Hello again everyone! I've been busy the last month or so, but now I'm back and ready to write!

"May I" will be much like my other oneshot collections I have based on songs. The oneshots will be posted in order with the lyrics. These stories are not related to each other, and their may be times jumps between them (just to warn you). Also, this collection is souly dedicated to Aerrow and Piper!

I have half the oneshots for this collection writen (though not necessarily the ones that will come first), and all the oneshots planned out, so I will hopefully be posting one every few days. If you guys are nice and leave reviews, I'll post the next oneshot tomorrow (it was the first one I wrote, so it's all ready to go!)

Disclaimer: I do not own the Storm Hawks, nor the song "May I" by Trading Yesterday (though, I encourage everyone to listen to it, it's a great song).

Where the Lights Start to Fade

"There you stand, opened heart – opened doors –

Full of life with the world that's wanting more.

But I can see where the lights start to fade,

The day is done and your smile has gone away.

Let me raise you up.

Let me be your love."

"We won the battle. Now it's time to win the war!" Aerrow called to his fellow Atmosians as he raised his blazing blade high, cheers rose from those surrounding the Condor, "We fly on, to Cyclonia!"

With that order, all hands scrambled to prepare for the next stage of the battle. Squadrons had to regroup, repairs made, and weapons stores raided. As the combatants returned to their airships, only two figures were left standing on the Condor's balcony, silhouetted by the setting sun.

Piper leaned against the window behind her, watching as Aerrow deactivated his weapon and returned it to its place against his back. The sky knight gazed around, a confident smirk upon his face, as he watched his army go about their preparations.

After Aerrow's eyes did a sweep of the now deserted vicinity, he let out a quiet sigh, his face falling into a troubled frown. Leaning his arms against the railing, Aerrow gazed downward, his features hard and strained, in thought.

Piper was slightly taken aback. This was not a side of Aerrow she was used to seeing. The sky knight was always bright and happy, the most optimistic person she had ever met. Seeing him look so sad and vulnerable unnerved the crystal mage.

Piper crossed the few steps that were between her and the red headed sky knight, reaching out to lay a gentle hand on his shoulder, "Aerrow?"

He jumped at the contact, turning quickly, a light blush of embarrassment was spread across his features. He had the look of a little boy being caught doing something he shouldn't. Upon seeing Piper's large, golden eyes staring at him worriedly, Aerrow's stiff body slackened and he gave her a warm smile.

"Oh, Piper, it's only you." he sounded oddly relieved.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Piper asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It's just— " Aerrow paused, trying to find the right words, "I thought you might be one of the guys, or Starling, or...."

Aerrow's voice trailed off. Letting another sigh escape his lips, the sky knight returned to his spot against the railing. Piper joined him, their elbows lightly touching as they rested upon the cool metal.

"Why would that matter?" Piper prodded, wanting to know the reason behind her squadron leader's odd behaviour.

Aerrow furrowed his brows in thought, and Piper could see that he was still trying to piece together all that was going on behind those emerald eyes.

"Well," Aerrow started, turning to meet Piper's gaze, "I'm supposed to lead the Atmos to defeat Cyclonia once and for all. I'm supposed to be confident, sure of our victory. No one should see me being doubtful, it could ruin everyone's morale and lose us the battle."

"And you're not worried about me seeing you like this?" Piper asked.

"No." there was no waver in Aerrow's voice now, and he gave Piper a genuine smile, "It's... different, with you."

Piper smiled back at the sky knight as a comfortable silence came between them. She was happy to be the one Aerrow felt comfortable to confide in. However, her face soon fell. She still hadn't found the cause of Aerrow's uncharacteristic behaviour.

"What are you doubtful about?" Piper asked, breaking the silence.

Aerrow looked to the setting sun. Reds, pinks and oranges shone across the sky, painting clouds and ships alike. Aerrow suddenly looked weary, his green eyes sparkling with a deep knowing beyond his years. Her worry increasing, Piper reached out a hand and intertwined her fingers in Aerrow's, hoping it would bring the sky knight some comfort and encouragement.

Aerrow's fingers tightened around Piper's as he turned his head towards her, "Remember when I told you guys what happened to me, after the Condor was destroyed and we split up?"

"Yeah." Piper smiled at the memory, her eyes sparkling with laughter, "Snipe chased you and Radarr, and the big dimwit blew up his own ship!"

Aerrow gave Piper a brief smile, but his features soon turned serious, "Well, I didn't tell you everything that happened to me."

"What happened?" Piper's eyes widened, "Did you get hurt? Are you hiding an injury from us? Did—"

"No, Piper. Nothing like that." Aerrow assured, giving her hand a comforting squeeze, "I'm fine." he added, seeing the crystal mage's sceptical look.

"Then, what happened?" Piper's voice held an edge of impatience.

"I met up with the guardians." Aerrow answered, "They told me that 'the moment of my destiny is coming' and it would be 'a conflict that will involve all the Atmos.' Or, something like that."

"So this battle...?" Piper began.

"Has something to do with my 'destiny.'" Aerrow finished, sighing.

"Well then, what are you worrying about?" Piper questioned, "It's your destiny to free the Atmos, isn't it? So, it's also your destiny to win this battle."

"Yeah, but what if the prophecy is wrong?" Aerrow asked, "What if I mess up? What if I make a wrong decision? What if something happens and..." Aerrow's voice was almost a whisper now, "...I don't come back?"

"What makes you think that?" Piper asked, trying to hide her own uncertainty behind a playful smile, "You always make it back! Nothing can bring you down."

"It's just, the guardians said...." Aerrow's voice faded away once again, as he averted his eyes.

"What?" Piper asked, unable to keep the worry from her voice.

"Uh, it's nothing." Aerrow said, a bit too quickly.

"Aerrow." Piper chastised.

"Really, Piper. It's nothing." Aerrow said with a finality that told the crystal mage she would not be getting anything else out of the sky knight.

"Fine." Piper grumbled, pouting comically in an attempt to cheer her friend up.

When Aerrow's face didn't brighten, Piper let out her own sigh. Releasing his hand, she placed an arm around his shoulders in a comforting gesture.

"For what it's worth, I think you're a great leader, one who can free the Atmos once and for all." Piper whispered in Aerrow's ear, before giving him a quick peck on the check.

Piper smiled at the shocked expression on the sky knight's face as she turned to leave. She had only taken a few steps when her progress was ceased by a hand that wrapped its way, gently, around her wrist.

Piper smiled, knowing full well who had stopped her. Turning, she found Aerrow an arm's length away. She couldn't make out the sky knight's expression, for he had his head hung low and his spiky bangs set a dark shadow over his features.

It was Piper's turn to be shocked, as Aerrow suddenly pulled her to his chest, wrapping his strong arms around her petit frame. Piper was surprised at how tightly he clung to her, as if he would never be able to do so again.

Leaning his head against her shoulder, Aerrow whispered two simple words, "Thank you."

Just as suddenly as he had brought her to him, Aerrow released Piper from his embrace. They just stood there, Aerrow with his head still down, and Piper slightly stiff in shock, still trying to comprehend what had happened.

After a few moments, Aerrow lifted his head, a bright, confident smile once again gracing his features.

"Come on, Piper!" Aerrow said, grabbing her hand and dragging her towards the door, "We've got the Atmos to free!"

Piper's first impulse was to stopped dead in her tracks. This sudden change back to the normal Aerrow was even more unnerving then when she'd seen the defeated looking Aerrow. However, the crystal mage allowed herself to be lead by the sky knight, for something deep inside her told her that he would be okay.

Somehow she knew that everything would turn out okay.

Well, that's the first oneshot. Not too long, but not too short either.

I found that the guardians' warning of the "Atmos without Aerrow" after the battle was just brought up and then left in the show. So, I thought I'd dive into it a bit myself! I'm not sure how it came across.... I'm not totally pleased with the ending...

Well, tell me what you think! I love reviews just as much as the next writer!

Thanks for reading!