Author's Note: Next chapter. Enjoy!


The rest of the day had been spent with Emma going back home to finish unpacking her things, Rikki going to finish a last minute university application, and Cleo going to work at the marine park. Because they had to leave, Emma promised that they would get together the next night for a slumber party at her house and she would tell them everything that happened on her trip.

Now it was late evening, and Cleo had invited Lewis over to talk. Yes, he'd come back for her graduation, but the majority of the time after that had been spent between spending time with his family and doing a project he had over his summer holiday. He and Cleo had barely spent an hour together, and Cleo was determined to change that. After he said he loved her, her heart hadn't stopped fluttering since. It was as if those words changed her entire body's chemistry or something. She literally couldn't get him off of her mind.

She looked in the mirror again, triple checking her outfit. Though they weren't going anywhere, she still wanted to look nice for him. She decided on a black halter dress. She figured anything that matched her glasses would be a plus. She twirled around one last time before leaving the bathroom and tip-toeing back to her room.

Her dad, Sam and Kim had already gone to sleep. Cleo wanted to wait this late because she wanted to make sure she and Lewis were completely alone. Kim could literally turn up anywhere. A late night date was just what they needed to be able to talk and just be together.

She turned on the lamp and just began reading a book before she heard a faint knock on the door. When she opened it, she saw Lewis standing in front of her and admired him in the moonlight. He was in a simple polo shirt and khaki's, but the look he had on his face as he looked at her made him even more attractive.

"You're so beautiful, Cleo." He breathed, part of him not wanting to wake her family and the other part of him not being able to breathe from looking at her. She really did take his breath away. He took her in his arms and kissed her deeply before releasing her long enough for her to close the door behind him.

They walked back up to her room and she gently closed and locked the bolt on her door, thankful that Sam convinced her dad that she needed one. Usually this would have been a nice night to go to Mako island, but given the amount of people who had been there over the past year, she still didn't feel as safe as she once did there. Besides, she didn't feel like swimming just now.

Lewis sat on Cleo's desk chair while she sat on the edge of her bed. She watched as Lewis looked around the room, admiring all of her things, taking everything in. Words couldn't describe how much he'd missed Cleo while he was away. Every day he went without seeing her was like a stab through his chest. And every day, he worked harder than he ever had in his life in hopes of making the days go faster.

"So, where are you looking to go to university? Have you made your choice?" Lewis asked her, shaking the thoughts out of his head. He had something to tell her, and this would be one of the things he had to know in order to make the news more special.

"I don't know. It's between Victoria University and the University of Melbourne. I just can't decide. They're both great schools." She got up and walked over to her desk to pick up the two brochures before plopping back down on her bed. Holding both up to him, she gave a shrug.

"Where do you think I should go?"

"Well, I can't decide that for you, Cleo. Both are great schools with great programs, both are close to home… You said you might consider studying science or architecture?"

"Yeah." Cleo replied, remembering the conversation she'd had with him after graduation.

When he'd left for America, it seemed that she and Will had become the new scientists of the group, and she rather enjoyed it. It gave her a rush to examine things and come close to breakthroughs. She understood what Lewis loved about it so much. The architecture interest came from none other than Mako Island. The changes in the rock formations in the moon pool got her thinking of different structures around other islands, and soon that interest branched out into the structure of actual buildings, and how they could be improved. When she told Lewis all of this the day he came back, the pride in his eyes was enough to make her blush. Even without him saying it, she knew without a doubt how proud he was of her; how proud he always was of her and her accomplishments. And it was this pride in her that had her ask him his honest opinion about where she chose to attend university.

"Which one are you leaning towards?"

"I think I'm looking more towards Melbourne. It's large and is a little closer than Victoria, meaning that I could still keep my job at the marine park on weekends."

Lewis nodded, understanding not only why she wanted to keep the job, but also why she felt like she had to. Even though fishing patterns had gotten a bit back to normal after the comet, it was still slim pickings sometimes, and Don Sertori along with other fishermen were being affected. And now that Cleo was going to attend university and would need extra money to get settled in, it would be extra stressful on the family.

Lewis rose from his seat to sit next to her on the bed and kissed the top of her head.

"Cleo, you know you have nothing to worry about, right?" He lifted her chin up with his finger to look him in the eyes. And though she nodded her head, her eyes clearly told him how worried she was.

He kissed her lips slowly, letting it linger before pulling back. If he was going to tell her his big news, now would be the perfect time to do it.

"Cleo, there's actually something I want to tell you." He got up from the bed and stood in front of her.

Cleo perked up and straightened her posture, giving him her undivided attention.

"As you know, I have two more years of being in the marine academy in America before I graduate."

Cleo's face fell slightly, remembering the fact that he was meant to leave in two short months. Regardless, she gave him a smile anyway. She instead insisted him to continue.

"Well, I had a talk with my advisor in America before the summer holidays. I let him know I was returning here to visit my family, and he told me that one of his colleagues was also on his way to this area. He's working on a project looking at various fish migrations and such. My advisor also told me that the professor would be in need of a student to accompany him, and that he would be here back and forth for a few years at least…"

Though Lewis was spelling it out for her, Cleo still couldn't trust herself to believe what she thought she was hearing. The smile on Lewis's face, however, urged her to ask him.

"So, you're telling me that…" She paused, her hands moving to cover her mouth.

"I'm here to stay. When I came home for your graduation, I came with Professor Jones. I have to go back to America once or twice every few months to stay for a few days, but I'll be back home indefinitely."

"But, what about school?" Cleo asked, not wanting to be excited if there was a chance that his graduation would be jeopardized. "What about classes?"

Lewis's smile widened. "I would be taking university level classes at the University of Melbourne. And the great thing about it is that it's almost like a foreign exchange program…within a foreign exchange program. My advisor told me that, while studying with Prof. Jones, I would have to keep up with my coursework. Prof. Jones's other office is centered at the University of Melbourne. I would take the allotted amount of classes, and do my research. If all goes accordingly, I will graduate in two years, and maybe be on the same level as you and everyone else, albeit a few classes behind."

Cleo could no longer contain her excitement, launching herself into his arms. She literally couldn't believe what she was hearing. Lewis was back for good! They could be together and he would still be able to fulfill his dreams.

"Lewis, I am so happy for you!" Cleo couldn't help but let a tear escape, which Lewis promptly brushed off with his thumb before kissing her again.

"Now do you believe me when I tell you everything will be alright?" He asked seriously, his voice gentle and deep.

Cleo wrapped her arms around his sides tighter and gave him a smile before letting her head fall on his shoulder.

"Yes, I believe you."

"You'd better. I'm here for you, and I always will be. I love you, Cleo." He had begun swaying them when she put her head on his shoulder.

"I love you too, Lewis." She kissed the side of his neck and just let him continue to calm her.