Hey guys! I'm back after a reeeealllly long break and I am soo sorry for it! Please forgive me! I was caught up doing all the holiday homework and didn't have time to upload a lot soo... excuse me this time! I promise I'll be more active.. This one's a Reynico chapter as per one of my fan's wish! XD I just hope you guys enjoy it! Happy Reading!

Knowing that the next days's journey would tire her out, Reyna had slept soundly throughout the night. So, she woke up fresh and ready to go out and enjoy her first day of the trip. She freshened up and changed into a black T-shirt with white letters on it saying "This girl's tough". It was her favorite T-shirt and she wore it only for special occasions.

She was just looking into the mirror, braiding her hair, when she heard a knock on the door. She turned to see Jason smiling at her. "Hey, Reyna! Good morning to you! I was just informing everyone that we're going for a walk around the garden as we're a bit early. So, if you wanna join come downstairs in five minutes."

Reyna smiled and nodded."I'll be there." Jason went to call some others, and Reyna turned back to the mirror one last time to check her look. Satisfied, she made her way downstairs.

Nico stared down at the photograph in his hand. It was the picture of a beautiful girl, with brown hair and she was holding the hand of a smaller boy. Both had a delighted look on their faces as if they had won a lottery. But five years ago, an unfortunate accident had taken away the life of the girl as well as the happiness of the boy she was holding hands with in the picture.

Nico would've given anything to save the girl; his elder sister. The mishap had taken almost all of the happiness in his life. He had stayed the same way for many years. Miserable wouldn't even begin to describe it. She had been his only support, his motivation to continue his life happily. Continuing his life happily had been a hard thing for him, since the death of their mother and father.

And his sister, Bianca, had supported him all along, even though she herself was going through a lot. After their's parents' death they had been brought up by an uncle, who hardly acknowledged them. Still, Bianca hadn't lost hope and Nico had held on to her, looking up to her as a Mom. But after her death, life had been as hard as hell for him.

A tear, then two, streaked down Nico's face and splashed on the frame of the photograph. He didn't bother to wipe it; the room was empty except for him. He stared at the photograph a few minutes longer then made to keep it inside, when he heard the sound of approaching footsteps. He quickly wiped the tears and just as he had hidden the photograph under his pillow, the owner of the footsteps walked up to him.

Nico looked up to see the face of Reyna who was smiling."Hi! Good morning! Aren't you coming for the walk with us?"

Nico didn't return the smile, but answered politely."Umm.. No, I don't think I'll come. I have to do some last minute packing." With that he bent down towards his suitcase and started ruffling through his clothes.

"Oh.."Reyna said and was about to leave the room when she saw the corner of a photograph peeping out of the pillow. Meanwhile, Nico had started to zip up his suitcase, thinking to himself that he had dealt with Reyna and convinced her. Seeing this, Reyna quickly took the photograph and handed it to Nico, saying,"Hey! You missed this."

Nico looked up again and was horrified seeing the same photo in her hand. He snatched the photo from her hand muttering thanks and hurriedly started pushing it into the front pocket of the suitcase.

Nico's horrified expression had not gone unnoticed by Reyna. She frowned and sat down on the bed beside Nico."What are you hiding?"

Nico looked over innocently."Nothing. Just a photo, you know."

"Oh, come on! I know it's more than that. Why else would you snatch it from my hands if I'm not gonna eat it?!" Reyna said with a slight tint of irritation in her voice.

Nico sighed heavily. "Reyna, can you please leave it? Some things should be left as they are."

"Well, you're not a thing and I'm not gonna leave you alone. I always notice that you have the saddest expression even when we're playing the most enjoyable game and cracking the most funniest jokes. I know we've just met but you know sometimes it's nice to share things; it make your heart lighter, you know."

Nico covered his eyes with his hand."Reyna, I know you're just trying to help me but it is better if we just leave it here and now. I really don't wanna go into all those details right now."

Reyna pondered over this for a while. After a few minutes, she nodded."Okay, Nico. I'm gonna leave you right now but if you ever wanna talk about it... You can come to any of us. We're your friends. Please remember that."

With a disappointed look on her face she stood up and started to walk away, when a hand caught her wrist. She looked back to find Nico standing and holding her back. "Fine, Reyna. I'll explain. But you have to swear you will not tell one word about this to anyone else."

Reyna grinned."Deal!"She came over and sat on the bed, facing towards Nico, who had an awkward expression on his face."I don't know where to start..."

Reyna replied,"How about... who was that girl in the picture?"

Nico closed his sad eyes, with a pained expression on his face."The girl.. She was my sister."

Reyna noted the 'was' and gently asked."Was?"

Nico nodded, with the same pained expression."Was. She died. Died during a car accident. She was buying vegetables with me and I ran to the other side of the road without looking. I was mad. Mad. She followed me and.. and a car .. ran into her."

Reyna was too much in shock to reply. Nico continued. "She was my.. my only support. And she died leaving me alone with my uncle. After Mom and Dad's death... Yeah they died too." Nico said, noticing Reyna's horrified expression."After Mom and Dad's death she had been the reason of my joy and happiness and now that she's gone..."

Reyna recovered from her shock."Now what? Now that she's gone you're just gonna clam up and never talk too much to anybody? How does that help?"

Nico was caught by surprise. He had expected sorrowful expressions, sympathetic comments, even tears, none of which he wanted, but he had never expected this. He gaped at her with his mouth slightly open.

Reyna continued."Are you just gonna blame yourself like this your whole life? I know it must have been hard for you.. pretty hard, sure. But someday you're just gonna have to get over it. Forget what's in the past. Look into the future. Live a better life than before. And moreover, learn not to repeat the mistakes you did in the past." She was saying all this in such a distant tone, Nico realized she was remembering something else to relate with this.

So he asked."Reyna.. I told you my past. The way you're talking, you remind me of how I feel sometimes. Did something happen to you too?"

Reyna looked at him with a sort of annoyed expression. "Now, this is cheating. Just because I wanted to hear your story doesn't mean you have to listen to mine. Anyways, you'll get kind of bored." Then, she looked the other way, hoping that Nico would leave the topic.

But, Nico was just as adamant as Reyna had been with him. "Now, I explained my past, you have to explain yours. Believe me, I do feel a little better after telling this to someone. Someone who didn't give me sympathy. Someone who understood me because she had gone through all that herself. Believe me it helps."

When Reyna didn't respond, Nico shook her gently by the shoulders and took her hands. Reyna, looked over, her eyes just as sad as his has been, relating his story. Nico pressed further."Reyna, please tell me."

Reyna sighed. "Okay, but make the same promise; swear not to tell this to anyone." Once Nico swore, she started her story."I lived with my Mother and Father and a sister. Dad was a drunkard and he abused Mom a lot. Mom was about to give him a divorce. My sister, Hylla, and me didn't know anything that was going at the time. One day we had returned home after playing and it was well after dark. we were sure we were gonna receive a scolding from Mom. As soon as we entered the house we could hear screams and shouts and well, basically the two had started fighting like cats. We panicked and rushed into the house. Dad as usual was drunk and was screaming at Mom. Probably she had told him she was going to divorce him. Dad got mad and while Mum was trying to make him pass out.. He ..killed Mom. We screamed for help but he locked us up in a room without food or water for three days. It was only when Hylla begged to him and made a promise not to tell on him that he let us out. Half-starved, we gobbled something and then Hylla lost her temper and started arguing with Dad, who was drinking as usual. They too started fighting, me supporting Hylla, but then, she hit Dad over the head with a lamp. It was totally in self defense. But it killed him."

Reyna stopped talking. Nico listened in utter silence, not daring to say a word. Finally, he asked."What happened to Hylla?"

Reyna answered staring blankly at the wall."Hylla was terrified she would be handed over to the police and she ran away. I don't know what became of her yet. I came to live with my uncle and aunt. But it was not just Hylla. I killed my father too. Once or twice when he hit Hylla hard, I crashed a piece of furniture on a part of his body that started to bleed. So there is a possibility that he died with loss of blood rather than a head injury."

Nico gazed at Reyna's sad expression. "Hey, it's okay. You did what you had to. And it's over now. It's all in the past like you said."

Reyna didn't change her expression for a while then brightened her face and said with a smile."Soo.. Coming for that walk Nico? We could learn more about each other. And hopefully the positive parts."

Nico returned the smile. "You just read my mind."

An they both walked to the living room where the others were waiting, holding hands, but not even realizing it.

Not bad! It actually turned out good! Wow! A scene off my mind now.. for a Frazel and then Percabeth! Love ya guys.. and leave your reviews please! I promise I'll return soon...