Will studied the shining metal structure in its static-free sterilized wrapping. From what he could tell, every line, every angle, every connection was perfect. It lacked only the tiny electronics, stored in their own static-free and antiseptic box, and the cartilage replacements they would use to cushion Zan's new joints.

Brad stood in the doorway. "It's beautiful, isn't it? NexTech is so cool. This has to be the biggest project I've ever seen, and they turn in the goods on time and perfect."

"I'll reserve judgment until I see how it all works together. And I have yet to see anything resembling a cartilage replacement. Where are we with that?"

He grinned broadly. "Mrs. S. is in your office with the goods right now."

"She's here?" he asked, shocked.

"Said she couldn't let anyone else deliver her company's pride and joy. And she's ready to show you how the new cartilage stuff works."

Will clapped him on the shoulder as he passed. "Great. You want to look at it some more?"

"Oh, yeah. I'll never get tired of looking at this stuff."

Will laughed all the way to the elevator.


Carolyn stood up as he entered his office. "Hello, Will," she said smiling broadly.

"Hello, Carolyn," he said, hugging her briefly. "Welcome back." He stepped back and leaned against his desk, gesturing for her to sit. "I wasn't really expecting you to come with the implants yourself."

"I couldn't resist. I owe your Zan a very large favor; one I may not ever be able to repay."

He stared at her a moment, then realization dawned. "Oh. Adryanna."

Carolyn smiled. "Yes. Aurora says my granddaughter is very happy now. So. Let me show you our latest toy." She reached into her attaché and pulled out a small white tube. "Hold out your hand," she directed.

He did, and she squeezed a dollop of cool blue gel into his palm. He sniffed it carefully, then spread it around with his finger. "Okay. I'll bite. What-"

There was a knock at the door, and Katie stuck her head in. "The duchess is here, Mr. Hart."

Will looked at Carolyn, who shrugged. "I took the liberty. I hope you don't mind."

"Send her in, Katie."

The door opened wider, and Zan walked in. She moved to hug Will, but he waved her off, displaying the handful of blue goo, and she nodded in understanding, turning to Carolyn. "Welcome back., Mrs. Stargazer. It's good to see you again."

"Thank you, Zannatasia. It's good to be here. And I want to thank you for the aid you offered by granddaughter. Aurora says she's quite happy."

"Just about as happy as my brother, I'd guess," Zan replied. "You came to watch the procedure?"

"Yes. And to bring Will the last piece of the puzzle. We only just finished it very recently."

Will let the blue gel run from his hand into Zan's. She prodded at it with one finger, and let it slide from one hand to another. "What's it for?"

"It's a cartilage replacement. It's designed to work specifically with the Argentium IV skeletal structure."

Zan probed the puddle more carefully. It moved easily around her hand, leaving nothing behind but a dampness from alcohol. "It doesn't seem to stick to much," she observed. "What's going to keep it in place?"

"Give it back to Will, dear, and I'll show you. Will, do you have that sample of the Argentium I sent you?"

He reached across the desk to pluck it from the top of a pile of papers. "Sure."

Carolyn pulled an identical rod from her attaché. "Dip the end into the gel," she directed. He did, and the gel seemed to come alive, sucking itself up to form a ball around the end of the rod. She extended hers as well. It settled into the blue mass, and then she let go.

Will fumbled at the added weight, but recovered quickly, lifting the other bar and pulling on it experimentally. The blue gel stretched between them, but didn't separate from either end. Then he pushed them together, and though he could get them quite close, the gel wouldn't allow them to touch, either. "Hey. That's pretty neat."

"Let me try it," Zan asked and he handed it to her. She stretched them as far as she could reach, but the gel never faltered. "Nifty."

Carolyn handed Will three industrial-sized white tubes. "Brad knows how to use it," she said. "I brought plenty. A little will work, but there's no reason to be sparing." She stood and kissed Will on the cheek. "I'm going to talk to Brad. I'll see you children later."

Zan didn't look up from her contemplation of the abstract joint in her hands. In a few days, something very like it would be holding her up.

"So this is the last piece?"

Will sighed. "Yeah. Last piece." He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "You ready? Not much longer now."

"I guess so."

'Twas the night before the operation, and all though the palace, everybody was pacing, including. darn it what would rhyme?' she thought to herself as she went though the stacks of CDs searching.

Several hundred CDs were stacked all over the place, on the chairs, on the floor, the counter top before her even had CDs scattered over it, along with a pad of paper and some pens. She had forgone the coffee in favor of herbal tea. No caffeine in it. She picked up the cup and took a sip grimacing. "Damn, I miss the coffee. Hell, I miss my cloves, but a promise is a promise." She muttered to herself.

She had a pair of headphones draped about her neck. Each went to a different player. She shuffled though the CDs again, adding to the growing pile on the counter. When she was finished she set the rejected CDs on a chair next to her. "Gonna have a lot to file when I get back." She sighed, rubbing her eyes with a finger.

She put in one of the CDs into the small player and pressed play as she pulled up the right set of headphones. She adjusted them so that sat just forward of her ears.

Zan was finishing the third CD when the door opened.

"You've been at this for hours," Will said as he leaned in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest.

"So speaks the man that vanishes into the study for days at a time," she replied as she switched CDs again, tossing some into the discard pile.

"It wasn't days."

"Close enough."

"You're going to be exhausted tomorrow." He was still in the doorway.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't I going to be asleep most of tomorrow?" she asked, turning to look at him, an eyebrow arched slightly.

"Nick doesn't need to compensate at the last minute for you being exhausted." He moved out of the doorway to join her.

"I'll be done in a little bit. Just got to fill this last CD." She turned back around and scribbled something down on the notepad.

"All right." He sat down in an empty chair. "I'll wait."

"You'll be bored."

"I can deal with that," he replied, leaning back, hands clasp over his stomach, closing his eyes.

After a while of comfortable silence, for the most part, she pulled the headphones off completely and let them drop to the counter top. "Well, that's it. The last of the soundtrack is ready to be done."

He opened an eye and looked at her. "This isn't a movie we are going to be doing tomorrow," he pointed out.

"No, but it will be an epic in it's own right," she said cheekily as she loaded the CDs into the changer. Pulling out the keyboard drawer from under the counter she turned slightly and started entering commands. The machines whirred to life a moment later. "There, that's finished."

"Good, now you can go to bed."

"Not just yet. I want to be sure it finishes then I'll go to bed." She shoved the keyboard back under the countertop and stood, stretching her shoulders as she did.

He winced at the sound of her back popping. He winced again as she started popping her knuckles. "Quit that."

"Quit what?" She glanced at him.

"Popping your knuckles like that. It's not good for you." He sighed.

"Are you going to stop me?" she asked as she started picking up the discarded CDs to put them away.

"I just may," he replied

"And how will you do that?"

"I'll find a way," he said standing and wrapping his arms about her, pulling her close. He rested his chin on her shoulder.

"By distracting me?" she chuckled softly as she reached up to run a hand though his hair then beard.

"If it works." He grew bolder and nuzzled her neck some.

She started to giggle as he did. "Damn it that tickles."

"What tickles?"

"Your beard." But she wasn't pulling away from him either.

"Then I'll shave it off." He grinned.

"Don't you dare!"

"Make you a deal then. I wont shave if you stop popping your knuckles."

"That's blackmail."

"I know."

"Where'd a sweet natured guy like you learn to play dirty pool?"

"From the same person that gave me a chance."

She just chuckled again. "Flatterer." She lets out a sigh as she leans back into him. "Alright, alright. I'll go to bed."

"Good." It was all he said as he continued to hold her.

Zan tried not to pick at the IV already in place in her arm. The prep room was quiet and deserted; the doctors and Will in one last conference before the procedure started. Tethered to an IV of muscle relaxant, Zan lay in the bed and stared at the ceiling, unable to focus her mind enough to care that she was missing a discussion that could potentially be very important.

The door opened, and Zan let her head roll on the pillow to look at it. Her foster mother Lisa came in, shutting the door softly behind her. She came over to stand next to the bedside and rested a warm hand on Zan's forehead. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm not sure," Zan replied. "I don't know if I really feel fine, or if something's wrong, and I just don't care enough to notice."

Lisa smiled. "That's my heyoka. All mixed up. Everyone's praying for you at home. They all want this to work out well."

"I'm scared," Zan confessed. "What if it doesn't work? What if I can't be free of this stuff?"

"You have lived this long with it. Will said if the replacement didn't work, they have a more comfortable exo-suit."

"But what if I'm not enough? Lisa, I never" Medicated, Zan couldn't think of a way to finish her sentence.

Lisa leaned over to kiss her forehead. "Shhh. All things in their own time. Don't worry about running until you can walk again." There was a tap at the door, and she squeezed Zan's hand. "I'll see you when you wake up."


Carolyn opened the door to the darkened observation room, slipping in next to Will. He stood at the glass, staring down on to the surgical scene.

Zan lay face-down on the table, barely recognizable under a closet-full of drapes. Brad and Nick, the anesthesiologist, were watching a series of monitors, evidently satisfied by what they saw. Through the speakers in the observation room, Carolyn could hear them quietly reviewing the last minute details, the soundtracks Zan had made playing softly in the background.

"Okay," Brad said to the room below. "We're ready to begin the index endo-skeletal replacement procedure now." He took his place at the operating table and confidently lifted a scalpel.

Carolyn pulled Will back from the window. "You don't want to watch this part," she said. "Wait until they're underway. No one needs to see someone cut into a loved one, even when it's for their benefit."

He fell into one of the chairs. "I wonder sometimes if I should have ever brought this thing up."

"You have a big heart, Will. You can't stand to see a person in pain."

"She's still going to hurt when it's done," Will said.

"Not as long. The pain will fade as she heals."

"I wonder sometimes what I'm saying with this; if I'm saying she's not good enough as she is." He sighed deeply. "Because she is. She's the best thing that ever happened to me."

"Zan."

It was dark, but for some reason, she wasn't afraid. She could feel a warm hand in hers, hear her voice called, but she was floating on a cloud of nothing in an endless sea of nothing. And she wasn't afraid of it.

"Zan, wake up. It's time to wake up now."

She squeezed the hand in hers, to let the familiar voice know she heard him. But she wanted to drift just a little longer.

"I think she's coming around," the voice said. "She's responding a little slowly, but it's not a problem yet."

Zan let one eye crack open, and found herself staring at a field of white. She blinked a few times, but the white remained unchanged. She squeezed the hand again, wanting answers.

"We have a mirror under you, so you can see us. We don't want you turning your head just yet. Squeeze my hand again if you understand me, Zanna."

It was warm, wonderful Will on the other end of the hand in hers. She squeezed, and he squeezed back.

"Okay. I'm going to move the pillow so you can see. Try not to move right away. We'll tell you when we're ready for you to try something."

His hand came into view and the field of white was replace with a sheet mirror and her own face staring at her. She was propped on a doughnut pillow, supporting her head and neck.

Will came into view, holding a glass in his hand. "Up to a drink? Your throat much be dry."

She blinked and squeezed his hand both, trying to convey that she would sell her soul at that point for a glass of water.

Fortunately, it didn't seem to come to that. Will set a glass before her and slid the end of the straw into her mouth. "Not too much at first," he cautioned. "Vomiting won't help your back muscles."

She released the straw after a few gratifying sips. "How did it go?" she asked softly.

"Like clockwork. We didn't excise all the scars, but those can be done another time, if you want. We're ready to turn on the transceiver whenever you are."

"No time like the present."

She saw Brad hover into view on her other side, and he pressed something into her hand. "This remote will turn on the chip, Ms. V. All you have to do is push the button whenever you're ready. We're going to build you up to full-time 24-hour usage. The battery will outlast the next Ice-Age, but you're going to have to learn to walk again, and there may be times during the rehab period when you want to take a break. But this is yours to use, so say the word, and we'll see how it goes."

Zan took a deep breath. "Okay." He voice wavered a little, and she worked to steady it. "Here we go." She pressed her thumb firmly to the button, and waited. "I don't feel anything," she said, a note of concern creeping into her voice.

"You shouldn't. The drugs we used to numb you back and legs are still in effect," she head Nick say from another part of the room.

"Go ahead and move your foot," Will directed. His voice came from the end of the bed.

She concentrated on wiggling her toes, but couldn't feel if anything was happening. "Well?"

"What do you think, Brad?"

"Yep. I thought so. How about the other foot, Ms V.?"

She tried to do as he asked, but her frustration was growing by the second. "What's going on down there?"

"The piggies are going to market, Ms V. My prognosis is for a gradual but complete recovery. You should recover more than 90% of your pre-injury mobility and flexibility if you work at it." She felt him rest a hand high on her shoulder, above the anesthesia line. "It's been a real pleasure working with you, Ms. V., and I'll be in later to check on you, but right now, I have some notes to write up. It's been one wild ride." He and Nick left together, already speaking the language of journals and publication.

"Are we alone?" Zan asked after the door closed.

"Looks that way. Lisa went to the station to pick up some of your family. They're going to take turns staying with you for a few days."

"That's just like them." She sighed. "I can never thank you enough for this."

"You don't have to thank me at all. I did this because I love you. But Zan, when I told you about it, back in January and you'd said no, I'd still love you. I love who you are, not what I can make you into."

The drugs were still running through Zan's system, making it impossible to focus enough to keep her usual walls up, and Will had reduced many of those to happy rubble already. "I'm so happy you said that. I needed to know it." She felt slow tears trickle onto her face and drip onto a mirror. "Oh, crap. I'm crying. One of the best days of my life and I'm crying" She felt his hand come to rest on the back of her neck.

"Shhhh You're just tired. Get some more rest. I'll be here when you wake up." She closed her eyes as he wiped away the tears, and it did feel better just to keep them closed. "I'll always be here," she heard as she drifted off.

The physical healing took very little time. Within a few days of the operation she had already started her physical therapy to relearn how to walk.

Her progress was slower some days then other as her temper flared. Not at anyone around her but at her own self for not being able to do some things. She was kept from brooding too much by Will, Her family, the fledglings and all those that called her friend. Within a week she was walking, though with much needed assistance. It was several weeks later before she could do so without assistance, though it was slow going.

During the night Will often stayed with her, just holding her though the night. Soothing her fears and frustrations when she made very little progress during the day. Sharing her triumph when she succeeded at something, even if it was something everyone else took for granted.

Days turned to weeks, and in turn, became months. A celebration was held when she reached an end to the first part of her physical therapy. Later that night a private, personal celebration of another type was held. Just between her and Will.

Ruddy firelight gleamed over the pair, hiding the blushes that was surely there. The flickering light highlighted the pale scars that crisscrossed their skins. Shadows danced about the curves of both their bodies.

Nearby was a half empty bottle of wine in a bucket of ice, a pair of glasses next to it.
In the background music played softly.

Tilting her head to the side, casing the cascade of iron-gray hair to shift, giving it red streaks thanks to the fire. "Stretch out." She said softly, patting the section of the huge fur rug they were sitting on.

Not trusting his voice, he nodded, his blush deepening for a moment as he uncurled from his position across from her. He stretched out on his stomach, pillowing his head on his arms. He felt more then hear her move, reaching across him. Skin brushing skin a moment sending a strange feeling though him. His breath caught in his throat a moment. "Wha.. what are you doing?" he finally managed to ask, not quite daring to turn to look at her.

"You'll see, or feel I should say," came the reply.

He caught his breath again as she settled just behind the small of his back, tensing up unintentionally. Shivers ran up his skin where her silky hair brushed it, just adding to the dizzying and conflicting feelings he was having. The sudden scent came to him as she opened a bottle she had retrieved. The scent was a strange, yet pleasant blend of familiar and un-familiar. Turning his head he caught her movement out of the corner of his eye. She was pouring a small amount of some liquid into the palm of her hand.

"Cedar, White Sage, Sweet Grass, Tobacco, Yellow and Red Sandalwood, Dragons blood and a touch of mint." She said as she rubbed her hands together. "I'm told it's quite powerful for some people. But I've never felt anything when using it." She placed her hands on the small of his back and started working upwards, massaging away the tension.

Slowly the tension bled from his muscles as she continued upwards, but whether from the massage or something else he couldn't tell. He let out a soft sigh, drifting into a peacefulness. After a while he realized she was tracing each and every scar across his back. He felt her lean forward, her breath soft and warm against his skin. He gasp as she placed a soft kiss along one of the scars.

"I remember you saying that the scars were painful so I'm kissing away the pain." She breathed into his ear. Then returned back to what she was doing.

It felt like an eternity that passed as she was doing that, yet not long enough.


The had both gotten bolder over the last few hours. Maybe it was due to the wine, or maybe it was due to them both becoming more relaxed with each other.

At one point he had become the proverbial putty in her hands as she explored his body. It was a strange mix of shyness at the oddest times, then bolder then anyone the next. She never asked him about what happened in the past. That in itself was one of the traits he loved most about her. And the fact she never teased him about his virginity.

She was stretched out next to him, her head propped on her fist, watching. The firelight casting flickering shadows over her body, making her both enticing and alluring at the same time. One hand trailed languidly across his bare skin.

Catching her hand he shifted to his side to look back at her, bring her hand up to his lips and brushing a soft kiss across her palm.

She giggled softly. "It tickles."

He arched an eyebrow. "what does?"

"Your Beard."

A smile formed on his lips. "Oh? Really."

"Really."

He grew bolder at that comment and leaned closer, rubbing his cheek against hers eliciting another round of giggles from her. Reaching out with one hand, hesitant for a moment until he saw her nod ever so slightly and smile, then tracing a gentle finger down her shoulder. She lay back, letting him take his time exploring her body as she had explored his.

As his hands traveled the planes of her body, he drew gasps of pleasure or giggles of delight from her. She was like an untouched treasure to him, no matter what her past was like. He watched in fascination as her body reacted to his touch. It only encouraged him more.

Moving so that he was leaning over her, he nuzzled her neck, moving up to gently nibble at her ear. Then back down along to her collar bone. His hand traveled along her thigh then back up. He could feel the goose bumps along her skin. His hand so large, yet so gentle, cupped one of her breasts. Running his thumb across it he watched as her nipples hardened under his touch, drawing another soft gasp of pleasure from her. He needed no other encouragement as he rubbed his beard across her breast before taking it into his mouth.

Sliding his hand down along her body again to her thigh, then back up, feeling her shift under him to grant him more access to her body. Cupping his hand over her, he felt the warmth and dampness there. Caressing gently, listening to her soft moan.

She felt like she was on fire everyplace that he touched, arousing passions she had thought long dead. Never before had she felt such tender gentleness. She had kept her fear of him being larger then her well hidden. But in this light she saw that those fears were unfounded and let them go.

Trailing kisses down her stomach, he unconsciously catalogued her every reaction. The subtle arch of her back, or shift of a limb. The encouraging hand on the back of his head as her fingers ran though his hair. He wanted to know all of her, he wanted her, for more then just her body. He brought her to her peak more then once during that time, hearing her cry his name every so softly, yet so passionately at the same time.

He held her close as she came down from the experience. Listening to her breathing evening out once more.

"Please" It was said so softly that he thought it was just his imagination, till he looked down at her face. There was a wanting in her eyes that matched the one in his. No other words were needed as he shifted onto his back, with her on top of him. His hands slid down to her hips as she shifted, her hands rested on top of his as he guided her down.

The feelings were beyond any words to describe. They only knew that it was right and that this was more then any '5 minutes in heaven' as it had often been described as.

When it was all over, she was cradled against his chest, asleep, her arms about his shoulders as his were about her waist. Turning his head slightly he was surprised to see dawn lighting the windows in the east. It had been just after dusk when they started the night. He looked down at her sleeping face, the lines of pain he had seen there often were smoothed out, leaving her looking young and peaceful. Reaching out he grabbed the edge of the fur rug and pulled it across their bodies, slipping into sleep himself. Loved and loving in return.