Chapter 20

"How is he?" Chiffon asked shortly after Varen returned. He took off his boots and sighed shaking his head.

"Not good, they wouldn't let us close to the place. We found out next to nothing about what's going on with Elizabeth. I told him we will try again later in the afternoon. He was ready to fight the Chevalier Pandora guarding the command center." Varen answered.

"I can't believe she did that." Chiffon said walking up and wrapping her arms around his waist.

"She took a risk to help those girls. I'm having a hard time finding reasons to say she was wrong in doing so." He answered resting his head on her shoulder.

"Because of what Arnette and Attia said?"

"That's part of it, yeah." He answered.

"Do you know why I chose you?" She asked. He blinked a few times, his head still on her shoulder before shaking his head.

"No."

"I been thinking a lot about last year. About everything that's happened. When you first stepped off that transport I thought you were crazy to be at a genetics facility. You were a 24-year-old man who would serve no actual purpose. It was perplexing why you were so determined to be with us.

Then you told me about your sister, Rin. I understood something about you then. Something that is part of who you are. You will always fight for those you care about. It doesn't matter the obstacle, or the distance, you fight. Every time you get knocked down, you stand and try again. It was inspiring much of the time to watch you.

That night after your first carnival something inside me clicked. Varen, I've been a Pandora my whole life. I was born into it as you know. I didn't become one in my later teenage years like everyone else, I've always been one. As such it has been my whole life training to be the best Pandora I could. To fill the shoes my mother left. I never took the time to be a normal girl.

That night though, you treated me like one. More than that you looked at me like one. You didn't simply see me as the student president of West Genetics. You didn't look at me as the first ranked student, and you certainly didn't treat me like the first ranked in the world. I was just a normal girl to you and I know you were checking me out." She giggled.

"Chif…" Varen started, but she put her finger on his lips.

"I liked it. I liked it a lot, and I wanted you to keep looking at me like that. It was nice to be desired by someone. Everyone respected me, but no one wanted me. Not like you did and it made me want you back. It was exciting and new for me. I hope you didn't think less of me when we finally became partners." She said nervously.

"Why would I think less of you?" Varen asked.

"Before you I had never…you know? Done…that." She said shyly. Chiffon and shy were two things that when combined Varen rarely got to see. At least not like this. Typically, she covered it up with anger around him.

"You know; we sort of skipped over the whole being just partners thing?" He asked and she looked at him quizzically.

"How so?"

"We were friends for quite some time before that night. Chiffon, when you made me a real Limiter we didn't simply become a Pandora and Limiter linked to one another. I guess we never officially acknowledged that we're dating." He said and she blushed more.

"Yeah…" She said quietly.

"What's wrong with you? You never act like this." He said.

"When Elizabeth comes back, and this is all over we'll go home right?" She asked.

"Of course."

"And you still love me as much as you always have?" She asked looking up at him.

"I do." He answered. He guessed that she must be stressed from all the events happening. He hadn't spent as much time with her as he would of liked. After their first day here things had begun to spiral out of control and it must have been getting to her as much as it was affecting him. He understood that right now she needed him and it was his responsibility to be with her.

"Forever right?" She asked.

"Til death do us part." Varen laughed.

"Then marry me." His laugh stopped abruptly as he heard her words.

"What?" He asked dumbly.

"When this is all over, marry me." He had heard those words before somewhere. Not from Chiffon, but someone else had said those exact words. He was silent for a few moments, but unable to piece together where he had heard them or from who. For now, it didn't matter.

"Alright." He answered and he felt her chest rise and fall a bit quicker.

"I mean it." She said and again he felt like this conversation had taken place somewhere before. Word for word everything felt like it had been repeated from somewhere else.

"I know you do. So do I." He answered and he saw the tears begin to fall down from her eyes.

"Please…" She stammered reaching up and wiping her eyes that showed no signs of stopping. Varen grabbed her face and stared into her eyes. This close he could see the lines of energy racing back and forth along her irises.

"Nothing would make me happier." He said and she cried harder pushing his hands away burying her face in his chest. He let her cry holding her back as she shook.

"I don't have a ring." He said at last.

"I don't care. You can get a real big one later." She sobbed and he couldn't help but laugh. He felt her laugh as well and she leaned back wiping her eyes.

"So, what now?" He asked and she took a deep breath recovering from her emotions.

"Let's get everything settled here and get back home. I don't want to be here anymore." She said.

"Chiffon, getting everything settled here won't be done very easily." He said. She smiled widely and held his hand.

"Finally, you're back." She said.

"Huh?" He asked not sure what she meant.

"I know that look in your eyes. Arnette and Attia were right, you weren't acting like yourself. So lost in trying to protect us that you weren't focusing on the things that really mattered. Right now though you look like you did that day we stood in front of Chevalier and asked to form the Nightingales. You're going to save those girls aren't you?" She asked and there was no fear in her eyes as she said it. Just as she recognized something in his, he now saw the same thing in hers.

"Yeah, we're putting a stop to this. Starting with Elizabeth we won't leave any of them behind." He answered and he saw her face brighten.

"Welcome back Justicar." She said hugging him tightly once more.

"After we get Elizabeth back I'll settle things with Arnette and Attia. They deserve an apology." Varen said.

"Me too, I was just as wrong in this as you were. Then we expose this place for what it is." Chiffon said. Varen looked over at the digital read out on the display near the bed.

"It's almost three in the morning already. I really doubt I'm going to sleep after all this tonight." He said shaking his head.

"Yeah, me neither, but this is good. I feel like this is how we get everything back on track." She said optimistically. She walked over and flicked the light switch in the bathroom. She shut the door and he heard the shower turn on. He took a seat at the desk and figured he would start planning out what they would need to do later in the day. First thing was to figure out Elizabeth's status and resolve that situation. Then they could all figure out how to once more follow Elizabeth's lead and save the E-Pandora.

"Hey!" Varen's head jerked up hearing Chiffon yell. She was standing in front of the bathroom door, a towel wrapped around her.

"Yeah?" He asked. She reached down and pulled the towel free letting it drop to the ground. All reasoning and thought disappeared from his mind seeing her standing casually with nothing on.

"Get in here." She commanded.

"Sure, ok." He responded with a distinct lack of intelligence.

"We have a few hours til everyone wakes up so we can practice for our wedding night." She winked spinning in a circle and walking back into the bathroom.

"Few hours?" Varen asked in concern.

"Hey do you think this sink would hold my weight?" He her voice call from the bathroom and shook his head laughing.

"You look as bad as I do. I feel better knowing that I'm not alone and that you were as equally concerned about Elly that you couldn't sleep either." Andre said later that morning. He was sitting at the table in Chiffon and Varen's room and his eyes were puffy and he clearly had not slept at all.

"Definitely did not sleep that is true." Varen answered back taking a drink of coffee that Chiffon had made. She was happily going around the room straightening the bed and picking up a few various items that were scattered on the floor. Varen glanced at her and her eyes met his. She put a finger up to her lips and winked smiling mischievously.

"Did you need help Chiffon?" Andre asked politely and she sucked in her breath trying not to laugh. Instead she snorted and covered her mouth quickly.

"Nope! I got it, but thank you!" She answered grabbing a few more scattered items off the floor nearby. Items that until about two hours ago had been neatly arranged on the dresser nearby. Items that Chiffon had scattered aside angrily before pulling Varen on top of her and the dresser. Varen shook his head embarrassed and put a hand up to his temple.

"You guys didn't get into a fight because of me did you? It looks like a storm came through here. I'm really sorry if I caused issues, but I couldn't do this alone." Andre said with a bit of panic in his voice.

"No, not at all Andre nothing of the sort. I'm glad you came and told us. Honestly, no fighting or…anything like…that…" Varen answered, his voice slowing down as Chiffon moved over to side of the couch and bent over to pick up a bottle of shampoo. She looked back at him still holding the same smile she had just a moment go. From where Andre sat he couldn't see her, but Varen flushed instantly.

"Alright thanks again guys I really appreciate it. As long as everything is alright you just look a bit pale." Andre said and Chiffon snorted again covering her face.

"I'll be fine once we get Elizabeth out of there." Varen answered which seemed to cheer Andre up a bit. He could hear Chiffon humming as she continued to move around the room cleaning.

"Me too, when do you want to head over there?" Andre asked. Varen heard him, but from the corner of his eye behind where Andre was sitting Chiffon laid down on the bed grabbing a book out of her bag that was nearby. She rolled onto her back while flipping open the cover to where she left off.

"Soon?" He asked quietly as she lifted both her legs making her skirt shift up. The book lowered just enough so he could see her eyes.

"Um sure." Andre agreed.

"Now. Let's go now." Varen said standing up suddenly and Chiffon quickly brushed her skirt down hiding her face behind the book. He could hear the sounds of her snickering and he glared at her as she continued to hide.

"Great let's go. Thanks again Chiffon." Andre said getting up and heading for the door. He opened it and left waiting for Varen in the hallway.

"You're dead." Varen said quietly once Andre was out of earshot. Tears rolled down Chiffon's cheeks as she continued laughing rolling onto her side and off the bed. She stood up wiping away the tears.

"Aw come on, just a little fun." She said sweetly putting her arms around his neck. She pressed her mouth against his roughly pushing her tongue into his mouth. He felt one of her legs rise up and wrap around his waist.

"Hey…" He said between breaths and she pulled back putting her nose against his.

"I am really happy." She said.

"Me too." He answered and she let him go sticking her tongue out flicking it over his mouth.

"We can start earlier tonight." She whispered turning and walking back to the bed. Somehow, this girl still knew how to make his heart race. She knew every possible way to take the darkest of times for him and bring light. He walked quickly to the door wanting to get everything with Elizabeth taken care of so he could come back to her. The smile she had on her face since last night was something he could never forget.

Behind him Chiffon looked away sadly as her thoughts drifted back to Arnette. Even a night lack last night wasn't enough to make her forget the pain she had witnessed Arnette experience. This wasn't something she could help Arnette with and it hurt. How would she react when she learned that they were getting married? Thoughts that were interrupted as the door opened and Andre stumbled in nearly knocking Varen over.

"Elly!" He cried as two Chevalier Pandora tossed the blonde Pandora into the room.