Part Three Lina got up when Gourry let the maids bearing the food he'd ordered into the room. "What's going on?" she asked sleepily. "I brought you breakfast Sweetie," Gourry replied. He gave Lina his usual vacant, happy smile as he proudly showed what he'd chosen for the two of them. Lina's eyes lit up when she saw the food. "Thank you Honey!!" she cooed for the benefit of the maids. "You're so good to lill' ol' me." Gourry sat down beside Lina and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "You're worth it," he said, kissing the top of her head. Once the maids left, Lina and Gourry separated to attack the food with their usual gusto. Once they had finished, they fell back on the bed with sighs of contentment. "That was good food," Lina said. Gourry gave a little burp in reply. Lina sat up. "Time to get ready for a new day," she said. She grabbed a pile of clothing and went to get changed. She emerged wearing a pretty summer dress. "Might as well look the part," she told Gourry when he stared at her. Goury could only nod dumbly. ************************************************************************************************* "Oh Filia-chan! I brought breakfast!" Xellos called as he strode into the room with two maids carrying food trailing behind him. He stopped short when he saw Filia asleep in his cloak, a slow smile spreading across his face. 'So she really does care. Lina was right,' he thought. He walked over to the sleeping dragon-maiden and gently shook her awake, mindful that the maids were watching him. Filia drowsily opened her eyes and blinked up at Xellos sleepily. "Xellos? What is it?" she asked. "I brought breakfast for us. Come on. Wake up and eat it," Xellos replied. Filia sat up slowly and let Xellos' cloak fall off her shoulders as she got up. "Thank you. I was really getting hungry while I was waiting for you," she said sweetly, placing her hand on Xellos' arm. She gave him a sweet smile and walked over to where the maids had set out breakfast. "Oh! You remembered my tea! How thoughtful," she gushed. Xellos was a little surprised by the way Filia was acting but then he saw that the maids were lapping it all up like there was no tomorrow. 'Smart girl,' he thought. Well, he could act too. "How could I forget? I remember your likes and dislikes as if they were my own," he said, coming to stand behind Filia and wrapping an arm around her waist. He nuzzled behind her ear, surprised when she melted against him. Filia sighed in apparent contentment and relaxed in Xellos' arms. She could get used to this. When the maids left, Xellos released Filia somewhat reluctantly and poured her a cup of tea, handing it to her. "That went well," he said conversationally as he poured himself a cup. Filia blushed as she took a sip after putting in cream and sugar. "Thank you," she said after a moment of silence. She put down her cup and began to fill her plate with the food that had been brought. "Your welcome," Xellos said, filling a plate himself, though he really didn't need to eat it. "What did your master have to say when you told her about this?" Filia asked, trying to start a conversation, wanting to get along for once. Xellos looked startled for a moment before he relaxed. "She was quite amused by the idea actually. Especially when she was told that we'd be paired together," he said. "Why do you ask?" "I just wanted to start a conversation. Is that so wrong?" Filia asked, trying to keep a lid on her temper. For some reason, the fact that Xellos didn't believe that she could just ask a question for the sake of conversation was extremely hurtful to her. Xellos could feel the hurt and anger warring inside Filia and mentally raised his eyebrows at it. He did his best after that to try and be pleasant. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Lina, Gourry, Filia and Xellos all met up in the flower garden to talk. "This is such a beautiful place," Filia breathed as a soft gust of wind resulted in a rain of flower petals. She held out her hand and caught one. Lina nodded. "Hey! They've got a hedge maze! We should try it," she said, her eyes shining with excitement. "Okay," Gourry said, willing to go along with anything Lina wanted. He smiled when she slipped her arm through his. "Sounds like fun," Xellos said. He looked at Filia. "Are you willing to try it?" he asked her. Filia slipped her arm through Xellos'. "Let's go," she said. She looked up at Xellos. The two couples entered the maze and split up, each going in opposite directions. "See you two at the center!" Lina called before she and Gourry disappeared from sight. ************** Xellos and Filia walked through a few leafy corridors of the maze in silence, just content to be with each other without fighting. Filia eventually let her head rest on Xellos' shoulder as they walked, not having to worry about any of her race seeing her with the enemy. Xellos wrapped an arm around Filia's waist and relaxed enough to smile naturally. "This is nice," Filia said eventually, breaking the silence. "The maze is nice," Xellos agreed. "They keep it well trimmed." Filia giggled. "I meant us," she told him. "It's nice to not be fighting for once." Xellos looked down at Filia in surprise. He thought it was nice too but he hadn't thought Filia would admitt it out loud. "It is nice," he agreed softly. He stopped walking and just stood holding Filia against him. Filia sighed happily and wrapped her arms around Xellos' neck. She let her eyes drift closed and inhaled the scents in the air all around her. Her eyes snapped open when she felt a warm pair of lips settle her over hers but she didn't object to the kiss from Xellos. She sighed softly and returned his kiss hesitantly. Xellos was surprised to say the least when Filia returned his kiss, but he welcomed it. *************** Lina ran through the maze, she and Gourry having gotten bored with just walking and starting a game of tag. Her fiery hair flew behind her as she ran down the twisting corridors of the maze. Her laughter floated behind her on the soft breeze. "Can't catch me Gourrin!" she called over her shoulder. Gourry just grinned and continued to run after Lina. He saw his chance and tackled Lina, sending the two of them tumbling to the ground in a heap of arms, legs and long hair. Lina lay on her stomach, giggling. "I haven't played this game since I was a little girl," she managed to gasp out between giggles. "Same here," Gourry said, his blue eyes sparkling. He looked down at Lina. "I'm probably squashing you," he said and rolled off of her. Lina rolled over so she was lying on her back and looked at Gourry. "Want to play again? I'll be It this time," she offered with a smile. "No thanks Lina. I'm kinda tired from the first game," Gourry said, looking over at Lina. Lina sat up and crawled over to Gourry. She leaned over him to get a good look at his face. "The great Gourry Gabriev is tired after a little game of tag? The world must be ending!" Lina put her hand against her forehead and pretended to faint, falling onto her back beside Gourry. Goury laughed and sat up. He looked down at Lina. "Oh no! The fair maiden has fallen into a faint! I must hurry to revive her!" he gasped in mock-horror, deciding to play along. He leaned down and kissed Lina. Lina parted her lips and opened her eyes. She blushed faintly when Gourry broke the kiss. She was about to speak when there was a scream nearby. Gourry started to get to his feet but was stopped by Lina. "Someone needs our help Lina!" he said, trying to shake off Lina's hand. Lina shook her head. "But someone screamed!" Gourry insisted. "It wasn't a scream of pain, Gourry," Lina said with a bright blush. "But....Oh!" Gourry's eyes became huge. Lina climbed to her feet, the romantic mood broken. "Let's go back to the room," she said in a soft voice. Gourry followed behind Lina, totally bewildered. ################################## AN: I hope you guys liked this chapter. Sorry it took so long to get it out. Writer's block is a b****.