to make amends. "That's not … exactly what I meant. Resting can be good."

"That's the spirit! Go out to town or something like that. Be young. Have fun! Walk as fast as your legs will take you!" Lavi said, rapping on his own cast-encased leg to emphasize his point.

An hour later, Lenalee found herself walking around town with Allen. After purposefully waiting until she knew her brother was taking his mid-morning nap, she told Reever where she and Allen were headed. The section leader looked disgruntled at the fact that he would most likely be forced into telling her brother that she was out on a date with Allen. Although she felt a bit guilty for putting Reever in an uncomfortable situation, time spent outside Headquarter was hard to come by, and she felt as that she really ought to make the best out of her opportunities. She supposed she had Lavi to thank and reminded herself sternly that she really needed to find a way to properly thank him for all of the help that he had recently provided her with.

The weather outside was a typical mid-March day – mostly sunny with crisp, spring air. Lenalee was glad that it was still jacket weather so that she could comfortably don her familiar long-jacket. Due to the nature of her Innocence, she was not accustomed to wearing clothing that restricted the movement of her legs. Therefore, she could never bring herself to wear the fashions popular amongst females her age. Although she had long gotten used to the stares the other girls gave her when she wore short skirts and her uniform in town, she was never comfortable knowing that it was painfully obvious that she was different from her agemates.

But today was different from days she was in town; she and Allen looked normal, just like any other couple on the streets. There was no mission, no uniforms, just the two of them spending time together. Temporary breaks from the Order, like this, were nice and were necessary for proper relaxation.

Lenalee was determined to make the most of her time alone with Allen. "Isn't it refreshing to be out in the open?" she asked, throwing her hands in the air as if reaching for the sun. "For you especially. This is the first time you've really been out since the last battle."

"Uh, yes," he responded, a smile crossing his face. "It is."

Allen had such a pleasant smile; it almost distracted Lenalee from the fact that his eyes had been unfocused when she had addressed him, a sure sign that his mind was elsewhere. She sighed, wondering what exactly was weighing on his mind. Her curiosity getting the better of her, she opened her mouth to ask … but was promptly interrupted.

"Would you like to buy your lovely girlfriend a flower?"

Lenalee's attention snapped to a middle aged woman carrying a basket of red roses. The flower peddler had a soft, gentle, motherly appearance, which Lenalee was sure helped her with her trade. Since Lenalee knew that the Order wasn't exactly generous with their funds, so she was aware that Allen couldn't possibly be carrying a significant amount of cash on him.

Holding up a hand to politely decline, Lenalee opened her mouth to say that such a gesture really wasn't necessary. But, before the words were out of her mouth, Allen began digging in his pockets for change. Moments later, he successfully produced a small handful of coins. "I'll take one," he said dropping the coins into the woman's outstretched hand.

The flower peddler smiled, and held out her basket. "Choose any one you wish."

"Hmm," he uttered, fingers grazing the green stalk before settling on one. "How's this one, Lenalee?" he asked, turning back to look at her with a shy smile.

Lenalee found herself rendered speechless. Everything about this moment was what she imagined a typical couple having, and to her it felt absolutely perfect. His genuine smile caused her heart rate to race in such a manner that she could hear her blood being pumped; the sound rang hollowly in her ears. At that time, she wanted nothing more than to have Allen look at her with that tender expression for as long as possible. It was only when one of his eyebrows quirked that she realized that she still hadn't answered him. After blinking to shake herself from her stupor, she replied, "It's perfect."

Something that looked like relief flashed through Allen's steely gray eyes, as he visibly relaxed. He handed Lenalee the flower, thanked the peddler, and then joined her to once more continue their walk.

Although Lenalee was vaguely aware that Allen was speaking, she couldn't focus on his words; her eyes were drawn to the rose that was clutched in her left hand. Unable to resist, she lifted the flower to her nose and sniffed delicately. It was the first time a guy had gotten her a gift that meant anything more than an indication of friendship, and she wanted to properly preserve the memory - from the emotions that ran through her, to the way the rose smelled, to how it felt in her fingers. With her free hand, she softly stroked the velvety petals, curiously, trying to memorize the sensation of the soft silkiness.

"I'm glad you like it," Allen said, interrupting her.

When Lenalee looked up at him with a start, she saw a wry, almost amused look on his face. It immediately brought a flush to her cheeks, and her hands dropped to her side. 'How silly I must appear,' she thought, her eyes downcast. After walking in silence for a bit, she dared to take a peek in Allen's direction to find that he was still looking at her with the same look on his face. When their eyes met, she noticed that his smile widened.

"Are you having fun, Lenalee?" he asked.

She knew that he was being one hundred percent sincere, that he really wanted to know if she was having a good time, because it was important to him. Although she had no real indication that this was the case, she was convinced of that fact. Perhaps it was something in the tone of his voice, or a certain softness in his eyes that she had recently begun to realize was only present when he spoke to her. Whatever it was, she knew it was the truth, and so she answered in kind. "I am."

"Then, let's go," he said, offering her his right hand. "What else would you like to do today?"

She accepted his gesture by slipping her left hand into his outstretched hand, her fingers engaging his. "It doesn't matter, as long as we're together," she declared, hoping that it didn't sound as cheesy as it did in her head."

She was rewarded with a smile, as he pointed in the direction of a cafe. "Then, can we get something to eat? I'm starving!"

"Allen ..." she said, shaking her head at the predictability of his request. "Of course."

As he headed towards the cafe, she matched his pace with his, their walk filled with comfortable chatter.

TBC