Nashi's eyes fluttered open and she looked up at the ceiling in the infirmary of the Hall. She had seen it enough times to know what it looked like. She gave herself a minute of slow breathing before trying to sit up. A gentle hand coaxed her to lay back down.

Nashi looked over, saw her mother, and damn near fell out of bed.

Her mother raised a concerned eyebrow and fixed her hair teasingly. "Oh, do I look that bad?"

Nashi let herself calm down and gave an uneasy laugh. "No. I just... I'm not used to waking up with you there." She mentally punched herself for saying it that way.

Lucy, however gave her an understanding smile and nodded, holding Nashi's hand softly. "I know, but, if you both still want me around, you and your father will be seeing me a lot more often."

Nashi smiled excitedly.

"It'll be so nice to see you all again," Lucy said. "And especially you. I missed you so much. I sat healing in the celestial spirit world and I watched you grow and I was only bothered about missing it all. You've grown to be such a fantastic wizard and girl I just..." She took a shuddering breath and got up to hug Nashi. "I'm so glad to have you back, baby."

Nashi smiled, making a mental note to talk to her about the whole "baby" thing later. She just enjoyed the company, the hug, for now.

Then, she remembered Storm and how she hadn't finished talking to him.

"Mom, where's Storm?"

Lucy gave her a playful smile, nodding to a sofa against the opposite wall where Storm lay in what looked like a really uncomfortable position, but he was fast asleep, his hair messy and arm dangling off of the sofa.

"He's been sleeping there every night since he got you here. Two days," she said. "I told him he didn't have to do that, but he was pretty insistent that he had to be here when you woke up."

Nashi's cheeks felt warm and she sighed. "Mom..."

"He's a very handsome boy, Nashi," Lucy started.

"Mom."

"Great hair. Nice eyes. Charming smile."

"Mom."

"And those muscles. I mean, it's hardly an issue that he strips everywhere he goes like his Dad."

"Mom!"

"Alright, alright," Lucy said with a repressed smile. "I'll go." She stood, gently waking Storm before walking out of the room with a little wink to her daughter.

Nashi sighed, sitting up slowly with her back against the pillows. The sun gently touched her cheek and she smiled gently. Arabella was gone. She had taken so much, and she was gone.

Just then, Storm sat by her side in the chair Lucy had been in with his usual smile, his exhaustion only obvious by his eyes, the blue a little dimmer than usual.

"Hey," Nashi said gently. "Tired much?"

He smiled slightly, taking one of her hands in his. Nashi's face grew warm, but he didn't say anything. "Don't make fun of me. I've had a long couple of days."

"Oh? You too?"

"Geez, Sass Master." He replied with mock hurt. "I had to run you back here and I'm super worried the whole time and then you sleep for two days and I'm freaking out. Then, my Mom tells me she's having another kid and I'm... Geez. Been a long day."

Nashi giggled, running her fingers gently over the back of his hands. "Sounds ... Busy."

He laughed. "No kidding."

"And somehow, you made time to come sleep on this couch just to make sure you could be here when I woke up. What a gentleman," she said.

He smiled, his usual little Fullbuster smile, but today, Nashi saw something different in it. There was something less teasing about the look he gave her and his pink cheeks made her a little tense, but not in a bad way. She looked at him curiously until he moved the chair to lean his elbows on the bed.

"I just... I got worried you wouldn't wake up and there was that knife thing on your back and I had some stuff I wanted to tell you," he mumbled, growing quieter with every word.

Nashi raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything.

"It's just...I didn't know I'd be so worried about you, and that day we spent together, before they nabbed you," he took a slow breath as he spoke, "Well, I wanted more of those days. I've always loved being with you. It's more fun when we're together."

Nashi gave him a sincere smile before looking down as her cheeks grew burning hot.

"I uh... Well, I wanted to know if I could have like... One day... Kinda like that... But where I take you out... And pay and... We dress nice..." He coughed to clear his throat. "Like a date."

Nashi didn't know what to say. She had know Storm Fullbuster her whole life and had always loved being his friend. Sure, it had crossed her mind, but she had never thought dating him would... The idea suddenly seemed so right. She felt that. She had always felt something.

When she looked up, his blue eyes caught hers uneasily and he leaned a bit closer.

"I just... I guess I've always kinda thought about it, Nash," he said, honesty seeming like the only way to let himself be heard. "I mean, we've always been best friends."

She nodded, leaning a bit closer to him. "And being more..."

"It wouldn't be so bad," he said in almost a whisper. By then, his words fell in a soft breath on her lips.

She blushed, tilting her head slightly. "I think I'll take you up on that, Icicle Breath."

His lips brushed hers as he said, "Well, good 'cuz if not I was gonna sound really stupid just now, Smoky."

When they kissed, Nashi felt her heart catch in her throat. Her. Kissing Storm Fullbuster. Who'da thought it?

He tasted like a snow cone and she smiled slightly under his lips before they pulled back from the kiss and leaned their foreheads on each other's.

"I knew it! Mira, I told you!"

Lucy stood in the doorway, hands over her wide, smiling lips.

Nashi's blush grew redder. "Mom..."

"Oh, excuse me," Mira said from her side with an unashamed smile. "I have to go collect 100 jewel from Lisanna. She didn't think it would happen, but I told her." Her voice faded away with Lucy's trailing behind.

Nashi turned back to Storm and they couldn't help but laugh a little. And kiss a little more.

Sorry about the ddelay, guys. I've been having serious computer issues and I'm having to do this from a tablet. But, here you go. Its almost the end of the series and I've just started working on the next one. I hope I'll see you all reading that one too ^^

Don't forget to show support through favorites, followings, and comments.

Most of all, thanks for reading ^^

-J