A/N: This story is a joint writing effort between myself and Padme18.

The music was blasting from the comm system in her appartment. Serene had been working on packing up her belongings for the trip home for only a few days. The results, her apartment had turned into a disaster zone, with belongings haphazardly scattered in the small living room and kitchen area. Some were tagged for transport, others were still awaiting sorting. It was all dreadfully boring.

Every few minutes she'd change what she was packing, usually as the song changed. It was her usual way of doing things. It hadn't steered her wrong in what had become known as Operation Deimos.

"Some things never change I see?" Azure said pointing to the mess as she tried to find a place to sit.

Serene hadn't heard the Geman woman sneak in. Then again, she did have the music playing awfully loud, so it wasn't a surprise. "Nope." She replied in between stuffing some more of her clothes into a duffel bag. "Computer, 50% music volume." The music quickly changed to a dull roar in the background.

"Packing for home I see. When do you leave?" Azure asked as she found a place on the floor and stretched out.

"Yeah." Serene gestured to the mess all around her. "Dad wants me to get back to the fleet. Says he's got 'real work' for me."

"As opposed to what?" Azure smiled. "You just helped save the life of a high ranking official, that sounds like 'real work' to me."

Serene gave Azure an expression that very clearly meant, 'you know my dad.' "I'm sure he just misses me."

"I think the only one who misses me is my cousin. Malachi was the only one who didn't ostracize me for wanting to join Starfleet." She picked a piece of lint off her pants and looked at the floor.

"You know... I've know you how long... and you've not once really spoken about your family." Serene had very suddenly made the realization. She knew only a bit about Azure's planet, and she'd never taken the time to ask.

"Let's just say I didn't leave on good terms. My aunt and uncle didn't like my decision to join Starfleet, nor did any of my friends, or teachers. They're a proud people, they thought I should use my skills to help save lives there, not somewhere else." She sighed. "Family honor is a big thing to them. I didn't hold up my end in my aunt and uncle's view. After all, they took me in when my parent's died." She looked up at Serene. "You know how some people can be."

Serene nodded, sitting down on top of hexagonal packing crate that was laying sideways on the floor. "Trust me, I do. Makes you wonder if everyone was just nice to one another that we could all get along."

"Yeah, it kind of does."

"Have you spoken to them recently... like at all?" Serene had a feeling she knew the answer to this anyway.

"My cousin and I exchange mail, but I haven't talked to anyone else. Nothing to say. We kind of had it out before I left." Azure laid back on the floor, her long blue hair fanning out around her head.

"You're staying through the summer term, not going to visit?"

"And have them yell at me some more? No thank you. I'd rather spend my leave doing something fun. Maybe I'll go to the beach or something. Catch up on my reading. You know, the same things I always do." Azure rarely went to the beach. But anything sounded better than going back. This was her home now.

"What about your cousin though?"

She shrugged. "He has a job with the shuttle service, does regular flights between the provinces. Keeps him pretty busy. I'd have to try to get ahold of him and see if he was free. But I don't know, I doubt it would be a warm welcome."

"You know you won't be able to change that by just hiding here in San Francisco... or on a starship somewhere."

"Who says I want to change anything? I'm happy here."

Serene sighed. "Okay... you remember when I told you that when I was younger my dad was never around?"

Azure turned to face her. "Yeah, I remember, and your mom died when you were two right?"

"Yeah. Anyhow, my point is I hated my dad for it. There was a lot of hurt feelings, lots of anger, at least one 13-year-old temper tantrum." Serene shook her head before she went any further off course in her attempt to relate Azure's situation to something she'd been through. "But he came back and tried to make things right."

Serene sighed. "That analogy didn't work as well as I intended... still... even your aunt and uncle have to admit that saving some Admiral from possibly the most heavily fortified installation ever is a big deal right? That's doing good. Heck, it's got Geman on the map. Before you, nobody knew anything about your people."

Azure smiled weekly. "It did kind of put us on the map, so to speak. But I don't know, they aren't the easiest people to please." She trailed off.

Okay yeah, Serene wasn't gonna win this argument. Didn't mean it wouldn't be fun to try though. "Other friends?"

"I had a few, but they and kind of like my aunt and uncle. My best friend didn't like that I wanted to leave either. We didn't part on good terms. She got mad, I got mad, you know how teenage girls are."

"You think across cultures galaxy wide there'd be some variation..." Serene mused idly.

"You'd think so, but I think some things are universal."

"Damn when you say good terms, you really mean you didn't part on good terms. Isn't there anything about Geman you miss?"

Azure smiled. "The trees, you can see for miles depending on how far up you make it. And the wildlife. As dangerous as some of it can be, it is a beautiful place. I broke my arm when I was about six or seven because I climbed too high and branch broke. I was determined to climb higher than my cousin. We both got in trouble for that one."

"Still not enough to go back though right?"

"Serene, I appreciate what you're trying to do, but I think this is something I have to do when I'm ready, and I just don't think I am."

Serene threw up her hands. "Alright, I give up. Still... you can't just sit around here all summer."

"Well, you got any other suggestions then?" Azure asked propping herself up with her elbows.

"Well, come with me. I'm sure Dad won't mind adopting another daughter. Mom will say something about how it's illogic and it'll be all good."

"Hmmm. Meet the famous Cunningham family in their natural habitat?" Azure jumped up. "Sounds like fun! What should I pack?"

Serene had a puzzled expression. "Stuff..."

Azure rolled her eyes. "I meant, anything special besides the basics?"

"Well... here's the thing... home for me is kinda a warship. We use the holodeck for anything that's not really the basics." Serene shrugged. "So the basics will probably be fine... it's not like you'll need an evening dress or a swim suit."

Azure nodded. "OK, then I should probably go pack a couple of bags. What time do we leave?"

Serene once again examined the mess. "Tomorrow morning. Yep... tomorrow morning. Dad's sending a shuttle for me."

Azure looked around at the chaos. "Are you sure you'll be ready? I can stay and help if you need it."

"Oh it's gonna be an all night thing." The human looked around once more. "Or I could just beam it all up into a transporter pattern buffer..."

Azure shook her head. Something tells me the latter is going to be what happens. I'll see you in the morning."

Serene nodded. "Thanks Azure... you know if you get a chance after you pack, drop by and you can help." She threw the Geman woman a devilish grin.

Azure laughed. "I'll be back as soon as I can, no one can pack an entire apartment in one night."