Disclaimer: If you recognize it, it's not mine.

Authors Note: Yeah, so it's been a super long time. Sorry about that. Honestly. Sorry. You know how writer's block can be. Anyway, I'm still working myself out of it so I won't even pretend like this is a particularly good chapter, but it's a chapter, and it's up. The next one will be good…I hope.

Chapter 20

The next six weeks passed as slow as molasses for Neo. They were all grounded while the Neb underwent routine inspection and repairs, forced to remain in Zion while tensions grew and tempers flared. So far as he knew his daughter was in imminent danger everyday and it scared the hell out of him. He had made her promise that she would tell him where she was at all times, that she would never be alone, and most importantly, she would stay away from any and all rebel rallies, and rebels. But Nysa had too much of her mother in her, that stubborn, independent persona, and he knew she may not live up to those promises. So all he could do was try to trust his daughter's instincts as well as he had learned to trust his own and busy himself to keep from worrying.

The reality of the situation was that Nysa was most likely safe gallivanting around Zion. Since the investigation into Olivia's death had begun a sort of marshal law had been enacted keeping the main halls and passages of Zion safe and the populace unharmed. The danger arose when secret rallies were discovered leading to raids and skirmishes. While day to day life seemed relatively unaffected for the laymen, the tension between the New Resistance and the Liberators had reached its boiling point leading to violence and death. War was among them, even if it was only being fought in far off catacombs.

All Neo could think about though was how this would effect his family, his daughter. King had said she would play a part in this war, have a pivotal role and with the fighting bleeding more and more into the main populace everyday, it would only be a matter of time before she would be forced to take on that role. He had to speak with the Oracle. Normally he wouldn't have thought to since the strife at home was seemingly unrelated to what occurred within the Matrix, that of course being her area of expertise. But King had told him to see her and while he may not have trusted this strange man completely, he did realize it was imperative that he abide. Since he was afraid, however, to leave Nysa behind, he was forced to simply wait. For six long weeks he waited and averted disaster, now he had only one more day to go. Tomorrow they would once again board the Nebudchanezzar and leave Zion behind.

For Nysa the last month and a half seemed to fly by at breakneck speed. Perhaps it was the sense of urgency and danger that filled her daily that made it all seem to move so fast. The danger that she felt however was not the same her father fretted over; she did not worry about being targeted or plotted against, she feared only being caught, found out by her mother and father. Despite their warnings and their dictums regarding Styx she had managed to sneak out multiple times to see him. In fact they hadn't gone more than a day in the past month without speaking. Everyday was a new challenge, how to get away from her parents' ever watchful eyes, where to meet so as to be undetected, when to plan their rendezvous. The only thing in her life it seemed that did not present a challenge was actually being with him. Whether it was for an hour or only a few stolen moments Nysa and Styx quickly and easily slipped into a sort of grace and candor characteristic of a couple who had been together for decades.

They talked about anything and everything; what he remembered of being inside the matrix, what it was like for her growing up on the Neb. She told him stories about her times with Olivia and he recapped his friendship with Michael, whom neither of them saw much, and of course they often discussed the political affairs in which they both held such a strong interest. But as with any young and passionate couple much of their time was spent simply holding each other close, exploring their bodies with light kisses and fingertips at once soft then suddenly pressing and urgent.

For her sixteenth birthday he gave her the gift she wanted though never dared to ask for. When he held her close, nuzzling her neck the words, "I love you," spilled out of him, slowly, quietly, and sincerely. And she felt a sensation unlike any other spread through her, one that surpassed simple love or passion, one that was all encompassing filled with joy and pain, excitement and trepidation. For the first time she truly knew what it meant to be alive. She had been born into this world and lived in it for the past 16 years, surviving two attempts on her life, but it was only then, when those breathy words were uttered that she came to life.

Now she had to leave him, her reason for living, for breathing, for being. Tomorrow she would go again aboard the Neb with her parents leaving her lover behind to deal with the increasingly hostile world alone.

"Maybe you can convince them to let you stay. You're old enough…" Styx was abruptly cut off by her reply.

"Never happen." This was their last night together and they both knew it. "They're scared for me. They were before all of this, before Olivia," she paused, an unconscious moment of silence to commemorate a still unhealed wound. "I can't say they're being unreasonable under the circumstances."

"No. I know," he agreed dejectedly. "As much I hate to see you go, part of me wants you out there with them too. Maybe then you'll be safe."

"Maybe."

He turned to look her in the eyes and supplied a hard stare. "Maybe?"

"There were ten years in between the attempts on my life. No matter how much time I spend away I'll probably never really be safe."

"Not here you mean, not in Zion."

Nysa shrugged nonchalantly. "Maybe."

"I hate when you do that," Styx said rising from his position on the floor where the two were curled around each other.

"I'm just saying that I don't know what the future holds anymore than you do." Upon saying this she too rose and moved closer to the boy's tense frame. Placing her hands gently on his cheeks she turned his face towards hers and kissed him softly on the tip of his nose causing his stern countenance to melt into a wry smile. "I do know that my future has you in it. And no matter how long I'm gone you can be sure that I'm spending every minute thinking of you."

"Somehow I doubt that."

"Yeah, it's true, there's usually a lot going on on board. But I promise I'll dedicate at least five minutes to you a day."

"Gee, so generous."

"Yep, right before I go to sleep, just after I lay down in bed…"

"Exhausted from the day's work…"

"Very tired…"

"Snuggled under all your blankets…"

"The ship is very cold…"

"Your parents snoring just a few feet away."

"Ugh," she said, throwing down her arms and taking a step back. "Way to ruin the mood."

"I'm sorry," he managed between giggles. "I am really."

"Better be," she uttered through pouting lips.

He pulled her close and hugged her thin form tightly. With his eyes squeezed shut he held her, unmoving, barely breathing. "I'm gonna miss you," he said finally almost choking on the words.

"Me too." She wanted to say more, she wanted to spill her soul, let all that was inside fall to the floor so that he could sift through her thoughts and emotions and hold onto what he treasured most. She wanted to tell him that she loved him more than she ever thought possible, needed him more than he could ever know. But if anymore words came out surely tears would follow and she did not want the final image of him in her mind to be marred by bleary eyes.

"It's getting late," he said, still holding her close. He continued for only a moment more before landing a heartfelt kiss on her lips and letting go. "I love you," he whispered, himself near tears. She only nodded and turned, moving slowly down the dark corridor back to her life aboard the Nebudchanezzar, back to the life she no longer even recognized.