Our lips moved together in sync, as I pulled him closer with my hands around his neck. It was my first kiss, and with a sworn enemy of my country's army. Somehow, in that particular moment, I couldn't regret that.

I had finally achieved that which I had craved from the beginning. Butterflies were fluttering madly around my stomach and my mind was running in loops. So intoxicating was his scent that it had me craving more, and the little tickle of the stubble on his normally clean-cut jawline only had me further enjoying his presence above me.

Who knew that his lips would be so soft?

Eliza! What are you doing? You'll get yourselves killed!

But I didn't have the power, nor the will, to fight these feelings any longer. I knew the risks, and I was willing to take them. For him.

But... Was he?

He pulled back gently, and I looked up at him, a bit out of breath.

"Edward..."

"Eliza..."

His German accent always made the z in my name sound like a zh. It made my ears tickle, especially at an intimate time like the present.

I shook my head, sadly. "No, Edward... why..." I fought more tears from coming. "If you do this-" I began to try and persuade him to stop this madness before it got any worse.

"Eliza, I am prepared for the risks... There's nothing that can keep me from feeling this way around you... I've realized that." A blush covered his face, and he scratched the back of his neck.

"I... I'm in love with you, Edward..." I said sadly, but my heart skipped a beat.

I wish I wasn't. I wished I hated him, because I knew what was to come...

He was beautiful, he always was, and always will be. He's handsome, smart, and caring. He'd  put me under a spell, that wondrous spell that's called love. Never in a million years could I have seen myself falling in love with a German, but he was so different from the rest. At first I had believed that it was hormones, or my juvenile feelings of never being loved that had caused me to enjoy his company so much. But I had learned otherwise, since the first time he'd touched me.

Richtofen's POV

"I'm in love with you, Edward."

She didn't. Did she really say that? Did she mean it?

My heart beat at a rate that might have caused it to explode, were it not for the need to survive and protect the alluring being before me.

Just hearing Eliza say those words to a man such as myself caused my mind to run wild, and upon impulse, I bent down and placed another light but heartfelt kiss upon her still bruised lips. When our lips contacted one another, I felt as if the world was mine. I'd waited so long for her to be in my arms, but never could even imagine that she could actually love me like this.

"B-but... Edward, you know we cannot engage in such relations! Tis' forbidden!" She nearly shrieked, shaking her head.

My head hung, and my vision faltered.

"Love knows no boundaries... I-I can't... I don't have the ability to withdraw my feelings... They are too strong and bound me so. Even if you should deny me... I could not help but be infatuated by you, each and every day, like I have been since the day I met you..." I leaned forward, my forehead grazing hers.

She sniffled, seeming to be taken aback. I felt a soft hand on my cheek.

"I return your feelings... Whole-heartedly, E-Edward... I'm just... Worried.... I know what he can do...." Her cheeks reddened greatly.

My heart lightened, even if only slightly.

"Maxis... will pay." I said, looking into her eyes and stroking her cheek. "I promise, I'll... I'll hurt him for what he's done-"

"No, Edward..." She said abruptly, placing her hands upon my shoulders and squeezing lightly. She looked into my eyes with her dazzling blue ones, and I fought to keep from getting completely lost in them.

"What?" I inquired in disbelief. I would have thought she'd want him to pay for what he's done.

"You... can't. You can't let Maxis know. Right now, we still have a chance..."

"But... Eliza..." I protested, remembering what he'd done to her in the past few hours. "It's my job to protect you."

She shook her head. "You have to pretend like you despise me... like you hate every part of my being. That way... he won't suspect anything. If you harmed him in any way, Group 935's high leaders would surely have you executed!" She spoke hastily with worry.

Unfortunately, she did have a point. She was sound in the mind... And it seemed as if she knew even more about the situation than I did.

"I... I guess... You're right, Eliza." I sighed, looking at her.

Her face was still red and moderately bruised. If I had been there... This wouldn't have happened.

I hung my head, shaking it.

She noticed this and instantly cupped my face. "It's not your fault, Edward." She spoke softly, bringing my face to eye level again.

Can she really read me like that?

"It is..." I sighed, my eyes burning with water. "He wouldn't have done that if-"

"If he hadn't done it then, he would have done it when you went to work tomorrow..."

My eyes widened as she looked away.

"W-What? Eliza..." I took her hands in mine. "You mean... He's come here while I've been away? And-"

Eliza sighed, closing her eyes in agreement. "But... This time was the worst. Just think if you hadn't been here at all, I might have left here in a body bag."

I felt like punching the wall as I listened to her speak.

"Mein Gott..." I shook my head. "Bastard..." I growled. "If this is the case, then how have I not noticed any bruises?"

"He usually prefers to strike in... areas less seen than the face..."

I caressed her cheeks in the most comforting way possible and gazed into her eyes. "I will never let this happen again... I swear to you." I moved my grip to her fingers and nervously traced circles in her damp palms.

She looked up at me with one of the most breath-taking, emotion-filled, and meaningful looks that I'd ever seen.

"You are my savior." She cupped my hand in her smaller ones and rested upon it.

Savior. That's all I'd ever wanted to be. Protecting her, making her feel loved. That had always been my job. And now, so much more than that.

My heart fluttered as she smiled at me.

"No... You are mine," I said, in a loaded response. She didn't know, and I didn't know just yet, how. Only time, from this moment on, could hope to answer all the questions.

There were more things about Eliza that I didn't know, rather than what I did know. There was only one thing that I knew for certain. I loved her, and she loved me... and that was something that no one, not even Maxis, could take away from us.

Sorry for the short chapter everyone. I had more written, but I decided to hold off on some of it and this is what I'm left with. I'm going to try my best to publish again before Christmas, but there are no promises! Thank you all so much, and if I don't see you before then, Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays!!! :)

~Mac