Author's Notes/: And we finally get to see (my) explanations for Antonio's necklace! The big ring was inspired by the lovely Phantom Rosabelle, who suggested it. As for the coin, I know it technically should still be in the fountain, but for the purposes of this story, he went back and got it later. (I may end up writing this and/or it being given to Antonio at some point in the eventual prequel to this story.)

"Did they ever say anything to you about why they kidnapped you and Mentor?"

It took sheer discipline for Jayden to keep from reacting to Mia's question. He forced himself to look up instead, plastering a curious look on his face and hoping no one could see his fist clenching around his glass. The glass shook a little in his hand, and he forced himself to take a subtle, calming breath before he broke it.

"Bait," Antonio answered her, making a face. "For the team. They knew you guys would find us."

"And we are grateful that you did," Ji added.

It was hard not to let out a sigh of relief, and he hated himself for it. Just like he hated how calm he'd managed to stay throughout the search and the fight afterwards. How controlled and emotionless he'd been. They could have been rescuing anyone, anyone at all.

"Is that a new necklace, Antonio?" Emily asked, looking curious. "It looks different than before."

Antonio lit up at the question. Jayden forced himself to focus on his juice instead. "You have a good eye, mi amiga!" Instead of taking it off for her to see, he leaned forward to show her.

"What is it?" Mike asked, leaning across the table.

Emily frowned. "It's ... two rings and a medal?"

"Yup." Antonio looked content, giving the cord around his neck an absent pat as he sat up straight. "They're mementos from people important to me. They're very special, so I keep them close so I won't lose any of them."

Kevin frowned. "If they're so special, why don't you put them away somewhere?"

Antonio blinked at him. "Because special things are meant to be kept close to your heart. Not hidden away."

"Why are they so special to you?" Jayden spoke up, even though he already knew.

Antonio's eyes flickered to him, sparkling in amusement. "Well, this big ring," He lifted the cord, catching the ring in question and lifting it with a finger, "Is from my parents. When they got married, they ordered a third ring for me, because Papa said it was my wedding, too."

Mia looked teary-eyed. "That's so sweet!"

He grinned at her. "They ordered it really big when I was little so I could grow into it, so I put it on this cord. But now that I'm older, it's too big to wear."

"So why don't you get it resized?" Mike leaned over more, practically laying across the table as he tried to get a better look. Ji gave him a look of disapproval, but he ignored it.

Antonio made a face. "It's a bad idea for fishermen to wear rings."

"Can't imagine why," Kevin drawled, and Jayden knew they were all remembering the fishing hook incident when the girls started fighting giggles and Mike smirked. Antonio glared back at him.

"The coin," Antonio continued, huffing, "Is from my big brother."

Emily looked delighted. "I didn't know you had a brother, Antonio!"

"Sort of. We're not related," he dismissed. "Anyway, he gave me this old wishing coin just before I came here, for luck. But he warned me not to make a wish on it, because they have a tendency to backfire. So I drilled a hole in it and put it around my neck instead." He played with it for a moment, smiling fondly.

"And the last one?" Mike prompted.

There was a long pause, and Antonio gave them all a secretive smile as he slipped the thinner ring onto the tip of his thumb. "This one? This is a promise ring."

"Promise ring?" Mia echoed, frowning.

Antonio nodded, his smile turning playfully smug. "Mm-hmm. It's a symbol for a very important promise."

Mike raised an eyebrow. "What, like an engagement ring?"

Antonio's eyes flickered to him, and his smile widened. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"I think I might have given Mike a heart attack," Antonio commented later as Jayden carefully rubbed ointment on his back.

Jayden made a noise of acknowledgement.

"Definitely Kevin."

"Mm."

"And was it me, or was Mia pouting?"

"Mm."

"Ji looked kind of suspicious."

"Mm."

"I've decided I want to become a girl."

"Mm."

"And I was thinking about having a horn grafted to my forehead, so I can tell everyone I'm a unicorn."

"I'm listening to you," Jayden murmured. "Kevin looked more horrified than shocked. Mia's probably jealous because it's her dream to be a bride and start a family someday. Ji knows you well enough now to always be suspicious of what you're up to."

" ... Does that mean you really wouldn't care if I became a girl?"

"I think we've proven you can convince me to accept just about anything. But if you start telling everyone that you're a unicorn, I'm not interfering when Mike starts tying rainbow streamers to your horn in your sleep."

Antonio laughed. "But will you say something when he tries to pin them to the back of my pants?"

He turned with a smile, but Jayden avoided his eyes, carefully packing away the medical kit instead.

There was a soft sigh, and arms slipped around him from behind. "Jayden ... "

"Don't," he said shortly.

The arms tightened. "It's *not* your fault," Antonio insisted. "I told you: we were bait for the team, not for you specifically. They don't know. And even if they had, it just happened. It probably would have happened to any one of us who happened to be out in the middle of nowhere. I'm not any more of a target than the rest of the team is."

Because that made it *so* much better.

"I knew you would come for us. That's why I wasn't worried. Because I knew you would find a way to spring the trap and save us."

Jayden shut his eyes, fists clenching on top of the kit. 'I wasn't worried.' The words seemed to echo through his mind, taunting him.

There was a pause, and a soft sigh against his ear. "Jayden - "

"I'm sorry." It slipped out before he could stop it, and he could feel himself starting to shake. "I'm ... I'm sorry." I should be able to tell you I was worried. I should be able to tell you how scared I was. How angry the thought that you were hurt made me. How terrified I felt at the thought that I could lose you.

But he couldn't say it. No matter how much he wanted to, *needed* to, he couldn't get the words past his throat. Even in Shiba House, where he *knew* the Nighlok couldn't enter, he was too terrified of being overheard to tell Antonio all the things he deserved to know.

Antonio shifted, forcing him to turn around, and hugged him again before he could break away. His hands came up reflexively to clench in Antonio's shirt. "Shh ... " Antonio murmured in his ear. "It's okay, Jayden. I know. I promise I know. I'm sorry I scared you. I know you were worried. I understand, I promise."

"I'm sorry," he whispered again, dropping his head against Antonio's shoulder. I'm sorry I'm so broken. I'm sorry I can't even tell you how I feel.

Gentle pressure against his temple, and the arms around him squeezed again. "Hush. I understand. I promise. I promise."