^{Human Territory, Chpt. 9}

*****

Blake sat down, then realised he had forgotten his knife "Ah, crap!" He got back up too fast, and the pain momentarily overwhelmed him, bringing him to the floor. Dammit! He found he could not get back up. "Err, miss? We had ourselves a little accident" He was highly embarassed to be pantless and bleeding on the cold floor.

Miracle had been taking off her raincoat at the moment, and turned once she'd gotten it off over her head. "Hm?" she asked, then frowned. Her clothes were spotlessly dry beneath, and she slid off her knee-high rain boots, revealing the rest of her sleek legs and her bare feet. She tossed them both aside, ran her hand through her wet hair and went to his side. "I'll get whatever you need or lost later, okay? But right now, getting you wrapped is far more important. Just stay here." she said, helping him stand back up and sit in the chair. She then went back and grabbed the rubbing alcohol and bandages, setting them aside.

Gray had been watching Reid and Aver sadly before Karin had interrupted his gaze. They're so young.. the girl can't be any older than fifteen, surely? And he seems pretty mature.. just like I was. He smiled a little at Reid and then looked to Karin. "Hey, hey, hey!" Gray said softly, stroking her cheek with his palm. "We'll go see mommy now, okay? Come on, trouble." He grunted a little as he pulled himself up from the bed, holding Karin to his chest as he stood in front of Reid and Aver. "You know.." Gray said quietly, smiling again. "You both remind me of how me and Miracle were three years ago. We were never apart." He started on towards the doors, but he paused and looked at Karin, and then at the two teens again. "You stay close to each other no matter what. Don't let Aver out of your sight, Reid, and the same with you with Reid." Gray smiled at Aver and made his way out of the store, walking straight into the hospital area, bouncing Karin lightly as he entered. "How's things?" He asked Miracle, not seeming to notice Blake just yet since Gray had of course, looked straight at his other half before anything else.

Aver sighed and lowered her head so she could rest it in the deep of Reid's neck where she sighed again lightly. "I'm frightened, Reid.." She whispered, taking Reid's dogtags from underneath his shirt in her healthy hand and studying them closely, just about being able to see the reflection of her bright blue eyes in the shiny, cold metal.

Reid looked down at Aver and how she held his dogtags, admiring them in her hand. "Honestly... I'm scared too, Aver." he whispered and sighed, grabbing her hand gently, holding it comfortingly tight. He looked her in the eyes and frowned. "Aver... If something happens to me.. Take my dad's dogtags and my mom's pin, huh? Take care of them." he whispered. "I'm not saying anything will happen, cause it won't... but you know.. just in case?" he asked, kissing her palms.

Aver blinked up at him for quite a long time, but after a while, she nodded, smiling weakly. "I'll take your whole body if I can.." She whispered, lifting her hands with Reid's around them and putting them to her cheek where she closed her eyes and sighed lightly.

Reid swallowed hard and kissed her forehead, then gently turned her head so he could kiss her lips. "Aver.. I love you." he whispered, kissing her again. Like Gray advised.. I'm never leaving you behind. Never letting you go. It would be a hugely stupid mistake on my part. he thought with a sad sigh.

Aver felt Reid's sigh under the kiss and she broke it, pulling back from him slowly and putting her hand on his cheek, the other-despite it being injured- on his shoulder. "Reid..? Reid, what's wrong?" Aver whispered, looking into his eyes with her own blue ones which had a hint of worry in them.

Reid smiled softly and shook his head. "No... nothing's wrong. I was just thinking to myself.. how much I love you, and how I won't ever let you go." he whispered, stroking her cheeks before kissing her again deeply. "I love you."

"I love you, too.." Aver whispered, moving so she could put her arms around Reid's middle and hug him tightly, her head resting on his shoulder. She closed her eyes and sighed lightly again, stroking Reid's spine with her fingers. "What.. what will we do after the war is over?" Aver whispered again. "We can't go back to the cabin, now.. it's.. it's in ruins.." Her voice was still a whisper as her eyes stayed shut. "That place.. it was where we first.." She whimpered as she paused for a moment and shook her head, as if trying to forget something. "Reid it's gone.."

Reid bit his lip and thought about it for a moment. "Aver... It's not completely in ruins... I'll rebuild it. We can live there. I doubt the guy who owned it is still alive anymore. We can take care of it. There's plenty of room for just the two of us there." he whispered. "And why wouldn't we go back there? That's where we first kissed. Where I met the real you, and not Reva." he whispered, smiling a little. "Where we first said, 'I love you,' to one another. Aver, I want to go back there. And I will rebuild it." he promised. He kissed her cheek, then her shoulder and hugged her tightly. "Nothing's gone."

Aver smiled a little and sighed again into Reid's shoulder as she looked towards the pillow end of the bed. It reminded her of back at the cabin.. the day she had first seen Kitsune, and the day she had almost been killed by that.. thing. A deformed woman.. a maniac. It had also been the same day wen she and Reid had been rather close to giving themselves to one another.. She sighed again and hugged Reid closer to her, even if they were already close enough to stop each other's breathing circulation. "Do you remember when.. I first told you about Reva, Reid?" Aver whispered. "She was.. my only friend. I had no one real to talk to when I was in school.. Because I had no friends.. I was always the last one to be picked for the teams in our P.E lessons.. and I never had a partner when it came to school trips." She said softly, still holding Reid. "But ever since I met you.. I.. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world, Reid. I feel as though I shouldn't be complaining anymore. If I keep acting upset all the time, and crying at the slightest thing.. I'm frightened that I'm going to lose you, and I don't want that." Aver pulled away from Reid this time and looked him directly in the eyes, one of her hands going to his cheek again like before and she kissed him softly. "You're a friend to me.. as well as my soulmate." She whispered against his lips.

Reid smiled, his face still close to hers, and mumbled against her lips in return, "I feel the same way, Aver. You're my friend, as well as my one and only." he winked. He kissed her again deeply, passionately and hugged her closer.

"You're my friend, as well as my one and only." Reid's voice repeated over and over in Aver's head, causing her to smile happily beneath the kiss as the hand on his cheek moved to the back of his neck. Ignoring the pain in her other hand, it moved down lower to Reid's waist as she kissed him back, her eyes opening slightly so she could look at him for a moment and admire his eyes, even if they were closed. Aver loved every part of him, and she smiled again.

Reid smiled under the kiss too, his hands on her hips. One moved to the small of her back and the other wove itself in her hair. "I love you." he whispered when it broke and kissed her again shortly. "I won't ever let you go."

Aver smiled again and then giggled lightly, nodding. "I'm glad.. thank you." She said softly, massaging his head by his neck gently with her fingers while she watched him closely. "What do we do now..? For some reason I want to stay here.. because it's just like being back at the cabin sitting here like this, isn't it?"

"Yeah... almost." Reid said softly, hugging her closely and kissing her neck. He wanted to be back in the cabin, and it gave him butterflies, imagining him and Aver there, living there all by themselves, together. He blushed and kissed her neck again, his hand still on the small of her back.

Aver blushed herself when she noticed where Reid's hand was on her body. It again, caused her to think back and remember when they were both back at the cabin. When they were both lying on the bed in the bedroom.. When they.. She blushed again madly and bit her lip at the feel of Reid's lips on her neck. Why was she becoming so worked up and embarrassed now all of a sudden? Why did her whole body feel unusually hot?

Reid suckled and kissed her neck a third time, unconsciously leaving a hickey, and he sighed against it, closing his eyes. They were only fifteen. We shouldn't be getting so... intimate. Drake wasn't even this intimate with the girls he always brought home... was he..? he wondered, then hugged Aver to him gently. It wasn't a move that implied anything.. it was just a hug. "I love you."

"I-I know.. I love you, too.. mm.." Aver whispered back as she smiled awkwardly, even though Reid couldn't see it. She didn't realise how revealing the new top of hers she was wearing really was since it was showing quite a lot of her skin on her shoulders and back. Aver wouldn't normally wear anything like it unless she really had to, either. But she had to wear it for the sake of the wound in her shoulder, and now that Reid had actually touched her shoulder and back, she finally came to realise how much she really did have on show. Aver blushed again, wanting to say something which she just couldn't.

Reid buried his face in Aver's shoulder and kissed it again, the hand that was in her hair moving to between her shoulders on her back. He hadn't realized it, but he had hugged her so close, so many times, holding her closely, that she was practically sitting in his lap. He just didn't want to let her go, though, and her skin felt so soft on his lips, that he couldn't resist kissing her neck and shoulder.

Aver gasped lightly as both of her arms moved to hook underneath Reid's armpits, her hands looping over his shoulders. She had noticed how she was sitting however, and she blinked down at where her thighs were, and blushed even harder, her mouth slightly open. Like yesterday back at the cabin, they were either side of Reid's crotch area now, and seeing this caused Aver to gasp again softly. "Reid.." She whispered, her eyes closing again at his kisses.

Reid slowly pulled his lips from her neck and looked her in the eyes. "What..? What's wrong?" he asked, frowning a little. He was blushing, not able to help it, but he was more concerned he was doing something she didn't like. He wanted to kiss her lips, or stare into her eyes and just get lost, but he wanted to give her a moment to talk first.

"I.." Aver started, staring into Reid's eyes herself, not really knowing what to say at all even though she had said his name which had made him stop. "Mm.. it's nothing.. I'm sorry.." She whispered, shaking her head and and unhooking one of her arms so she could place it on Reid's cheek and kiss him on the lips, her eyes closed. But then she broke it and looked away, her hand still on Reid's cheek however. "Before.." She whispered. "You squeezed my hand, Reid.. when you were talking to Miracle about having children.." Aver smiled a little. "Were you implying that..? Mm.. you know.."

Reid blushed and smiled, but nodded, looking down. "I.. I was, actually.. I... I can imagine us having a family, Aver. I'm sorry, if it scares you, pretend I never said anything, but... I love you. And I'd love nothing more than to have kids with you some day." he whispered, slowly looking back up into her eyes. He smiled softly, still blushing bright red.

Aver blinked at him, and there was a short, awkward silence between the two of them before she finally swallowed and opened her mouth to say something, her own cheeks scarlet as well as his. "Reid.. I.. I don't know what to say.. I.." She whispered, biting her lip before unexpectedly moving forwards rather quickly, both of her hands on Reid's chest as she kissed him deeply, ignoring all of the pain in her wounded hand. But then again.. there was no pain anymore, all of it had disappeared since she had forgotten all about it. It was just like she was in Reid's place now, when he had the broken finger.. Aver was pushing him back slightly, but not really meaning to as she still kissed him lovingly. "I love you, too.. I love you so much.." She murmered against his lips happily.

Reid blinked, surprised by her actions. Usually, talking about things like having kids at their age would scare the girl away, but she was embracing him all the more. He didn't argue, though, and wrapped his arms around her waist, closing his eyes as he kissed her back, and smiling when she'd said she loved him. He liked that feeling... hearing her say she loved him. He kissed her over and over again deeply, one hand in her hair. His broken finger was still splinted and wrapped, but it didn't hurt so much anymore, at all, really. He had hardly even noticed or remembered that he'd broken it. He did notice, however, that Aver had pushed him back on the bed, and that she was still sitting with her legs on either side of his crotch and blushed brightly. What was he supposed to do?

Aver was too entwined with Reid's lips to notice where her hand was going. It was like it had a mind of it's own as it moved down to his chest, her fingers moving underneath the folds of his shirt onto his skin. Her hand was flat against Reid's naked chest by this point, moving up and down slowly and lightly. But Aver didn't seem to care at all. She felt as if she could do anything, and that the butterflies may just burst through her stomach at any moment as she kissed Reid more, her tongue peeping out between her lips a couple of times in the process. Why? She honestly didn't know herself. Aver just smiled a little under the kiss, not hinting that she was going to stop just yet.

Reid was ultimately comfortable with her actions by now. He'd always loved the feel of her hands on his chest, shirt or no, and they'd been in this position before. He wasn't going to refuse something that felt so... wonderful. He kept his eyes closed and kissed her deeply as well. Every time she licked his lips or poked her tongue into his mouth, he shuddered and did it to her in return. At one point, their tongues touched and he felt electric waves shoot from his toes to the very tips of his ears and higher in a mad dash. His hands on her back slowly began to push her shirt up until his hands were flat against the naked skin of her shoulders, holding her closer. Wow.. this is amazing! Now I understand why mom and dad loved doing it so much..

Aver's eyes had opened, and she had also gotten the same sort of shock that Reid did when her tongue touched his. She honestly hadn't felt herself doing it at all before, and it seemed that it was her who had done it first, too. Her eyes closed again however as Reid's hands came into contact with the skin of her back, and she moaned shortly, but it was quiet. "Your hands are so warm.." Aver whispered against his lips, brushing hers across his before moving down now to kiss him where she knew he liked it. On his neck, just below his jawline.

Reid licked his lips and gasped a little at her kiss on his neck, keeping his eyes closed and trying to hide a pleasureable shiver. "Mm... Your skin is soft, it's hard to resist.." he whispered in a soft breath. He blushed bright red, wondering why he was feeling everything--every touch, every kiss, every movement--ten times more than before, and loving it all the more as well. Everything was heightened.. ecstatic.

Aver simply smiled and kissed him more in the same spot with her eyes closed, even though she wanted to open them so she could look at Reid. She moved down again, this time to his chest where the skin was visible. But Aver paused and allowed herself to lie down fully on Reid so she was comfortable enough, but not lying in a way which would hurt him. She smiled again, tracing her finger along his chest and moving it up towards his shoulder, moving the shirt from off of it slightly so she could see his collarbone. Aver just looked at his body for a while, and then into Reid's eyes. "Your shoulders, they're.." She whispered, letting her hand touch his right shoulder and stroke it lightly. "You've gotten so much older.. " Aver whispered again.

Reid breathed deeply and slowly turned his head, opening his eyes to look down at her as best he could. "Older..? What do you mean?" he asked in a whisper, his hands still on her back. He liked the feeling of her body laying completely on his... no restrictions. He licked his lips again, wanting to kiss hers, and gently moved his hands up and down her back in gentle caresses on her skin.

Aver looked away and smiled a little, her fingers still rubbing his shoulder lightly. "Like.. old enough, to.." She said softly, still smiling as a hue of pink tickled her entire face. Her legs shifted a little as she still tried to look away shyly, but.. they didn't move to the best of places, and Aver noticed this, the blush on her cheeks becoming slightly more intense. Her knee had pretty much slid off Reid's legs, and it was lying right between his legs, just inches away from his privates. It didn't really help that her skirt, despite it being long, had moved upwards to reveal some of her thigh which caused her to blush even harder still. "Mm.." Aver mumbled, seeming to giggle a little without opening her mouth, yet the smile was still there.

Reid blushed brightly and bit his lip, dropping his head again so he could look up at the ceiling. For some reason, his jeans felt.. tighter. He cleared his throat, his entire body feeling hot, but mostly his face, keeping his hands on Aver's back. "W-well.." he started, but stopped. What the hell am I supposed to say to that?! he thought, somewhat frustrated, then blinked and blushed deeper (if it were possible). Was she offering..? Well.... we are in a war.. If something were to happen... No way I'm dying a virgin! But.. That's no excuse! Ugh! What do I do?! he thought, shifting a little at her legs between his. But he was also shifting because of the uncomfortable tightness in his pants. He stopped and went wide-eyed for a moment. Oh no... is my body doing what I think it's doing?! Oh gods.. I wonder if she can feel it..? She is practically laying on it! Oh gods.. He swallowed thickly.

"Well, what..?" Aver whispered softly, turning to look at him even though the blush was still there. She leaned more inwards to him now as she shifted herself up so Aver's face could reach Reid's. Of course, thankfully for him, Aver had not noticed the bulge in his pants. Yet. "We don't have to.." Her voice was a whisper and she kissed him extremely softly and lightly in an almost teasing manner. "But.. from what I can feel, Reid.." She kissed him again, but when Aver spoke, she kept their faces close and their lips together slightly. "I think you want to." Aver said softly, the pinkyness returning to her cheeks as she stared deeply into Reid's eyes. Feeling that certain.. place of Reid's just now didn't seem to bother Aver much at all, really. After all, it was natural, and most teens her age had already had their sexual education lessons at school, so Aver didn't feel any need to suddenly gasp and turn away again.

Reid's blush increased and he swallowed thickly, looking at Aver with total embarrassment. But it helped him to know she hadn't been grossed out, or shocked, but that she had offered after all. He bit his lip, then kissed her again, closing his eyes. He wasn't sure what to say anymore... in fact, he didn't want to say anything anyway. He just wanted to kiss her and hold her. He licked at her lips, his breath a little shakey from how nervous he was. "We shouldn't do it here though.. this is Miracle and Gray's bed.." he whispered when it broke. He bit his lip. "Where can we go?"

He.. wants to? He actually.. wants to? Mmm.. I'm nervous now.. silly me.. eh.. Aver felt herself saying inside her head as she kissed him again softly instead of answering him first. "Somwhere.. dark.. but not too dark." She whispered back, toying with his hair with her hand as she stared deeply into his eyes again, wondering what he was thinking. "The restaurant, maybe..? We could take some pillows with us, or something.." Aver bit her lip. It was all being planned? Something like this just usually.. happened. Didn't it?

Reid bit his lip, and tried to think of a place that was closer.. easier to get to, and in a place where he wouldn't have to walk in front of anyone who might be able to tell he had a hard-on. He blushed and thought. "There's.. that linen shop that sells all the pillows and sheets and stuff.. Right next door.." he whispered. He sat up, taking his hands out from under her shirt, and grabbed her hand. "Let's go." He stood and pulled her up, heading there without a second thought. Why am I in such a hurry? Oh yeah.. because Drake and dad both said it doesn't last very long.. he blushed, looking down at the slight bulge in the front of his pants.

Aver was feeling hot all over her body, but she wasn't blushing as much anymore. She was actually.. excited more than anything.. and for some reason, she felt more open without having Reva there on her shoulders, watching her every move like she used to. Aver smiled and looked at Reid for a moment, then she followed his eyes down to his pants. She giggled lightly, and did something quite out of the ordinary which she doubted anyone she had known or met would have thought her to do. Aver touched Reid's crotch lightly with her hand, trying to pass it off as an accidental act as she walked more closely to him, this time her leading him as she took both of his hands while being careful of her own injured one, and walking backwards for a short moment, keeping her bright, blue eyes transfixed on Reid's rather cheekily.

Reid had blushed bright red when he felt Aver's hand pass over his, currently, most sensitive area. He had to swallow back any noise he would've made and shuddered. Wow.. she did that through my pants and it still felt great.. he thought, biting his lips as he looked back into her eyes. He smiled a little, feeling slightly more comfortable, and suddenly moved forward quickly, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her deeply, passionately, pushing her backwards to keep walking as he did.

Aver let out a small shriek when Reid had grabbed her, but it was followed by small, quiet giggles against Reid's lips as she allowed herself to be pushed backwards, not even daring to break the kiss and turn around to make sure that she wouldn't walk into anything. She wouldn't really care if she did knock herself out by walking into the wall. Reid was the main thing on her mind right now as she kissed him back just as deeply, her tongue escaping her mouth again as they entered the store finally, the smell of freshly washed linen reaching Aver's nose as she stepped inside with her arms still wrapped around Reid's neck.

Reid smiled a little too and had to stop in order to unblock and close the doors to the linen shop, locking it at the bottom, leaving the lights off so no one would be able to see inside. He then stood up and kissed her again, moving past her towards a model bed that was showing off a particular sheet set for sale. He pulled her by the hands towards it and to him, wrapping his arms around her for the second time, kissing her deeply as he sat backwards on the bed. It was actually comfortable, the mattress still soft because no one had slept in it.

Aver flumped down on top of him like before and smiled under the kisses Reid gave her, trying her hardest to treasure every single one in both her heart and her mind. She put a hand to his chin though, breaking the kiss even though she didn't really want to at all. "Reid.." She whispered, her cheeks flushing pink again as she leaned forwards and spoke against his lips. "It's.. easier if the guy is on top.. apparently." Aver giggled slightly and kissed Reid's nose affectionately before moving off him and lying on her side next to him, watching his eyes as if waiting for him to move, too. But her hand however, was already moving to the buttons of his shirt as she unbuttoned them slowly.. gently.. almost teasingly like she had been before as she licked her lips a little, her eyes still staring into Reid's throughout.

Reid blushed and smiled a little, nodding. As she unbuttoned his shirt, his hands moved to hers around her neck. He pulled the knot loose easily, so the neck to it was untied, and brought his hands down slowly over her breasts to the bottom of the shirt, then to the hem of her skirt, looping his fingers into it, staring back into her eyes just as deeply. He swallowed hard, suddenly feeling very nervous. But I'm obviously still up for it.. he thought, regarding the bulge in his pants. He bit his lip and slowly started to pull her skirt down.

Aver closed her eyes as she felt herself becoming undressed by someone else. But she didn't feel uncomfortable or embarrassed by it because.. it was Reid doing it. She loved him. Aver smiled and wrapped one of her hands gently around his which was holding the skirt and pulled it down slightly quicker than he had been doing. She had unbuttoned all of his shirt by now, and Aver was tracing her hands all up Reid's chest and down again. So warm.. Aver smiled.

Reid swallowed thickly and watched her help him pull her skirt off, pulling it off the rest of the way by himself and throwing it off the bed, then slipping out of his own shirt, his dogtags dangling. He licked his lips and leaned over her, kissing her deeply and closing his eyes as he moved his hands under her shirt, pulling it up slowly, until it was over her breasts, then broke the kiss and sat back so he could pull it off over her head. She's so beautiful.. I can't believe we're going to do it..

Aver smiled up at him and took her top from him, then threw it over shoulder as if it was nothing important. She smiled again and put one hand to his cheek and kissed him softly while she reached down for his pants with her other, slowly undoing the button of them. She didn't feel paranoid.. embarrassed.. or even concious at all about lying there in front of Reid in just her underwear.

Reid kissed and suckled at her neck next, unconsciously leaving a hickey as he did, a hand on her hip. He shuddered at the feel of her undoing his pants, his hands slowly moving lower to the hem of her underwear. He licked his lips, his tongue lightly brushing her skin, and kept his eyes closed. He slowly pulled back, though, and looked her in the eyes. "I love you." he whispered. "I just.. wanted you to know that first.." He seemed nervous beyond all reason and couldn't stop blushing. He kissed her again.

Aver kissed him back, but it was very short since she broke it and put her hands either side of Reid's face, stroking his cheeks with her thumbs as she smiled at him softly. She could sense his feelings rather well after they had been through so much together over the past few days. "I know you do, Reid." She whispered back, nodding a little. "And I would only give myself to someone I really love, and that someone is you." Without any hesitation, she reached down and took his hand lightly and moved it so Reid was finally getting somewhere with removing her underwear. Within seconds, they were finally off and on the floor with her other clothes. But it had to be said, she was feeling a little concious now, the pink in her cheeks was appearing again..

---

"Thanks for the offer, miss...?" Blake trailed off, implying that he meant to ask for her name. He looked at Gray and the baby "Cute kid" He said, with a warm smile, then stretched, and realised he was pantless. He unconsciously placed both hands over the center of his crotch "Sorry for the trouble I caused, I guess I wasn't as covert about getting in here as I thought" He laughed nervously.

"My name is Miracle." she said, going to his side and grabbing his knee, lifting his leg so his thigh was open and available to her. She draped his wounded leg over her own lap. "Hold still. This will sting." she said as a warning. She wasn't being so gentle anymore, a little annoyed at how Blake had called Karin a "cute kid." She wasn't just a kid, she was her daughter. Her baby. And he allowed a dog into the mall that could've harmed her. She poured the rubbing alcohol over his wounds, watching and hearing them sizzle loudly as the antibacterial enzymes worked at his open gashes, causing the marks to bleed heavily for a moment, then coagulate quickly. She wiped away the excess liquid, then began to wrap his thigh, starting at the top of his knee, and working her way up to the close inside of his upper thigh, carefully avoiding any contact with his crotch.

Karin whined and reached for her mommy again, trying to pull away from Gray slightly. "Mommy!" she cried, reaching towards Miracle, despite that Miracle was busy.

Blake let out a brief howl of pain "Steady on! I done something to offend you or summin?" He let out a steady hiss as the alcohol did its job. The burning sensation soon went away, and he watched the kid pine for her mommy as Miracle wrapped his leg "Was it cause I called her cute? I was only passing a compliment, yeesh!"

Miracle glared at him a little as she tied the knot into his bandages uncomfortably tight, yanking it. "You let a DOG into the building! If it hadn't have gone after you, it could have gone after someone else! Including my baby!" she growled and pushed his leg away, standing up. She cleaned up the tools she'd used to clean and wrap Blake's leg, then turned and gently took Karin from Gray, giving Gray a kiss. "Thank you." she whispered and carried Karin carefully, walking out of the mini-hospital, bouncing her and patting her back lightly. "Shh... It's okay, Karin, mommy's here." she crooned.

Karin whimpered and leaned against Miracle with her face outwards, her head on Miracle's shoulder, and her arms around her neck. She looked at Gray as Miracle carried her away from the hospital and reached out a hand towards him. "Daddy come too!" she called, still crying softly.

Blake stared at her as she walked out "Some firecracker you've got there" He said to Gray, truly in awe. He got up and limped over to his pants, and managed to pull them on with great difficulty. He stopped for a second to wonder where his gun was and when he bent over to look for it, a cold prodding sensation in his underwear told him exactly where it was. He reached down the back and pulled it out from his underwear. He re-stuffed into its rightful place and walked out to go get his knife from the dead dog. In the doorway, he stopped and turned "Oh, by the way, where are you guys all shackin' up? I think I might join ye after all" He added.

Before Blake could actually walk out of the door however, Gray moved forwards rather calmly and slammed his hand against the side of the doorframe, blocking Blake's path as Gray's arm leaned horizontally in front of him. "We don't know where we're 'shacking' anymore no thanks to you." Gray said, his voice almost completely toneless. "Just who do you think you are?" His eyes narrowed. "And don't even think about answering me with the wisecrack joke of answering me by telling me your name. I've heard it all before."

Blake looked him in the eye, silently daring Gray to push further "I'm just your regular wanderer, blowing through town" He said, as if he had rehearsed it "Always have been, probably always will be" He added. "So, Mr. Gray, who are you then? Seeing as we're on the subject of Who's Who" He said, unusually coldly.

Gray merely smirked at him, not moving his arm or the rest of his body whatsoever. "Gray White. The head officer in the New York Military." He said, just as coldly. "And I have the permission to take down any animal which may cross my path." Gray's eyes narrowed again. "Now you stay away from Miracle and my daughter. Or I'll kill you without any hesitation." This sentence was completely toneless, like he truly meant it. "To me you seem like a hungry dog out for some ass. Well, I can assure you, Blake, that I've shot hundreds of dogs in this war, and there will be no stopping me if I have to kill you, too. Trust me, I'll do it." Gray shot a cold, dark glare at him before finally removing his arm and walking out of the hospital himself and stopping by Miracles' side.

Blake glared after him with a smirk on his face Typical little military boy, thinking just because he's seen a few friends get blown to pieces that makes him the toughest cookie this side of the world . He walked to the dog and kicked it once more "You know true toughness don't you champ? Hell you came face to face with it" He removed the knife from the dog's head with a sick squelch. He wiped the blood and gore on the side of the dead animal with out so much as a second thought. He re-sheathed his knife and followed Miracle, Gray and Karin from a distance. I'd love to see you try Gray, I really would He gave a small chuckle as he followed them, quite interested to meet the rest of this band of survivors.

Miracle looked up at Gray softly, looking him in the eyes. "What happened..?" she asked him in a whisper, stroking Karin's hair, cradling her. She had wanted to know what had taken Gray so long to get to her and Karin, if he had stopped to say something to Blake.

Karin whimpered and shifted so she was sitting on Miracle's hip comfortably, also making it easier for her to look at Gray. "Wormies..?" she asked pointing at his eyebrows. She wanted to see him wiggle them again. "Daddy?"

Gray simply shook his head at Miracle, put his arm around her middle and smiled softly at Karin, raising his eyebrows at her and kissing her cheek gently. "Don't worry about it." He said quietly as he stared into Karin's eyes, even though he was talking to Miracle.

Miracle smiled softly and nodded. "I trust you." she whispered and bounced Karin. "I finally got her to stop crying." She looked at Karin and smiled widely, proudly. "She looks so much like you.."

Karin blinked at her mommy, then laughed at her daddy's eyebrows. "Wormies!" she shrieked and clapped happily. She put her hands on his face again, stretching to try reaching his eyebrows. She grunted and poked one, pushing it up in the middle comically, then laughed and slapped her hands on his cheeks. "Daddy!"

Gray chuckled at Karin's hands all over his face and let out a small 'oof' when she had slapped his cheeks. "Ow.." He murmered. "She's got pretty strong hands like you have." Gray looked at Miracle and smiled, Karin's hand now in his as he stroked her knuckles again. "But yeah.. she does look like me. I can see my mom's nose in there somewhere.." He chuckled.

Miracle nodded and smiled at Gray lovingly. "I love you. You've only just met her, and you're already a great father to Karin, Gray." she whispered. "And she loves you." She leaned up and kissed him softly, closing her eyes and stroking his cheek.

Karin watched her mommy and daddy kiss again for the hundreth time to her that day, and her big brown eyes were curious. "Wazat?" she asked, poking Miracle's cheek, forcing her to break the kiss. "Wazat?!" she demanded again in her baby voice.

Blake watched them from the safe distance Ugh, get a room you two . He smirked and kicked another can that was in his way, on purpose this time.

Gray growled and broke the kiss, looking straight into Blakes' direction of course, his eyes narrowing again. But he didn't let his eyes linger on him for long since they moved to look down at Karin. He had to smile, there was no way in stopping it. She's just too cute. Gray chuckled. "It's called a kiss." He said softly. "Your mommy and daddy do it to show that we love each other." Gray smiled again and kissed Karin's forehead yet again. "See? It means that I love Karin." He whispered, his face close to hers. "Kiss? Kiss for daddy?"

Karin blinked and tilted her head, looking at Miracle as if to ask if it was okay, then grabbed her daddy's face in both hands, squeezing his cheeks close together so he had a fishy face, then planted a big wet kiss, off-centered, on his lips. "Kissy! Kissy for daddy!" she cheered, then did it again, this time on his eye.

Miracle couldn't help but laugh a little, despite that Blake's looming presence made her feel rather... uneasy. She shifted a little, still holding Karin close to Gray on her hip, and giggled at Karin's silliness. "Such a good kiss!" she smiled.

Blake smirked and kicked the can again. "Aww, am I interrupting precious little Gray's precious little moment?" He laughed scathingly.

Gray simply ignored Blake again and chuckled, patting Karin's head gently, stroking her soft hair which was the same shade as Miracles'. "Mooshy, mooshy!" He teased, laughing again. "I don't know who is a better kisser, you know. It's a hard choice." Gray winked at Miracle.

Miracle smiled a little, nodding, then looked at Blake. Gray may have been ignoring him, but Miracle couldn't. Something about him... put her off. She felt scared for Karin. She stepped back a little as Blake stepped closer, moving closer to Gray and averting her eyes. She bit her lip, not wanting to say anything. Karin didn't seem bother yet..

Karin giggled happily and poked Gray's face, jabbing his upper lip. "Mooshy mooshy!" she parroted him. She clapped and blew kisses with both hands making a big, "MWAH!" sound and hugged Miracle around her neck, giving Miracle's cheek a big, wet kiss also.

Man that kid's your regular kiss factory Blake left the can this time, seemingly having grown bored with it. He stretched and put his hands in his pockets Where the hell is this place, anyway? Other side of New York? He sighed and shook his head.

Gray chuckled again and shook his head, watching Karin brightly. "I think we've been blessed." He nodded, then looked at her curiously. "Has she tried to walk yet?" Gray asked, more or less thinking out loud, really.

Miracle looked at Gray and shook her head. "No.." she said, frowning a little. "I was always scared she'd hurt herself..." She bit her lip, looked at Blake over Gray's shoulder, then at Gray. "Let's go find a place to teach her! Actually, you can teach her, it'll give you two time to bond, and I'll go get her some food to have when she's tired, okay? I'll meet up with you." she whispered. "How about you try it in the Bedman's shop? There's nothing but pillows and bedsheets in there! I'll meet you both in there." she suggested, offering Karin to Gray.

Karin happily and easily switched from hanging onto Miracle, to clinging to Gray around his waist, her arms around his neck. "Daddy! Mooshy, mooshy!" she laughed and nuzzled his cheek with her face.

What the hell does that chick keep looking at? Blake frowned and slowed his pace, not wanting to catch up to Miracle, Gray and Karin.

"Aah, come on then, you." Gray chuckled, holding Karin to him protectively as he glanced at Blake once, and looked at Miracle. "I guess we'll see you soon. Let's hope our baby girl will be walking by the time you get back, huh?" He gave Miracle a wink and kissed her shortly before looking back down at Karin and wiggling his eyebrows again. "To the bedstore!" Gray chanted, lifting Karin high up in the air as he walked off towards the store, his eyes wide as he smiled comically at the toddler once he had set her back down against his chest.

Miracle watched them go, then turned and walked in the opposite direction, going for the food court to find Karin some milk, grapes and bananas like she'd wanted. She would definitely want them after trying to walk for so long. She bit her lip and twiddled her thumbs as she walked. Gray is such a good father.. I haven't seen him in so long.. I love him. Married? Why do I suddenly feel so nervous? she asked herself.

Karin gurgled happily and poked his eyebrows again, bouncing in his arms. "Daddy has wormies! I has wormies?" she asked, poking at her own eyebrows and pushing them with her fingers, then laughed.

Gray laughed and nodded, poking her eyebrows back gently as well. "You sure do! Karin has wormies like daddy!" He chuckled again as they entered the store. "Is Karin going to try and walk like a big girl today?" Gray asked, setting the toddler down on the bed and kneeling down in front of her, putting his hands on her feet as he watched her, smiling.

Karin blinked and tilted her head, Miracle's eyes looking back at Gray in Karin's. She giggled and clapped, kicking her feet under Gray's hands and bouncing on the bed. "S'my feetsies!" she said, pointing at her shoes in his hands. "Mine!" She smiled at Gray, but it was easy to see she had no idea what he was talking about when he said "walk." She clapped and poked his eyebrows again, shrieking a laugh.

Gray shook his head and groaned a little, pretending to slap his hand against his forehead. But he still chuckled and smiled at her as he stood up now, lifting Karin off the bed. "Okay monkey," Gray said, trying his best to steady Karin on the ground by her feet as he held her middle while he crouched down in front of her again. "Your feetsies let you go walkies like grown ups do." Gray nodded.

Karin looked at Gray and her eyes reflected that large curiousity she felt, then she looked down at her feet again. "Feetsies.. walk..?" she asked, looking back at Gray, this time with her thumb in her mouth. Technically, she was supposed to have learned this already before she'd turned two. But Miracle had been afraid Karin would wander off and get hurt, so she had neglected to teach her. "Feetsies walk!" she said, pointing down at her shoes as if commanding them to do it on their own. "Daddy walk?" she asked, looking at Gray again.

Gray laughed and nodded again. "Yup, daddy walk! Daddy walk and show Karin, then Karin copy daddy?" He whispered, rubbing the toddler's back as he watched her, the smile still there on his lips. He then looked thoughtful for a moment as he remembered Miracle telling him about the soft pillows which the store sold. Gray looked to his right and took two pillows in one hand and dropped them behind Karin. He nodded and then looked back to her, the smile returning now. "You put.." Gray started, moving his hand down to Karin's foot where he held it gently. "One feetsie forwards!" He lifted her foot slowly, and pulled Karin to him slightly, letting her foot down again. "And another feetsie!" Gray did the same with her other foot.

Karin watched as he picked up her feet one by on and pulled them forward before letting them go again. She leaned forward so her hands were on his arms, still watching her feet. She mumbled and talked in her baby burbles again as she did, as if memorizing the steps it took to walk. "Putsa feetsie... puts feetsie.." she whispered as he moved her feet.

"That's it." Gray nodded, smiling as he finally let go of her feet after he had led her towards him for a few metres. He returned his hands back around her middle again. "Karin try going for a walkies?" He asked her, smiling again. She's three, isn't she? Surely she'll learn how to do it quickly? Gray thought, thinking about what Miracle had said to him earlier, and how she had been worried about teaching Karin how to walk properly.

Karin continued to babble to herself, occasionally letting go of one of Gray's arms to put her fingers in her mouth in concentration, then replaced it back when she wanted to say something. She looked at him after a while of walking on her own. "Walkies! Feetsies walk!" she said happily, clapping for herself and bouncing in place. She opened her arms wide to Gray for a hug.

Gray blinked at Karin for quite a long time before his mouth finally moved into that of a smile as he beamed down at her. "You did it!" He cried happily, scooping up the toddler in his arms and hugging her tightly. "You wait until mommy sees you go walkies! She'll be so proud!" Gray beamed again and practically attacked Karin's cheek with kisses as he tipped her sideways in his arms playfully.

Karin shrieked and clung to Gray as he tipped her sideways, kicking her legs, and giggling. "Daddy!" she screamed happily and wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him to prevent being tipped upside down completely. She hugged him, squeezing her eyes shut tight, and her giggles slowly died. After a moment of her silence, she said softly, "Love you, daddy.." snuggling as close to him as she could get.

Gray smiled and closed his eyes, putting a hand to Karin's head and pushing it gently against his chest a little as he ran his fingers through her hair. "I love you too, my little monkey.." He whispered back to her, still smiling, even when he leaned down to kiss her on the top of her head. "I'm so happy we could meet.. you're so beautiful." Gray said lovingly. "You're my little girl."

Karin pulled her arms from around his neck so she could cuddle against his chest in his arms, babbling to herself again. "Merbbbpp.. burburbburb... lubrrr..." she mumbled, then yawned tiredly, her eyes drooping. All the learning how to walk had tired her out a little, but she was hungry more than tired. Her stomach growled and she frowned down at it, then poked it with her fingers through her shirt. "Tummy go Grrrr!" she muttered and looked at Gray. "Daddy?"

Gray chuckled and nodded. "I think Monkey Karin wants her 'nanas!" He chanted, rubbing her back up and down with his hand. "Come on, let's go find mommy and get your 'nanas." Gray nodded, smiling. "Can you go walkies outside with daddy so we can find mommy?"

Karin smiled and waved her arms, squirming to get down. "Walkies! Karin wantsa show mommy Karin's walkies!" she cheered and wiggled her feet, trying to reach the ground from Gray's arms.

Gray chuckled again. "Hold your horsies, there we go." He said, once he had set Karin on the ground, holding her steady for a moment as he took her hand in his. "Lead the way!" Gray called, smiling down at her proudly.

Karin looked up at Gray, holding his hand tightly, and smiled. "Walkies!" she shouted happily and looked down at her feet, as if trying to mentally force them into movement. She put her fingers in her mouth in thought, trying to remember how her daddy had gotten her feet to move, then slowly lifted one foot and put it forward, wobbly, followed by the other foot. "Putsa feetsie... putsa feetsie.." she muttered again and moved her feet like Gray had shown her. Soon, she was walking and leading Gray at a slow, but steady pace, sucking on her fingers and watching her own feet.

"Wow, you're doing so good, Karin.." Gray said softly, watching her as she walked, his face smiling proudly down at her again as he walked slowly himself as to match the toddler's pace. "Mommy is going to be so proud of you! And there will be plenty of grapies,'nanas and a nice cup of milkies waiting for you when we find her!" If we find her that is.. I forgot how big a mall really was. Gray thought, yawning and frowning a little. If that guy is with her, or anywhere near my Miracle, I'll give him something to act so damn smug about..

Karin giggled, but kept watching her feet. When she was sure she had her balance and a good pace, she bounced and hopped a little. "Grapies! Grapies!" she said, smiling up at Gray. "I has 'nanas? Daddy has 'nanas?" she asked, pointing at him with her free hand. She looked down again and hopped, watching both her feet leaving the ground then go back down in different places, shrieking with interest.

---

"Hey, Miracle! Need any help? Least I could do." Blake offered with another one of his warm smiles. He had stopped now and stood where he was, not wanting to follow Miracle and risk getting into another confrontation with Gray. It just wouldn't do to have the kid fatherless so soon.

Miracle looked up at Blake and bit her lip. How dangerous could he really be? He wouldn't hurt me.. I'm sure the dog thing was just an accident.. But he really should be more careful. she thought, argueing with herself. "Uh.. sure.. I'm just going to get Karin her lunch."

"Great!" Blake ran over, but kept a metre away from Miracle "What are you looking for then?" He asked, still smiling.

Miracle smiled a little and looked ahead, going into the kitchen of a vegetarian's food stand. "Grapes and bananas, and a bottle of milk." she explained. "And the grapes and bananas will need to be sliced into small pieces."

"I can handle that!" Blake said loudly, and pulled out his knife, which was still streaked with the dog's blood. His face dropped when he saw it "Well" He re-sheathed it "I'll sort that bit anyway" He grabbed one banana and a bag of grapes from a cooler underneath the main cooker. He placed them on a chopping board and got a knife from a rack in the back of the kitchen. "I'll chop the bananas, but the grapes are a bit small, should I leave them?" He asked, brandishing the knife with the familiarity of an expert.

"Please try to cut the grapes in half." Miracle called as she grabbed a sippy cup and filled it with cold milk, then twisted the cap on. She looked for a bowl to put the bananas and grapes in.

Blake chopped the banana, but was having difficulty with the grapes. They were roughly the size of medium-small pebbles, bites at the very least. Probably their way of economising, sell this cheap crap on at a profit. The animals did something right in taking these industries down. He eventually couldn't be bothered to try and measure accurately and just cut away haphazardly with vague attempts at hitting the middle. Ahh well, the kid won't care. She gets to eat at any rate . He reached down to take another banana and chopped that too, then reached down and took another for his own lunch. "All done! You got something to put it all in?" He asked, glancing over at her.

Miracle nodded and walked over with a good-sized bowl in her hands, paper, and started to scoop the banana and grape slices into it. "Thank you." she said softly, then twisted on the cap to Karin's sippy cup of milk. She picked up both the bottle and the bowl, then turned and headed out again.

"Don't mention it! Happy to help!" Blake called after her, then walked out. You're falling hard for this woman dumbass, get over it or you're gonna answer to the military boy. He frowned and kicked a half-eaten Snickers covered in blood, listening to the wrapper skid across the floor. The animals must have hit this place hard, most of the stuff is still in pretty good condition, and no-one has tried to take much. He stretched and put his hands in his pockets.

Miracle kept her eyes down on the floor as she walked, trying not to look back over her shoulder at Blake to see if he was following her. She kept her eyes down, either on the floor, on the bowl in her hand, or the milk in her other hand, or on the ceiling. She smiled when she saw Gray and Karin heading towards her, then stopped in her tracks and gasped when she saw Karin walking. "KARIN! You're walking!" she cheered.

Gray chuckled and nodded, giving Miracle a small wave with his free hand since his other was occupied by Karin's as she walked. He beamed down at her happily and then looked to Miracle. "Monkey wants her grapies, 'nanas and milkies, mommy!" Gray called childishly, pretending to pout as the both of them finally reached Miracle.

Karin bounced and waved her free arm happily, smiling at Miracle. "I has walkies!" she shouted and giggled loudly, pulling her hand from Gray's and holding up both arms, wide open to Miracle.

Miracle chuckled and bent, swooping Karin up in her arm, even though she had her hands full. She nuzzled Karin's nose and kissed her forehead, then hugged her tightly. "Oh my baby... You can walk.. I was afraid you'd never learn." she whispered and closed her eyes as she hugged her daughter. She looked at Gray and smiled. "Thank you for teaching her. I love you." she swooned, her eyes tearing up a little.

"She did most of the work herself, don't praise me so much." Gray winked, kissing Miracle's head softly and looking at Karin. "Besides, Karin might look a lot like daddy, but she has mommy's brains." He chuckled, putting a hand on the toddler's head and ruffling her hair gently, admiring the feel of how soft and shiny it was.

Miracle smiled widely and kissed Gray on the lips, deeply, Karin between them, then smiled and stepped back, moving to a bench by a large plant area and fountain. She sat on it, setting Karin next to her and present the bowl of chopped fruit and sippy cup of milk.

Karin squealed, "MILKIES!" and instantly grabbed the sippy cup, putting it to her mouth and drinking from it, using both hands to hold it. Even the cup was bigger than her hands. She looked at Miracle first, then at Gray, her big, brown, curious eyes watching them both as she drank.

Gray shook his head with one of his hands on his hips as he watched Karin. "Man.. Mi-mi she's so damn, cute.." He whispered, kneeling down in front of the toddler and putting his hands on her knees gently. "I don't think I could have asked for anything better to return home to. My future wife, and our beautiful baby." Gray whispered again, smiling, his bright blue eyes staring into those of Miracles' for a while, and then moving to Karin's.

Miracle smiled at Gray and nodded. I'm so glad he's back.. here.. Gods, I missed him so much. And what's better is, we're getting married soon.. and he loves Karin as much as I do. Now all that's left is.. she blushed and looked at Karin as a way to help get her mind off the thought. She wanted to share another night with him, like the one they had before he'd left; The one that gave her Karin. She blushed, and as a way to calm herself down, stole one of Karin's banana slices and popped it into her own mouth. "Bop!" she said, smiling.

Karin gasped playfully, milk dribbling down her chin, and pointed at Miracle. "Mommy took my 'nanas!" she said, looking at Gray, as if expecting him to punish her, but she was smiling. "My 'nanas! Mine!" she said, waving her pointed finger at Miracle. "Mommy can has grapies!" she said and picked up a grape slice from the bowl and offered it to Miracle in the palm of her hand.

"She's so sweet." Gray laughed, watching Karin happily as his own stomach seemed to growl in protest from lack of food. He hadn't eaten anything at all today, and he had been up since six this morning. But of course, he had to go out on patrol, giving him less of a chance to have some breakfast. It was the way a soldier would live when they were out at war. Gray just shook it off, though, and looked at Miracle, giving her one of his winks. It was funny, he seemed to be somehow thinking about the same thing as her, since he liked it a lot when she acted cheeky like she had just now.

Miracle chuckled and gratefully took the grape slice from Karin, giving a playful, "Thank you, baby! So sweet!" she giggled. She popped it into her mouth, then smiled at Gray and leaned forward, down, kissing him in a way so that the grape ended up in his mouth instead. She blushed and smiled at him when it broke and winked back at him so Karin couldn't see, and whispered, "Mm.. that's good grapies." She sat back, smiling. All of a sudden, she couldn't wait to put Karin down for the night.

Damn.. it's been too long. Three years without sex? I must be mental.. I'd better not be turning gay. Gray thought, rubbing the back of his neck as he turned his head slightly so he could swallow the grape without Karin noticing. When he turned around again, he looked at Miracle, and seemed to have a rather.. thoughtful look in his eye. "What time is it, mommy?" Gray asked her brightly, hoping himself that it would soon be bedtime for Karin as well as Miracle did.

Miracle smiled at Gray and blushed brightly, knowing exactly what he was thinking. She looked at her wrist, as if reading a watch, and gasped. "My goodness! It's beddytime for baby!" she said. "Finish your grapies and 'nanas and let's go to bed!" she said to Karin, ruffling her hair.

Karin looked at Miracle with a slight tilt to her head, having not felt tired until she had said, "bed," then suddenly yawning and wanting to sleep. She took another bite of a banana slice, then another grape, and yawned again. She opened her arms to Miracle, her eyelids drooping a little. "I is sleepy, mommy.." she murmered.

Miracle smiled and nodded. Works every time. she thought and grabbed Karin up, allowing her to keep her half-empty sippy cup of milk. She stood and looked at Gray. "Coming to say goodnight to baby, daddy?" she asked, starting towards the baby store.

Gray bit his lip and nodded, raising up from the ground and following after the two. "I sure am. Monkey Karin must be pretty tired after all of that walking she did today." He chuckled with a smile. "I think she'll sleep all night, you know." Gray playfully nipped Miracle's backside with his fingers as he said this, and then quickly turned his head as if he was interested in his surroundings. Which he wasn't of course.

Miracle had to hide a small yelp when he'd pinched her butt, and shot a look at him, but it was a playfully scolding look. She giggled when she saw he was looking elsewhere and shook her head slightly. She kissed Karin's forehead and hugged her, as they walked into the baby store. She started to hum a lullaby tune, slowly and gently placing Karin in her crib and covering her up with a blankie. She stroked Karin's hair with one hand as she placed Karin's sippy cup of milk into the crib with the other, still humming, and smiled as Karin slowly, but surely, fell asleep. She stopped humming when she was sure Karin was out like a light, and leaned over the edge of the crib, kissing Karin's head. "Sleep sweet, my baby girl.. my angel." she whispered. She stepped aside so Gray could say goodnight as well.

"Sweet dreams my little monkey.." Gray whispered himself, pulling up the blanket over her small, delicate body a little more and stroking her under her chin light with his index finger. She's perfect. It's like God felt sorry for us and gave us such a beautiful baby girl.. He thought happily once he had straightened up, and smiling as he draped an arm around Miracles' waist, still watching Karin as she slept.

Miracle smiled down at Karin as well, so in love with her daughter. She recalled all the nights she'd spent with Karin alone, putting her to bed like this, and thinking about what it would be like to see Gray kissing Karin's forehead goodnight. She sighed happily and looked at Gray, feeling like the luckiest woman on Earth. "I love you so much." she whispered, hugging him around his waist with her head on his chest.

Gray smiled and wrapped his arms around her tightly and nodded, kissing her head softly. "I love you, too." He said softly. "But you say like you'll wake up tomorrow morning and I won't be here." Gray whispered, holding her for a little while longer before breaking the hug and holding her shoulders so Miracle was facing him. "Mi-mi, I'm not going anywhere. I promise." He smiled reassuringly, put his thumb and index finger to her chin and kissed her softly.

Miracle blushed. This simple motion brought back so many memories.. This had been his favorite way to kiss her, holding her chin, all because it was the way he'd kissed her the very first time. She kissed him back, her hands on his chest, then slowly slipping up around his neck, tears escaping her eyes. Thank you... Whatever God is watching, thank you! Thank you for bringing him back to me alive.. she thought happily. Honestly, the morning she'd awoken to find he wasn't next to her, but a simple note in his place, had been the worst feeling she'd ever felt or would feel again. She had cried for the longest five days in her life. She pulled herself up a little with her arms and wrapped her legs around his waist, deepening the kiss with her hands on his face.

"I think.. that you and I need to catch up on a few things.." Gray murmered under the kiss as he grinned and finally broke it for a moment so he could check that Karin was well and truly out. She was. Gray turned his attention back to Miracle now and kissed her deeply with his hands on her hips as he walked over to the huge bed as quickly as he could and let Miracle fall back against it safely. He broke the kiss again and began to pull of his boots with a few grunts here and there. "Heh, I get some time alone with you and these damn things won't come off!" He whispered with a throaty chuckle, his first boot finally logging itself off his foot along with the other. Gray then smiled at Miracle as he began to take off his his rather hefty jacket while he leaned down towards the bed, kissing Miracle again softly, his arms just halfway out of the sleeves of the jacket.

Miracle giggled under his kiss, putting a hand on his cheek, then broke it so she could start taking off her own clothes, pulling off her skirt first, then her skirt, throwing them both onto the floor. She grinned at him as she sat there in her underwear, and slowly reached behind her back to undo her bra. "Three years.. Oh gods, Gray.." she whispered, shaking her head. It'll feel like the first time... only it won't hurt. she thought and chuckled slightly. She got her bra undone and threw it down off the bed as well, then waved him over with a finger and a grin. "C'mere, hottie."

Gray chuckled at her, admiring her body which he had missed and longed for so, so long. He seemed to growl playfully, and practically tore the white tee he wore over his head and darted towards Miracle, kissing her like he had never kissed her before, while his hands traced every single area of her body. "Damn I've missed this.." Gray said gruffly into her neck, kissing it and leaving countless hickey marks every time his lips left her skin.

Miracle smiled and closed her eyes, her hands wrapping around his chest, under his arms, and she licked her lips. "You're not the only one.." she purred and kissed his shoulder before pulling her hands back around and undoing his pants between them, smiling up at him. She kissed his lips again as they came undone, and pulled him closer, pulling down his pants with her feet. I've missed you, Gray.. so much.. she thought in her mind, but didn't say it. Something told her he already knew.

*****

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