It was the middle of the night when the moon was up and proud to light up the night with it's fellow friends, the stars. They took the night shift after the warm sun. Almost everyone in the town of Athena has fallen asleep during this hour. Almost everyone.

Rogue sat at the window seat of his own house, happily being bathed by the moonlight. It was another restless night at home. He didn't know how long he was up for all he cared about was sketching. Indeed he had developed drawing as a hobby. Sometimes other people see it as a habit. Rogue didn't like to brag about his newfound hobby anyway. Peri, in the meanwhile, thought otherwise.

"Hey Rogue, still up?" Peri peeked through Rogue's bedroom door. Peri doesn't own a house here in Athena. So every time she has the chance to, she either asks Rogue to stay at his place or lets him ask her. She never really explained why she didn't consider owning a house, but the reason seems pretty obvious.

"Oh yeah, had a bit of trouble sleeping, I'm assuming you did too." Rogue chuckled lightly, sitting up from the comfortable window seat. He gestured towards the empty space next to him under the moonlight with a warm smile. Peri gave a side smile, walking up and taking a seat next to him tiredly. She sighed and gazed out the window, admiring the tiny specks of stars in the night sky. She loved this spot in Rogue's house. It felt like the heart and soul of it all.

"Actually I just woke up. I didn't know whether to talk to you or go back to sleep," she joked, satisfied with Rogue's smile. His smile was weak and tired but so warm and comforting.

"Glad you went with the first choice then because I have a surprise for you," Rogue smirked. Peri raised a brow, unable to contain an excited grin.

"You're serious?"

"Yeah. Genuinely serious," He put down his sketchbook and got up from the window seat. He smiled and began walking backwards. "Keep those eyes shut."

"Yessir, Ro," Peri smiled, covering her eyes with her own hands. She sat there for a moment, hearing tons of rustling and the thuds of footsteps. She was sure she could hear a couple of curses here and there and she tried her best to hold her laughs.

"Alright, you can open them up now," Rogue's voice towered her. Peri removed her hands from her face slowly, glancing up to see a scrapbook in front of her. The cover was filled with her favorite colors and the whole book looked thick. Peri couldn't contain a smile this time. She took it right out of his hands and turned to Rogue.

"Go ahead, open it." He sat next to her, looking over her shoulder as she obliged.

"Oh my sails, are these.." Peri laughed softly, gazing upon pages of sketches. They were mainly simple little drawings of Peri and a hint of Rogue here and there. There were other things too like flowers and little fun moments of everyone. Peri glanced at Rogue with the brightest smile he has ever seen.

"Since you always plan on stealing my drawings without my permission, I've decided to give you some of my own as a little gift. It is our Friendaversary after all-"

"Wait, what?! You aren't serious, right?" In an instant, that bright smile faded and was replaced with an embarrassed frown. Peri inched closer to him to see any sort of joking manner in his eye, but Rogue only looked at her with a tight line of his eyebrows, almost uncomfortable in this position. But really, he was used to it.

"I am genuinely serious, Peri," Rogue watched as she hid her face in her hands. "Y'know, February 21? That was the day you met me and joined my crew. You also became my friend that day. I never forgot about it."

"Well, I did! I'm a total idiot," Peri pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. She could feel her whole body burning from the pure embarrassment and guilt. She thought she knew everything about Rogue, considering that she used to be obsessed over him. "How could I have forgotten?"

"I mean, this is the first time we've ever done something like this," Rogue chuckled lightly, scratching the back of his head. He laughed when Peri groaned and fell to her back on the comfy window seat. Rogue smiled and turned to the window, admiring the shiny stars. "Besides, I wanted to make it a surprise anyway."

Peri laid there in silence, she didn't respond at all. Rogue lost his smile and looked at her in concern.

"Peri? You okay?"

"That's it," Peri murmured.

"What?"

"That's it!" Peri bounced up and took Rogue's hands. "I have an idea!"

Rogue could only look at her in concern, about to interrupt her until she got up and quickly tossed his coat onto him. Rogue struggled to catch his coat, looking up at the lady as she made her way to the door.

"We're heading out," Peri chimed cheerfully. "So put on your coat, Mister Con."

~~~

"Peri, it's 3 am, why are we outside?" Rogue shivered in the night, passing by the blooming street lights. The town of Athena was empty and quiet, and yet it was filled with life and wonder. Rogue knew the town from top to bottom but it never felt like everything was discovered. It felt like there were questions to be answered.

"Because it's the golden hour," She decided to answer, smirking at the guy next to her. She shook his arm with excitement, smirking ever so slyly.

"That doesn't really answer my question," Rogue rolled his eye, blushing at the feeling of her slender fingers grasping his upper arm. Peri was leading him somewhere and he followed her blindly. He had this sixth sense every time he was around Peri. He couldn't quite describe it but he felt safe. He felt happy with her, he felt like he could be himself around her now. It's another thing he loved about her.

"Well your question will be answered very soon, Sailor Boy," she claimed.

"What did I tell you about that nickname?" Rogue sighed jokingly, smiling as Peri laughed softly. That damned laugh. Rogue could swear that that laugh can bloom a flower and literally brighten a gloomy day. "You're slowly becoming Nira and I'm not sure if I like that."

"What? I thought you were a fan of ladies like her?"

"Goodness, no!" Rogue exasperated a laugh, unable to ever imagine that possibility. Peri giggled, releasing his arm after what seemed like years. She hopped to walk in front of him, facing him as she continued walking backwards slowly.

"Then what is your type, Mister Con?" She crossed her arms. Rogue stopped in his tracks, pressing a finger to his lips as he glanced at the night sky. He snuck a glance at her as well, humming in wonder.

"Hmm, that's a good question, dear Periwinkle," He decided to tease her with pet names as well, staring at the stars above him as if the answer was imprinted onto them. "I like women with blue eyes to remind me of the ocean."

"That's it?" Peri raised an eyebrow, holding her waist as she heard those words from him echo in her mind. Blue eyes?

"Hold on, I'm not done," Rogue interrupted her, digging down his internal preference folder. "Well, I'm kind of a big fan of blondes with a hint of softw orange."

"That's oddly specific," Peri furrowed her brows, glancing at the ground in confusion. But when realization hit her like a brick and Rogue was struggling to contain a laugh, she gently punched him in the shoulder. "You never cease to amaze me."

"I plan on that, Periwinkle," He chuckled, attempting to catch his breath as he wiped a tear in his eye. When Rogue was about to glance up, a bright light shunned him. He recognized the neon color and it almost blinded him. Rogue could sense the smile on Peri's face.

"Peri, I-uh, I'm.. not sure about this." Rogue turned to her with a concerned look.

"What do you mean? I thought you liked this place!" Peri walked towards the door to the building, smiling ever so innocently.

"Yeah but I know you don't," Rogue almost stuttered between words, keeping his ground. He watched as Peri walked up to him. "Remember how I used to drag you into this place?"

"Yes but it's a special night! I want to thank you-!"

"No Peri, dragging you into this place was a mistake and I don't want to repeat that same mistake," Rogue eyed the building like an ex-friend, but the kind you catch up with. Peri groaned and face-palmed. She had heard those words before and every word felt like a nostalgic goodbye.

"Rogue, I don't care about the mistakes you have made. They're all in the past and that shouldn't affect who is standing in front of me today!"

"But those mistakes have done a number on you, haven't they?" Rogue raised his arms slightly. "You know very well that they hurt you. The moment I was gone from your life, you became a better person."

"Rogue, the moment you left, I missed you. That was the only part of you that hurt me." Peri looked into his deep brown eye, finding such pain in them. The moment she said those words, she could feel her hands tremble. She wanted to reach for Rogue's hands to steady herself again. But his hands remained low.

"Peri, I only ever wanted to protect you from my mistakes."

"What makes you think I would want to be protected?"

Rogue met her eyes momentarily. He didn't expect this night to go perfect, but he thought it wouldn't have to end this way. Peri seemed breathless, their silence only making their heartbeats louder. The moon seemed to shift awkwardly as it stood above them. Rogue began to feel the bitter cold breeze, sighing shakily. "I don't know, I-..."

Peri eyed him carefully. She didn't want to leave him with cold shoulders but she wanted to be honest for once. She wants him to grow for himself.

"I love being your friend, Peri." Rogue struggled to say, glancing to see Peri's figure walk into the bar without another word. When she passed through the doors, he was left in the silence of the night. He could hear the crickets laughing at his state. Rogue took a deep breath, standing there for what seemed like centuries. He could feel every muscle in his body tensing as he was blooming sadly in the moonlight.

Rogue began walking away, sitting on a bench as he gazed at the moon reflecting off the ocean. He leaned back and took in the familiar scent of the beach. There, the aura of it was comforting. Rogue could see the good ole ship resting from afar and it sent him back into a nostalgic state.

Rogue felt his heart racing. He realized that she was only trying to push past his limits, hit him where it hurts to make him realize that she loves him. He was used to pushing people away, separating himself from everyone with a door. But Peri was something else. She would always stare at the door separating them, hoping to see his face underneath the bright sun someday. She knew how to get under his skin, to understand him in a way he even can't himself.

Peri is a strong woman, he knew. He knows that she can take care of herself just fine and yet everyday he gets up from bed to see her. This voice inside his head always tells him that there's a purpose to protecting her. He wants to protect her. But Peri argues that he can't protect her if he can't even protect himself. Rogue always hides this part of him but Peri was always there to understand.

"Left without me, Ro?" a voice asked ever so softly. Rogue looked behind him and saw Peri with two glasses of beer. Rogue stood up immediately, the bench right between them. The gentle waves rushing ashore broke the silence, reminding them that they were alone together.

"Where'd you get those glasses-?"

"The bar, silly. I asked the bartender for a favor, only for tonight anyway." She smiled genuinely, reaching a glass to him across the bench. Rogue stared at it for a moment, sighing softly. He walked around the bench to hug her tightly, breaking the gap between them. His arms were gently wrapped around her, leaning down slightly to reach her level. Peri inhaled shakily, her chest heaving as she struggled to hug him back with the glasses in both of her hands. Instead, she leaned her head on his shoulder proudly.

The two broke away and sat together on the bench. Rogue gladly took one glass and began drinking the beer, turning to see Peri stare at her own glass. He hesitated for a moment before asking. "You don't have to drink."

"No, I brought this glass and I am gladly drinking it with you," Peri smirked at Rogue. She never really drank any mature beverages, but this was a special night to her. She wanted to prove herself to Rogue. Rogue wasn't going to stop her this time. Peri inhaled sharply and took a large chug of the glass, leaving Rogue in amazement. He silently uttered a 'wow.' Peri put down the empty glass onto her lap and panted.

"Wow." Rogue said out loud this time, staring blindly at her. Peri laughed softly and nudged him with a smirk.

"See? I can handle this, Rogue."

"Seems I underestimated you, Jackson," Rogue broke a smile, laughing as Peri couldn't contain a smile as well. They fell into a laughing fit for a while, inching closer to each other to the point where their arms are touching. Once they caught their breath, they smiled at each other. Peri leaned on his shoulder, feeling his heartbeat synchronize with hers. Rogue gave a side smile, leaning on her head gently. Though they were afraid of being caught like this, they wanted to spend as much time as they can with each other. Tonight was truly a special night and they decided that they wouldn't say a word to the others about it.