Jeff sighed for the umpteenth time. He'd been searching the ship for nearly an hour looking for Nick. It was three o'clock in the afternoon, and he was starting to get worried.

Although he'd already checked Nick's cabin, he thought he'd give it another go. When he had knocked on the door earlier, the room had been silent and no one had responded to Jeff's calls, so he assumed it to be empty. Maybe Nick was too upset to talk to him though.

He walked along the passageway for the third time, arriving in front of the now familiar plain white door. Raising his hand, he knocked.

As the door flew open, he was greeted with the sight of a laughing Sebastian. He could see Finn and Sam in the background, bent over with laughter, clutching at their sides. Due to his previous experiences with the boys, he wasn't sure he wanted to know what it was they were amused at.

"Jeffy! To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Jeff smiled at him, although it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Is Nick here?"

Noticing the look on his face, Sebastian stilled. "No, why? Is something wrong?"

Sam and Finn straightened up in the background, their faces curious.

"Maybe." Jeff sighed, seeing the worried look on the tall boy's face. "He was in my cabin earlier and my mother and fiancée came in and said some really nasty things to him."

"Oh, great." Sebastian rolled his eyes. "He should be fine, though. Don't worry, Nick's a tough guy to break."

"I know, it's just that I've been looking for him for an hour. I really want to make sure he's alright. There are some things I need to say to him too."

Sebastian nodded his head. "Right, I understand. Can't help you though, sorry, he's not here."

"Do you know where he might possibly be?"

"Hmm, not really. My best guess would be up on deck. Did you try there?"

Jeff nodded. "Yeah, but I'll take another look. Thanks, Sebastian."

"No problem, Jeffy. See you soon, alright?"

"Yeah, thanks again."

As Sebastian closed the door, Jeff headed back towards the deck. Nick was really lucky to have someone like Sebastian to care for him.

He walked out onto the deck several minutes later, folding his arms across his chest as the cool sea breeze whirled around him. He wandered aimlessly for a while, looking for Nick in every corner or crevice of the deck. As he moved towards the front of the ship, he spotted Nick's frame leaning against the bow of the boat.

He took a deep breath, moving towards him. "Nick?"

The brown haired boy turned his head towards him. "Hey, Jeff."

He sounded worn down, defeated. Placing himself next to Nick, Jeff leaned against the railing also. "Listen, Nick, I'm really sorry about what happened in there."

Before he was finished speaking, Nick was shaking his head. "No, Jeff, don't apologise. You did nothing wrong."

"Nick, I am apologising to you because someone has to do it, and it's certainly not going to be my mother or Brittany." He sighed. "I didn't know they could be so cruel. You know what I feel the most, Nick? I feel ashamed." Noticing the look on the other boy's face, he quickly continued. "Not of you. Gosh, Nick. Not of you. Never of you. I'm ashamed of my mother, but most of all I'm ashamed that I'm related to her."

"You know what? I'm not even bothered by what your mother and Brittany said about me in there. It's not like I haven't heard it all before anyway."

Jeff looked confused. "What do you mean? What's the matter then?"

"It's you, Jeff! The way they treat you! They won't even let you be friends with a poor boy. What does that say about your life? Does your mother pick all of your friends?"

The younger watched him for a moment, a contemplative look on his face. He shrugged. "I don't really have any friends. Except you."

Nick shook his head. "That's what I mean. The only friend you have is me, and your mother doesn't approve of that." He sighed. "Jeff, we really need to talk about this."

The fair haired boy looked puzzled. "We are."

"No, I mean...I'm driving a wedge between you and your family. Maybe I should just stay away from you, Jeff."

"No, Nick! That's not the answer. You're the best thing that's happened to me in the longest time. I'd almost lost hope before I met you, but you made me see a different life. A good life." He paused. "So, even if you don't want to see me again, I definitely want to see you. This may be the biggest ship in the world, but don't think you can hide from me."

Nick smirked. "And yet it just took you an hour and a half to come find me."

"Oi, watch it, Mr Duval."

He sighed. "No, but seriously, Jeff. From what you've told me of your future, you're going to need your family by your side. You're going to need every single person who you care about by your side."

Jeff laughed. "Don't you see, Nick? I care about you. If I can't have you as a friend, then I don't want anyone." He hesitated briefly. "You're important to me, Nick."

He smiled. "Thanks, you're important to me too." He sighed dramatically. "I guess."

"Hey! That's enough of that, Mr Duval. Maybe we should reconsider this friendship thing after all."

Nick laughed. "Nope, it's you who's stuck with me now."

"Come here, you big oaf." Jeff turned to Nick, capturing him in an embrace before the other boy could even react.

"Oh, alright. Are you sure you want to be seen hugging an unclean, poor, Third Class man?"

Jeff's nose wrinkled in mock disgust. "Well, not usually, but with you I'll make an exception."

"Aw, thanks. That makes me feel so nice inside."

Jeff loosened his hold on him. "Alright, before this gets too emotional, I'm going to let go, ok?"

"Sure. Any time now."

Jeff stepped away, resuming his previous position against the rail. Nick glanced sideways at him, noticing the huge smirk covering his face.

They were going to be ok.

That night, Jeff found himself at yet another dinner in the First Class Dining Room.

Earlier, he and Nick had spent several more minutes on deck before returning to steerage where they found Sebastian waiting. After more inevitable teasing of some form, Jeff had withdrawn himself from the situation that was arising and had retreated to his room to prepare for dinner.

And here he was with his family, Brittany, Lady Sylvester and her husband, Mr Figgins and his wife and several others who Jeff had not yet been fortunate enough to meet.

As the evening meals arrived, a server moved around the table pouring drinks for those who requested them.

When he paused by Brittany's side, she looked up at him. "Oh, no thank you. I don't drink anymore." When the surprised murmurs filtered around the table, she lifted her glass to him with a confident smile on her face.

"I don't drink any less, either." As bouts of laughter broke out, Jeff had another mouthful of his drink.

Boy, this is going to be a long night.

"Ms Pierce, such a bold persona you have for such a young woman!" Mr Figgins spoke up. "Why, if more women were like you, we could be in trouble of them running the country, right men?"

Scattered laughter from around the table caused Jeff to sigh. When he'd first met Brittany, he thought it was endearing that she liked to be in the spotlight all the time. Now, however, he had to hide his annoyance each time she opened her mouth. Jeff was well aware of how one's opinion of another person could easily spread throughout their social class, especially concerning women. He wasn't sure that she always understood what the possible implications of her actions could be.

"Oh, Brittany dear, you had me concerned there for a minute. I thought perhaps you were in a bit of a delicate situation, if you know what I mean." Lady Sylvester shot a knowing look at Brittany from across the table.

Jeff suppressed from rolling his eyes. Typical Lady Sylvester. To Jeff's surprise, he watched as Brittany opened her mouth, as if to laugh, but then closed it again, looking at him as a smirk crossed her face.

Looking back out at the occupants of the table, she ducked her head innocently, placing a manicured hand over her mouth. "Oh my, I'd hoped that the situation wouldn't arise so soon, but it has! This drink is not for me, Lady Sylvester, it is for Jeff here. I'd planned on passing it over to him when no one was looking, to avoid suspicion." Jeff furrowed his eyebrows in confusion as she continued. "As it happens, I am in somewhat of a delicate situation."

Jeff's mother's fork clattered noisily to her plate, her eyes darting between her son and his fiancé. "What ever do you mean, dear?"

Brittany smiled innocently at her soon to be mother-in-law, placing her hand over Jeff's on the table.

"I'm pregnant."