A/N: Hey readers! Here's the next chapter… even I don't know where this is going… the story has a mind of its own! Thanks to J.K. Rowling and Team Starkid for their wonderful genius. I AM SOOOOO SORRY I HAVE NOT UPDATED IN SO LONG! Feel free to yell at me…

Reviews are great! They make me happier than Dumbledore with a Zefron poster! Soo… I know this is about Starship, but I must say that Glee was amazing this week. AHMAZING. Happy reading!

Soo… this is almost sorta kinda M but nothing actually happens so I'm leaving it at T for now.

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Taz and Up waited in quiet tension for the next few days, but that was at the back of their minds. The unsure future Junior's threat had created only made the now-couple grow closer together faster that before. They shared Up's or Taz's bed every night, and Taz woke up every morning snuggled against Up's chest, held tight by his strong arms.

Up had the best smell in the world. Taz loved to wake up surrounded by it. It was a mixture of the clean scent of laundry, the sweet smell of cut grass, and something fresh and musky that could only be described as Up.

Four days after the Junior incident, Taz and Up laid in bed, kissing lazily. The minty taste of freshly brushed teeth lingered on Up's lips, and Taz smiled slightly through the kiss.

Taz moved closer, now pressed nearly completely against Up's warm figure. She shifted, brushing lightly against him, and shivers of pleasure made him shudder slightly.

The lazy kisses changed from sweet and chaste to hard, desperate, and passionate. Things began to get heated as Taz rolled on top of Up, never breaking the contact of their lips. The contact made her gasp, and Up took advantage, plunging his tongue into her open mouth. Taz welcomed this, but the pair froze when a sharp knock sounded on the door.

Up cleared his throat loudly and took a deep breath, but his voice still came out low and gravelly. "Uh–er–who's at the door there?"

A disciplined and formal, but girlish, voice responded from the other side of the door, in a slightly uncomfortable manner. "Good morning Commander. I was sent by the Ambassador to let you and Taz know that he demands your presence in his office in an hour. I knocked on Taz's door, but she–er–wasn't there… I *cough* assume she's with you then, Commander. Please pass on the message. That is all."

"Thank you heaps, Lieutenant Ruby, please let him know we will be there."

Ruby stayed on the other side of the door, whining. "UP… you said you would call me Fang! It's the name I want! I'm one tough bitch. Pleeeeeeease?"

Up sighed a little, but complied. "Thank you, Fang. See you around."

Taz unfroze and flopped back on to the bed, sighing heavily and running her hands through her tangled dark hair. Her face was determinedly happy, however.

Up was confused by Taz's expression, but could understand her sighing. He wrapped his arms around her again and smiled as she inhaled deeply. "We'll be okay, here, Taz. I won't be lettin' a single thing happen to us. We'll stick together, and fight through thick and thin. If you stay by my side, there ain't no way we can't win. I love you, Taz, I always have."

Taz giggled slightly, then snuggled into Up's chest. "I know, Up. Te amo. Siempre."

"I don't want you to get yourself ruined, Taz. I'll take the blame. Then you can still go on your missions and all, y'know?" Up opened his mouth to explain further, but Taz silenced him with a fierce and defiant kiss.

"If we go anywhere, Up, we go juntos. Together."

Eventually, the couple got out of bed and prepared to meet the Ambassador. The quiet tension became not-so-quiet tension as the condemning hour approached. In the last fifteen minutes before their meeting, they sat silently on the couch, staring unseeingly at the television, which remained off. Up's mind was blank, but Taz let hers wander.

I wonder what life would be like if we were not allowed to go on de missions anymore…what would happen to us? We would get married, and have de bebes, and live de fairytale, and de happily ever after… Our wedding would be gigante and I would wear de big dress and say de "I do" and be in love… Taz sighed happily and Up was startled out of his mental stupor.

"What're ya feelin' so happy about there, Taz?"

Taz shook her head quickly, a blush tinting her cheeks and embarrassment evident in her voice. "Oh… no es nada importante, Up."

Just as Up opened his mouth to protest, the alarm of his hologram clock buzzed. Up's heart began to race. Taz could tell, and she held his hand tightly, looked him in the eyes, and said "Up. I love jou. I don't care what happens here ahora as long as we are juntos."

Up tried to shake off his fear as he stood up, clutching Taz's hand to his chest. Together they hurried through the corridors of the Academy and to the impending doom of the Ambassador's office. The doors hissed and slid apart ominously. Taz strolled in as casually as she could, dragging Up behind her by the hand.

They stopped in front of the huge black-and-chrome desk in the middle of the room. The black high-backed chair spun around slowly to face them. The tension in the room was palpable. Up trembled and turned slightly to Taz, who face showed no emotion, only composure.

The ambassador's wrinkled, square-shaped face was expressionless, but soon morphed into a mask of stern reprimand. He spoke with an accent. "Well, you two know you screwed up, and I'm forced to punish you for it. I cannot allow you to get off unpunished. The two of you will be demoted to teaching level Rangers and will not go on any missions. You will teach in this position for seven years. Once again, I do apologize. But may I add that you two are in the same rank now, so relationships are not against the rules. You may leave now."

It was Up's turn to drag Taz away, out of the Ambassador's office and down the hall. She remained in her stupor until Up pulled her into the room, let the door hiss shut behind them, and pushed her gently against the wall, his lips immediately pressing against hers. She gasped slightly, inviting his tongue to plunder her mouth, running over her teeth and tasting sweetness he couldn't understand.