A/N: Short chapter; a kind of prologue, if you will. I'd like to see if there's any interest in this before I post more.

So review, please!

She sat in the tiny video booth, trying desperately to sooth her quiet sobbing. If Harvey heard her, he'd ask too many questions she didn't want to answer and smother her with what he would assume to be comforting embraces and annoying shushes. She choked out a muffled cry at the thought of him rocking her back and forth.

She didn't even really know why she was crying. It wasn't like the video package she'd just received contained any depressing news from home. Her mother and father were simply telling her how much they loved her and how proud they were that she was their daughter (like they did in every message). Her mom showed her the new tennis bracelet her dad gave her for their anniversary and her dad told her about his latest surgical endeavor. He'd operated on a patient whose lungs were full of tumors; it had been successful.

She was just experiencing a little bout of homesickness. That's all. She'd be home in a couple of years. Everything would be fine and everything would go back to normal. The mission would be a great success and they'd all be hometown heroes when they returned to Earth.

Wiping away her tears, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Tried to calm her rapid heartbeat. Removing the elastic tie from her more strawberry than blonde hair, she quickly braided it and flung it in front of her shoulder so her dad could see it; he always loved her hair. She made sure she looked halfway presentable and took another moment to compose herself. She pressed the record button and began her message with a cheerful smile.

"Ciao bella, mamma! Bonjour papa!" She fluctuated her accent to fit each of her parents' native languages in turn. She read to them from her journal and showed them several of the sketches she drew of various things she observed. She talked about her crewmates and discussed the new development she had made with Corazon in regards to increasing the oxygen and protein levels in their apples. Realizing she was coming up on her ten minute time limit, she knew she had to sign off. She sighed and looked at her lap, then back up at the screen.

"OK, well. I have to go now." She looked down at her lap again, then back. "Um, this'll probably be the last message you get from me. Apparently we'll be flying into the dead zone a little sooner than we thought? And, because of the high magnetic energy levels on Mercury or… whatever, that'll prohibit us from being able to send or receive video packages. Harvey just told me. He, um… he hasn't told everyone else yet." She paused. Hot tears sprang to her eyes again and, this time, she didn't fight them. "So… this is it!" She took a deep shaky breath and tried to smile. Her lip quivered instead. She looked everywhere but the image of herself on the screen.

"Thank you guys for all your support. I know it must have been hard to send your only daughter into…" She couldn't finish that sentence. "Um… you guys are the best. I love you. I'll miss getting your messages." A choking sob interrupted her momentarily. She wiped her mouth and nose on the back of her hand. "But I know you know everything will be OK." She started picking at her nails as the tears fell silently down her cheeks. Suddenly, a red light began to flash slowly; her two minute warning. She'd have to hurry.

"OK… I really have to go now." The flashing light reflected on her face and shone against her wet cheeks. "I love you both so much! You'll never know…" Why did she feel like she was saying goodbye for the last time? Could she be any more foolish? "I'll see you in my dreams. And keep an eye out for that sunshine. It's on its way." She forced another happy smile. "Arrivederci and au revoir!" She blew them a kiss and waved. Pressed the send button for the last time. The flashing light stopped; the other lights dimmed and she cried alone in the dark.