A/N: You guys are lovely&amazing and just asdfghjkl I just love you all and I ship you all with me. -Bianca:3

"Why, Leo?" Hazel said, finally breaking the silence.

"I didn't want Frank to get them. I knew it would make you upset." Leo said, searching for the right words.

"Yeah, well, this made me upset too. Couldn't you just tell me?" Her hair smelled sweet, like strawberries, Leo noticed.

"Obviously not." He laughed.

"This is not a time to be laughing, Valdez." She said, her face softening. She began to laugh with him and soon enough their tears had become ones filled with cheerfulness.

"Seriously, Leo, do not EVER do that again. It breaks my heart. You do know what this means, right?" Hazel looked up at his eyes.

"I don't want to know. Maybe it'll go away if I don't." Leo said, beginning to laugh again.

"So this is where you two were. Hazel. What are you doing with him again?" Frank had managed to find them, and it probably didn't take him any longer than a few minutes.

"I- He- The gems. Please don't be angry, Frank." Hazel looked at him, obviously upset. Leo wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders, then regretted it instantly. Frank looked as if he was going to crush Leo to death in a matter of seconds.

"Frank, seriously, don't. I was just making sure. I still am." Hazel pleaded with him.

"He's got his arm around you. What do you expect me to think, Hazel?" Frank shot one more angry glance at Leo before leaving.

"Oh gods." Hazel buried her face in hers hands and began to slowly make her way down to the floor. Leo wasn't sure of what to do. Sure, he thought things as funny, and he made a joke out of everything and he could even flirt with girls on accident, but he sure didn't know what to do with crying girls. He just stood there awkwardly, patting her head as if she were a dog or cat that was good and deserved treats that he did not have.

"I'm sorry, Hazel. Maybe if I just - I'll, just not..." Leo didn't know what to say, so instead, he turned to Festus, mentally asking him for advice whilst steering the ship. He could feel Hazel crying against his legs.

Hazel was glad Leo didn't say anything. She felt as if there were a comfortable silence between them, although there most probably wasn't.

She didn't know what to think. Frank or Leo? Frank or Leo?She attempted to stop crying, though that didn't work well. Once Leo was done patting her head awkwardly, she felt better, as if she would belong on the ship. Her sea-sickness seemed to disappear and she felt how Percy might feel underwater. She felt invincible, although she wasn't. She was just pure old Hazel, who had stupid gems that were her burden and may now be Leo's.

She still didn't want to talk to anyone, so she let the strong breeze fill the air around her. She wanted to curl up into ball and fall asleep, and so that was what she did.

Once Hazel had finally woke up, she thought she was dreaming at first. Her vision felt blurry and her mind felt fuzzy, but she realised those must have been the side effects for taking a nap. Getting up, she stumbled, but Leo was already at her side, holding her up. Her vision was still a little blurry, but she could still make out what was close to her. Gems.

"Don't touch them." Leo held his hands up defensively. She grabbed them quickly and stuffed them in her pockets as she always did. At least I can't be stuck underground. She thought to herself. She didn't want to be and she probably wouldn't be.

"Thanks. You carried me didn't you?" Hazel looked down at herself. Her clothes were messy and crinkled. Leo nodded in response as he walked toward the door.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

Could it have really been that simple? Why wasn't Leo saying anything?

Review and stuff because you love me really. -Bianca:p