[ Oh man. Now she might be blushing. Just a little. Or a lot; she can't tell without a mirror. Either way, her cheeks are hot and she's definitely blushing to some degree. ]

Me... yeah, me too. That's why...

[ Nico frowns, getting out of the car too and using the break to give herself a moment to try and think of how she can string her words together. ]

I get it. Being out here, living like this? It sucks. But it sucks less when I'm with you.

[ They're a family, this rag-tag bunch of Brentwood runaways. But none of them is more family to her than Karolina. Karolina is peace, safety, grounding against the heady powers of her magic, especially that given to her by the staff. (Because something about it is so dark, far darker than the mysteries of Wicca.) Karolina has somehow become the one Nico searches for when she opens her eyes, the warmth she wants by her side as she falls asleep. Something she never expected. Something she refuses to let go. ]

It'll end, someday. We may not ever go home, but there'll be something out there for us. I promise.