The early morning sun arrived with the new day, shining in through the windows and splashing on Bell's face. He blinked himself awake and noticed the weight on his chest. Looking down he saw Lily resting quietly on top of him, peacefully dozing away. Bell took in the morning air and rested on his hands. It was nice having her there, he couldn't deny that. He couldn't very well deny that he enjoyed last night either.

'That was sex' he pondered. It became suddenly clear to him why everyone made a big deal of him being around all the women that he was all the time.

Putting his thoughts aside he saw Lily slowly begin to wake. Her body wriggled about until she pushed off him and sat up. She stretched and yawned before rubbing her face. She sighed and hunched forward then gracelessly landed back on Bell's study chest.

"Morning Bell-kun."

"Good morning, Lily."

"Sleep well?"

"I did. How did you sleep?"

"I couldn't stay awake after all that. I didn't get what all the fuss was about before, but I certainly do now. We should do it again."

The excitement in her voice made Bell feel an odd sense of pride in his abilities to please her. A faint noise downstairs reminded Lily of who was down there. Hestia would be far from pleased if she found Bell smothered in affection by anyone who wasn't her. Not wanting to spoil the memory with a confrontation Lily pried herself away from Bell and met the morning air. She readjusted her cloak and Bell picked up her bag. He felt its resistance but with both hands, he was able to carry it to Lily who carried it with ease.

"Did you want me to walk you home?"

"I would, but you should stay here. Hestia will be awake soon and she'll want you here. Besides I'm I grown girl I can handle myself, that and I know a shortcut that no one uses. See you at the dungeon gate."

"See you later then Lily."

"First," She dropped the bag and stood on it to match his height and kissed him, "I wasn't about to leave without that."

Quickly scooping up her bag, she sped outside and waved at him as she walked off into the distance. When she disappeared around the corner Bell returned to the bedroll. It smelled heavily of their sweat and what Bell assumed two bodies joining as one smelled like. He kicked it into a bundle and left it at the far end of the church. It was a problem for later.

Once more he tiptoed down the stairs to the bedroom he shared with his Goddess. Hestia was as beautiful to Bell as she always was, even as she slept with her hair sprawled all over her pillow. He chuckled to himself, he loved his Goddess, but she wasn't the tidiest deity in all of Orario. Before he could fall into bed, the young adventurer spied a certain accessory of Hestia's left at the foot of the bed. He delicately picked the blue string off the bed and straightened it between his hands. It was long, thin and resonated a strange energy. It was similar to that of when he and Hestia did his stat checking. Feeling childish he wrapped it around his fire casting hand like a bandage. His magic was usually a faint feeling in his hand, and even then it was only when he focused on it, with the string he could feel the power sitting on the tips of his fingers. He unwrapped his hand and put the magical fashion piece back where he found it. The feeling of power faded as quickly as he took it off.

Tired again, he climbed into bed. Hestia's warmth was welcoming and he couldn't help but snuggle closer to her. For the second time that day he woke someone with a smile.

"Bell?"

"Morning, Kami-sama."

She opened her arms for a hug and Bell gladly obliged, too slow to remember that Hestia slept in the nude when he wasn't there. With unexpected vigour, she locked his head in her bosom and prepared for a struggle. There was none. Hestia opened her eyes to find her precious Bell-kun with his head betwixt her breasts, face as red as a ripe tomato, but almost completely unmoving. This was strange, she wasn't sure to enjoy the moment, crack a joke, or be concerned. She chose the latter.

"Are you okay, Bell? You're usually more…"

"Kami-sama."

"Yes?"

"…Nothing."

Hestia's worry only grew at the dismissal. Was it something she did? Was it something someone else did? Before the Hearth Goddess could speak again Bell nuzzled her cleavage and hugged her tighter and shut his eyes. Whatever was bothering him he would tell her in his own time, she had loved him long enough to know that. Still, she worried all the same and sleep did not come as easily.

A few hours drifted by uneventfully and Hestia's eyes opened as Bell pulled himself free of her. She decided not to fight him, he didn't seem upset but he was clearly pondering something. In a few minutes, was he dressed for a fight and armed to win it. His goodbyes were in his regular happy-go-lucky manner of being, but Hestia couldn't shake the feeling of suspicion. She sighed then moved for to get ready for her own job. The uniform constricted her generous curves and made breathing harder than it had to be, but work was work and she was off to make the best of it.

Down in the dungeon, the small band of adventurers had barely gone down a floor before their first encounter. Bell lunged forward plunging his knife into the lizardry creature's eye, killing it instantly. Its squeal was over quickly and it burst into its magic stone form.

Lily's quick hands had it in the pouch just as two more goblins could appear. The two warriors readied their blades to the monsters and charged in parallel formation.

Welf swung a broad attack at his green foe, but the goblin ducked aside and returned the slash. A loud clanging noise rang out as it's meagre blade met with his armour. Welf slammed his knee into the goblin's jaw. It dropped its weapon and clutched at its broken mouth. The warrior stepped back and ran his blade through its chest. Meanwhile, Bell and his opponent were springing back and forth avoiding each other's slashes. As the dance of blades went on the goblin grew sluggish and missed his turn to dodge a lethal stab that struck his torso. It clutched at the wound with its free hand and burst into a cloud of black mist. The two stones found their way into the pouch and the trio pressed onwards.

Four more floors of no conversation Welf broke the silence.

"Is something wrong?" The question was undirected, and more of an offer to speak up than anything else. When no one answered Welf turned on his heel. "Right. Not having this. Time to speak up or we all go home."

"What do you mean 'we all go home'?" Lily demanded

"So you can talk. How unfortunate."

The Pallum just scowled at him

"Well, we're too far down for just two adventurers as low levelled as us to survive any further than this, and if I don't get an answer out of either of you I'm headed back."

"Welf, nothing is wrong. Really."

The warrior wasn't satisfied with Bell's answer either.

"Right then," He casually rested his sword on his shoulder, "if that's how it's going to be then I'm out of here."

Bell and Liliruca both called out to their annoyed companion. It was agreed that there was, in fact, nothing wrong and everyone was just being quiet. After that, the silence was just awkward the rest of the day was written off.

What little profit they gained was split between them and they all went about finding something to fill the remained of their day. Bell headed directly for the Hostess of Fertility pub, he needed some advice. The city wasn't anywhere near as busy as it usually was, all the adventurers were likely to be earning their gold in the dungeon. The pub was as empty as the streets were and only a few seats were full. Bell wondered inside and was instantly noticed by Syr, his biggest admirer at the pub. The waitress was pleasantly surprised to see him there and waved to bring him over. The greeting was a mess of his troubled attitude and her own upbeat mood. His face was too troubled to ignore, whatever had him down was too much to hide.

"What's wrong?" she asked, bluntly

Bell gave a weak smile. "Nothing's wrong, it's just…"

"Just?"

"I want to make Hestia really happy, and I have an idea how I can, but I don't know how to do it."

"Oh?" Syr was certainly interested now, word of Hestia was often on Bell's lips but never did he go into detail about his connection to her beyond being stronger for her, "What's the plan, hero, candles, music and midnight dinner under the stars?"

"N-no, not really. Is that something girls like?"

She leant flirtatiously close to Bell, "Well I do," she hinted, "and I can't think of a girl who doesn't. Even Ryuu likes a bit of romance and she's as uptight as they come."

The humour did lighten Bell's mood. Though he wasn't about to share the intimate details his problem with Syr. It wasn't something he wanted to elaborate on, especially not with her. He sidestepped around that particular conversation by making up a problem about finding a good gift. Just something to please his Goddess until he could find a way to take her on a proper date, so the lie went. Syr made a few recommendations but kept her best suggestions for when Bell would buy something for her, and someday he would. Unfortunately, everything that sounded to Hestia's liking was out of the financial reach of a small-time adventurer. The Waitress jumped at as she felt Mia's large hand on her shoulder, too distracted by Bell as he was leaving to notice her.

"Go with him, Syr," She said with a grin, "these seats will be empty until sundown. Besides, he looks like he could use the company."

Her face lit up at the words, she hugged Mia and then proceeded to take Bell by the collar and drag him back to her room. The door slammed shut behind him before Bell realised where he was. Syr's forest green dress, bonnet and all, fell to the floor leaving her clothed in only her underwear. Her body was finely shaped, her hips were rounded and her skin was flawless. Bell just couldn't keep his eyes off her figure, which she wasn't about to let go unnoticed. Wiggling her hips, she winked at Bell, "See something you like?"

"Yes. I mean no- I mean yes! Gah!"

Embarrassed, he averted his gaze to the floor. Syr giggled at his reaction, she swayed her way over to him and slapped both her hands on his shoulders. He was forced to look at her as she smiled. She made the best of his attention by nuzzling his nose. Syr broke out into laughter as Bell broke into a blush.

Though one thing that surprised her is that he wasn't fighting it. At all.

His hands were clenched, his eyes were sealed closed, his breathing was heavy and she could practically hear his heart pounding away like the drum of an enthusiastic bard. The boy had changed, or was on his way to changing, and she liked it. As fun as it was, she had a vision of both of them together and this wasn't a part of it. Just as well she did because an intrusive Mia beat on the door to rush the pair along. She wasn't having any of that, not while she home at least. Both Syr and Bell were red in the face. With a renewed dedication to the task at hand, Syr was dressed and out the door in no time at all. The barkeeper could only chuckle at them as they left.

"Bring her back before sunset, Little Rookie" She called to Bell as if he had any control over the situation.

Syr seemed to know a little about kind of girl and what they might like. The information was undoubtedly useful, Bell made a mental note of almost every word. He soon forgot what it was he was trying to accomplish was swept up in the day of window shopping and watching his date try on dresses. Syr was enjoying herself immensely, so he was glad that the day had some merit to it, at least. The moon began to take its place in the sky and the two headed home for the Fertility Bar. The light grey haired maiden took Bell's hand and hummed a tune all the way. Light brimmed under the door and the noise of the busy night rush was only just beginning.

"Well, here we are. Thanks for walking me home you dashing gentlemen you. What do you say to some hot food before you head off? On the house of course. Now don't give me that look, c'mon, I'll make you something, Hestia too."

Bell was dragged into the joyful chaos that was the tavern and took a seat while Syr disappeared into the kitchen. The rowdy sounds of the bar were impossible to ignore and Bell's ears picked up on all sorts of random conversation.

"There were four- no six! Bugbears, each one of them out for my blood-"

"And so I says to the chick, 'Look, it ain't my fault if this toothpick you call a sword wasn't made for chopping trees. It's broke now and I want a refund-"

"Then she ran her fingers through my hair begging me to keep going, and who am I to deny a maiden what she wants, ey?"

That last one stole Bell's full attention. His neck snapped to look at them. There were three of them seated. A hearty dwarf, and two slender elves, one slender and the other scarred. The dwarf was boasting still, telling tales of all the ways he made his wife call his name. The other two seemed mildly impressed, nodding their head in acknowledgement of the dwarf's sexual feats. The slender elf raised his mug in a show of challenge to his friend. He spoke of his masterful fingering technique. Not simply plunging in, but teetering upon brim of her entrance, and being gentle. Bell couldn't keep from listening in to their conversation, they definitely knew what they were talking about so it was probably worth listening to.

A box of food dropped down in front of Bell and his attention returned to Syr. She and Mia smiled and wished a safe trip home. The night was just dragging over the sky by the time Bell made it home to the church. He fell onto the bed, still both armed and armoured, and let the serenity of home wash over him as he tried to put his thoughts in order.

His Goddess was important to him. In a way that went beyond a famila's dedication to their deity. She loved him, gave him everything and he realised more and more that he loved her just the same. He couldn't tell her; he couldn't just tell her. Words were never going to be enough. No, he had to show her. He couldn't do romance; it wasn't something they could afford. Not unless he pulled from the money he had saved for the church and Hestia would never allow that. Were it not for the bothersome weight of his armour and the faint smell of the food he would have fallen fast asleep where was.

There was a banging at the door and Hestia soon found her precious warrior drifting in a half awake half asleep sort of limbo. She frowned at the sight and quietly made her way over to him. Sitting beside him she began to work at his armour, she'd seen him put it on enough to know how to take it off. It all slide off as easily as she hoped until she finally got to his chest piece. He was going to have to be awake for that. She decided to undo her own uniform first. Free to breathe again she nudged Bell back into active consciousness though he seemed less than enthusiastic to be so.

"Bell? Bell, I need to take your armour off."

"Kami-sama? Why are you back so early?"

"Oh, Bell." Tears welled in the Goddess's eyes "Bell, it's late. What is the matter? Please, what is wrong?"

Bell did his best to roll over to face her better.

"Nothing is wrong, Goddess. I promise. The dungeons were just a little much today."

The words didn't mean much if anything at all to Hestia. He was lying, but whatever was bothering him, she wasn't going to get it like this. He refused to burden her with his problems, it was his idea of being strong. Without another word on the subject, she began to loosen his chest piece. He stood up awkwardly and removed it himself. Hestia crawled into bed and tried not to think anymore. Bell slid in beside her and hugged her. He tried to be forward, to take an inactive and put some show behind his false words, but Hestia was too distraught to respond to his embrace.

"Keeping it all inside like this doesn't make you strong, Bell" She whispered, but he didn't answer.

'I'm not trying to be strong,' he thought, 'I just need to find the right way to love you'

A.N. This story took on a life of its own and is not quite yet finished. I did not intend for this to be anything more than a LilyxBell one-shot, or for the follow up to be this emotional, but here we are. This is a part one, and hopefully, part two isn't far behind with a solution for the sad. Thank you all for the favorites, they have not gone unnoticed.