A/N: Hello, everyone! Hope you're all back for another chapter.(: Thank you to Lena-luvs-cats, jy24, Takei Daloui, and Amelia Loves Anime for being lovely readers and leaving me a review!^-^ Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Nope! Not me!

Chapter 26

Time Frame — Morning of March 14th, 1896

—3rd Person POV—

~Allen~

With her by his side, Allen began to enjoy himself a little more.

"Do you know how to swim?" Lenalee suddenly asked.

"Hm? Oh, yes definitely," Allen chuckled, recalling all the times Cross had dumped him off a boat, only to jump in after him in an effort to escape the debt collectors. He explained this to Lenalee who could only shake her head and laugh.

"Why am I not surprised?" she giggled, and then quieted, lips curled into a wistful smile. "I never did learn, you know. The guys have tried to teach me on previous trips, but I usually end up chickening out." Her smile turned sheepish, cheeks tinged red with embarrassment.

"Yeah?" Allen's eyebrows shot up. At Lenalee's nod, he turned his head, eyes flitting about the beach, before he suddenly began to pull her along. "It's alright, I don't blame you. The tide is always pulling in and out, so it can be a bit dangerous for newbies, but I've got an idea! Come on, hurry!"

"What? Where are we going?" Lenalee asked with a laugh, but gripping his hand harder and running after him anyway. Curses flew after them as they accidentally kicked sand up on those sunbathing, and sheepish, they slowed down slightly. But Allen pulled her along anyway until they reached a more remote part of the beach, where rocks jutted out before disappearing beneath the waves. Gripping her hand harder, Allen was careful to help her as they climbed over the wet, slippery rocks.

"Here seems like a good spot," Allen finally decided once they reached a small pool created by the protruding stone, waves occasionally lapping over, and almost right away, the water became waist-deep the moment you stepped in. With the way the rock beneath him sloped down, Allen figured it would only get deeper.

"Oh, okay," Lenalee nodded, slightly timid as she carefully took his hand and slid down the slope of the rock, apprehensively joining him in the water. Once she noted its deepness though, she relaxed and curiously ran her fingertips atop the water. Eventually, she turned to him with a bit of a shy smile, "So you'll teach me?"

"'Course," Allen answered distractedly as he gripped the collar of his long-sleeve and tugged it off. The ends had already become soaked and heavy, so he wadded up the cotton shirt and tossed it up onto the dryer rocks. "Alright, let's get started," he grinned, turning back to Lenalee, not taking much note of her reddening face as he grasped her hand and tugged her deeper into the water. Once the water lapped around the area beneath his chest, Allen halted and turned back to Lenalee, eyeing her critically. "Before you learn how to swim," he decided with a thoughtful nod, "You need to learn how to float."

"If you say so, Professor Walker," Lenalee nodded back at him in mock seriousness.

Allen smirked, startling her as he pressed his hands sideways against her back. "Here, lie back against the water," he instructed her, expression softening as she nodded nervously. Nonetheless, she carefully leaned back, pausing when her head was still above the water. Allen stifled a laugh, and tried to remain serious as he told her, "Um, Lenalee, you also have to raise your arms and legs above the water. Spread them out, sort of like a starfish." His suggestion made her frown slightly, but it was the reassurance of his hands supporting her and keeping her from sinking that encouraged Lenalee to follow his advice.

"Um, like this?" Lenalee asked, remaining stiff and slightly uncomfortable as she tried to support her head above the water.

"You definitely need to relax," Allen recommended. He shifted his hands so that they lifted her up and she wouldn't have as much trouble keeping her head above the water. This next part was a bit more difficult and time consuming. By the time Lenalee was able to relax and trust that she would float rather than drown, the sun was high up and Allen could feel his stomach beginning to grumble.

"Why don't we take a break?" he suggested. "It's a process, and you don't have to become an expert on the first try. We have the rest of the week to come up here and practice." In response to her awkward nod, Allen chuckled and slowly helped to push her into a standing position.

"Ah, sorry about that," Lenalee smiled sheepishly. "It's a bit nerve wracking and I kept getting distracted," she muttered, ducking her head, and Allen wasn't sure if he'd imagined it, but he thought he noticed her cheeks flushing slightly red.

"It's fine," he waved it off, climbing onto a rock and reaching up to grab his shirt. Once he pulled it back on, he helped Lenalee climb up after him, and before long they were back in the crowded beach. It appeared they'd made it just in time, as the others were drying themselves off and packing their things.

"Where did you two run off to?" Daisya asked once the duo caught their attention, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

"Yeah!" Alma abruptly chimed in, straightening from his crouch. "We heard about Lavi, and Timothy told us you guys were eloping! We didn't believe him of course, but still…"

"Hehe," Timothy chuckled nervously once Allen directed a glare in his direction. "I was just joking!" he exclaimed, holding his hands up defensively.

"Hurry it up, everyone," General Klaud ordered, tossing her beach bag over her shoulder and snapping close their large umbrella. "We're going out to lunch! My treat—and yes that includes Alma and Allen!" At this point, the pair of Parasitic Exorcists were smiling sheepishly. "We just have to return to the hotel and drop our stuff off. Later, I'll let you guys go run around town as long as you promise not to go on a lover's quest such as your lovely classmate Lavi has done."

Snickers erupted around, but they eventually gathered their things and followed after the General.

A/N: Well, I hope that turned out okay! Let me know what you think in a review, please?(: