*** LAST PART.

As the days past, Alek grew stronger and he had mostly stayed in his room to his own annoyance but he was pacing around and chattering to Dr. Barlow and his men when they had time to stop. He still hadn't seen Deryn yet but he hoped to soon. He mostly had conversations with Bovril. Several times the beastie had said Deryn's real name, each time Alek had tried to keep the loris quiet. His men had nearly heard the beastie once. It really had been a close call.

Alek stood staring out at the pleasant morning sky, a clear blue with a few wisps of white clouds. The sun was up and shining brightly, warming Alek. He turned and opened the door and slipped out, careful not to wake the still sleeping Bovril. He padded down the halls and into the guts of the Leviathan and into the engine pods without incident.

Volger and Klopp were there with an engineer Alek didn't know. He hauled himself up, his chest and stomach aching.

"Oh, young master," greeted Klopp in surprise. Volger looked over his a raised eyebrow.

"Why are you out of your room?" he asked in German. His arm was out of it's sling but it was still stiff at his side and he still walked with a noticable limp.

"I want to know where Dylan is," Alek answered. Volger opened mouth as if to argue and tell him to go back to his room but shut it again when Alek gave him a cruel, knowing smile. The Count gave him a withering glare.

"He's in his room," he said through gritted teeth.

"Thank you, Volger," said Alek smugly and crawled down the hatch. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Volger wave away Klopp's curious expression. He smirked. It was nice to get back at Volger finally after all his years of torment.

He walked swiftly through the corridors but was soon stopped by Dr. Barlow.

"Hello, Alek," she greeted.

"Good morning, Dr. Barlow," he replied.

"Where are you heading off to?"

"I'm going to talk to Dylan." Dr. Barlow smiled at him.

"I just talked to him," she said. "He's in good working order."

"Thank you, " said Alek. "At least I know he's awake."

"He seemed quite eager to talk to you but I wouldn't let him leave. He's still pretty hurt and should lay low for a while." Then she said more forcefully, "Don't let him tell you otherwise." Alek blinked.

"Um, alright."

Dr. Barlow beamed. "I'll leave you to it then," she said then strode away. Alek shook his head and continued to Deryn's room. At the door he hesitated in knocking. It was madness not telling anyone. An airship in a war was no place for women- even diplomats like Dr. Barlow. He didn't say so though. He had no doubt Deryn and Dr. Barlow could take him down if he had said so to their faces. He thought about Deryn and his heart did acrobatics. He decided her liked her- maybe even to the point of love. What he had said about neon on love with the ship was pure nonsense. He had really been in love with SOMEONE on he ship but he didn't to appear homosexual. He was an archduke! That would be rediculous!

Shaking his head, he knocked at the door. In a moment, Deryn's face appeared, growing into a huge grin.

"Hi, Alek!" she said cheerfully using the voice of Dylan. She limped to the side so he could come in. He walked in and she struggled to shut the door.

"Um, hello, Deryn," Alek said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head. Her smile died and she gave him a look of pure misery. She looked away from him, face burning. Alek could see the moisture brimming in her clear blue eyes.

"Your mad at me, aren't you?" she whispered, her voice shaking. Alek's heart tore in half. He had never seen Deryn or Dylan like this. He hated it. It didn't belong on her beautiful face.

"Not really," he said gently. "I'm just confused. I mean I told you everything and you didn't tell me anything." Deryn's shoulders hunched and she slumped against the way.

"I didn't mean-" he tried to amend. Deryn silenced him with a finger to his lips.

"Just stop," she said with a pained look. "I didn't tell you anything except about my Da. I knew you'd be mad. I couldn't tell you alright? I mean, I really love you Alek." Her face flushed a deeper red. "In Istanbul, I meant to tell you but I... I just couldn't. You can't be with me anyway even if you did feel that way. It's just the way that it is."

She said this almost to comings herself that it was true. Alek realized he was starting to love her more and more. She was completely honest and she was braver then anyone Alek had hoped to meet. She wanted to fly, be like her father- carry on his legacy. Any anger that he had felt was gone and his confusion had disappeared. A long moment of silence went between them. He took a step forward.

"Deryn?" he said finally.

"Yes, Alek?" Her voice was soft. His heart fluttered like a caged bird, entrapped in his chest.

"I..." he started searching for the right words. "I..." Then he gave up. He wrapped her in tight embrace, drawing her close. He gave her a long passionate, lingering kiss full on her mouth. When he finally drew away, Deryn took in a sharp, surprised breath.

"Ich liebe dich auch," he whispered then breathed in German, "Forget Austria, forget Volger, forget the war, forget beasties. This is us alone now."

Deryn gazed at him in shock, then a gentle smile spread over her face. She wrapped an arm around him, holding the back of his head, with the other she held his face in her cupped hand. She kissed him back. Alek felt himself sinking into her soft mouth, arms wrapped around her waist.

He would never let her go, Austria or no Austria.