"I'm falling even more in love with you
      Letting go of all I held on to
      I'm standing here until you make me move
      I'm hanging by a moment here with you
      I'm living for the only thing I know
      I'm running and not quite sure where to go
      And I don't know what I'm diving into
      Just hanging by a moment here with you."
      -"Hanging by a Moment" by Lifehouse
      
      
      As I ran through the boat pier, I searched for her. I rode the Stormwalker all the way here, and I wasn't going to stop looking until I found Deryn. I've made mistakes in my life, and there were some I didn't fix because I couldn't. But this was a mistake that could fix, and had to. I just HAD to.
      
      This was was a mistake Deryn was making as well, letting her mother take advantage of her and making her leave the "Leviathan" and come home, just because she thought it was the "best thing for her". I knew this wasn't the best thing. Heck, it was probably the worst. What she needed was what she wanted. And she didn't want this.
      
      But I, I loved her. And she loved me. I've known her for almost a year now, and she's the only one who made me forget how lonely I felt after my parents died. I could never repay her for that. That was a debt that was too great to forgive.
      
      But this was one thing I could do: Stop her from being unhappy for the rest of her life as well.
      
      I've only known she was a girl for a week or so, and I've only been with Deryn, not Dylan, for a few days before her mother came to take her away. It seemed that if our course started differently, then my decision here was wise.
      
      Through all the bustle, pushing through the inconsiderate people of London, I found her, walking to the train with her mother, carrying only a duffel bag. Her blonde hair was still short. I felt tears in my eyes. She was still the Dylan I remember. And I would never let her do something like this when I was little.
      
      "Deryn!"
      
      No response.
      
      "Deryn!"
      
      She stopped walking.
      
      "DERYN!" This is the loudest I've ever been. I never cared for anything so much in my life.
      
      She turned in my direction. Her small, light blue eyes widened.
      
      "Alek?"
      
      I kept running. It felt like running across a great field of obstacles: Her mother; our young age; Volger; the fact that I was a prince and she was a commoner, the fact that I was a Clanker and she was a Darwinist. I conquered through them all effortlessly. My love for Deryn was too strong to stop.
      
      I ran into her, wrapping my arms around her in a tight hug. She hugged me back.
      
      "Young man, what is the meaning of this!" her mother yelled.
      
      "Alek," Deryn said softly, "What are you..."
      
      I didn't let her finish, kissing her on the mouth. I didn't care if I was right in front of her mother; I never thought I would ever do that, and I was just so happy to see her again.
      
      "Don't do this," I said against her lips.
      
      "But my ma want me to," she said, sadness heavy in her voice.
      
      "Don't leave the 'Leviathan.' Someone will persuade to keep you on..." I was so scared to say these last words. I rehearsed it all night last night, but now, in front of Deryn, saying it for the last time, I couldn't.
      
      I fell to my knees. Not because I was supposed to, but because I felt so weak, all of the running and battling finally catching up to me. I started panting.
      
      "Come along, Deryn," her mother nagged. "We need to keep going."
      
      Deryn sat in front of me, placing a hand on my shoulder. She was waiting for me. Her boat was about to leave, but she was waiting for me. Then again, she probably didn't want to leave, anyway.
      
      I took a deep breath, thinking I was ready, and took her hands in mine. The whole world moved on, but in our little space, Deryn and I were frozen.
      
      "Deryn," I said to the only girl I ever loved, the only one I ever cared for, the only one I knew who was bold to live her dream, the only one who I trusted, the only one that helped me heal after my parents were murdered. I've known her as a best friend, but we were something even more now. I wanted to be with her forever. Ah, what the hell, this was it. We were ready.
      
      "Will you...Marry me?"
      
      That was probably the most shocking thing she had ever heard from me, for she just sat there, her cheeks turning bright crimson, her mouth agape. I waited for her response. I could've waited a million years for her to say yes, but I really needed just twenty seconds to say it.
      
      Then THEY came.
      
      "There's nothing else to lose
      There's nothing else to find
      There's nothing in the world
      That can change my mind
      There is nothing else."