A/N: Warning, heavy angst.

Part 7

Crais and Sikozu were arguing over her plan. Crais believed it was too dangerous to Talyn. "You cannot do that!"

"Why not?" she asked indignantly.

"I will not put him in that risk."

"You are so stubborn. This is probably the only chance he has at a full recovery. I know what I am doing."

"You are young and idealistic with very little practical experience. You may think you know what you are doing, but Talyn is unlike any other Leviathan. I will not condone a course of treatment that could leave him impaired."

"Crais, be realistic. Talyn is already impaired. It's unlikely that what I have planned will make him worse. It can only help him," she pleaded

Crais considered what she had said for a few microts. When he continued his voice had taken on a more reasonable tone of voice, "I will discuss this with Talyn. I will let you know what we decide."

"Fine. You know where to find me," She stormed out of command muttering something about how her talents were not properly appreciated. Crais watched her depart Talyn and return to Moya. After she had departed he addressed Talyn, "I know that you are scared. She has worked hard to devise a way to help you. Her plan has merit and I believe it may succeed." He paused before continuing, "You heard the risks. There is the possibility you would be changed. Know that I will accept you no matter what." He paused again. He rubbed Talyn's ceiling as he had seen Aeryn do countless times, "When you have made your decision, let me know." Talyn felt honored that Crais had left this decision to him. Crais decided to return to Moya, to leave the youngster alone to think.

When he arrived Crichton was leaned up against a bulkhead outside the maintenance bay. "Got a question for you?" Crais stopped, keeping his back to the human and waited for Crichton to ask his question. "Do you know who the father is?"

"I didn't know the last time you asked, Crichton," he replied impatiently.

"I know that. I was just wondering if you knew today."

"No, Crichton, I still do not know."

"Does Aeryn?"

"You would have to ask her."

"She went to a medical facility while you were on the planet didn't she?"

"You would have to ask her that as well."

"Yeah, I've tried that, but she isn't willing to talk much about it."

"That is her choice." Crais desperately wanted to be anywhere else. He was beginning to rethink his decision to leave Talyn.

Crichton moved over and grabbed Crais by the shoulder, spinning him so the two were face to face. "It may be her choice, but this affects me as well. Her child could be carrying my DNA. I think I have a right to know."

"I am not the one to argue with, Crichton. If I knew, it would not be my place to tell you." Crais walked away.

Crichton knew the Sebacean was correct. He had to talk to Aeryn. If she knew, he deserved to know. He went in search of her. It took a lot of searching. He finally found her out on the terrace. She was seated, arms propped on her knees, staring out at the stars. He stood at the door watching her for a few microts. "Can we talk?" She didn't respond. He moved forward and sat next to her, staring at the stars. He asked gently, "Aeryn, do you know who the father is?" She nodded and stared at her shoes. Crichton read her body language. "It's not me, or I should say the other me, is it?" She bit her lower lip and shook her head. She was fighting back the tears. "Do you want to tell me who it is?"

She replied in a strained voice, "Not now. I need some time."

"It's him, isn't it?" Crichton asked belligerently.

"Him, who?" she asked innocently.

"Crais, that's who." She looked away from him, unable to meet his eyes. "It is." He grabbed her face and forced her to look at him. "It's Crais."

"Yes," she replied weakly.

Crichton was floored by her admission, "When?"

She shoved his hand away and stood to move away from him, "I'm not ready to talk about it." She had a hard time talking about that time period in her life. A part of her had hoped it was Crichton's; that the child would help heal the rift that had formed between the two of them. She heard the door close behind her.

After he left she thought back to a night onboard Talyn, about a weeken after her visit to Valldon. She had finally come to grips with the loss of *her* Crichton. She wasn't ready for a relationship, but she was lonely. So lonely. She didn't want to be alone anymore. She had gone to Crais to talk. He was no longer the unapproachable Peacekeeper captain. The loss of Crichton had affected them all. She had just gone to talk, but she found she needed to be comforted, to feel alive. She hadn't regretted her actions then. She still didn't. She had thought about trying to find Crais before Crichton did, but she knew that if Crichton were looking for the Sebacean she would never find him first. She decided to search anyway.

After the confrontation, Crais went to his quarters to look over the sensor data pertaining to this area. He was still trying to decide where they would go once they left Moya's side. He preferred to return to the familiarity of the Uncharted Territories. With no one searching for them, Crais felt reasonably sure they would be relatively safe. He had also not ruled out the possibility of exploring previously unknown regions of space. He and Talyn had discussed the possibility of adding a hydroponics bay in order to reduce Crais' reliance on finding habitable planets. He knew he needed to leave soon. Crichton was becoming more belligerent towards him every day. He also didn't want to be around Scorpius. He feared the scientist would turn them over to the Peacekeepers. He knew Aeryn had promised Scorpius sanctuary, but perhaps it would be better for them all of Scorpius was eliminated.

It was time for evening meal and he headed toward the center chamber to get something to eat. As he approached he saw Crichton leaving. "Congratulations, Crais. You win," Crichton announced coldly.

Crais looked after the human, a confused look on his face, as he walked down the passageway. He wondered what the human was babbling about this time. He got his food and sat apart from the others. When he was nearly finished he looked toward the door and saw Aeryn standing there. She signaled for him to follow her. He did so. They went to a secluded spot on Moya. He waited for her to begin.

"I.looked at the data chip the doctor gave me. I.know who the father is." Crais waited patiently for her to continue. He didn't even notice that he was holding his breath. She reached over, gently placed her hand on his arm and smiled, "You are the father."

Crais was in a state of shock, "I see." He thought he had prepared for this eventuality, but when faced with it he was dumbstruck. Now he knew what Crichton had meant outside the center chamber. "And Crichton knows?"

"Yes. I don't think he took it well."

"I believe you are correct." Now Crais knew he needed to leave soon. Any hope he had held out on forging and amicable relationship with this Crichton was gone for the foreseeable future. "Have you decided what you are going to do?"

"Not yet. I think I need to be able to talk to John before I make my decision."

Crais did not like the idea that Crichton would raise his child, what a strange thought, his child. He wasn't even sure Crichton would agree to it. As far as Crichton was concerned the only parentage that would be worse than Crais would be if Scorpius had been the father. "I.see." He did not like the idea of being a runner up as father, but he knew that Aeryn did not love him as she had loved Crichton. She saw Crais as a good friend, a confidant, someone to recreate with. Perhaps that would change in time, but he doubted it. "I would like to be a part of my child's life, if you will allow it." It sounded even stranger when he spoke it out loud.

"Of course. I wouldn't deny it." She then hugged him, all she wanted was to be held. Crais embraced her and began to gently stroke her hair. He could hear her sobbing quietly into his shoulder. He didn't know how long he stood there, holding her, just being there for her. While he held her, he thought back to that night.

***** It had been nearly a weeken since they had left Valldon. Aeryn had spent most of that time in 'their' quarters. She would come and eat, but rarely said anything to him or Rygel. She had stopped crying herself to sleep three solar days ago. He hated to spy, but he was concerned for her well- being, as was Talyn. He was reasonably confident that she would not harm herself. He was just about to lie down for the night when his door chime sounded, "Enter." It was not necessary, but old habits were hard to break.

Aeryn walked in. She looked drained, "Can I talk with you? I don't want to be alone anymore."

"Of course." He motioned for her to take a seat. He moved a chair so he could sit near her.

She took the proffered seat. She didn't say anything for a long time. "I consider you a friend, and right now I need a friend to talk to. He meant so much to me. We were so perfect together. And now he's gone." She paused, "I know he did it for the greater good. He died a hero, but he still died." She continued softly, "I miss him, and I don't know if I can face what's waiting on Moya." She had her arms crossed trying to hug herself.

Crais could see the pain in her face. He thought back to his childhood, to when his mother had comforted him when he was sad. He rose and pulled her into an embrace and stroked her hair. She didn't resist. "You are strong Aeryn. I know you will not hide from what needs to be done."

She felt like crying, but she had no more tears. "I know. I just needed to tell that to someone. I can't tell him. Thank you for being here for me."

"I will always be here for you."

She placed a finger on his lips, "Never say always. Never make a promise you cannot keep."

"All right."

She pulled away and sat on the edge of bed. He moved to sit next to her.

"I'm sorry I treated you poorly on Valldon."

"There is no need to apologize. I understand that between the grief and the alcohol you were not yourself."

She leaned into him for comfort. He put is arm around her shoulder. She climbed into his lap, just wanting to feel warmth again. One thing led to another. They both realized it was meaningless. They had both slipped into their Peacekeeper training.

***** When she had finished she spoke softly, "Thank you."

"I will always be here for you." He released her. She didn't correct him this time.

Crichton was sitting in command, repetitiously bouncing a ball against the bulkhead.

Chiana walked in and moved to sit next to him on the conference table, "You wanna talk, old man?"

He continued bouncing the ball, "Has Aeryn changed since she left Moya?"

"I think we've all changed since then."

He grabbed the ball. "I guess we have. It's been a long half cycle, hasn't it?"

"Yeah. You okay?" Chiana was concerned about Crichton. He had been real melancholy since they returned.

"I suppose." He began bouncing the ball again.

"If you wanna talk, you know I'm here for you."

"Yeah, Pip, I know." She left him sitting there against the table bouncing the ball. He wanted to talk to her. He felt he needed to talk to someone, but he would let Aeryn tell the others when she was ready.

A short while later his ball bouncing was interrupted again, this time by D'Argo. "Chiana tells me you are upset."

"Yeah, she's good at telling people things isn't she?"

D'Argo snatched the ball out of the air. "John, what's wrong?"

"Aeryn, man. It's always about women isn't it?"

"Is she still not telling you everything?"

"She's told me enough to know that she has changed."

"We've all changed, John. Nothing ever stays the same."

"I know I just hoped that for once, something would go my way."

D'Argo picked up on what was left unsaid, "You're not the father are you?"

Crichton stared at D'Argo a few microts, "That obvious, huh?"

"Not really. It fits in with the conversation." He paused, "Who is it?"

"That's for Aeryn to tell."

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know, man. I don't know." Crichton rose and walked out of command.

Crais went in search of Sikozu. Talyn had decided to accept her help. He wanted to be well again. "Sikozu, Talyn has decided to accept your help. You will start immediately." He turned and left, leaving her to follow in his wake. By the time she arrived at the transport pod he was ready to go. He really was serious about starting immediately.

When they arrived on Talyn, he stripped off his jacket so that he would be able to maneuver within the neural cluster. He was wearing a sleeveless black t-shirt. Sikozu eyed him appraisingly. She thought that he was surprisingly muscular. She had to force herself to focus on the task at hand.

As they closed in on the most difficult part of the task, Crais spoke to Talyn reassuringly, "Talyn, we are ready to begin the final phase. I will be putting you to sleep to complete repairs. I will wake you soon."

Sikozu watched him in awe. Everything the others had told her, everything she had been led to believe about Crais was to be questioned. This was not a man to be feared or to be distrusted. Here was someone who had been misunderstood.