*Start singin' Harper!*

So, it looks to me as if Beka got lucky last night. I wish I could get lucky. . . Oh well, she deserves a little action. She gets almost as much as I do, but doesn't complain about it. She'll never admit that, but it's true.

"Hey Harper," she said, handling her mild hangover with more grace than Dylan.

"Hey Bek. How was last night?" I asked. A slow, crocked smile spread slowly across her face.

"It was good, very good. . . " she said as she lost her self in thought. "So, where were you last night?"

"Ah, yeah, well, ah . . ." I trailed off as I looked away from her. "I dunno why I made Trance cover. I said yes and as I thought about it more, the more nervous I got. I, I just needed to bail. I can't explain it Beka."

"It's okay Harper," she said with a smile. "But you owe Trance more than me." She pointed a finger at me.

"Right-o Bek," I said as I walked off. I wanted to go with Trance last night, I really did, but when I started to thing about Cassidie and about my childhood, I just couldn't do it. Oh well, time heals all wounds. Right?

*I think I'm gonna like it here! (Cassie)*

I think I'm gonna like it here. I know I like Beka. She's nice. I'm glad I don't have to stay with Him anymore too. He was never very nice. I don't think I've ever been this full all the time either. Or gotten to sleep in a real bed. I haven't done that since Nora lost me.

"Come on kiddo, you're gonna get to see the bridge," Beka said to me as she held out her hand. I ran over and took it. I took Dylan's hand too as we walked to the bridge. I like him too. He's different from all the other guys. . . . I thought Tyr was too, but now I'm not so sure. I mean, I shouldn't have said no and yelled. I shoulda remembered my place and stayed there but the way Beka acts with me is kinda confusing. I mean, I can do things that I wanna do, when I want and I can eat til I'm full and sleep when I want and I don't have to work and she YELLED at TYR for me!!!

"Cass, go and stand with Tyr, he'll make sure you don't get hurt." She gave me a little shove in the right direction. I swallowed hard and watched as he bent down.

"I'm sorry I frightened you the other night. I hope you're not still mad at me," he said as he picked me up. Ummmmm . . . .okay, I wasn't ready for that. No one has ever said 'sorry' to me.

"It's okay," I answered slowly, trying to decide if he was trickin' me or not.

"Hang on tight children," Beka called, " 'cause here we go." I held on tight to Tyr. I don't think that I like slipstream. It always sounded exciting, but I don't think that I like it.

"Are we done yet?" I asked.

"For a bit," Dylan said.

"Can I get down?" I asked Tyr. He said yes and put me down. I walked over to Beka cause I wanted a chance to sit in that neat chair. She picked me up and put me on her lap. I like it there, 'specially when it's just me an' her. With a story! I almost forgot about the story! I love the stories she tells about the

Maru. 'Specially the ones about Harper. Maybe I'll get another one tonight!

*You put me in a trance . . . Trance . . . Too many trances.*

I had a feeling that this was going to happen. Well, maybe not Cassie, but I knew she'd find some one. I'm just glad it wasn't some guy we had to convince Beka to leave behind.

They're so cute together though! I don't think that I have ever seen Beka take to any one so quickly, never mind a child. I watched them for a while. I don't care what she says, Beka has fallen in love with Cassie weather she sees it or not.

"When ever you're ready for the next jump Beka," Dylan called.

"Cassidie, return to me," Tyr said.

"It's okay, it's a short jump," Beka said as she got ready to make the jump. A few minutes later, we were out of slipstream and Cassie was looking a little greene.

(Let's just skip a week ahead)

*A is for Andromeda and B is for Beka!*

We had just finished another jump and I looked down at Cassie in my lap.

"So, how was it this time?"

"I still don't think I like slipstream," she said, still looking green.

"Don't worry, we don't usually do this many in a row," I replied as I stroked her hair. Maybe I should grow mine out again. . . . We sat for a few minutes as Dylan made arrangements for shore leave and negotiations for the Zillian to join the Commonwealth.

"Okay, a week of shore leave and negotiations and 2 hours before we are all escorted to the planet. Have fun, don't get arrested," Dylan said as we all exited. I lagged behind with Cassie for a while. "Beka, you and Tyr will join me and Rommie for negotiations okay?"

"Sure," I said. Tyr just shot Dylan a look and stalked off. "Well, that went well," I said with a smile. I looked down at Cassie again. Poor kid really wasn't taking this well. I picked her up and Dylan looked at her and rubbed her back.

"Maybe you should take her down to the med bay to see Trance," he said softly.

"Sounds like a plan," I said as we left. "Rommie, where's Trance?"

"In the med bay. Shall I tell her that you're coming?"

"Yes. Thanks Rommie," I said as we left. After finishing in the med bay and dealing with a case of motion sickness, she was on the couch with Dylan reading and I was packing. I was glancing through my closets, packing for Cass first since she was easier to please and I was becoming aware that he was starting to amass quite a collection of clothes in my quarters. I mean, we hadn't slept together yet, but there were always the times he ended up staying the night, babysitting, the two of us falling asleep together, things like that. I took out her favorite outfit, which also happened to be the first thing she was dressed in when she got here and I realized that the time had come to decide. I sat down on the bed with the outfit in my hands and just stared at it. I felt the lump building in my throat and and tried to swallow it. I knew I had to give her up. The two weeks had been hard enough trying to juggle her and work and keep my mind on my job when we were being attacked and I knew I couldn't keep doing that to her.

"She's asleep for now," Dylan said as he came in. He looked at me and came and sat on the bed.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"I don't want to give her up," I said as I looked him in the eyes. "I know it's best for her, but. . . ."

"Oh Beka," he said as he wrapped his arms around me and held me. "Then don't. Keep her."

"I can't, I . . I want to know she's safe all the time . . . She has to stay," I said, trying desperately to hold back the tears.

"You have no guarantee of that even if you leave her on a planet," he said, I could hear the lump in his throat too.

"But she has a better chance on the planet than here. She's staying," I said as I finally lost the fight. He just sat with me and held me until the tears stopped.