When you think that once your best friend has messed up and there is no going back, life has other plans. Athena and Axel have been best friends since they were five and six years old. When Axel broke the childhood promise that they made when they were ten and eleven years of age. They will grow closer, a more powerful bond will emerge as something other than friendship blooms and becomes something new.

CHAPTER ONE

It all started when Axel got a new girlfriend. Athena was jealous and was upset that she was the last person to know even though she had known Axel since five. Athena started yelling, "Why was I the very last person to find out about your new 'girlfriend'? I have known you since we were little, and I am the last person to know! Really! I know you better than your parents do! Are we not close anymore?" The silence that followed Athena's outburst was heavy and dense; it soon became the kind of silence that made everyone uncomfortable.

Axel took a deep breath and then said, "I am sorry. Can we talk about this? I will explain everything. I wanted to tell you at dinner, but um things took a different route." Athena looked like she was going to cry and then, "It's not okay. I should have been the first person you told. We have a pact that when we become interested in someone that the other person - in this case, me - will meet them to give their feedback. You broke that pact, so I have no idea how she treats you, how she acts. Nothing! I know Nothing, and you wanna say sorry, and that fix this?" Axel looks at Athena with a pleading look in his eyes. He slowly nods.

"I am sorry, Axel, but sorry is not good enough."

Athena walks away, leaving Axel in front of the diner with a confused Alanna. Alanna approaches Axel and puts a hand on his shoulder, "Hey. Babe, what was that all about?" Axel shrugs her hand off his shoulder off, "Nothing. It was Nothing."

Athena walked all the way home; she lived at least three miles away from the diner. She knew that when she got back, the only person that would be there was Maurice, her older brother. Maybe he would be able to help her work out her anger and disappointment with Axel.

"Hey 'Lil sis. How was lunch with Axel?" Athena went to the couch and just stared at Maurice. I was waiting for him to figure out her emotions. After a few moments, he figured out what had gone down, "I am sorry that you two had a fight and that you had to find out that way. I understand why you are upset, but you two have been friends since you two were little." He looked at Athena with sympathy and a hint of concern. Athena sighed, "I know that we have been through hell and back through the years, but he broke a life long promise and broke my trust. I don't know if he can convince me enough to forgive him this time. He hurt my feelings, and I am pissed off at him and do not know what to do with him and his "girlfriend." Since she just jumped in the middle of our conversation and made it all about her. I mean, who does that? Who barges in on a lunch date and talks all about them when the other two people were having a conversation?"

Maurice just sat there thinking of what he could do to make this easier on his sister. He pulled her into a hug and then went to the kitchen.

"What are you do-"

"Purple Rain Lil sis" Maurice turned around with two tubs of ice cream and two spoons. He put on her favorite movie. They sat there and watched the video, and ate their ice cream. Athena never said it, but she loved her big brother. He was the best big brother that she could have.

Athena

It all started when we entered High School. Axel said to meet him in front of the school to continue our tradition of walking together as I waited for him. The guy that I had liked since junior high walked up to me, so we started talking.

When Axel saw us talking and knowing how I felt about this boy, what was his name? Oh, yea, his name was Pascal, but anyways Axel came and pulled me away from Pascal-like. I was not just talking to him.

"What was that about Axel?" He gave me this look like I need to explain. "I..um.. don't like the way he acts... Yea. He is arrogant and stuck up. He is not right for you. Sorry for not telling you beforehand."

We just looked at each other, and I was naive, just let it go. We went to our first class we had together just like we did every year since Junior High. While we were in homeroom, he started looking at girls so, I hit him and told him the same thing he told me. Then we made a pact that as long as we were friends, the other would have to approve of who the other is dating.

Since then, he had to approve of all of my boyfriends, and I had to agree of all his girlfriend's- not that he had many- but it has always been this way since the first day of Freshman year.

Even when we went to college, we went to the same college and had some classes together. We lived in the same apartment complex off-campus.

It was all working out until Alanna. Even when we had fought, one of us would come and apologize for being dumb to the other person. This time he had gone over the line and broken our promise. I felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest, and like he was betraying me. Which he was in the worst way!

Axel

Okay. So I get the whole I broke the promise thing, but how can Athena be so mad at me over another girl. I don't understand why Athena is so crazy; it was just a promise that we made when we were 15 years old. How seriously does she take this kind of thing?

Okay.

Wait.

Athena takes promises very seriously and hates the people that break them. So maybe I should ta- no, no, she is the one that overreacted about Alanna. T m going to introduce them, but on my terms, I was not expecting Alanna to show up like that.

All because of me and my big 15-year-old mouth that had to tell her about I don't even remember. Athena should be over that pact by now, right? Well, after today, I guess she is not.

How am I going to make things up with her? She is my best friend, and I don't want to lose her. I am going to give her some space because when she is angry, the only person that I have seen calm her is Maurice. So, I will try to call her in the morning.

Axel arrived home late the night of his and Athena's big fight. The only person that was still up was Cleo, his little sister, and she was on the couch binge-watching her favorite show Once Upon A Time.

"Hey, Cleo. How is your show coming along?" Cleo just gave a thumbs up and a nod before stuffing her face with icing. Axel went to his room and fell on the bed with a stressed sigh.

"Why does Athena have to be such a pain sometimes?" He stared at his phone while trying to decide whether he should call her now or later. He agreed that they would be safer after hearing her screaming to Maurice about the fight and letting her eat all the ice cream in the house.

Axel smiled and thought of the good times he had with her and realized that he had crossed the line. He began to wind down his anger towards Athena and wanted to make it up to her. Still, he realized that he had never gotten her this upset before, so he would have to do more than the standard gallon of ice cream and favorite flowers.

He started to think of what he could do to fix this thing with Athena.

"Cleo! Can you come here, please?"

Cleo came running and stopped at her brother's door panting. "What? What's wrong?" Axel took a deep breath and explained everything to Cleo. "Now I need help trying to make it up to her because the Chocolate Ice Cream and Daisies won't do it this time. I f*cked up bad this time, and I know Athena the best, but I am still clueless."

Cleo stared at a spot on the wall above Axel's head and started to think. What could her brother do to make it up to Athena for f*cking up as he did?

Cleo got an idea. "Why don't you sing Athena a song?" Axel looked at Cleo like she must be joking, but Cleo had such excitement on her face. She started looking through her playlist. "I found the perfect song for you to sing to Athena! It will show her how sorry you are for breaking the promise, and maybe she will forgive you."

"Okay. Let's hear the song. What is it called?"

"It's called 'A Thousand Sorries'; it is a perfect song, and it can show Athena that you are genuinely sorry."

Cleo plays the song, and Axel starts to think that this might be a bad idea, but this is the only idea he has. As he listens to the words, he realizes that this is how he feels about his and Athena's situation.

"This is it! Thank you, Cleo! I am going to start a plan to say sorry about this song."

Axel starts planning the apology. He talked to one of his friends at the local flower shop and ordered twelve dozen daisies and booked a room at Skate-A-Round, the skating rink in town, for four hours. After that, he planned for a drive-in movie he got tickets for 'Jumanji: The Next Level.'

He remembers Athena wanting to watch it since she loved the first one. She loved all the movies that have Dawayne "The Rock" Johnson in them. She thinks he is hot, but Axel doesn't get why Athena believes this. He just does not get it.

He text Athena:

Hey. I want to say sorry about the only way that you might forgive me. So will you get dressed and meet me at Skate-A-Round at 7 pm? I promise that I won't make you mad this time. Please just give me another chance. I want to make it up to you.

After he sends it, he heads to Skate-A-Round to set up the room and get the flowers to fill the room. He also needed to get his car washed and find something to wear.

Athena sees the message and leaves it on reading so that she can go and see what he wanted. She was mad, so she put on a red sexy dress to show her anger. She tended to wear the color of her emotions.

She goes over to Skate-A-Round and sees the white balloons with rose gold ribbons, her favorite color. Axel walks out of the front door wearing a white suit with a rose gold tie and handkerchief.

He walks up to Athena, "My lady, will you come with me, please?" She nods confused but still goes with him. Axel can't help but look at the awestruck Athena and feels like he had accomplished something and moved into the next phase of his plan.

They enter Skate-A-Round, and Athena is taken aback by the number of daisies and rose gold that is in one place. She follows Axel to the room that he reserved. When they enter, she sees her favorite dish made with her favorite wine.

Axel pulled out her chair and motioned for her to sit. Athena takes her seat and waits for Axel to do the same. He received his place, "Whenever you are ready to start my lady."

Athena nodded, started eating. She was surprised that it tasted as good as it did. They ate their meal in an awkward silence that nobody wanted, but it still happened. Axel stared at Athena while they ate.

Axel thought to himself how beautiful she looked in that dress. She looked like an angel that had just fallen from heaven. He stopped his train of thought.

"Wait, what?"

He realized that he had spoken out loud and was embarrassed. His cheeks started to turn red. "I am sorry, Axel? Wait on what? No one has said anything since we started eating." Athena was confused about what had just happened.

"Excuse me. I was thinking about today and started thinking about something that did not make any sense." Athena just stared at him like he was delusional. "Whatever. What does any of this have to do with your text earlier?"

Axel had to think of the proper way to put this so that she would not get mad. "Umm...well, you see...I planned a big gesture to say that I was sorry, and this is the first stage of that. The fact that you came means that you wanted to talk things through, but based on your dress's color, you are still angry with me. Which is understandable. I thought a lot about what you said yesterday, and Cleo helped me pick out a song to express my feelings of sorrow and regret." Axel looked down at his lap, waiting on Athena to say something.

Athena just nodded, "Okay, let's continue this apology gesture before I change my mind and leave." Axel looks at Athena with disbelief, and she has already continued to eat.

They go and skate for their designated time frame, and then Axel takes her to the drive-in movie. Athena squeals with delight that they are watching a movie with The Rock in it. "You remembered how much I love The Rock. That is sweet, but you hurt my feelings, so it will take time for me to truly forgive you. I am not opposed to letting you re-try the whole "Alanna" thing, but I already don't like her, so it will take a lot to impress me on her end." Axel nods and hugs her, and they watch the movie in Axel's car.

He drives Athena home after the movie and then realizes that she left her car at Skate-A-Round and promises to bring it back to her in the morning. They say their goodnights, and he goes for the night.

When Axel went to go get Athena's car the next, he found it busted up. The windshield was destroyed, the radio was stolen, the mirrors were missing, the seats were scratched up, and the tires were slashed. There was a bat, a crowbar, and a knife in the driver's seat.

"Oh, sh*t! Who the f*ck did this?" He paused with the realization that it was not his car. "What am I gonna tell Athena?" The thoughts swam in his head of how he was gonna tell Athena about her car.

He decided to first call the police.

"911. What's your emergency?"

"Yeah, hi. So my friend's car was broken into and vandalized."

"Okay. Where are you at, sir?"

"I am at the Skate-A-Round."

"Sir, What is your name and the number you are calling from?"

"My name is Axel Sullivan. My number is (992) 402-5345."

"Is your friend aware of the state of her car is in?"

"No, ma'am."

"Sir, what are your friend's name and the number."

"Her name is Athena Collins. Her number is (580) 688-7592."

"Okay. Sir, we will be there shortly. We will notify the owner of the vehicle shortly."

"Thank you. I will be here when Athena arrives."

The call ended, and Axel immediately called Athena to tell her himself. Athena had woken up to the sound of her phone going off.

"H-hello?"

"Hey, Athena, you might want to get to the Skate-A-Round and fast!"

Athena was confused, "Why? What happened?"

"Your car was vandalized. I am so sorry. I have no idea who could have done this to you. Everyone loves you."

Athena and Axel both pause and start thinking. They both come to a sudden realization of who it could have been.

"ALANNA!" They say it in sync. Axel is shocked that his girlfriend would do this to Athena. Athena starts to boil in anger, "This is why I have to meet the people you decide to date so that they don't do this kind of sh*t!"

Maurice hears Athena yelling at someone and comes to her room. "What's wrong, Lil sis?" Athena looks at him with pure rage on her face. "Someone f*cking vandalized my car!" Maurice just nods and heads out of her room. Athena hangs up and throws on Axel's hoodie on her door and a pair of leggings.

Maurice is in the living room, and he is putting on his shoes. Athena is putting on her running shoes. "Grab the keys, Athena!" Athena grabs them, and they both go to Maurice', Charcoal Grey Ford F-250, truck. Athena gets a phone call as soon as she gets in the car. Its the police. Telling her the same information that Axel had just told her. She informs them that they are on their way.

Maurice sped down the road to get to Skate-A-Round as fast as he could. When they get there, the police are already there. They have the area taped off and are collecting pieces of evidence. Athena jumps out of the truck and runs to Axel.

Axel hugged her and mumbled an apology. Athena looks at her car with shock and disbelief. She starts crying, and Axel takes her into his arms and just lets her cry into his arms.

A police officer comes up to them, "Ma'am, may I see your I.D., please? I know that this is very upsetting for you. Do you have any idea who would do this to you?"

Athena turns around, and Axel keeps his arms around her chest for protection. Athena pulls her wallet out of her hoodie pocket, "We have one person that might do this to me...her name is Allana Foster. She is his girlfriend." She nods behind her to Axel.

"Ex-girlfriend." Axel corrects.

Athena looks at him with confusion and disbelief.

The police officer writes down the information they had just given her and anything on Athena's driver's license. The Officer gave Athena her license back and walks away. Axel takes Athena by the hand and starts walking towards Maurice; he was still talking with an officer. The Officer takes his leave as they approach. "Hey, Athena. I gotta go and do something at the station."

"I can take her home."

"Thanks, Axel. I would stay for a while so that I know she is safe."

Maurice unlocks his truck and gets in. Maurice drives away, leaving Athena and Axel holding hands standing right where he left them.

They walk towards Axel's car. "Do you want to stop and get some Chinese Food and Ice Cream?"

"Yea. Thank you for being here with me."

After they picked up the food and binged watched all the episodes of 'Lilo and Stitch,' they woke up to Athena's phone. Axel reached over Athena, who was not wanting to face reality and picked up the phone.

"Athena, you have to answer this one I can't." Axel became nervous and concerned for Athena.

"Why can't you?" Athena was still tired and was trying to doze off again.

"Athena, its the police!" Axel then showed the phone to Athena.

"Oh, crap!" Athena immediately woke up like she had a shot of espresso injected straight into her veins.

"Hello. This is Athena Collins. How may I help you?" For just haven waked up, Athena never let her mannerisms leave her behind. She listened intently to the Officer on the phone. Axel got up and began working on coffee and eggs. When Athena hangs up the phone, she looks so excited and surprised that she stares at her phone.

"So, what did they have to say?"

Athena looks at him and points the finger at him. "They think that you vandalized my car and then called the cops and blamed it on Allana."

Axel looks like the officers just shot him in the heart. His face full of disappointment, anger, confusion, and there was even a smile at the corner of his lips. "Athena, you know good and well that even when I am mad, I don't destroy things. I go to the gym and work out my feelings." Athena just sat there on the couch and did not say anything.

Axel made his way to the couch to sit next to her and comfort her. When Axel went to touch her, she flinched as if he had just tried to kill her. "Athena...do not be afraid of me. It's just me, Axel..."

Axel looks at Athena with disbelief in his eyes that she would even consider him actually doing something that horrid to her. He knew that she did not wholly trust him yet because he did break their childhood promise, but she knew him better than that. Right? It had started to feel like that promise was broken years ago, not two days ago. Axel assumed that Athena would be over that tiny little thing. He also knew that the promise was not just a small thing to Athena; it meant the world to her and destroyed her world.

Now, this had happened to her, and she just can't catch a break. Axel felt sorry for her, and he wanted to prove to her that he would never do something so heinous.

He started walking towards the kitchen while he let her sort out her emotions and grabbed her favorite ice cream. He grabbed a spoon and the ice cream and sat on the couch, waiting for her to finish her train of thought.

Athena had different emotions swirling around inside of her. She was angry and shocked and confused. Athena had several questions swimming through her head about the credibility of what had just happened on the phone with the police. She doubted that Axel would do that, but she also never thought he would actually break the 10-year promise that they had, but he did. It did seem like he could have done it to get back at her. After fooling her at the big apology but it was all just revenge for getting mad at him for the promise.

"A-Axel, did you 'd-do it? I need to know if you did it to get back at me for being upset about breaking the promise." Axel sat the ice cream down. After Athena had that outbreak, Axel just sat there with her in his arms.

He turned her to look at him. "Why would I ever do something so horrid to you? I thought long and hard about what happened at the diner, and I realized that I was wrong and that you had every right to be mad at me. I would never do something to hurt you intentionally."

Athena looks at him like he was stupid.

"What?"

Athena rolls her eyes and sighs.

"Do you not remember when you took my iPod in like 6th grade and hid it in your pants because you thought that I would never go and get it. All I had to do was beat you up, and you gave it to me after breaking the mirror in my room, which made me cut myself when I reached back to stand up? Cause I sure do, and I still have the scar from where I had to koi stitches."

Axel picked up her right hand and drew tiny circles on her thumb where the scar was and reminisce about their childhood. Athena looked at him with content in her eyes.

They were 12 years old, and Athena went over to Axel's house to hang out. He made her favorite dish, Chicken Alfredo, and they watched T.V. on his couch. Axel wanted to show her something so, they went to his room where she sat on his bed and put her iPod under her thigh. He showed her his newest Nintendo D.S. and then saw her iPod. He reached for it, and she, thinking he was being stupid, playfully pushed him away and laughed. 'Athena, let me see your new iPod!' Athena rolled her eyes, 'Come on, Axel. It's my iPod why in the world would I give it to you?' Axel got a little angry and pushed her harder than he meant to. Athena fell into the full-length mirror that hung on Axel's wall. She started to bleed from her thumb when she went to get up from the accident. 'Axel! What is going on here?' His mother came yelling up the stairs after the sudden noise. She walked in and saw Athena bleeding. They went to the Emergency Room, and Athena had to get a couple of stitches. The Doctor told Axel's mom that it would scar, but it would be small.

"I would never do such a thing to you. I know I broke your trust, but I know that you still believe in me and the relationship that we have. It has been a rough couple of days, but I would never do that to you in a million years. Okay? Know right here and now that I, Axel Michael Sullivan, would never hurt you like that. I love you, and you know it. Please say that you trust me on this?"

Athena looked up at him and saw the honesty in his eyes. She nodded her head and let Axel pull her into a hug. "I love you too, Axel." She looked up at him and realized for the first time that she meant it. She did not mean that as a friend or brother, but she loved him all over her heart. She opened her mouth to say something but decided against it.

"We will prove that it was Allana, I promise Athena," Axel said after the long silence.

Athena fell asleep in Axel's arms at her house. He held her like she was the most precious thing in the world to him. Maurice walked in quietly, patted Axel on the shoulder, kissed her on the forehead, and went to his room for the night. Axel starts to play with her hair. He knew that it was a way to calm her even when she was asleep. Axel could not get himself to go to sleep, just quietly watched her rest. He was cautious of his movements, careful not to wake her. He held her until the sun rose the next day and she woke up.

She woke up to a warm sensation and steady breathing coming from behind her. She twisted ever so slightly to see who it was. Axel was lying on her couch in half sitting up and half laying down position. She moved to where her head was in the crook of his neck, and she nuzzled closer, checking to see if he was awake. Athena slowly got up careful not to wake him. She went to the kitchen and checked her phone. She had received five text messages from Maurice, and seventeen missed calls.

Ten of them being from this boy that she liked, Thomas Martin. Plus, the one hundred messages from Thomas Martin.

He had been trying to get her to go out with him for months but, because of Axel, she did not want to go out with him. He was the most persistent guy had ever met, and with her car being on the news, that did not help.

She ignored his calls and messages. She snuck into her room and started getting dressed for school. Axel woke up and realized that Athena was gone, and he started thinking of the worst things possible. He got up and ran to her, without knocking opened her room to see if she was in there.

"Axel! SHUT THE DOOR!" Athena was completely *****, and Axel just stood there in awe. He looked her up and down while he stood entirely still. It took him about five seconds to realize that she was telling him to get out.

He slammed the door shut and put his back to the door. He took a few deep breaths and tried to calm his racing heart. He could not stop thinking about how Athena looked.

Athena waited for a couple of minutes to make sure he was not going to come in again. She sighed a breath of relief, "Gee whiz! He scared me, I am gonna kill him for that! Who just walks in without knocking?" She hurriedly put her clothes on and opened the door. Axel sat by the wall with his head in his hands.

"Bye, Axel." Then she walked out of the apartment.

He did not look up when she came out of her room, but when the front door shut. He did not even hear her say bye. He was so embarrassed that he was frozen at the wall for some time.

Maurice walked out of his room a couple hours later. He looked at Axel and raised an eyebrow. "You okay? You look like you just saw my sister *****." Maurice laughed at the joke. Axel looked at him with wide eyes and a slight blush that crept to his face.

After Maurice realized that he was laughing by himself. He noticed the way Axel was looking at him and started to see red. He grabbed Axel by the collar of his shirt and pushed him against the wall. "What the hell, man?! I thought you were better than that. I honest to God thought you had more common sense to not piss me off! You are just an idiot! Get out of my house, and do not come back!"

Axel left as soon as Maurice put him down. When he was back in his apartment, he locked the doors and called Athena.

Ring

Ring

Ring

"Hello?"

"Hi, Athena. Your brother figured out what happened this morning and almost killed me. Can you calm him down, please? You know that I did not mean to walk in on you changing, but I was looking for you to make sure you were safe."

An extended period of silence followed

"Athena...?"

"Yea, sorry I am here. Um, let me see what I can do. Can you meet me at University? We need to talk face to face."

He nodded like she could see him, "Oh yea. When?"

"Meet me for lunch at 12:30."

The call ended.

Athena took a deep breath and looked at Dakota. He was new to the University, and he had an interest in her. She was a little uncomfortable around him. She texted Axel something that could not be said over the phone because Dakota was around.

Hey. When you come, pretend that we are dating. There is a new kid in my Advanced Bio class, and he follows me around. I don't feel comfortable with him around me. Please, will you do that for me?

Axel replied almost instantly

Yes.

"Hey, Dakota! My boyfriend is going to join us today for lunch. He also attends University with us! It will be fun!"

Dakota just nodded. Athena realized that he had never really spoken before. He just nodded and grunted all of his responses.

Athena spun on her heels and started to walk towards the cafeteria since it was getting close to 12:30, and Axel would be here soon.

Dakota followed her like a lost puppy and into the cafeteria. She spotted Axel and walked straight for him. Axel turned around to see Athena walking toward him, and before he could say anything, she kissed him. His eyes grew wide with shock, then he melted, and their kiss became passionate.

Axel took his hands and wrapped them around Athena's tiny frame. She unconsciously pulled her hands up behind his neck. She broke their kiss and remembered that Dakota was there and that they were in the middle of the cafeteria of her college friends. Axel looked confused and pleased.

"Sorry about that trying to make it look authentic..." Athena whispered so Dakota could not hear.

Athena turned around with a soft blush gracing her face and a smile to distract Dakota from the scene that had just happened. Dakota was turning as red as an apple.

"Hi. You must be Dakota. I am Axel. Pleased to meet you."

Axel reached out to shake Dakota's hand, but Athena brought the hand to her hips.

"Come on, boys! Are we gonna stand here all day?"

Athena grabbed Axel by the hand and drug him off to a table. Dakota stood there in shock after a few seconds, he followed them to the table that Athena had selected. Axel sat next to Athena and wrapped his arm around her protectively. He grabbed the menu, "Babe, whatcha want to eat?" Athena got a small blush on her cheeks and then hid behind the menu.

"Umm...how about a pizza, chili cheese fries, and a chocolate milkshake?" Athena looked at Axel. He nodded then turned to Dakota. "Hey, man. Are you gonna order or just stare at Athena the entire lunch? She is mine don't forget that she is mine and mine alone. Got it?"

Dakota turned red again and ordered a burger and fries.

"Ouch! Hey, you are gonna pay for that!" Axel looked at Athena. She had turned red as well, and as a punishment for making her blush, she had elbowed him in the gut.

After a few minutes of awkward silence, our food came. Axel stole one of Athena's fries and laughed as she glared at him. "That's my fry, sir!" She leaned up and kissed him. He moved his hand to behind her head and pulled them into a deeper kiss. After that, their lunch date when on without much conflict.

Axel had started realizing that when he had called Athena his, he had meant it and did not want to give her to anyone else. Did she feel the same way? Is that why she had asked him to pretend to be her boyfriend in front of Dakota? His head filled with questions as he drove home. Athena had completed her side of the deal as well. She talked Maurice down for the time being, but Axel knew that he might not live if he went over there too soon. So, he went to his apartment and waited for Athena to get done with class. Axel got to thinking about the last time they had been pretending to be together.

Flashback

Athena and Axel were at the park they were playing house. They were having so much fun that Axel had suggested that they have a fake wedding. Athena happily agreed. They ran home to prepare for their ' marriage.' Athena had put on her prettiest dress while Axel had put on his most excellent suit. They met in Axel's backyard wearing their Sunday's best. Axel had a Ring Pop and was on one knee. "Athena, my best friend ever, will you be my wife?" Athena jumped up and down excitedly. "Yes!"

They had not been 'married' for 20 minutes, and they got into a fight that had ended with Athena throwing the Ring Pop into the grass and stomped it.

Flashback over

He smiled while he was caught up in his daydreaming so much that he did not even hear Athena sneak in. She leaned toward him from behind and covered his eyes, "Guess who?" Axel smiled.

"Maurice?"

"No, no, this is Cleo's hands!"

Athena giggled and ran from behind him and sat on the couch next to him. "Nope, silly, it was me!"

"Um...thank you for today, Axel, it meant a lot to me...that kid kinda makes me nervous and uncomfortable...so thank you."

She had a tight-lipped smile as she looked around the room at anything but Axel. Trying to avoid the uncomfortable tension in the room. They sat in the awkward silence for several minutes, not sure what to say or to do.

Axel cleared his throat, not being able to handle the tension anymore. "So um...that kiss...can we talk about it? There was a lot of passion in the kiss, and I want to make sure we are on the same page." Axel's face turned a deep shade of red as he recalled the kiss.

Athena nodded, "Yeah, I think we really need to talk about that...um...." Athena had no idea how to make it form into the right question. "...how did it make you feel?" Athena had finally asked with a timid voice. Axel took several moments to think about what he was going to say next and how to make it sound less awkward.

"It ...um shocked me at first, but then it kind of felt like it...um...should be like maybe we should? Um...be more than friends. I guess..." Athena was conflicted by what he said.

"That makes sense, but we have known each other for so long. Will it be awkward if we...um...you know become more than friends?"

The awkward silence filled the apartment and remained for several minutes once again. Axel grabbed the remote and switched on the T.V., flipping to their favorite show.

"Maybe we should take it slow and see how we feel after a while. We can sort out this Police business and get Dakota to stop following you around like a lost dog?" Athena silently shook her head in agreement, and that was the end of the conversation for now.