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Belle was strolling along one her own, nobody to accompany her this time as she wandered the streets. Sure, it wouldn't be the first time she explored on her own, and hopefully it wouldn't be her last, but she couldn't seem to find anybody who she'd feel comfortable walking with. As she drifted about the streets, sticking close to walls for safety, she somehow found herself being carried back to where she had met Marshall. She wasn't entirely sure why she came back to this place, but she wasn't regretting it at all. Maybe her legs knew something she didn't.

Upon making it back to the dirty cold alleyway she found herself staring up with a warm smile at the painting Marshall had done for the both of them. The two sitting by a cozy fire as the sun set in the background. Something was wrong though. What was all this black stuff scribbled all over the art? She huffed and sighed at the thought it was probably a troublesome little human thinking it would be funny to ruin it. Taking a step back she happened to read it and widened her eyes at the message it gave. She had to see Marshall now, but which way was his house again?

Walking from the alley she tried to recall the walk to Marshall's place. The same ways that they took to get there the first time. Belle's memory seemed to be serving her well because things were starting to look familiar to her all over. It wasn't terribly long before she found herself in a secluded area with the shack in sight. Finally, she had found her way to him. Approaching the shack nervously she knocked on the door. Hopefully Marshall would be expecting her. She couldn't put her finger on why she was so nervous though. It was a mystery.

Belle heard the door begin to creek as it slid open and before she even saw Marshall's face she was smiling. She hadn't seen this boy in forever and even though he couldn't give most the things that she liked in a person he was still special to her none the less. "Hey there, Marshie. I um... I got your little message." She told him with a bit of embarrassment that he would go through so much trouble just to lure her here. Wandering into the shack she ran her fingers through her brown locks of hair and straightened out her dress. "So, I see that you have some new additions to your collection," she spoke as her eyes examined the walls with new pieces of art on them. "Did you just tell me to come here, or... was there something important you had to tell me?" She turned her attention from the paintings finally and stared at the man.

The small Ragamuffin's tail swayed from side to side smoothly as she twisted her body around like a young girl would typically do when they were content. "Oh, I can't wait to see it. I'm sure it's a beautiful painting!" She smiled sweetly at him and stepped forward, following the smokey grey tail until he stopped before a curtain and pulled it aside to reveal this hole in the wall. Curiously eying the destruction she cautiously stepped through, feeling her sense of adventure tingle with excitement. Her heart seemed to swoon a little as her eyes focused on the scene painted in glorious colors. A small, "my goodness", escaped her lips hardly. When Marshall mentioned that he had painted it for her she bit her lip and felt her eyes starting to get a little glassy from the emotional impact of it all. He cared that much about her that he would take all his time to design such a gorgeous work of art for her? She turned to him and clasped her hands, keeping them close to her chest to resist the urge to hug him. A hug would be perfect right now but what that ruin the moment? "Marshall... it's the most spectacular... most stunningly gorgeous thing I have ever seen." She she seemed to be itching to reach out and hug him but she had to wrap her tail around herself to keep back.

The lovely Blue was being completely sweet with the way he smiled at her and how he was shyly looking about the room. He had no reason to be ashamed, though. She loved everything he was doing for her and to what extent he was going just to please her with such wonderful works of art. Maybe, that wasn't it. No, she was sure that wasn't it when he hardly mumbled a trace of her name. "Marshall?" She muttered back to him, taking a step forward to approach him slowly. However, when Marshall confessed that he wanted her to stay with him here she felt her body freeze, arms wrapping around herself as if she felt cold, but it wasn't even cold in this house. Must have been the shivers.

She stood in silence, knowing that the pause was probably killing him but how could she say yes so quickly? She had Dracal to worry about, and Morph, Demi, most importantly Hermes. They all knew her home, but if she were to move would there be a possibility that she might see them less? That wouldn't be good for her, but then again he was seeming a little desperate, and Belle didn't want to be the one to crush him. He seemed so fragile.

When Marshall began to speak of the fish, she turned her attention away from him and to the wall. The fish? Yes, the fish. Something to take her mind off of all the negative possibilities. She let her eyes wander over the tropical fish and noticed how each one had different spots or slightly different colors. Each one was indeed different in it's own way, but from a distance they all looked the same. In the end they were all fish. She looked down at her feet before muttering out, "Marshall, I'd like to stay with you..." She let that sink in with him before turning around with a clearly distressed expression. "But..." she continued in a not to sure voice. "What about my friends? Will I still be able to see them? Could they possibly come all the way out here just to see me? I mean, you do kind of live in the middle of ... nowhere."

She took a few steps towards the man, reaching out her hand slowly and cautiously. Would he let her touch him? Actually touch him and not show any signs of backing away? That's one thing she craved from this artistic feline. She wanted to be closer to him. "You're asking me to answer a very difficult question... and to be honest, I'm afraid to tell you no." she whispered before letting her fingers lightly brush some of his bangs from his eyes before resting it upon his shoulder. It wasn't a hug, but at least it was contact. "You're a really good friend. And a really good brother... I don't want to disappoint you, Marshie..."

She watched as Marshall flinched as she reached for him and this caused her to hesitate but she finally completed her touch. Why was he so afraid of contact. It had to be more than just germs. He knew she was clean. After she was done with her explaining the boy did something she didn't expect. He was fighting to change her mind. He wanted her to feel comfortable with making the decision so that they were both happy. "Marshall," she called off in a very soft tone that probably wasn't even audible to the Russian Blue. He walked away from her, and she took a step towards him but figured he put distance between them for a reason so she halted in her heels.

When he told her about how it was much comfortable to sleep here, and also how it would probably be much warmer than just sleeping on dirt all the time. She didn't always sleep under the porch, just when it was to cold. The Ragamuffin had to admit though, everything he was saying was true. Everything about her friends, her home, how she would be better off here basically. What really hit home was when he told her that he would be there for her, always. She blinked a few times and bit her lip. "Y-you care for me that much?" She asked with a slight twitch in her tail. A moment of silence was necessary for her to think but out of the blew she spoke up, "If you really mean it then I want you to hug me. Hug me so I know you're not afraid of me." She thought that would make up her mind so she waited patiently to see what he'd do.

Belle watched as the man before her reacted in a way she had hoped he wouldn't. He just stood there. If he really wanted her to stay there wouldn't be a hesitation, but here he was just thinking it over it seemed like. She was about to open her mouth and confront him about his lengthy pause but Marsh beat her to it. " Your not going to leave me if i touch you are you?" she listened to him speak those words and her heart nearly tore in two. "W-what? Of course not. That's the point of you hugging me. I want to know that you're going to be there for me, no matter what. If I need a hug, if I need somebody to talk to. I want to know you're going to do whatever it takes to keep me from feeling lonely, got it?" She nibbled gently on her bottom lip, knowing it wasn't a very lady like habit but it sure did calm the nerves. "I'm not like everybody else. I'm your best friend, right? I mean... you make it seem that way. Best friends don't let other best friends down like that. I'm not going anywhere, Marshall." She made that point very clear with her serious expression. She lifted her arms again, open wide, "Now, come here..." she blinked, waiting for this special moment. To see if he was serious about her being a great part of his life.

He approached her cautiously. He was still afraid, but at least he was attempting to overcome his struggling fear of contact. She had to give him props for that. Feeling the light touches of his arms folding around her bare shoulders. She really should think about getting some kind of coat for cold days. Nevermind that right now, though. She brought her arms around and rested her palms against his back, resting her chin on his shoulder. "There..." she whispered into his ear comfortingly. "That wasn't so hard was it?" She nuzzled into the older male, enjoying what nobody else could have. A wonderful hug from precious Marshie.

He only seemed to grip tighter and give the slightest of trembles, as though he was trying to hold something back. What was wrong now? She thought the hardest part for him was over but it started to seem like the trouble was just starting. "Marshall, what is i-" she spoke with tender words leaving her lips but they were cut off by a sudden confession. Love. He loved her? Belle had never heard such words and actually believed them before. Well, never like this. Sure, people say they love things silly nilly as if they were expected to but this was a different kind of love. She felt like Marshall was meaning it. Meaning it with every bone in his body.

The Ragamuffin pulled her thin and fragile body back, resting her hands on his shoulders as she looked softly into Marshall's eyes with the utter most understanding she could muster up. "Marshall... I love you, too. You're an amazing big brother. I feel like you'd be there for me through anything. I'll never back down if you never back down." She pulled him back into another reassuring hug this time her hands rubbed his back comfortingly, a smile plastered on her face. It was obvious she was the happiest she had been in a long while.