DISCLAIMER: I do not own Strawberry Panic.

(Thank you all for reading. I hope you guys/girls know that I really appreciate all the comments and even the messages pertaining to feed back. I love you all (^_^)

When work was done, Shizuma happily made her way to her car and drove to pick up Tamao from her work. While she waited in the front of the hospital, she joyfully hummed to herself as she waited for the new love of her life to come waltzing out of the hospital, and into her arms. Ten minutes slowly became 30 minutes and then Shizuma realized she had been waiting almost a whole hour. Worried, but not too alarmed, Shizuma made her way to inside the hospital to see what could possibly be keeping Tamao from her.

She observed that most of the hospital facilities were closed as she briskly walked past them. Shizuma reached the pharmacy counter and found that it was closed and had been for some time. Wrinkling her nose, Shizuma looked around and saw a receptionist scurry past her and she stopped her with gentle pardons.

"Excuse me, Ma'am but where is Dr. Suzumi?" Shizuma asked the receptionist.

The receptionist adjusted her glasses and shuffled her feet, showing Shizuma she was on urgent business.

"Dr. Suzumi did not feel well so she went home a few hours ago." The receptionist said.

Shizuma straightened her back and frowned and let the receptionist scurry away from her.

Tamao wouldn't just go home and not tell me and make me wait for her...Shizuma frowned again as she bit her lower lip and tried to legitimize Tamao's actions.

The silver-haired goddess went back to her car and slowly closed the car door behind her as she sat in her seat for a bit, thinking. With a determined breath of air, Shizuma turned on her car and raced to Tamao's apartment.

"Tamao, are you there?" Shizuma asked as she knocked on Tamao's apartment door.

Shizuma pressed her ear against the door and tried to discern any sounds but she heard nothing. Again, she knocked and this time, rang the doorbell lest Tamao didn't hear her. Again, Shizuma pressed her ear against the door and this time, heard the soft patter of feet. Smiling, Shizuma pulled her face back and waited for the door to open but found herself wasting time.

"Tamao, it's me, dear. Please, open up the door. Are you okay?" Shizuma asked with a hint of anxious desperation to her voice.

She heard sniffling from the other side of the door.

"Sh-shizuma...I'm fine. I'll see you tomorrow." Tamao's voice was barely a whisper.

Shizuma frowned and this time nearly kicked the door down.

"Tamao, I waited for you and you never showed. Something is wrong; why won't you tell me? If you love me, you will share whatever is bothering you with me." Shizuma's voice was no longer coated with anxiousness but more with a thin film of anger.

Tamao's sobs were audible now and Shizuma felt her heart sink into the acidic pits of her stomach. Oh my god...did I just make her cry? NICE FUCKING JOB, Shizuma!

"Baby, no no don't cry; I don't mind waiting for you. Please, open the door and let me be with you." Shizuma said softly.

Tamao's sobs were a little louder this time but the locks to her door clicked open and she slowly pulled the door back. Shizuma saw that Tamao's usually well-kept blue hair was a mess and her eyes were puffy from hours of crying. Without thinking, Shizuma immediately picked up Tamao and held her in her comforting arms. Tamao began to cry harder as Shizuma carried her depressed girlfriend to her room. She gently set the crying maiden on the bed and sat beside her with her arms around the blue-haired maiden's delicate waist. Shizuma tried to pull Tamao closer to her but she felt Tamao's body tense and she got up from the bed, with her back turned to Shizuma.

"Shizuma...you have to know something." Tamao said softly.

Shizuma stood up and held Tamao from behind and gently stroked her stomach. Tamao leaned her head against Shizuma's shoulder but then she quickly removed Shizuma's hands from her waist and turned to face her. Shizuma gave her a dumbfounded look.

"Did I do something wrong, my dear? Why do you keep pulling away from me?" Shizuma asked desperately as she tried to think of what she possibly could have done. Maybe it's because I eat too much salami?

Tamao shook her head and her eyes filled with fresh tears.

"I...something happened today..." Tamao's voice trailed off as a new wave of sobs over took her.

Shizuma stepped closer to Tamao to hold her but Tamao backed away.

"What do you need to tell me?" Shizuma asked.

Tamao wiped her tears away with the sleeve of her shirt and she looked at Shizuma with sparkling pain, dancing in her eyes.

"You weren't my first, Shizuma." Tamao said with a heavy heart.

Shizuma couldn't help but laugh hysterically and Tamao frowned at her.

"I don't care if I'm your 50th, as long as I remain only yours from this point on; I don't care." Shizuma said with a broad smile as she waltzed closer to Tamao and picked her up.

Tamao shook her head vehemently and squirmed to be put down but Shizuma wouldn't let her go so easily anymore.

"I was with Miyuki before I was with you and she took my virginity." Tamao said as she buried her face within her hands.

Shizuma gave Tamao a confused look and set her girlfriend on the bed.

"Baby, I don't understand; are you having regrets from letting her be your first?" Shizuma asked as she stroked Tamao's hair.

Tamao shook her head and took Shizuma's hand in her own and laced their fingers together.

"She broke up with me after she had me because she wasn't ready to juggle work and a girlfriend. Or so she said to me anyway. I was so heartbroken that I almost stopped going to work and paying my bills. But, I managed to pull myself out of the rut and within a few months, you came walking into my life and you carried me away from all the pain and heartache." Tamao said as she cupped Shizuma's cheek with her free hand.

Shizuma smiled and nodded her head.

"And this is the part where we live happily, ever after, right?" Shizuma giggled as she tried to move herself on top of Tamao but Tamao gently kept her at bay.

"But, she came to see me today." Tamao's voice began to trail off.

"Oh that's great! How did it go, dear? You two can manage to stay friends?" Shizuma asked.

Tamao's heart hurt from hearing Shizuma's words because what had happened was totally opposite of that.

"We went out to lunch but then she wanted me back-"

"WHAT DO you mean she wanted you back?" Shizuma asked angrily as she stood up from her seat and towered over Tamao.

Tamao's eyes widened with fear as she stared up at her angry goddess.

"She asked me to be with her again and...she kissed me." Tamao said as she slowly stood up and searched Shizuma's face for compassion.

Shizuma's mouth dropped and she felt her knees weaken.

"You...kissed her back?" Shizuma asked slowly as she backed away from Tamao.

"No, no, I tried to fight her off-"

"You tried? That's all you did? So, you ended up giving into her kiss? Is that why you're crying? You realize that you don't love me anymore?" Shizuma was not taking any prisoners.

Tamao shook her head as tears for Shizuma filled her eyes this time. The full rea`lity of losing Shizuma hit her harder than before.

"No, my dear Shizuma; never that at all. I thought of you when she kissed me and I pushed her away and ran as fast as I could back to work. I love only you and that is why I am crying because I was afraid you would leave me after I told you." Tamao began to weep and she covered her face with her hands and her shoulders quivered.

Shizuma stood tensely in front of Tamao and watched her girlfriend cry for a minute before she went to her and picked her up. Tamao wrapped her legs around Shizuma's waist as she snaked her arms around Shizuma's neck.

"I know you love me, my dear. And I hope that you know that I love you too. Do not cry, my blue-haired princess for I shall not leave you for something like that. I am sorry I was not there to protect you from her." Shizuma said quietly.

Tamao looked into Shizuma's olive green eyes and kissed her. The two made it on the bed and lay within each others arms for some time, neither one saying a word. Tamao felt herself clinging onto Shizuma like as if she ever let her go; she would lose her for sure. Shizuma, on the other hand, felt like her heart had just received a taste of a new-found love for her brave and utterly sweet Tamao.

"Tamao?" Shizuma asked softly as Tamao stroked her hair.

"Hmm?"

"Is this where we live happily ever after?" Shizuma asked with a grin.

"Yes, my love; I promise." Tamao nodded her head in response as she sealed the promise with a kiss.