S: Okay, sorry for the delay folks, I'm afraid that Real Life – I hate it, but it's still there – has decided to interfere again and give me the flu. Flu means no computer b/c the computer is waaaaaaay out here, and bed, where I'm supposed to be, is waaaaaay over there!

Onyx: And you're rambling. Again.

S: Right. Sorry. Okays, for the reviewer-peoples – LOVE YOU GUYS - in any case, here. Dreamcatcher89, I don't let people do anonymous reviews because that's my anti-flame measure. And there's a note in my profile to that effect. DesertHawk, it isn't the end, trust me. Not by a long shot. Angelic Temptress, X Moonchick, Christieanne-Anna, Weapon X 61, girl-interrupted 33, thanks, here's the next chapter! DarkPyroGirl, I'm buying Starcrossd, a JL movie, as soon as I find it, so I'll let you watch it and maybe figure out where all of these people are coming from. RockieRoade – WOW! (passes out) Nobody's ever joined just for me! Animelover8831, Onyx doesn't 'work' for anyone, really. She's my Yami – that's kind of Yu-Gi-Oh thing… and my muse. And Yamis are inherently evil because they're dark spirits. As for the timeline, this is set before Starcrossed. Somewhere after War World, but it went AU a while after that. See, I never saw most of Season Two, so most of this is going off of the S. 1 cannon.

(Kuriboh randomly goes sailing past with the Disclaimer See Ch. 1 sign)

S: (facefaults) He's a Yu-Gi-Oh thing, too. So is –

Yami Bakura: Miserable furball! Get back here!

S: So is Yami Bakura. (chases) Don't kill him, Bakura, I called it first!

Onyx: (rolls eyes) Rolling chapter.

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HAWK'S NIGHT, LANTERN'S LIGHT

CHAPTER SIX

It had been nearly half an hour since Shayera awoke, and in that time, she had been hugged, kissed, congratulated, and scolded for her actions more time than she could count. After spending that long surrounded by her well meaning, but somewhat smothering, friends, she declared herself to tired to continue.

"I'm sorry, everyone, but I'm still tired. Can we finish this later, please?"

J'Onn and Unica took pity on her and herded everyone, excluding John, from the room. This accomplished, the two shape shifters took their leave as well, albeit a bit less forcefully. Unica paused, briefly, but the door, casting a gentle smile back at the Thanagarian.

"Welcome back, Shayera." And with that, she slipped out as well, closing the door softly behind her, leaving John and Shayera alone.

John turned back to Shayera with a smile. "Liar."

"What?"

Green Lantern smirked at her. "Whenever you get really tired, your eyes start to twitch."

"Seven Hells, Lantern!" Shayera burst out. "I wasn't expecting that kind of reception. Can you blame me for begging off?" Her voice cracked slightly as she spoke, and John was quick to retrieve a glass of water from the nightstand.

"Not really." Slipping an arm behind her back, he gently lifted her into a sitting position and raised the glass of water to her lips. She considered protesting, but realized she didn't even have the strength to hold the glass. For her own reassurance more than his, though, she did lift her hands and rest them on the sides of the glass, in front of his hand.

When she was finished, John set the glass aside again and turned back to study the woman he still held against his arm. The water had left her lips glistening, and John forced down his desire at the sight.

"You were out for a long time," he said softly. "We were afraid we lost you."

Shayera blinked slightly, turning her head to face him. "You knew I wasn't lost, though. You came to me every night."
"You remember that?" Now it was his voice that was cracking, she noticed, and grinned in amusement.

"Yes, Lantern, I remember that. I looked forward to hearing you each and every night," she added, surrendering to the weariness in her neck and letting her head drop back. "You have a wonderful voice."

Although she couldn't see it, she could feel the heat of his blush as it spread down his arms. "I felt that," she muttered, closing her eyes as she felt her eyelids start to twitch. "So embarrassed from a simple compliment, Lantern? You're acting like a schoolboy with your first crush."

An indignant snort greeted that comment, and John leaned forward until his lips brushed her ear. "You're hardly my first crush, Shy," he murmured, his hot breath whispering across her cheek.

"So what am I then, your fourth, fifth?"

He didn't answer, just smiled faintly and brushed a soft kiss against the tip of her ear. "Go back to sleep, Shy. You still need rest." So saying, he lowered her back to her pillows and rose slowly, clearly preparing to leave.

"John, wait!"

When he turned back to her, Shayera found it was her turn to blush. "Would you… stay with me? For one more night?" She might have imagined it, but she could have sworn his face brightened. Seeing him more towards his chair again, she shook her head. "No, not there… Your voice has held me for so many nights, Lantern. Tonight would you hold me for real?"

This time, she was sure she hadn't imagined the surprise on his face, nor the delight. "Of course…. I just don't want to hurt you."

She flashed him a shadow of her old grin before rolling slowly onto her side, turning her back to him and shifting to one side of the bed. John slid in behind her, letting her rest her head on one arm. His other hand slid, dreamlike, over her the feathers of her wing. She spread her wing backwards, slowly spreading it to cover the man behind her. His fingers raked softly through the feathers, ruffling them in one direction, then smoothing them. Enjoying the sensation, she arched her wings back, pressing against his hand. There was an instant pause in his motion, pressing his warm hand against her wing.

"Do you want me to stop?"

"No – no, the opposite. Keep going, please." When his stroking continued, she closed her eyes again, enjoying herself more than she had in ages.

"Did your… did Hro do this for you?" A worried note in his voice, a slightly firmer press of his hand.

"No, he didn't. My relationship with him wasn't about romance. It was a political alliance more than a relationship." A faint chuckle escaped her. "You don't have to feel threatened."

"Threatened?" His stroking resumed as it had been, a smooth and gentle movement. "Trust me, I don't feel threatened by him."

Shayera smiled faintly and allowed sleep to claim her, held gently by John Stewart's strong and comforting grasp.

Unica slipped into the room, unnoticed, at midnight to check Shayera's vital signs. Finding them strong and well, she turned to walk out again and found both of Shayera's eyes open, watching her with curiosity. Although Unica had made no noise, Shayera's senses were no less finely tuned than they had been when she was a detective on Thanagar. It was a mark of how exhausted John was that he did not sense either Shayera's awakening or Unica's presence. Casting a sheepish smile at Shayera, the girl pointed to the moniter screen.

"It's all right. He's exhausted," Shayera informed her with a whispered smile.

"It's good to have you back, Shayera. John wasn't the same without you." With that, the girl slipped out of the room, just as silently as she had entered. Her mind more at peace than it ever had been, and she fell back into a deep and restful sleep.

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S: Sorry, guys, I know it's really short, but I'm writing this on the run. See ya later… ten reviews PLEASE!!! (runs)