...Sea Scene... Steve was sitting on deck, listening to Travis snore from downstairs. Travis and Peter had both already had their turn on watch, and Steve didn't intend to wake Khloe. She got really bad sea sickness. Steve wasn't TO tired anyway. Just a little. He stood, and slowly paced the deck. The boat rocked on another wave. Steve would have fallen off, as the boat slid down the wave, but somebody's arms wrapped around him. They pulled him back, so he didn't fall. They unwrapped and Steve turned around. Khloe was standing there looking at her feet. "Couldn't sleep." She complained. "Did you try very hard?" Steve asked. "Well... not really." She said. "Go back down and try then. It'll help." He told her. "Appreciate your concern. But I prefer it up here." She said. "No you don't. You get sea sick." He said. Khloe sat down next to him and said: "What if I told you I like it because YOUR here." "Then I'd ask WHY?" He replied. "Then I'd tell you, maybe I'm more comfortable with you." She said. "Then I'd say you shouldn't. Why should you? We're here because of me. You should hate me." He told her grimly. "DON'T. Say that." She snapped. Steve folded his arms and didn't speak. "I can't hate you. Never." She said quietly. "Why?" He asked. "Becau-... doesn't matter." She got up and walked off, but before she could go far, Steve grabbed her hand. "Come back. Tell me what you needed to tell me." He said. She sat back down. She sighed. "Nobody likes me. Never have. Probably never will. But, you put up with me for ages." She said. "What do you mean?" Steve asked. "I-I'm trying to say... i love you." She replied quietly. "Kind of always have." She said. Steve looked deeply into those eyes. He opened his mouth but nothing came, he closed it again. "I'll go back down." She said quietly and grumpily. Steve got up and stopped her by grabbing both her hands. She turned and stared up into his eyes. "What?" She asked. Steve opened his mouth, and said the only thing left to say : "I-I love you Khloe." "Sure you don't lie?" She asked grimly. "Not lying. Really." He told her. "Sure?" "I can persuade you." Steve suggested. Without waiting for any answer, he lifted her up (she's about the hight of the bottom of his nose) and kissed her. She looked shocked, but then closed her eyes. He could of stayed in that moment forever. Reaper could anhialate existence, and he'd have NO idea. He finally put her back down. This time SHE opened her mouth, but closed it, as nothing came out. "Persuaded?" He asked gently. "Persuaded." She agreed. Steve sat down, but Khloe stood there, motionless. Steve pulled her forward, and rested her in his lap, her head against his chest. "I-a..." she started. "Shh. It's okay. You can sleep now. I'm here. You're safe." Steve told her gently and calmly. "i love you. I always will." She told him, softly. "Love you. Goodnight, go sleep now. You need it." Steve said, and hugged her tight to his chest. "Night." She said. A few seconds later, and she was gently breathing. Steve decided he wouldn't go to sleep. He wouldn't even take the SLIGHTEST chance that Khloe could get hurt, maybe fall into the water, or even onto deck. Everything. Steve's whole #life. Changed tonight. For the better, but a lot. A very lot. In a way, it would get harder. He had to protect Khloe now. Now everything he thought... was out. He felt complete though. Maybe things would get easier now. Now he had her with him. Happiness flowed through his whole body. If only he knew, knew that he wouldn't get that kind of feeling... for a LONG time. Steve kept to his mental promise. He didn't sleep. The sun was coming up from the horizon. But then, a black figure disrupted it, taking away all sunlight, coming towards him... it was Peter. The sun made his silhouette. "Hey Steve." Peter said, his voice just like it always was. Not particularly quiet... Steve smiled but put his finger to his mouth and made a quiet 'shh' sound. Peter noticed that Khloe was sleeping on him, and he winked and put his finger to his mouth. Peter was hyper, and funny and excitable, but when he needed to be, really helpful and kind. Peter sat opposite Steve and whispered: "Your so cute." "Mm-hm." Steve replied. "Your like, 3 times the hight of her." He laughed quietly. Steve nodded and looked down at her head. "She's really light." Steve said. "Wonder if I'm taller than her." Peter said. "Probably." Steve said. "Anyways, size matters not. Your still cute." Peter grinned at him. "Uh-huh." He said, and rolled his eyes, though he was still smiling. "I'll go tell Travis to shut up, so he doesn't wander up here shouting random things like a Neanderthal." Peter told him. "I swear you guys used to get on well." Steve said. "What are you saying? We never got along." Peter told him, and got up. He went down the stairs. Steve remembered when they were twelve, and Peter got on kind of well with Travis. Kind of. Then, Steve heard grumbling, from Khloe. He peered over her head, and her eyes fluttered open. She looked around, then up, and saw Steve. She smiled warmly and he smiled back. "Please tell me I wasn't dreaming." Khloe said. "About..." "We we're here, it was night, and I... oh, I'm here. With you... wasn't dreaming. Good." She said. "Nope not dreaming." He confirmed. "Can I like... stay here? Forever?" She said. "Just not at sea?" "I wish. We'll get out of here eventually. Once Reaper's finished off, yes. I'll probably never let you go." He admitted. "Huh? Probably?" There was genuine worry in her voice, as if she thought he would leave her. "I mean literally. Like, in my arms. Unless you need the toilet." He said. "Phew, okay. I don't care as long as you stay with me." She said, clearly relieved. "Yup, not got a problem there." He told her. She leant against his chest, looking up into his eyes. "Where's the other two?" She asked. "Down there." He pointed below decks. "Kay. You get any sleep?" She asked. He didn't want to lie to her. "Well... no." He said, looking up into the sky. "What?! You need sleep to!" She protested. "No. I prefer watching you sleep." He said, and looked back down at her. "Well I WANT you to get sleep. Or else how are you supposed to fight monsters and stuff?" She said. "It's okay. Really. I'm not tired." Steve replied. "so annoying." She mumbled. "Uh-huh." He said, and hugged her tighter. and Travis were kind of friends. He suspected they'd get on well in later #life. Assuming they didn't all die. No, he couldn't think like that. It wouldn't help anyone. Below him, Khloe