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Emily had been glancing at the calendar for quite some time since she'd laid eyes on the writing displayed over Valentine's Day. "Romantic Dinner with Cross." When did this happen? Why wasn't she informed? Another important question that had echoed throughout her mind had to have been, "Why?".

Cross was a wonderful man. He was skilled in combat, intelligent, funny in his own little ways and he had come off as quite kind to most people. He was also possibly her only best friend in existence. The soldier gritted her teeth together sharply, trying to figure out why on Earth he'd planned this without her knowledge?

It was beginning to bother her. These emotions she had felt were overwhelming. Somehow she was stricken with delight and her heart had been pounding. Then again, lately her heart had done all kinds of crazy things whenever she was around him.

"But why?" she murmured, trying to figure out just what the hell was wrong with her. It was insane, unlike anything that she's ever felt before. Maybe she...Maybe she was sick! That thought had suddenly made her cringe.

"I'm going crazy or my heart's weak. Either way something's not right...Even though it feels right and-eh, forget it. I'll just ask him," she said passively, waving a hand. She had went to turn away from the calendar to proceed with her day, but then paused. She'd glanced back at the date and frowned again. "Easier said than done though..."

As the day had gone by, Emily had been distracted. Distracted enough to have been floored and launched across the training arena. By Longbow. Of all people...

Emily had slammed her back into the wall, wincing and struggling to sit up. She rubbed her head and glared intently at the younger soldier. "Not bad," she breathed.

Longbow had stared at her in awe, then looked down at his hands. Before long, he pumped his arm up and began cheering himself on.

"Yeah! Go Longbow! I just ********' floored Lieutenant Emily!" he yelled with satisfaction. Before he could get another word in edge-wise he was on the ground in indescribable pain and a searing wound on his chest.

Emily stood before him brushing her uniform off and wiped some smeared paint stains off of her shoulder armor. Either way, he'd given her time to get up and rough him up a bit. "Gloating isn't very nice. It's also inappropriate in the middle of a fight. I could have killed you had I been someone else."

Longbow had whimpered and felt for his pained arm which was bent backwards with a dislocated shoulder. "Owwwwww...."

Emily had knelt down, grasped onto his shoulder and roughly popped it back into place, looking down at him as she let go, allowing his back to slam back into the pavement.

"Owwwwwwwwww..."

The lieutenant went to open her mouth when she was quickly silenced by another. "Lieutenant."

Looking upward she'd seen her father staring down on her, arms behind his back and a stern yet disappointed look in his eye.

She quickly scrambled up to her feet, saluting him and keeping her eyes directed into his. "General," she started.

General Areux had returned the act of respect before sighing briefly. "Walk with me, Lieutenant," he ordered, walking forward in a brisk pace. Emily's ears drooped as she followed along, trying to stay a little behind him.

Areux had made his way into one of the base's many corridors. Soldiers had gone passed them, going back and fourth around them. Each of them saluting and showing signs of high respect for their leader. Areux would nod at them, showing his acknowledgement.

He had been silent for a few minutes, leaving Emily to wonder just what it was she was in trouble for now.

"General, with all do respect, is there something you wanted or did I do something to remove myself from your good graces?" she asked finally.

Areux had kept his own eyes ahead at their path before they'd finally made it into the courtyard. "Lieutenant, I've noticed these past few months that you have become distracted by something or rather, someone," he began. Emily knew exactly what he was about to assume. Before she could react, she was silenced again.

"Allow me to finish," he quickly added. "You've been behind on your rookies' progress, you've flopped possibly five missions you would have normally have successfully accomplished, you've also been seriously wounded atleast during three different occasions. That is unlike the Lieutenant Emily Cohen I know."

Emily had sighed and knitted her eyebrows together. He was right, she had been heavily distracted. Things had began to get intense in her life and she'd been neglecting her duties regularly.

"My apologies, Father..Er, General. It won't happen again," she informed him.

Areux had finally turned around to look down at his saddened daughter. His eyes had gone soft momentarily before he'd sigh and lay one hand on her shoulder, keeping the other behind his back as he did so.

"I don't want you to give up whatever it is that is making you happy. I only ask that you try to do better. You're losing your roots, Emily," he told her before giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze and letting go, walking passed her.

Emily watched her father leave, raising an eyebrow. It was unlike him to be so lenient with her. Her frown then curled into a small smile.

"Lady Emily! Lady Emiiiilyyyy!"

Emily quickly glanced over to see her impish friend fluttering over to her, a big smile on her little face. "Lady Emily, you've got to come shopping with me!"

Emily tilted her head. "What? What for?"

Melanie had flicked her tail in Emily's face. "Don't ask questions, just follow me! C'mon!"

Emily sighed inwardly. "You saw the calendar."

Melanie grinned deviously. "Yes, yes I did. Now let's go find you something nice to wear, let's go!"

The soldier groaned and laid a hand over her eyes, roughly pulling it down over her face before smiling again. May as well go along with it. Not like it was something bad. Besides her father did say to try harder but also to hold onto what makes ya happy.

"Alright! Let's go!" Emily replied, running after her friend.

After what felt like hours of shopping, Emily and Melanie had seated themselves at a little restraunt in Durem's Shopping District. The two women had been sitting at a nice little table on the patio, a few others sitting around them at other tables.

"So you just came home and it was scribbled on the calendar?" Melanie asked as she popped into human form and stirred some sugar into her tea. Emily nodded a little, swirling her straw around in a glass, the ice clacking together as she did so.

"Yeah, I was suprised I hadn't seen it before. I had came home late last night and fell asleep on the couch, passed right by it," she went on to explain. "Then when I woke up, walked passed it again to go upstairs, shower, change for work and then when I went to grab my sword I noticed the writing."

Melanie smiled widely and then sighed dreamily. "How nice. You must've been astounded!"

Emily rose a brow. "What do you mean? Should I be?" she asked in confusion. Melanie frowned. "Well, you're happy aren't you?"

Emily smiled and laughed half heartedly. "Well yeah, I'm happy. It's just, I'm nervous and I'm worried that this will affect our friendship...I don't want things to get ackward and you know, lose a really close friend of mine."

The angel imp had took a sip of tea and gently placed the fine china cup down on it's saucer. "I don't think it'll get ackward.. Afterall Cross seems to know what he's doing if after what? Three solid years of friendship, he wants to try for more. About time he figured his feelings out!"

Emily's ears twitched as she stared at the imp oddly. "What? You knew he liked me?! I wasn't even hinted at all that he may have liked me more than as a good friend. Where the hell was I?!"

Melanie scoffed. "Oblivious. Of course, you do return his feelings, do you not?"

Emily scratched her head a little, pushing some of her bangs behind her ears. "That's the problem. I'm not sure. I've thought about it a few times...But I just can't see what he'd see in me," she began. Her eyes had a glint of sadness when she'd taken a sip out of her straw.

"I suppose I've thought about it alot the passed month or so. I just didn't hold my breath," she finished.

"Oh meh! Apparently he sees what you do not. That's what makes his feelings so sincere! I'm sure he's wondering if you feel the same and if you do, what you see in him as well. You're not alone," Melanie went to say. She smiled sweetly and her aged eyes had held so much promise in them it was hard for Emily not to believe her guardian.

"I guess you're right."

"Of course I am!"

Emily had looked down at the countless number of shopping bags cluttered around her chair and Melanie's. She grinned when she glanced back at her. "You bought alot of nice things too. I'm sure those aren't completely all for you."

"What?! What are you implying?!"

"Does Jack have anything to do with your dress shopping?"

"N-NO! I swore off Demon Imps! Remember?!"

Emily laughed and shook her head. "Oh Melanie, I already know you like him. I can see it when you talk to him. Your tail curls up."

Melanie blushed and folded her arms. "Oh yeah? Well your ears get red when you speak with Cross."

Emily was taken aback as her ears had caught heat. She quickly grabbed onto them, covering them with her hands. "No they don't!"