Disclaimer: I own nothing. Except Gemma.

A/N: I changed the genre of this story. It really wasn't going in the humor direction. Summery might change soon too.

"Gemma, wait!" Vala called, but it was too late. Gemma was small enough to slide through any crowd, and she had done so frequently enough that she had gotten quite good at it. Vala looked back at the boy who had approached Gemma.

He deserved an explanation.

Well, this was a turn around. Vala was doing the explaining for Gemma.

He had actually earned more points in Vala's eyes. He tried to follow Gemma on her first flight and had seen Vala. He broke his way through all the way through the crowd.

"Is she okay?" He asked. His accent was strangely familiar. Definitely not Taur'i. Not Olendon either.

"She's fine. Just inexperienced and afraid."

"Afraid?" The boy looked confused. "I thought I was gentle."

"You were. She just has an older sister who was a bit too interested in sex as a teenager." She took a swig of water to give herself a second. But other than that, it did nothing for her. She missed the satisfaction it used to give her. "I'd try again when she resurfaces."

"What was wrong with her sister?"

"There was nothing wrong with me. I'm just very forward." The boy paled.

"I am sorry, I meant nothing – "

"I know." She really didn't care. "What exactly did she tell you?"

"Her name. And I told her mine."

"Which is?"

"I am Ska'ara." Vala didn't recognize the name. But she had definitely heard that accent somewhere before.

"I'd try again, Ska'ara. She grew up watching me sneak out every night and the of our parent shame grow by the day. She's afraid she'll dishonor herself and fall out of favor with them. She had to either be the same as me or the exact opposite. She chose the opposite."

"Are you sure? Would you be willing to allow me to pursue her?"

"By talking to me now, you've filled all my requirements for her. I want her to put herself out there. She died a virgin, and I can't help but feel I had something to do with that."

Ska'ara smiled.

"I did too."

"Well then, I approve more. You won't take advantage of her." Vala smiled at him. "I'm Vala."

"I have already told you that I am called Ska'ara."

"Where are you from, Ska'ara?"

"I am from world that is called Abydos."

Abydos…it sounded familiar. Wait…could it be?

"Ska'ara, do you know someone named Shar'ae?"

"Yes. We grew up on Abydos together."

A smile crept across Vala's face.

"Ska'ara, I think I know how we can get you and Gemma in a room together without her bolting."

"I still can't believe you I got you to learn how to sew." Gemma said in a very sing-song voice. "I did what mother couldn't!"

"Don't go bragging, now, no one needs to know."

"Sure, sure. It'll be another secret between you and me."

She just couldn't stop smiling.

Vala was smiling that much inside.

But she was not going to let it show. She had to pretend to have not met Ska'ara. It would ruin the entire plan if she broke.

"And you made the arrangements to go see Shar'ae!"

"People are allowed to change."

"Yes, but who would've thought that you could? Did I ever tell you how much I love you?"

"A few too many times."

"Ah well. Better too many times then not enough. Who's going to be there again?"

"Shar'ae, us, Leta, Janet, and a friend of Shar'ae's that we don't know," Vala answered, poking herself with the needle and cursing silently. "All and all, it should be fun."

"Yeah. Come on! You can finish that later."

Vala had never seen her sister this happy. Gemma was almost giddy as they walked down the long corridors.

"Garadon's going to love that tunic, just wait until I tell him you made it – "

"Gemma," Vala started suddenly, "Why do you still cater to him?"

"I don't" Gemma replied, her mood suddenly dropping. Her voice became bitter. "I'm just doing something nice for him."

"But you really don't have to. He doesn't deserve kindness. He deserves to be left alone, just as he left you to die."

Gemma shrugged.

"For the most part, he was good to me."

"But at the most crucial moment, he betrayed you."

Gemma stopped in her tracks and faced her sister.

"Vala, what was your idea of the perfect man growing up?"

"Someone who can give me a good time and enjoy himself in the process."

"See? That was yours. Mine was someone who needed me, someone who needed help mending tunics and someone to support him."

"You wanted to be a bed warmer?"

"Never mind. I should've known you wouldn't understand."

"Oh, I understand, alright."

"No, you don't. No matter how hard you try, no matter what you say, no matter what you do, you won't get it. And you never will. So let's just go to Shar'ae's and have a good time, like we're supposed to be doing."

"Fine then. Let me contemplate the meaning of true obedience while we sit and chat about this, that, and the other thing. In the mean time, Gemma Mal Doran, you should contemplate the meaning of freedom. And later, when we're done there, you define freedom to me. I'll define obedience. Now let's go."

Shar'ae was waiting for them at the entrance to her quarters, just as she was supposed to according to the plan. Vala was always amazed at how well Gemma could put a smile back on her face in the presence of company.

"Shar'ae, it's so nice to see you again." The two of them nodded at each other. Behind Gemma's back, Shar'ae shot Vala a look of confusion.

Vala had always been a good liar. But not in good company.

"Why don't you two come inside? We were just about to sit down."

"That would be lovely, Shar'ae."

Vala wanted to puke.

They entered the chamber.

And Vala had trouble not laughing at her sister when Gemma realized that the friend of Shar'ae's was Ska'ara.