Muted beeps and clicks seep into Danielle's mind. She pushes them away, tries to sink back into sleep, but the noise is persistent and she opens her eyes. The room is unfamiliar: worn, plain durasteel walls and shelves haphazardly covered in datapads, holonovels and bits of fabric. Her muscles tense, preparing to go into a defensive posture, but the searing pain stops her and she lets out an involuntary groan.

Sebastian's head pops into view then and she realizes that he's holding her hand. He leans over her, worry lines deep on his face. "Dani…" He squeezes her hand and reaches out to touch her cheek. A tear falls from his good eye. "I was so worried."

"Seb…" Her mouth is too dry and her throat too painful to finish his name.

He releases her hand and slowly leans over her before slipping his arms behind her back to pull her into a gentle hug. "So worried."

She doesn't know how she ended up in this place with him. She has no memories involving him since he knocked her unconscious in his office weeks ago. Danielle feels something twist in her chest when he pulls away. The eyepatch is skewed to the point where she can clearly see his cybernetic eye and he doesn't even notice. She lifts her hand to fix it herself, but as soon as she begins the motion she knows she's not strong enough to finish it.

Sebastian snatches her hand out of the air and brings it to his mouth, kisses her knuckles. The Force tells her that his eye is full of the same pained trust and bottomless affection he had when he confessed his love eighteen months prior. Or maybe it's her heart.

He breaks eye contact and whistles toward the door. A moment later, a rusty protocol droid appears in the doorway with a tray. Carefully, he takes the tray and extends the legs so it rests over her lap. "The healers sent some medication…" He nudges a tiny cup of pills towards her. "I didn't want to just give them to you. I didn't know if… they'd have any negative effects with your…"

With my Sith-ness, she finishes for him. Danielle tries to push herself into a sitting position, but the weakness crashes over her like a bucket of water.

Sebastian leans in, pulls her up and settles a few pillows to support her back. "You need some water. And food. You've been unconscious for 48 hours. They- I- didn't have your real medical information, just 'Captain Dani's,' so I was afraid to give you anything."

"Anything is… fine." With deliberate motions, Danielle picks up the cup of pills and the glass of water. She lets out a shuddering breath before washing the pills down with a sip of water.

"There's broth, or some bread. It's not the freshest, but it's from Alderaan. I know you-"

"I'm not hungry." Danielle closes her eyes and relaxes into the pillows. "What happened to me?"

He takes her hand again and holds it in both of his. "I'm not sure. You were found in Republic space, badly injured. It was obvious that the wounds were of Sith origin, so they took you directly to Coruscant for healing. You know Dani's records said I was… So they called me."

Again, Danielle's mind fills in where his words leave out. Dani's records said you, Sebastian, were her husband.

"As soon as you were stable, I had them load you into my ship and got back into neutral space. I couldn't risk anyone recognizing you as Sith." His hands shake even as they hold hers. Sebastian lowers his gaze and squeezes her hand between his.

Danielle turns away from him, as well, and it lets in a rush of memory. A slippery lord, looking for an 'easy' Darth title by attacking one so young. She killed him. Destroyed his lightsaber, but he must have… She shakes her head and the movement makes her dizzy. She looks at him again, limp red hair, sagging posture, hands white with their grip on hers.

"Thank you… Sebastian."

"Anything for you, Dani." He relaxes his grip a little and releases one hand entirely to fix his eyepatch.

After he does so, Danielle loses control of herself and tugs on his hand. "...Sebastian." When he leans towards her, she tilts her head until their lips brush. Emotion overwhelms her and the tears on her cheeks are Sebastian's, not hers, because she doesn't need this. She has control.

For his part, Sebastian takes the touch as an invitation to climb into bed with her. With ease, he lifts her clear off the bed and replaces her on top of him. His arms hold in her place with the slightest pressure and he starts rambling as they both cry. "I love you, Dani. I tried to forget. It hurt so much that you lied and then didn't even care about my feelings, but I just- You- I'm so glad you're all right. I can't imagine my life without you."

Danielle doesn't respond. Sebastian loves the sound of his own voice, after all. That's her excuse when she falls asleep with her head resting on his chest, his rambling affection falling over her like mist.


"...You're not serious."

"I'm completely serious."

"You can't live on my ship."

"It's nicer than my ship." His tone is casual and he gives her a lazy look from where he's sprawled on her couch.

Danielle sighs and barely resists the urge to put her hands on her hips. "And how do you expect to work from my ship?"

"I can work for you." He winks at her.

She half-heartedly slaps his face, but he just catches her wrist and kisses her palm.

"You're stuck with me now, Dani."

"...That does seem to be the case."

"I love you."

"I know."

"We should get married. For real this time."

"...Don't push it."


And that's the end! Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed it.