Notes: I know, long time, no update. Personal life stuff has really taken away my free time and energy to write. (Actually, I still feel as if I should be relaxing and doing nothing... XD;;) However, some people I know have made some comments that have made me think I should go ahead and finish this up...

Is the real emotional drama about to start???

Chapter 12: Stolen

A little more than two weeks had passed since Allen had left for Belgium, and Lenalee had, as Lavi was fond of putting it, "finally found her real smile again."

She had to admit that her spirits were much better now than they had been immediately following Allen's departure, and a lot of that was attributed to Lavi. They had a wonderful friendship in which they both gave as much as they took. She used his gentle emotional support to come to terms with how her relationship with Allen had ended, and he used her steadfast encouragement to help keep a positive attitude at his physical therapy sessions, which in turn helped him in rehabilitating his leg.

As the two of them walked around Headquarters slowly (with her carrying his crutches just in case he needed them), they chatted with one another about recent events involving those who were a part of the Order. In fact, currently, they were discussing Allen.

"Hyaaaaaa, when Komui found out that you and Allen had broken up, I thought he was going to reach across the phone and strangle Allen!" Lavi commented in lively tones.

Lenalee laughed in response and thought that it was a good sign that her initial reaction was good-humored. It was an indication that she was on the road to being emotionally healed. "Yeah. It was just pure luck that I was there to explain that nothing really bad had happened between us."

"I can't believe that he actually mentioned the break-up to Komui during one of his weekly report!" Lavi exclaimed. "How did that topic even come up?"

Lenalee let out a sigh of mock-frustration and shrugged her shoulders. "That wasn't the problem. The problem was that he mentioned it to nii-san even before I had a chance to." She rolled her eyes.

She hadn't meant to hide the breakup from her brother and her friends at Headquarters (with the exception of Lavi). It was just that she had wanted to get a handle on her emotions before she dealt with the reactions of others. Only her sixth sense had allowed her to intercept the phone call between Allen and her brother at the critical moment.

Like she had expected, following Allen's call, the news of their breakup had spread through Headquarters like a locust infestation, and she had received many messages of condolences as well as probing questions from the nosy. She had managed to evade most of the deeper questions by giving general, non-detailed answers. The only person who had been privy to the absolute truth was Lavi, and Lenalee felt that the fewer number of people that knew the details the better. Thinking about the breakup still struck a sore spot in her core, and so she knew that it was imperative for her to change the subject.

"So," she started. "It seems like you haven't had to use your crutches very much in the last couple of days we've been walking."

"Yeah!" Lavi exclaimed, perking at her observation.

"It's just lucky that you have the Matron, Nurse Hazel, and myself to go on all of these walks with you," she said, poking fun at him.

"Yeah, but you're my favorite person to walk with," Lavi said, giving her a dazzling smile.

"And I'm sure you've said the same thing to the Matron and Nurse Hazel as well."

"Well, maybe," he admitted. "But you're the only one I'm being honest with." He laughed, as if he didn't expect her to believe him.

"Why don't you try that line on Nurse Hazel," Lenalee suggested. "I think she might be a little interested in you."

Lavi laughed again. "I got that impression, too, but, nah, she's not my type."

Lenalee quirked an eyebrow at him. "You have a type?" she asked.

"Sure!" he said, looking slightly offended. "Just because I love beautiful women doesn't mean that I'm not picky on what I'd really want in a girlfriend."

"Sorry," Lenalee apologized, holding up a hand as a sign of surrender. "I shouldn't have judged you so quickly."

Lavi's visible eye focused on her momentarily, before he broke the intense gaze with his familiar easy-going smile. "Soo, how about we do something to celebrate me being crutch-free?" he suggested.

Lenalee was startled by the change in topic and quickly tried to process the different direction of the conversation.

"Somewhere we can do a lot of walking," Lavi suggested. "That way I can prove to you that you are my favorite person to walk with." He winked at her.

"Alright, alright," Lenalee agreed easily. On an impulse, she added, "Who am I to take away your victory lap?" She stuck out her tongue at him teasingly, and he laughed it off easily. This was what was so great about their friendship – the fact that they were absolutely comfortable around each other. The banter between them was so natural. It felt positively uplifting and freeing to have a friend that really understood her and could put her at ease. In turn, she provided a similar emotional support. Between them, everything was a perfect balance of give and take.

"So tomorrow, then," Lavi was saying, unaware that Lenalee had spaced out.

"Huh?" she asked, her attention snapping back to Lavi. "Oh, yes. Wonderful. Tomorrow."

"Let's go into town," he suggested.

"Into town?" she repeated slowly. The last time she was in town was when she and Allen had gone there and had shared so many wonderful memories. She hesitated.

"Why not?" Lavi asked. "Where better to prove my walking prowess? It'll be fun, like a support thing for both of us."

Lenalee studied Lavi's face as he spoke. There was something strangely reassuring about his smile that told her he knew that he would be forcing her to face her any lingering emotions she might still be harboring for Allen and that it would be a growing experience for her, too.

Putting on her bravest smile, Lenalee said, "Alright. Let's do it." Raising her fist, she held it up towards Lavi. He returned likewise, rapping his knuckles lightly against hers.

"That's what I like to hear!"

~*~*~*~*~

The next day, Lenalee headed out to town with Lavi (after reassuring her brother several times that their outing was not a date in any respect). However, once she set foot in the downtown area with its shops and restaurants, she wondered where her bravado of the previous day had gone. The last time she had been here, she had been full of hope and excitement, and now only ghosts of good memories haunted her. It cheapened those cherished memories she had of her and Allen together, and she wasn't sure what bothered her more, the fact that her memories felt tarnished or the fact that she still cared. Letting out a breath, she forced herself to walk with Lavi.

The red-headed boy was doing everything in his power to cheer her up. She could tell by how he kept on pointing out little things – like the cloudless, jewel-blue sky and the blooming flowers - to distract her from her own mind. She appreciated his efforts, and so she tried to focus her attention on him. Lowering her gaze, she focused on his legs, watching him take healthy, solid steps. "You're doing a great job today. I think you're pretty much healed." She must have said the right thing, because she was rewarded with a big grin, which warmed her heart.

"Yeah!" he responded, enthusiastically. "It feels great not to need my crutches, not to feel like I can't carry my own weight."

"I understand that," Lenalee said, thinking back to when she had lost use of her Innocence and her mobility. Without even thinking about it, she put a hand on his arm and patted it reassuringly. "I'm really proud of the way that you've handled everything. It's hard not to get discouraged, and you never really did."

"Well, I had a lot of support from you… the Matron, the nurses, and really everyone at Headquarters."

"We all wanted to see you up and on your feet again," she returned.

"So," he said, changing the subject. "What would you like to do today?"

Shrugging, she replied, "I hadn't really thought about it. I figured we'd do what you wanted to do. It's really your celebration."

"Shopping?" he suggested. "Maybe you can get something for Komui. Or eating. Eating is always good."

"Do all guys love food?" she asked.

Lavi laughed. "I think so, but some more than others, definitely."

Lenalee opened her mouth to comment, but her attention focused on a familiar figure – the flower peddler whom Allen had purchased her first romantic gift from. Immediately, her good mood deflated.

Lavi instantly picked up on her changing mood and asked, "Lenalee, what's wrong?"

When she finally managed to turn her eyes to him, she saw that his gaze had followed hers to her previous target. "He bought you a flower when you guys went into town." Even though Lavi couldn't have known that fact with any certainty, there was conviction in his voice. With a heavy sigh, Lavi started again. "I didn't bring you down here to make you feel sad by recalling happy memories you shared with Allen. I … wanted you to get another set of memories of this area."

Lenalee lowered her lashes and ducked her head. "I know. I just saw her and got all nostalgic. Just sometimes, I think back to how happy we were, and I still don't understand why it didn't work out." She felt as if a hole was opening in her stomach and threatening to swallow her whole.

"You guys gave it your all. You can't blame yourself, and you can't really blame him. It just … didn't work out, and you see that in the end you just weren't compatible. Right?"

"Yeah," she said, shaking her head. "I know you're right. I lived through that sort of a relationship for months, and it was frustrating to feel like I didn't matter enough to him." Even as she spoke, she heard the tremor in her voice.

"Ooh, Lenalee, you shouldn't think about it that way."

"I know, I know!" she exclaimed covering her face with her hands. "I feel like a terrible person admitting I have those kinds of negative feelings. I'm awful for even thinking it at all." Before she knew what was happening, Lavi had pulled her hands away from her face and tugged her into a tight hug.

"You shouldn't think like that, either. You can't help the way you feel. Don't bottle it up; you can talk to me. I'll listen to you, and I won't judge. But just don't tear yourself up inside."

His soothing hug and his supportive words caused her heart to swell. And she couldn't understand why she deserved his kindness. "Why are you being so nice?" Her lips trembled, and her eyes started to burn with unshed tears.

"I'm naturally nice to everyone," he told her, giving his easy-going smile. When his gaze met hers, his good-humor dropped off his face, as if something in her expression changed his approach on dealing with the situation. Tentatively, he wet his lower lip. "Honestly? I think that you're a very special girl."

Those words lifted her spirits. Although she was blinking down tears, she was giving him a genuine smile. "That's … very nice of you to say that. And here I thought it was that you were feeling sorry for me all these years." She made the last comment in mock-jest, even though such thoughts had crossed her mind before.

His embrace on her loosened and he took a step away from her, a look of shock on his face. "Why would you think something like that?"

Without Lavi's arms around her, Lenalee felt surprisingly chilled. She shrugged, feeling guilty and embarrassed that her careless words had hurt him. "I don't know. I guess it was when we first saw each other when you were new to the Order. You and Bookman were standing with my brother looking down on me after… that terrible, terrible mission." **

"You're mistaken about that," he told her softly. "I … thought you looked very noble and caring that day."

Lenalee found herself at a loss for words. That wasn't something she was expecting. The oddly serious look on Lavi's face caused her pulse to race. There was something about the way his green eye was locked on her face, as if he had something important to say. "La…vi…?" she asked, tilting her head.

"I've always thought you were special," he whispered, taking a step closer. He raised a hand and let his fingers weave through the strands of hair hanging next to her left cheek. Lightly, his fingertips trailed through the length of her hair. When she said nothing, he took the liberty to lay his right hand across her left cheek, his palm resting against her jawline. "Don't tell me that you didn't know on some level."

And suddenly she was drawn to Lavi in a way she had never been before. Perhaps it was his emotionally charged words or his intense gaze; whatever the reason, she had never felt this close to him in her entire life. In that proximity, she could see clearly see his image of her reflected in that clear, green eye of his. She opened her mouth to speak, but the breath caught in her throat preventing her from doing anything. And so she stood, transfixed, lips parted and breath shallow, as Lavi brushed his thumb across her lower lip. Her heart danced wildly in her chest, as all ability to think left her. And then he simply lowered his head and touched his lips to hers softly.

Once the contact was made, Lenalee swore her heart stopped momentarily before pounding roughly against her ribcage. Warmth flushed through her system, and her stomach fluttered with butterflies. She wasn't supposed to feel anything like that, not with Lavi. The emotions that washed over her provided enough of a shock to her system that her stupor lifted, and she acted instinctively. Pushing him away, she covered her mouth with the back of her left hand. "What are you doing?" she hissed, looking around. "We're in public, and that's not the kind of relationship we have."

"Maybe it should be," he countered, crossing his arms across his chest.

"But we're friends, good friends. I… just… No!" She shook her head, sending strands of silky, dark hair flying around her shoulders. Her brain was running as quickly as ants in a disturbed anthill. "Y-you can't just do that to a girl with no warning."

"Did you not feel anything?"

Lenalee's face burned at his question. "That's not the point," she answered tightly.

"Isn't it?" Lavi asked.

"I'm not ready for … this yet. You of all people should know."

"I think you're wrong about the timing." His voice was controlled and confident.

Lenalee could tell that he was adamant in his opinion by the way his jaw was squared stubbornly. Suddenly, she felt his hands close around her shoulders, as he gazed deeply into her eyes.

"I think you are ready," he said. "You are right about one thing - that I would know more than anybody else." His grip tightened on her shoulders. "Since the first time I met you, I always tried to be what you needed. Back in the past, you needed another older brother figure, so that's what I tried to become for you. And then, you just needed a friend you could trust, and so I became that. But you don't need that anymore. You need someone to love and to cherish you. Let me be what you need!" His voice held nothing but conviction, and his visible eye burned brightly with raw emotion.

The passion in his voice and gaze were both things that Lenalee was not accustomed to seeing in the usually cool and playful Lavi. Biting her lip, she felt herself on the brink of an emotional overload. "I-I can't even process this. I-I just have to go and be by myself… to think. I'm sorry, Lavi." Turning her back on him, she walked away from him, heading back towards Headquarters.

"Just think about it," Lavi called to her retreating back.

Although Lenalee didn't say anything, she pressed the tips of her forefinger and middle finger to her lips, recalling the warmth she felt when he had kissed her, knowing very well that she would be thinking about nothing but their kiss for the immediate future.

** I always sort of thought this was the first time Lavi and Lenalee saw each other from the way it was portrayed in the manga... I could be wrong (wouldn't be the first time)... XD;;

TBC (Shortly after now, I hope... *crosses fingers*)