(A/N: Thank you so much for all of the reviews, I hope that you all enjoyed the last chapter. Dagger is finally having some things go right for her. I hope that you like this chapter and please leave any comments about what you think will happen next. I'm curious to see where you think this will go. It makes me so happy to know that you enjoy the story I have written. Thank you so so much to everyone who has followed/ reviewed/ or even just read it means more to me than you know.)

Even though Dagger was dancing without a care, Astra was still watched her surroundings. She spotted him as soon as he started towards the dancefloor. She knew he was watching Dagger. He didn't look predatory or malicious, he looked down right smitten with her.

Astra twirled in front of Dagger and asked her to go get them some more drinks for them. Dagger nodded in happy agreement and danced her way to the bar. Astra turned back around and found herself face to face with the man who had been approaching.

She pressed herself up against him to dance and she asked, "what's your name loverboy?"

He snapped out of his trance from watching Dagger and realized that he was dancing with someone who he had not intended. Clearing his throat he responded, "the names Rex, and you are?"

She smiled, "I'm Astra. What's a soldier like you doing in a place like this?"

"Just looking for a drink and a dance, nothing more," he replied honestly.

Nodding she looked around and saw Dagger taking shots at the bar with the female bartender. Good, she would be distracted while she danced with Rex. He seemed like a good fellow, most soldiers were, but she was sure that Dagger wouldn't want to have to be around her fellow soldiers on the one night she had to get away.

That's why she had sent her away. Sweet girl, she just wanted to keep her happy for the night. It seemed that Rex had noticed that they were there together as he leaned down and asked, "if I may ask, who was your friend?"

"That's Lilah, real looker isn't she?"

"You are quite the beauty yourself ma'am, both of you are," he responded politely.

She smirked seeing right through him, "I'm not the one who drew you all the way over here though? C'mon tell me what you think."

"She's beautiful," he sighed. Oh that poor boy, he was doomed and he didn't even know it.

"Maybe if you're lucky, she will come over and say hi," Astra knew that by now Dagger must have seen the clone that she was dancing with. Whether she knew him or not she didn't know, but she would be able to make her own decision if she wanted to rejoin them.

She was surprised to see that he actually knew what he was doing as he danced with her. His movements were smooth and he kept a close but respectful distance. He made for pleasant and light conversation between songs.

Astra was impressed, she had met a few clones before and he behaved much differently. Most of the time they were either looking for a hookup or a fight. Yet Rex seemed content to just dance. She watched as he slowly began to relax. He carried stress so naturally that she didn't even know it was there until it had lifted.

Soon another danced her way up to them. Dagger. She draped herself over Astra laughing, "I won Astra! Can you believe that?"

She laughed, "great job Lilah, this is Rex."

Being so close, she heard the girl take in a sharp breath, So she did know him. Dagger leaned in and whispered. Except whispered is a generous term and Dagger was very drunk, she might as well have shouted it, "he is really fuckin' hot."

Rex let out a snort of amusement and held out his hand to her, "it's good to meet you, Lilah."

She placed her hand in his with some rigidity. Instead of getting the shake she was expecting he dipped his head and brushed his lips upon her knuckles. Her cheeks flushed bright red.

She let out a nervous breath, "thank you sir."

Before he could even respond he was pounced on by other clones. They were drunk and laughing as they pulled him away. He held onto her hand for as long as he could before he was pulled back. Rex's eyes met hers one last time before he was lost in the crowd.

She stared after him as Astra told her that he said she was beautiful. If possible she blushed even harder. She looked up at Astra, "that is my captain."

Astra actually screeched, "girl don't play with me!"

She was laughing now, "I swear I'm not."

"He is so fine. I don't know how you do it. Come on I need another drink."

Dagger sighed, "he's nice too."

"You better tap that before someone else does," Astra said as she tipped her shot glass up and swallowed it in one go.

Dagger gasped and hit her arm playfully, "he is my superior! I can't just do that, he doesn't know that I am a girl. Besides I have never even been kissed before, much less tapped anyone."

"That is not how you use that expression, but you really are missing out."

Dagger rolled her eyes and transitioned the conversation to something else. Eventually they ended up on stools at the end of the bar. Talking, laughing, and drinking for hours. Even as the music slowly started to fade and the patrons of the club left they talked. They didn't see Rex for the rest of the night, even though Dagger wished he would come back.

It was so nice for Dagger to be able to talk to someone like her. She had found a friend. Someone, other than a brother, that she trusted. Astra had gone above and beyond from the moment they had met. Always genuine and always kind.

Dagger felt what it was like to have a friend, felt what it was like to be cared about by someone who didn't have to care about her. Of course she knew her brothers cared, but there was always that small part in her head that told her that they might not care about her. They had to care because she was a soldier. If they knew what she was she didn't think that they would care anymore.

She couldn't bring herself to believe that they cared about her just because she was worthy of being cared about. She couldn't have been more wrong, but she had no way to know that, all because she didn't ask.

~B~

Honestly it was a good thing Astra was such fast friends with Dagger, because she was absolutely hammered. She was laughing and having a great time, she felt more at ease than she could ever remember being before. Could she see or walk straight? Absolutely not.

She had a pretty good handle on herself for the first hour, but after that she was gone. Dagger laughed at even the smallest things and felt no inhibitions talking to Astra. It was a good thing that Rex hadn't stayed because she probably would have confessed to him on accident.

Astra, who had a much better handle on herself, pulled her to her feet and helped her out of the club. She snagged Dagger's cloak on the way out. Astra guided them down the street back to her shop before taking Dagger inside. Going up the steps to her loft she set her down in the living room.

"Dagger? Still with me girlie?"

"I'm doing great," she said with a dopey smile, "and honestly you are so pretty."

With a laugh Astra handed her a cup of water, "thank you sweetie, but I don't think you are in any shape to get back to your place on your own. Is there someone you can call to come get you?"

"Rex." she said resolutely.

"Ok, then let's call that cutie from the club and have him come get you."

Dagger's eyes slowly widened, "No! Don't call Rex. I don't have my helmet, he wouldn't know my voice."

Astra thought for a moment, trying to figure out the best way to get Dagger back to her barracks, "what if I call for you?"

"No, secure line, wouldn't work," Dagger shook her head, her eyelids were already starting to droop and her limbs felt so heavy.

"Honey, you look like you are about to pass out. I really should have cut your off earlier. Why don't you just stay here for the night and you can get back in the morning."

Dagger nodded sleepily and curled further into her chair. She protested when Astra pulled her up and brought her to the bedroom. After making her go to the bathroom and put on pajamas she tucked Dagger into the bed.

Astra looked down at the now passed out girl. Luck had smiled on Astra that day and brought this soldier into her life. A new friend, even if it was just temporary. She smiled and quietly closed the bedroom door, electing to sleep on the couch that night.

~B~

Rex woke up with a mild headache, he didn't regret going out last night or even the drinking. He had fun and was able to relax for a while. He allowed himself a few minutes to stay in bed after his alarm had woken him up, just thinking of the beautiful woman from last night. She really had been something else, and damn if Rex didn't have a type for females with muscles, anyone with muscles really.

With a sigh he got himself up and downed a cup of water before putting on training clothes. He sure was glad he made the plan for today's training before he went out last night. It wasn't a hard day, just cardio and weights to keep everyone in shape.

As he left for the elevator he considered waiting for Dagger, but dismissed the idea as he was probably already in the training room. Ever the punctual trooper, most of the time he was early for everything.

He rubbed his eyes a final time before exiting the elevator. Rex nodded, pleased that everyone was already formed up and waiting to begin. He asked Appo for accountability, more for protocol than for actually knowing the number.

No one ever missed training, even on R and R. He kept on walking towards the front as Appo spoke.

"Twenty nine of thirty sir, Dagger is unaccounted for," the statement made Rex stop dead in his tracks. The room went dead silent.

"Repeat accountability," he ordered quickly.

"Twenty nine of thirty, Dagger is unaccounted for sir."