Disclaimer

I do not own House of Anubis nor the characters. I do own the plot.

Chapter 20

Fabian's POV-

Fabian: Get some sleep. Good night, Nina.

Suddenly, she kissed me on the cheek and held my face with the palm of her hand. When she finally pulled away, I couldn't help but blush. Those bluish-greenish eyes of hers always made me giddy and I don't know why!

Nina: Thanks for everything that's happened today. You've saved at least three times today.

She leaned against my chest and her hand slid from my cheek to my shoulder. I gripped her hand and pressed her small frame in to my body. The next thing she said changed my life.

Nina: I want you to be my Osirian. You've been so good at protecting me. I have faith in you.

I watched in awe as she also whispered another important aspect.

Nina: You're my Chosen One. I love you.

My eyes widened at her final words.

Fabian: Nina, is this true?

She didn't reply except for the sleepy little puff of air that came from her nose. She's asleep. No. Not after a confession like that.

Fabian: Nina?

She shifted slightly, but remained in her deep slumber. Does she really love me? Does she really remember? No, that can't be true. She was probably just sleepy and won't remember mentioning it in the morning. I relaxed and tried to lullaby and reassure myself to sleep. She doesn't love you. She doesn't remember. She doesn't love you. She doesn't remember. Replaying those words actually hurt me even more than admitting what may be true. It's not true! Gosh, World War 3 has officially broken out inside me! I looked down at Nina in her calming position. I'm actually pretty happy she was cold. I mean, would she even be here in my arms tonight if she didn't need me? Of course not! Nina's that independent woman who can handle herself and carries her own weight with dignity and respect. That's one reason why I fell for her as teenagers and why I fell for her now.

Nina's POV-

I started to stir when I smelled something burning. My eyes fluttered open when the smell met my nose and I nearly jumped from my position. Whatever was underneath me started to stir as well and I held my breath. I stayed still as whatever it was came to.

Fabian: Nina?

I looked down and saw Fabian, his hair messy, his eyes barely open, and his clothes wrinkled.

Nina: Morning. Sorry I woke you.

Fabian: No, no. That's ok. Say, what's that smell?

Nina: Something's burning.

His eyes popped open and he abruptly stood up, forgetting I was still laying on him. He caught me and I ended up in a bridal position.

Nina: Thank you. Now, can you do me another favor?

Fabian: Of course. How may I serve you?

Nina: Can you, oh, I don't know, put me down?

Fabian: Oh, right. Sorry about that.

He set me on my feet and we headed to the kitchen. There, we saw a sight I was sure I'd never see.

Fabian: Patricia? What are you doing?

Patricia: Cooking, of course!

Nina: Cooking?

Patricia: Yes. I'm cooking breakfast.

Fabian and I exchanged suspicious glances. What's going on here? Patricia's being nice.

Fabian: Who are you and what have you done to Patricia?

Patricia: Alright, I just didn't want to disturb the lovebirds.

Nina: Lovebirds?

Patricia: Ya. I woke up, grumbling about breakfast, and you two were all snuggled up together, so I decided to leave you two to sleep.

She shot us an evil grin.

Nina: Well, that's Patricia, all right.

Fabian: That also explains the burning.

We started laughing while Patricia glared at us.

Patricia: I have pictures of you two getting cozy. Talk about great blackmail.

We stopped laughing and shared a look of worry.

Fabian: Now, Patricia, no need to do anything hasty.

Patricia: Just start eating.

She flopped some undercooked scrambled eggs, burnt bacon, ashy sausages, and some extra crispy toast on our plates. She also handed us homemade orange juice.

Patricia: We have a long day ahead of us. Sibuna's meeting back at Anubis House today.

Nina: Why?

Patricia: Eddie and I, we found something.

Fabian and I shared a look of surprise. Patricia smirked and left us to get ready. I tried to eat breakfast, but it was terrible.

Nina: I think she even burned the orange juice.

Fabian chuckled and pushed his plate aside, standing up.

Fabian: Enough of this, I'm going to make us a proper breakfast. How do you feel about oatmeal?

I picked up what I thought was burnt sausage, but it could've been a human finger.

Nina: Anything's better than whatever this is.

I disposed the hazardous waste from our plates and we got busy making actual breakfast. I was chopping up strawberries on a cutting board when Fabian spoke over the sizzling stove and the chopping knife I was using.

Fabian: Listen, about last night-

Nina: Ya, um, can we try to forget that? It was kind of embarrassing, you know?

Fabian: Ya. I just wanted to know, how much do you remember?

Nina: Well, the last thing I remember was my little thank you present and I started babbling about the whole Osirian thing, then I fell asleep.

Fabian: That's it?

Nina: Ya, why?

Fabian: Oh, nothing. It's just that, you mumbled something afterwards so-

Nina: Well, actually, I do remember mumbling something.

Fabian: Really?

Nina: Ya, I just have no idea what I said.

Fabian: Oh-

Nina: What did I say?

Fabian: Oh, um, y- you said you- missed- you- you missed-

I put the knife down and saw him sweating buckets. I walked over with a towel and tried to wipe away the sweat.

Nina: Fabian, are you ok? You seem- nervous? What did I say?

Fabian: You said you missed Anubis House.

Nina: Well, I have. It's been so long

Fabian: Ya.

Fabian seemed to relax at my response.

Nina: Why were you so nervous?

Fabian: Um, well, I- I couldn't help but remember that- that- that-

He looked at my neck and his eyes widened,

Fabian: Where's the locket?

Uh oh.

Fabian's POV-

Nina's eyes widened at the mention of her locket. Her gaze fell upon her feet.

Fabian: Nina. Where's the locket?

Nina: I- um- it might have-

Fabian: Spill.

She looked at me dead in the eyes and whimpered in such a helpless manner.

Nina: He- he destroyed it.

Fabian: Rufus?

Nina: Ya, when he kidnapped me.

Fabian: Oh no. Nina, I'm so-

Her eyes fell to the ground as she interrupted me.

Nina: Don't bother. It's gone.

I lifted her chin in hopes to have her breathtaking blue-green eyes gaze in to my blue eyes, but she just turned away all together.

Fabian: But, it was-

Nina: The oatmeal.

Fabian: What?

She walked back to where she was cutting fruits and resumed her duty as she responded plainly.

Nina: Turn around, the oatmeal. It's burning.

Fabian: What- oh! Gosh!

I immediately ran in to action, turning off the heat and removing the scalding hot pot from the stove, dumping its simmering content down the kitchen sink drain. I turned to see Nina slowly cutting the fruits, her hand tightened around the knife and her concentration fuzzy. I watched her fingers lazily trace the fruits and the knife barely miss her fingers. Anxiety rose within me when she froze and jabbed the knife in to the wooden cutting board. She slowly turned around and the first thing I saw was the tears in her eyes, preparing to burst.

Fabian: Nina, I-

Nina: I failed!

Fabian: Failed? What do you mean you failed?

Nina: I just did!

Fabian: Failed. What- how- who did you-

Nina: Everything! The quest, Sibuna, Sarah, I've failed as the Chosen One! I don't even have an Osirian anymore!

Fabian: That's not true! You do have an Osirian!

Nina: I don't even know him!

Fabian: Well, I do! I know he cares! I care!

My eyes widened as I realized what I said. Oops.