I just got new wires for my braces and ARGH! IT HURTS! Anyway, I wanted to say thanks again to all of you for reviewing; I really appreciate it :). Now, on with the story!

Note: I don't own NiGHTS, OK?!

Chapter Ten: Something To Hope On

That was WAY too close. Next time Wizeman catches me, I'm dead. That was what Reala was thinking as he was soaring on his way towards the Nightopian hospital.

Reala was glad he had finally confessed his love for NiGHTS, and was even more delighted to find that NiGHTS loved him back. Since the first night they had kissed, Reala was filled with happiness. His mind was always on NiGHTS so much that he didn't realized he had been acting so nice to everyone. Unfortunately, he had been so distracted that he was slacking off work and he wasn't as skilled as he used to be. He was sure that if Wizeman got suspicious one more time, that was it for him.

A sudden feeling of being watched made Reala's skin tingle and he glanced behind him. He was surprised to see that no one was there. He shrugged, guessing it was just his conscience telling him he couldn't keep this sneaking away up for very long. He looked ahead and continued flying, but for some reason the feeling didn't go away.

So Reala decided to think about other things. He got to wondering what was going to happen when NiGHTS no longer needed to stay at the hospital. Would she need Reala anymore? What if she decided to go off on her own, and return things to the way they were? Reala shook his head. NiGHTS wouldn't do that. She loves me, she told me so. He was sure they would figure things out.

He got excited when the hospital came into view, but now he was sure that someone was following him. Stopping in mid-air, Reala whipped around and demanded angrily, "Who's there?!"

He still didn't see anyone, and there was no response.

Reala glanced around him and down at the trees below, edged silver in the moonlight. But he still saw no signs of life anywhere. He thought he must be going crazy, so he shook his head roughly and proceeded quickly towards the hospital. As he entered her room through the window, Reala greeted NiGHTS with a quick kiss. "Hey."

"Hey." NiGHTS smiled, but it was only half-hearted.

Reala looked at her concerningly. "Everything ok?"

"Well..." NiGHTS glanced away. "Yeah, everything's fine."

He could tell not everything was fine. Reala turned her face to his and looked deeply into her eyes. "You can tell me." he encouraged.

NiGHTS hesitated, but told him, "Tonight's my last night here. I'm leaving the hospital in the morning."

Reala's heart felt heavy and he was disappointed. "Oh." But he tried to sound positive by saying, "Well, now you'll get your freedom back. You'll be flying all over Nightopia in no time."

But NiGHTS was frowning. "Yeah, but...how will we see each other again? Have you ever thought of that?"

Reala looked at the ground and admitted, "Yeah, I have. I just wasn't hoping it would be this soon."

"I know." NiGHTS said quietly. After a moment's pause, she asked, "So, what are we gonna do?"

Reala searched NiGHTS' eyes, hoping to find an answer in her two gleaming sapphires. He suggested, "We could meet somewhere else. How about at the Dream Gate?"

NiGHTS thought it over, then agreed. "Ok. The Dream Gate it is. I'll see you there tomorrow night, then?"

"Tomorrow night." Reala confirmed.

There was another silence, and neither NiGHTS nor Reala knew really what to say.

A small flash on NiGHTS caught Reala's attention and he noticed the red Ideya shard on her chest. "What's so special about an Ideya, anyway?" he asked casually.

"Well," NiGHTS started, "Ideya are symbols of positive qualities of the heart. But there's more about them that not everyone knows about."

Reala listened, becoming more curious. "Really? Like what?"

NiGHTS leaned closer to Reala. "I've heard some say that if your heart is strong enough, Ideya can make miracles happen." She smiled, then reached into her vest and took out a yellow, flashing object.

Reala could see that it was a yellow Ideya shard. "When did you get that?" he asked in amazement.

NiGHTS looked at the shard in her hand and replied, "I've had it for quite a long time. I keep it as a kind of lucky charm."

"Does it work?" Reala wanted to know.

NiGHTS examined the Ideya shard as she explained, "Well...on the first night after your leg got totaled, I hoped on this Ideya that you would be alive the next morning. Some Nightmarens didn't think you would make it, and they were pretty surprised that you were ok." Smiling, she took Reala's hand and placed the shard in his palm, closing his fingers over it. "I want you to have something to hope on."

Reala looked surprised. Then he smiled and felt the smooth object in his hand. It was the nicest gift he had ever gotten. In fact, it was the only gift he had ever gotten. "Thank you, NiGHTS. This means a lot to me." Reala said, holding back happy tears.

They both smiled warmly at each other and embraced in a romantic hug.

"Hey, Reala?" NiGHTS spoke up softly, her voice a little muffled by Reala's chest.

"Hmm?"

NiGHTS looked up at him. "I love you."

Even now when she said it, it still made Reala feel lighter than air. Holding her head in his hands, Reala smiled genuinely and told NiGHTS, "I love you, too. Always have, always will." He then kissed her full on the mouth and closed his eyes to savour the moment.

They kissed for a long time, their arms wrapped around each other. But both of them didn't notice a pair of invisible eyes watching them from the window, nor did they see his invisible wicked grin.

And they certainly didn't hear him whisper excitedly to himself, "Oh man, Wizeman is gonna flip!"

Dun dun dun! Omigosh, it looks like there's gonna be trouble! We'll see what happens after I write another chapter.