Vulpes flinched slightly hearing someone clear their throat and quickly looked up. And in the direction in which the noise came, stood Eric. Oh great... how would this turn out. Subconciously Vulpes did his best to not have his hands and arms all over Aurora. That probably wasn't something anyone's parents would take well.

"You know, if you two are going to do that, then great.  But, maybe, and this is just me, maybe it'd be best if you did it in the privacy of one of your rooms.  Though, I'm going into mine, so I suggest going into his.  But remember, curfew in an hour." Eric said and winked.

Okay, wait. What? Vulpes's mouth opened as if to protest, but nothing came out. He simply looked at the door that Eric passed through gaping. 'Uh..." Vulpes finally managed looking sheepishly back to Aurora. "What just happened?"

Aurora smacked her forehead and shook her head slightly with a sheepish smile.  "Oh, Eric..." she said with a sigh and gave a small chuckle.  Looking back up at Vulpes, she noted with amusement how cute his confusion was.  "That's Eric for you.  I told you he was a big kid." she shrugged lightly and grabbed his hands, threading her fingers with his.

She kissed his cheek sweetly and rubbed her thumbs along his hands softly.  "But... maybe we should go in your room.  Even if just to talk and hang out.  Maybe sort out what this is," she said, referring to their friendship turning into something more in the last few minutes.  Aurora knew well enough that Eric trusted her to be responsible, so he wasn't worried about them being in a room alone together.

"Uh..." Vulpes sort of sputtered still looking at where Eric had been. "Right, sure," he said finally. With a slightly shaking hand he opened the door and waited for Aurora to step inside before he himself followed. It felt a little weird being alone in a hotel room with her. But that was fairly irrational. It's not like anything would happen.

With a new smile on his face Vulpes sat on the edge of one of the beds and motioned for her to do the same. Gently he took her hand and locked eyes. "Okay," he said softly. "Let's talk about this."

Aurora took several deep breaths as she made her way into the room.  Why was she so nervous all of a sudden?  It's not like she hadn't been alone with Vulpes before.  But now it's different since you both admitted your ulterior motives for each other.  Ulterior motives?  That sounds so... wrong. she thought quietly and joined Vulpes on the edge of the bed.  Smiling softly as he took her hand, they locked eyes, and Aurora couldn't breathe.

Oh, Maker.  Now we have to talk about this.  Why is it so hard for me?  Say something.  Swallowing the lump in her throat, she looked down at their hands and idly played with his.  "Well, I don't suppose we could go back to just being friends.  Well, we could, but I don't think that would bode well... considering..." she trailed off a little uncomfortably.

Does he want to be more than friends?  Well, I don't see why not.  Unless... no, he's not the type to want a friend with benefits.  Is that what it's called?  It's a stupid idea to begin with.  That will be worse than being just friends.  What do I want...?

Vulpes shook his head. "No, I don't think we could go back to just friends," he said a little more firmly that he meant to. "Besides, what would be the point?" The concept of friends with benefits was foreign to someone like Vulpes. If you both liked each other enough to act like you were dating, why didn't you just date?

"I guess we'd be boyfriend and girlfriend, right?" Vulpes asked rather awkwardly. Never having asked someone out before, he wasn't really sure how to do it. And for a moment a hint of doubt crossed his mind. Doubt that made him wonder if Aurora even wanted to be his girlfriend.

Aurora bit her bottom lip a moment as she thought about it.  Could she be his girlfriend?  Heart making her decision for her, Aurora relaxed and looked up at him sweetly before cupping his cheek with her free hand.  "I just want you," she said softly and sincerely.  "However you'll have me."

And she meant it.  If it meant being Vulpes's girlfriend, then Aurora would give it her all.  Though she was unfamiliar with the concept of dating, Aurora imagined it would be like how they were before.  Except now they could kiss whenever they wanted and it wouldn't be weird.  Smiling warmly at Vulpes, she kissed the edge of his mouth gently and ran her hand through his hair.  "Thank you for invading my space that day," she whispered lightly as she pulled back and looked into his eyes, squeezing both his hands.

Vulpes Conner.  My boyfriend. she thought and giggled a little.  It was definitely something she had to get used to.

With a smile Vulpes kissed her cheek. "I guess that means we're dating?" he asked softly. He loved that idea, truly he did.  Which was odd now that he thought about it. A few months back he would never have expected to be dating anyone other than Murphy. But now it seemed so strange to think of being with anyone other than Aurora.

Ah how fickle the heart is. Giving another warm smile, Vulpes squeezed her hand slightly. "As much as I hate to say it," he began, dreading the words that came next. "I think it's about time to say good night." Vulpes let out a small sigh. "If only because we'll probably get in some sort of trouble if caught in each others rooms after curfew."

Aurora blushed and bit her bottom lip with a nod.  "I guess so.  Either way you're stuck with me." she answered lightly with a smile.  Such an odd word 'dating' is, Aurora noted.  "Though I have no idea how this whole dating business works.  I just got used to the concept of friendship, after all." she added with a chuckle, licking her lips a little nervously.

Now that Vulpes mentioned it, she was inexplicably tired.  Without sleeping for the past couple days her mind was eagerly awaiting rest.  She planned on staying up that night, but since she had no reason to be avoiding her dreams (since things with Vulpes was finally sorted out), she figured it would be okay.  Besides, with a day full of adventure upon her, she needed to re-energize.

"If this all turns out to be a dream, I will be very put out," she said with a chuckle as she stood up.  "Will you walk me back to my room?" she asked, dropping one hand at her side while holding Vulpes's other.  Vulpes usually walked her back to Gryffindor tower like a gentleman, so it was only natural that he would keep doing it when they were dating, Aurora figured.  Still weird a concept, she noted and bit her bottom lip.

With a smile Vulpes stood. Of course he'd walk her to her room. Gently he helped her up (not that she needed it) and walked hand in hand to the door, once again holding it open for her. While Aurora's room wasn't that far from his, the distance suddenly felt a lot shorter. Vulpes hated how that worked.

Feeling disappointed upon reaching the door, Vulpes let out a small sigh. Without thinking, he gave Aurora a kiss on the cheek, hoping to keep her outside her room a few moments longer.

"Well," he said softly, swing their hands back and forth slightly. "Good night. I'll see you tomorrow."

Aurora felt her cheeks heat up suddenly while walking down the hall with her best friend/boyfriend.  It was odd to think that an hour ago she was avoiding Vulpes (and her feelings for him), now that they were officially together.  It didn't feel any different, in actuality.  Was it supposed to?  Once he kissed her on her cheek, though, she realized that yes, it did feel different.  It felt better.  She was so tired of pretending, Aurora realized.  It had been putting a strain on her mentality and physicality.

Swinging their hands together, she idly remembered the day after they met, when they spent their morning by the lake.  Thinking back on the early days of their budding friendship, she wondered at what point her feelings grew into more than just platonic.  "Yes, you'll see me tomorrow," she said softly and gazed into his eyes.  Then, because she could, she stepped a little closer and brought her lips to his: kissing him tenderly.

After a perfect moment, she pulled back and whispered 'good night' before retreating into her room with a warm smile.

Closing the door behind her, she let out a sigh and leaned against it a moment, collecting herself.  Eric peered around the corner of the bathroom at her curiously.  "Had fun?" he asked playfully and flashed her a cheeky smile.

Aurora couldn't contain the constant smile on her face since she left Vulpes that night.  Though Eric asked her repeatedly what had happened between them, she refused to say: remembering her promise to Cytherea that if her friendship with Vulpes grew into something more, she'd be the first one she'd tell.  Once in bed, her smile had not faded--nor the euphoria in her heart--and it caused her to drift off into a peaceful and uninterrupted sleep for once.

Vulpes Conner... my best friend and boyfriend. were her last coherent thoughts before she entered dreamland.

Still blushing from their last kiss, Vulpes leaned against the wall opposite Aurora's door. His head was spinning, but in a good way. If you had asked him this morning if he expected to be going out with his best friend by the end of the night, Vulpes would have looked at you like you were insane.

But now..

Vulpes gave a wide smile and hopped back down the hall to his own room, even going so far as leaping and clicking his heels together. This was possibly the best day of his life.

And it sure felt good to be alive.

(End)