A few days later, the whole gang was together and the conversation turned to plans for the future.
"I have been thinking a lot about a promise I made a long time ago that if .. no, when we got through this, I would take Rommie on a voyage of exploration, to see the universe like the Bellerephron was doing. I would like to fulfill that now." He looked over at Rommie questioningly. She looked shocked briefly, then smiled at him and nodded. She was happy.
After a shocked silence, everyone started wishing them well. He felt rather than saw her sudden stillness, but when he looked over at Beka, she smiled widely and said what a brilliant idea it was, then turned to discuss with Rommie where she wanted to go.
"Ah, Boss?"
"Yes Mr Harper"
"Mind if I tag along. Not that I am not enjoying being planetside, but I couldn't let my Rommie go on a trip like that without the best freaking engineer in the universe to look after her."
They all smiled at that. The Harper was most definitely back!
"Of course you may, Mr Harper. With Rommie's permission of course. In fact, you're all more than welcome."
Beka let out a small sigh. So at least it wasn't just Dylan and Rommie going off to be alone together. Did he want her along though. He had said they would always fly together, well no actually - she had asked that they do. Did he want her? She shook her head slightly and joined back in with the general conversation and laughter. She would think about things later. She was used to pushing away things she didn't want to deal with until a later more private time. She met Dylan's eyes and smiled. He returned the smile, not sure whether he had really seen the brief glimpse of pain in her eyes. What had caused that?
Later she, Dylan and Rommie headed back to the Andromeda. After they docked, Dylan hung back so he could talk to Beka alone. He guessed she would be staying on the Maru tonight.
"So do you think this will be a grand adventure, hopefully this time without people wanting to kill us left, right and centre."
Beka grinned.
" I hope you will be joining us. It wouldn't be the same without you." He tried to keep it casual, but held his breath waiting for her reply.
"Sounds like my kind of ride. Wouldn't miss it for the world."
A tiny spark of hope flamed in her heart. It seemed like he wanted her along.
That night on the Maru, she thought long and hard. She felt something for him, she knew that, she wanted to be near him. Was it love? She wasn't sure. Given her track record, would she even know? Given her track record, was there any chance of this ending well? At least he wasn't like any one of them, but she was still Beka Valentine, quite capable of screwing up even the best thing that could happen to her. And anyway, she didn't know if he felt anything for her, well anything more than friendship. She decided. She was going to enjoy this trip and leave it at that. Whatever happened she would get to spend this time with him. No soul searching, no dreaming of what might never happen (well, not too much anyway).