A/N: This follows after Wish Upon A Star. It's something I wrote over a year ago, and I've been thinking about reworking it. Reviews/opinions are both awesome and earn cookies.

Disclaimer: I do not own them. Kinda wish I did, they'd make my weekend more entertaining, but nope, not mine.

With her back to Calleigh, Natalia stood, ankle deep in the surf, staring at the night sky. Without looking, Natalia knew that Calleigh was watching, and listening and so it began. "There's this beach, up in Michigan, and when you stand there at night and look at the sky it's like looking into the eyes of millions. If you stand and listen long enough you'd swear you could hear the stars breathe. And if you stand there a bit longer the stars will whisper you their secrets. It's been years since I stood on that beach, but I want to go back," Natalia turned and looked at Calleigh finally, "will you go with me?"

"Why me?"

"Because I need to get away. I need a chance to breathe again; I need away from Miami for a while. And I know that you could use a break from work … and I trust you. I know this is sudden but we've both got a couple of weeks of time-off stocked up. Go with me, please Cal?"

"When do we leave?"

Two weeks later Natalia and Calleigh were found setting up camp in a Michigan State Park bordering Lake Michigan. Neither woman had realized how utterly annoying putting up a tent could be until they found themselves tripping over poles and stakes. After two hours of mumbled utterings and slight chaos Natalia and Calleigh found themselves sitting across a fire from each other staring into the crackling flame.

Natalia was the first to break the silence, "A friend brought me up here once, it seems like it was a lifetime ago. She loved it here. She taught me a lot in the time that I knew her."

Calleigh looked up in time to see the hint of a tear slide down Natalia's face. Her heart clenched, wondering what this friend meant to Natalia, but she didn't ask, she just waited and listened patiently.

"J.R. brought me up here that summer, it was probably one of the best vacations of my life. We shared a campsite with the rest of her family. I remember her parents had this big camper, really roomy, but a little crowded at the same time, especially with all three dogs in there. Her sister and her boyfriend shared a tent, and J.R. and I shared one," Natalia paused to look at her watch, "Shit! Come on, we've got to go or we'll miss the sunset."

Without thinking Natalia grabbed Calleigh by the hand and half pulled her to the deck at the top of the beach. She leaned against the railing and looked out over the beach and the lake as the multiple levels of the deck filled with other campers waiting for the sunset.

Calleigh leaned next to Natalia as she watched the people filling the space around her. There were elderly couples who moved slowly but smiled at everyone; the teenagers who seemed ignorant to everything and everyone around them; the families with their little children and dogs. It was amazing how many different people gathered to watch the sunset. Calleigh couldn't help but smile when a toddler wandered by holding his mother's hand.

She turned her attention away from people watching to focus on Natalia. The taller woman was staring off into the distance, but Calleigh could tell that her mind was occupied by heavy thoughts. She couldn't help but wonder about Natalia's past, and her ties to this place. Calleigh was still focused on Natalia when she heard the incessant murmuring of the crowd stop and realized that the sun was making it's descent into the horizon.

Natalia blinked back the hint of tears as the normal blue sky blended into a natural masterpiece of oranges and pinks, echoed in the surface of the lake. She had forgotten how beautiful the sunset on the lake was. As long past memories threatened to overwhelm her, she rested her hand on Calleigh's arm, attempting to ground herself in the present. Without thinking Calleigh rested her hand on Natalia's, squeezing softly as the golden orb disappeared into the water.

The sinking of the sun was accompanied by a variety of reverent exclamations from those watching the sunset, but all Calleigh could focus on was the pained look on the beautiful face beside her. As the others slowly meandered off the deck and back into the campground and their respective campsites, Natalia and Calleigh continued to stare into the distance, both lost in wonder at the beauty of the sunset and their own turbulent thoughts. This time it was Calleigh who broke the silence, though her voice was barely above a whisper, "Talia…" She got no further before Natalia looked up and her eyes met Calleigh's, whatever emotions and memories she had been struggling with were locked up and hidden behind a reluctant smile. "I'm sorry Calleigh, I didn't mean to zone out on you like that. Let's go back to camp. All of a sudden I'm in the mood to make smores." Without waiting, Natalia turned and began walking away from the beach, slowing her pace only slight to allow Calleigh to catch up.

"Smores, huh?" Calleigh smiled at Natalia as they walked towards camp.

"It's always been one of my favorite things about camping. You know… gooey marshmallow, melted chocolate and the crunchy graham cracker. Always reminds me of good times and happy memories."

"Well, I suppose I can indulge in some gooey, melted, crunchy goodness. But I have to tell you, I always catch my marshmallows on fire. Not intentionally… it just always seems to happen."

"It just so happens that I am a champion marshmallow toaster. I guarantee a nice golden-brown marshmallow every time."

Calleigh grinned, snickering slightly, "Oh please great marshmallow master, teach me your secrets, show me the way of the marshmallow."

Natalia mock glared at Calleigh, "Patience young grasshopper and I shall show you the depth of my knowledge of marshmallows."

The women continued their marshmallow-related banter all the way back to their campsite.

Upon reaching the site Natalia headed to the fire ring attempting to revive the fire they had left behind before the sunset. Calleigh gathered up the smore supplies, setting them on a small table beside the fire and parked herself in a lawn chair that had seen far better days. Her focus was on the form of Natalia as she performed an obscure form of CPR on the specter of the fire that had been. The only minor distraction from Calleigh's perusal of Natalia was the apparent swarm of mosquitoes attacking her. Natalia turned towards Calleigh and her fight with the insect brigade and smiled to herself. "There is bug spray in the tent, on top of my bag."

Calleigh thanked her and rose gracefully to walk inside, Natalia couldn't help but admire the form of her friend as she walked away. She stifled a chuckle as a corny pick up line fought its way into her mind. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts she turned back to the fire, slowly building up the blaze.

Inside the tent Calleigh berated herself silently for her thoughts of Natalia. "She's your friend Cal, pull it together. You can't afford to screw up this friendship. She's too important for that. Now, you're going to get the bug spray, you're going to go out there and you're going to act like a mature adult and stopping checking out Natalia when she's not looking. And side note, if you're not too busy trying to keep your hormones in check, and find out more about her, and maybe this J.R. and what this place means to her. Think you can handle that Hormone-Girl? Good, now go!"

Calleigh shook her head as she walked back out of the tent, bug spray in hand, secure in the knowledge that her inner dialogues might just qualify her for a one way ticket to the loony bin. Natalia glanced up at Calleigh when she sat down beside the fire. "Thanks for the bug spray."

" I'm glad to help, besides we wouldn't want you to get eaten alive now would we?"

"No, not at the top of the fun list."

They shared a smile, and both reached for their marshmallow sticks. "So Marshmallow Sensei, will you teach me now?"

"Patience young one, we must first discover your problems with the marshmallows."

Each woman popped a marshmallow on her stick and began the toasting process. True to her word Calleigh caught five marshmallows in a row on fire. Natalia couldn't help but laugh as she finished her third perfect golden-brown marshmallow.

"You're gonna need a lot of work aren't you?"

"I can't help it, they just always catch on fire."

"I promise by the time we leave here I'll have you toasting marshmallows like a pro."

Calleigh looked up at Natalia and smiled as her sixth marshmallow fell into the fire in flames. "Where did you learn to toast marshmallows?"

A pained expression flashed across Natalia's face before she answered, "J.R. taught me."

"Nat… I'm sorry."

"It's okay, really. What do you say we head to bed?"

"Sure, why don't you go ahead and go in and I'll take care of things out here?"

"Thanks."

Calleigh watched as Natalia made her way into the tent before letting her inner dialogue take over, "Well done Cal." "That's not fair, I didn't know." "Yeah yeah" "I didn't want to hurt her, I was just curious. "You're not the one hurting her, she's hurting herself." "How do you figure?" "She's hiding from her past, and the longer she hides, the more it's going to hurt."

"Cal, you coming in?"

"I'll be right there."

"Listen inner me, I'm going in there and you're going to be on your best behavior. I don't need inner dialogues controlling my head when I'm sleeping so close to Natalia. Just behave yourself and we'll figure out a way to help her. Deal?" "Deal"

Calleigh joined Natalia in the tent a few minutes later, still mumbling to herself. Calleigh traded her jeans and hoodie for a pair of sweats and a long sleeve shirt before curling up in her sleeping bag, looking over at Natalia before allowing sleep to take over.

Several hours later Calleigh was woken up by whimpers and quiet shrieks coming from Natalia's side of the tent. Calleigh crawled out of her sleeping bag and knelt beside Natalia, placing a hand on her wrist, she whispered, "Natalia, honey, wake up, you're having a bad dream." Natalia kept tossing and turning, suddenly bolting upright and looking around anxiously, "Where's J.R.?" Her gaze fell on Calleigh and tears welled up in her eyes. Calleigh pulled Natalia into her arms and held her tight. "It's okay honey, I've got you." Natalia buried herself in Calleigh's arms and clung to her until her sobs quieted and she slowly drifted back into the realm of Morpheus.

Calleigh let loose a sigh before attempting to free herself from Natalia's grasp. "Cal… stay? Please, I don't want to be alone" Calleigh couldn't do anything but nod, she climbed into the sleeping bag next to Natalia and pulled the taller woman into her arms, rubbing her back slowly. "It's okay, I've got you, I'm here. Sleep now." It wasn't long before both souls drifted off to sleep, wrapped up in the warmth and comfort that the embrace of the other offered.