Stella is Drunk.

[raydensharpola]

"I'll be right back." Rayden whispered into her ear, releasing her reluctantly from his arms. "Just make yourself comfy, on my bed or on the couch, whatever pleases you princess." He smirked, heading for the kitchen. He removed the kettle from its base, and started to make a cup of hot chocolate. Picking up the mug by the handle, he grabbed a pack of frozen peas from the freezer, wrapped a medium sized towel over it and moved back into the living room.

"I've heard that frozen peas are great for preventing hangovers." He smirked. "Wanna test it out?"

[Stella]

He slipped away and she sighed a little missing his presence all ready. Glancing at the couch she wrinkled her nose a little and made her way over to the bed. It was covered all in dark maroon. With a grin she flopped down on it snuggling one of the pillows and breathing in deep the scent of him.

She looked up at him as he walked back into the room making sure her skirt was still covering enough of her to be decent but flashing just a little bit of leg.

"Peas?..." Stella said with a grin looking up at him from his pillow, "I guess anything is worth a shot"

[raydensharpola]

He walked towards his bed, and the sight of her lying on it, her hair spread out and that tantalising view of her legs made his breath hitch at the throat.

"Hyne Stella." He crouched down beside the bed, placing the mug of hot chocolate on the small table just next to it. "You're making me pull out all the self-restraint measures tonight." He gave her a fake scowl, placing the improvised cold compress of towel and frozen peas on her forehead.

"Feel better now?" He asked, peering concernedly at her face.

[Stella]

"Hyne Stella." He crouched down beside the bed, placing a mug on it and Stella caught a whiff of chocolate. "You're making me pull out all the self-restraint measures tonight."

"If you think this is bad" she giggled in response as he reached over and placed the bag of peas on her head, "wait until I'm trying to seduce you"

It was cold and a little shiver went down her spine but she had to admit it was making her feel a little better. Where do guys learn stuff like this? Where ever they learned it they so needed to start sending girls there. She really could have used a trick like this back in her cadet days.

"That does feel nice... but I'd feel even better if you would sit down next to me... I promise I'll be a good girl" she said her voice soft as she straightens out her skirt completely covering her legs. Stella gave him a smile and patted the bed softly.

[raydensharpola]

"Then you better not seduce me if I happen to be drunk. I won't be responsible for my actions then." He smirked at her. He helped her sit up a little and handed the mug to her, sitting down on the bed beside her.

"You are a good girl, Stella...but only when you want to be." He patted her on the head, staring as she sipped at her mug. He seemed to be making a habit out of it, but only because it felt nice to be taking care of her.

But she wasn't here just to lie on his bed and sip on drinks. She was here to talk...and he was sure the disastrous date had everything to do with it.

"Stella...Why you were so upset at the guy for taking you to an art exhibition?" He ventured, afraid that her mood would turn with his prying. "Tell me, I need to know. I don't want to make any mistakes that guy did."

[Stella]

"Really now? remind me to get you drunk sometime" She said playfully taking the cup from him loving the way it felt as he helped her sit up against his pillows. Stella sipped carefully at the mug enjoying the warmth slipping down her throat. It was amazing how much better she was feeling all ready. He carried on and called her a good girl with a pat on the head making her heart flutter.

Then out of no where the conversation turned serious and he asked her about her date. She paused for a moment considering his words and just how much about herself she wanted to reveal to him. But if they were really going to be getting to know each other then she shouldn't hold it all back. This was why she was here after all, to talk.

"Maybe if you had taken me I wouldn't have such an adverse reaction to it... but being there with someone who was just trying to get me into bed.... " she let her words trail off not wanting to anger him anymore like she had earlier.

"I am..." She stopped and then corrected herself violently, "I was an artist. Being there... looking at all the paintings on the wall just reminded me of the life I lost... "

"If you had been there with me... I could have told you that... and you would have listened... " she let her words end with a shrug staring down into the rich liquid in her mug.

[raydensharpola]

"I'm sorry." He said softly, aching for her thinking how horrible she must've felt trying to drown all those crappy feelings in a bar, alone. "You should've just come to me and cried on my shoulder instead of trying to drink it all away." He shook his head at her. "I wouldn't turn you away. Then you wouldn't have to endure a hangover and regret two things at the same time. " He grinned slightly, wanting to reach up and touch her cheek or give her a hug, but she might spill her drink on herself if he accidentally nudged her.

"Tell me about...the life you lost?" He asked tentatively. It had piqued his interest when she said it, but it was a sensitive subject, he didn't know if bringing it up was a wise idea. But still, better to get it out now than lose a chance, he suspected she was only loose-lipped when she was drunk. "It's fine if you don't want to...but you'll feel better to just vent it all out at one go. And I don't have to invoke your painful memories yet again on another time." He said, patting her knee with his hand.

[Stella]

Stella grew rigid as he asked the question. This was something she didn't talk about to anyone. There was a reason why she didn't think about those times. It hurt too much.

"There's nothing much to tell" she said shortly trying to get herself to relax but it was almost impossiable, the mug was starting to shake in her hands, "I had a mother, a father, and a brother. We were a normally little family. Believe it or not I was actually accepted to the academy of art in Deling... I was happy..."

She sighed softly shaking her head and slowly set the mug down on the table next to her. It wouldn't do to get hot chocolate on his sheets. Clearing her throat she turned her head and looked at him dying for a subject change. She slid the frozen peas off her head and turned it over and over in her hands.

"I didn't come here to talk about all that though... I came here to talk about us" she said softly glancing up into his eyes.

[raydensharpola]

He shouldn't have asked. He looked at her stiffening body and knew it was defnintely an area he shouldn't breach. If she was comfortable enough she would tell him, and he tried to rush it. He stared guiltily at her, the way her hands shook and the pain underneath her short explaination...

He reached forward and drew his arms around her shoulders, holding her for a brief spell before letting go. "I won't ask again." He mumbled, lowering his head and fixing his stare still on her hands. "If I knew I wouldn't have...I'm sorry."

He took the frozen pack of peas from her hands and placed it on the table beside the mug, grabbing her hand in his own and rubbing it, for her fingers were cold and he wanted to warm them, much like he wanted to warm her heart but couldn't reach.

"About us?" He repeated, finally looking up from her hands to match her gaze. "What about us?"

[Stella]

Stella sighed and leaned against him a little looking down at their intertwined hands. This moment would have been so perfect if they were talking about other things.

"I know I said we were just getting to know each other but... I don't like the idea of you out with other women... and its pretty obvious you don't like me being out with other men... "

"I don't really want to call you my boyfriend... because that's just moving too fast... but I don't want to wonder every night which girl you are out with this time..." she says her voice trailing off as her hand slowly starts to warm up in his.

[raydensharpola]

"But Stella." Rayden grasped her fingers lightly, pulling her hand up to press against his lips. "I wouldn't go out with another girl cos I know it'd hurt you." He lowered their hands slowly, letting them drop in her lap. "And it's fine if you don't want to progress to such an intimate relationship yet. Even if you are, maybe I need that time to adjust too." He smiled softly. "I haven't been serious about a girl for a long time. I want the first steps I take towards our relationship to be on steady ground." He peered at her face, lifting up her chin so that he stared straight into her eyes. "And I promise to wait for you until you're ready to commit. How does that sound?"

[Stella]

Her heart skipped a bit as he gently pressed his lips to her fingers. She almost wanted to pout as he let go of her hands allowing them to rest in her lap while he spoke so sincerely to her. At least she thought it was sincere... He could be lying to you Stella, he's a master of deceit remember?... She growled internally at her thoughts shoving them away.

"Sounds perfect" she said with a little grin looking into his eyes. They were such a beautiful shade of blue one she could stare at all night long. Leaning forward against his hand on her chin she kissed his lips gently letting the little thrill of such intimate contact roll through her.

"So you're serious about me huh?" she said playfully pulling away looking back into his eyes a smirk teasing over her lips.

[raydensharpola]

"Of course." He stared back at her as seriously as he could manage. The last he wanted Stella to think was him stringing her along and joking around about his promise for commitment. Hyne, why was it that when he finally wanted to settle for just one girl, he had to meet the biggest obstacles of all, which happened to be his reputation and his skill for lying? "Do you think I'd give up the whole forest for just one tree if I wasn't? Or you don't believe me?" His eyes questioned her, searching her face for any underlying reaction that she didn't express, wanting to see if she did doubt his words. "I guess I'll have to prove myself through action."

[Stella]

"I just have to let myself trust you Rayden... I want to, I really do..." her words faded off as did her thoughts. She meant the words, she really did. More then anything she wanted to trust him with her secrets.. with her hopes and dreams... with her heart. But the fear and doubt rolling through her was almost suffocating.

"I don't know if I even trust myself... or if you can trust me" she whispered looking away from him her dark eyes looking even more shadowed and soft then usual.

"In Galbadia... I had quite reputation for breaking hearts... It's been a long time since I was serious about anyone either... because I've always been so scared I am going to break the heart of someone I truly care about... " her words were soft and full of emotion and for some reason she felt extremely vulnerable saying them to him. Maybe he all ready had more of her heart then she thought he did.

She felt like she was telling him all too much all too soon about her. It was beginning to feel like he knew everything about her and she knew nothing about him. So she closed her mouth and just shook her head when she might have said so much more.

[raydensharpola]

"I know I can't expect you to trust me immediately." He patted her hand reassuringly. "Because I have that reputation too...I guess we just have to take it at our own pace. I'm willing to wait for you... but are you willing to wait until you're ready to accept me?"

He glanced at her, she looked so fragile right now. If getting into a serious relationship was such a bad effect on her, then he wished that they'd never get into one. But then she'd continue hurting herself by fooling around with guys...he knew she did even though she tried hide it.

He glanced carelessly on the bedside table, his eyes landing on the picture frame beside it.

"Stella..." He sighed. Maybe if he revealed a little more about what went on behind his playboy history, she would feel less insecure. "If I told you why I became such an incorrigible heart breaker, would it be easier for you to trust me?"