Terra tossed the remote down onto the sofa beside her. She watched the newsfeed on the screen for a long moment before getting up and heading into the kitchen area. It was later in the evening and she was alone for the first time in weeks. It was way too quiet and it really sucked.

Earlier in the evening, she had been dressed up and ready to go out. She had been perplexed when the comm unit had chimed as she was waiting on her date for the evening. When she answered, Bart's voice filled the air. He was letting her know he was unable to get away for their date that evening. His father and uncles were on the planet for the next few days. There was quite a bit of work that needed to be done. Apparently, after their latest meeting with Emperor Anasazi, they had been made aware of additional information which was required before their next meeting. Bart was going to have to pull several late nighters with the rest of the staff to get the information complied and into a presentable form. Terra had assured him it was fine. They could get together another night. Bart had suggested he could stop by later for a quick visit. Terra had declined his suggestion. She knew quick visit was basically a 'booty call' when Bart suggested it. The sex just wasn't that phenomenal for her to agree wait up.

Instead, Terra had stripped off her nicer clothes and pulled on a tank top and loose fitting workout pants. If she was stuck in for the night, she was going to be comfortable. She had just settled onto the sofa when Kindred appeared. He was surprised to see Terra was still there. When she told him what happened, he explained he and Lex were planning a quiet night, alone, in the suite. Terra had taken the 'hint' grabbed her shoes and headed over to her mother's suite.

The door had opened before Terra had even pressed the access button. Tyr was exiting with an overnight bag. Beka was right behind him. Tyr and Beka were leaving for a short trip. They were planning to be back early two mornings from then. When Terra explained to Beka what happened, Beka had offered Terra their suite for the night. She even told Terra where the clean sheets were so Terra could sleep in their bedroom instead of in the childrens' beds.

Terra had taken her mom up on the offer and changed the sheets before helping herself to food from the cooler. Since then, she had been watching old videos and the current news. After all the quiet, alone time, Terra realized she really didn't think she would like living alone.

Terra jumped up from the sofa when the door access chimed. She hoped maybe it was her cad of a brother, feeling guilty for tossing her out of her own home.

"Tamerlane?" Terra's eyes widened and her heart accelerated in her chest when she opened the door to find him standing outside.

"I am here to speak with my father," Tamerlane replied as he tried to cover his surprise at Terra opening the door.

"Your father is not here at the moment," Terra replied as she stood in the doorway. Tamerlane looked over her head into the interior of the suite.

"When will he be returning?" Tamerlane asked as his eyes moved back down to Terra.

"According to my mom, they will be back morning after tomorrow," Terra informed him as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Would you like to leave a message?"

"My father is working on a project for me. I needed an update and to review some of the data," Tamerlane replied as he looked back into the interior of the suite. "The materials are not in his office."

"If you tell me what you are looking for, I can look around and see if I can find them," Terra offered as she gestured toward the suite behind her.

"I think not," Tamerlane shook his head as he started to step through the door. Terra remained in his path. Tamerlane stopped when Terra failed to step to the side. "If you would move to the side, I will look for the materials I need."

"Please come in," Terra replied with a hint of sarcasm as she stepped to the side. A cold breeze blew in causing her to shiver in the thin shirt. She closed the door behind them.

"If you tell me what you are looking for, I could help," Terra called after Tamerlane as he headed toward the doorway into Tyr and Beka shared home office. He disappeared through the doorway without replying.

"There are some flexis on the kitchen counter," Terra offered when Tamerlane came out of the office empty handed.

Tamerlane walked over to the kitchen and began looking through the flexis on the counter. None of them were the files he was looking for. He was relieved to find none of the flexis on the counter were related to the business of the Empire. If they had been, Tamerlane would have had to have a lengthy conversation with Beka and Tyr about leaving such materials where someone with Terra's history could get them.

"They are not here," Tamerlane restacked the flexi and looked over at Terra who was leaning back against the sofa watching him.

"There is a document case in the bedroom door," Terra offered as she started to head toward the bedroom to retrieve it. She and Tamerlane reached the doorway at just the same time. Terra managed to scoot in just in front of him. She actually pushed by him at the last second to gain access to the room. She hurried over and picked up the case she had moved off the bed when she was changing the bedding earlier.

"Here you go," Terra handed with case to Tamerlane. Without a word, he took it with him back into the common room. He sat down on the sofa after placing the case of the sofa table. He opened the latches and began going through the contents. Two piles were made. Terra could only guess one pile was for Tamerlane to take while the others would be returned to the case. After a few moments, Tamerlane returned the larger pile to the case and locked it once again. He got to his feet with the case and disappeared into Tyr's office. When he emerged, he closed the door behind him. Terra was certain the lock was being engaged when he tapped on the panel outside the door.

"When my father returns, let him know I locked the door to his office. He can contact me for the unlock sequence," Tamerlane offered as he picked up the pile of flexis he had pulled out of the case.

"Tamerlane," Terra called to him when he headed toward the door.

"Yes?" Tamerlane replied without turning back toward her. He remained just inside the closed door when she said his name.

It had been months since the night he and Terra had spoken in the courtyard outside his residence. Since that night, Tamerlane had made no attempts to spend time with Terra. Between his work and his family, he was busier than he had ever been. In his mind, that night, she had made her decision when she continued to play games with him concerning Bartolomew Carnige. As the days and weeks went by, it became evident that Terra was spending more and more time with Bartolomew and Nathaniel. Security requests were made quite often. When requests for additional guests began filtering to him, Tamerlane had finally given the security officials his approval to allow anyone, who was not a known security risk, approval to visit Terra. Guards were to remain outside the suite whenever Terra had company. The reports from the security office concerning Terra's number of guests and length of stays told Tamerlane all he needed to know about her intentions. Seeing her with Maximillian Arnault not long ago was yet another indication of her intentions.

"How have you been?" Terra felt like palming her own forehead when the words slipped from her lips. She couldn't believe of all the things she could say those were the words that left her lips after finally getting to speak with him.

"I have been well," Tamerlane replied as he turned to look at her. She was dressed in a simple tank top and loose fitting workout pants. Her face was still lightly enhanced with cosmetics. Her feet were bare. "You?"

"Great," Terra took a few slow steps in his direction. She half expected him to just turn and leave. "How is your family?"

"All are well," Tamerlane glanced over toward the muted vidscreen. Currently the feed appeared to be from a local news source. His eyes moved back to her. "My father says you have begun taking courses at Kodiak University."

"Yeah," Terra nodded after a moment. "I figured if I was going to hang around, I needed something to do. It was either coursework or a job with the archeology department. Winter is not the best time to look for a job with a dig site. No one is hiring."

Tamerlane appeared to nod in agreement with her words. After a long moment of silence, he started to turn toward the door once more.

"Listen," Terra blurted out suddenly as she took a few quick steps toward the doorway before it opened and he disappeared through it. She felt a flutter run through her when he paused once more. "About the last time you and I spoke …"

"I believe the last time you and I spoke … we exchanged pleasantries at a dinner party at the palace," Tamerlane looked over at her when she stopped a few steps from him. "You were being escorted by Bartolomew Carnige if memory serves."

"Your sixth wife was standing by your side that night," Terra replied with a slight frown when she thought back to that evening just a few days ago. "Proudly displaying her baby bump for all to see in a form fitting, tight ass dress."

"About the last time you and I spoke," Tamerlane prompted Terra to return to her previous statement. There was no need to discuss his sixth wife or the child she was carrying inside her.

"Perhaps I should specify with … the last time you and I had a conversation of a personal nature … I said some things," Terra began then hesitated. She looked away from Tamerlane for a quick moment. There was always something about the intensity of his gaze that both excited her and terrified her at the same time. "There may have been some misunderstandings …"

"Misunderstandings? I believe you made yourself clear that evening," Tamerlane replied when Terra paused. "Your actions since that night have only served to reinforce your stance."

"My actions?" Terra raised her eyebrows questioningly when she looked back up at Tamerlane.

"I came to retrieve some documents from my father. I have no desire to revisit this topic with you tonight," Tamerlane's tone gave the impression that his words were final. His dismissive tone indicated such as well. "Or any other time."

"I do," Terra challenged as her temper flared at his dismissive tone. She took another step towards him. "You are not the only one who has a say in this, Tamerlane."

"Unless you have something specific which would change the context or course of the conversation," Tamerlane shook his head ever so slightly as his eyes ran over her. "There is no reason to rehash the conversation. It serves no purpose."

"Tamerlane," Terra sighed resignedly. She looked down at the floor between them before her gaze drift up to his. He was wearing clothes similar to what she always saw him while he was working. Black boots, black leather pants and tonight form fitting black suede vest that fastened up the center.

She really wasn't certain what more there was to add to the conversation. She enjoyed spending time with him but their relationship was nothing more than a few fleeting moments. Her future could not be a series of those moments and nothing more.

"Terra?" Tamerlane's tone was bland and emotionless when he said her name.

"I still maintain that my private interactions with others are my concern just as you claim your private interactions with others are yours," Terra replied as she looked him over.

"Then, as I have already stated, there is no reason to continue this conversation," Tamerlane retorted firmly.

"There is," Terra replied quickly as she closed the remain space between him. Her hand slipped up the center of his chest and hooked the top of his vest. Before he could respond, Terra leaned into him as she tugged him to her. Her lips pressed against his just once before she eased her lips from his while still keeping her hold on his vest. Her eyes held his as she waited for him to respond. "I believe non-verbal communication can add a great deal to a conversation."

"In this instance, I find such non-verbal communication does nothing to further the previous conversation in question," Tamerlane shook his head ever so slightly as he started to straighten.

"Really?" Terra raised her eyebrow slightly. She tugged him back down as she moved closer. "Then perhaps I should … explain … myself a little better."

"Perhaps you should," Tamerlane agreed. He really had no idea what Terra was up to at the moment. However, kissing him did nothing to clarify the issues between them. After not speaking with him in the last few months, coupled with her active social life, there was more to be discussed than Terra seemed to understand.

She released her grip in his vest before her hands came up to frame his face. Her fingertips traced lightly along his jaw. She held his gaze as she leaned and pressed her lips to his in a slow series of short kisses.

"Does that make it any clearer?" Terra murmured as her eyes searched his.

"With you … no," Tamerlane's voice was much lower when he spoke this time. His eyes moved slowly over her face as he contemplated what he should say, it anything, at this point.

"Make yourself available to me tonight," Terra's fingertips trailed slowly along his jaw. "We can talk."

Tamerlane considered her words for a long moment. He could see the disappointment flash across her face when he shook his head slowly. Her hands dropped from his face as she took a step back from him. "I have work to do this evening. Good night Terra."

"Good night," Terra sighed to herself when he turned and disappeared out the door.