3. Ed Loves Piyokos

When Faye woke up the next morning, she groaned when she realized that it was only a little after nine. Ever since Spike came home from the hospital, Faye had found herself going to bed later and waking up earlier. She didn't really sleep much anymore because she was always worrying about Spike.

"I swear," she mumbled to herself, "I'm so damn worried about him. I should worry about myself. I'm going to start getting worry lines on my forehead and bags under my eyes. Oh why do I care about you Spike?" She said in mock sympathy.

She glanced at her night stand and her gaze fell onto the 'Bebop Family Portrait', otherwise known as utter chaos, and slowly picked it up. The photo was Jet's idea, sometime before Spike tried to get himself killed. In it, they where on the outer deck of the Bebop where Jet was desperately trying to keep Ed from standing on her hands, and ended up holding her upside down instead. Faye had Ed's foot in the crook of her neck, so her face was distorted. And Spike was in mid-fall as Ein had casually lifted his leg to take a piss on Spike's shoe.

"Right. That's why," Faye said with sincerity. She put the picture back in place.

She pushed herself up from the bed and pulled on her terry cloth robe. Mornings on the Bebop were often times chilly, as she had learned from recent experience. She put her feet into her mint green slippers and she headed for the door. When she opened it, there was an envelope taped the outer side of her door, and a small bag on the knob. She pulled the card off and saw her name scribbled on it.

Grabbing the bag, she walked back into her room and sat back on the bed. She opened the envelope and pulled out a pink card with purple flowers on it.

'Tacky as always, aren't we Jet?' She mused silently.

The message was simply inscribed when she opened up the card: "Faye. I'm sorry about what I said. You know I always am. I guess things are just getting a lot harder now, and a lot of it seems to be his fault. I really do appreciate what you are doing for him and I will try to do something, too; just as soon as I can think of something. Jet." Smiling lightly, Faye then opened the bag.

"Chocolate!" Faye squealed. Jet always knew how to say sorry. And it had been so long since she last had real chocolate. All was forgiven, indeed.

Unwrapping the treat and biting off a hunk, Faye reveled in the smooth taste. She made sure to enjoy these little indulgences because she new that such peace would never last.

By noon, everyone on the Bebop was awake. Ed was doing cartwheels in the common room and Ein was barking happily by her side. Jet sat at the computer, typing away at something and Faye was sitting on the couch, filing her nails. All were present except for Spike. No one really asked where he was, though.

As if on cue, the lanky cowboy strolled into the room, hands in his pockets and skin slightly flushed. There was a distant half smile on his face and there was a slight spring in his step. One look at him and Jet and Faye knew that he had just shot up.

"So, anything for lunch?"

"There are some leftover bell peppers in the fridge. I fixed you a plate last night, so it should still be in there," Jet said, never looking away from the computer screen.

"Spike person wasn't at eaty dinner time last night," Ed accused in her innocent, sing song voice.

"Yeah…" he absently responded.

"Where were you, Spike person? Did you go flying high high high up into the night sky sky sky?"

Faye had to restrain herself from saying that he was some kind of high last night.

"Yeah, you could say that," Spike told her.

"I did say that, Spike person," Ed pointed out.

"Yes, you did," Spike answered. Normally, her pestering would have gotten to him, but right now, he was equipped to deal with her.

"Hey Ed?"

"Yes yes Spike person?"

"How about you and I play a game?"

"Ooohhh, a gamey game! What kind of game does Spike person want to play with Ed? And what does Ed get if she wins?"

"I want to play a game of hide and seek."

"Is Spike person going to hide and let Ed seek sneak peak for him?"

"Not quite. See, I've hidden a piyoko somewhere on the deck and if you find it, then you can have it."

"Yay! Ed LOVES piyokos! They're so tasty pasty lemon wastey!"

"Yeah, that…"

Then Ed was off. Her arms were outspread and she was making zooming sounds as she flew down the hall.

"Did you really hide something on the deck?" Jet gruffly asked.

"Nah."

"When she realizes that, you know she's gonna be mad, right?"

"She won't get mad."

"Then you don't know Ed," Faye interjected. "Don't promise her things that you won't give her, Spike."

"Don't lecture me, Faye," Spike said in a warning tone. "I think I'm appeasing you enough as it is."

Before she could respond, Spike entered the kitchen and grabbed his plate of food. Content with it being cold, he grabbed some chopsticks and dug in. He hadn't realized how hungry he was. He hadn't eaten for, shit, almost two days. How did it slip his mind? Oh well.

Back in the common room, Jet and Faye sat alone once again. There was an awkward silence that lingered. It was almost tense, and they both knew the reason why.

"I forgive you, Jet," Faye said quietly. "And I'm sorry for what I said, too."

Jet looked up from the computer and saw her smiling at him.

"Yeah, I'm sorry, too."

"You already said that."

"Heh, I guess I did."

The two comrades broke out into small laughter and the mood of the room calmed. Venturing to glance at one another again, Faye sighed and smiled at him.

"Oh, and thanks for the chocolate. It was delicious. Definitely the best way to get a woman to forgive you."

"I thought so," Jet said, tossing a warm smile her way. "For what it's worth, I'm glad you at least got a plan. I still don't know if it's gonna work, but it's worth a try."

"Thanks, Jet. I hope it works, too. I hope something works."

"Yeah…"

"Do you think we should say something to him? I mean, really sit him down and talk to him?"

"It seems likea good idea. He knows we know, but if we just keep skirting around the issue, he's just gonna keep thinking he's getting away with it."

"So, an intervention then?"

"I guess. What do people do in an intervention anyway?"

"I dunno. Tell the person you know they have a problem and that you care about them. You know; that kind of sappy stuff."

"Right. Maybe that'll do something."

"Yeah, let's hope so."

They both clamed up as Spike shuffled back into the common room.

"My ears are ringing," Spike casually said.

"I don't know why. I haven't slapped you yet," Faye joked.

"You're a real laugh riot, Faye."

"You have no idea cowboy." And with that, Faye went back to filing her nails.

so, two more chapters for you guys. what do you think? not to be a whiner, but please leave me a review of what you think. and a nice one, please. i just want to make sure i'm doing a good job, giving you guys a good read. well, thanks for your time and until the next chapters!

phoenix