A/N: Thank you very much to everyone that reviewed (Dark Phoenix, anime kikei, Kya Lorne, Mrs. JENOVA, and Mai)!! I actually was intending to take this down this morning. The writing seemed ok when I uploaded at 3a.m., but in the clearer light of day it seemed clunky and boring when I read it over. But, I saw you kind people had already reviewed and were interested in the storyline, so I'll continue on with the rest of this.

This chapter was originally part of Ch1, so it's still at the story set-up state. The plot and the pace will pick up starting next chapter.

Chapter 2

Finally in the solitude of her room, Faye began to berate herself as she walked up and down the small space. What had possessed her to tell him that? That had been her proudest moment and one of the achingly few purely happy times she'd had in the past three years. It was her first time in a casino. She broke the bank that night, garnered the attention of the owner and the high rollers, and was invited up to the owner's private rooms to play against them. They were very impressed, said she had a natural talent and a gift only few possessed. They dubbed her Poker Alice.

That night was so perfect and she felt so happy to be alive. Not because of all the money she'd won, but because she had earned a name of worth for herself. Poker Alice was a woman who people still respected and talked of in awed tones over 150 years later. Having that name meant everything to her.

What the did she think would happen, that he would be impressed? All she ended up doing was to leave herself open to his ridicule. If she hadn't been so tired from being up so long, she would've never let herself be so careless. It was a long time since she'd let her emotions get away from her like that, but Spike had an infuriating way of making her lose her balance.

Finally feeling drained as the last vestiges of anger wore off, Faye slumped onto her bed. Before making another move, she suddenly remembered the invitation. She should go back and get it before anyone opened it. Jet would never invade her privacy, but Spike had no respect for her property, Ed was too curious about everything to pass up opening it, and Ein hated her guts so he would probably chew it up. With a heavy sigh she heaved herself up off the bed and made her way to the door.

* * *

She was back. He could hear the soft rustling of her skirts all the way down the hall. Briefly he wondered what she had come back for----of course, the letter. He could feel her standing by the table for some time. What was she doing, staring at him? Or maybe she was planning some sort of revenge? He was starting to feel uncomfortable.

He'd do this a lot - pretend to be sleeping - with the others, but especially with her. The ability to control his breathing and heart rate had been an important component of his martial arts training when he was younger and had been making his way up the ranks in the Dragons. He didn't really have much need for it anymore but still kept himself in top form by practicing on his teammates. He had to keep himself from smiling at the thought of any of them finding out all the things they unwittingly revealed when they thought he was asleep.

Whatever it was, she moved away again going back towards the way she had come. This was why he didn't like living with women. They were always getting in a snit and blowing things out of proportion. Couldn't she see he was just having a little fun with her? Most of the time he didn't even intend to start any shit with her, but something beyond his control would push him to it. Anyway, the shrew didn't even care what he had to say to her. She was the worst egotist he'd ever met.

* * *

Closing the door behind her Faye tossed the envelope on her bed and started to undress, changing into her black shorts and white top. Settling herself under the covers she took up the envelope again and looked it over, running her fingers over the raised script. Miss Faye Valentine was written on it in an elegant cursive. So they had managed to find her here on the BeBop. She shouldn't be surprised; the invitation had even once arrived when she was floating in the middle of space in her zip-craft.

As happy as she was to have gotten it for the past three years, it was still a little disconcerting to be found so easily. Part of her relished in the part she played as the wandering Romany, and it was with some slight unease that she thought her movements were so known to them. Somehow she expected it might not come this time, and that she'd have to find the place on her own. But it had come and it was just the thing to raise her spirits, she thought as she broke the seal and took out the card and looked at the address. It would do her a lot of good to have some decent fun for a change and to get away from him-them!, she meant them!

Damn him for creeping into her thoughts again, and damn him for laughing at her like that. And damn herself for letting her guard down around him. By losing her temper like that in front of him, she had inadvertently given him the upper hand. She had shown him she had a weakness he could exploit, and that wouldn't do at all. Not at all.

Still, it didn't matter what he had to say. He was nothing to her. Who was he to laugh at her, to judge her? Well, she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of knowing he hit his mark. He could try to bait her all he wanted tomorrow but she was going to keep cool and collected, even if it killed her.

With that resolve, Faye turned the lights off and soon fell into a fitful sleep.

A/N: If anyone should review, feel free to give constructive criticism.