This chapter is rated M for a reason...

"So, Professor Stein, why do you think I am having trouble controling when I change into a scythe?" Soul asked. He and Crona had been standing in the front of Stein's laboratory for the past couple of minutes talking about the recent events in which Soul had unintentionally turned.

"To be completely honest, I am not sure. When you turn, is it when you are feeling a great amount of emotion?"

Soul thought back to the events, and he realized that all of those incidents happened when he was laughing really hard, when he was angry and when he was very happy. "Yeah, come to think of it, yes."

"Then perhaps you need to work on controlling your emotions. I'm not saying don't let yourself feel anything, but keep a close watch on the weapon inside you when you are experiencing strong emotions." Stein said to Soul. Soul looked a little saddened by this. But... Maka makes me so happy... What if I can't control it when I'm with her, and she gets hurt? I already turned when she said yes to going out with me and I almost cut her. What if that happens again? "Soul?"

"Ugh, yeah? What's up?" he was tossed back to reality from his thoughts.

"Are you alright? Your soul seems confused," Stein observed.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just kind of tired."

The scientist nodded at his student and turned to Crona. "So, how is the gash on your arm?"

Crona rolled up the sleeve on his arm and gestured to a few plaes that were dark red. "There are a lot of sensitive spots and it burns every now and then, but other than that it's fine."

Stein took hold of the boy's wrist and observed the wound. "It's infected, actually."

Crona began trembling slightly. "Is- is it bad?"

"Oh no, it could be much worse. I just need to clean it and I should change the stitches." Stein let go of the pink-haired boy's wrist and gestured for him to follow him into the laboratory. "Soul, you coming?"

The white-haired boy shook his head as he said, "No, I need to get back home for dinner or Maka will scream at me."

Stein smiled as he said, "I know how that is. See you later, Soul."

Soul waved goodbye as he turned toward the gate and began his small trek home.

Stein lead Crona into his small clinic and sat him down on the cold medical table. "Give me a minute," the mad man said as he put on white latex gloves and pulled out tweezers, a needle, medical thread, and a syringe filled with anesthetics from his desk drawers. Crona shivered slightly. Oh this is probably going to hurt...

Stein cleaned the gash on the pink-haired boy's arm before he he injected the anesthesia in several places in and around the wound; Crona winced in pain. He pulled out all of the stitches from his skin, then cleaned it again. Finally, he was able to begin placing the new stitches. Crona did not complain at all through the ordeal, but he did groan slightly and wince. He even pulled back a few times, but Stein's grip on his arm was firm.

"There. All done. Now that wasn't so bad, now was it?" Stein asked with a slight smile.

Crona shook his head and smiled back. "So where is Ms. Marie?"

Stein was caught off gaurd at the sound of her name. "She's ugh, still at the academy decorating her classroom."

"Decorating?" Crona asked as he cocked his head slightly.

"Yeah, she says the room is too bland and boring." Stein replied while he twisted the large iron bolt in his head. "I really don't understand that."

Crona shrugged his shoulders. "I guess Ms. Marie is just a really bright person and wants the things around her to be also. Anyway I need to get going also. Thanks for helping me with this," he said as he gestured to his arm.

"No problem. Make sure you keep it clean and if it gets worse, come back here and I'll take a look at it." Crona nodded as he turned toward the door to go home. As soon as the heavy metal laboratory doors closed, Stein took a deep, refreshing breath as he walked in the living room and collapsed into his favorite recliner. He put his head back and closed his eyes, wanting to sleep. However, they wanted him to do more than sleep.

"Franken, I'm home," Marie called from the front door. She didn't even notice Stein sleeping on the recliner in the living room when she entered. Then he mumbled something in his sleep, and she jumped slightly. She laughed at herself for being so jumpy. But then she realized what he had said, and she began to worry. "Franken?"

"Let me... Go... Let go... No, I'm not going to. Stop... Stop... Shut up and get out of my head!" Stein's eyes flew open and he jumped up from the chair, his soul wavelength crackeling around his hand at the ready to blast anything within a five mile radius away from him. His eyes darted around the room as he panted and prespirtation lightly formed on his forehead. He looked at Marie questionaningly, asking what was going on. Marie's expression only told him she was confused and worried.

Stein sighed as he released the charge of his soul wavelenght and sat back down on the chair. He hung his head down with his elbows on his knees, forearms drooping loosely. He tried to clear his head by adjusting the screw, but that didn't help. Marie only looked at him from a few feet away, wondering what she should do. Why is he having so many bad dreams? "Another nightmare?" she asked quietly.

He shook his head without looking up at her. "They're not nightmares... Well I guess you could call them that, but they are not the same. A nightmare is something you can wake up from. But this, this is something that is too real. It's like the madness speaks to me when I am asleep." Marie seemed saddened by what he said. She didn't want him to go through this anymore. Ironically, small giggles began floating out of the mad scientist.

"Franken?" She asked as she began backing away. Not again... No. I can't run this time. I need to bring him out of it. "Franken, listen to me. Come back, don't let it take you. Come back to me, please!" Marie begged. The giggles only continued. Marie took several small steps to him and got on her knees. She took his hands in hers and she continued to plead with him. "Franken! Listen to me. I am real, but they are not! They're not real, they don't matter. Something that isn't real should not be questioned!" She tried to tell him about the madness in a way that he would think.

"Not-" a giggle cut him off. "Not real. What is real, Marie? Huh? What if all of this-" a giggle- "This science bullshit isn't real, but the madness is?" Stein's few sentances really scared and worried her. He would never say that...

"Franken, this is not you. You would never question science. Now COME BACK!" Marie shouted as her hand flew across Stein's face, leaving a red hand print.

Stein's head snapped to his right. He looked back at her with a very confused look on his face. "Owwww why, Marie?" his words were drawn out slightly in confusion. He rarely ever spoke like that, but she could see perfect clarity in his eyes and she knew that the madness had receeded.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to hurt you, but I needed to." Marie's voice was sad and shaky.

"It's alright, I understand. Damn it... " I don't want her to feel sad... Think! Change the subject! A faint smile spread across his lips. "And by the way, it didn't hurt."

Marie smirked, "What? You think just because I'm a woman I can't hurt you? I think you forget that I am a Death Scythe."

"No, you just can't hurt me."

"That sounds like a challenge." Marie shifted her weight to her left leg and crossed her arms.

"Well maybe it was," Stein knew at first she wouldn't actually try to hurt him, but sooner than later, she might get frustrated and step her game up. "Well?"

Marie bit her lower lip as she thought of what she was going to do. Come on, he can't be serious. Ok, maybe he is. But I don't want to hurt him... Screw it. Marie's forearm flew up in an attempt to hit him on the side of his head, but his hand quickly reached up and blocked it. Marie's brow furrowed in frustration. She tried a different attack; This time she tried to hit him in the stomach. Stein only grabbed her fist right before it collided with his abdomen. She tried to pull her arm back for another attack, but his grip on her hand was firm.

"Oh, Marie. Looks like I won." Stein smirked. He knew this would only frustrate her more so she would really try to attack. She yanked her hand free and took a step back. She had a determined look in her eye as once again her fist flew to the side of his face. He ducked down so her arm swung over him. Then her foot slipped, and she fell. Stein reached his long arm out and grabbed the woman by her waist. As he fell back, she was twirled around so her face and his were just inches apart.

Stein let hisself fall on his back, but he rolled a little so the impact did not hurt. In the end, Marie found herself lying on top of him, their faces so close. Marie's face portrayed her nervousness while Stein just smirked. "Really though, it looks like I won." he said quietly.

Marie's amber eye darted back and forth from his left and right eyes. Stein stared at her lips. He didn't know why, and frankly, he didn't even care that all he wanted to do was kiss her. I really don't get this whole "love" thing. Stein's arms wrapped around Marie's slender body and held her tightly as he picked his head up and smashed his lips against hers. Marie's automatic reaction was to tense up and try to pull away, but his arms were much stronger than she was. Plus, she had to admit that she wanted to be with Stein since high school. Finally she just relaxed and and succumbed to the kiss.

Stein's hands traveled all around her torso. He didn't even know how he knew what to do, it just seemed right or natural. Marie gripped his lab coat with one hand and placed her other on the back of his neck. The kiss grew much more heated and deeper, and Stein could tell that Marie wanted more from the way she groped at his coat. He rolled on top of her and broke the kiss so he could sit up. Marie sat up with him and pushed the coat off so it pooled around his hips. Then he removed his shirt, and they continued to kiss. Finally, Marie's button-up shirt came off, and they both lyed back down. Stein continued to explore her body with his hands as he broke the kiss and moved his head down to her chest.

Marie's slender fingers travled through his grey hair as his lips planted on her collarbone. Then he moved his head up and and began sucking on her neck and she could feel his teeth lightly graze her skin. Stein kissed her lips once more before he pulled her on top of him, snaked his arms tightly around her and stood so he could carry her. She wrapped her legs around his hips and kissed him harshly as he carried her into his bedroom.

Yeeeahhhhh sorry for almost turning this into a lemon. I just didn't know where to go with the story and this happened :P But tell me what you think, and if you have any ideas, leave them in a review! Thanks for reading :) -Mikshizels