Sorry about the delay in an update. Recently moved, started a new job, and had some personal issues come up so have been busy with all that. Hope you enjoy this next chapter.

Alara ignored everyone she passed as she stormed down the corridors. She didn't care about the looks anyone gave her or the whispers that would come in the following days about seeing Alara Kitan in tears. She wanted to get away from her parents, primarily her father.

She reached her quarters and entered, leaving the lights off as she did. She didn't want to see anything right now, she was too upset.

She flopped down onto her sofa and took several deep breaths to calm herself.

A mistake.

Her father had called Gordon a mistake.

Anger filled her again slightly as she thought of those words being slung at Gordon across the table for nothing more than his humanity. Those words had to have hurt him, but he sat there and took them. That had upset her more.

During this time they were "dating", she had gotten to know more about Gordon's home life than she had before. His own father had once called him a mistake, forcing him to marry Gordon's mother unwillingly as she was pregnant. His relationship with his father had been strained since that time. Knowing this and then hearing the same words come from her father must have done something to him.

She had known her father would object, but this was too much. Gordon didn't deserve this abuse. He...

Alara froze as she realized where her thoughts were. She was thinking about Gordon as if she was in a real relationship with him, as if his words and kindness was for a real lover instead of just a friend. Even that brief kiss that neither spoke of had to be part of the act...didn't it?

Because this wasn't real. She had to remind herself of that almost every day. Just because he acted like he loved her didn't mean he really did...did it?

Was his acting really that good or...did Gordon feel something for her?

And what about her? What were her feelings?

Her last words to her father flashed through her mind causing a blush to fill her cheeks.

'I love him the way he is...'

She hadn't been thinking clearly when she said those words, but as she remembered them now she felt at peace, as if everything made sense again. She knew that she had spoken the truth in her angry rant at her father.

Somehow, someway, she had fallen in love with Gordon.

Alara had barely come to this realization, barely been able to acknowledge the truth of it, when her door chimed.

Her heart started to pound. Was it Gordon?

Had he understood what she said or was he just checking up on her?

Had he thought it was real or just part of the act?

What would she say?

She knew that she couldn't keep these feelings to herself forever. Even if he said that he only saw her as a friend or rejected her outright, at least she would have said something to him.

Maybe...it could be real.

With that hope blooming in her heart, Alara answered the door.

After Alara's angry outburst and exit, the room had become quiet and still.

Malik and Alara's parents were stunned at Alara's force that they had frozen in place, as if statues. Gordon, however, was almost jumping out of his seat as her entire body seemed to vibrate. He could still hear Alara's words, her voice yelling them, in his head.

'I love him the way he is...'

"I love him...'

The rush of emotion he felt upon hearing those words, even though not directed at him and said in anger, surprised him. He knew his own feelings for Alara were strong but hadn't realized how much he wanted her to return them to him. He felt at peace for the first time.

He wanted, needed, those words to be real more than anything else in his life.

At some point Malik had excused himself and left, Gordon barely noticed. As far as he was concerned Malik had lost and could go back to Xelaya knowing that Alara didn't want him.

"Well," Ildris said, bringing Gordon back to the table he still sat at, now alone with Alara's parents. "It would seem as though our daughter is very...emotional when it comes to you."

"Yes," Gordon said, his heart still pounding at that thought.

"I still don't approve," Ildris continued. "I probably never will."

"As long as Alara approves of me and wants me, I don't plan on going anywhere." It was the truth. He couldn't go back now to just being friends. That would be torture to him.

This whole charade had opened his eyes and Gordon knew that he had to tell Alara how he felt, right now, or it would eat him up inside.

He had to tell her that he was in love with her.

"It doesn't bother you that she could snap you in half should you upset her?" this question came from Drenala.

Gordon smiled. "If I ever do anything to upset her or hurt her then I deserve to be snapped in half." He stood, his whole body crying out for him to run to Alara right this second. "I'm sorry, but I should check on Alara."

Drenala said nothing, but her smile spoke volumes. Even if Ildris didn't approve of them, she did and had given her blessing.

Ildris waved Gordon away, his face contorted as if in thought. Gordon wasted no time leaving their quarters.

He didn't run, although he wanted to, to Alara's quarters. He had to know how she felt, if those words she said were her true feelings or just an act.

As she stood before her door, slight panic set in. What if scenarios running through his head.

'I love him...'

He took a deep breath and pushed the call button, hearing the door ding inside, alerting the occupant that someone was there.

Only there was no answer.

He dinged the door again, still no response. "Alara?" He said, hoping that his voice would alert her to it just being him, someone she trusted, so she would open the door.

No answer.

Worry filled him. Something wasn't right here.

He looked around before entering the code to Alara's room to unlock the door. She had told it to him recently in case there was a reason for him to use it. He had promised not to do so, unless necessary.

This seemed necessary.

The door opened and Gordon stepped in, the lights coming on. Worry turned into full blown panic at the sight before him.

The room was in shambles. Tables were overturned, the seating area had couches flipped, the coffee table was busted, glass was everywhere. It was chaos.

Gordon knew that Alara wasn't there anymore, couldn't be there anymore, but he couldn't help calling out for her, searching the bedroom and bathroom areas, both untouched, looking for her. Looking back at the living area, fear filled him along with the panic. Whoever had attacked Alara had to be strong, stronger than she was.

"Malik..." The answer hit him almost instantly. Malik was stronger than Alara and he had a grudge against her. If they weren't here, then where would they go? Malik's quarters? No, Malik was an asshole but he wasn't stupid. He had to know that someone would realize Alara was missing pretty quickly and start looking for her.

Gordon did run this time, from Alara's quarters straight to the bridge. The ship scanner would be able to find Malik and Alara quickly. The thought of Alara's room spurred him forward.

His abrupt entrance onto the bridge caused several heads to turn. Ignoring Ed's concerned voice, Gordon zeroed in on Issac and instantly made his request.

"Issac, scan the ship for Alara."

"Gordon, what's going on?"

Ignoring Kelly this time, Gordon repeated his request. "Scan the ship...right now. It's urgent Issac!"

At Gordon's outburst the bridge went silent. Issac started running the information through the computer, doing a ship wide scan.

After only a few seconds, which to Gordon felt like days, Issac spoke. "Lt. Kitan is not aboard the Orville."

Ice filled Gordon's veins at those words. Not on the ship?

"How many Xelayans are onboard?" Ed asked.

"2, both in the quarters assigned to the Kitans."

Gordon couldn't feel the air in his lungs, even though he knew he was breathing. He could see his chest expanding with each breath, but it was like the air wasn't entering his lungs.

"Are all the shuttles in the shuttlebay?" Kelly asked, her voice sounding so far away despite standing a few steps away.

His worst fears were confirmed when Issac confirmed what Gordon already knew. A shuttle was missing from the shuttlebay. The video surveillance showed Malik carrying an unconscious Alara into a shuttle. Seconds later that same shuttle exited the bay.

"Malik...he took her. He took Alara."