I do not own FFVII characters – though I wish I did. lol

I do own my own character – Jalyne

Chapter 15 – The Confrontation

They found her splayed out on the living room floor, barely breathing, when they came off the elevator the next morning. Tseng rushed to her and gently rolled her over, checking for her pulse. Rufus pushed her hair away from her face.

"Stupid." The President commented. "She should have stayed with them."

After checking for injuries, Tseng slowly reached under her to lift her up and carried her to bed.

"Will she be alright?" Rufus asked quietly.

"I don't know." Tseng replied truthfully. "What happened?" He questioned the young President.

"She's drained, apparently." They walked out into the living room when something caught Tseng's eye. Walking to where they found her, he knelt and looked closer at something near the ground. Putting his hand underneath it, Tseng glanced back toward the bedroom in bewilderment. "Impossible." He muttered. He stared at the suspended object for a moment.

"What is?"

Tseng just shook his head and straightened up. "What do we do? The others are expecting her."

"I dismissed the others for the moment." Rufus stated. "We all need a minute of peace."

"I'll stay until she awakens, then."

"As will I."

"Why do you think Rufus let us off today?" Reno asked Rude as they were making their way to perform maintenance on the choppers. "Think it has something to do with Jalyne?"

"It might." His partner answered. "I take it the sensors have never tripped at her apartment?"

"No."

"…"

"Do you think Rufus moved her?"

"It's possible."

"Why?"

Rude did not have an answer and both of them stayed silent as they worked on the choppers. Reno kept the rest of his thoughts silent as his mind went over and over the last few days, starting with his night at the club when he thought he saw her. He wondered then just how much she had seen.

Jalyne awoke to a splitting headache. She scrunched her eyes together in pain.

She's awakening.

Shiva, she looks great.

What should I wear tonight.

Where are we going?

How dare you!

"Quiet." She whispered.

We didn't say anything.

Look at this view!

I need to go shopping.

Where is the next fix?

I wonder what's next for Shinra?

Does this make me look fat?

You need to fess up.

"I said SILENCE!" Jalyne bolted to a sitting position, bringing both hands to her temples. "STOP SHOUTING!"

Tseng and Rufus moved to sit on the bed, each concerned as they looked at her shaking her head fervently.

"Jalyne?" Tseng whispered. "What's happening."

"Please." She opened her eyes to look at him. Then turned her eyes to Rufus. "Now is NOT the time, Sir." She quietly stated. Rufus blushed just enough to have Tseng raise an eyebrow in question. "Please, clear you minds. It hurts. Think of something peaceful."

Jalyne took a deep breath and concentrated. Figuring out the why could happen later for now she needed to calm the voices in her head. As she concentrated, each and every barrier she had created within her mind was gone. Slowly she started rebuilding them within her mind, slowly taking deep breaths and meditating. She sat there for what seemed an eternity, closing out each voice and threading the web of her conscious. Finally, she opened her eyes again to stare into two sets of curious ones. She smiled briefly at them.

"I'm sorry." She said. "I'm not sure why that occurred."

"What occurred?" Rufus asked.

"All the voices." She stated. "I could hear everything. All the thoughts coming at once."

"Are you okay?" Rufus questioned taking her hand in his.

"Yes." She paused. "But I don't understand why my barriers would have disappeared."

"Perhaps what happened yesterday contributed to it." Tseng stated. His eyes widened as the dragonfly that was suspended flew near him. "From everything I have heard, you had quite an experience."

Jalyne thought for a moment on his words. Thinking back on the conversation with Aerith, she realized she did state that she felt different. Perhaps the 'cure' is what undid her barriers. If that is the case, Jalyne realized that she must be careful with her power, for if the barriers are truly gone, she could cause catastrophic results. She glanced at Tseng and nodded in agreement.

"Are you still planning to go home?" Rufus questioned. Jalyne sighed a heavy sigh and stood to look out her bedroom window, gazing at the slowly lowering sun.

"Yes." She iterated. "Sometime tonight."

"What happened with Sephiroth?" Tseng asked.

"Outside of that he believes he can change Fate?" Jalyne commented and paused in thought for a moment. "He figured out my greatest weakness. Of course, it sounds like he's intent on bringing destruction to this planet. Sephiroth wants to continue Jenova's journey."

"Your greatest weakness?" Rufus mused.

"Yes." She replied, solemnly. "I must be careful around him."

"But you're intent on going home?"

"Yes. Father WILL answer the last question. Sephiroth hinted at it and I don't particularly care for its implications."

Rufus looked at Tseng and nodded silently. Jalyne turned around just then to look at them, a pleading look within her emerald orbs.

"I still would like the others not to know." She said looking at both of them. "I really don't know if or when I'll return." Tseng nodded in agreement and turned to walk out of the room, leaving Rufus a moment alone with her. The President took Jalyne by the shoulders, rubbing them lightly. He lifted a hand to her chin to make her look at him.

"You can't run from Reno forever, Jalyne." He smiled lightly. "You should talk to him."

Jalyne bowed her head. "I don't know what to say, or even if he cares to see me."

"Oh, he wants to see you."

"I'm not sure of that." Jalyne hesitated. "What I felt yesterday, the anger that came from him and the anger I still hold because of the other night. I'm don't think that's a good idea."

Rufus leaned in and kissed her forehead lightly, brushing her hair away from her face in a rare moment of tenderness and raised her chin again to stare into her eyes. "You'll regret it. Do you really want that? Heal the rift, Jalyne." He turned to walk out. "Let me know when you will leave?" he called over his shoulder.

Jalyne nodded in the affirmative and turned to the window once again, pondering Rufus' words. But he would not like what I suspect I am. How could one even consider being with someone like this? Jalyne thought while watching the sun dip lower to the horizon. She stood there watching the outside world bustle with the commotions of everyday life. Jalyne raised her hand in front of her, allowing the tendrils of energy to wisp around, bathing the room in a deep blue light. As the last crescent of sun dipped below the horizon bathing the city in twilight of the beginnings of night, the blue flames of her aura dimmed and then extinguished, leaving her in darkness.

Reno and Rude had finished up the choppers and made their way to the Goblin's Bar for a little relaxation and a drink. The bar wasn't an upscale one, more of a mediocre establishment, but did hold an anonymity to it that Reno needed at the moment. His mood was a bit somber, given his thoughts for the afternoon on a particularly infuriating princess that occupied his thoughts since her return. All he wanted to do was speak with her, to explain what happened last week. Reno felt they were so close but now so far away.

They made their way to the bar, where they ordered their usual drinks and settled into their normal routine. Each barely commented on the goings on within the bar, though Rude kept a watchful eye out. Every so often, a lady would approach Reno with interest, only for him to dismiss them one at a time. Finally, Rude spoke up.

"Just call her."

"I can't." Reno stated solemnly. "She won't answer, I bet."

"How do you know that?"

"I just do."

"…"

"I just don't understand why she is avoiding me." Reno complained with a slight slur.

"Think it has something to do with Friday night?" Rude surmised.

"But I didn't do anything wrong!"

"Depends on how much she saw." Rude commented.

"It's not like we were exclusive." Reno reasoned, asking the bartender for another drink. He downed that one fairly quickly and Rude watched him closely. It wouldn't be long until Reno was inebriated beyond comprehension.

"Perception is important. Did it ever occur to you that seeing you with another woman outside of the one place you took her would hurt? That nightclub is the first place on Gaia that she saw outside of Shinra captivity. It's probably special to her."

Reno looked at his partner astonished. "If that's the case, what is she hiding, then? Why won't she talk to me?"

"Don't know."

Reno turned away from the bar to look out to the crowd, swirling his latest glass of whiskey on the rocks. "Why would Rufus tell me to 'heal the rift'? As far as I'm concerned, the President can have her." The lanky Turk spat out. Rude raised an eyebrow at him, not believing the words that just came out of his partner's mouth.

"You don't mean that." Rude prodded lightly.

"Sure, I do, yo." Reno stood, swaying lightly on his feet. "He can have her. I mean, don't get me wrong – Jalyne is an awesome lay, but who needs her baggage?"

Rude was about to punch some sense into his partner when Reno's phone went off. Pulling it out of his pocket, Reno peered at it, then rolled his eyes. "What the hell does he want now." He stated, flipping it open to check the message. "Better not be another crisis to save our illustrious female cohort." Rude peered over his shoulder to look at the message.

If you wish to see her, now's the time before she leaves. Read Tseng's message.

"What in the hell?" Reno questioned looking at his partner over his shoulder. Ding!

Midgar Views Apartment…7707 code for penthouse private elevator. Read Rufus' incoming text. Heal the rift, Reno, before all is lost.

"Leaving?" Reno's slow words came out foggy with drink. "Going where?"

"I don't think that is what the President or Tseng meant." Rude dryly commented. "I'll drive." Rude stated, pushing Reno towards the exit.

She had made her preparations and rested as much as she could. Seeing her father after all this time set her nerves aflame. Opening the Gate from this distance was likely to drain her greatly, so she had to take caution on where she choose to arrive. Hopefully, the traditional patrol had not changed any and the area she thought to Gate to would be clear. Jalyne concentrated briefly, bringing her favorite spot into her mind. Gently she pushed outward, creating the Gate between the open patio French doors when she felt the slight rumble of the elevator under her feet. Jalyne closed the Gate as the elevator doors opened and the unpredictable red-headed Turk stepped out.

Reno stared at her from behind as he exited the elevator. Jalyne was dressed in a more formal Trerran attire, with a velvet lined dark blue cape that clasped at her mid arms and dipped low in the back, showing her markings. Reno idly noticed that part of her markings was missing. It wasn't lost on him where he was. Why Rufus moved her here, he didn't know, but it added to his ire of certain events. Finally, she turned to face him, composure impassive and waiting.

"Reno." She quietly addressed him, looking downward. "I really don't wish a confrontation."

"Jalyne." Reno acknowledged, taking a step forward. Jalyne instinctively stepped backwards. "What confrontation would that be?" he paused. "Where are you going?"

"Back to Trerran."

"Coming back…when?" he inquired, moving towards her again, not liking that answer one bit.

"I don't know." Jalyne asserted looking away.

"And you thought to leave without saying goodbye?" Reno snapped, alcohol taking control of his emotions.

"I didn't want the Turks know I was back to begin with." She answered him, eyes glaring at him suddenly. "It would have been better if you all thought I remained dead, but Rufus did not think so."

"Oh, I figured…seeing as this is his place." Reno's anger was slowly rising. "So, tell me, why wouldn't you want us to know?" throwing a degrading sneer her way.

"Because you all moved on. No reason to disturb that notion." She turned from him, taking a deep breath to calm herself. He was getting to her on purpose, she knew, but didn't want to play the game at this moment. "Besides, I am the outsider here."

"Did anything that happened with the Turks, even between you and I, mean anything?" Reno inquired moving a bit forward and taking a relaxed stance leaning on the back of the couch. Though he wasn't expecting to fight her, his mag rod was resting on his shoulder.

Jalyne whirled around to face him, frustration in her eyes and her fists clenched at her sides. "YOU moved on." She emphasized, trying to mask the hurt that was in her eyes. Reno's features hardened noticeably, and his jawline rippled as he clenched his teeth.

"And running to our illustrious President was the answer?" he sneered imperiously. "Tell me, how many times did you have to fuck Rufus to get this?" He questioned, spreading his arms out in gesture of the penthouse. Jalyne's eyes widened and she was about to retort when she pursed her lips, a guilty expression crossing her features momentarily. Reno had his answer. "Damn it, Jalyne!"

"Me?" she answered him, putting aside the implications of the receival of the penthouse aside. "What of you!" Jalyne's voice raised in volume. "You would have known what had happened if you weren't busy screwing a blond! Let alone outside the one place that was-!" In a huff she turned away from him. "Did you even heed my words?"

"What words?" he was blatantly pushing her, trying to force her to think in circles.

"Ughhh!" Jalyne screamed shaking her head.

"So, you're turning tail and running?" Reno spat raising his voice, though his emotions were heightened by the alcohol. He inched closer to her hoping she wouldn't suspect.

"Running? Running!" she spoke loudly. "What is here for me, Reno? What? The one person I was comfortable with was off having fun with another!" she screamed at him.

"And what exactly was I supposed to do?" Reno flared. "YOU decided to go up against Sephiroth and lost! Do you have any idea what I went through after you plunged into the ocean?"

"And being in the Lifestream for what seemed like an eternity with a monstrosity of a mother was easy? And what of your anger yesterday, or did you forget that I'm an empath and telepath? YOU did not come for me as despair racked by body!"

"Rufus wouldn't let us come to you, for your information! Perks of the job that YOU may want to remember!"

"That's if I even think of returning." Jalyne said dangerously quiet in retort.

In a flash, Reno was in front of her, much to her surprise. Jalyne instinctively reached out, partly to block, and partly to strike. "What are you doing?" she shrieked as he caught her arm.

"I think you need to chill the fuck out, yo." And dipped his shoulder to lift her over it. "And get over yourself!"

"Reno!" she yelled, struggling against him upside down over his shoulder but he had a tight grasp around her legs. "Put me down!" she asserted. "PUT ME DOWN NOW!"

"No." he calmly stated

"Reno, I swear—"

"You'll swear what?" Reno carried her toward the open French doors to the pool, her hands lightly beating his lower back.

"Don't you dare!" she struggled some more and trying to lift herself off of him. "Reno! RENO!"

"I said you need to chill out!" and with that, heaved her over into the pool. What Reno didn't count on was her grabbing his arm on her way down, thus taking him off balance as she flung him over her in the deep depths of the water.

Jalyne came up sputtering, the ice-cold water taking her breath away. She looked for Reno, but he hadn't surfaced. Suddenly, she felt the hand clasp around her ankle and pull her under. As she plunged down towards the bottom, she thought of the Junon ocean and how cold the depths felt. She opened her emerald eyes to stare into his as he pushed off of her and hovered a few feet from her.

They say you can see the soul of a person through one's eyes and in the crystal-clear pool water, she saw Reno for what seemed like the first time. His flaming red hair fanned out from his face and the water glimmered red from the reflection of his strands from the three-quarter waning moon shining above them. As she stared into eyes that matched the flowing waves, Jalyne saw through his façade. The hurt, anger, frustration, and most of all the longing reflected back at her. In that moment, she realized she was wrong, and closed her eyes, pushing upward for the surface.

Reno stared into her emerald eyes, looking within her soul for truth or lies. He found frustration, confusion, and most of all, fear. There was a sadness to her that he never detected prior to her battle with Sephiroth. There was something she was afraid to tell him. Underneath that fear was determination, and an unwavering fight to protect the ones she cared about. She closed her eyes and pushed to the surface, of which he followed.

"Tell me, Jalyne." Reno quietly said across the water. "What is bothering you the most."

She paused, collecting her thoughts before she spoke. "That for the first time in my wretched, sex-driven, political tyranny life, I found someone I deeply care about. No other liaisons meant a thing to me but I couldn't do a damn thing to save what I thought was special." Jalyne finished her words, accent coming through heavily, and turned to go to the edge of the pool, leaving Reno wide-eyed with astonishment.

He drifted a moment before heading towards her, wanting nothing but to comfort her and tell her it was alright. As he made his way towards her, Jalyne shivered in the cold water and ascended herself upwards and settled lightly on the patio in front of him. Reno saw that her attire was different than when he first met her, assuming this was a more formal wear for Trerran and not really looking at it before. Her dark blue silver embroidered bodice was sleeveless and tight, and her pants mimicked her Turk attire, tight at the hips and upper leg and flaring outward from the knee down. Even dripping wet and shivering, she was alluring.

"Calda." She said, reaching down and slipping off her boots. Reno saw the sadness in her features "E calda i hata." Jalyne turned from him then, facing the patio doors. She reached around her and unhooked her cloak from the bodice at the lower back, then unhooked each of the arm cuffs, letting the cloak drop sodden with water to the ground. She unzipped her bodice and allowed that to fall also, as Reno stared on from the edge of the pool. Jalyne undid her pants, lifting each knee to dislodge the wet fabric and stepped out of them.

Reno licked his lips softly as he watched Jalyne undress in front of him. Even the freezing water couldn't contain his fire at seeing her naked in front of him. He watched her muscles and ass as she lifted each leg to remove her pants. He watched as she crossed both her arms and turned slightly to him, looking over her right shoulder. The sadness was still there but as he made eye contact, she narrowed them dangerously.

"Hata e u." and she walked into her home, intent on finding hot water, and leaving the red-haired Turk to shiver in the freezing pool.

Reno was not one to pass up an invitation and when a woman strips in front of you, that's an invitation. He lifted himself out of the cold water and with freezing hands, undressed and followed Jalyne into the penthouse. He heard the start of running water and knew where she was headed. As he entered the bathroom, Jalyne stood, head bowed underneath the running shower heads. Steamed filled the area as he peered at her through the glass shower doors.

Jalyne was deep in thought, allowing the hot running water to caress her skin and warm her up. The multiple shower heads were fantastic, and should she ever stayed in Trerran, she would definitely put this in her home. Trerran. Even now she didn't really want to go back, but the need to understand where she came from was great. So, lost in her own thoughts of the world she came from, it never registered in her mind the opening of the shower door. As the cooler air hit her from behind, she turned to address the intrusion a little too late.

Reno pushed her gently up against the tile, putting both her wrists above her head, and quickly captured her lips in a crushing kiss. Breaking for air, he moved his left hand over her mouth, effectively silencing her. She struggled lightly with her right hand to remove his, to no avail. Her eyes widened slightly, looking pleadingly at him. Reno's smirked returned, and he nudged her head to the side. He pulled her flush to him, letting her feel exactly what she did to him. Lowering his lips to her ear he finally spoke.

"Don't you EVER do that again." He growled low, tracing her crescent moon mark behind her ear, sending a reflexive shiver through her. "Or you will suffer the consequences." Reno nipped at the junction of her neck and removed his hand from her mouth but kept her flush up against him, hearing her try to keep the moan from escaping her lips.

Reno pulled back to look at her. Jalyne's eye were still closed and she was biting her lower lip. Slowly she opened her eyes, remorse reflecting back to him as she looked caringly to him.

"Reno," she started softly, "I am sorry." Jalyne reached up and slid his ponytail holder out of his hair. "I let my anger run away with me."

He chuckled lightly at her admission but pulled her in an embrace, letting the hot water soothe them both. "I would have never really thought that jealously would affect you so greatly."

"It is new to me; I have never felt this way. But that is no excuse." She whispered into his shoulder. "I'm so sorry."

"As I am, too." Reno stated. "I'm not absolved, either."

Heal the connection.

Heal the rift.

Jalyne glanced into his beautiful and expressive eyes trying to determine if he heard the echo within her mind. She gasped lightly when his features showed surprise.

"Who told you to heal the connection?" he suddenly asked her.

"Aerith did, yesterday." She commented deep in thought. "Then Rufus, this morning. How did you know?"

"It is more like a strong suggestion." Reno said looking inquiringly at her. "Not necessarily words yet, just a strong, overwhelming feeling."

Jalyne remained silent, contemplating his words. Why would the connection between us be so important? They showered in silence, just enjoying the hot water after the freezing dip into the pool.

Reno watched her afterward, brushing the silky white strands in front of her mirror. She was dressed in a silky nightgown which dipped low to show her markings. Jalyne smiled softly at him through the mirror as she admired his physic dressed only in black lounge pants. He took that as a cue to enter and walked up behind her. Tracing her markings, he lightly caressed her.

"You're missing a marking." He addressed her. "What happened to it?"

She glanced at him through the mirror, judging just how much she should say to him. "I gave it to the one who means the most to me." Jalyne responded cryptically. She looked at his features and watched the emotions flash through his eyes. "I do hope you've kept it close." She chuckled.

"Jalyne?" Reno asked.

"You do not know, because you were not there." She stated gauging his emotions. "Perhaps I need to show you the incomplete monster that I am." Jalyne stepped forward a bit and flexed her left shoulder. Her markings shimmered slowly as she concentrated, and Reno took a step backward. As Jalyne looked at him through the mirror, there wasn't fear or disgust in his features. Instead, his look of wonderment calmed her already rising fears of what he would potentially think of her.

Jalyne's iridescent wing materialized to the left of them. She looked at his reflection and gasped. Why can I see his aura so plainly where I've always had to concentrate on everyone else's? Jalyne gazed at his aura, outstretched from his right shoulder in perfect harmony with hers. Reno looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror and winked, trailing a hand lightly along her feathers.

"Beautiful." He marveled as he walked in front of her. She bowed her head as he crossed in front, and he place a kiss on top of her head. He continued his circle and ended up back behind her as she collapsed her wing.

"Like I said." She commented. "I am incomplete."

"No, you are not." Reno asserted, reaching around her to lift her chin. "You are beautiful. With wings, without wings, one wing or no wing."

Jalyne chuckled slowly at that statement, shaking her head lightly. He pulled her hair to the side and traced the first mark at her neck.

"Sehexia." She commented and translated to common language. "Sex."

"You have said that you are born with these. Why?" he questioned.

"We are born with them, yes. Each clan has three. The first two are the same for all. The bottom one differentiates the clans or cultures."

"Interesting." Reno commented, tracing the second one.

"Don't ask me why the gods decided it to be that way." Jalyne laughed. "Pleharisu. Pleasure." She continued. "For Trerrans, sex is act and only special to one's significant other. It is meaningless for all others and is used as a means for intelligence. We are a free culture in terms of open mindedness."

"Oooo. Do tell me more." Reno cooed and wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his head on her shoulder, looking at her through the mirror. Jalyne chuckled and reached up to intertwine his tail through her fingers.

"Pleasure is simple. Through sex, one can incite vast amounts of pleasure. It doesn't matter what the type is for a particular person. It can be torture, withholding, erotica, or simply being sensual. Through that, one can gather intelligence when the other's pheromones clouds the mind. It is said true love does not exist – only the carnal pleasures."

Reno nuzzled her neck playfully, easing the mood a bit between them. He leaned back and traced the third, faint mark on Jalyne and felt her tense a bit.

"Lovariae." She sighed but didn't translate.

"You're upset about this one." He commented.

"Each of the clans have a different third one that describes the traits of that clan. Trerrans is 'Doomnatiasiru' – Domination. We are the ruling class of the T'Karvian Empire and rule through dominance. Lehans have 'Dovariae' – Devotion. They are very devoted to the ancient ways and believe that through that course, one will achieve the greatest pleasure. The Southern clans have 'Deteriarna' – Determination as they are quite stubborn on their beliefs."

"And you're upset on yours because...?" Reno pushed.

"It is unheard of, Reno. I am the Emperor daughter, and therefore should have Doomnatiasiru as the third marking. I do not and Father knows why. He also can answer the question as to why I only have one wing while the rest of nobility has two."

"Will you take the throne, when the time comes?"

"I do not know. I was exiled, Reno, for my power, which is unlike anyone else's in the Empire. I can do things that no one else can." She explained. "In truth, though I fear for my people, I have no wish to take the throne."

"Why is this mark faint, and what does it mean?" He pushed, though lightly rubbing her shoulders to calm her. Jalyne sighed lightly and shook her head, finally twisting in his grasp to look fully at him.

"I do not know why it is faint or why I was born…differently." She started to explain. "No more than I know why I was brought here. I fear there is much that is changing; here on Gaia and there on Trerran and I believe they are intertwined in some way. Those thoughts stemmed from what I saw in the Lifestream and the visions Sephiroth handed to me yesterday. They felt real, events that had happened in the past, present and a possible future."

"You should have seen the flames that I saw." He commented nuzzling her nose with his. Jalyne pulled back aghast.

"What?"

"The visions I saw. The heat was real…the flames were real, right before my eyes." He raised an eyebrow at her. "But what does you're third mark mean?" he pushed, though he guessed the answer and had a feeling it had to do with him in part. She traced his mark around his eye, her eyes softening greatly, and the emerald hues swam within them. He was drawn instantly to them.

"Love." She whispered softly and closed her eyes. She felt him stir and before she knew it, Reno had picked her up bridal style and carried her to bed. He placed her within the sheets and loomed over her. She gazed at him affectionately waiting for his next question.

"Never be afraid of who you are." He reiterated. "We will figure all of this out." Reno dipped his head and kissed her slowly and passionately, against his usual forceful pleasure and tried to keep from hearing her arousing moan. He slid into bed next to her and pulled her to him.

Jalyne snuggled deeper into him, suddenly tired again. I suppose leaving can wait until morning. "We?" she questioned lightly, looking up at him. Reno smirked a cocky grin.

"Of course." He stated. "Did you really think I'd let you go alone?" he asked looking down at her. Shiva, she is gorgeous.

"Oh really?"

"Yep." He replied stubbornly.

"I'm sorry." Jalyne spoke suddenly. "For everything, Reno. I shouldn't have acted like that."

Reno rubbed her lower back, creating circle along her spine. "Well, both of us said some crazy things. I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have implied some of the things I did."

"Do you really want to come with me?" she asked girlishly, peering up at him.

"And miss the chance to see something new? Not on your life." He grinned. "Besides, you'd have to return me, right?" Reno asked sticking his tongue out at her. Her expression turned playful then and she climbed on top of him and propped herself up on her elbows, faces inches from each other.

"Better watch that tongue." Jalyne threatened lowering her head to his ear. "I can find many uses for it." She whispered. She teased him for a moment before settling back in position, much to his dismay.

"You know, payback's a bitch, Jalyne."

"I do know." She stated. And I can't wait… she idly thought, looking at the moon shine through the window. His even breathing indicated he was asleep and Jalyne closed her eyes to rest.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow I will find out the truth.