The weeks following my breakdown were particularly hard.

Nero had become increasingly worse in a short period of time. He rarely ate anything and he slept half the time I was here. I'd just hold his hand reassuringly and read Passion Island out loud as he slept.

Sometimes Kyrie would listen and smile and tell me Nero was lucky to have somebody like me. Mentally I'd correct her and say I was lucky to have somebody like him.

The times that Nero was awake I'd read him a couple stories I had been working on. He'd smile and clap and say I would be a wonderful author one day.

And so it was, just because Nero declared it to be.

Then one day I came across a flyer announcing that the hospital was throwing a dance for all the long term teenage patients. I had jumped at the idea of course and after a bit of coaxing on my part, I had convinced both Kyrie and Doctor Brentson that it'd be a good idea.

Nero was let out of the hospital for a day (a pass not easily received) but he still had to have few portable equipment with him to ensure his safety.

We ended up going to a shopping center, on a hunt for finding the perfect tux. Nero insisted we did anything but simple black, he said it'd be much more 'fun.' I merely rolled my eyes and continued on.

Eventually we ended up at some store where the shop keeper kept eyeing Nero like he was contagious and I had to hold myself back from kicking his ass.

Somehow I ended up buying a blue suit.

Yes, blue.

Nero and his sorcery suppose.

Nero in turn bought a white one that -despite the color- looked amazing on him.

Then, after the shopping was over, with we ended up stumbling into a store that sold wigs. Nero insisted that he didn't want me forking over three hundred dollars for something so superficial but immediately I had noticed him idolizing one in particular.

It reminded me of the hair he used to have, snow white, shiny, slightly long. I can see the similarities and why he had been drawn to it so fast. So I made him try it on and he couldn't mask how much he loved it.

I ended up buying it for him after he insisted on buying one for me. In my opinion that day was a good day, its felt like old times again.

On the day of the dance I had arrived right as the clock ticked over to five o' clock. Nero was there of course, looking so much like an angel that my breathing had stopped for a second.

"You look…"

Magnificent?

Stunning?

Godly?

"…beautiful."

Maybe not the most appropriate thing to say, considering his lack of vagina…but…no other word seemed to fit.

Nero merely snorted of course. "A. you don't look so bad yourself stud and B. I thought we already established you were the girl in this relationship?"

"You established it. I never agreed to such blasphemy."

"Too bad you don't have a choice."

Nero puckered his lips playfully and I decided to take that moment to lean down and capture them.

"Shall we go me lady?" Nero rolled his eyes.

"We shall."

The dance, as it turns out, was more depressing then watching daytime television.

I recognized most of these kids from the cancer ward, all looking every bit as pale and ghastly as Nero. Worst was, they danced like living corpses. Each couple moving slower then the last, with expressions saying they didn't want to be here at all.

Nero was the only lively one of the bunch, scooping up his optimistic outlook and pulling me onto the dance floor. The kid had more energy then me.

How…ironic.

"One dance and we're out of this joint. These kids look like zombies."

"Where exactly are we running off to, if you don't mind me asking?"

I dipped Nero gently before pulling him back up to my chest again. "It's a surprise. If I told you that would defeat the purpose, remember? For now…lets just play a little game."

"Checkers?"

"Close. I'll tell you all the things I love about you and you do the same with me. Sound fun?"

"Loads. Aside from the fact that this is just another way for you to act conceited."

"Oh shut up. Stop being a poor sport. Look, I'll go first."

"Alright, don't forget to mention how devilishly handsome I am."

Nero snorted. "I love…the way you're not afraid to be yourself around me. I love how you tease me and you don't handle me as some fragile person that's about to break any second. I love how much you pretend to hate gushy romance when really...you secretly love it. I love that you love the Beatles. I love that you always know what to say to make me feel better. I love that you curse because deep down I think it's hot. I love that you love horses and beaches and that you get jealous because it's cute. I Love…I really love the way you say my name when you get turned on. And most of all…I love how you make everything in my messed up world seem brighter just with a simple smile."

I really didn't have words to comprehend how much I loved Nero at that moment. The first thing I wanted to do was kiss the breath out of him.

Unfortunately though, the song had finished and Nero was dragging off the dance floor and out of the room.

"Is it my turn now?" I questioned breathlessly as we ran down foreign hallways and up endless stairs.

"Yes."

"Well, I love pretty much everything about you Nero Alboeques. I love the composure you keep even when everything seems bleak and dark. I love your eyes; I think I could spend hours just getting lost in them. I love your love for the environment and animals and everything else you lend a helping hand to. I love your optimism. I love your giggly laugh. I love how much you love romance novels and other gushy stuff, even if I'd never admit it. I love how you always know what to say. And most of all...I love how you make everything in my messed up world seem brighter just with a simple smile."

Nero's words had said it best. His smile was better then any medicine out there.

The both of us burst onto the twelfth floor to find it was completely deserted and the only light source was the moon shining through each window, causing the entire hall to be bathed in silver.

The sounds of thunder and rain outside only added to the illusion.

"They're remodeling," Nero whispered as he picked a random room. "Everything's done but the painting and it's a Saturday so no one's around. We have the whole place to ourselves…" My boyfriend pushed me onto the nearest bed, slowly crawling on top of me soon after. "Any suggestions as to how we should spend our new found privacy?"

"I can think of a few things."