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Cecilia Elena Volkov was the personification of adorable. He never understood just what part of her personality caught his attention in the beginning, as he loved everything about the way the redhead tended to act. It could have been that cheerful burst of energy in her step or the way that she loved even the smallest amount of praise, taking pride in the simplest of things as long as somebody complemented her on the subject. However, the diehard romantic part of her might have been the one to seal the deal in his decision, that or the shy side of her that was always looking for someone's opinion.

He recalled the first time that they encountered each other, away from their groups and looking for downtime to relax. It wasn't easy running around the planet looking for the Temples and taking missions at the request of his Al Bhed employer or chasing the previously mentioned bunch of people down, as per the orders from the Government. Bevelle never liked to relent in the face of opposition, after all.

It wasn't for long but the encounter had left the both of them eager and craving for more, genuinely taking pleasure out of the others presence. Emotionally-wise.

In the brief thirty minutes that they spent alone, they chose to drop by one of the diners and talk over some food. Cecilia found his way of thinking rather fascinating and the man found her way of thinking cute and innocent.

As they departed from the establishment, the earlier conversation clear on their minds, they had promised to meet again whenever they had the chance ( vacation ).

He recalled the second time that they encountered each other, in the heart of the Macalania Woods near the lakeside, and how they talked more about themselves. Cecilia revealed her amnesiac-past and he returned the courtesy via telling her of his childhood home in Besaid, his expertise in Blitzball, and his old relationships. He could still remember in perfect detail the small flash of jealousy that he saw in her eyes as he told her of his last relationship in Besaid, the one about the exotic beauty that never should've been in someone as plain as him.

It left him feeling uneasy, the way that he was letting his walls down in the front of the enemy. Unfortunate, seeing as his heart liked to argue otherwise, stating that they needed this emotional release and form of bonding just as much as her.

He and Cecilia departed on better terms, hugging before they returned to each of their respected units... or band of outlaws, in his case.

In the end, the third encounter had played the heaviest part in bringing them to genuinely feel affection and mold the beginnings of their future relationship.

Warren had, predictably, flirted with the ditzy redhead in the attempt to impress her and bring her to view him in a different light than just her comrade. Cecilia told him of the way that Heidi came to her two days after that in order to scold her, as the white-haired man had stopped fighting at his full competency because of her denial of his affection.

He offered his shoulder to cry on, holding her in his arms as she released all her emotions that had been locked beneath the cheerful facade of hers. It wasn't easy to pretend that someone didn't care about their past, that they didn't want to know what really lead them to where they were instead of going off secondhand accounts. She just tended to hide her real feelings on the matter better than most people, and that impressed him.

In turn, the man offered further comfort by telling her of his first in the bed, hoping to enlighten the mood to something amusing instead of something depressing.

Cecilia left that encounter blushing, stuttering, and ignorant of her surroundings for the next hour.

And the rest, as the people say, is history.

xxx

Aaron stirred the contents of the mugs, watching the light brown liquid swishing around and mixing with the sugar and the creamer. Coffee.

Fall had passed recently and winter had begun to reveal itself with the snowfall, making the normally high temperatures of Besaid plummet to almost freezing degrees. It wasn't hard for him to adjust, having traveled to some of the coldest places on the planet for the benefit of his comrades and took pleasure from the painful sting of the cold.

Cecilia, on the other hand, wasn't taking the sudden change in temperature nearly as easily as him and had bundled herself in blankets. He genuinely felt bad for her and had taken to making them coffee in order to warm them up from the inside, that and he was feeling kinda thirsty.

Chuckling, the former Thief placed the spoon aside and retrieved the mugs from the kitchen counter, leaving the enclosed space in favor of the living room. There. On the couch, buried beneath at least seven different blankets, sat the redhead of his dreams and the one that captured his heart.

Smiling, the twenty-something year old man offered her the second mug, having made it specifically to match her tastes. He preferred having his coffee heavily sweetened whereas his girlfriend liked the bitter taste of the stuff, only using two spoonfuls of sugar.

"How are you holding up, Cece?" the man questioned, taking his place on the couch and waiting patiently as the woman climbed into his lap for more comfort.

Cecilia pecked him on his cheek with her cold lips, the slightest twinkle entering his eyes at the action, and the blonde wrapped his arms around her midsection.

"Fine."

Aaron blinked in surprise, looking at her in question and shrugged at the brisk answer. It could've been the cold weather for all the former Thief knew.

However, he began to notice her sudden quietness as they sat their in his living room, enjoying their coffee and the warmth of each others presences in the cold winter weather. "Is something wrong?"

He certainly wasn't going to expect what followed, that was for sure.

"Aaron... do you love me?"

It was almost as though somebody pushed the "pause" button, his eyes perpetually wide as they stared at the beauty in his embrace. Seriously? She was concerned that he didn't love her?!

If that were the case, would he have allowed her to get this close to him? If that were the case, would he have opened his heart to her and told her of his past? Fayth, would he have done anything with her if he didn't feel at least something for her?

No.

"I love you, Cece. I'm almost hurt that you would think otherwise," the man told her, his voice full of mirth as he kissed her lightly on the lips.

Giggling, the redhead leaned into the embrace of her boyfrien-...

xxx

"Cecilia~! Hydrangea's asking for everyone to meet on the ship deck to discuss the outlaws!"

Cecilia scowled as the voice of Alter broke through her thoughts, disturbing the amazing fantasy that she had managed to concoct inside of her head after seeing the blonde Thief.

It wasn't like her to scowl, as per her bubbly cheerful personality but that fantasy was the best one that she's had in the longest time!

Huffing, the redhead went through the usual morning routine and left the confines of her bedroom, thoroughly annoyed for the first time since being placed in this unit. Alter was going to pay for interrupting her day dreaming, scolding and punishments be damned...!