A/N: Guys. Guys. It's finally here. Day seven! You know what that means? I need a warning on here now, that's what it means.

NSFW Warning: Smut (!) Oral (female receiving,) regular ole' sex, allusions to shower sex.

Update as of 5/17/19: Ah, the day Nick and Tina became full-canon. I'm gonna admit, this chapter is the one that has changed the MOST. The beginning was okay, I thought. The smut was okay. But leading up to it, and the end of the chapter itself, I wasn't really happy with those scenes. So I revamped them a LOT.

I wake after another dreamless sleep, the clock on the nightstand blinking red numbers that read 6:33 AM.

"'Lycia," I mumble. "Time to get up. Breakfast awaits." I'm sure the others are already up. Madison and Travis are early risers that like to get breakfast and coffee ready for the rest of us. Daniel enjoys watching the sunrise, too, so I have no doubts he's already awake.

"No." Alycia mumbles into her pillow, twisting her head to she faces the wall.

"Yes." I reply, sitting up and stretching my arms above my head. I sigh happily as my back pops, releasing some tension from the night. "Food. Fuel. Family."

"Food and family can wait 'till later." She sighs. "Another day, another crisis. Five more minutes, please?"

The word, "Day," rings through my head. Through my waking haze, I realize: day seven. It's day seven. Nerves immediately rush through my system, butterflies erupting in my stomach. I don't know what's going to happen today, and I'm excited at the thought.

It brings me a quick surge of energy, and with said energy I throw my pillow to Alycia's head. "Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey!"

She grumbles angrily as the pillow connects to the back of her head. With highly uncoordinated fingers she tries to throw the fluff back, but it barely reaches the frame of my bed. "Fuck you, Cristina Waters."

"You wish, love." I respond cheekily. My palms push themselves onto the mattress, allowing my weight to fall off the bed so I can stand. I properly stretch my arms out and shake myself awake with ease. My CRKT knife is pulled from the spot where my pillow used to be and I shove it into my back pocket. Better to make it a habit.

"Ugh, you are way too perky." Alycia finally stands from her bed, hands haphazardly shoving her messy locks away from her face. "After everything that went down yesterday, how can you be so... that?"

I shrug. "Just happy, is all."

Shit did happen yesterday. I still want to throw Strand to the sharks, but what's done is done. We can't change it, we can't turn the Abigail around and find the two. I can only hope they made it to land and they're safe. Whatever safe means nowadays.

Alycia looks over my clothing, and with her two working brain cells she goes to her drawer on our shared dresser, rummaging through it before successfully finding something. "Here, wear this on top of the tank."

Her red plaid button-up shirt. Not normally my style, but it's a little cold out. The layer would do me some good.

"Thanks," I say, taking the shirt and shrugging it on my shoulders, slowly buttoning it from the bottom up. I turn away from her so she can change into a new set of clothes without prying eyes. When she gives the okay, the two of us make our way to breakfast, a bit more spring in my step than usal.

"Morning, Madison!" I greet cheerfully as she hands me my cup of tea. The sunlight is bright as it shines through the vast windows surrounding the dining room, illuminating half of our group in a soft glow. Just as expected, Travis and Daniel are here, too. Ophelia is as well. Strand likes to eat by himself in his captain's quarters, so I'm certain he grabbed himself a little grub earlier. Looks like Nick and Chris decided to sleep in.

"Morning..." Madison responds, voice barely there. Her cup of coffee must still be in the pot. Her hand rubs at an eye, willing herself awake. "Eggs and toast are on the counter. We're running low on jam, so just stick with butter."

"Got it." Alycia responds, taking the pot from its stand and pouring her mother a mug of coffee. She rips open a generous amount of sugar packets into it, stirring it with a spoon before handing the cup over to a barely-there Madison. "Drink up, buttercup."

"Can do." She raises the mug in thanks before sipping it, the disgusting bean juice too hot to down in a gulp. I look over her, frowning. She didn't get enough sleep last night.

Then again, it seems like all of us didn't get enough sleep. Yesterday was tiring for everyone, physically and mentally. It feels like we keep trading pains every dawn. My sunburn is nearly completely healed; my arms are burning from killing the infected yesterday. My nightmares go away; I have to live with the fact that there are two people stranded at sea, and there is nothing we can do about it. Damn this world. Nothing can be easy.

"Better?" Alycia asks Madison as she fixes herself a cup.

Madison nods happily. "Much. Now, go eat. Just be sure to leave some for Nick and Chris."

"Sleeping in?" I casually ask as I make a plate of eggs and toast.

Madison answers in between sips of her drink. "Chris could not be woken. Nick decided to take an early shower now that the pipes are workin' again."

I nod, taking a bite of toast. I'll meet with him after breakfast. Day seven.

After munching with most of the group, I stroll back to my bedroom, taking the EMT book off of the nightstand. I situate myself on the bed, flipping through the pages until I find where I left off yesterday.

As my back rests against the wall behind me, my knees bend so the book can rest easily in my field of view. With my right hand, I pull my knife out of my pocket, flipping it opened and closed in time with the turn of my pages. I need to get faster at it. Just in case. It was very useful yesterday with the horde; I intend for it to be just as useful in the future.

My eyes begin to flick from the pages to the clock on the nightstand. 8:15 AM; chapter 7, how to properly set a splint. 9:45 AM.; 10 pages on proper body mechanics. Well, consider me confused. I'll admit, I was expecting Nick to seek me out. Considering he was so willing yesterday. I frown internally, but force myself to stay focused on the information on the page. 10:20 AM; the cardiovascular system and its potential emergencies.

When my eyes start to blur the words together on the page—approximately 11ish—I deem myself worthy of a break. My fingers are getting the hang of flipping the blade back and forth easily. They gently burn at the sensation, but it's good. My muscle memory will be stronger, and that's what I need.

I tuck the blade into my back pocket again, and the EMT book is set onto the nightstand with ease. Taking a few generous steps, I make my way to the door and fully intend to head to the deck. My assumption is that most of the group will be there, lounging the day away. Quietly fuming at Strand, fishing, getting food ready for lunch.

But instead I stop in front of Nick's door, rapping my knuckles against the wood. If you don't want to find me, that's fine. I'll find you.

He opens the door after a beat, gazing down to me. "Hey."

"Hey-" I start, but Nick interrupts by grabbing my face and planting a chaste kiss on my lips. Oh. Okay. Unexpected, but happily welcomed.

I blink. "Well, that was nice. Considering I thought you were avoiding me."

He lets out a chuckle as his hands release me. "Avoiding you? On day seven? Absolutely not. Just got a lot on my mind, is all."

"Want to talk about it? We can do that now." I add cheekily. The sass earns a chuckle.

"I'm just—reflecting, I guess." Nick starts, hands absentmindedly grasping my own. His thumb grazes over my skin, lightly tracing invisible patterns. "I've been thinking a lot about what you said a week ago, in Strand's bathroom."

"What part?" I murmur, relaxing in his soft ministrations.

"About being another Gloria." He says, eyes meeting mine. "And I get it. I am not right in the head sometimes, especially when I have shit in my system. And that was what she and I were. Just," he scoffs to himself, looking back down, "shit. I'm better than that. I know I can be." He shrugs, "I was just lost."

"And you're not now?" I ask curiously. His grip on my hands tighten, giving me a gentle squeeze.

"No. I'm here. I'm with family. I'm with you."

I smile softly. "Good. I'm glad."

"Y'know," he starts again, fingers ghosting over my skin absentmindedly. "Gloria and I... we weren't really that big a thing. Sure, she and I were technically together, but it was just drugs and sex. We could have been more, always could've been. We went to rehab together."

"Oh?" I ask, genuinely invested in his words. It's important to him that I hear it, that I understand what he's trying to tell me. And I do.

Nick's fingers gently glide along my palm, drawing more invisible designs. He's so close that I can just barely feel his breath on my cheek as he hovers above me. I've always laughed at our height difference. It's comical at best.

"Yeah, that's how we met." He continues. "We could have been more, but it was just physical between us. Nothing like a real relationship. Honestly, I haven't had those in a while. Not since I started using. Nothing like you and I could be."

Those last seven words repeat over and over in my head like a mantra. Like you and I could be. You and I.

I bring my eyes upward, looking into his. They're clear as day, all his thoughts in the open. I don't miss his glance down to my lips. And when he closes the space between us, I lose all train of thought and completely melt into him.

It's different than the first kiss in Strand's bathroom. That one was passion; heat-of-the-moment. It wasn't calculated. This time, Nick's lips press to mine softly, full of emotion, of everything he's trying to let out. I respond with the same enthusiasm. The joy, worry, and sweet relief from our seven days apart. Nick lingers a moment before pulling away and looking down to me curiously, gauging my reaction.

"Is that what you want?" He asks, voice huskier than before.

"Yes." I say, breathless.

"After all that? After our seven days, did you get what you needed?"

"Yes." Granted, they were a bit broken, but I still think they worked well. His head's clear; my head's clear.

Nick's hands drop mine and they make their way around my waist. Each touch sparks like electricity through my veins. "Then can I kiss you again?"

"Yes." I repeat, voice needy with want. I don't miss the mischievous grin—a true grin—on his face as he kisses me. Soft, and gentle. He grips tight to my waist, subtly walking forward and pushing my back against the wall as he pecks another kiss, then another. My mind almost loses all thought as he follows them with a long, bruising kiss. I hum contently, wrapping a hand on one of his arms while the other snakes around his neck, trying to pull him closer. Even though we're completely flush against each other, the contact isn't enough.

Nick's tongue gently glides along my bottom lip before finding its way into my mouth. I don't expect the movement, and let out a breathless pant against him. I can feel his smirk against my mouth as I blush at the sound. My tongue glides against his, needy for the contact, for any contact.

My grip is tight against him through the passionate kiss, and I only pull away when I need to pant for air. He pulls away too, but not before taking a quick nip at my bottom lip, tugging it between his teeth. Through the movement, I let out a low moan.

Oh, oh no. I did not just moan.

But I did. And Nick is grinning down at me. He plants small, chaste kisses down my chin, trailing more down my neck, curving to just underneath my ear. I shut my eyes, forcing myself to take a breath to calm my hyperactive nerves.

"That was a pretty sound." He comments lowly. "Think I could hear it again?"

And this is the moment where I fully realize where this is going.

My mind thinks it through. I could make a comment for another time. I could leave right now, catch my breath, just like my nerves are telling me to. Nick would understand.

Or, I could stay.

"Bite me again and find out."

His response is to gently nibble at my neck. Pleasure ripples through me as I pant out, my arms wrapping around his shoulders to pull him closer. He bites me again before licking the area to soothe my hot skin.

Bite, suck, lick. Nick repeats the three, leaving me a breathless mess underneath him. Fire runs through my veins with each sensation, and I'm lost in the feelings. It's nothing I've felt before—I don't want it to end. He's sure to leave more than a few angry marks, but the thought gets me more than a little riled up. I want him to mark me. I want him to make me his.

Nick finds my sensitive spot, and roughly bites at it with vigor. And this time, my moan reverberates through the hall. One of his hands pulls away from my waist, covering my mouth to keep me quiet. Sure, the rest of our group is upstairs, but we don't want to attract attention, especially while we fumble around in the bloody hallway.

Another moan is stifled under his hand as he peppers my skin in chaste kisses, following up with a harsh nip. It's great, but not enough. I want more. I need more.

"The door." I moan, pushing his hand away from my mouth. He bites the particularly sensitive spot on my neck again, and I giggle excitedly as I shove him at his bedroom. "Get the door-ah."

One of his hands reaches for mine, spinning me to push me backwards through the open frame.

He slams the door shut behind him, locking it quickly with a twist before turning back to me and capturing my mouth in a wet, open-mouthed kiss. My hands go to the hem of his shirt, tugging it upward, needy, as he bites my lip again.

Nick wastes no time in the motion, pulling away and flinging the blue polo over his head before his hands go to undo the buttons of my flannel.

When he does, I shoulder the sleeves off and let the fabric drift to the floor. His hands roam to the bottom of my tank, taking his time as he bunches it up and flings it over my head. After the layer is shed, I bring my hands behind me to undo the straps of my bra. I'm not as self-conscious as I thought I would be when it slides down my arms and my chest is completely bare to Nick.

He takes a moment, his eyes hungrily roaming over my form. I burn under his gaze.

"Yank," I say lowly, and his brown orbs shoot up to mine. He kisses me, harsh as he grabs my hips and throws me backwards on his bed. I squeal in surprise, laughing as he follows. His form towers over me as he climbs on top, settling his legs between mine. He rests his weight on his elbows, setting them on each side of my head so he can lean down above me.

Nick's lips capture mine, needy with lust. One of his hands trails to my shoulder, down to my chest, and rest on my breast. Experimentally he rolls a nipple underneath his thumb and gauges my reaction. I moan into his mouth, softly. Just enough that I don't need to pull away. I can feel him grinning through each kiss. So smug, the bastard.

Then his hand slowly trails lower. The path sets each nerve alight, and I can't help but shiver underneath his touch. Nick's hand stops at the top of my jeans, where his fingers tug at the button in effort to undo it.

"Nick." My voice is high this time. Nervous. I swat his hand away, breathing heavily in both excitement and anxiousness.

"What? What's wrong?" He pulls away and shifts his weight back on his legs, looking down to me in concern.

Just, nerves, love.

"I..." I bite my swollen lip in trepidation. Burning under his gaze, my hands cover my chest. Then, allowing myself to confess, I whisper, "I don't want to be another Gloria."

I don't want this to be just sex. I don't want this to be a one-time thing. I don't want you to leave after this. Each fear expressed in that one sentence.

Nick's smile is genuine and loving as he stretches back over me. Hands intertwine with my own, pulling them from my form and stretching above my head.

"You're not." He says earnestly. He brings his lips centimeters from mine, hot breaths mingling as he whispers, "You are so much more." To accentuate the truth in his words, he kisses me softly. Slow and deliberate; loving, not lusting.

He hovers overs my face, eyes meeting mine before planting another soft kiss onto my forehead. My eyelids flutter shut at the gentleness of the movement, letting myself get lost in the feeling of him, just him. No nerves, no overthinking. It's just Nick. I can trust him; I do trust him.

Nick sets a kiss atop my nose, onto my chin, before slowly trailing downwards. His hands let go of mine as they follow close behind in his movements. His lips land on my collarbone, the valley between my breasts, onto my stomach and above my belly button, soft kisses peppering my skin and setting it ablaze.

"I can show you, if you'd like." His voice is an octave lower than before as he puts one last kiss just above the top of my jeans. His hands rest on either side of my hips, holding them comfortingly as he looks up to me and awaits my answer.

Oh.

Oh.

"Nick, you don't have to do that-" I start, cheeks immediately burning red.

"I know I don't have to; I want to." He corrects me. A hand rubs comfortingly at my tense side. "Only if you say yes."

He waits a beat, staring at me curiously. "T," he says softly. "It's just me. You don't need to be nervous."

C'mon, love. Stop being scared. Don't let nerves get the best of you.

"Okay." I let out a puff of air and rest backward on the bed. "Yes."

"Okay." He repeats, and slowly, as if not to startle me, he brings both hands to the front of my jeans, taking his time as he undoes the button and zipper. My jeans are shimmied down my legs, then my underwear, and I'm completely bared to him. It's nerve-racking, to say the least.

"Tina." Nick says, looking up to me.

"What? What's wrong?" I stutter nervously. What am I doing wrong?

His hands plant themselves on my thighs. "You're shaking."

I look down, and sure enough my legs are trembling underneath his touch. Stupid nerves. "Sorry."

"You don't need to be sorry." Nick tells me, rubbing his hands up and down the length of my thighs comfortingly. "Just relax. This is supposed to be fun, not stressing."

God, I can kill seven infected in a row without blinking an eye, but this is what sets me off like no tomorrow.

"I know, I know." I hide my face in my hands. I'm sure to be redder than a tomato at this point. "Just, I dunno, just distract me." I peak through my fingers at him, and I see him smile endearingly.

"Okay," he says, and he shimmies his weight backwards so he can settle his head between my thighs. His voice is lower, more seductive and serious. "What do you like? Fingers? Tongue?" His hands wrap around my thighs, holding me in place so he can adjust accordingly.

"I-I don't know." I answer honestly. I gasp as I feel his wet mouth on the inside of my thigh, biting gently at the skin. Definitely that.

"I thought you said you screwed someone sophomore year?" He muses as he nibbles gently, moving upward. "What was her name again?"

"Bela." I pant out as he kisses just above my center. "I told you, we never did much. More fumbling around than anything. I sorta fingered her. It was awkward."

"I see." He hums, and experimentally licks a stripe up my folds. My breath hitches in my throat. Oh.

"Like that?" Nick hums, teasing. "How about this?" His hot mouth curls around my clit, gently sucking.

"Ah!" I moan, unable to control myself. "Nick."

"I'll take that as a yes." He comments, sucking again and flicking it with his tongue. My hands go to his hair, pulling at the strands tightly to bring him closer to my entrance.

"Niiick," I hum his name incoherently as he swirls his tongue around my clit, and I quickly get lost in the sensations. The heels of my feet dig into the mattress, pushing myself up against his mouth as his tongue swirls back down to my entrance and dips into it. "Oh, fuck. Don't stop."

He takes his time, figuring out what makes me moan, what I enjoy, what I don't. What he can do to make me writhe underneath his touch, begging for more. We both forget the rest of the world and the group above. I don't try to be quiet as he edges me on. I don't care.

I'm close to my release when he inserts a finger into my folds. I'm not expecting it, but welcome the new sensation fully as I pant out, desperate for the chord in me to finally break. He pumps it quickly and deeply, inserting another finger as he continuously brings me closer to my release.

"Nick! Ah!" My fingers tighten in his hair, tugging harsher than I mean to, but I don't think either of us care in the moment. "So close, I'm gonna-"

"No, you're not." He pulls his fingers away and slows his ministrations with his tongue. I whine loudly in protest at the loss. Fuck. More, I need more.

"Nick, please." I beg.

"Please what?" Oh, you bastard. I moan in response; it's the only thing I can do without thinking too much. When I don't respond in actual words, he pulls away fully from me. "Please, what?"

"Please, fuck me."

Those two words were just what he was waiting for. He brings his face to mine, harshly kissing me as his hand fumbles at his jeans. The taste of myself lingers on his lips. A haze in my head thinks, "This should not be as bloody hot as it is." I follow Nick unconsciously as he pulls away from me so I sit up with him. Feeling brave, my hand grabs at him through his jeans before sliding into the hem. He groans as I rub at his hardened length, and I grin as I pull my hand out and undo the button for him. He discards them and his boxers quickly, cock springing free as he throws the clothes to the other side of the room.

Nick climbs back on the bed, pushing at my shoulders so I fall back down on the mattress and he climbs back on top. He situates himself in between my legs, spreading them apart before he pumps himself in preparation.

"I don't—I don't have a condom." He tells me, looking up. "Is that okay?"

It's a heavy question, but one I answer easily. "Yeah," I say with a nod. "We'll just have to remember to grab some next time we head to land, yeah?"

"Definitely." He agrees, capturing my lips in a soft kiss. With his lips still on mine, he teases my entrance with his cock, rubbing it back and forth gently before easing himself in.

Nick moans softly, pressing his forehead against mine as our breaths intermingle. He goes slowly, entering all the way and filling me up, then rolling his hips out and back in a slow pace. It's comfortingly slow, as he doesn't want to overload me. Too bloody slow, if you ask me.

"You okay?" He groans out, face close to mine. A hand grips tightly at my waist as he holds himself in place, allowing me to adjust to the feeling of being so full.

"Mmhmm," I hum against him, needy. I swirl my hips, desperate for more. "Move, Nick. I'm fine."

Without warning, he pulls out almost all the way before slamming back into me. I squeal at the feeling, but it's quickly turning from uncomfortable to pleasurable. "You sure?"

"Very much so."

He nods and begins to pick up his pace, slow ministrations becoming harsh and rapid. My arms grip around his form, nails clawing at his back as his head curls its way into the crook of my neck and he bites down. That is going to be sosore after.

Heated breaths, panting, and moaning fill the room as he continuously gains speed in his thrusts. I can feel my orgasm building once more, the heated pleasure bubbling just beneath the surface; the chord waiting to snap.

"Fuck, Nick, right there!" I moan as he hits a spot inside me, pleasure rippling through me as I jerk from the sensitivity. His hand pulls at my knee, bending it back so he can reach deeper, hitting the same spot over again. "Ah, Nick!" is the only sound I can make. I'm close, too close to form any coherent words besides his name.

Nick is close, too. His thrusts become erratic, breathing uneven with every move. I can feel just how close he is, how his cock throbbing inside me is just waiting to release.

"Nick-" I moan his name one last time, wanting to tell him how close I was. He already knew.

"Come. Now." He commands, and the chord finally breaks.

Unintelligible noises spill from me as sparks dance in my vision, my release coming at full force. The pleasant warmth spreads through me as I spasm beneath him, each touch overriding my senses.

"Fuck!" Nick pulls away from me, his hand automatically going to his length as he erratically pumps himself, his release catching up. His seed spills over my stomach, strands of the sticky white settling on my hot skin.

He falls to a spot on the mattress beside me, both of us trying to catch our breaths. I bring my hands to my face—my disgustingly sweaty face—and push away the rat's nest that's become my hair. I look over to Nick, grinning as I breathe heavily.

"Guess that means I'm not forbidden fruit anymore, huh?" I pant out cheekily, my chest rising and falling with each deep breath.

"Eh," He teases back with a grin, hand searching for mine and intertwining our fingers together. "I guess not."

The sun beats down on us from the window above, just barely reaching my eyes. Throughout this whole ordeal, I nearly forgot there was an outside world. Other people on the boat. For a blissful moment, all I could think of was me and Nick.

His hand falls away from mine as he pushes himself off the bed, moving to the other side of the room.

"How-" I take in another breath. My air is finally close to evening out but I'm not quite there yet. "How can you even think about moving right now?"

Nick chuckles as he grabs his jeans from the floor and rummages the front pockets. "Just need a cigarette. I'll be right back."

He yanks one out of his pack and grabs his red lighter before strolling back to the bed.

"While you grab that, wanna get me a tissue?" I ask. Of course he nods and grabs one from a tissue box, handing it to me. I thank him and wipe away the seed from my stomach.

Still naked, Nick hops on the windowsill and pushes it open a crack. We're on the edge of the Abigail, so technically none of our group could see him outside, but I still would never. I'm a prude, I guess. Still, I don't bother commenting and leave Nick to have his after-sex cigarette break in peace.

At least, until he puts out the stick and my breathing is back to normal, allowing me to sass him just a bit.

"Cigarettes after sex?" I comment. I sit upright, gently pulling the covers on the bed to cover my bottom half. "Could you be any more of a cliché?"

"I could." He shrugs, smirking. "I could start spouting French and dramatically proclaim my love."

Nick scoots himself to the edge of the sill, leaning his head down. "Did you know that, when the moon hits your eye, like a big piece of pie, that's amore?"

I scoff playfully back. "When the world seems to shine, like you've had too much wine?"

"That's amore." He nods with a goofy grin.

I lean forward, closer to his face as I whisper out, "I don't think I quite believe you."

"Trust me, I'm an expert." Nick hums back teasingly before pressing a soft kiss to my lips. I hum contently against him, the taste of myself and cigarettes on him, but pull away far too quickly for my own liking.

"C'mon, the others are probably wondering where we are." I say, standing up. Oh yeah, my legs are already feeling sore. Great. "The day is still young."

I shrug on my jeans as Nick lightly complains, "Do we really have to? Why can't we stay here, just the two of us?" He hops from the windowsill to the floor, and I feel his chest press against my back, his arms curling around my middle. He whispers into my ear, "Just you, and me, and no worries. We could keep having fun."

"No, yank." I playfully shove him off and grab at my shirts and bra on the floor. "We have things to do." I find his jeans and boxers beside my stuff, and I grab and toss them over.

"Boring." He sticks his tongue out as he throws his clothes on.

"Damn right. Cristina Waters, certified party pooper." I stick my tongue out back. My hands pat my back pockets, and I worry as I don't feel my knife in them. "Shit," I mutter.

I take a few cautious steps around the room, searching for it. The bloody thing slid out of the pocket, setting itself just barely underneath Nick's bed.

"What is it?" Nick asks as I triumphantly grab it. I hold it out for him to see, flicking it open and closed in demonstration. "Find it yesterday?"

"Yeah." I answer softly, tucking it back into my pocket. "On the island. It's good, I guess. Found some pepper spray, too."

"Good." He replies. With ease he shrugs his blue polo on, and I laugh at the state of his hair. "What?"

I bring my fingers up his locks, trying to pat them down but to no avail. "There's no saving this, yank. Do you have a hairbrush? At least try to make it look normal."

"Oh, you think this is bad?" Nick teases, bringing a hand to my hair. "Don't look in the mirror. Yours is worse."

I comb my fingers through my hair to get rid of some of the snarls, but it's too much to fix. Way too much. "Alright, I'm shaving it off then."

"Don't you dare." His hand unlocks the door. "Wear after-sex hair like a badge of honor."

"No." I walk through the door and quickly run to my bedroom, finding a hairbrush in Alycia's bag and quickly tame my tresses. "Okay, better. Now I can face the rest of them."

"Just don't put your hair up, then." Nick comments, gently pushing away my blonde and brown streaks. "I may have done a number on you. Sorry."

"Don't be." I stand on my tip-toes so I can reach his height. "I liked it. A lot." Wearing a smirk, I kiss him gently. "I'll wear a nun's habit from now on. Easy fix."

"Please, no."

I laugh as I pull away from him, trekking out of the room with him in tow. We leisurely stroll up the stairs and to the dining hall.

Looks like the rest of the group has already dispersed around the Abigail. Daniel and Chris are out on the main deck, fishing poles flung over the edge. Alycia and Ophelia are on one of the couches in the living area, chatting animatedly. The only two in the kitchen are Madison and Travis, working to cook up some lunch. Coming from the smell wafting from Travis' pan, it's some of the fish Chris caught yesterday.

"Nick, you missed breakfast." Madison chastises.

Nick shrugs as he takes a seat at the table. "Just lost track of time, mom. No worries. I ate plenty this morning."

My eyes lock with his as I sit on the couch beside Ophelia, my cheeks warming as he smirks.

"Uh huh. Don't make it a habit. I'm not gonna start setting plates aside for you when you decide to come down."

"Duly noted."

THREE DAYS LATER

I spend most of my evening jotting down notes from my EMT book in bed. Gunshots are my priority today, and there's a good four pages in my tiny scrawl in my notebook. It's been a peaceful few days on the Abigail; something I could get used to. Hopefully Baja is the same when we get there.

The clock on the nightstand reads 5:45 PM, and I sigh. I've been at this for over two hours. I pray that some info will stick. I'm getting better with memorizing, but I need to fix instructions to apocalyptic times, which throws me off. No calling 911. No waiting for higher trained personnel. Next time we head to shore I'll need to grab another book or two with more emergency room-based information.

With ease I toss the book and notes back onto the nightstand, ready to head to the dining room. Dinner's probably finished. Let me guess. Fish, eel, maybe some peas from a can. We've been running low on food. Whatever the boys can catch is breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It's not always the best-tasting, but at least we haven't gone hungry. Yet.

I open my door and saunter down the hall, just about to hop up the stairs and past the shower room before I hear a familiar voice calling my name.

"What?" I turn, and see Nick heading up to me. The edge of my lip quirks in a grin.

"Hey! I've barely seen you all day." He says, eyes searching the hallway before he leans down for a quick peck.

"No!" I pull away from him, scrunching my nose in disgust. "You smell like fish, gross."

He shrugs. "I was fishing. Sue me."

"Either way," I roll my eyes playfully, "I'm not kissing you until after you shower."

"How about in the shower?" He waggles his brows.

"Seriously, yank?" I huff, shoving him closer to the shower room's door. "You're worse than a horny teenager. Go shower." He may not have hung out with me today, but he certainly did yesterday, alone, at night. I told Alycia I took a late-night shower and hung on deck because, "I couldn't sleep." She bought it, considering my track record of nightmares, but the raise of her eyebrow lead me to believe she wasn't fully sold.

Nick and I still aren't sure whether we want people to know just yet. It's a small group, so they're bound to find out eventually, but still. We'll enjoy our privacy for the moment.

"Is that a no?" He asks, smirking. "Because that could be a lot of fun. You've liked everything else we've tried so far. Hmm?"

"Nick-"

"C'mon, everyone else is upstairs getting dinner ready. We're all alone. No one could hear us over the water running anyway."

"Go. Shower." I say one last time, answer shaky but final.

"Fine." Nick concedes. He takes a step backwards to the door, taking his shirt off and letting it fall to the ground. "If you need me, you know where to find me."

My eyes roam over his bare chest and smug face before he strides into the shower room, shutting it behind him. I wait by the door, my eyes looking up to the stairs on my right. Then back to the door as I hear the water being turned on.

You know what? Fuck it.

Well, fuck him, rather.

"That was a lot more yoga than I was expecting." I pant out, grabbing towels hung on a hook beside the shower stall. I toss one over to Nick and wrap my middle in the other, covering myself. "I didn't like it as much as the other stuff we tried."

I step fully out of the stall, passing others in the small wash room and go through the walkway before reaching the dry area where we tossed our clothes.

Nick follows behind me, a happy post-coital smile gracing his features and towel wrapped around his waist. "Agreed. I'm glad we tried it, but maybe we stick more to stuff in a bed. Or a couch, I'm not too picky."

"Nick." I laugh. I am never screwing him on a couch. At least not on the Abigail.

"It's the truth." He coolly shrugs. "But we both agree; no more shower sex?"

"No more shower sex." I nod and reach up to his face to lazily kiss him, keeping my face close to his as I add, "But I'm really hungry now. Hopefully dinner's almost ready."

"Should be. We didn't catch much. A couple eels again."

"Gross."

I pull my hand away from him, but place another chaste kiss to lips before pulling away. When I turn to grab my clothes from a dry hook, another voice reaches my ears.

"Hey, Nick, you left your shirt out here!"

Madison.

Shit.

I have zero time to think before she opens the door with Nick's shirt in hand, intending to hand it over to him. She did not expect there to be two people in the room, certainly not her son with her daughter's best friend. Nick and I just stand, petrified at Madison's reaction.

She stares at us, shock evident on her face. Then realization. Then anger.

Shit. Shit.

The door swings closed behind her, the only sound reverberating through the silent room.

"Hi, mom." Nick starts lamely. Either say something or leave, please. I am so uncomfortable. My hand tightens around the top of my towel, pulling it closer. I feel exposed to her burning eyes. The shirt slips through Madison's fist and onto the floor silently, and I all but pray for the ground to swallow me whole.

She sets her arm to her side as she asks coldly, "How long has this been going on?"

Nick answers promptly for us. "A few days."

"Are you using protection?" She asks immediately after, eyes glaring between us.

"We haven't… found any condoms on the ship, so-"

"Are you serious, Nick?!" I jump in place at the sudden change in tone, startled. She hisses out, "You guys are screwing around on this goddamn boat and you're not using anything? Do you want to get her pregnant?! Especially at a time like this?"

"No, mom!" He raises his voice to reach her tone. "Jesus! We just haven't found anything, so we've been pulling out-"

"Oh, you know the pull-out method is bull." She stares between us, her stance on us clear. With a heavy huff she shakes her head, turning and leaving the room.

Just as she steps through the open door, she throws over her shoulder, "Dinner's ready. Go upstairs." The door falls shut behind her, a heavy clang ringing through my ears.

Quietly I look up to Nick, eyes searching through his as he stares to the door. Then I stutter out, "That didn't go well."

Nick shrugs, obviously jarred from the experience, too. "She's intense when it comes to-"

"Intense?!" I squeak, my words blurring together. "That was terrifying! I thought she liked me? She's always liked me, why's shesobloodymad?!"

"Because I'm her kid," he answers simply, looking back to me. "She's protective, you know that."

"I just," I shake to recharge my thoughts. "I don't like being on her bad side, is all."

"She'll get over it." Nick says, setting a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "The second we find some condoms you'll be on her good side again."

"And you're sure it's not just… us together?"

"I don't." He answers honestly. "But she'll get over that, if it is."

"Yeah?"

"Well, do you want to break up?"

I scoff. "Obviously not."

"Then that leaves one option for her. Get over it. And she will, just give her time. She just needs to be mad first."

A/N: Ahh, finally. A chapter pretty much solely dedicated to Nick and Tina. Wonderful.

Next chapter we go back to tv plot, but it was great while it lasted, right? And I just wanted to add that I hope the actual smut was realistic. At least, more realistic than other stories I've read. I hate when a writer gets into the thick of it and the characters know exactly what to do, y'know? Sex isn't always perfect. It's messy; it's being vulnerable to another person, it's discovering what the two like together. And I wanted to express that here.

So enjoy, ladies and gents. Enjoy ;)