Part 3: You look; sound; feel and hell, you even smell like the man I love! But the man standing in front of me is a stranger to me.

Chapter 20: …She was the Devil

Authors Note: So I just got myself really sad because I was talking with Starkidtheatregeek and I mentioned that I couldn't believe I was at 20 chapters! That's not the sad part, that's the good part:P That got me thinking and I realized that there are on 5 or 6 more chapters left… I'm so sad:"( It's been a great time guys and once I figure out how to make a tab for my fanfiction on tumblr, it'll be there… so you can experience it all again there with a few new surprises! And a super cool fact, chapters 1- 19 equal 47,777 words! Is that not cray cray? 7 is one of my favorite numbers and I love pattern things like that.

Dedication: Every person I have ever messaged on here about this story! You know who you are and you guys are great. You guys give me great advice and confidence in my story:)

Disclaimer: I own nothing- not even my pants! Commissioner Gordon gave his to me when I was running around imitating Robin;)

Taz pulled the fluffy duvet over her head as Up shook her legs to get her awake. She groaned and threw a pillow at him. This just caused him to use the pillow as another way to get her up. Finally, she reached over to the digital clock on the night stand and brought it close to her face to check the time.

She chucked it at him and yelled, "Holy shit! It's only twelve o' two!"

"Yeah but it's your birthday and you know what that means…"

"We spend from twelve to twelve celebrating." She finished unenthusiastically.

"So get up! I let you sleep past twelve this year, which was your birthday wish last year." He hit her with the pillow again.

"My wish was to SLEEP IN! Until seven or eight, not dis ridiculous hour! " She yelled, her voice slightly muffled because she had taken a new pillow and pressed it over her head.

"Don't make me use the bucket of cold wat-"

She jumped out of Up's bed and ran into the bathroom could even finish his threat. Up chuckled at her and walked across the suite to the study. He sat down behind the desk, took a sip of coffee, and began reading through some of his crew's reports. The Commander had been up since 11:30 PM so that he and Taz wouldn't have to waste too much of the day getting ready. He tried to focus on the reports but his mind kept drifting back to when he first started the twelve to twelve with Taz.

On her 16th birthday, Up made the mistake of leaving her alone in her room while he went to train the newbies for the day. When he came back to check on her while he made them run laps, he found a sobbing, drunken, mess of a girl. Somehow she has managed to find a bottle of tequila and drink the whole bottle in the half hour he had been gone. He didn't tell Jose, not wanting him to go into older brother protective mode. He sat there and listened to her cry about the year before that's events and eventually he just sat there rocking her and rubbing her back as she sobbed into his chest. From that day on he vowed that he would never leave her alone on May 7th. He also gave her a birthday wish, something for her to look forward to for the next birthday. That year she asked for two; one for her 15th birthday and one for her 16th. For her 16th birthday wish she asked to teach a class with Up. Her 15th birthday wish took some thought. Finally, she looked up at the Lieutenant and told him to never leave her. He agreed and from that day forward he protected her.

Up was pulled from his thoughts as Taz came out of his room, dressed in her uniform and ready to go.

"What's wrong wid jour face?" She asked from the doorway of the study.

"What do you mean?"

"It has dis weird dreamy look on it."

"Oh, it was nothing… just thinking about the past."

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Jessica woke up and looked around her room trying to remember something. She picked up her communicator and sent Up a message.

"How about lunch?"

"Can't, its Taz's birthday. Spending the day with her. Love you!" He replied.

She stomped over to her calendar and looked at the date. Sure enough, the date was marked through with a big red X and a little devil tail and horns surrounded the box. She yanked the communicator out of her, ready to reply that she was coming no matter what, when the device began ringing.

"Hello? Yes this is she. My I ask whose calling? The Admiral's secretary? My request has been reviewed? That's great! Can I hear the results now or…? The Admiral wants to have a meeting with me? What time does he want me there? One sounds great! Thanks you so much. Bye now." She hung up and glanced at her clock it was eleven.

"Wow! Slept in late today… well I've got a little less than two hours to get myself looking professional for the Admiral."

7777

Jessica walked down the hall towards the Officer's section of the Starship, smoothing down her uniform with hands. It was loose olive green pants with pockets on the legs and her shirt was also loose and khaki colored. It was a button up with two breast pockets and sleeves that rolled up past her elbows. She hated that Taz got out of wearing the shirt because they were all too big on her.

She remembered the days when she admired the small Lieutenant. From what she had heard about her past, the girl had been tough as nails since anyone in the League had known her. Taz had everything- fear, respect, wits, the body, and the guy. And now that she had the guy, she didn't look up to the younger girl.

Jessica reached the Officer's section and looked around for Admiral Hagen's secretary.

"Go right through that door." She pointed to a closed door with a plaque that read 'Admiral Benjamin Hagen' on it.

She knocked once, then opened the door and poked her head in.

"You wanted to see me?"

"Yes, Lieutenant, come in and have a seat." The aged man gestured to the chairs in front of his desk. She shut the door and hurried over to one of the leather chairs as he continued talking, "This request of yours is quite unusual but I was expecting it sooner or later."

"Don't the requests go through the Commanders and Generals, sir?"

"Yes, but when requester asks to be reassigned to another crew in another sector, it must come through me." He folded his hands in front of him and leaned forward into his desk.

7777

"Hahaha! I can't believe he did dat!" Taz laughed as Up continued his story.

"Well that's not the worst part. He then got down on his knees and begged Veronica to let him go." Up made the hand motion and sound of a whip cracking.

"He was whipped from de moment he laid eyes on her! Why didn't Jose ever tell me dis story?"

"Look at how you're reacting and you'll answer your own question."

They had spent the morning in the gym, the library, and the Sky Deck; doing whatever they wanted. Now they were finishing up lunch at one of Taz's favorite restaurants. The waiter came over with their dessert and Taz's eyes widened as the chocolate delicacy was set in front of her.

"So what do want to do after lunch?" Up asked as Taz shoved an overflowing spoonful of chocolate cake in her mouth.

"Slide down a chocolate rainbow!" Up chuckled at the girl. He knew chocolate was one of her biggest weaknesses.

"Now seriously tell me what you want to do."

"I don't care jou pick, jou always pick what we do on my birthday." She shrugged.

"We could go to the-" He was interrupted by a piano riff.

"De admiral? Why would he be calling me?" She put the communicator to her ear. "Lieutenant Taz. Hola Admiral Hagen. Jou know it's my birthday right? Hust checking. Yes, I know jou knew my father and he talked about his children a lot. Jou want me to come to jour office? Fine, I'll be dere… Can I ask what jou want? Admiral Hagen? He hung up on me." She announced putting the communicator on the table.

"So you have a meeting with the Admiral?"

"I guess… well he wants me dere by two o'clock and its one fifty, so I should get going." She stood up and pulled some space bucks out of her pocket.

"Taz, I've got it." He held up his hand, signaling the girl to stop.

"Gracias, Up. I'll see jou later." She gave him a hug and jogged towards the door.

"Don't forget your party starts at five!" He called after her.

She just replied with a thumbs up.

7777

Taz didn't even knock on the Admiral's door, she just walked right in. Both Jessica and Hagen turned to look at her as she came in and flopped into the empty chair next to Jessica.

"Jou wanted to see me?"

"Yes, Lieutenant Jessica-"

"Please, call me Jessica."

"Lieu- Jessica, sent in a request a while ago and well… it concerns you" He looked at Taz to see her reaction.

"And de request is?" She asked calmly.

"She would like to become Commander Up's Lieutenant." He was still searching for some emotion of this girl's face but she just raised an eyebrow at him. "We could put you in whatever crew you want, Taz. You don't just have to switch with Jessica."

Jessica cringed as Admiral Hagen called Taz by her first name with no title so easily. She had asked him from the beginning of their meeting to call her Jessica.

They both watched as Taz closed her eyes and thought for a moment. Suddenly, her eyes sprung open and she looked the Admiral right in the eyes.

"I want to go back to Starship 14-K7."

So Jessica finally gets her way… she got Taz to go away:( Sorry it took so long to get up, I got depressed for a little bit because of a book I was reading and had no motivation to write. I was also sad cause yesterday (May 15) StarKid was in my city! They were less than an hour away from me and my parents wouldn't let me gooooo:( But LyssaKay asked me to update oh-so nicely so I did. I have no question for you guys cause I know how the rest will go down but please give your opinions:) Also if you see any references you can point them out, don't remember what I put in there. I completely forgot! Did anyone catch how chapter 18, 19, and 20's titles went together?

Goodnight Darlings,

Kellyxoxoxo