A tapping sensation on her back roused Frea from her deep sleep. Her eyes slowly opened to the bright sunlight streaming through the curtain. Her dreams were more wild than usual, making the headache she feel asleep with even worse.

"Guardian." Her Ghost bounced on her back again. "Dex leaves in two hours, you'll be late if you don't get up now," it chattered.

"I'm up. I'm up." She swatted the bot away and rolled over.

The Ghost whirled in the air to avoid her hand. With an annoyed beep, it bolted under the blanket and pulled the fabric away. Frea groaned as the cozy warmth was taken away and replaced with freezing air.

"He'll leave without you," it said.

The huntress let out a long yawn and lazily lifted herself up from the bed. She smoothed out her messed hair as she eyed the room. Armor was scattered everywhere. Her long cape rumbled into a heap on the floor. The only evidence of the time spent with Shaxx. She was so tired and torn up inside, if it wasn't for the lingering sensation of his teeth on her neck then she probably would have mistaken last night as another hazy dream.

She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stretched, reveling in the feeling of her stiff joints popping into place.

"You have a message." Ghost drifted back over her shoulder.

"From?" She asked.

"Banshee-44."

Frea immediately perked up, fully awake now. "Is the sword finished? It's been over a week."

"He didn't say. Only to meet him at his kiosk as soon as you can." It blinked.

The huntress shot out of bed, grabbing her gear off the floor.

It took all her willpower to not sprint through the plaza, her hurried pace already catching the notice of some Guardians loitering by the Eververse store. As she neared Banshee's table, she noticed another figure already there. A Warlock, donning a vibrant purple robe and an exotic shotgun holstered to her back.

"Good morning, Ikora Rey," Frea called.

The woman turned around, a small smile spread across her features. "Good morning, Frea. It's been awhile."

"Yeah, I guess it has," the huntress replied.

Ikora returned her attention back to the kiosk. Banshee was no where to be found, most likely delivering a gun to the armory. Frea noticed the Warlock studying something sitting on top of the table, though she couldn't see what it was. The huntress didn't dare to peek around or step up next to her. Out of all the other Vanguards, Frea knew Ikora the least. While she exerted an air of kindness much like Commander Zavala did, there was something unforgiving about her eyes. Like she was always seeing through people, watching and learning, and Frea found that difficult to ignore. Starting up conversations with Ikora always felt like handling a ticking time bomb.

"You don't come around the Vanguard very often these days." Ikora suddenly spoke up, making Frea jump a little.

"Y-yeah. I've been a bit busy lately."

"Cayde often complains that his favorite pupil doesn't visit him anymore."

Frea snorted. "Cayde says that to everyone."

Ikora chuckled as she motioned for Frea to stand next to her. The huntress did so, hesitantly.

"Banshee had to run some errands, but he left this for you it seems," she said.

That's when Frea saw what Ikora had been staring at for so long. It was Shaxx's sword. Newly restored, it gleamed like molten gold in the morning sun. The engravings that were marred by rust were now crisp, looking like they were just recently chiseled into the metal. Awed, Frea ran her armored fingers over the blade as she traced the outline of the once hidden inscription.

"Mutato nomine de te fabula narratur." Ikora repeated the phrase, her voice light and airy.

Frea looked back at the Warlock. "You know what that means?" She asked.

Ikora gave her a knowing smile. "It is not my place to say. Perhaps you should ask the owner of this sword." She then turned away and began to leave, but halted at the bottom of the steps. "The power you now wield is old and dangerous, use it cautiously."

And she was gone.

Frea looked back down at the sword. That was the second cryptic warning she was given about this relic. It is really that dangerous? It didn't seem to do much when she used it in the Hive nest before. The huntress carefully picked up the blade, noticing that it was much lighter now, and slung it across her back. She considered going to Shaxx, maybe it would be best to find out all she can about this weapon before using it in battle.

But just as she started walking toward the Vanguard, her Ghost sounded in her head. "One minute."

"Shit!" Frea quickly turned the opposite direction and sprinted for the hanger bay. Shaxx was going to have to wait for later.

The huntress was breathing hard when she reached Dex's jumpship. She was relieved to see the ramp still open and she leapt up to it. Just as she stepped into the airlock she was assaulted by flailing arms and two Titans.

"Frea!"

Psyho hugged her from behind while the other Titan, Timus, got her from the front. The Guardian sandwich effectively squeezed the air out of her lungs.

"Guys..!" She shouted. "I'm happy to see you too but you're crushing me!"

Laughing, they let her back down.

"It's been ages since we've done a mission together!" Timus patted her hard on the back, a wide grin spread across his robotic features. "It's good to have the old gang back together."

Frea peered around the ship to see that there was indeed a full team of six. Dex sat at the stern, discussing something with the other Warlock of the group. Kannon relaxed in the back as she sharpened her throwing knives. And then there were the backbones, Timus and Psyho, who greeted Frea at the ramp.

"Did something happen? Why are we going with a full fireteam?" Frea asked.

"Thought you and Dex could use the backup." Sain, the other Warlock, said as he walked up to them. He cast a smile in Frea's direction. "Good to see you, my friend."

Frea returned the smile. "Thanks, I appreciate the help."

"I'm glad you do." Psyho leaned against the wall and pointed with her chin in the direction of the stern. "Cause that idiot has been crabby all morning."

The huntress glanced over at Dex, he caught her eye for just a moment before quickly turning away. Unsurprisingly, he was still mad from yesterday.

"Well!" Sain clapped his hands together. "Let's get going shall we?"

The trip to the moon was done in relative silence. Only the distance purr of the engines and occasional clatter of metal from those working on guns could be heard inside the cabin. Frea sat with Kannon and Psyho as she cleaned her auto rifle. She could feel their eyes drilling a hole into her head.

Finally, she sighed and looked up from her work. "Yes?"

"You seem to be in better spirits these days," Kannon remarked, setting down her knife.

"No kidding. Last time we saw you I thought we were gonna duke it out." Psyho chuckled.

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that. Was...going through some things." Frea put down her gun and rested her chin in her palm. "Still kind am, I guess."

"Hmmm..." Psyho roughly indicated toward the head of the ship where Dex resided. "Does it have anything to do with that sourpuss?"

"Psyho!" Kannon playfully smacked the titaness.

"What? I could have used a much worse name than sourpuss, believe me," she grumbled.

Frea couldn't help but smile at the scene in front of her.

"So." Kannon turned back. "What happened?"

"Nothing," Frea curtly replied.

The Hunter and Titan stared her down hard. They obviously were not going to take that answer this time.

With a groan, Frea rubbed her neck. Maybe talking about this will help, but she had to phrase it carefully. They couldn't know about Shaxx and whatever relationship she was involved in. She paused at that thought. What exactly was going on between her and Shaxx? Was it a relationship? It was certainly beyond the point of friends or colleagues. He did confess to caring for her and she returned the gesture, but did he actually want to be together? Her chest clenched painfully.

"Hellooooo..." Psyho waved a hand in Frea's vision, jarring her back to reality.

"Ah, my bad. Zoned out a bit." The huntress awkwardly laughed.

"So what's the scoop? Give us some juicy details." Psyho was practically bouncing in her seat.

Kannon sighed and grabbed Psyho's arm, stilling the Titan. "By that she means we're here for you, Frea. You don't have to tell us, but maybe we can help."

"How..." Frea hesitated, slowly choosing her words. "How can you be certain that someone wants to be with you? If they show their affection in actions but never in words, then how do you know if they-" Her voice trailed of, uncertain how to continue. The ways of love were foreign to her, at least in this life, and her nervousness wasn't helping matters.

A surprised look flashed across Kannon's face. "This isn't about Dex, is it?" She asked.

Frea flinched. "How did you know?"

"Cause if it was." Psyho leaned over the table, her voice in a low whisper. "He wouldn't be so pissed off right now."

"Frea." Kannon reached over and gently took her fellow huntress's hand. "Have you told him you love him?"

"N-no, I haven't. Wouldn't that just scare him away or something?"

Kannon smiled kindly. "Sometimes you have to take the first leap. If he doesn't reciprocate the feeling, then he isn't the right one for you."

"And it he breaks your heart, then I break his face." Psyho cracked her knuckles, a confident smirk played across her lips.

Frea laughed, the image of Psyho squaring off with Shaxx was both hilarious and downright terrifying.

"So who took the first leap then? You or Psyho?" Frea asked.

"I did, of course." Kannon leaned back into her chair with a giggle. "You really think Psyho would've been the first to say 'I love you'?"

Frea looked over at the Titan. She had already turned her face away but the tips of her blue ears were tinted a shade of deep purple. The Awoken equivalent of a blush.

"Alright, ladies." Timus emerged from the front of the ship, holding the railing along the roof for support against the swaying. "We're here."