The shower lasted a lot longer than it should, but the two of them got clean. Ryli hadn't expected anything less, but Corso was remarkably enthralled with making her moan. They managed to get dressed only after Risha separated them.

"So, I take it you told him. I could tell by the way he was looking at you." Risha snorted, "Or by the crazy noises coming out of here."

Ryli grinned, pulling her shirt down, "I told him."

Risha was leaning against the wall, grinning. "It's nice to see you more happy, less secretly tortured."

"It's kind of nice to know that all my secrets won't be secrets for much longer."

"You worried about how he's going to react?"

Ryli pulled her pants up and fastened them. "I was," she admitted, "I think that's why I kept him at arm's length for so long. I figured a guy like him couldn't handle it."

"I think you're wrong."

"Well, I get that now." Ryli smiled again, "I can't stop smiling."

"Put on your game face. That Imperial is going to be waking up soon."

Ryli sighed, smoothing her shirt over her stomach. "Alright," she said firmly. "Let's go."

She had a brief breathless moment when she and Corso met in the hallway and he grabbed her hand, smiling ruefully.

"After this all calms down, can we have that night on the ship alone together?" he said.

"Of course," she answered.

He squeezed her hand and was bringing it up to his mouth to kiss when Akaavi came around the corner.

"He is awake," she said simply.

Ryli shook herself. "Alright, I'll take this." She faced the room full of her friends. "Don't speak, don't contradict me and if you think you're not going to be able to keep a poker face, don't be in there."

She turned and walked to the hold. The Imperial was sitting up, shaking his head. When he caught sight of her, he looked startled.

"Stars," he breathed, "You look just like her."

Ryli's blood turned to ice; it was more abrupt because of how hot blooded she'd felt at Corso's kiss. Behind her, Juran, Risha, Akaavi, Bowdaar, Corso and Geotre arranged themselves against the wall or sitting on boxes.

She schooled her face carefully, making sure no expression came forth.

"I assume you're referring to my sister," she said quietly.

He nodded, "Imina, yes. You're the spitting image."

"We're twins."

"She told me."

All the air went out of the room. "My sister told you about me."

He ran his fingers through his hair, "Yes, she told me about many things."

Ryli slid her small knife out from her bicep sheath. "She is your slave."

His eyes widened, "Not like you think."

"I think you need to talk faster."

He was looking at her in wonder, "You look just like her; it's so hard to not transfer feelings..."

"Akaavi, you were right. He's bait." Ryli got to her feet and went to leave. "Kill him."

"N-no! Wait! She sent me!"

Ryli turned, her face a mask. Behind her, someone shifted on their box.

"She sent you?" Ryli hissed. "Why do I find that hard to believe?"

"She said to tell you she misses the tree."

Ryli recoiled and turned away from the man. Expressions of concern flickered over the faces of Juran, Corso and Geotre. Risha stayed impassive, but her eyebrow raised. Bowdaar and Akaavi sat stonefaced, staring the Imperial down.

Her hand clenched the knife in her hand, every muscle in her body screaming.

"Why did she send you?" Good, she thought, my voice sounds calm.

"She wanted to tell you that she was okay; that she misses you; that she's sorry."

"She's sorry."

"Do you know why she was kidnapped?"

"No, I never found out."

"She robbed an Imperial." FUCK. That's where those credits came from. She was so proud to be helping.

"Why'd she send you?"

"Well, because... because I'm the father of her children."

Something in her wanted to see him bleed. Watch him grow fainter and fainter, his blood dripping onto the floor. The knife in her hand felt lovely, a beautiful extension of her hand and then she caught sight of Corso. His eyes weren't judgmental or scared of what she might do; there was nothing but love in them. It felt like breaking the surface of an ice cold lake and feeling the warm air.

"Do you love her?" Ryli asked, her eyes on Corso, watching his mouth turn up the slightest bit, his eyes crinkle.

"I do, so much. I didn't expect to when she was assigned to me, but she's so brilliant and lovely..." he stuttered to a stop.

"I could have killed you."

"Yes, she knows your reputation." Her eyes flickered away from Corso in pain and then back, but Corso's expression didn't waver. Her heart ached. Her sister knew what she'd done. Corso would have to know what she'd done.

"She wanted to tell you she was happy. As a slave, she has no ability to come see you, but we live on Dromund Kaas, outside the city and she has as much freedom as I can give her."

"You said children," Ryli murmured, ripping her eyes away from Corso's to look at the Imperial.

"We have two, both young. Lyodren and Ryliah."

"Why should I believe you?" Ryli looked at him, "I know exactly what sort of information can be wrung out of someone being tortured."

"I brought pictures. They're on my datapad."

"Faked."

"We can call her from a holoterminal; place the call in my name. You can talk to her."

Ryli took a shuddering breath.

"Why now?"

"What?"

"Why now? Why did she send you now?"

"My father died."

Ryli scowled, "You aren't telling me enough," she said, running her finger over the knife's edge.

"My father was technically her master, but had given her to me. He could have taken her away if he'd learned I came to you."

"You risked your life to tell me she's fine."

"I risked my life because the woman I love was heartbroken at losing you."

Ryli shook her head, "I need a minute." She slid the knife back into its sheath and left the room. She heard footsteps behind her and then Corso had her in his arms, where she finally got to cry.