A/N: Here's chapter 10 already, I was on a roll today C:

Bramblerose4: He'll figure it out eventually^^ and go for it! I'm excited too!

Ms. Unusual-in-Groovy-Ways: Thanks as usual! And don't worry- embrace the randomness :D

Luna S. Renaldi: Well thanks! I'm glad I can keep your interest, I'm glad you reviewed!

Chapter 10, without further ado!

~LoveBoyWonder

They were close to their destination now, only about a week away. The piloting feats of both Sean and Erik had saved a lot of time for the tiring crew, and they were more than ready to reach their destination and complete their given tasks. They landed on a small planet, preparing to stay for a few hours in order to make sure they arrived safely and punctually. Sean and Alex were in charge of refueling; Hank was itching to pick up all the clean new parts for his beloved engines; Erik had his own agenda, as always; and of course Charles had his diplomatic duties.

As they left the small planet and their arrival day drew closer, Charles became more than a little nervous but also equally reluctant to show the crew how he felt. Erik could tell, however; they spent most of their free time playing chess or just sitting in the side room, staring out the porthole together, pointing out stars and what could be planets off in the distance and imagining what kind of life-forms lived there. One day Charles even swore he saw a small person waving from a nearby star- he said the figure looked like he was- gardening? Erik laughed, but Charles crossed his heart and said he wasn't making it up, didn't Erik believe him? Erik grinned and ruffled Charles' hair as if Charles was a small child and Erik was just humoring him, and Charles pouted, but then they both laughed and everything was okay.

Charles had his work to occupy him too; he was busy arranging meetings with various higher-ups, writing speeches, completing presentations he would have to give at one time or another, and plus he had all sorts of bureaucratic paperwork he had to send back to government offices on various planets in order to get clearances and freedoms once they arrived at their destination.

Basically, he was swamped.

It took his mind off other issues, though, like

Erik is smiling at me and

Erik is laughing, I like when he laughs and also

I want him to laugh like this all the time, which was a very strange thing for Charles to be thinking.

He tried very hard to ignore the little voice in the back of his mind, which was chanting in the most annoying and distracting way possible.

You like Erik, you like him, you like Erik, not just like him but you LIKE him, oh yes, you like Erik…

"Shut up," Charles mumbled, pressing a hand to his forehead, and Hank poked his head out from a ceiling panel where he was working on some wires.

"Sorry?" Hank asked.

Charles looked up, noticed the other man, and apologized. "Just talking to myself," he told the engineer with a rueful grin.

Hank nodded knowingly. "Mmhm, I know how it is. Up in the 'tubes-" he gestured at the missing panel "-when you've only got a couple of tools for company, sometimes you talk to yourself, you know. It helps, though," he added thoughtfully, "especially if you're having an internal conflict. No one knows you better than you," he said to Charles.

"Thanks, Hank," Charles smiled.

The engineer shrugged bashfully. "No problem." Hank pulled his head back into the ceiling panel and disappeared from view.

Charles sighed, looking down at his hands. He couldn't keep this up.

So what if I do like him? He obviously doesn't feel the same way. And anyway-

His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden clamor in the hall outside, and he hurried out to see what was amiss.

What he saw stunned him.

The wall was on fire, and

Erik was lying on the floor, and

Erik was not moving.