Sorry it's a day late! Busy day yesterday for me. Also, be on the lookout for something new from me!

Chapter Seven: Cold as Ice

She could tell that they were moving north by how cold the air would get in the mornings, and how even during the day she still wished she had a jacket. The slap on her face left a large bruising mark that was fading from an ugly purple bruise to a mess of green and yellow, and while it still hurt, it wasn't nearly as bad as the initial slap.

Tad had recovered from the head injury, and Bill hadn't said one word to her since that night. She hadn't returned to his room, taking turns bunking with Kryptos with the rest of the crew and staying in Tad's room. There was no reason or explanation as to why she was so upset, but it was there, and she couldn't explain it if she tried.

She leaned against the railing at the bow of the ship, shivering with cold as the sea air whipped through her hair. Tad was manning the helm, keeping an eye on her so that she wouldn't randomly get attacked once more. Amazingly enough, Bill's threats against the crew had actually seemed to work. Besides Kryptos and Tad, everyone seemed to stay a minimum of ten feet away from her at all times.

The sky was cloudy, and as she stood there in the cold leaning against the railing, Mabel watched as snow actually started to fall. It wouldn't be long before there would be icebergs in the distance. She hated being on this ship, not sure where they were heading and how this would end up keeping her end of the deal.

Unable to take the cold any longer, Mabel shook herself of the snow and waved at Tad as she went downstairs. There was a captain that she needed to talk to, to get them on the same terms once more. As much as she hated to admit it, he was the main reason that she was safe now.

Not even knocking before she entered, Mabel was still rubbing her arms gently to get warmth in them as she saw the sight laid out before her. Bill seemed to decide that a nap was in order, laying his head on the desk with his arms acting as a pillow. Mabel shut the door silently, glancing at the bed and wondering if she would be able to get him over there without waking him up.

"Captain." Mabel said softly when she decided she just didn't want to carry him. "Wake up."

He stirred almost immediately, lifting himself up and staring at her for a moment before shaking his head, as though he didn't believe she was really there. This game that they were playing was starting to get old, but Mabel just wanted to see the man who had smiled down at her when they danced and stared at her like she was his world.

"Well, if it isn't Shooting Star." Bill mumbled, closing up a couple things before looking back at her. "Whatcha want?"

"I want to know where we're going, and I want to know what you want from me. You seriously don't expect me to take down Gideon when we're in the middle of nowhere." Mabel waved a hand, finally getting color back into her cheeks. "You look terrible."

"You're really one to talk." Bill replied back, shaking his head. "I don't have to tell you anything, so unless you want to bug me about something else, you can go back on deck and bother Tad. He told me about you two."

Mabel paused for a moment, before the biggest grin spread across her face. Bill stared at her for a moment as she walked around his desk, pushing his chair until he was completely facing her. Mabel's hands were still cold to the touch, but she was warming up.

"Oh, are you jealous, captain?" Mabel asked, bringing her hand up to cup his cheek as he had done to her before. "Well, maybe, if you didn't act like an ass and throw me out of your room, I wouldn't have to fight for my survival every night and we could actually get along."

Lightly tapping his cheek, Mabel's smile disappeared and she turned to walk away. He was a handsome man, no doubt, but he was a jerk who didn't care, he just wanted to take down Gideon and keep her as a prisoner.

She barely got a step away before his hand snatched out, grabbing her own cold one and refusing to let go. Mabel whipped around to face him, glaring up at him as he stared down at her. His grip around her wrist was tight enough to keep her close, but not tight enough to entertain any thoughts of leaving.

"You don't know anything." Bill muttered, anger on his face, but she refused to back down. Mabel laughed right in his face, trying to twist herself out of his grip.

"I don't know anything? I'll tell you what I know. I know I'm stuck aboard a ship with a crew that hates me, I know I'm stuck dealing with a pirate captain who glares at me every time I walk near him. I know I'm stuck always trying to watch my back, I'm stuck watching you sail as far away from anywhere where Gideon would go, so I can't keep up my end of the deal. I know now that I'm dealing with a jealous pirate captain who would rather see me fight every night for survival than even try to keep me safe." By the end of her speech, Mabel was jabbing hard against his chest, breathing rapidly and struggling to keep control. "I'm stuck wondering if I'm ever going to see my family again, or do anything for myself ever again, because I'm sure that Bill Cipher of all people would rather see a member of the Pines family dead instead of fulfilling his end of the deal. So you know what I'm sure of? I'm sure I'm not getting off this boat alive."

Bill didn't even know what to say, because he hadn't decided on half those things as well. He shook his head at the end, but didn't say anything, going to grasp her chin in just the hopes that she would just stop talking, but her chin was trembling and he had no idea what to say. What could he say? There was a lot he should have done, a lot he could do, but he wasn't sure just what would fix this.

He let her go when she pulled back, but all he ended up doing was wrapping his arms around her and hugging her as tightly as he could. She had lost weight from the first time he had carried her downstairs, back when Gideon was just escaping with his life and he wasn't sure that she would make it through the night. She just seemed to fold into his chest, burying herself there in the warmth and protection that he offered.

"D-Do you think my family thinks I'm dead?" Mabel asked in a small voice that made Bill think of Kryptos, and he gently rubbed his hand down her back.

"Honestly? Yeah." Bill said just as softly, which just made Mabel bury herself further into his chest and cling a bit tighter to him.

He only moved a little, to gently pull her back to sit in his lap as he sat down in his chair once more. Not saying anything, Mabel moved carefully to still bury herself against him, still relishing in his warmth and comfort. He was a strange man, one she knew was cruel and terrible, but she knew he had good in him. Just because she believed he was better, it didn't mean that she stopped seeing the bad in him.

"I shouldn't have kicked you out of here, not after...you're always welcome in here." Bill didn't even bother to try to hide the fact that he pressed a kiss against her head, feeling her melt against him. "C'mon, Star, you really think that after everything I'm gonna let you get hurt?"

"Yes." Mabel answered without hesitation, but didn't move. "I have no doubt that you would throw me to the sharks if it fancied you."

He had done a lot worse to people who hadn't captured his interest, to people who still would have been useful to him. He didn't say anything for a long moment, just letting her rest in his lap and probably relax for the first time in a long time.

"Why do you call me that?" Mabel asked after a couple minutes of silence, when she felt herself starting to drift off into sleep. "Tad and I never did anything, by the way."

"I think it's better than something else I could call you, right?" Bill asked instead of answering. He wanted to say it was because she reminded him of a star, bright and always granting people's wishes.

Mabel didn't say anything, just nuzzling her face against his chest as she drifted off into sleep. Bill moved to go back to working, his free arm still wrapped around Mabel to keep her close and prevent her from falling from his lap. She was so interesting, one moment screaming at him and the next moment taking a nap in his lap.

A rather loud knock on the door almost an hour later made Mabel stir, and Bill ignored it until Tad walked in without another word. Tad closed the door behind him and started to speak before he noticed the girl fast asleep on Bill's lap, with the blond giving him a stern glare that made it clear what would happen if Mabel woke up.

"About time, were you actually nice to her for once?" Tad whispered, going and sitting on the corner of the desk. Bill sent a glare at him, but didn't know how else he was going to reply to that.

"Shut up Tad."

"So elegant. I'll tell Kryptos that I won the bet. Does this mean she won't come to my room anymore after hiding from the rest of the crew because you wouldn't protect her?"

Bill gave him a hand gesture he was sure Mabel would have actually laughed at, watching as Tad had to turn away so he wouldn't break out into laughter. It was about time the two of them got along in some way, be it just being able to stay in the same room as each other or being as close as they were now.

"So cruel to me, no wonder she said she liked Kryptos better." Tad muttered. "I actually came down here to say we've arrived, but I see you don't want to be disturbed."

"What? Why didn't you say...oh." Bill looked down at Mabel, who he really didn't want to wake up but at the same time, they had finally gotten to the destination that they had been sailing to for many days.

He didn't have to worry about that too much, because Tad took matters into his own hand and slammed the door, if only to wake Mabel up because he didn't take his leave. Mabel jumped, nearly throwing herself to the floor as she tried to wake up. Mabel looked up at Bill, who's arm was still around her waist, and then at Tad who was laughing again.

"I hate you both so much." Mabel groaned, taking Bill's arm off her waist and standing with a shudder. It was still cold in here, despite the warmth that Bill had given her.

"Thanks, Mabel, I needed to hear that." Tad ruffled her hair, while Mabel nudged him in the ribs to try to get him to quit. Bill watched the two of them, honestly a bit jealous that they got along so well.

"Like I was just telling the captain, we've arrived." Tad said, pushing her gently in Bill's direction. Mabel crossed her arms, pouting slightly before turning to Bill.

"Where are we?" Mabel asked, pushing some of his things to the side so she could sit on his desk. Bill helped her move a couple of the more delicate maps out of the way, so they wouldn't be damaged.

"In the arctic." Bill answered easily, smiling a little. "Have you ever seen a mermaid before?"