*Dylan, Dillon, Dillion . . . who ever you are . . .*

I spent an hour with my arms wrapped around her as she poured out her heart to me. All I could do was sit there and listen.

"Dylan, we have an hour left," Rommie's voice said.

"Thanks," I replied. Beka stood up, wipped the tears from her face and started where she had left off, as if nothing had happened.

"Beka?" I asked.

"Yeah?" she answered as she continued to rummage through her closet.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Yes," was all she said. "Don't forget to pack." That was my cue to leave.

"I'll come back when I'm done."

"Fine."

I looked at her one last time then left. I've never seen her cry before and I found it a little unsettling. Well, there was that one time when she was on flash, but that doesn't count. I thought about the things she had told me about when she was a kid and why she couldn't keep Cassie and how it all just made me want to smack her silly. I slammed around my quarters as I packed and finished with just enough time to go back to her quarters.

"Ready?"

"Yeah, but she's still asleep." We both looked at the small figure on the couch, completely unaware of the fate that was awaiting her. I slung my bag over my shoulder.

"Come on Cassidie," I said as I picked her up. She stirred, but only enough to wrap her arms around my neck. That alone reinforced the idea of smacking Beka silly. I had a million questions that I wanted to ask, but couldn't because I didn't want to risk Cassie hearing.

"Welcome aboard Supriem Chancellor Zertanori.You are welcome to a tour of the Andromeda whether or not the negotiations are successful," I said with a smile.

"Thank you Captain Hunt. I look forward to seeing your ship. May I introduce you to my entourage," he said as he launched into some lengthy intros. I quickly returned the favor and introduced him to my "entourage". "But you must tell me who your child is."

"She's not my child. She's . . ." I hesitated, "a guest. Her name is Cassidie."

"Ah, I see," he said as his entourage began to whisper. "Very well, follow me please," he said as we followed him into the shuttle. Beka took Cassie from me and sat with Tyr. I ended up with Harper.

"So, rumour has it that this is the last time we're gonna have the Squirt around." he said.

"It's true."

"Thought so, I'm impressed it took Beka this long to give her up. She's never been big on commitment. Love'm and leave'm, that's her motto."

"Harper, what does that have to do with a 5 year old?" He was quiet for a moment.

"I don't really know," he said. "I just know I'm gonna miss her and Beka is making a big mistake."

*Beka, I wish I knew how to change your mind.*

The shuttle ride was nothing special. I found it kinda boring. Tyr didn't say anything and I decided not to question him on it. I know they're all mad at me for giving her up, but it's not their choice. They don't have to worry about her during a battle or while slipstreaming. Don't get me wrong, I love having her

around, but I hate worrying all the time.

"Wow," I said as me, Dylan and Cassie, who was still asleep, were led into our room.

"I take it that this is to your liking?" one of the aids asked.

"Yes, it is," I said as I continued to stare around, the fact that there was only one bed hadn't dawned on me yet.

"I'll leave you to get settled then," he said as he left. Cassie jumped awake at the sound of the door closing.

"Where are we?" she asked as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.

"A planet," I answered.

"Oh, okay." She was put on the ground and she wandered around. "Can we go out and play?" she asked from the balcony.

"Later," Dylan called. "When are you going to tell her?"

I sighed. "I don't know. Every time I look at her, I forget why I'm doing this, then something happened and I remember exactly WHY I'm doing it."

"Why, because it's hard?"

"No." I stopped for a moment. "When we're slipstreaming, I'm worried how she's feeling and when we're in battle, I'm worried about her getting hurt and I feel distracted from what I'm doing, so I worry some more. I just can't win!"

"Don't do it all yourself then!" he said forcefully. "You know, there ARE 6 other people on the ship, including Rommie. Harper, whether you know it or not, has been playing around with a harness for her during battles and other little 'devices' to keep her safe."

"It doesn't matter. I won't subject her to a life in space. She's staying here," I said as I plastered a small smile on my face and walked out to see Cassie.

"Beka, I wish I knew how to change your mind," I heard Dylan whisper.

*Dyl, would you like a pickle?*

(Don't ask about the title)

"Beka, I wish I knew how to change your mind," I whispered as I watched her walk out to see Cassidie.

"Dylan, you won't be able to. So drop it," she said as she came out with Cassie.

"Won't be able to what?" Cassie asked.

"Guess how old the Maru is," Beka said quickly. "Come on, let's go play!" she said as she left. The next morning, after breakfast, Cassie was left with Tyr and Beka and I started touring the city. I don't know if Rommie had helped plan the schedule or not, but the fact that we were to spend the morning touring the social institutions for children. Yep, Orphanages and social services for youth and children. When lunch finally rolled around, Beka and I were waiting for the other to arrive.

"I think I liked the second one better," she said as we sat down on a bench.

"Yeah," I answered, half-heartedly listening to her.

"She'll be happy here."

"Yeah."

"And safe."

"Yeah."

"It's the right choice."

"Yeah."

"So why do I feel so bad about it?" she asked as she looked at me, the tears back in the corners of her eyes.

"Because your head says yes and your heart says no." On some level I enjoyed seeing her this upset about giving Cassie up. I felt it served her right. There was absolutely NO reason why she shouldn't be able to stay on Andromeda.

"But your heart isn't always right," she countered.

"But then again, some times it is."

"Why are you pushing so hard!?!?!" she yelled.

"Because you need a push in the right direction!" I yelled back.

"Ya know, I seem to remember some High Gaurd Captain telling me that she was completely my responsibility and mine alone. I also think that you know this captain very personally and he isn't one to go back on his word," she said as she got, well, as close as her height would allow, into my face. "Now why would he being going back on his word now?"

I looked down at her. "Because somewhere along the way, that particular High Gaurd Captain started to fall for his first officer." oops. Remember Dylan, Think, then speak. Beka stayed silent for a moment.

"Well then maybe that captain should just start falling the other way," she said as she walked away.

"Beka!" I called. She didn't turn around. I just sunk back on to the bench, wallowing in my own stupidity caused sorrow.