"Move it," Chiana said, pushing the end of her pulse rifle into the small of Velorek's back. She could see why Aeryn would have recreated with him. He was quite handsome indeed. His dark brown eyes seemed to sparkle in the lights of Moya, and his hair looked thick and soft.

"Of course, I understand why you are doing this. But you have nothing to fear from me now I am no longer a Peacekeeper. Aeryn will tell you..." Velorek said, struggling in his handcuffs.

"Yeah well...I'm under strict orders from Aeryn to lock you up and with the way she is at the moment, I'm not gonna say no." D'argo glared at Chiana. She was obviously enjoying the power she had over the ex-peacekeeper. "So...you're the guy Aeryn frelled here on Moya." She teased.

"Chiana!" D'argo scolded.

Velorek stopped, "This is Moya? May I see your Pilot?" he asked.

"Yeah... if you want him to kill you like he tried to kill Aeryn when he found out she helped kill the original Pilot. That's if Aeryn doesn't kill you first." She replied, giving him a shove with the butt of her gun to keep him moving.

"Aeryn still loves me...it is obvious. And she will be with me tonight once I have spoken with her."

Chiana laughed, "You see that other Sebacean looking guy? Well she's his mate...they are gonna marry and have kids together...Right D'argo?" Chiana removed the handcuffs and shoved Velorek in an empty cell that only had a small hard bed and a cover. She pressed a hand over the sensor to lock the door. Chiana figured Aeryn had chosen tier one to accommodate their guest as hardly anyone ever went up there, and judging by the size of the cells, they housed the worst of the prisoners when Moya was still a prison ship. "Why do you think you are all the way up here on tier one? It's because she wants you as far away from her mate as possible."

"Come Chiana. We must meet the others in command to discuss this problem," D'argo said pulling her away. "I don't think Crichton and Aeryn would want you spreading their personal life to Aeryn's ex-mate."

"Yeah, and we don't want this Velorek guy ruining John and Aeryn's relationship... don't you think they've been through enough?"

D'argo hated to admit it but Chiana was right. She was nearly always right in these situations. Crichton and Aeryn had come through so much together and their relationship was now finally on track after four cycles of indecision, death, and other obstacles keeping them apart.

"Hello Pilot," Aeryn said kindly. She took a seat on the edge of his consol, pressing her back against a rib of Moya. She felt the ships vibrations through her body, and it calmed her slightly.

"Office Sun. How are you?" Pilot asked, sensing her agitation.

Aeryn sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "I'm not good Pilot," she replied, "Our guest is an old friend of ours Pilot."

Pilot nodded and sighed, "Lieutenant Velorek."

Aeryn looked up at Pilot and took his claw in her hand, "You know he claims he is no longer a Peacekeeper, but even so, I do not trust him. Why is he here on Moya all the way in Tortured Space? Nobody in their right mind would enter Tortured Space without good reason."

Pilot continued pressing the controls, "And how is Commander Crichton taking this?"

Aeryn shook her head, "I am unsure. I left to find you as soon as I knew it was him. Pilot, I'd understand if you do not wish to have his presence aboard Moya."

"I do not mind his presence aboard, and I would wish to see him." Pilot asked. In a way he was pleased to see Velorek aboard. He was the man that had given him the chance to see the stars, but Moya was upset at having the man who helped kill her first Pilot aboard, and a part of Pilot felt the same.

Aeryn stroked his cheek, "Pilot, are you sure that is wise?"

"I am quite sure Officer Sun, I am thankful to him for allowing him to see the stars." He replied.

"If you wish to execute him, I will not stop you. I know he is partially responsible for the death of the previous Pilot and so am I,"

Pilot put a clawed arm around Aeryn, "You were following orders, as was Velorek. You should not blame yourself any more."

Aeryn nodded, "Your right, but I'm worried what he'll do to..." but she was cut short when John walked in.

"Hey Pilot. Hey baby..." he said walking over to Aeryn. He gave her a quick kiss on the lips. "...we got things to finish," he smiled. "Pilot, can you make sure we are undisturbed and let the others know the meeting is postponed until tomorrow?"

"Of course Commander." He replied.

"We shall talk again soon Pilot?" Aeryn asked.

"I appreciate your company Officer Sun."

She smiled and nodded to her friend, "Thank you for the talk Pilot. Let Moya know I am here if she wishes for me to remove him."

"Of course. Moya is grateful for your concern."

"Goodnight Pilot." John and Aeryn said in unison.

"Goodnight Aeryn, Commander." Pilot replied.

Aeryn lay back on their bed as John lay a hand on her leather clad her hip and kissed her deeply. "No interruptions this time huh?"

"Mmm" she replied as she kissed him back half heartedly. She had other things on her mind then lovemaking.

John stopped kissing and stroked her cheek. "Baby? Are you with me? You seem miles away..."

"Miles away?" she asked looking puzzled. "I am right here..."

"No...what I mean is...you don't seem as interested in kissing as I am." He replied, trying to clarify as much as possible.

She shook her head and rolled over. "I just can't right now...I have too many things on my mind." She admitted. She turned her head back to look at him. "Would it be okay if we sniggle?" she asked quietly. She couldn't quite remember what sniggling was, but she knew it was a non-sexual form of loving contact.

John gave a light laugh, "You mean snuggle...sure, come here," he said as he pulled her into his chest and hugged her tightly. He knew Velorek had affected her more than she had originally let on. But then again he thought, Aeryn never really let on to how she was feeling. He kissed the top of her head, "Wanna talk," he asked softly.

She rested her head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat. "I don't want him here...he will probably frell everything up like he did when everyone saw that recording." Aeryn frowned in thought and her forehead crinkled. "He has no idea how long I have been away from the Peacekeepers...no idea how I much I have changed. He may think I am the same woman he once knew. Like I said to Pilot...I'm worried what he might do...I know what he is capable of."

"That's why he is on the top tear, locked in a cell." He stroked her arms and back trying to calm her down.

"You think a cell is going to hold him?" she asked coldly, "He is a Leviathan expert...he will be able to break out of that cell in microts given the chance." She saw the same worried look cross his face. "John... I'm sorry I..." she struggled to find the word.

"Freaked out?" he suggested.

Aeryn nodded, "Yes, freaked out like I did earlier. I guess it was..."

"Hormones?" he asked, as he brushed a stray strand of hair off her face.

She smiled at him softly and cupped his cheek in her right hand, "Partly hormones and partly shock at seeing him again. Being pregnant can really frell your moods. Maybe you are right and Velorek is harmless...I have been over reacting recently."

"I noticed," he teased lightly.

"It's your fault for getting me pregnant..." she retorted light-heartedly.

John smiled, "I didn't get you pregnant...it was the other guy."

"You know it was you... you just don't want to take the blame for my mood swings." She said kissing him lightly.

"And over reactions...like the other day..."

She yawned, "I'm not the only that's been over reacting though."

John sighed. Velorek was still on his mind. He didn't really want to think about Aeryn's ex being anywhere near her. He remembered a time when they were both in a bar on a commerce planet, when a male Sebacean approached her. He became defensive and slightly protective of her. Aeryn had laughed at him, 'John, in some cultures what you are doing is called mate guarding!' she said to him before kissing him deeply and saying 'but it's the females that usually mate guard.' She was right, he did guard her. Any sign of threat from a rival, testosterone would flood his body, even though he knew she'd never even look at another man. He could see she was tired "Baby, its late...maybe we should get some sleep?" he suggested. "It will do us both good. We'll talk to the others about Velorek tomorrow."

Aeryn agreed reluctantly. She would of rather had an intoxicant, but as she was tired she resided herself to undressing and settling down for the night.

It was late into the sleep cycle when Velorek broke from his cell. He wanted to see her. He had to see her. He didn't believe the Nebari about her having a life mate. She would never even consider being the life mate of someone, let alone what she would consider a lesser specie. He quietly wandered down the winding passageways, passed the Luxan's and the Nebari's quarters. Passed the Hynerian's and the weird old woman's. Past the Banik slave's. He stopped outside the quarters of Aeryn Sun. The privacy curtain had fallen and he could see the Nebari girl had been right after all. There she was lying on her side, with her back pressed to her mate's chest. The male had one arm resting by his cheek, and the other draped possessively around her waste. From the shape under the covers, he could tell the male's a bent leg draped over Aeryn's in a possessive manor. They seemed to sigh quietly in their sleep. Taking his chances at being killed, he silently slipped in and sat on the bed next to her. He brushed his hand against her cheek, and it felt as soft as it used to feel. Her hair was smoothed out across the pillow, and he tentatively ran his fingers through it causing a sigh to escape her lips. He watched her intently for what seemed like an arn, before moving her pulse pistol from her bed side, to another table in the quarters. He wanted her to know he'd been there watching her, wanted her to realise how he felt. "They want me to kill the entire crew and take the ship," he whispered to her, "But I will not take your life, and one day you will be thankful that I took you away from these lesser species...and the amount of currency I will be paid will ensure you and I will have a comfortable life together." He traced a finger around the lips of the sleeping female, "In time you will see..." He looked over at the male that was still protectively and possessively guarding her, it was just like a flibbisk protecting its mate before mating. Aeryn was an ex-peacekeeper, unlikely to form emotional attachments. If the male died, then the female within time would seek a new mate. He could easily kill him right now. All it would take would be to quickly and sharply pull the head in an unnatural direction to break the neck. But then it would take longer to win her. This took planning a different way. This would take time. He kissed her forehead lightly and she sighed Crichton's name. "As a Peacekeeper, our love was forbidden, but you know how I felt and I know you felt the same way...away from their conformist attitudes I learnt to love properly...and I will teach you the same."

To Be Continued...