They met. They're a good team, they get the job done. They become famous, feared, even. Thieves and hackers have nightmares about a collected blonde and her emerald-eyed companion, catching them, hurting them, and eventually turning them in.

That's what they did, Julia and Faye. They came, they saw, they conquered. They were rewarded with money, gorgeous precious money. They bought a ship, a sleek black masterpiece that rarely, if ever, gave them trouble. Faye suggested they name it Lilith, and Julia didn't care either way.

Lilith's interior was modern, all harsh corners and glossy surfaces. It lacked the worn out, loved feeling of The Bebop. Even after a two years, it never lost its distance.

Faye commented on the lack of affection and closeness the two shared with their ship one day, when the wintry ambiance of their home got to her. They were sitting in the common room, on the black leather couch that was cold and uncomfortable. Somehow, sitting on it always made her feel horribly alone.

Julia's answer was to touch Faye's knee, and softly utter "Then let's make it our home." And Julia's slowly moved her hand up Faye's thigh.

Fay jumped back, exclaimed how wrong that was. She shouted at Julia, she paced around the room. She wasn't like that, she liked men, she wasn't in love with her, she would never do that, what was Julia doing, what was she doing, god she couldn't believe she did this and no she WASN'T IN LOVE WITH HER.

Julia calmly sat through it all. Until later, when the ships simulated night fell, and Julia was preparing for bed. Faye appeared at Julia's door, afraid, confused. With one hand, Julia guided Faye to the common room. With the other, she unfastened Faye's shirt.

They moved into the common room, kissing, stripping each other as fast as they could. And fucked on the couch, they made it warm. It was passionate, rough, painful, violent. They couldn't get enough of each other. They grinded their bodies together until there was nothing between them, no air, nothing. They bit, they groped, they made love. It was the best they ever had.

Then, they pretended nothing happened. They acted as if they were still platonic friends, as if there could be nothing sexual between them ever. Until a week went by, and Faye woke up one morning to find Julia, naked, waiting for her on their couch.

Over the next year, they lead double lives. Daytime, they talked, as they would normally do. Their daytime relationship was one of comfort. They never felt the need to talk, and Lilith was quiet most of the time. When they did talk, it was about tactics, how they would catch the next bounty. Never once did they say "I love you".

The night as different. The night made the ship warm. They would giggle, they would try new things. They did every position they could think of, they role-played, the kept the fire of a new relationship going for two years . . . Only at night.

It was hard for either of them to discern whether their relationship was based on sex or love. Neither of them wanted to know. Julia still missed Spike, Faye still feared love. They knew that discussing their nighttime "love" would destroy their relationship.

Then it was over. Julia woke up one day, and she didn't have Faye in her arms. She looked around, confused, and saw a note. It said "I love you too much."

It was for the best.

They never saw each other again, but remembered forever.