Terra's eyes remained on the screen for what seemed like hours, even though it was seconds, after the end of the action and the credits began to flash on the screen.

Before the movie began, Terra had seated herself right next to Tamerlane after he sat down.

Early on in the movie, she had reached over and caressed his hand while her attention remained on the screen.

About halfway through the film, she had gently lifted his arm by the hand she was 'holding' and pulled it over her shoulders. She had leaned into his side with the back of her shoulder against the side of his chest. She had been pleasantly surprised when he had shifted ever so slightly to make himself a little more comfortable and pulled her a little more firmly into his side.

A short time later, the light caress of his fingertips along her upper arm sent a tingling through her body.

By the end of the movie, her arm was resting on his thigh and her fingers were lightly caressing his leg just above his knee.

"That was the worst video you have ever shared with me," Tamerlane's voice was soft yet held a hint of amusement.

Terra cringed when she heard the words.

"The filming was shoddy. The acting was abysmal. The video and audio of the actors were not synchronized," Tamerlane began his critique of the video. "The costumes were horrible. For more than half the movie, that one Nietzschean fellow's boneblades were coming out of the wrong part of his forearm. The audio and video special effects did not match with the action on the screen."

"I know it was bad," Terra replied without looking at him. The light caress of his fingertips over her upper arm had continued even though he was speaking.

"The premise of a large space faring race of birds attacking a space station was absurd," Tamerlane continued when Terra did not look over at him. "Forget the actual biological reasons why such a thing would never happen. Why were the birds attacking the station? There needs to be at least some motivation for a never before known alien race to attack a busy port. Where were the station's external defenses? Never once did the commander of the station attempt to defend the station or sent out his pilots. He sounded the abandon station before the birds ever attacked."

"I know … it sucked … from start to finish," Terra offered as she glanced up at him.

"I find it inconceivable that a cook from the mess hall and a stripper from an entertainment establishment were able to do what the station's security squad of a dozen inept, poorly armed soldiers could not do," Tamerlane went on. "Seriously, peppering the bird with fire from a Gauss rifle does not phase it. However, a flailing female in stiletto heels managed to strike the organism's neural plexus and kills it?"

"I know … I know … it was a total suckfest … and a complete waste of the last sixty-three minutes of your life," Terra looked over at him.

"Only sixty-three minutes?" Tamerlane was a little surprised because it seemed to go on forever. Terra nodded. "It was a total 'suckfest' as you called it. However, it was not a complete waste of time."

"Really?" Terra's tone was filled with doubt about his assertion. She pushed herself up from his side and turned to look at him. "Name one redeeming quality of that movie."

"Nothing can redeem that video," Tamerlane shook his head as his hand ran lightly over her lower back.

"Then is was a complete waste of time," Terra shook her head as she started to get up from the sofa. She grabbed her empty bottle from the table, stepped over his outstretched legs and walked over to the kitchen. She put the empty bottle in the recycler before walking back over to him. The video had stopped and the newsfeed filled the screen. Terra gestured in the direction of the screen. "Looks like the Kalderan are at it again."

"The Kalderan are always probing defenses to find a weakness," Tamerlane replied as his eyes moved from Terra to the vidscreen. He watched it for a moment. "Fortunately, the Kalderan are focused on the Than and the Commonwealth interests in the Magellanics for now."

"Someone needs to counter the Kalderan presence in the Magellanics," Terra said as she started to step over his legs again. "If not, it will be a total bitch for any species trying to transit through any system in the clouds. The Kalderan are territorial …"

Terra stopped when Tamerlane leaned forward ever so slightly. His hand on her hip kept her from stepping all the way over him and settling back on the sofa.

"Unreasonable," Terra continued as Tamerlane's other reached up to frame her waist. With a gently tug, he urged her toward him.

"Vicious," Terra added as one knee slipped onto the sofa on one side of his legs and the other knees slipped onto the other side. She moved forward slowly as her eyes remained on his until she was sitting astride his thighs, facing him on the sofa.

"Ruthless," Terra said in a soft tone as her eyes met his. She settled onto his lap as her hands ran up his chest. The light caress of his hands over her back urged her to him.

"Never think that I view time with you as a waste," Tamerlane murmured softly as he leaned forward.

Terra gazes into his golden brown eyes. They were warm and open and welcoming this evening. She leaned to him as her head tilted ever so slightly to the side while maintaining eye contact. The soft fabric under her hands covered the hard muscle of his chest. She thought she could feel the strong, steady beat of his heart under her hand as her heart raced in her chest.

His lips were soft against hers when they first met. His lips slowly caressed her lips, first the top one, then the bottom as his eyes held hers. Her eyes fluttered shut as his mouth moved leisurely over hers, shaping her lips with his.

Warmth flooded through her body as he kissed her. His lips taunted hers lightly before capturing them. He pulled her bottom lip between his, sucking it softly before allowing it to slip from between his.

Her hands slipped up his chest and along the length of his neck to cup his face in her hands. Her thumbs caress the smooth skin just above his bristly facial hair. Her mouth moved eagerly over his as her tongue teased his full lips.

Their breathing deepened as they kissed unhurriedly. Their tongues glided and twirled around one another as they explored. Heat moved through her body as his hands ran slowly up and down her back. Sure hands ran down over her firm rear, kneading the flesh as he pulled her to him. A soft moan slipped from her throat as the juncture of her thighs brushed against his increasing hardness.

His hands lightly gripped her rear as he easily got to his feet. As he stood, her legs unfolded and wrapped lightly around him. A slight turn was all there was before he lowered her back to the sofa. His hard body nestled between her thighs.

His mouth moved eagerly over hers. His tongue delved between her lips, exploring the recesses of her mouth. His hand ran up her outer thigh and slipped beneath the thin shorts and over her lower cheek. Her hands ran down his back and tugged the shirt up his back as her hands sought the warm soft skin.

Breathing was coming in ragged breaths. Their tongues slipped and twirled. Heat flowed through them as their bodies intertwined. A moan slipped from her throat as a soft groan slipped from his.

Firm hands grabbed his shoulders and pulled him violently away.

Tamerlane's felt himself being tugged then pulled then tossed away. His back hit the floor then his head. Voices filled the air and people were suddenly all around. He quickly scrambled to his feet as he tried to make some sense out of what was happening.

His head jerked to the side when the first blow landed. The second one sent him staggering back into the wall.

"Get you friggin' hands off my sister," Kindred bellowed as he charged toward Tamerlane.

As Tamerlane started to lunge towards him, strong arms grabbed him, pulling him backward, tying up his arms. Kindred next punch caught Tamerlane on the cheek just below his eye. The next in the gut nearly doubled him over.

Tamerlane struggled to pull himself free from the restraint. When Kindred tried to punch him again, Tamerlane's used a foot to shove the other male away. He violently struggled to get free as he was pulled away from the approaching Human male.

Screams and names and chaos filled the air as Tamerlane was muscled back against the wall.

"Kindred! Stop!" Lex's voice filled the air as she grabbed him when he went toward Tamerlane again. She shoved him hard back across the room.

"Keep your damn hands off my sister, you prick," Kindred snapped as he headed back toward Tamerlane.

Tamerlane struggled to pull free from his father.

"Tamerlane," Tyr grunted as his son tried to shake free of him.

"TYR!" Beka's scream filled the air when Tamerlane pulled free and shoved his father back into the wall. As he turned, Kindred's punch connected with his face once more. The next punch was blocked and the Human male shoved backward. Before Tyr could grab him, Tamerlane had closed the distance and engaged. It was only a quick second before Kindred was on his back, pinned to the floor while Tamerlane punched him twice in the face. Kindred clawed at his throat as Tamerlane's hand tighten around his neck.

Hands pulled on Tamerlane, trying to pull him off Kindred. Female voices and shouts filled the air around him as his heart raced and his chest heaved from exertion. Tamerlane flipped Tyr over his shoulder and onto his back beside Kindred when he tried to pull his son off the Human man.

"I told you if you EVER touched me again," Tamerlane's voice was menacing as he gazed hostilely down at the Human male pinned under him. Kindred's face was bright red and he was clawing at Tamerlane arm as his body thrashed around trying to free himself. "No one would save you."

Silence fell over the room when Tamerlane released Kindred and pushed himself to his feet. He stepped warily away from the man as he struggled to sit up, gasping for air and rubbing his throat. Tamerlane stiffened when Kindred got to his feet and glared at Tamerlane.

"What the hell is going on?" Beka demanded as she looked between the two males, panting for breath and eyeing each other with anger in their eyes.

Upon arriving back at the palace, Beka and Tyr had been invited to join Lex and Kindred for a quick moment in their suite. Lex had some examples of the centerpieces and floral arrangement she wanted for the wedding. Although it was later in the evening, they were all still side awake after the opera and the trip back to the palace from Hathgor.

Kindred had been the first one to the door. He had opened it and disappeared inside. Lex and Beka had been following a few steps behind but were walking more slowly while they talked. Tyr had been several steps behind Lex and Beka.

When Beka entered the suite, Tamerlane's body crumbled in the floor before them. An instant later, he was up and Kindred was punching him. Terra was screaming at her brother. Beka and Lex both yelled as Tamerlane started toward Kindred. Tyr came through the door and grabbed Tamerlane to pull him away, leaving him open to Kindred's attack.

The tide had turned quickly when Tamerlane threw Tyr off him and took Kindred down to the ground.

"Freakin' prick," Kindred breathed heavily as he pointed at Tamerlane. Lex was standing beside him with a towel, dabbing the blood flowing from his split lip and the cut above his eye.

"You've got six friggin' wives," Kindred snapped at Tamerlane. "Stay the hell away from my sister."

"What?" Beka asked as she looked around the room. Her eyes landed on Terra who was moving slowly towards Tamerlane.

"You said you were alone for the night," Tamerlane wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. His eyes moved to Terra as his jaw clenched. Blood was dripping down his face and from his lip from Kindred's punches had landed.

"They weren't supposed to be back," Terra hurriedly explained as she moved toward him. The intense expression in his eyes made her pause.

"Came in … and he's … they're …" Kindred pointed toward the sofa then at Tamerlane. "You've got 6 wives? Why do ya' hafta screw my sister too?"

"We weren't," Terra started to defend herself.

"WHAT?" Beka's voice exploded through the room as her eyes flew to Tamerlane.

Tamerlane took a deep, calming breath as he looked over at Beka

"Stay away from my daughter Tamerlane Anasazi," Beka pointed at him as she walked toward him. "I warned you from the beginning to leave her alone, didn't I?"

Tamerlane's gaze narrowed on Beka as she walked toward him.

"You … you can NEVER … have a relationship with my daughter," Beka continued as her focus remained on Tamerlane. "You are too self-absorbed, self-centered and selfish to EVER truly give a damn about anyone but yourself. She is too good for the likes of you. She deserves more than someone like you. She ought to have a life with someone who treasures her. Not someone like you … who will never think she is good enough because she's not Nietzschean."

"Get out!" Beka pointed toward the door as she came to stand before Tamerlane.

"Beka," Tyr's voice was low and soothing when he came up behind her and put his hand on her lower back.

"I said … GET OUT," Beka's voice raised a little when Tamerlane failed to move.

Tamerlane's gaze held Beka's for a long moment before he turned and strode from the suite.

"Mom," Terra finally said something when Tamerlane disappeared out the door.

"Don't mom me, young lady," Beka turned to look at her daughter. "I don't know what you are up to but it stops here. Do you understand me?"

"I'm not …" Terra protested as her mom's steely blue, accusatory gaze settled on her.

"I mean it Terra," Beka warned softly. "It stops now."

"Are you okay?" Beka asked as her attention turned to Kindred.

"Yeah," Kindred nodded as he sat down on one of the stools as Lex tended his lacerations. "Fine."

"What were you thinking?" Beka shook her head as she tilted his head up so she could see him better. "You're lucky he didn't kill you tonight."

"And you?" Beka asked as she turned her attention to Tyr. She reached up and caressed his jaw lightly. "Your son kicked your ass tonight. And nearly killed my son. What are you going to do about it, Tyr?"