When they separated a moment later, she noted he didn't look as surprised as she would have expected. Instead, his face was peculiarly calm, his eyes twinkling at her in amusement.

"What was that for?" he asked, his voice bearing obvious suspicion of being joked with. Her heart fell. All the build-up she'd gone through to do this, and it hadn't worked out the way she had expected it to.

"For…being the only one who still treats me the same. I mean, Harper thinks I need fixing like some genetic experiment – like I haven't had enough of that, and Trance wants to use me for her own purposes – as if I hadn't had enough of being treated like an object either. I guess I see a ghost of Tyr wherever I go…except in you. And…I guess your support is greatly appreciated." He smiled confusedly.

"I'm…glad to hear I've done things right, but this required kissing me? Like…that?" She didn't reply. "I'm sorry, it's just that all other times when you've kissed me, it's been for someone else's benefit. Elsbett, that thief…"

"I don't see anyone else here," she replied softly. He took a step closer.

"No, there is no one else here," he confirmed. "That's why I was hoping you would explain." Beka smiled at him. Lifting her hand, she treaded her fingers through his hair, stroking it out of the way.

"I thought I did." He laughed slightly and, placing his hand over hers, gave her a serious look.

"No, not really. Beka, I need to know…" She wasn't sure what she would say. She wasn't even sure what it was she wanted him to put through. He stared at her expectantly. Oh God. She swallowed. She'd started this, she couldn't just leave him hanging now.

"I think…" She took a deep breath. "I think once you've gone through something like this, it shows what your priorities are…and perhaps what they should be. It shows you who you can really rely on." His eyes darted back and forth, unable to settle on her.

"You don't need to feel…like you owe me, or…"

"No!" She exclaimed. "That's not what I meant at all. Geez Dylan, you know…you know I'm not like that. I…take what I want. It has nothing to do with owing anyone anything." He seemed to be deep in thought for a moment.

"So…would it be presumptuous for me to assume that kiss meant that you want…me?"

"I'm not sure," she managed. "I mean, we've been on this ship together for two years, so it's a bit strange for me to suddenly…or maybe it isn't. I don't know."

He took a deep breath and, with what seemed like great pain, declared; "Beka, I'm not doing this so that you'll sleep with me. If that's what you think it takes…"

"Dylan, no! For God's sake, stop getting me wrong!" She was getting frustrated now. "I did it because I wanted to, all right? It had nothing to do with what I owe you, or wanting to make sure you keep treating me as you've done, it's to do with something I realised!"

"What's that?"

"It's…partly to do with Tyr." She saw his jaw grind slightly, but ignored it. "He's an arrogant, selfish bastard, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't attracted to him."

"You can't possibly…"

"Was, Dylan. There is no way I could see past it now. I suppose in a way it was those qualities, in addition to his…" she paused, "body of course," she made a slight wave of her hand to minimise the impact of the statement. "I spent far too much time trying to impress him, and I don't even know why. I mean, honestly Dylan, what did he have for me? What's the point in falling for someone like that? Even ignoring the fact that he's Nietzschean, let's pretend he was human, and we did start a relationship. I would never have been happy with him, he'd have continued treating me with the same arrogance, putting his own interests first every time. Why do I fall for someone like that? Why do they even interest me? I should be falling for someone who will treat me right in every situation, not just when it suits them. What's happened, it…it shows me that you are that person. I mean, I know it's been difficult for you to see me like this, but I've barely noticed it in you. It's like you know how much harder it is for me, and have therefore ignored your own feelings, trying to make me feel better. No one else has done that Dylan, since I came back. No one." If she didn't know better, she could have sworn he was blushing.

"Wow, that's…quite a speech."

"You don't have to…I mean, I only wanted to let you know." She turned to leave, taking a deep breath. She wasn't sure whether she should have even said anything in the first place. All she'd done was put pressure on him, and embarrassed herself. To what end?

"Where are you going?" She turned around, frowning. He stretched out his hand and smiled at her. She took it tentatively.

"I'm not sure…"

"Why don't you stay? I'll get some dinner, and we could…talk. About things." Feeling relieved and terrified at the same time, she let herself be led back into the room.