"I just don't see why this is happening to you."

She looked up and smiled, "To us. Sometimes nothing makes sense, but there is nothing you, or I, or anyone else can do to make things seem right."

"But why must it be this way? I don't know what we've done wrong to deserve this." The boy's blonde hair bounced lightly as he shook his head back and forth, his eyes big and beautiful.

"Because," she whispered, eyes shining because he was there with her, something she rarely did now, after losing her brother. Now she might lose everyone, even the boy standing before her. Just the thought filled her heart with agony, and her eyes went in and out of focus, something they often did when she was upset, or angry.

"Because..?"

She leaned on a wall, every part of her life in the background for one moment, a moment of peace, which he had a way of bringing to her. "Because it's a remarkable, senseless world," she whispered.

Silver came to a halt, jerking Jim back with him. Dolton nearly crashed into them from behind. "What the - ?"

"I got something needing to be done lads," the cyborg muttered, "You two wait here," he turned to the boys, "And stay out of trouble. No fighting!"

"Where are you going?" Dolton asked.

"Be right back," was Silver's reply, as he marched away. Jim caught a glimpse of flimsy white paper being drawn from the cyborg's pocket as he retreated. But then something else caught his attention, and he turned. A boy was watching the large cook. The boy was taller than Jim, possibly a bit taller than Dolton, and he had wavy blonde hair. He wore a pair of faded blue jeans, and a white shirt that had a button up collar. His eyes were a much brighter blue than Jim's, and he was quite thin. He seemed very interested in Silver, for his eyes were fixed on the old cyborg, and his head was cocked in a thinking manner.

Something about the boy made Jim curious, and he attempted to approach him cautiously, but Dolton grabbed his arm. "Where are you going?" he growled.

"It's none of your business!" Jim snapped back, pulling his arm away.

"Actually, it is," Dolton flashed back. "You'll be in trouble if you run off! I'm doing you a favour by keeping you in check!"

"Huh!" Jim scoffed, glaring at the older teen angrily. "I don't need you to watch me. I can take care of myself, thank you very much!" He turned toward the boy, but he was gone. Jim looked around, hoping to sight the boy, but he wasn't so lucky. He'd vanished.

Silver returned a few minutes later, only to discover that he hadn't been so lucky as to think the boy's wouldn't fight. That was just what they were doing. Throwing insulting names toward each other, and bickering about small things that didn't even matter.

When the ship was in sight, Jim raised his chin, and tried to look prouder, even though the fact that Silver was once again holding his jacket to keep him apart from Dolton made him look more like a little kid in a whole lot of trouble. They boarded the RLS Legacy, and were greeted by Amelia.

"Mr. Hawkins," she said. Silver released Jim, and the teen adjusted his jacket.

"Captain."

Amelia raised an eyebrow, "Let's hope this doesn't happen again." Jim knew that meant, This had better not happen again, is that clear?

He nodded as if agreeing with her, before glaring at Dolton who was watching closely, waiting to catch a sign of weakness in Jim.

When Destiny woke after returning to her room after giving Silver the letters, she arrived on deck and realized she'd missed the take off. She looked back and couldn't even spot the Space Repair. How long had she been asleep? She recalled her dream, wishing it was real. Her brother and a very good friend of hers had appeared at the Repair, and she had embraced them, and felt their heartbeat against her own, their love fill her soul. Destiny believed in love, but she didn't think she'd ever been lucky enough to know love. The only love she'd known long term, was a fraud. But not the love she'd known she had once had between her brother and her friend. It was short, but that had been real love, and she'd lost it.

Shaking the dream from her mind, Destiny spotted Jim Hawkins, and she approached him. He was leaning on the rim of the ship, studying the stars. "So," she leaned on the side as well, ignoring his surprised jerk. "Got out?"

He didn't respond for a moment, then he glanced at her, "Obviously."

Destiny found herself smiling, "What was it like?"

Jim turned to her, "What like?"

"Jail."

He rolled his eyes, "Yah, it was great," he raised his voice sarcastically.

Destiny looked him in the eye. "I see." She paused before continuing, "James, you aren't a very complicated guy."

"It's Jim, actually," the boy corrected her, "And what makes you think I'm not complicated?"

She watched the stars shoot by, wishing she could ride their flames into tomorrow, where she'd be with her brother again... and her friend. "You remind me of someone I once knew."

"Oh?" he raised an eyebrow, "Who's that?"

Jim studied the girl, waiting for an answer, but it was as if she hadn't heard him. She was staring out into the great abyss, her eyes brighter than usual, and hair blowing back behind her ears. He didn't know what to think of her. The last time they'd talked, she hadn't been exactly kind, but now... she seemed lost in some dream. As if she was a completely different person. He didn't understand her, but if Lexi was right, he might never.

"Who?" he repeated.

Destiny's eyes flashed toward him, "What?"

"Who do I remind you of?"

Her eyes darkened, "No one," she whispered, but Jim didn't believe her.

"Wait, you just said that I did! Who is it?"

She shook her head and backed away, "No one." She turned and raced toward the galley. Jim started after her in confusion,

"I'm sorry Destiny! Really, I didn't mean to upset you!" She kept running. "Oh for the love of - !" he raced after her, cursing himself for whatever he'd done, even though he had no idea what that something was.

A shout.

Her head snaps up, and eyes flash with worry. Then suddenly, she's fuming, her mouth gaping in a silent scream. He rushes to her side, and by the time he reaches her, she's crying.

"Shush, shush." He murmurs, cradling her in his arms, her tears soaking through his shirt. Why? Why...

Stepping into her room, Destiny flicked on her solar radio, and collapsed on the bed, wishing she hadn't said a word to Jim. She had been dazed, and now he was curious, which was something she did not want. She didn't need him to be questioning. Lexi was still interested in her past, but her friend had let it lay still, knowing Destiny hated talking about it. Dolton had tried to find answers, but Destiny was never up for telling him about her life. He didn't need to know. It wasn't his business.

As she laid on her bed, a song began to play, and she slowly got to her feet, memories playing rapidly before her closed eyelids. Her feet sprung into tune with the music, and she spun across the room. The song's words reached her ears, but she didn't stop to listen. Her heart was for the music.

"She was sitting all alone over on the tailgate, tan legs swinging by a Georgia plate. I was looking for her boyfriend, thinking no way she ain't got one..."

Stopping at Destiny's doorway, Jim caught sight of her dancing. He watched in silence, a bit shocked to see her feet moving so swiftly. He'd never thought a girl like her... danced. But it looked like she was moving with the beat, her eyes slightly open, and hair springing into life in her wake.

Destiny's eyes caught sight of someone in the doorway. Her heart lightened as more and more memories unraveled. The difference with these memories was, they were good. And she had so few of those.

"Soon as I sat down, I was falling in love. Trying to pour a little sugar in her Dixie cup, talking over the speakers in the back of that truck."

Really, Destiny knew it was Jim standing in the door, but she wanted it to be him. And her memory turned back in time. Her mind took the extra measures to change his appearance, and she spun toward him, and soon she was dancing in the past.

"She jumped up and cut me off,"

Smiling inward, Destiny thrust her hand out...

"She was like 'Oh my god! This is my song! I've been listening to the radio all night long. Sitting round waiting for it to come on, and here it is..."

Destiny grasped Jim's wrist, pulled him into the room, and twirled the astonished boy around.

"She was like 'Come here boy, I wanna dance!' For I said a word she was taking my hand, and spinning me around till it faded out, and she gave me a kiss."

"Destiny?" Jim was stumbling with her movements, his feet not moving fast enough.

"And she said, 'Play it again, play it again, play it again!'

But Destiny's memories gave her enough strength to hold the both of them upright, and she tightened her grip on Jim's hand and shirt, imagining his eyes, his smile... Not Jim's clueless expression.

"And I said, 'Play it again, play it again, play it again!"

As the song played on, the next verse, the choirs repeated, Destiny's smile grew, and her movements grew softer, and slower. Soon she had slowed down enough to let Jim catch up. She looked up at his face, and saw his eyes.

The last verse and choirs played.

"The next Friday night, we were sitting out under the stars. You should have seen her smile, when I broke out my guitar..."

"Destiny?"

She heard his voice, "Yes, Jay?" she whispered.

"She was like 'Oh my god, this is my song... I've been listening to the radio all night long! Sitting here waiting for it to come on, and here it is..!'

Jim tried to keep a fluent movement, "What?"

Spinning him around, Destiny just smiled.

"She was like 'Come here boy! I wanna dance!'"

"Destiny!" Jim's voice took on a nervous pitch, "I'm not Jay! I'm Jim, Jim Hawkins!"

She twisted in his arms, her hold becoming more furious.

"Fore I said a word she was taking my hand,"

"It's Jim! What are you doing?! I'm not - "

"Spinning in the headlights,"

Destiny's heart jerked. Suddenly she realized who she was with, but she didn't let go. She wanted to spare the moment, remember. And he was trying to take it away! She wanted him to be silent. Stop talking! her mind screamed. He was ruining the precious memory, and she couldn't let him! She needed it. Her heart grasped hold of it. It was good... pure.

"She gave me, a goodnight kiss..."

"Destiny, please!"

No! Afraid he'd take it away, take away something so good, Destiny needed to silence him. She swung him around, and thrust her face toward his, pushing her lips against his. He became quiet, and she held him there, fear making her stronger. His silence calmed her after a moment, and once she knew she had to let the moment go, Destiny released him. Reeling around, she threw herself on her bed, and cried into the pillow, the song fading away as it came to an end.

She cried for her parents, for her brother, for her heartbroken friend, even for Jim. Then she cried for the little girl who would never be loved, who hardly knew what love was. Her heart cried for Heaven. She prayed that Heaven would take her back. Oh how Heaven was better than this...

Okay... so this chpt didn't turn out exactly the way I'd planned. So sorry about that, I know it wasn't great, but I think I got the most important things down.

A special thanx to Dancer who loves Westerns and walleye. You guys are a great help to me and my story! I'm so grateful to you both! And I'd like to say another thanx to sultal. You have been absolutely wonderful to me, and I could never thank you enough!