YOU'VE GOT A WAY

He sat alone in the park bench, facing the setting sun, along with the trees and birds. The wind blew freely against his long, platinum blond hair, yet he didn't flinch. Instead, he closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath, feeling the cold gust brush against his face.

He felt alone, once, yet when he opened his eyes, someone was standing there. Looking at him, straight in the eye, with a thin smile. That face startled him. Then he drew another breath. Lucrezia Noin.

"A penny for your thought?" she said with a grin. He smiled back and shook his head. "Nah. It's yours for free." He replied jokingly She giggled, then sat beside him. She leaned back against the chair and sighed, looking directly at the bay. "Anything you'd like to tell me?" she said, not looking away from the setting sun. He slouched on the bench and stretched his arms. "Nothing." He softly muttered.

She looked at him with understanding. She knew it immediately by the look in his eyes. Always. Even when he smiled, there's still something deep within him that is bothering him. She leaned closer towards him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Oh, come on. I'm like, your best friend. You always tell me." she said, reminding him. He tried to look way, but found his eyes trailing towards her. "If I tell you, do you promise to take it seriously?" he asked softly, uncertainty in his voice.

She forced a laugh. "Zechs, has there been a time that I did not take your problems seriously?" she asked, almost quite hurt. He shrugged. "None." He mumbled. "Then tell me." she said softly, now wrapping her arms around him. "Lucrezia," he whispered, she rolled her eyes slightly, "Yes, Wind." She replied. "I told you to take it seriously." He complained, shrugging.

"Sorry." She muttered her apology. He nodded in acceptance. "you know how long we've been together, how many times we fought as a team," he continued, then sighing. She nodded. "and, it's been going around in my head what my life would be like without you." he said, finally. "You were like my angel. My best friend." He looked at her and she looked down. He turned his head and buried his face in his hands. Stupid! Stupid! I'm so damn stupid! He thought in a slight silent rage. He knew how much she cared for him, but telling that she was his best friend, was far more off than he had wanted to say. And he felt weaker by the moment.

She looked up at him, touched his face. "Why are you worrying?" she asked him, as if knowing what was going on in his mind. He lifted his face and bit his lip. He had always been secretive, especially with his inner feelings. It is true that he told her a lot, but his feelings for her---he was scared to confess.

"I'm not worrying." He said, stammering. He looked away towards the other direction, feeling her gaze follow him. She touched his shoulder. "Don't you dare lie to me, Zechs Merquise. Because you know that I always know when you have something on your mind that's bothering you." She said, turning him towards her. He looked away, not wanting to look her in the eyes, for he knew that he would give in. "Zechs, whatever it is, tell me. I'm ready to hear, to keep the secret---I always have and always will." She said in a calm, convincing tone.

"Do you trust me?" Noin asked him, softly. "Of course." Came the reply. "Then tell me." she said, holding on firmly to his shoulders. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath. Reminding himself how much he had faith in her---and how much she had faith in him, how much he loved her.

"Actually, that's not what I'm planning to say." He fessed up, looking sheepishly back at her. She just smiled and shook her head. "I expected it. Just tell me the truth, now." she said. He squirmed in his seat. He drew a deep breath. "You see, you're so good to me. And I thank God for granting me with someone like you. You were a blessing for me. And you were always there for me, even through the toughest times, even if I may seem cold to you. When I always go along my way…But you still stuck with me. You were everything that I had ever wished for. A friend, a sister, a teacher, a doctor, a soldier...and a mother. You always comfort me whenever I feel worn out---"

"Waittaminute! What's your point?"

He sighed. "Okay, I'll give you the short story. I thank you for everything, apologize for every mistakes and disappointments I have given you, and I would like to say," he paused, taking her hand and kneeling in front of her. Surprising her.

He took away one hand and reached down into the inner pocket of his trench coat, wrapping his fingers around something...like a small box. He took it out, placed it on her lap as his fingers entwined with hers. "you were the most precious person in the world. You'll be the one and only for me." he said, without pause, then enclosing her hand on the small, black, velvety box. "Open it." he urged. His smile growing as she slowly opened it. "What's this?" she asked. Then she shook her head. No, there's no need for question in her side, for what she was dreaming of had come to reality.

It's in the way you want me
It's in the way you hold me
The way you show me
Just what love's made of
It's in the way we make love

"Do you like it?" he asked, in a small voice. She was surprised to see the most unusual stuff to be placed in a velvet box: A tiny spool of silvery thread. "Zechs, is this a joke?" she asked, quite insulted. He stood up, taking her with him. "Nope." He said, a smile playing across his lips. And she had felt stupid for asking him what was wrong when she saw that smile. "Oh, great! I fell for it." she said sarcastically. He placed a finger over her lips to silence her, and she looked at him, wide-eyed in puzzlement.

"Its quite corny, but it's the only way I thought of." he said plaintively, taking the spool in his hands. He pulled on the thread, and she saw a loop on the tip of the thread. She just watched as he inserted her finger into the loop, then unwinding the thread again. "What on hell are you doing?" she demanded quietly. He just smiled and said nothing. She bit her lip. As soon as he unwind the thread as long as five inches, she saw something sparkling at the end of the thread.

It was a ring! A solid gold, diamond ring! "What the---!" she cried out in surprise. "For all the times that we've spent together, it had taken me so long to gather up all the courage to give this to you..." he said, moving the ring, along the thread, towards her finger. "And now that it has all been over, I thought that it would be better to do so..." and then he inserted the ring in her finger. Slowly. She just stared back at him in awe, blushing pink. "You made me do it all so fast. I was planning to do it later." He continued with his attractive smile. She bit her lip and looked away, staring at the ring in her hand.

He touched her face, stroked it, then he lifted her chin. He looked deep in her dark blue eyes. Those beautiful eyes that looked both so strong yet, gentle. "I love you, Lucrezia." He whispered, and, his mouth settled over hers.

Their lips lingered for a while. Kissing each other passionately. They had never kissed each other before, maybe just a friendly peck on the forehead and on the cheeks…But as far as they wanted to kiss each other, they never had. And now that they were, it felt so good; they never wanted to pull away.

She pulled back and stared into his lovely, intense, ice blue eyes. She smiled affectionately and touched his cheek. "Will you marry me, Lucrezia?" he asked her. She drew closer and whispered, "Of course I will." She said, with a slight giggle. She withdrew her hand and wrapped her arms around him, and he instinctively embrace her back. "I love you, too." she whispered. A tear rolled down her cheeks, in happiness, now that he had asked her to marry him. And now, all will be better.