A/N: Ahem. As pathetic as it sounds I poured [what's left of] my heart out on this chapter. So if you have nothing to say for it except it's too short or took too long, don't even review. Thanks anyway.

Disclaimer: I've done this at least thirty times. No, I don't own it. I use such an insane barrage of songs in this chapter I'll specify them at the bottom. Soundtrack of the chapter: Death Cab For Cutie- I Will Follow You Into The Dark.

The answer was a falling mound of snow.

I was never one to tread lightly and that was one thing that hadn't changed, among few. I stepped back without looking and the snow gathered on a branch hit the ground with a thud. Nico looked directly at me even though it was way too dark for him to have been able to see me.

"Aline."

Nico said my name with such certainty that for a second I was sure he could see me. Or maybe he was just hoping as well. I debated turning my back and fleeing like I had done before but I didn't. I was done with hiding and I was getting tired of running.

The meadow was undisturbed by the cold. It made me feel almost content. The water of the stream was still- frozen- the only sign winter had found it's way here. Bright flowers still bloomed and there was a certain flower that glowed when the moonlight hit it. In the dark, most of the color was drained but everything was beautiful in black, white, and silver. Including Nico. The starlight turned the edges of his hair the color of steel and did the same to his eyes. His skin, which I'd once found so unnaturally pale, was the one warm thing in the night. Nico looked like...an angel? A prince? No. A hero. And he looked at me like he was waiting for permission to save me. Why not, I thought to myself.

"Hey..." I began. Three life changing months and I wasn't a bit more eloquent.

"Hello," Luckily, Nico wasn't either.

"What are you doing out here?" I asked, stating the obvious.

"I could say the same to you," he said, dodging my question.

The corner of my lips twitched upward, "Touché."

I fiddled with the strings of my sweatshirt. I was nervous as a rabbit in the presence of a fox because Nico hadn't stopped looking at me. Part of me wished him to advert his eyes, look away before he saw everything that was wrong with me. Before the things in my heart crawled their way out and bared my soul to him. The other part of me, which was steadily gaining my attention, wanted Nico to see me. To lock his eyes with mine and not look away, not ever.

"I couldn't sleep. My cabin was too quiet with just me and the harpies know better than to confront me."

I was yanked from my too intense thoughts. I was confused until I realized he'd answered my earlier question. Funny- I coveted silence more than ever now.

"Really?" Nico inquired. I'd spoken out loud by accident, "Where's the girl who was forever singing, making obscure musical references, and looking dazed as she hummed symphony pieces from memory?"

"She's gone," I said bluntly. Yet, I got that funny feeling in my stomach like when I lied.

"That's what I was worried about," Nico mused tiredly.

I found myself sitting beside him. The few feet between us was like an ocean that had been too daunting to sail before. Now, I reckon I was willing to swim cross it. I saw a fleeting image in my mind of a younger, more naive Nico staring into a black expanse of water, like he could find all the answers there. I risked looking into his similar eyes. There weren't many answers as far as I could tell, but they left me with a lot of questions. Like:

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"How do I say this...I've seen the sky from quite a few places. I've shadowtraveled to Asia, San Fransisco, the canals in Venice, and any mid-western town you can name. But wherever you are- no matter how high you go- the stars never seem any closer," Nico over to me wearing a small, sad smile that looked too good on him, "You're like the stars to me, Aline."

My heart splintered, I think. Surely it must of for me to feel such a pain inside my chest. My voice cracked as I said,

"I don't want to be so far away but I can't help it these days."

"Aline..."

Nico said my name with such conviction I couldn't help it. When I started speaking I couldn't stop. A month, three weeks, and six days worth of terror and uncertainty came flying out of my chest. Everything I'd thought about him, how I felt about him, what had happened with his brother in the Underworld

"I close my eyes and beg for peace. As you can imagine, I never found it so I started staying up at night. "

"Cause I'm a mess and you know that I can't help it. But they try to and that only makes it worse. It makes me feel guilty because I'm not trying. I'm too proud to breathe but I'm too weak to say the things worth saying. To Thalia, to my brother, to you."

"There are times when I want to run until my feet don't touch the ground. Except everytime I run I leave a piece of me behind."

When I finished Nico was looking at me blankly.

"You broke your promise," he said simply.

I thought about the vow I made before I quested: that I'd be okay and come back alright. "I guess I did."

"I-I should have been there. I could...have..."

"Gotten yourself killed," I finished, surprising myself with how much terror the thought struck within me, "You couldn't have done anything."

"You're wrong. I could have been a less terrible person. I could have forgiven you and realized something was wrong. I could have made sure you weren't carrying this so long. I should have been the first person you could tell- I'm the first person you've told..." he realized, shocked, "Why haven't you said anything-"

"You think it'd be easy! Do you have any idea how much it hurts to recall enough to tell you!" My voice rose as Nico's had.

"No. I don't know but I believe you. Just, why me? Why trust me?"

"Why not? I'm already crazy, and insane, and a mess. And...you sort of are, too, aren't you? So why not?" I added firmly, daring him to disagree. He didn't; instead he roughly ran a hand through his wavy hair. Sitting here this long was making the ADHD pair of us anxious.

"Okay, why not? Trust me, Aline. Believe me when I say I'll never hurt you again."

I stunned us both with how easily I could say, "I do."

Nico moved toward me hesitantly. The apprehensive way didn't suit him.

"I'm not afraid of you, Nico," I told myself as much as I told him.

"I know," he smirked in humor, "I'm a bit frightened of you."

I held my breath as Nico took seat beside me but let it go just as fast. It felt so right. I wasn't scared or jittery. My heart didn't thump against the walls of my chest nor did I turn breathless and lightheaded. Nico's shoulder and knee barely touched mine but his body heat sent waves through me, from my stomach to fingertips. Charmant, is what CG would call this moment.

I kept quiet and waited for...something. It was what all those poems and songs were about: fireworks, or white lights, or a romantic violin piece in the background. I listened closer but there was nothing except crickets and Nico's breathing. I shut my eyes and tuned it out, searching deep with in my mind. There was no blinding light or heart-racing melody so I opened my eyes, disappointed. Aloud I wondered,

"Does this deafening silence mean nothing to no one but me?"

"No," Nico shook his head slowly, "I used to hear it, too. After my sister died and I was running around the Underworld plotting revenge, it was all I ever heard. Then I met you and you filled it up. Now there's always noise because I can hear your voice and... the blood rushing in my ears," he added, the tops of his ears indeed turning pink.

"You make me laugh," I stated, indeed laughing. On a whim I threw my arms around his chest. I could feel his rib cage even through his sweater, but hey, my twig-like arms fit impeccably. Let us be imperfect together. Nico carelessly wrapped an arm around my back and if he could feel the scars he didn't flinch. I let my suddenly heavy head lay on his shoulder and Nico rested his head on top of mine. It felt right but was it, right now? Did I even care? The answer was 'no' because the night was bright and Nico was warm, not to mention his clothes smelled like cola and...McDonald's? I stifled a yawn; even if this feeling of a sanctuary was temporary I wanted to hold it for as long as possible.

"Go to sleep. You'll be fine," the prince of death and darkness said. Is it odd it made me feel infinitely better? I fell asleep that night and for the first time I didn't have a nightmare. I did have a dream, albeit it was only a black void with flashes of a blinding smile. I woke up soon after but my body was still heavy and I had no will to move. Nico, who had stayed awake, was fighting off fits of yawns.

The warmth of his cheek left the top of my head. He'd looked up at the sky and the stars that had never seemed closer. His lips moved rapidly and only half-aware I couldn't make out who he was talking to. Then I realized Nico was praying, quietly because he thought I was still asleep. He was praying to the gods on Mt. Olympus.

"Don't disturb her. Look at how she's so serene and it's the way she should be. I want to keep her dreaming. I-It's my one request. I know you can't give me luck but if you're on my side tonight then all the clumsy things I've said have made us just a tiny bit right." I moved just a little and laid my hand on Nico's upturned wrist, hoping he'd think it was a subconscious twitch and not the sign of affection it really was. I felt him stiffen but a second later he wrapped his fingers around mine. They were cold and calloused but I didn't care, "I'm not much but she's enough."

It was then I decided I wouldn't stop waiting for that hint of a spark.

Music: Jersey, Take This To Heart, Ocean and Atlantic, You Be The Anchor That Keeps My Feet On The Ground I'll Be The Wings That Keep Your Heart In The Clouds, I Swear This Time I Mean It, all by Mayday Parade :D As well as I Will Follow You Into The Dark from Death Cab For Cutie.

'Charmant' is French for about a billion things: enchanting, winning, pleasant, charming, lovely, nice. You get the point, non?