DISCLAIMER: Babylon 5 and everything in it is property of JMS & Co.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: I swore I would never write an Sheridan/Delenn stories, but I have been going hog wild with my complete DVD collection, and the fanfic ideas are coming left and right. Remote controls seem to have been phased out by the 23rd Century, but it still makes a good story.

RATED: K

CONTROL FREAK

"John?"

"Hm?"

"May I ask you something?"

John Sheridan found this a very interesting query, as he had known the lovely Minbari Ambassador Delenn for three years now. "You can ask me anything, Delenn, you know that."

"All right." Delenn cocked her head at her intended. "Why do you insist on holding the remote control?"

John looked down at the rectangular shape clutched in his hand as if noticing it for the first time. "This? Well, I need it to change the channels."

"You can do that just as easily with your voice," Delenn pointed out.

As much as he loved her, John often found Delenn's practicality maddening. "It's just…" he fumbled for a word. "I don't know; it's a nervous habit."

Delenn studied the remote. "May I see it?"

John looked horrified. "No!"

Now this was just too much fun. "Why not?"

"You just can't, that's all."

"You said yourself that it serves no practical purpose," Delenn said with a devilish grin.

John's boyish face hardened in that "I'm-not-losing-this-fight" look of his. "No."

Delenn's grin widened. "John…"

"It's the remote control, and it's mine." John turned back to the television as if that settled the whole thing.

The Minbari beauty paused a moment before saying: "You are what Mr. Garibaldi would call a 'control freak.'"

John snorted. "He'd know." He watched the TV for a second before Delenn's comment registered. "What?"

"You are a control freak," Delenn repeated.

"I am not!"

"You are!"

"Delenn-"

The Ambassador did not allow him time to finish "You always need to be in charge, you can't let anyone else handle anything, you need all the information about everything going on, and you won't give up the remote control even though you can easily use the television without it!" she said the last part with the smug grin of one who has an argument cornered.

John scowled at her. "The remote control is always the man's domain."

"Why is that?"

"Because…" John was thoroughly frustrated. "Ah, Delenn, I don't know! It just is!"

Delenn's forehead crinkled in thought. "I will never understand humans," she mused, more to herself than to John.

Bleep. "Ivanova to Sheridan."

John smacked the link on his hand. "Talk to me, Susan."

"I need to see you in the War Room right away."

"Coming." He stood up. "Sorry, Delenn. Duty calls."

Delenn nodded her understanding as her beloved walked out the door at a brisk pace. It occurred to her that she was now in his quarters alone. Even though nobody else was there, she still felt a bit awkward. I suppose I should go.

The Ambassador stood. As she did so, her eyes fell on the arm of the chair where John's hand had rested just moments ago. The sight almost made her break into a fit of giggles.

John had taken the remote control with him.