ok, I pretty much forgot about this story until someone sent me a review last night which was more than just appreciated, it inspired me to read the story again and continue it, so thanks person-who-im-too-lazy-to-look-up- your-name! Anyway back to the story.


"She's coming?"

"She's coming."

"She's Coming?"

"Oh for the love of God!!! Yes, she is coming. Can we please just get past that little fact?"

Anjel sat up in bed, propped up by pillows and thinking of throwing one at Tammers because of his lack of understanding, and the fact that it might help her mood, might being the main word.

It had not been 30 minutes since Anjel had gotten the transmission from Kala, and already the bedroom was packed. Rommie had taken her spot close to the door, both because it gave her the best view of the room, and because Alex was asleep in the nursery. Over the past few days Andromeda had come to adore the child. The artificial emotions that Harper had enhanced had allowed her to come to care for the boy as much as Anjel and Tamerlane did, so Rommie was always ready to see to little Alex's needs.

Dylan had given his chair to Beka, who had entered the room looking very groggy and worn; damn she must have had a hard night. Trance was standing next to Dylan, quiet as ever. Tamerlane had come to sit at the foot of the bed after making sure his female was alright.

While others had taken comfortable yet proper places, Harper threw caution out the window. He had comfortably waltzed into the room, removed his shoes and climbed under the covers with Anjel. He had no idea in his genius mind why he had done it, but hell he wasn't going to pass up an opportunity to be in a bed with the most expensive, luxurious sheets in the galaxies. Plus he could never pass up an opportunity to be in the same vicinity as a hot, semi naked chick, even if there was no chance in hell of anything happening, and her Big Scary Nietzschean husband was right there.

Anjel didn't care; in fact she gave him an extra pillow to put under his head. She might as well be hospitable, even if Captain Hunt looked as if he was going to kill poor Harper. But it was time to get back to business. The transmission was received about 6 hours before Anjel received it. And it had to travel a long ass way to get to them, so add another 5 hours to that because I wasn't taken by curriror, and Kala had a tendency to show up really early and not give people time to prepare. Ok so total it had been 11 and ½ hours since the transmission was sent. Great.

"We have 3 hours, tops, before she gets here." Anjel spoke to herself while still calculating. She couldn't control the sorrow that played throw her face. His would be her last 3 hours with Alex.

"If that..." Tamerlane spoke to the rest. He was able to keep his emotions more under control, but still the uncertainty of what was going to happen was a big burden. After Kala came and went, where would they go, what would they do? The Andromeda would probably allow them to fix the Dovolo, and then say Bon voyage, and kick them out on their proverbial asses. It had happened before, and it would probably happen again.

Dylan spoke up, "Well, I think it would be best to start preparing to greet our guest." He ushered the crew out. Harper was a little slow to get the fact that the meeting was over, or he just wanted to stay a bit longer. Dylan and Tamerlane helped jog his memory.


Beka and Dylan walked towards her room, which was on the way to Command. Beka still didn't feel up to being a good little entertainer today, but she may as well get dressed and get out of her pajamas. She also needed to talk to Dylan.

As soon as the corridor was clear of crew members, she asked, "Um, Dylan, what happened last night?"

Dylan smiled as he wrapped his arm around Beka's shoulders, " Well we had a beautiful candle light dinner on Infinity Atol, which as I remember correctly was just cut short by the rain." he smiled, but she was obviously not in a joking mood.

He leaned closer, "Nothing happened, you fell asleep, and I only stayed to make sure you were alright."

Dylan could almost feel the wave of relief wash over her as her muscles loosened and she let out a claming breath. She gently wrapped her arm around his waist and they continued to walk that way all the way to Beka's quarters.

Beka opened the door with her palm. Dylan was about to leave, when Beka's arm tightened around him and pulled him inside. Wow, her moods change quickly, Dylan thought as the door closed behind them. Beka pressed him up against the wall and had to stand on her tip toes to reach his mouth. The kiss was rough, passionate. Dylan could feel Beka bruising his lips, but he didn't care, he sucked her in, memorizing her taste, her smell, and the little trick that she did with her tongue which sent a shiver down him.

After what seemed like hours, they both came up for air. Dylan's breath was ragged, and his thoughts were so not gentleman like. He bent his knees so that he stood at Beka's eye level. She was beautiful. Of course he had always known that, but this was different. She was so strong, and yet so delicate, so protective, and yet she was putting herself out in the open for him, she was letting him in. He had never seen this side of her. There were no smart ass remarks, no coyness that played her face, she was just Beka.

He leaned into her again, but this time the kiss was slow and sensual. More driven by a deep understanding of each other than the lust that had plagued them before. Beka leaned into the line of his body, which was already pinned to the wall. Their lips broke, but they stayed in their embrace. Beka leaned her head on his shoulder and gently played with his arm. Dylan's knees started to shake and give. Beka didn't notice until they were both lying in a heap on the floor laughing.

"I need to change before Miss all high and mighty super bitch Docks."


Tamerlane walked with a sleepy Alex wrapped in his arms. The child clung to him and rubbed his nose on Tammers shoulders. Tammers, who was actually a big softy at heart, had to try very hard not to let the child see his emotions. This was the last time he would have Alex in this way. This would be the last time that the child would cling to him like a father. He loved Alex as if he were his son, and after spending so long with him, it was going to be very hard to let him go.

They walked to the hydroponics, because Tammers knew that Alex loved going planet side and playing in the foliage, no matter what it was, and this was the closest thing to it. The tall dark man kissed his "son" on the forehead and sent him down next to Tibalt, the puppy that they had gotten for Alex when a while back. Both child and dog bolted towards the giant oak tree and out of Tamerlane's sight. Through his Nietzschean senses, he could still hear and smell them, which was good enough for him. He walked to the oak tree himself and seated himself at the base. Closing his eyes, he could feel Alex above him, climbing up the branches, and Tibalt yapping on the other side of the tree.

Alex would get tired in about an hour, and then Tammers would take him to Anjel so that they could have their time together, and then he would be gone from them for good. Yes they would meet him later in his life, but he will have changed. He will not be the adorable ever trusting child that he was, but an Alpha, and a ruthless one at that. Anjel and Tamerlane could only do so much to mold him into the right person, but maybe his future training, although painful and merciless, would shape him into what he needed to be. The child that climbed in the oak above him would one day tame the Magog swarms. He would reconnect the Nietzschean race with the newly formed common wealth. He would do great things, but Tamerlane only wished that he stayed this little boy forever.


The formal decor of the high guard was set. Andormeda was clean, Dylan and Beka and the crew had showered and put on more ceremonial attire. Yep everything was ready. Now all there was to do was wait.


Anjel had just gotten out of the first bath that she had taken since the encounter with Tyr, and it was good. She was more relaxed now, more flexible. As she cleaned the fog off of the mirrors, and placed her helix back on her arm, she wondered about what to do next. Should they head back to the Drago compound with Kala? Should they hunt down Tyr and then hope to hell that the abyss, which was due to pick them up, came through? No that was a stupid idea. Truthfully, she didn't want to leave the Andromeda. It was her home, where she grew up. But she knew that there was no way that they could stay without the crew knowing exactly who she was, and it just wasn't the time yet.

She did the little hopping dance to get into her pants that were a size to small, but they made her look more muscular. Being 3/8 Nietzschean was good at times, but when you had to squeeze into smaller clothing to make it look like you worked out more than you did, it could really suck. She glanced at her 5 bone blades before putting on her shirt. Yes 5, the one that had broken in Tyr's leg was completely gone, which made her arms look uneven. Maybe I can get a prosthetic, she thought as she put gantlets on to hide her misfortune.

The Bedroom door slid open and she heard Alex calling for her. She did a quick check over herself than left the bathroom to scoop the child up. Her wounds were not healed yet, but the pain was slight and didn't compare to the rush she got when scooping Alex up and hearing him giggle as she tickled him while he squirmed. If she could she would hold him and never let go. She loved him more than she loved her own life, and that was saying a lot coming form a Nietzschean.

Tammers walked toward them and wrapped his arms around them both. He placed another kiss on Alex's cheek and one on Anjel's lips before he wordlessly turned and walked out. It was his way of saying his own private good bye. Anjel knew that anything else would have been much too hard on him.

She glanced down at the boy, who was smiling up at her waiting for what she might do next. She smiled and tickled him once again. But afterwards she carried him to the control room of the Dovolo and paced him in her lap at the pilot's chair.

"You wanna fly?" she asked as the docking doors opened to let the Dovolo out.