Shalimar and Emma stood beside the car putting their final bags inside. They turned to hug their friends goodbye before embarking on their romantic journey.

"Don't you guys go getting' into trouble while we're away," Shalimar said with a grin as she hugged Brennan goodbye.

"We'll be good," he reassured.

"We won't." She smiled at him and turned to face Jesse.

"Thank you guys for putting our bags in the car," she said as she embraced Jesse in a tight hug.

"Anything for you, Shal," he said as he pulled back to smile sweetly at her. "I'll have your um, thing ready by the time you get back."

"Thanks."

Shalimar turned to Adam who was hugging Emma goodbye.

"You girls be safe," he said in a protective way, "and stay out of trouble."

"Don't worry about us, Adam," she said as she hugged him close.

Shalimar was sad to leave her friends for the week and knew she'd miss them deeply. But she knew she'd be with Emma and hoped she wouldn't have the time to miss them as she'd be too happy and busy to think about anything but Emma. It had been her idea to go on this trip and she wanted everything to be perfect. It wasn't just their first vacation together, it was their anniversary and it was her who had planned it. She didn't want anything to ruin her time with Emma and wasn't about to let any worries or doubts take away from her enjoyment of the trip.

"So what are you guys gonna do while we're gone?" she asked as she stepped back to Emma's side.

"You know," Brennan began, "leave the toilet seat up, make lots of noise and walk around naked."

"And that's different from your usual routine how?" she asked him with a playful grin. He laughed and let a playful punch make contact with her shoulder.

"We'll see you when ya get back."

"Take care, guys," Emma said with a smile as she opened the passenger seat door and eased herself into the car.

"Bye." Shalimar turned to wave to the guys as she joined Emma and sat in the drivers' seat.

The guys watched as Emma and Shalimar drove away knowing they'd miss them much more then they'd let on. Each of them felt that Shalimar and Emma were not only good friends but vital members of their team. They couldn't imagine how they would function if they weren't fighting by their side. They'd accomplished so much more by having them on their team. They hated the fact that they'd be without them for a whole week but knew the girls deserved the time together.

"So," Emma began when they were out of sight of the guys, "where we headed?" She turned and smiled over to a grinning Shalimar.

"Emma, you know I can't tell you that. It's a surprise."

"Oh come on, you're gonna make me guess the entire trip?"

"No, Ms. Nosey, you're just gonna hafta wait and be surprised."

"Gees, I'm surprised you don't just blindfold me 'til we get there." Emma rolled her eyes and placed them back on the road ahead. Shalimar looked from Emma to the road and grinned.

"Nah, I've got other plans for that blindfold."

"So how long's it gonna take to get there?"

"All day," Shalimar answered, "hopefully we'll be there by nightfall."

"Hopefully?" Emma questioned not liking the sound of that. She was far too anxious and excited to wait all day. "So when does the fun start?" She looked to Shalimar who flashed her a playful grin.

"Well, if ya really can't wait I can always pull over for a little."

"Not that," Emma smiled over to the feral. "I just want it all to start."

"It has started. Just enjoy the ride. We'll be off the main roads pretty soon and there won't be any traffic just open countryside."

"So I guess we're not driving to Paris, huh?" Emma asked sarcastically as she let out a soft sigh.

"Ok, your one hint is, it's not Paris."

"Aw," Emma tried not to sound too serious or too disappointed as she was happy just to be going away with the love of her life.

"Am I ever gonna get to go to Paris?"

"Maybe some other time. And I don't wanna hear another word about Paris the whole trip."

"Ok, ok," the psionic gave up. "I'll just look forward to a day or driving. So how do we pass the time?" Emma asked as she searched through the glove compartment.

"Hmmm…," Shalimar began as she thought of what would be fun. She knew what she really wanted to do was pull the call over right then and there for a little love fest. "We could play a game," she finally suggested.

"Did you bring those dice?" Emma asked as she looked up. She opened a piece of gum and began to chew. She gestured for Shalimar to take one but she shook her head.

"Not that kinda game," Shalimar answered with a smile liking the way the psionic was thinking. She had a feeling this week would be the most fun she'd ever had in her life. Every minute she was with Emma felt like it was the best experience of her life. She felt like every second away from her was a waste of time. Like she was missing out on precious moments every minute she was without who she considered to be her soul mate. Every second they weren't together, no matter what Shalimar was doing, she didn't feel quite right. She felt empty and broken inside. She felt a nagging in the pit of her stomach and a pull in her heart that begged for the psionic. She felt her world was incomplete. She'd never felt the love she felt with Emma ever before in her life. Even when they weren't together she still felt the undying love and the lure of her hearts' desire for the psionic. She hoped she would never be alone or without her for the rest of her life.

"So what kinda game?" Emma asked as she reclined in the passenger seat.

"I don't know let's see, um….how about truth?"

"Truth, we haven't played that in a while."

"I remember we played it a couple weeks ago but didn't get to finish," Shalimar answered and smiled seductively over at the psionic.

"I remember too," Emma smiled and raised her eyebrows, "I've still got a bruise from the extra rounds. So we gonna play the normal way or our special version?"

"The normal version. I'm driving after all, wouldn't be fair to get me all worked up like you do. Ok, I'll go first. Let's see." Shalimar furled her brow as she tried to think of a good question to ask the psionic. "Would you ever use your powers to erase negative moments in our relationship?"

Emma sat and pondered the question. She knew it was just a question but wondered if the feral actually wondered if she'd do that. She didn't like the thought that Shalimar might not totally trust her with her powers. Trust was very important to Emma and especially in a relationship. Any type of relationship required trust as far as she was concerned and she trusted the feral with her life and her heart. Her relationship with Shalimar was very important to her and she wouldn't jeopardize it for anything in the world.

"Of course not. I wouldn't lie to you or anyone else like that." Emma paused for a moment and studied the feral's face to judge her reaction. "You know that right?" Emma noticed Shalimar didn't answer her immediately as if she had to think about it for a second. Could Shalimar not totally trust her? If Shalimar didn't trust her Emma knew something had to be done or else it would just result in problems in their relationship somewhere down the line. Emma wanted to stop any blockades that might appear before them as quickly as possible. Even though it was their one month anniversary Emma was quite sure she wanted to be with Shalimar for the rest of her life. If Shalimar were to ask her to marry her right then and there she knew she'd have no other answer to offer other then yes. Many times she'd lay awake at night and think about what it would be like to marry Shalimar. She hoped more than anything that one day her dream would come true. But she couldn't tolerate any distrust between the two of them. She saw that as a barrier between their feelings. She wanted all roads of communication, love, and trust open and flowing freely at all times.

"Yeah," Shalimar answered and looked over to Emma to display a warm smile.

"Good," Emma replied not knowing for sure if the feral was being 100 percent honest with her. She thought she picked up on a slight hint of a hidden emotion inside the feral. She thought it best not to mention it now and turned her mind away from it.

"Ok, my turn to ask you," she said as she began to think of a question for her. She wondered if she should ask if she trusted her but knew if she did it would be obvious as to why she was asking. She didn't want the feral to suspect that she didn't think she trusted her. She didn't want to do anything to cause any problems to arise if they weren't even there in the first place.

"What do you think my biggest flaw is?"

"Flaw? You don't have any flaws, honey," Shalimar laughed as she turned to look at the psionic.

"Come on really. What is it?"

"I don't know. I can't find any."

"Shalimar, please, this is about being honest."

"I am being honest," the feral insisted, "I can't find any flaws."

"Ok, maybe not flaws but there must be something, even something very tiny, about me that you'd change if you could and I wanna know what it is."

"You're fishin' for trouble, little girl," Shalimar warned.

"Answer the question, hun," Emma probed further desperately anxious to hear her response.

"Well let's see, where to start," Shalimar trailed off in a sigh.

"What?" Emma asked not believing her ears. Shalimar laughed at the psionic's reaction.

"I'm just kidding, honey," the feral reassured. "Let me think."

Shalimar knew there really wasn't anything about the psionic she'd change. She knew she loved her from the first moment she'd saw her. She knew they were destined to be together. She loved everything about her from the way she walked, talked, smiled, and the way she breathed late at night in the dark. Every single thing Emma did made Shalimar love her even more. She swore she fell in love with her all over again with every coming day. She stayed awake late at night so she could watch the psionic sleeping and enjoy every moment she could of her love until she finally fell asleep in her soft, loving, and caring arms. She looked forward to waking up each morning so she could spend the day with the one who made her life complete and worth living. Emma was her idea of perfection and she couldn't imagine being with anyone else who could even come close to her.

"I really can't think of anything," she finally answered in defeat.

"Shal, do I hafta go in there and see what you're hiding from me?" Emma asked playfully.

"Ok," Shalimar sighed, "there is one thing I'd change." Emma interest sparked at the feral's confession.

"Well, what is it?"

"I'd make you immortal so I'd never have to live a day without you," Shalimar answered with a smile and quickly leaned over to place a kiss on her cheek. Emma sighed but couldn't help but smile in response.

"That's not a real answer, Shal," Emma said playfully.

"Yes it is," Shalimar protested with a coy smile, "it's something I'd change."

"Can you not be sweet for one minute and tell me seriously what you'd like to change?" Emma didn't want to seem too demanding but couldn't help wonder what the real answer to the question was.

"Well, like I said, that really is the first thing that comes to mind," Shalimar began as she thought deeper. She didn't want to say anything that would offend the psionic and she knew she actually didn't have any thoughts of things she'd like to change anyways. All she ever thought about was how much and how deeply she loved the psionic and never thought of any bad things about her and wasn't sure there even were any.

"Maybe," she began slowly, "sometimes you get too emotional. I mean you let yourself get too emotional and let it bother you. I'd change that so you wouldn't have to go through it and be so upset."

Emma sat and thought about the feral's response. It wasn't an insult and it appeared to be a way of looking out for her. She decided it was an acceptable answer to her question.

"Ok," she answered not thinking it best to get into a whole discussion about it. She began to think of her question for the feral but her train of thought was soon thrown off its tracks as a loud noise interrupted her.

"What was that?" she asked as she looked around and out the window for any type of clue.

"I don't know," Shalimar replied as she looked around for an answer too, "it came from behind us." Shalimar stopped the car. "Let's get out and see."