Chapter 10: Following Shadows: Bare Walls.

"Piper,"

The frail, thin girl ignored him, staring blankly at the bare wall in front of her. Aerrow slid the door shut behind him before walking over slowly, a mug in his hands.

"Piper, you should have something to eat."

"Why?" She shrugged, still staring at the wall.

He sat next to her, putting his hand over hers. "To regain your strength."

For the first time she stopped staring at the wall and turned to look at him: her eyes empty of any emotion.

"I don't want to regain any strength," She told him simply, before turning back to stare at the wall.

"Hey," He whispered, stroking her cheek gently. "Good to see you awake."

Finn took Piper's hand, causing her to turn her head in shock, a small smile forming on her lips.

"Are you… holding my hand?" Her voice was croaky and she winced as she felt her throat close up tighter and tighter the more she talked.

"Shut up, Piper." Finn only squeezed her hand tighter but his worried blue eyes creased up with amusement. "Don't do that to me again."

"I'm sorry my prophecy skills are rusty," Piper rolled her eyes but stroked his hand gently with her thumb. Her eyes only widened when they rested upon a certain, nervous Merb who was muttering something about 'mind worms'.

"Stork… are you in a hospital?" Piper raised an eyebrow as she chuckled weakly.

"Evidently," He eyed the bright yellow walls. "I propose we build one… on the Condor."

"Sure. Got any medical skills?" Piper giggled, her other hand petting Radaar's head as he nuzzled against her palm. She looked up at all of the Storm Hawks, frowning at their worried faces. "You guys, I'm fine."

"You got stabbed," Junko wiped his eyes, sniffing. "You can't be fine."

Before Piper could open her mouth to reply, Aerrow interrupted. "You guys… give us a second?"

They nodded. Piper frowned at Aerrow.

"What's wrong?"

He took a deep breath.

Piper heard his words. God help her, she heard them.

"He's armed," Stork confirmed.

Aerrow turned to Finn and Junko, nodding at them. "Alright then, guys. Come on."

"What about me?"

Aerrow turned around, his heart sinking as he spotted Piper standing there, her arms crossed, her expression angry. He started to shake his head at her. "No, Piper. Stay here."

Her eyes now turned to slits. "I-

"-Piper, it's an order."

Then he walked away, Piper watching him.

"Ah, it's best to be here… safe." Stork shuddered as he looked through his binoculars. "The bacteria Cyclonians carry… Anyway, do you have those maps, Piper?"

Silence.

"Piper?"

"Well look, guys. We got ourselves a little birdie." A man leered at Piper as she stomped over towards the group of laughing Cyclonian guards. "Hey there, sugar."

Piper brought back her fist before thrusting it into the man's face, hearing a soft crunch and feeling something break underneath her knuckles.

"Where is it?" Piper hissed at the man, who rolled on the floor in pain, clutching his broken nose. "Where is it?"

"Piper."

Piper wheeled around. The rest of the Storm Hawks were there, in combat with the other guards. Only Aerrow wasn't.

He stepped towards her, his hand closing around her staff firmly as he pulled it out of her grasp, his stern glance making her feel uneasy somewhere inside.

But only somewhere.

"That's enough," He said quietly.

"You had no right."

"I had every right!"

"Piper, I told you to remain behind. Those were your instructions and you disobeyed me."

"I'm sick of staying cooped up in here!"

Aerrow stood his ground. "You're not yourself, Piper. You're going to end up killing someone."

She crossed her arms, glaring at him. "I'm fine."

"No you're not. So we need to try something else."

Piper let out a scream of frustration as she wheeled around, throwing herself onto the bed and burying her face in it.

Aerrow watched her, taking a deep breath, feeling sick in the pit of his stomach.

"I want you to go to the summer house."

Piper got up, turning around, her eyes wide in shock. Slowly, her head shook as the words of her Commanding Officer sunk in.

"No."

"It's an order."

"One I'm not accepting."

"Piper, you're going. So let's pack your stuff and I'll take you there." Aerrow pushed past her to grab her empty travel bag, reaching to open her wardrobe and pull clothes from it.

"Aerrow!" Piper grabbed his arm and hauled him back, her dark eyes glaring into his. "I'm not going anywhere."

He leaned in, his eyes equally challenging as they roamed hers. "Yes you are."

She shook her head again, stunned. "So you're just going to send me away."

"For your own safety."

"To get rid of me, more like." She snapped.

He dropped the clothes and faced her properly, his hands cupping her face. "You're not yourself. You need a break, I need a break. Dark Ace is dead, Master Cyclonis wants you now more then ever. Just stay there for as long as you need and I'll check up on you frequently."

"I can take care of myself."

"No, no you can't."

"Yes, yes I can," She hissed, knocking his hands off. "Just because I'm a girl-"

"-This isn't about you defending yourself or beating up some Cyclonians, and you know it. You're a danger to yourself. I've never seen you more out of control. And I'm your Captain, and I say you go to the summer house until you're ready to come back."

And with that, he picked up the clothes from the floor, stuffing them into a bag before handing it to her.

"Be ready to leave in a half hour."

"I'll sleep with you tonight," Aerrow put the bag down next to Piper on the bed, taking off his jacket. "Then leave in the morning."

"That soon?" Piper asked in a quiet voice. Aerrow turned to her, his expression softening.

"Someone has to get back to the Condor." Aerrow told her gently.

"Do you just want to get rid of me?"

Aerrow heard the hurt in her voice. He bent to kneel on he ground, taking her hand and kissing it softly. "You know I don't. You know you need to cool off. And it's safe here. Now go shower, I'll make something to eat."

"A little more?" Aerrow pleaded, sighing when Piper pushed her plate away. "Come on, Piper."

"I'm not a baby-

She stopped, her eyes widening at her mistake. Aerrow felt his hands tremble and he stood up quickly, clearing his throat.

"Bathroom," He blurted quickly, running to it, and slamming the door behind him. He leaned against it, taking deep breaths.

On the other side of the door, Piper stared blankly at it. She didn't waste any time. Turning on her heel, she ran outside.

"You must be Piper."

Piper turned around. A petite woman was standing there, smiling at her, the wind lifting her soft brown hair around.

"Yeah," Piper rubbed her arm, turning back to stare at the ground, her cheeks damp with tears.

"Aren't ya gonna ask how I know?"

"Aerrow's looking for me," Piper shrugged. "He probably told you."

"Your sweetheart? He sure did, doll. Come inside, it's cold."

"I'm fine."

"Are ya?" The woman snorted gently, reaching to lift Piper's face up to turn it towards her. "Come inside, honey."

Piper shook her head. "I like it out here."

"Because it's away from everythin'?"

"Yes."

"Because no one's here to bother ya. But now I am and you probably want me to go away."

Piper shrugged.

"What happened?"

Piper blinked at her. "Huh?"

"What happened?" The woman repeated.

"I…"

"Ah right, sorry. Didn't introduce meself! It's Andrea."

Andrea held out her hand, smiling. Piper cautiously shook it, feeling baffled by this woman. She was certainly loud: one would think she was a gossiper. But when Piper looked into her kind eyes she knew she could confide in her, that Andrea seemed the type of woman who understood anything and everything.

"So what is it?" Andrea sat on the fence, waiting. "Seems bad, girlie."

"I don't know you." But Piper suddenly felt bad for blurting this out. Andrea, on the other hand, didn't seem to care.

"That's probably why you should tell me," Andrea smiled. "Someone new to rant out to, eh?"

There was a pause.

"Aerrow and I have drifted apart." Piper rubbed her arms, biting back tears.

"Why?"

Piper looked at her. "Why are you so interested?"

Andrea shrugged. "Does that matter?"

Piper shook her head.

"Then tell me."

"I'm alright." Piper walked away from her, heading down the pathway that led to the beach. Andrea jogged lightly behind her.

"Can't you leave me alone?" Piper snapped at her.

"What'cha doin'?"

"What's it look like?"

"Looks like your running away."

Piper stopped in her tracks to swing around and glare at Andrea. "I have every reason to run away."

"I don't think so," Andrea replied calmly, crossing her arms.

Piper felt a surge of anger rise, "I bloody well do! You don't even know me! And you follow me around so you c-can… can GOSSIP about me to everyone in this stupid little island! I lost a baby, okay? I lost my own baby! I killed my own baby! I didn't even tell my own boyfriend who would of helped me, or persuaded me to stay inside, to protect my own damn child! And now I've lost it…I shouldn't of survived…I should of died… I…"

Piper felt her knees buckle but Andrea was already there, her strong arms around the weak girl's frame, holding her up.

"That's it," Andrea stroked Piper's hair, letting her cry into her shoulder. "Let it out honey."

Piper clung to her as if she was her life raft, sobbing her heart and soul into this stranger's shoulder, into this woman she didn't know anything about, into someone who, bizarrely, seemed to understand. Andrea spotted Aerrow running towards them, his mouth opening- but Andrea shook her head at him. He stood still, biting his lip as he watched the girl he loved break down before him, whilst he could do nothing to comfort her.

"I lost a baby," Andrea stated calmly as she looked out towards the heaving sea, Piper's red eyes following her gaze: the sunshine shimmering on their smooth faces.

Piper tasted her salty tears, not bothering to wipe away the trail it left behind on her soft cheek. Andrea was still holding her up to support her, but now Piper broke a little away from her, trying to take deep, heaving breaths.

"It's alright," Andrea told her gently, giving her shoulder a squeeze. "It happens."

"It was stabbed," Piper whispered. "That doesn't happen."

"Yeah." Andrea replied simply. "That's life for ya, honey. Your boyfriend's already lost his baby. He don't wanna lose you too."

Piper looked at her, feeling as if the shadow behind her had evaporated, the heavy weight upon her soul had lifted, and something blissful; something peaceful was glowing inside of her.

Somewhere.

Andrea smiled, letting her go. "Your sweertheart's waitin'. Been good getting to know ya, doll. Come round my house anytime, alright? And by the way: He's cute." She finished with a wink.

Piper felt a bubble of laughter escape her, causing Andrea's smile to widen. She kissed Andrea's cheek, squeezing her hand gently as her way of saying thanks. Andrea nodded at her, before turning back to look out to the sea.

Piper turned to spot Aerrow: Andrea was right. Aerrow looked handsome with his soft navy sweater and dark leather jacket, his smooth hair blowing in the gentle breeze. She approached him slowly, noticing the cautious look on the Sky Knight's face.

"Hi," She rubbed her bare arm, her teeth chattering from the cold.

He took off his jacket, handing it to her. Piper shook her head but Aerrow only rolled his eyes, stepping forward to put it over her shoulders. Piper's eyes searched his before she pushed his arms away, putting her own out to wind them around him and hug Aerrow tightly.

They held each other for a few moments, Aerrow's hands roaming her silky hair; her own stroking his back. Piper burrowed her face into his warm chest, his familiar musky scent filling her nostrils until she felt numbingly dizzy and light-headed.

His lips pressed into her forehead gently. "What now?"

"I stay here."

Aerrow pulled away to lift her head up slowly, looking into her eyes. "Alone?"

She nodded. "Alone."

"And me?"

"You'll go to...to lead your army, like you're supposed to."

"Without you?" He murmured, stroking her cheek. "Without my navigator?"

She pulled away to pull the jacket tighter around her, looking out towards the beach: towards the happy families and couples, towards the best friends that were laughing and smiling, and cheering each other on.

Happily ignorant.

"Maybe not without your navigator." Piper said slowly. "But without your girlfriend."

His reaction was completely unexpected. Piper was waiting for the explosion, for the kisses on her face, for Aerrow to beg her to stay with him, for him to take her into his arms: but he didn't.

He merely smiled at her.

"We're supposed to be together," He stepped backwards from her slowly. "I know we are, Piper."

She returned his smile. "One day."

Aerrow looked towards his skimmer. "...I take it I'm riding alone?"

"For a little while."

As Aerrow nodded, Piper stood straight to salute him. "Go get 'em, Captain. For me."

His green eyes sought hers. "I will. For you."

"For this is wisdom - to love and live, To take what fate or the gods may give, To ask no question, to make no prayer, To kiss the lips and caress the hair, Speed passion's ebb as we greet its flow, To have and to hold, and, in time... let go."

The End.

A/N: A review from Without Reprieve confirmed my doubts about this chapter: I wasn't too pleased with the previous one, and this was playing on my mind. I hope it's alright. I'm certainly more satisfied with it.

So that's it. Done. Voila. Finished. I hope it wasn't bad! And I'm certainly not going anywhere! Some things to think about/look forward to:

- I am certainly up for writing either a Prequel, or a Sequel. I have ideas for both- personally i have more for a sequel, but it's up to I'll have to know if anyone is actually interested. HAHA, you have to review!

-I can start an entirely new fic from scratch: which doesn't even have to be Aerrow and Piper. I know. I'm alright.

- I'm currently writing a short collection of scripts, which are supposed to be quite funny and entertaining: something for everyone. Go on my profile and check out "Banter Aboard the Condor." And let me know what you think!

-Thank you for everyone's support during this fic: it's been a pleasure.

Faithfully yours- WishfulTrance.

And don't close the page. Review... you know you want to.