I hadn't written a 9 fanfic in a while, so I thought I'd wrack my brains and write one. It was nearly impossible to write, and I thought I would never finish it. But it's here now.

I centered it around 7 and 8 since their my OTP. I threw in other ships, too; 1x9 and 5x6, although in minor roles. But 7x8 is the main focus of this fanfic, and that's what matters.

Coming up with a title was a hellish task until I thought up one. I'm just glad this fic is published.

Here's to my new 9 fanfiction. ^_^

"Come on, please?," insisted 7, her hands clasping 8's larger ones.

"No," retorted 8.

"Please?," begged 7, pressing herself against 8, her hands running across his buckles.

"No," he repeated, looking up at the ceiling, anything to not look at 7's optics.

"Please, 8?," repeated 7, reaching for 8's neck. She pressed her cheek against the tall stitchpunk's chest. "It would mean a lot to me. To the twins."

8 furrowed his brow, taking a peek at 7. She kept her smile as she wrapped her arms around him, knowing her hands would never connect. He scoffed, clasped her shoulders, practically engulfed in his palms.

With a sigh he said, "Alright, we'll go."

7 giggled.

"Yay!," she cheeped.

The pale stitchpunk stepped onto the dusty book beside 8, flinging her arms around his neck to the plant a kiss on the lips.

"You won't regret this," she said, pulling away. She hopped off the book.

"I hope not," he said gruffly.

7, about to leave, turned around, blinking, then chuckled.

8 shook his head in annoyance, watching her trot away, disappearing into the vast towers of books.

It was true that nearly a year since he and the rest fought the Fabrication Machine. With it gone, the five who died were brought back to life through the rain. After that, many changes came to the stitchpunks' lives.

For instance, 8 saw 5 with 6 three months after their resurrection. The two were in the courtyard, watching the sunset. 8 thought nothing of it until he saw 6 capture 5's lips in a kiss. It took the tall stitchpunk by surprise, but it didn't disgust him. He deduced that the two felt something for each other even before he even found out.

A few days after that, he saw another surprise he didn't expect. He saw 9 and 1 sitting rather close to each other. It confused 8 immensely, and he was even more surprised to see them share a kiss. This really threw him over the top, to think that 1 couldn't stand 9 the moment he saw them and now he was in love with him, 8 didn't know what to think.

He sought 2 after that, wondering if he could talk for moment. The inventor obliged, listening to 8 and what was bothering him. It didn't take long for 2 to figure out that 8 wanted the same as the others. The guard wasn't even embarrassed after hearing that. But 2 was right; 8 did want a relationship of his own. But who? 3 and 4 weren't interested, so the only other option left was 7.

8 approached 7 a few days later, starting up a conversation about the day. It was sunny that day, and 7 commented on how beautiful it was, which 8 retorted it wasn't as beautiful as her. It flattered 7, and the two spent the day patrolling the Emptiness. Several days after that, 8 started spending more time with 7, joining her on expeditions, finding trinkets in the Emptiness. It wasn't until two weeks later that 8 finally had the nerve to kiss 7. It was perfect; the moon looked overhead with a display of stars decorating the midnight velvet.

That was the moment it became official.

8 and 7. Neither of them knew how it happened, but it happened. They were together, and they were happy. During the day, the two would keep their distance, but at night that all changed. The two would spend the night in each other's rooms entwined in one another. The first night they were intimate was one they wouldn't forget.

Then came the day 3 and 4 found out about them. They saw them returning home from a scouting trip. 3 and 4 were surprised at first but the gradually came to accept the relationship.

Today, after hearing 7's idea to take her and the twins out, it was the last thing on his mind. 8 would lose a limb to get out of this. But he loved 7 and he loved seeing 7 happy. He would go through with it, if it would mean he would be rewarded in the evening.

8 had his work cut out for him.

The sun rose over the horizon, casting shadows on the quiet streets. The wind blew through the town, being the only sound anyone heard. Within the library walls, 8 arose, at the same time 7 did, who was ready to start the day.

"Ready?," asked 7, retrieving her bird skull from a space between the shelf. She placed it on her head, but didn't lowered it for the time being.

8 picked up his salt shaker cap from a makeshift table. He gave it a careful inspection before putting it on. He spotted his large knife leaning against a corner of a wooden table that acted as a wall to his room. He grabbed it, running his hand down the spine.

"Yeah," he remarked, "ready."

7 nodded, grabbing her spear next. "Let's go see if the twins are up."

8 followed after her, walking down the corridor, avoiding spots that were taken up by books.

3 and 4 had their room in a spot close to the enormous globe. It was filled with many miscellaneous items collected from the Emptiness, but it wasn't as expensive like their globe.

7 and 8 stood before he twins' makeshift door made up of a white tarp. 7 parted the tarp apart, peering inside the room. She smiled when she saw 4 already up, and 3 appeared to still be in the process of waking up.

"Hey, guys," said 7, stepping inside.

'Hi, 7,' replied 4, turning to look at 7, returning the smile.

7 turned her attention to 3, who stood up from the bed, scratching the back of his head.

"Hey, 3," spoke 7, "ready to go?"

'Yeah,' answered 3, 'is 8 joining us?'

"He sure is," retorted 7, smiling.

3 smiled back.

The three exited the room to see 8 waiting for them, his butcher knife in his hand.

"Let's go," said 7.

8 nodded wordlessly, walking beside 7, heading for the open entrance.

The four made their way out the doorway, seeing the sky saturated a bright pink color with tints of orange, red and gold. The way the ramshackle buildings silhouetted against the sky looked less grim. It seemed like a pleasant day to 7, but that was all he thought. He didn't know what would happen after they venture into the Emptiness. But that was why he couldn't keep his guard down.

A second after the four exited the iron gates, the moment 8 tensed. Although he didn't show it outwardly, the tall stitchpunk was worried. Worried about what was hiding in the shadows, about 7, the twins. But more importantly, he was worried he wouldn't be able to protect them from whatever danger might lurk about. 8 walked, scanning the streets filled with litter. Whatever was out there, he would take it down, even if it meant giving his life for the ones he loved.

8 watched the twins scamper ahead of him and 7. 7 called out to them to be careful in that motherly tone. 8 couldn't help but give a small smile as he watched 3 and 4 run, optics flickering. The weight of his knife was something he had grown used to carrying, seeing how he discarded his magnet weeks prior. Remembering his capture by the Seamstress, 8 decided that he needed to be alert and not get distracted, so his magnet needed to be thrown out. He missed not using it the first few days he threw it out, but as the days stretched into weeks, he found himself not missing it at all.

'Look!,' called 4, waving.

"Let's go see what she found," said 7, clasping 8's hand.

8 smiled. "Alright," he remarked.

The sound of 8's blade dragging on the ground made a steady noise that was not too quiet and not too loud. It made 8 hope there wasn't a beast nearby. Even though the Fabrication Machine was dead, there were still beasts growing the streets of the Emptiness. Despite it being an outing, 8 knew he needed to keep 7 and the twins safe.

7 and 8 turned a corner down an alley where 4 went, along with 3 following behind.

"What is it?," queried 7, raising a stitched brow.

'This,' replied 4, motioning toward her discovery.

8 and 7 looked, seeing that it was the remains of a dollhouse. It was faded pink from overexposure to the elements. Some of its wall was torn down, while the rest of it was still intact. It surprised 7 that such a discovery stood in the remains of the war. The dollhouse that was their size, it was something neither 7 nor 8 expected.

"It looks pretty," commented 7, walking towards the dust-laden dollhouse.

She stepped inside through the hole, seeing miniature furniture thrown haphazardly. 7 had to smile, almost laugh when she saw it. She crouched down when she saw what looked like a jewel laid on the floor. Picking it up, she realized it was a pearl and it fit in her palm perfectly. She stood up, swiveling around to show the twins and 8.

"Look," she said.

'Pretty,' uttered 4.

'Quite,' agreed 3, smiling.

7 looked at the white pearl in her palm, smiling to herself.

"You goin' to take that?," asked 8, planting his knife into the ground.

"Yeah," replied 7, unable to take her optics off the pearl. "Can you find me something to carry it in?"

"Sure," said 8.

8 raised his salt shaker cap from his face to see better, stroking through the alley in search of something to use as a makeshift bag. He turned his head from one direction to the other. The walk to his right had two broken windows while the ground beneath those windows was littered in rubble. He saw what looked like a bicycle's wheel extruding from a pile of broken cinder blocks.

His foot kicked a pebble, and 8 looked down, seeing what looked like a satchel laying in the ground. It was a tan-colored satchel tailored to accessorize a doll. Or in this case, a stitchpunk. Stooping down, he picked it up, wiped off the dust and turned around, ambling back toward the dollhouse.

8 saw 3 and 4 emerge from the hole in the dollhouse's wall. They liked his optics on him, and spotted the satchel in his hands.

'What did you find?,' asked 3, running up to him.

"This," retorted 8, turning the satchel around.

4 joined her brother, flickering her optics curiously. She grabbed at the strap.

"Here, 7," said 8, holding out the satchel for her.

7 strolled up to him, looking at the satchel impressively.

"D'ya like it?," asked 8.

"I love it," retorted 7.

She took the satchel, draped it around herself, and opened it, dropping the pearl in.

'That satchel looks good on you,' quipped 4.

'Indeed,' said 3.

"Really?," quoth 7, patting the satchel.

The twins nodded.

"Thank you," she replied.

'Try posing,' suggested 4.

"Oh?," said 7, arching a brow.

3 nodded, smiling.

7 ran her hand down the strap, smirking.

"Well," she said, "alright."

3 and 4 watched 7 turn to her right, switching the satchel to drape down her left. She gave a smile.

'You look great,' said 3.

7 changed her pose, holding a hand out.

'Amazing,' quipped 4, smiling.

"Really?," retorted 7.

'Yeah,' said 4, 'like a supermodel.'

7's smile grew wider.

"Yeah?," she said, quirking a stitched brow.

Her gaze turned over to 8, who hadn't said anything, but was paying attention. With the satchel, he found he agreed with the twins and came to the conclusion that 7 did look like a model.

"You l-look beautiful," he uttered.

3 and 4 turned to look at him, surprised to hear him speak. But they agreed with him; 7 did look beautiful, no matter what she did or looked.

'Let's find more things to take home,' chirped 3.

'Good idea,' remarked 4.

The twins stayed in the alley, never venturing out of it, preferring to stay close to 7 and 8. The two stayed behind, sitting on a brick close to the dollhouse, 8's right arm around 7. The satchel was placed beside the brick. 7 smiled, watching he twins scamper about, a smile adorning her face.

"This is nice," she said contently, laying her head on 8's shoulder.

8 slumped his shoulders as best as he could to give the impression of a shrug.

"Y-yeah," he replied gruffly.

7, lifting her head up, faced 8, optics blinking. The way 8 tried to mask his irritation wasn't lost on 7, who saw through him.

"Something bothering you?," she asked.

"No," he replied immediately.

"Really?"

8 let out a breath, trying not to make it sound like a groan. The pale stitchpunk craned her neck, curiously observing the tall guard.

"Tell me," she quoth, "what's wrong?"

8 peeked at the ground before answering.

"Nothing," he retorted.

7's brow furrowed, unconvinced. She could see a turbulence in him that he masked.

Choosing to drop the subject, 7 resorted to plucking her satchel and placing it on her lap, opening it to observed the pearl inside. She glanced up to see the twins return with new findings. They consisted of a sun-shaped ornament that 3 thinks might have once been an earring. Another one of their findings was a marble. Both were placed in the satchel, which 7 kept close to her person. She watched the twins trot off again, content in their search for trinkets.

"Do you not want to be here?," asked 7 once she was sure the twins were far enough away.

8 blinked, turning to look at her.

"What makes you say that?," he reiterated, brow raised.

7 smoothed down her satchel, then set it next to her as she drew a breath.

"It's just," she began, "you don't seem excited."

8 looked down, expression softening. He didn't know which emotion to grapple on.

"I," he uttered, "I just thought it was going to be the two of us."

7 kept a neutral expression as she tailored her next sentence.

"Well, I know," she crooned, "but I wanted to bring the twins along so you can know them better."

8 gave an expression 7 couldn't read.

"You," began 7, "didn't really get to know them at first. They avoided you as much as they could back in the cathedral, remember?"

"...No," replied 8 distantly.

"Oh," quoth 7, slumping her shoulders, "well, that's why I brought them here. For you to know them."

The tall stitchpunk breathed in a stream of breath, snapping his head to see 3 and 4 a few yards away, optics flickering at a long piece of string 4 was holding. After what 7 said, 8 came to the conclusion that he didn't know the twins that well.

"Did you think about me?," he inquired, not turning to look at 7.

"What?," quipped 7.

"I said did you think about me when you left?," repeated 8, facing her.

It took 7 a moment to form a sentence.

"I didn't at first," she said, "but then I did."

8 didn't know whether to be glad or not. He usually wasn't caught up in so many thoughts, but this time, he had a whole storm brewing.

"I—"

A crash interrupted 8, promoting him to rise to his feet and grab his butcher knife. 3 and 4 ran up to him, passing him to hide behind 7.

"You two, go hide," instructed 7, looking at the twins, handing them get satchel.

3 took the satchel, and he and 4 raced towards the ruined dollhouse.

With them hidden, 7 picked up her spear, lowering her bird skull, joining 8's side.

Down the alley, where the crash was heard a figure emerged. It was obvious that it jumped from the rooftop of either building. But 8 wasn't interested in knowing where it came from, all he was interested in was taking it down.

This beast was something new; it looked canine from its body, but it has the skull of a rabbit. Its single optic glowed red, its buck teeth yellow instead of white. The front legs resembled those of a Cat Beast, but its hindlegs, were more equipped for leaping: it had what looked like swimming fins attached to metal poles. The tail looked like barbed wire tied up to resemble a ball.

The beast, which was called a "Leaper," let out a roar. It sounded like a cross between a bird's caw with a bark.

8 lowered his salt shaker cap, his hands grasping his knife.

"I'll distracted him," said 7.

She ran past 8, getting past the Leaper, his glowing red eye locked on her. It cried shrilly, standing on his hindlegs. When he got on back on all fours, the Leaper ran, then leaped over a pile of rubble. He landed on the spot 7 would've passed if he weren't blocking the way. 7 gripped her spear, ready to fight.

A rock hit the Leaper's face. Both beast and 7 turned to see that 8 had been the one who threw the rock, and he was now charging toward the Leaper. Seeing a block of wood to his right, 8 ran towards it, then jumped, knife aimed squarely for the beast's face. He was about to stab his through the Leaper's face when the beast swatted him away with his clawed foot.

8 landed on a car tire, hand letting go of his butcher knife. His salt shaker cap remained on his face, sitting up, optics blinking. He stood up, plucked his knife and leaped from the tire. Holding it with hands, he got ready to take it down.

7 was about to take charge when two more rocks hit it across the face. Both stitchpunks turned around to see that the twins were the ones that launched the rocks. Apparently, both had found a rubber band that they cut and tied to two forks to make a slingshot. They used it to hurl the rocks at the Leaper. The beast growled lowly.

Unable to waste more time, 7 ran to her left, jumping onto overturned trash receptacle, leaping onto a block of wood that was higher up from the receptacle, and from the there, she jumped onto the Leaper's back. The Leaper, feeling 7 on his back, stood on his hindlegs, screeching furiously.

8, seeing the opportunity, ran, knife pointed at one of the Leaper's hindlegs. When he was in close range, he pierced the knife into his leg, severing the bolts holding the ankle together. The beast let out a shrill cry, coming down on all fours.

7, holding her spear tight, jumped, aimed her spear into the beast's head, and stabbed the skull. Electricity crackled from the spot; 7 pulled her spear out, taking a step back and rammed her spear into the Leaper's glowing eye. A screech escaped the beast's mouth.

Another onslaught of rocks were thrown at the Leaper's face, prompting 7 to look up at the twins. She had to hand it to them for participating in the beast's defeat, but she also wished they didn't expose themselves.

The Leaper toppled over, making 7 glance over her shoulder, spear gripped in her hands. She saw 8 at the Leaper's right hindleg. He had severed that leg, too, making it so the beast couldn't get away. Taking the initiative, she stood up, took one more leap and she sliced the Leaper's head off. The beast's dead body fell over, prompting 7 to jump off, landing with finesse on the ground.

8, lifting his salt shaker cap, sidled over to 7's side, giving the dead Leaper a once-over, then looking at 7.

"Are you okay?," he asked.

"Yeah," she answered, glancing over at the dead beast, "I'm fine."

8 turned over, looking at 3 and 4, who flickered their optics, dropping the makeshift slingshot. They scampered toward him and 7.

"You two were great," quipped 7, puttying a hand on each of the twins' shoulders.

'Thank you,' said 4.

'We thought you needed some help,' quoth 3.

"Well, it was a great help," retorted 7. Looking up at 8, she added, "Right?"

8, unsure of how to process what just happened, looked down at 7 and then at the twins before saying, "Yeah. It was."

7 smiled.

Shadows cast onto the courtyards, sunlight peeking through the trees, whose leaves were slowly returning to their branches. 3 and 4 were the first to enter the courtyard, optics flickering in excitement. 3 carried a sack over his shoulder while 4 pawed at it, eager to take out what was inside.

7 and 8 strode inside, both regarding the courtyard with contentedness. 7's optics landed on the twins and she smiled, enjoying their playfulness.

"That was a nice day," commented 7.

"Hngg," said 8, "sure was."

"I'm glad I found these things," quoth 7, opening her satchel.

She reached in, lifting the white pearl, observing it with burning interest. She dropped it back inside the satchel and pulled out another find. It was a brooch shaped like a flower. It was red with blue in the center. Putting it back inside, 7 closed the satchel, her smile still on her face.

"7," said 8.

"Yeah, 8?" quoth 7, glancing up at him.

"I...I just wanted to say," he began, unsure, "I had a good ."

"So did I," replied 7.

She flung her arms around his neck, capturing his lips in a kiss.

"Thank you," she said, pulling away.

"For what?," asked 8, confusion in his tone.

"For doing this," uttered 7, "for coming with me and the twins. I know you didn't have that planned, but it meant a lot to me, and I love you for that."

8 knit his stitched brows together, but loosened the crease in his forehead when his confusion was replaced with contentment. A smile adorned his face.

"Then," he spoke, wrapping his arms around her, even with the knife in his hand, "you're welcome."

7 chuckled.

"It seems like they had a good time," said 7, looking at 3 and 4.

4 watched as 3 opened the sack and revealed its contents. 4 reached in and pulled out an emerald green marble.

7 looked past them and saw 5 stroll up to the twins, who acknowledged his presence and sidled up to him, showing the one-eyed stitchpunk the marble.

"7," uttered 8, pulling his arm away, the one that held the knife.

"Hmm?," muttered 7.

"You know," said 8, "I overhead 2 the other day. Apparently, 1 told him he and 9 were trying to start a family."

7 lifted get brows.

"Is that something you'd like to do," he inquired timidly, "with me?"

The white stitchpunk blinked, taken aback. This was a question she didn't expect, but she wasn't disgusted.

"Oh," she said, "I...I never thought... I didn't expect to hear this from you, 8."

The tall stitchpunk smiled, looking childishly hopeful.

"And," quoth 7, "I'd like to have a family with you, 8, but not right now."

8, flummoxed, blinked, trying not to look wounded.

"But it makes me glad that you think about these things," retorted 7, putting a hand on his shoulder. "And when the time is right, we'll start a family of our own."

8 gazed at her hand, then looked at 7, feeling a smile of his own tug at his lips.

"I don't mind waiting," he replied, clasping her hand in his own.

He brought 7's hands to his lips, giving it a peck. 7 let 8 lead her down the courtyard, approaching the twins and 5. 5 saw her and 8 make their way toward them, greeting them happily. 7 couldn't help but smile.

"Hey," said 7.

8 turned to look at her.

"If or when we get to have a family," she spoke, "you'll be a great father."

Touched, 8's smile broadened, and it made him yearn for his desire for a family even more. But he would wait as long as it takes.

The right time would come on its own.

How was that for a new 9 fic? I know it's not extravagant, but it's something. When I realized I hadn't worked on a 9 fanfic in a while, I had to start on something. So I came up with this.

I'm also hoping it's not too sappy. I can't help myself with these kinds of fics.

Thanks for reading this, and don't forget to leave a review. =)