"Did you know you're beautiful?" Nick ran his fingers through her hair.

" Am I really?"

"Yes, you are. In fact, you're the most beautiful woman to live on the face of this earth."

"Ni-ck"

"What, you are!" he laughed.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I-"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Sky, wake up. Sky.. "Nick gently shook her.

Her eyes fluttered open to reveal Nick kneeling beside her, gazing at her affectionately.

"You look like Sleeping Beauty," he said softly.

"Does that mean you're my prince?"

"Only if you'll allow me to be."

"You're allowed," she smiled, "But where's my kiss?"

"It's coming, but not yet."

"Why not now?"

"Because first, I have to give you this," he said, handing her the rose.

Sky's hand covered her mouth as tears of happiness occupied her eyes. "It's incredible."

"I know."

Sky lifted the flower to her nostrils when a sharp thorn dug into her skin.

"Ow!" she cried in pain.

"Are you okay?" Nick asked.

"I think so," Sky said, staring at the blood dripping off of her.

"Here," Nick took the corner of his shirt and wrapped it around her finger until it stopped bleeding. He removed it from the tangle of fabric, and lightly kissed it.

"There's your kiss," he told her.

"You're kidding!"

"Nope," Nick looked smug.

"That shouldn't count."

"You're right, it shouldn't, but it does! You're going to have to earn another kiss, if you want it to go right here," he touched his finger to her lip.

"Nick! Look at your finger," Sky took his hand. Sure enough, the exact same wound that Sky had on her finger, was also on Nick's.

"I guess I was concentrating too hard on you to notice it even hurt."

"Poor baby," Sky kissed his hand.

"Guess we're even now," he said.

"Does that mean I earned another kiss?" Sky asked hopefully.

"Hmmm," Nick chewed on his bottom lip, deep in thought. "No!" he jumped up, and raced out of the abandoned shed, where he had found a sopping wet Sky sleeping peacefully.

"You jerk!" Sky raced after him, and shoved him gently, when she caught up to him.

"Get in the car," Nick said as he opened up the driver's door, and seated himself.

"Why?"

"Because I have to take you somewhere."

"Where?"

"You wanna know what? I actually have no idea where," he laughed, but stopped abruptly. "But we have to go. NOW!"

"Okay, okay. Sheesh!" Sky exclaimed, making herself comfortable on the passenger side.

"Sorry, but we just need to go," Nick pulled off of the grassy area where he had parked, and onto the road.

"Why do you feel this way?" Sky looked at him.

"What way?" Nick played dumb.

"Scared. Why are you so scared, Nick? You can tell me."

"I would, but I can't."

"You can."

"I can't, because I don't know why. I just know we need to go."

"If you figure it out, tell me. Okay? I'm worried about you."

"Don't ever worry about me. Worry about yourself before anyone else. Protect yourself before everyone else, including me."

˜Why are you saying things like that? Don't act so heavy, when I'm in such a light mood. You're making it sound like a disaster is about to take place, when even the rain has cleared up."

Nick looked up briefly, to see that she was right about the rain. But, he still wasn't sure if she was correct about the disaster.

Sky reached across the seat to caress his face. "Don't be stressed. I don't like to see you this way."

"I'll try not to be like this," he said, pasting a fake smile on.

"Okay, good."

They only drove a few more minutes before Nick slammed on the breaks, in front of a large cave.

"A cave?" Sky's eyes narrowed.

"Yes, a cave! Oh, you gotta see this!" he leaped out of his seat and quick as a flash, he was on the opposite side of the car, opening up her door.

"Gosh, what's the hurry?" Sky had to laugh at the boyish look that, she was thankful to say, had returned to his eyes.

"I just really want to show you something inside," Nick said, his cheeks flushed with excitement.

"All right"

Nick crawled into a hole in the side of the cave wall, which he just barely fit through. Sky, was close behind him. She stood up, and found Nick's figure, which she could just see with the dim light given from the outside world. Nick pushed a button on the wall, and an opening appeared. Nick stepped into it, so Sky did also. Once Sky was fully in, the opening shut, and she could feel herself being sucked upwards.

"Oh!" Sky collapsed to the floor.

"It's okay, it's over now," Nick helped her up.

"What's going on?" Sky asked as Nick pushed another button on the wall and the opening appeared again. They stepped out, but he didn't answer her question.

"Nick," Sky asked, "Where are we?"

"Shhh, just follow me," Nick said, taking her by the hand.

The two walked hand in hand down the long, dark, hallway until Nick stopped. "In here," he said, turning the knob on a door that had just appeared. They entered the room.

"Oh my God!" Sky breathed, staring at the walls and ceiling of the room, which were covered in gems, rubies, emeralds, diamonds, and pearls.

"Yeah, it's amazing right?" Nick grinned at her, "Like you."

They leaned towards each other, their lips only an inch apart when a loud voice boomed, "Finally, you have arrived! You earthlings take such a long time in getting here."

"What was that?" Sky whispered.

"I don't know," Nick said.

"It was me, the master of your mind. Also, your body. I control every physical and mental action that goes on within you. You hate it, and you hate me, but there is nothing you can do about it. Do you hear me? NOTHING!" Evil laughter echoed in the room.

"STOP! STOP LAUGHING!" Sky yelled.

"No...This is fun! I love to see the stupid humans suffer!"

The laughter seemed to bounce off each wall, and into the faces of Sky and Nick. Sky slid down the wall, unable to hold up her body for she was crying to hard. She curled up into a little ball, and dropped the blue rose on the floor next to her. Nick bent down, and rubbed Sky's back, murmuring comforting words into her hair. With his other hand, he picked up the rose, and without thinking about it, smelled it. The fragrance pulled him back to reality. It made him realize what was happening. It made him realize where he was. It made him realize what he had done.

Nick covered his eyes, "No, no, no" he whimpered.

"Yes, yes, yes," the master said gleefully.

"I couldn't. I didn't" Nick was frantic.

"You could, and you did."

"He did what?" Sky looked up, as her sobs died down.

"Oh, he did a lot. He teased, he promised, and he led you right to me."

"I don't understand" confused, Sky looked at Nick.

"Should I tell her? Should I tell her now, Nick?"

"Please, just let us go. We won't tell a soul!" Nick pleaded.

"Nick, what is going on!?" Sky cried.

"Yes, I think I should tell her now" the master went on. "Because, she's not in the knowledge like you are Nick."

"Please, I'm begging you," Nick looked in the direction of the voice.

"Shut up! You are being very unfair to your female friend, not letting me explain to her. She has a right to know."

"Know what!?" Sky, threw up her hands, exasperated.

"To know why you're here, and what Nick, my helper has done to get you to come here. Now, I will tell you, but first, I must show myself and my servant." Smoke, and a thick cloud of smog appeared.

"Find the door, quick!" Nick grabbed Sky's wrist.

"You're not going anywhere! The door is gone and we're all alone."

The smoke and smog cleared to reveal the master of Nick and Sky.