"Rommie." The third time Trance tried to get her attention, this time it
worked. "I'm sorry Trance, I've been a bit distracted lately", Rommie said
forcing a smile. "It's Dylan, isn't it?" Trance hit the point exactly.
Rommie closed her eyes and leaned back in the blue linen that comprised her
hammock, "How do you know?". Trance started to prune one of her plants, she
still had most of them on the Maru "Just a guess.". Rommie sat up and threw
Trance a sceptical look, but if she could talk to anyone at the moment it
would be Trance "He told me he loves me." She said looking down. "But isn't
that a good thing?" Rommie wasn't sure "Trance, he prefers a Nietschean,
the pilot of tourist barge and a mad woman to me." Rommie didn't even try
to filter the malice in her words. "Well, that's just one of those things
you two will have to sort out." Trance said, Rommie looked up suddenly
"What?". Trance now tried to get Rommie to admit what she was avoiding the
whole time "You love him, don't you?" Rommie didn't answer so she continued
"Otherwise he wouldn't have hurt you like that.". "Yes.". "Rommie, Dylan
was willing to die for you when you were swallowed by the Cetus. The least
you can do is give him a fair hearing.". The two women talked for some
time, then Trance decided to get some sleep and Rommie went back to her
quarters.
Rommie sat on her sofa as she heard the chime signal from the door. She knew it was Dylan, and didn't want to let him in when she remembered what Trance had said. Rommie stood up and opened the door. Dylan stepped into her quarters, his head hanging low, she could make out the paths tears took on his face ending in stains on the fabric of his uniform. "Rommie, I'm sorry." He whispered "You know that I got back from the mission to Lundmark, to save marshal Ka-Lupe, two weeks ago." Rommie nodded slowly "When we turned the Leper in she told me that I wasn't afraid of dying, and do you know what? She was right.". Rommie still didn't say anything, so Dylan continued "Rommie, all I lived for was the Commonwealth, but I realized that you're the only thing I really care about." Rommie remained silent. Dylan didn't think he'd get an answer and went for the door. He was halfway out when he heard Rommie's whisper "I love you too.". He took two steps back into her quarters, not quite sure if he heard her correctly. "Dylan, I love you too." At that he spurred forward and took Rommie in his arms "I meant what I said earlier Rommie, you're all that I have." Then his lips were on hers in a kiss that lasted for minutes.
TBC
Rommie sat on her sofa as she heard the chime signal from the door. She knew it was Dylan, and didn't want to let him in when she remembered what Trance had said. Rommie stood up and opened the door. Dylan stepped into her quarters, his head hanging low, she could make out the paths tears took on his face ending in stains on the fabric of his uniform. "Rommie, I'm sorry." He whispered "You know that I got back from the mission to Lundmark, to save marshal Ka-Lupe, two weeks ago." Rommie nodded slowly "When we turned the Leper in she told me that I wasn't afraid of dying, and do you know what? She was right.". Rommie still didn't say anything, so Dylan continued "Rommie, all I lived for was the Commonwealth, but I realized that you're the only thing I really care about." Rommie remained silent. Dylan didn't think he'd get an answer and went for the door. He was halfway out when he heard Rommie's whisper "I love you too.". He took two steps back into her quarters, not quite sure if he heard her correctly. "Dylan, I love you too." At that he spurred forward and took Rommie in his arms "I meant what I said earlier Rommie, you're all that I have." Then his lips were on hers in a kiss that lasted for minutes.
TBC