Shout out to Ahdaze for the delightful review! Keep 'em comin', folks, I run on these! The more reviews I get the more exited I get that people are reading my stories and liking them. The more exited I get the faster I right and update!

Sorry for the wait, this chapter was a bit harder to write, but it is longer so I hope it was worth the wait :)

The next day, Antonio hung around until he saw the red convertible pull into the parking lot. He immediately perked up, and bounded towards it as much as his slightly clumsy human legs would allow.

It wasn't until he was closer that he saw there wasn't one but two girls in the car. Virtually identical, very pretty girls. One was chattering away in Italian, the other scowling.

"'Morning, Lovi," he said to the scowling one, greeting her with a bright smile.

The girl glared at him, opening her mouth to no doubt assault him with a new vulgar insult judging by her expression, but whatever it was turned into a colossal coughing fit.

The smile drained from Antonio's face, replaced with concern. Lovina was practically doubled over, fist pressed over her mouth as coughing worthy of a sixty year-old cigarette addict tore from her throat. The other girl scampered around hurriedly, fishing a water bottle from the car and thrusting it into her sister's hands.

Lovina grabbed it, chugging half the water before she came up for air.

"I told you, you should have stayed home," said the sister worriedly. "You're sick. You shouldn't go to school when you're sick."

Lovina glared at her, stuffing the water bottle into her backpack. "I'm find, idiot. It's just a cough."

"Are you sure?" asked Antonio worriedly.

"I said I'm fine," snapped Lovina, stomping towards the school.

Turning to the sister, Antonio asked, "How long has she been like that?"

"Since she came home yesterday. She's always thirsty and the coughing just gets worse," she said sadly, starting after her. But then she stopped, turning to smile at him. "I'm Feliciana, by the way. Thanks for saving her life yesterday."

With that, she bounded up the sidewalk.

Antonio barely heard the last part. The color hightailed it after his smile, leaving him as white as a sheet.

Since she came home. Since I saved her life. Since I gave her CPR. Since I kissed her.

That would explain how he seemed to be able to read her so easily. He had forged the bond. It was a key piece of Mer magic, as well as why the princess of Atlantica was on dry land in the first place. Legend had it that the first sea witch, not wanting her people to live alone in the dark, cold ocean, had created bonds. Bond mates were created by magic via kiss. It was empathetic as well as magical. A normal bond could allow you to sense the feelings of your bond-mate and their well being. Sometimes, only one in three, there were bonds that connected what humans called soul mates. They ran deeper, truer, the bonds themselves stronger.

The bond also, when preformed on a human, would begin altering them. It would hardly do to have a life made drown, now would it? The affects were virtually immediate, but easily dealt with. In fact they were hardly more than what Mer experienced on dry land. They only became a problem if you went too long without the sea or a salty bath.

And all it took was a single kiss.

Slowly, dazed, Antonio trailed the twins into the school. He tried to look for them, but it was lunch before he was able to find them again.

"Lovina," he called, trotting over to her as they made their way to the cafeteria.

The Italian turned to glare at him mid-cough. "What do you- cough! –want?"

"I, um, I know why you're like this," he said, looking down at his shuffling feet.

Lovina faced him, eyes narrowing. "What?"

"You're not sick, but you're not normal either."

She grabbed his arm, dragging him out of the fray and out a side door. She marched him out to the half-filled picnic tables and turned to face him.

"Explain, now."

"I'm not really, well, normal, either," he said, fumbling to explain it. He'd been so busy worrying and looking for her he hadn't thought about just how he'd tell her. "And when I kissed you, it started something."

"You have a chronic dieses or something?" she asked, taking a step back.

"No," he said hurriedly. "It's not a sickness, more like a condition. Look, you'll be fine, just drink lots of salty water and take salty baths, long ones."

Lovina gave him a long look. Finally she said, "Nothing I chug seems to help, bastard. Why would salty water make a difference? You know that stuff just makes you throw up."

"Please, just try it? I'm sorry about all this, I didn't mean for it to happen."

"That's the first thing you've said that makes sense," she muttered, and stalked back into the school.

BREAK*BREAK*BREAK

"Are you out of your mind?"

Antonio winced, taking a step back as he held the side of his head. While he'd never been very close to Alice, they did get along and he'd thought it best he come clean sooner before later about what had happened. Besides, she was still the princess. Rumor had it she wasn't above barrowing her father's trident if she was mad enough.

"It was an accident," he protested for the second time. "Honest."

Alice glared at him, arms folded. When Antonio had pulled her aside before lunch, she'd been a little worried, but she'd never thought he would actually kiss someone. Seriously! Yes she was glad he'd saved her life, but it was the one thing every Mer was hyper-aware of. The kiss was the first thing you learned about when parents gave you what the humans called 'the birds and bees talk'.

"What are you going to do about it?" she asked after what she felt was a sufficient amount of glaring.

Antonio frowned. "I don't want to erase her memory," he said, but hesitated. "I think...the bond formed faster than I thought it was supposed to. I'd like to give it a try."

"Do you plan on telling her about us?"

He considered this. "I'll tell her what I am. If she takes it well enough I might."

"You do realize this is Lovina Vargas you're talking about, right? She almost ripped Ludwig's head off when she heard he asked Feliciana out. My first year here she hospitalized a guy after he slapped her butt."

"Only over night," protested Antonio.

Alice gave him a look, but shook her head, sighing. "It's your hide, Carriedo. And if it doesn't work, you'll be the one wiping her memory."

BREAK*BREAK*BREAK

When Alice got home after school, the first thing she did was raid her closet. After serious consideration, she had it narrowed down to her two favorite outfits. Satisfied she'd done a decent job narrowing it down, she called in Aunt Rachel to help her decide.

Her human aunt pursed her lips, regarding the two outfits laid out on her bed. "What did you say this was for again, poppet?"

Alice huffed. "He asked me to model for him."

"There are two very nice dresses in your closet that you never wear, dear. Why not one of those?"

"Because he said comfortable. If I'm going to be sitting as still as possible I don't want it to be in one of those things. I'll be sore if I'm stiff as a statue for hours on end. Besides, all the students registered in the art festival had to submit what theme or concept their art would be centered around." She pulled a copy of the school paper from her backpack and handed it to Rachel, pointing out the article. "'Young or old, big or small, there's beauty in them all.' He said well rounded portraiture, so I'm assuming that doesn't mean he'll be looking for perfection here. Besides, these are my favorites, and if he has a problem with them I'm chasing the wrong fin."

Rachel was still studying the article. "And you just happened to cover this story?"

Alice snatched the paper away. "Are you going to help me or not?"

BREAK*BREAK*BREAK

The next morning, Alice woke up early, grabbing a quick breakfast before getting ready. After some debate, Aunt Rachel had blended the two outfits together tastefully. When Alice studied herself in the mirror, she was clad in calf-high black biker boots with silver buckles up the side, white tights, a knee length red plaid skirt, and a white button down blouse. She meticulously brushed out her long sandy blond hair, using her favorite set of seashell barrettes to pin it in two loose pigtails. With a little help from Aunt Rachel, she managed to apply mascara, light eye shadow, and a little lip-gloss. Alright, so she had a habit of dropping the application-wands. Aunt Rachel did most of it, though she hated to admit it.

Alice was giving herself a triple-check in the mirror to make sure everything was just right when someone knocked on the door. She started, spooking Aunt Rachel's Scottish fold. Apologizing hurriedly to Crumpet, Alice went to open it before Aunt Rachel could get to it.

There stood Alfred on their doorstep, smile on his face and hands in his pockets. In any other instance Alice would have felt a bit overdressed, considering he was just clad in cargo shorts and a Captain America t-shirt, but then he wasn't going to be the one modeling.

"Hey, you look good. Ready?"

Alice nodded, glancing back at Aunt Rachel as she stepped outside and shut the door. She felt her face heat as the human just grinned and gave her a thumbs up before the door shut. Once outside she cleared her throat and asked, "So did you have a place in mind?"

"There's a studio at the school, it has all the props."

"Eh, props?" she asked as he opened the passenger side door.

"Yep. I'm not a pro yet, so a controlled setting is easier to work with. Consistent background, consistent light, stuff like that," said Alfred as he came around. "You don't mind, do you?"

"No, just curious."

"Mr. Vargas gave me a master key, so we shouldn't have a problem getting in. I just had to promise him not to vandalize anything."

Alice frowned. "How did he get the master key?"

Alfred grinned as he started to pull out. "I didn't ask. I kinda don't wanna know."

After considering this, Alice decided he was probably right.

"If you don't mind my asking, why did you choose models this year?" From what she'd heard, realism wasn't his general forte. The last two years he'd done hero's. Freshmen year he'd done comic book hero's, like Superman and Ironman, and sophomore year he'd done real-life hero's, such as firemen policemen and soldiers. What's more, according to Yuki when they took breaks from gaming they were working on making their own comic book with Alfred doing most of the artwork.

"I was running out of hero-themes, and Mr. Vargas said that if I couldn't branch out he wouldn't let me in the festival this year."

"How do you make time for everything?" asked Alice before she could stop herself.

Alfred glanced at her. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you're on the football team, you're in the art festival, you're in the science club, you're making a comic book, and you're a regular at MMORPG battle royals," she said, ticking them off her fingers, deciding she might as well keep going. "How the bloody hell do you manage all that and still have time to sleep at night?"

Alfred blinked. "I guess I never added up what all I do," he mused, tone thoughtful. "Wait, how do you know I do all that stuff?"

Alice blushed. "Either it's common knowledge, you told me yourself, or Yuki told me." While this was true, she was hardly about to admit she'd been keeping an eye on him for the past year.

"Well there's coffee, and I do sleep, just ask Maddie. She's the one dragging my butt out of bed in the morning." He chuckled, then said, "She gets pretty creative when she starts threatening. Half the time I wake up laughing"

Alice frowned. "Are we talking about the same Madeline?" The girl was a classmate and friend, though they weren't as close as her and Yuki. The Canadian was soft spoken, sweet, and wouldn't hurt a fly.

"I only have the one sister. I'll admit she doesn't get worked up often, but when she does you know it. This one time when we were kids she gave me a chewing out of a lifetime." He shuttered. "Trust me, you don't want to get on her bad side."

"I'll take your word for it," said Alice after a minute. She still had a hard time believing it, though she didn't think Alfred was lying either. Why would he?

"You got any sisters?"

Alice made a face. "I wish. No, I just have the four brothers."

Alfred looked surprised. "Four? Seriously?"

"Yes. They're all older than me, too."

"They still down in Miami?"

"Yes. Fortunately they plan on staying there," she said, folding her arms.

"Why? You don't get along?"

"Not exactly. There's fifteen years between me and Scott, the oldest, and ten between myself and William, the youngest. The twins are thirteen years older than me. At least William and I just ignored each other most of the time. The twins liked to play pranks on everyone, especially me. As for Scott...I was glad when he mate- married, so he left me alone more."

"Is she nice at least?"

Alice chuckled. "Oh, very. Too nice for the likes of him, I think. But she keeps him in line better than anyone."

"Sorry y'all don't really get along," said Alfred soberly. "I know I drive Maddie crazy sometimes, but I can't imagine not getting along with her."

"What, she doesn't return the favor?" asked Alice, arching a brow.

"No. I don't think I have anything to worry about until she brings a boy home."

Alice thought back over the last week at school, when Madeline had timidly asked her about Gilbert. Not a day later her fellow Mer had pounced on her and demanded any and all information on the violet eyed girl. Considering how much emphasis she put on the Canadian's protective older brother, Gilbert didn't seem overly phased. Though she doubted Alfred would agree Gilbert was too awesome to beat up, as the albino claimed, she had to admit there were worse Mer to be mated to. For all his ignoramus, over-inflated ego, Gilbert did have a serious side, and he did care for those closest to him, Ludwig being a primary example.

As he pulled into the school parking lot Alfred said, "Oh, by the way, that friend of yours, Mei right? She doesn't have a boyfriend?"

Alice started. "Wh-What?" she demanded, trying not to choke on the word.

Apparently not noticing, Alfred went on, "No one back in Miami? Ivan's completely smitten with her, and I've never seen the guy like that, but I don't want him to get mixed up in anything either, ya know?"

Alice felt the tension drain out of her. "Oh, no, she's not with anyone. Ivan? As in the very tall Russian Ivan?"

"Yep," said Alfred, grinning as he cut the engine. "I've known the guy twelve years and I'm pretty sure he never knew girls existed."

"Eh, don't take this the wrong way, but are you sure he's...safe?" asked Alice as she carefully climbed out of the truck.

"Safe? Yeah, sure, why?"

"I don't usually believe rumors, and I don't, but he doesn't exactly make an effort to dispute them," said Alice, reluctant to actually speak her mind. Somehow she doubted saying, "Your best friend scares me and I'm afraid for Mei to go near him," would go over well.

She was surprised when Alfred laughed. "I don't know if they're true or not myself, but I can tell you right now that he's a big softie when he's not being a maniac. If you were on the other team or you did something to make him mad, it'd be another story. But he doesn't hit girls, and I wasn't kidding when I said he was smitten. I keep trying to get him to talk to her but he won't listen."

Alice didn't quite believe all that, but she wanted to. Mei had six older sisters, and had lived in their shadow for most of her life. Not only were they more exuberant, but if you asked any one of them then they would claim to be the prettiest. It was one of the reasons Mei had come on land, to get away from them. Alice wanted her to be happy, she deserved that much, so if only for Mei's sake she hoped Alfred was right.

By the time Alfred was unlocking the double doors to the art room, he was chattering about the upcoming game, and Alice was half listening. She drifted inside as Alfred went over to one side of the warehouse-like room, not turning on any of the lights. Alice trailed after him, wondering if she should tell him she didn't know the difference between a running back and a fullback, when he started turning on prop lights.

After adjusting the two lights, he started flipping through sheets of cloth pinned to a rolling track twelve feet up the ceiling.

"Hey, can you come over here for a sec?"

Stepping carefully over snaking wires she asked, "Just what do you have in mind?"

"I need a plain background, but it has to fit," he said, pulling out a few sheet tails.

Alice studied them, head tilted slightly. She had no idea what went into this sort of thing, but she assumed Alfred knew what he was doing. That said, she didn't like the way his brow was furrowed or the way he was gnawing on his lip.

"Have you done this before?" she asked as he kept holding up different sheets.

"Nope. You're my first."

Alice couldn't decide whether to be pleased or irritated. "Do you even know what you're doing?"

"Yes," he protested, dropping the red and orange sheets. "I figured it wouldn't be much different than a still-life."

"A what?"

"You know, when you just set something up, like a bowl of fruit or something."

Propping her hands on her hips, Alice told him tartly, "I am not a bloody bowl of fruit."

"I know, I know," he said, dropping the yellow and brown sheets.

"Then just how were you planning on doing this?"

"I know I can draw people, you'll just be the first one I draw that's not in a picture."

"A picture doesn't need to eat or go to the bathroom," she informed him, still a little irritated.

He blinked at her. "Do you need to do that now or...?"

"I will if I'm sitting still for the next five hours, or however long this is going to take."

Alfred pouted. "It's not going to take that long, I told you just a few hours."

"And I believed you, back when I thought you knew what you're doing."

"I do know what I'm doing, I'm just not used to drawing living things in person," he said, tugging the white and green cloths down from their pins.

Alice stepped back as he marched smartly over to where the lights were pointing, dragging the clothes with him. She pursed her lips, watching as he climbed up to pin the white cloth across the wall. After pinning it down on three sides to make sure it was taunt, he draped the green cloth over the floor, again making sure there weren't any creases.

With that he picked up a bench from a clutter of random chairs and tables in one corner, dropped it down in the middle of the green cloth, and stepped back. "What do you think?"

"I have no idea, I'm not an artist," she told him honestly.

When he gave her a mournful look she held up her hands. "My idea of being artistic is a stick figure, Alfred. That's as far as my abilities go."

Rolling his eyes, he went to get a different bench from a different clutter. This one was more wedge shaped, and had a plank sticking up from the narrow end of the wedge. It looked a bit odd to Alice, but as she watched he fetched a square board from one wall, and set about securing a large square sheet of paper to it via blue tape around all four edges. He set the board on the bench, propping it against the upright plank, and went over to one of the lights.

Gesturing to the bench on the clothes he said, "Take a seat."

Suddenly a bit nervous, Alice minced her way across the cloth and sat carefully on the bench.

"You look like a statue," said Alfred as he adjusted one of the lights.

Alice made a face. "Well I am going to be sitting still for the next several hours."

"Can you try to relax? Look natural. Think boring class lecture."

"You want me to imagine Mr. Bruner droning for the next few hours?" she asked incredulously, though she did try to readjust herself. She scooted back a bit more on the bench so more of her was seated on it, putting her ankles together and assuming as much of a lady-like pose as biker boots allowed. Elizabeta thought she was crazy for liking them, as opposed to the freedom of flip-flops, but Alice liked the protection from toe-banging that the boots provided.

"If I imagine that, I'm going to fall asleep."

Alfred, who had been arranging pencils and pastels on a small table within reach, gave her a scandalized look. "Mr. Bruner doesn't drone."

"Yes, he does. It's a bloody math class, it's in the job description."

"Just because it's math doesn't mean it's boring," objected Alfred, picking up the drawing board. He sat astride the bench, propping the board on his legs and the upright plank. "English is another story."

"That is the most interesting class I have to endure," Alice informed him. "I find falling asleep in class rude, but it's that fin-flipping Calculus class that pushes it."

Alfred's eyebrows lifted as he selected a pencil, holding it at arm's length as he eyed her critically. "One, I actually do fall asleep in English class. Two...fin-flipping?"

Alice blushed, but decided to stick to her guns. "Yes, fin-flipping. I'm sure I'm not the only one with that sentiment."

"I don't think I've heard that one before," mused Alfred.

"Are you going to draw or stare at me through that pencil?" asked Alice in a clipped voice, not liking the direction this was going. She wanted to keep Alfred as far away from her Mer roots as possible until she was sure of him.

"I'm getting the proportions and markers right," he said making a few marks on the paper. Then he returned to aiming the end of his pencil down the length of his arm, keeping one eye shut as he adjusted the angle. "This is what keeps you from looking like a bobble head with tiny arms."

Alice sighed, watching him as he went to work, pencil scratching away. After a moment he grabbed an eraser, giving the paper a swipe every now and then as he worked, eyes flicking up to her periodically. They sat in silence for several minutes before he said, "You gotta talk to me or turn on the radio. I'm bored."

Alice's jaw dropped. "Are you bloody kidding me? I'm the model here, if anyone gets bored it should be me."

"Hey, what can I say? I have a short attention span. Besides, I work faster if I'm not bored."

The princess sighed. "And just what do want me to talk about?"

"Anything."

Alice pursed her lips. "How far have you and Yuki gotten on that comic book?"

"We're about halfway done with the master copy. Why?"

"What's it about?"

That goofy grin returned to Alfred's face as he worked. "It's about a hero, the best comic books are."

Alice wasn't sure how long the detailed account of the comic's creation went on, but it included every detail, from the brainstorming process to deciding on which powers the hero would have to arguing over the villain's back-story. Honestly the only reason Alice didn't tune him out after a while was because she had a fondness for stories, and a part of her wanted to be genuinely interested.

"Ready for a break?"

Alice blinked a few times, shifting in her seat to find her backside virtually numb. Grimacing slightly, she stood carefully. "Can I see it?"

"No, it's not done yet."

She frowned, but let it go. As he stood and stretched, his t-shirt lifted just enough to show a sliver of tan skin. As she ripped her eyes away, she saw Alfred frown.

"You hear something?"

Alfred's previous chatter had tuned it out, but now as they both listened Alice could make out the faint sound of music. Piano music.

"Is that...Roderich?"

"Let's go see," said Alfred, making for the door.

"Do a lot of people come here during the weekends?"

"No, I thought it'd be empty. That's why I wanted to do this now instead of during the week. No distractions."

Alice pursed her lips, trying to tread more carefully as they got closer to the music room. Alfred slowed his pace as they neared the door, peeking inside carefully. Alice bent down and peered around him, half wondering why they were sneaking in the first place.

Sure enough, Roderich was at the piano, fingers dancing on the keys. And perched on the edge of his bench was Elizabeta, clad in a green dress. Sure Alice had known Roderich hadn't seemed inclined to send her friend scurrying, but she hadn't heard anything about a date.

Alfred eased back away from the door, Alice following suit. Once they were far enough away from the door, she asked, "Why are we sneaking around?"

"You don't want to disturb Roderich while he's playing. I'm assuming that goes double for when he's playing for someone. Gotta say, that's the first time he's taken to anyone."

Alice pursed her lips. "The same for Elizabeta. How's the portrait coming?"

"So far so good. It'll still take another couple of hours though. You wanna do some of the talking this time?"

Alice shrugged. "I don't mind listening."

He gave one of her pigtails a playful tug, saying, "Come on, Iggy, please?"

The princess stopped in her tracks. "What did you just call me?" she spluttered

Alfred grinned at her. "Iggy. It's all I'm gonna call you unless you start talking. You listen too much, I wanna know more."

For a moment Alice just stared at him. First of all, the name was unacceptable. What sort of name was Iggy, playful or otherwise? And second...it was the first time someone had asked her to talk about herself. It wasn't a request she got often, especially as a princess.

"Fine," she muttered, stalking past him. "But I don't see why. There's nothing interesting about me."

"I doubt that, Iggy."

"Must you keep calling me that?"

"I kinda like it," said the human, goofy grin back on his face.

Alice groaned. And this is the human I want as a life-mate?

Still, she had to admit as she settled back on the bench Alfred did have a number of redeeming qualities if he did end up her life-mate. He didn't discriminate, for one thing. Frankly she wondered if he even knew the meaning of the word. He was friendly and cheerful with everyone, and he wasn't completely devoid of leadership skills...

"Alice...Iggy," he whined.

"Damselfish would you stop calling me that?" she demanded.

"Then talk to me. You never talk about you. How come?"

So there's less risk of letting even a hint about me being a mermaid slipping out. "Because there's nothing interesting to tell," she huffed.

"Maybe you're wrong."

"Maybe you're the oldest whiner I've ever met."

Once again he gave her a goofy smile. "Is it working?"

Alice sighed wearily. "Fine. Son of a swordfish you're irritating."

Alfred just grinned.

"You recall I mentioned four brothers? I don't look like any of them, by the way. They all have red hair, got it from our father."

"So you look like your mom?"

Alice hesitated. "Yes, I suppose. I've seen a few pictures, and I certainly didn't get this from my father." She tugged one of her pigtails briefly before returning to her pose.

Alfred frowned, though his eyes hadn't left his work. "You never met her?"

"Yes, of course I did. But I'm afraid she died when I was quite young. I barely remember her face."

The human stopped working, his face turning sad. "Oh man, Iggy- Alice, I'm sorry. I didn't mean...

Alice waved it off, though she felt melancholy roll over her. "Don't be. As I said, I barely remember her. I was only two years old at the time. That's actually why I'm here now. Aunt Rachel is the only real connection I have to her. She used to live here, before she was with my father. I wanted to connect with her some, and father agreed to let me come to school here."

"And he's still in Miami?"

"Yes." More like less than half the distance to Miami, and in an easterly direction... "Anyway, Scott is set to take over the family business should father decide to retire. I almost hope he does. Scott is too bloody bossy, he needs an outlet. The twins are still in the area, so is William, but at least William is tolerable. The twins have been pranksters since birth, still are."

Alice found the more she talked, the more she relaxed, even though she had to alter things a bit before they came out of her mouth. She'd been so focused on finding the right person she's forgotten than it was a two-way-current. Alfred seemed to be listening intently, only stopping her to ask the occasional question.

Alice hadn't lied when she'd said she'd come here to reconnect with her mother. The former queen of Atlantica had been a human who had been bonded to her father, and had lived with her family in the same house Alice now resided in. Her human grandfather had died when Rachel and Marie had been young, a lifelong smoker succumbing to lung cancer. Not long after Scott was born their human grandmother had followed him, passing quietly in her sleep.

Despite living in the sea most of the time, Marie still visited her sister as often as she could. She was one of the few Mer, bonded human or otherwise, who retained a drivers license. She had been bringing Alice to see her one night, having gotten a late start and not wanting to stay in the sea after dark. A drunk driver had been coming the other way, and veered into the other lane. Both Marie and the driver had died on impact. Alice, belted safely in her car seat in the back, had been spared.

Alice was recounting the time she and Elizabeta had ditched school one day to go to a mall (a undersea farmer's market), when Alfred called another brake. As the princess stretched her sore limbs she asked, "How is it coming, then?"

"Pretty good, I think. One more stretch ought'a do it," said Alfred, flexing stained fingers. He'd been using a sheet of paper to shield his right arm from what he'd done to keep it from smearing, but his fingers were still stained silver from the graphite pencils. More recently he'd started adding color, and now various colors from the pastels were marking his fingers.

Alfred stretched, and then fished around a pocket for his phone. After he checked it he asked, "Wanna grab some lunch when we're done? Figure if I take up half your Saturday it's the least I can do."

"Sure," said Alice, smiling shyly. She was already getting hungry, but did this count as a sort-of-date? Admittedly she'd never heard of modeling being a date, but a shared meal was most definitely a date no matter where you were from.

"The music's still going," mused Alfred, head tilted slightly. "Doesn't he get tired?"

"Don't you?"

When he just looked at her, she clarified, "What you're doing now is not much different."

"No, not really. It's relaxing, so long as I don't do it too much in one day. Then my hand gets sore."

Another silence started to settle over them, and before it could get uncomfortable Alice blurted, "What else are you going to do, for the festival? I mean I doubt I'm your only model."

Alfred grinned. "Nah, we're not allowed to do that. I was gonna try to get Maddie in here, maybe Yuki too, but it's looking like I'll have to pry her away from Heracles. Gran said she'd model for me, so did mom. I'll still need at least two more subjects though. I'm going for variety."

"You're only doing girls?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Just wondering. Ready to start again? I'm hungry."

This time it ended up as more of a conversation, for which Alice was glad. It was surprisingly easy to do, hold a conversation with him. Why was that? And they weren't arguing either, or fighting. They were just...talking.

She was almost disappointed when he asked, "Wanna see it?"

Alice blinked, a bit surprised. "You're done?"

"Well, it's still a little rough around the edges, but I can smooth it out later."

Carefully the princess got to her feet, coming around to look at the drawing. For a moment she just stared at it, genuinely surprised. It was her, but it was...almost not her. She was pretty sure that the Alice she saw in the mirror didn't look this way, this serene, this...beautiful. Yes it was most definitely her, sitting lady-like on the bench, biker boots and all. Alfred had captured every fold, every shadow of the cloth and her clothes, every detail, even her hair looked real. He'd even gotten the grain of the wood in the bench. All that, and yet...Alice was positive of one point.

"I am most definitely sure I don't look that...pretty," she said at last.

Alfred just looked back and up at her, smiled, and said, "I just draw what I see, Iggy."

Alice melted in her boots then and there. Pretty? He thinks I'm pretty? To be honest she'd almost called the figure in his drawing beautiful, like something out of a story book. Was this really what he saw when he looked at her?

The princess mauled over this in a half daze as he put away his supplies and stowed the drawing, only snapping out of it when he asked, "You ready to go? I don't know about you but I'm starving."

"Yes, yes," she said, drifting after him, feeling heat in her cheeks. What in the name of Neptune had she been thinking, putting it off this long? While she was reluctant to say the word 'love' at this point, she most definitely felt something, and after today Alice thought she could safely say Alfred felt something similar.

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