They had both arrived safely back at the Ebon Hawk, and were now in outer space, destination: Coruscant. Liana sat in the medic room, treating some small wounds, and making sure the wound, which Atton had partially healed, was all right. She wanted to put some bandages on it, to make sure that it would not reopen again. It was painful to move her left arm, and winced several times when she tried. Her shirt didn't help either, except being in the way. She slowly lifted her light brown shirt over her head, and now she sat only in her bra and pants. She tried again to bandage her wound, but again she winced when she felt the pain.

"Here, let me help." Liana jumped as she had not sensed him at all, probably because of the pain and the wound taking all of her concentration. She stared at him as he moved over to her left side and gently put his right arm right next to her wound. He bent down and started to examine her wound, all the while gently stroking her skin next to it. She shuddered under his touch, and without realizing it, she let out a moan. Atton stopped stroking her skin and stared at her with wide eyes, a little smirk on his face.

Liana blushed and decided looking at the wall was extremely interesting. Atton chuckled, then continued with giving her the medical treatment. He repeated what he had done to Liana when they were in enemy camp, and a soft blue light came from his hand. Liana let out a sigh as she felt most of the pain slowly disappearing.

"Why did you do it?" Liana suddenly whispered.

"What?" Atton asked, not hearing what she had said. Liana gazed down at him again, repeating her question.

"Why did you do it?" Atton had just put the bandage on, and was now looking intently at Liana.

"Did what?" he asked, although he knew exactly what she was talking about. Liana shifted her gaze to the wall again.

"Why did you react like that? When that guard said those things to you about me, why did you become so angry?"

"Of course I would be angry!" he snapped at her. Liana sat calmly and kept staring at the wall, not daring to look at Atton, not yet.

"You knew he only said those things to you to try to upset you. "

Atton looked down at the floor, feeling his anger rising, but took a deep breath before he said back: "I didn't want to take any chances." Liana then looked at Atton and reached out her right hand to his face, gently stroking it.

"Take any chances of what?" she asked softly and she kept studying him.

"Of losing you!" He yelled and pulled away from her. He walked over to the wall and rested his head against it, with the support of his arms. Silence filled the room.

Liana jumped down from the examination table and walked over to Atton, standing right behind him. "I can't lose you now, because…" he turned around and walked closer to Liana, staring deep into her eyes. He placed his arms on her shoulders.

"Because?" Liana asked as she saw that he was hesitating with his answer.

"Because…because I love you!... As long as I can help it, I will never let anything bad happened to you. I will protect you…" Liana widened her eyes as she heard those words. She guessed he could be scary when he wanted to be. But to know that he loved her, to know he would protect her, it felt surreal.

Atton lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers, first gently, but then harder. Liana melted into the kiss, and felt that she would collapse, if it hadn't been for Atton's arms holding her.

He broke the kiss and both were panting slightly. "I love you." He repeated again. Liana said nothing as she thought about what had happened in her head. "Passion, fear and emotion leads to the dark side. Already it has started to affect Atton. I think I love him, but I don't want him to suffer, but Revan and Carth are together. If they can, can't Atton and I?" Liana thought as she rested her head against his chest.

"Liana?" Liana lifted her face and gazed at Atton, and tears fell from her eyes. Atton bent down and kissed the tears away, then pulled her closer to him, trying to still her shaking body.

"Liana?" he repeated, tightening his hold at her.

"No, I can't lose her too. I love her so much, please…" he thought to himself as he rested his head on hers.

"I…I do love you, Atton,but…"

"But what?" "…" "Liana?"

"…I…I don't want you to suffer because of our love. So many falls to the dark side, because of their feelings for each other. I don't want to see you like when you fought against Derek, when you let your anger take control of your actions. I…I don't want you to fall to the dark side!" She said, then pulled away from him. Tears were running freely down her face now, and her body shook even more. Atton walked towards her.

"I won't." he said to her in a reassuring voice to her. "As long as you are here with me." He pulled her to him again and held her close. They stood like that for a while, never before feeling so happy and loved as they felt then. But Liana couldn't help fear and look forward for what the future might bring.