It was a time of tension for the friend group and it seemed like over night they stopped talking about the Kerberos mission at all. Unfortunately for them, it was all anyone else could talk about. Usually topics that caused the group friction would fade out quickly, the only argumentative one was Keith but even he knew when to let things go. But usually, the subject was just between the five of them. This time the whole world was talking.

In the weeks leading up to the Kerberos mission Matt, Shiro and Sam were constantly pulled away for interviews and tv appearances. Nova, Keith and Adam were there for every one and Nova seemed endlessly entertained by Matt's enthusiasm with being interviewed. She tried to hold it together as he would turn from the interviewer to make a face at her. Shiro was less comfortable with being on television and the group watched in amusement as the calm, collected and confident Shiro fumbled through his words. Nova had watched as Adam would subtly give him an encouraging thumbs up, resulting in Shiro smiling softly before relaxing a bit. Sam often played mediator between the two boys when Matt would go on a tangent after being asked a question or Shiro would be so nervous he'd fumble through words.

The Garrison hadn't sent out a mission in almost 15 years so everyone was getting excited, even the other members of the Garrison who were close to being a part of the mission but we're not given the chance. Nova couldn't go anywhere with her two best friends without them being recognized. Of course, this lead to Nova being questioned about her part in the future exploration. She had never received so many looks of pity followed by, "you'll be there soon" in her life.

It was understandable, no one had traveled this far in the galaxy and the fact that two recent graduates had been selected to make the journey was almost unheard of. Nova felt like her friends were watching her like a time bomb. They believed that all these questions were chipping at Nova's resolve and she'd soon break. They avoided the topic like the plague and as much as Nova wanted to ignore the inevitable she knew they couldn't dance around the fact that Matt and Shiro were leaving in a few weeks time.

"Why can't you believe that I am happy for you guys and not the least bit jealous?" Nova asked as Matt and Shiro avoided another group of reporters, steering her the opposite direction. 'We're only supposed to talk to reporters when the Garrison has set up press viewings" they had told her in explanation.

"You're making assumptions about my feelings." Nova continued after both boys gave a noncommittal shrug. "I want you to enjoy this. It's an adventure."

"Let's just focus on graduation." Matt suggested as Nova gave him a blank look. Shiro had had enough of the Kerberos talk with Adam and he remained silent as his two friends went back and forth.

"Shiro?" Nova asked. Her arms were crossed and she looked at him expectantly.

"What?" He questioned, not missing the suspicious look in her eyes.

"We've gone through this song and dance dozens of times." She explained, seemingly brushing aside Shiro's dis involvement of their conversation. "I'm happy for you guys. You don't have to ignore the fact your going to Kerberos."

As Matt and Shiro exchanged glances Nova let out a sigh. She started rubbing her hands over her head, shaking it slowly.

"Alright Nova." Shiro started as took a step closer to the girl. "What do you suggest?"

"Let's go, we're celebrating."She exclaimed, smiling proudly once she realized that both boys smiled.

As much as she tried to get out of it the boys made her decide where to go. "It was your idea." Matt had mockingly exclaimed as she named multiple spots before backtracking and coming up with more. At the end she decided on the school bar. It wasn't at the Garrison, just a few miles south, but it was one of the more popular places for students to spend time, especially those who were almost grads.

They ended up inviting Keith and Adam. It was always a gamble on whether Shiro and Adam would be on the outs but luckily, they seemed to be in good terms.

Nova had been to the bar a few times with Lauren, mainly when her former roommate had tried to loosen her up. It had worked and Nova appeared red faced as the bartender greeted her. Matt gave her a questioning looking which she responded with a sheepish smile and a shrug.

"You come here often." Matt jokes as he leaned closer to Nova, wiggling his eyebrows as she broke out in laughter.

"Shut up." She lightly shoved him but smiled as Shiro lead the group to a a booth in the corner.

Someone came buy a handed Nova a bright pink drink with a small umbrella. He winked at her as her four friends look at her in surprise.

"I've been here a few times." She responded as she took a sip, tasting the familiar burn of the cranberry juice mixed with something more fun. She would have felt embarrassed and maybe even guilty because of the stern look on Shiro and Adam's face but when she turned to Matt she saw him give her the look he so often did. He sat wide-eyed, staring at her with a small grin and, like she felt so often, she knew she was safe with him.

Keith only gave her an amused look at she took another swig.

"What'd you have in mind by celebrating?" Shiro asked.

"Karaoke?" Adam suggested, pointing his head to the empty stage.

"Yes." Nova said, pointing her finger at Adam in agreement. " but first, drinks, what do you want?"

She recruited Matt to help her grab the drinks and he followed her closely as they went to the bar.

"Hey Nova, how are you?" Ralph, the bartender who had handed her a drink shouted at her over the crowd.

"Good. You?" She thanked him as he handed her another. "She quickly listed off the others' order.

"No Lauren tonight?" He asked as his eyes searched the room.

Nova gave him a smirk. As long as her and Lauren had been coming here, Ralph had been interested in her. "Not tonight. But I brought people slightly less interesting." She joked as Matt gave her a fake glare.

"This is Matt." She put a hand on Matt's shoulder, bringing his attention to Ralph. Nova had to keep from smiling to wide as Matt reached over to shake Ralph's hand, knocking over a glass in the process.

"I've heard alot about you." Ralph stated matter of factly, giving Nova a look. She instantly stopped smiling. Who knows what she may have told Ralph about Matt.

"Nice to meet you." Matt waved bye as they grabbed the drinks.

"He's nice."

"Uh yeah."

"Do you do come here a lot?"

Nova could have lied, she could have said a couple of times. She could have joked saying she makes an impression. He would have just given her that look and agreed. But she couldn't lie to him.

"Yeah. A few times a week." She stepped in front of him so she could get into the booth first, sliding next to Keith. She handed him his Shirley temple.

"Here you go sweetie." She joked as she watched him take the glass. She couldn't see him in the dark room but she knew his face was bright red. The group had often times found themselves parenting the youngest member of their group. Nova had a decidedly natural mothering tendency which appeared evident when she held a hurt pigeon for a couple hours until animal services came to help. After Shiro Keith saw Nova as the person who he was closest to. Nova, on the other hand, felt incredibly protective of Keith, finding her personal mission to make sure he was okay.

She was happy to say that by the end of their night they had done three cheers for the team headed to Kerberos and even more songs on the karaoke machine. She had vigorously swayed as Shiro and Adam duetted "kiss from a rose" and almost lost her ability to speak when they shoved her up for a solo. Nova was constantly singing to herself, and because she had a pretty good voice the four boys had been trying to convince her to sing all night. Eventually she gave in to sing a very slurred and probably off-key version of "freefalling". Nevertheless she sang proudly.

It was past midnight when they decided to leave. Despite them all being exhausted Matt had thought it was a good idea to lean on Nova their entire walk back to the Garrison. The walk had been silent, aside from Nova's muttering and Matt's complaints when she shoved him off her.

"See ya." Matt said as he let himself into Nova's apartment as she opened the door. Shiro had let Adam and Keith go back to their place as Shiro said he'd walk the other two home.

"I guess Matt's staying with me." Nova shrugged. "Do you want to stay? We can kick Matt off the couch and you can take it?"

"No. I should probably get back to Adam and Keith."

Nova grinned. " Who would have thought by 23 you'd have a 18 year old son?" She joked, smiling again as Shiro groaned.

"I'm worried about them Nova."

"Why? They'll be fine and if it makes you feel better I'll make sure they're eating."

Shiro just lightly shook his head. "Not about Kerberos."

"Oh." It wasn't often that Shiro brought up his illness. He had told her that when he had gotten his diagnosis his parents had taken him out of school and the three of them traveled the world. It had been a way to avoid a painful topic, a method that Shiro still used to this day. It took a few years before he recognized his dream of going into space, and with that he applied to the Garrison, albeit a few years older than the rest of them.

"I'm going to be on the mission for half a year and Adam is already acting like I'm gone."

Nova couldn't think of anything to say and she wasn't sure if Shiro wanted her to. He was usually so private with his emotions and he had always kept his condition close to him. She watched as his gaze turned to to look at the moon.

"Shiro," she said softly after a few moments of silence. "Go home. Talk to Adam. You don't want to leave on a bad note."

Shiro nodded and then smiled at Nova, wishing her a good night. She watched as he walked down the street until she could no longer see him.

Matt was thrown across the couch in what Nova thought was the most uncomfortable position. It seemed as if he had slid over the top so he was face down on the cushions with his legs hanging over the edge. Making a face she carefully took of his shoes and threw them on the ground. Going to her own bed she found one of her blankets and laid it over him. Grabbed a quick glass of water she set it next to him. If it was even possible Matt looked younger when he slept. Especially now, curled into a blanket, he looked far to young to be going to space.

Nova was awakened the next morning with a loud bang that could only mean one thing, Matt was in the kitchen.

She stumbled out of bed and left the comfort of her room to what would inevitably be a burnt breakfast.

She wasn't surprised to see a ring of smoke as Matt quickly ran to the sink, dowsing the pan in cold water. Despite Colleen being an excellent cook neither her children had inherited the skill. Matt had claimed he was better than Katie when she had served then cookies that were so crunchy and salty that Matt and Nova had to forced themselves to swallow them.

"What are you doing?" She asked, watching in amused horror as Matt scrapped a blackened substance off of the pan.

Matt jumped slightly as he turned to look at Nova, a sheepish look on his face. "Hangover cure." He shrugged.

"Are those eggs?" She questioned walking closer to the mess, surprised to see eggshells in the sink. "How did you burn eggs?" She looked at him.

"I looked away for three seconds." He defended as Nova surveyed the rest of the kitchen.

" Let's just go out." She suggested as a new smoke smell was introduced. They looked at each other, confused, before Matt's eyes widened. He turned around a quickly grabbed the toast, which had blackened.

'Yep. We're going out." Nova decided as Matt viciously waved a towel in the air.

Shiro had turned down her offer for breakfast but sent along a very grumpy looking Keith. Nova took that as a sign that Shiro was planning to speak to Adam and she made a note to ask him how it went. Keith seemed much happier once their food was served and he made a small smile as Nova spoke, "This is what eggs are supposed to look like." With a smile. Matt had gave her a fake glare and Keith realized that whatever inside joke it was, he didn't need to be a part of it.