Oh god...sorry for the long delay. It's been about two months but it has been a hectic two months for me. My job got busy all of a sudden, I broke an ankle so I've been out of commission, and I finally found my real life Mia =)

I'm putting this chapter up just so you all know I'm not abandoning this project...but it might be a significantly longer amount of time between chapters so sorry for that!

Contigo

Searching the Great Eastern Sea had turned up barely a trace of Felix, Jenna, or Sheba, yet a group matching their description had been seen in nearly every town that Isaac and company visited along the coastline.

It was clear that Felix was still alive and did intend to follow through on his promise to light the remaining two lighthouses, but the group's inability to find him had begun to lead to frustration. As they continued to search to no avail, finally they had enough and came up with a new plan: To head to the Jupiter Lighthouse and wait. The only issue was that Felix was probably already ahead of them.

This lead the group to the town of Contigo where they decided to rest for the night and head for the Jupiter Lighthouse in the morning. Felix, Jenna, and Sheba has just passed through Contigo the day before according to the innkeeper and the Jupiter Lighthouse remained unlit, confirming that Isaac's group was catching up.

It had been a long day of sailing to reach the town and upon arrival all anyone wanted to do was get some sleep before the long hike to the lighthouse the next day. Mia gave a sigh of exhaustion as she let herself fall back into the sheets of the bed in her inn room, letting her cerulean hair fan out behind her head. She heard a sound across the room and lazily turned her head to investigate, seeing Isaac place his pack against the far wall with his sword next to it.

The blonde boy turned around and saw Mia sprawled out on the bed, still in her robes with her gaze on him and had to hold back a laugh. "You okay there?" he asked her, smiling at how she looked like she didn't want to move another inch.

Having Isaac back in the same room is definitely a benefit to being on land again, Mia thought, continuing to look over at Isaac. The cerulean haired girl attempted to shrug while lying down and said, "I'm fine. Just tired from all the sailing."

Isaac nodded knowingly, sitting down on the edge of his own bed. "We did travel pretty far in one day to make it here. Turning around and doing the lighthouse ascent tomorrow definitely won't be easy," he said.

Mia let out a laugh. "Let's not talk about that right now. I don't want to think about more traveling at the moment," she replied with a weary smile. "Just let me rest for tonight in peace," Mia added, looking up at the ceiling.

Isaac grinned at the girl. "I missed this you know," Isaac told her.

"Hmmm?" came Mia's half interested reply.

"These bedtime conversations we have," the blond boy explained. "I've missed having a chance to talk about pointless stuff with you before bed like we used to. I guess we've just been a bit distant lately..."

This got Mia's full attention and she rolled over on the bed so she was lying on her side facing Isaac. Oh? Has he been feeling like that too?

"We really haven't had as much time to talk as we used to," Mia said, echoing Isaac's thoughts. "Even if our conversations are sometimes short and meaningless, they still make me feel happy to have them anyway," she admitted.

Isaac smiled at her. "How much sleep do you think we've lost over the last few weeks because we would talk during each other's watches?"

Mia just laughed. "Too much. I couldn't put a number on it to tell you the truth," she answered with an amused grin. And I'd do it again too, Mia added in her own mind.

The kiss I gave him on the aerie seems so long ago...and he doesn't even remember that it happened! Mia felt a blush in her cheeks just thinking about it. Isaac's laugh cut in and caught her attention, causing her to look at the blonde boy. Mia's eyes were unconsciously drawn to his lips and she was unable to avert her gaze. Those lips were where I... She quickly closed her eyes and turned away slightly. No. No...if he doesn't remember then it is like it never happened. I can't keep thinking about things this way or I will only get hurt in the end...

She was distracted and didn't notice Isaac until the warm touch of his hand was on her shoulder and the bed sagged slightly as he sat down next to her. "Are you okay?" Isaac asked, the laughter from a moment before completely gone as he looked at the cerulean haired girl with concern.

"Y-yes..." the cerulean haired girl stammered nervously, not wanting Isaac inquire further about what was on her mind.

He just looked over at her for a few seconds, judging the sincerity of her words before replying. "All right...Just remember that if you ever need to talk about something..." he trailed off, knowing that Mia would understand.

She nodded and said, "I know. It's okay though...It's...not really important." Mia looked back over at Isaac and smiled to prove she was fine. "I'm just happy that you're near me at night again," she added as an explanation for the change in mood. Mia shifted slightly so that she could lean up against Isaac and rest her head against the boy.

Isaac took it in stride and smiled as she looked up at him to see if it was okay. The smile seemed to encourage Mia further, and she snuggled up closer to Isaac, closing her eyes in contentment.

Mia felt Isaac's arms wrap gently around her body and her heart skipped a beat in joy. She opened her eyes just enough to looking into Isaac's deep blue ones and smiled at the blonde boy who's arms she was in. Cuddling up to him even more, Mia whispered, "Just keep holding me Isaac...and don't let go..."

Mia let out a cute yawn as her eyes closed again and she began to drift off to sleep in Isaac's embrace. I want to forget all our responsibilities and stay like this forever...

Isaac pulled Mia down onto the bed with him, still holding her close and brought a hand up to her hair, pushing it gently out of her face so it would not disturb her. He admired the cerulean haired girl as her breathing became heavier and she began to fall asleep. Isaac slipped his hands away from her as he tried to sit up and let her rest, but Mia's hand caught his in a gentle, yet firm grip.

"Please don't leave me tonight..." she whispered to Isaac. "If nothing else...even just this is..." she added with another yawn cutting off her statement.

Isaac hesitated for a moment but then gave her a squeeze to indicate he was still there and relented. "All right...I will stay with you tonight if it makes you feel better," he told the girl in his arms. "I'm right here, so sleep well..." he told her.

"Thanks..." came Mia's short response as she once again began to drift off to sleep. Isaac held her close as she forgot about everything but the moment together and dozed off.