She sighed deeply with a smile as she burrowed herself further under the duvet, snuggling up to him. He was still asleep, but this time she felt no worries about what he was thinking. She had been wrong all along, of course she had; like so many times before. It seemed it really was true that his dislike for Nietzscheans didn't extend to her, and he had treated her exactly the same as before.

"Well…" she smiled. "Maybe not exactly…" She curled her fingers into the hair on his chest and started playing with it, subsequently waking him up. She pulled her hand away quickly and managed a half-hearted; "Sorry…" The look on his face suggested no apology was necessary, and he rolled over onto his side, his hand stroking her face.

"I must admit I'm a bit surprised," he said eventually, smiling to show it wasn't a bad surprise.

"I know," she replied simply. "Me too."

"I know that most of our relationships tend to be…"

"Short," she finished for him. "And not usually relationships at all. You mean people we've slept with."

"Yes," he confirmed. "But…that's not how I want things to be. Are you…I mean…"

"If I wanted a one-night-stand, I wouldn't have picked the Captain of the ship," Beka replied. "More trouble than it's worth." He looked relieved and a little offended at the same time.

"Speaking of that, are you…on anything?"

"I'm on birth control, yes. I stopped taking them, obviously, during my time with Tyr, but I went back on them once I came back."

"Right, that's…good," he confirmed. "There are so many things we should talk about, but…I just can't seem to bring myself to do it." He smiled and put his arm around her back, pulling her closer to him. "I don't want to be sensible, Beka. I don't want to say let's take it slow or…" She rolled on top of him, placing her finger gently over his lips.

"You don't have to. Dylan, life – at least for people like us – is unpredictable. We don't know what's in front of us."

"But we can plan. What are your plans?" Her expression darkened.

"Plans are for people who have control over their own lives," she said, her voice wavering. "I had plans Dylan. I had plans once, but they were swept away by those who believed I needed to be a part of a greater good. Now I don't know anymore what my plans are, or if they're even mine. No…I have to live for today, for this very moment, because I have no idea whether tomorrow I'll still be here…if I'll still be alive." His brow furrowed and he lifted his hand to stroke the hair from her face.

"Don't say that," he warned. "I – hate to hear you say that."

"Sometimes I think I'd prefer it," she mumbled. "The thought of going back to him – Dylan, I can't bear it."

"You don't…"

"Perhaps once I loved him," Beka whispered. "But he isn't that man anymore. I'm not sure he ever was. And he may say he loves me, but he never truly did. It's as if you've proven that to me by accepting me, not asking me to change. I don't want to think of tomorrow, Dylan." He nodded and, putting his arms tightly around her, held her close.

"And we don't have to," he replied quietly. "We'll live for now."

"For now," Trance said as she approached, the glittering sunbeams reflecting in her companion's eyes. "The circumstances have changed."

"They can't change," was the simple reply.

"Perhaps they have to." Her voice was sharp, demanding. They stared at each other for a moment before both settling down, their legs dangling from the edge of a ray of light.

"She has to come back," Lana said simply.

"She's my friend," Trance attempted, "and she doesn't understand why this has to happen. Perhaps it would be easier if she could calm down, if I could help her understand…" She paused. "What is Tyr doing?"

"He is not going to come after your ship, if that's what you're asking," Lana replied. "As far as the court is concerned, she left on his command, and she is to return. When; he refuses to say. I'm not sure what he's planning to do if she never returns." With the last sentence, she threw a suggestive glance at Trance, who sighed.

"She will return," she pledged. "It's just a matter of…unforeseen circumstances."

"What kind?" Trance paused.

"Dylan."

"You mean…" Lana trailed off, and was answered with a nod. "That's not good."

"They both deserve it."

"And we both know that isn't the point." Aggravated, Trance stared at her.

"Have we forgotten, in all our quest for the universe, the people in it? The people we are actually saving? I'm starting to think…perhaps we should find another way."

"There is no other way," Lana replied sharply.

"There has to be! Tyr is just one man, there has to be something other than Beka who can make him…"

"There isn't. Trance, you can wait for now – but either you get her back, or I will." With a flicker, she disappeared, leaving Trance alone in the light of the sun ahead. She turned, sliding off the ray, and stared into the space surrounding her.

"It was only ever a dream," she whispered to herself.