4. Conversations to beat

They were lazily waltzing through Andromeda's largest hangar-deck that had been transformed into a lavishly decorated ball room, both of them oblivious to the two pairs of blue eyes following every one of their moves from opposite sides of the huge hall.

"That was a grand closing ceremony," Man Ka-Lupe remarked. "And this is by far the best ball I've ever been invited to."

Beka burst out in laughter.

"I bet you say that to all the girls," she said, leaning back into his arms encircling her waist to catch a better view of his face.

"Only to those who could deck me, if I were to say otherwise," he smiled with a fake reproach in his voice. A small cloud of regret fell over her features upon hearing him.

"Oh God, I am sorry… Does it still hurt?"

They had spent lunch-break in one of the gyms, sparring, with Ka-Lupe wearing an indulgent smile on his face until he had found himself hitting the deck hard, with Beka cowering on his ribcage, pressing him flat on his back.

"No, don't worry, I was joking… So," he continued a few seconds later after spinning her around, an action that had allowed him to afterwards draw her even closer - if possible, "what kept you away from the party for so long?"

"Just some ship-business. Nothing important, really. Harper wanted me to look over some schedules he had put up for his new engineers. Why I had to do it today, I don't know, but… he was very insistent."

"I bet he was," Ka-Lupe agreed darkly. "He'll do everything to keep you from me…"

"You noticed?" Beka teased, sounding pleased.

"Of course I noticed. By the Divine, I was completely at a loss about what to do with myself when you didn't show up…"

That was not completely true, however. Man Ka-Lupe had put the time he had to wait for Beka to join the party to good use, walking over to Dylan and sitting down for a little heart-to-heart with the man he considered his best friend. After spending the best week of his life in the company of Beka Valentine, listening to a rather impressive amount of 'Dylan says…' and 'Dylan thinks…' popping up involuntarily from her almost every other hour, the Marshall had come to the conclusion that it would be best to find out for himself what 'Dylan said' and 'thought' exactly on the subject of a certain blonde he had meanwhile come to see as the best thing that ever happened to him.

"So," he had begun, "you hiding Beka away?"

His friend had nipped at his drink, smilingly.

"No, I wouldn't even attempt at keeping Beka away from something… or someone she enjoys," Dylan said. "Last time I tried I ended up with hot coffee in my face…"

"Ouch…"

"Mr. Harper now on the other hand…"

"Yes," the Marshall agreed, "he seems very protective of her."

"Oh, we're all very protective of Beka," Dylan contradicted him, "Mr. Harper though is in addition to that also very jealous."

"But you're not?"

Andromeda's captain held on to his friend's gaze openly.

"You seem to make her happy."

"That's good enough for you?" Ka-Lupe asked directly.

"If it's good enough for her… and for you…"

"And if it's not?"

Man Ka-Lupe didn't miss Dylan's eyes widening.

"What do you mean?"

"What if I want more from Beka?"

The captain of the Andromeda moistened his lips.

"How much more?"

"I love her, Dylan," his friend simply told him. "And I think she loves me, too."

The other man stared at him sternly, not a muscle moving in his suddenly taut face. Silence fell and persisted.

"What?" Man Ka-Lupe finally broke it.

"Nothing," Dylan answered quietly. "Looks like Mr. Harper was right, after all." He shrugged, attempting a smile. "He told me days ago already that he thought you might go for it on this one…"

"And?"

The High Guard officer shook his head.

"I dismissed it… Foolishly, as it seems now."

Ka-Lupe frowned.

"Why? Are you against it? Do you think it too quick? Or do you believe Beka to not be the… marrying type? Or…"

"I think Beka to be whatever type she chooses," Dylan interrupted. "And believe me, I can vividly imagine how quickly she… can take permanent residence in a man's life. And no, I'm not against it. I'm more than happy for the two of you; you're both great people and deserve every bit of happiness…" His voice died down, but then he cleared his throat and continued. "What do you take me for, Ka? I wish you the very best. You're one of my best friends…"

"And she is…?"

"Here." Dylan stood up, lifting one of his arms in greeting.

"What?" Ka-Lupe asked, him too jumping to his feet and turning around.

"She's here," Dylan repeated, his tone and eyes softening up an instant at the sight of a Beka wearing a long, simple black dress that ended in a tight turtle-neck, leaving only her arms bare – and her back, but that the two men couldn't see yet. Slapping his friend gently on a shoulder Dylan turned away. "I think, I see the Than ambassador motioning me over to her. I'll be seeing you… Best of luck, Ka, with your plan…" he concluded, hurrying away before Beka could reach them. And had Man Ka-Lupe not been blown away by the sight of her, he might have taken his time to muse a bit about how his friend's voice had wavered at the last words.

"Yes," Beka's voice now shook him up from his reminiscences, "you did look a bit lost when I came."

Her partner smiled down on her.

"That's because before the woman of his dreams answers to his pleas, every man in love is… incomplete…" he whispered. The beautiful young woman laughed up.

"Yes," she told him with a chuckle. "And then he's finished."

"That very much depends on the woman, don't you think?"

Beka scrutinized him closely, a pensive look on her face. And then she suddenly stood still, oblivious to the other dancing pairs floating all around them.

"Ka, what are you saying?" she asked him in a quiet voice.

"I'm asking for your opinion about marriage, Beka," the tall man said, firmly taking hold of her shoulders.

"A lovely institution," the blonde answered dryly. "However, I'm not sure that I am quite ready for… an institution."

"Beka, please! Would you marry me?"

"No, but we can have dinner together."

He couldn't prevent a smile showing on his lips, but then shook his head.

"I'm serious, Beka."

"So am I, Ka. Listen: why don't we take this slowly? I'll ask Dylan for a vacation tonight. I come with you, you show me Lundmark, we take some time for ourselves. And then we'll see."

Laughing up relieved that she had not refused him flatly, he engulfed her in an embrace, right there and then, with both of them still standing in the middle of the dance floor.

"Sounds like a plan, Miss Valentine, sounds like a wonderful plan!"

At the far sides of the room, far away from them and from each other, two pairs of blue eyes – one of them furious, the other one insecure – seemed to disagree.