Hunter makes a move, as if to touch me but I leap back, extending a hand as if to ward him off.

"Don't."

He pulls back as if he's been burned and I take a deep breath, trying to stop my head from spinning as I realize who is actually standing in front of me. Sergeant Hunter, my Sergeant Hunter. The man whom I've dreamt about for five years, the one whose meeting I've imagined nearly everyday since he disappeared.

"Lila-"

"Five years." I say in that strange, strangled voice, "Five. Years. Do you know what I've been through?"

"I imagine it's something similar to my experience." Hunter's voice is rough and I can't help the shudder that works it's way down my body as I remember other choice words that man has said to me.

"You left me." I take a step back when he moves towards me again, determined to keep a safe distance away from him. "I thought you were dead."

"I know." Hunter runs a hand down the side of his face in the familiar anxious gesture I remember. "Leave."

"I can't do that."

I let out a dry laugh as I feel what's left of my heart crack.

"Like leaving was a problem for you before, right?"

"Now wait just a damn minute." Hunter has the audacity to look angry, "You actually think I just dropped you and ran for it?"

I feel tears burn my eyelids as I blink, five years worth of sudden emotion and desperation clawing its way up as my voice rises,

"You broke my heart!" I cry, "God, Hunter, do you know how much pain I've been in?"

"Do you think I wanted to leave you?" Hunter matches my volume, his shoulders rising and falling as he chases after me, "I'm a clone, Lila! I take orders! I do the job! I was going to propose to you and then Cody shipped me out on a bloody mission that went south so fast, I almost didn't come out of it!"

"But you didn't even call!" I cry desperately, wanting to turn and run but knowing he would catch me. "You didn't even let me know you were alive!"

"I couldn't." Hunter answers miserably, "It would have put you and the entire company in danger if we got in touch. Every day of the past five years, I've died a little. Wondering if you're still alive. Still mine." His tone turns bitter as he raises an arm, pointing back at the house. "Wondering if you gave up on me and settled for a normal farmer who came home for dinner and gave you a stable household!"

"Wha-" I'm so stunned that I don't remember to keep away from him and Hunter grabs my shoulders, yanking me closer to him as his frustration rises, his tone becoming more and more broken with every passing word.

"You're right, Lila. I should have just walked away from the Republic, Clone Force 99, the whole damn thing! I should have contacted you! Just like I should have been the one making love to you all night and watching your stomach grow with those angelic babies!" He shakes me slightly, "So you don't get to be angry with me! You don't get to give me the cold shoulder and run away from me! You're the one here who got the happy ending I always wanted with you."

Hunter lets go of me and turns quickly, storming off as I stare at him in shock. I regain my senses and sprint after him, grabbing his arm and spinning him around before I can think twice.

"Hunter, I-"

"Don't, Lila." Hunter warns, the torture in his eyes so palpable that it hurts me to look at him. "You're not listening," I say frantically, "Hunter-"

"Lila?" Raina calls from the open door, holding Ash as the two boys peek out from behind her skirts. "Lila, who are you talking to? Are you in any danger?"

Hunter's head snaps to Raina, his gaze falling to where she holds her children close protectively on the doorstep. I finally find my voice and reply as normally as I can,

"Everything is fine. It's an… old friend."

Raina gives me a look before nodding slowly, her eyes scanning Hunter's armour before she gets back in the house where I know she'll be watching from the window.

I turn back to face the sergeant who is looking down at me with an unreadable expression in his face.

"That's what I was going to tell you." I say softly. Hunter says nothing for a full minute, emotions flitting across his face as he studies me carefully.

"So that baby… those boys…" His voice trails off.

"Not mine." I affirm and he shuts his eyes, a low shuddering breath escaping his lips.

"Hello!" I turn at the sound of Tag, Raina's husband, walking up to the house, curiosity in his face as he greets us. "Beautiful evening, isn't it?"

"Beautiful." Hunter replies shortly and I frown at the sudden tension in his shoulders before I realize what he must be thinking.

"Raina and the kids are inside." I say, "Hunter was just leaving."

"Clone trooper, aren't you?" Tag asks, leaning against the fence as he looks Hunter up and down. I almost groan in frustration as I remember Tag's fierce admiration for the clones. "I don't recognize your insignia."

"Sergeant Hunter, Clone Force 99." Hunter answers, his tone notably more gracious as he grips the shorter man's hand, "You're Raina's husband?"

"I am." Tag affirms, "You met my wife?"

"Not exactly." I answer, reminding myself to brace for Raina's interrogation, sure to come as soon as we're alone.

"Was that your ship I saw by the dunes?" Tag continues, gesturing, "It must be half a day's walk from here. Why didn't you land closer?"

"I didn't know where I was supposed to be looking." Hunter answers Tag's question but I can feel his eyes on me.

"Well, you can't start heading back now, you must stay with us tonight."

"Uh-" I trail behind Tag and Hunter, who has already started walking towards the house, "I don't think that's such a good idea."

"Do you have any reason to be concerned about your friend being a guest at my house?" Tag asks seriously, pausing to look at me as Hunter watches me from the corner of his eyes.

"I…" I can't think of a single thing. Hunter may have some explaining to do but he was still the most honorable man I knew. "No. Never mind me."

Tag leads the way up the front yard and I ignore Hunter's burning gaze as I go through the door.