A/N: Thank you for the review, Ely. All of this part of the story was written about a year ago, so I guess you will just have to wait and see. (and on average it takes a woman one year to get pregnant and I think it's been maybe two months in the story ;) I think we're good.)

Thanks!
Kajouka

-

Friends and Foes

Flashback

Cloria swung her legs a bit. She was sitting on a park bench with Kisa in one of the roof top parks in Estoria. The building was owned by the Blue Snake, and often, she and Kisa would escape to the roof to stair at the sky and daydream about the future. "So my father mentioned Kael's name again." She said softly. Cloria was only 16, but already her father was trying to secure her future in the syndicate by marrying her off to a high-ranking member.

Kisa glanced over at Cloria and patted her friend's arm lightly. "He's just trying to give you the best life has to offer Cloria. You would be the most powerful syndicate member if you were to marry Kael, you know that."

Cloria looked away for a moment, "I know Kisa. And he's a handsome guy too! But, I don't know if I want to be in the syndicate. I told my father a long time ago that life wasn't for me." She turned and smiled at her best friend. "You agree right?"

Kisa stared off into the distance for a moment, before turning back with a wistful look. "I know Cloria; you're too good for this life. You wouldn't ever be happy here, but I'd miss you terribly if you ever left. I don't think I could ever leave the syndicate, or if I even would ever want to."

"Why do you stay here, Kisa?" Cloria asked. It was the one thing she could never understand no matter how many times she asked Kisa the same question. If anything, it was the one difference between them. Kisa was syndicate material, and she was not.

Once again Kisa fell silent, trying to think how best to answer. She wanted to be honest with her friend, but she could never come up with the perfect words. She finally took a deep breath and said, "I don't know Cloria, it's like everything that goes on here interests me. A part of me knows its wrong, but it's like I don't really care. Everything that happens is new and exciting and nothing ever gets boring here for long."

"I guess I just don't get excited by it," Cloria replied. "I wish you'd change your mind. We could run off together - see the system, have an adventure." Cloria was being wistful. She knew that Kisa would never leave.

Kisa shook her head and firmly said, "That won't happen, Cloria. As much as I love being your best friend, here is where I belong. I can't leave; the syndicate is as much a part of me as I'm a part of it. However, if the time ever comes that you run off I hope you don't forget me Cloria."

Cloria smiled at her friend. "I'd never forget you!" But would she run off? Her father was already pressing her into seeing Kael, and she knew what that meant. "I haven't really considered leaving," Cloria said slowly, although she felt bad for lying.

Kisa smiled brightly and said, "Kael is a good man Cloria, I'd bet anything you'd be happy with him. You could stay here and not get involved in anything ... couldn't you?"

"I don't know, Kisa." Cloria replied. "We'll just have to see how it goes I guess. I don't even really know Kael yet -just that he is powerful, and my father seemed to like him a lot."

Kisa nodded thoughtfully, not quite understanding why Cloria wouldn't love to be married to Kael. The man was devastatingly handsome and Kisa would do anything if she were the one that was being asked to get to know him. She grinned at her friend and lightly giggled, "Well one thing I do know Cloria, Kael is a very handsome man. Power isn't the only thing he could offer you..."

Cloria blushed, "Kisa! How can you be thinking of?" Then she burst out laughing as her 16-year-old mind began to race through the thousand different things Kisa could have meant. A sly smile appeared on her lips. "Yeah, he's handsome. I wouldn't object to getting to know him. I just know that future with him is a guaranteed future with the syndicate. They say that Kael will take over one day - since his father was leader before mine."

Kisa's grin brightened momentarily before she said, "It won't hurt to get to know him Cloria; it'll be fun. You might find that you really like him or if you don't, I'm sure your father wouldn't force you to marry him if you didn't want to." Kisa wasn't exactly certain about that fact, but she would continue to keep her friend's hopes up. After all, Nathair wouldn't want to make Cloria unhappy would he? She quickly shook that thought away and asked, "What do you see yourself doing Cloria, if not with the syndicate then what?"

Cloria laughed, "I always want to do something wild. I remember reading about the bounty hunters - how they had crazy adventures as they caught criminals. It's something that always interested me. Of course, father would kill me if he knew about that." She laughed, as though she was trying to make light of her words. "Don't tell anyone that Kisa."

Kisa stared at her friend for a few moments, startled over what she had just heard. Cloria couldn't possibly want to be a bounty hunter. It was probably just a phase, she was unhappy with her life here but there was no way she would really become a bounty hunter. It was just impossible. Kisa quickly smiled, confident that she was right, and said, "I won't tell anyone Cloria."

"Thanks Kisa," Cloria replied, "You'll always be my best friend." She stared back at the stars, hoping that one day she'd be able to travel among them.

Kisa nodded and softly murmured, "Best friends forever..."

-

It's over.

Sure, I was sliced to ribbons. But Vicious is dead, and I have Julia. I can only hope I'll have her long ...

Once I get better, I might ask her again if she'll leave with me. But I can tell she still grieves for Vicious.

I got what I wanted all this time, and I should be able to get the one other thing I wanted. So why aren't I happy?

If Julia and I just up and leave ... no. I can't leave everyone on the Bebop again. Not just like that. I left once before, and look where it got me.

I'll talk to Julia. I don't know what I'm going to do. But whatever it is ... it'll involve her. It's been far too long. I'll never let her go again. I love her too much to let her go.

- Excerpt from Spike's Journal

-

Faye stretched a bit. She was standing, finally, although she could feel pain in her upper body. Still, she wanted to get back into shape as fast as possible and the only way to do so would be to push herself. She took a few tentative steps, and found that she could walk, as long as she was careful.

From atop the stairs Ed watched with a curious fascination, wondering in reality if it was really necessary for Faye-Faye to do the slow acrobatics that she was doing. "Oohh," she whispered, standing and then sitting at the top of the railing. "Weeee!" she slid down kamikaze style, landing neatly at the bottom with a perfect flip.

The sudden noise startled Faye, and she toppled the floor. "Dammit, Ed," she muttered softly, before pulling herself slowly back up to a standing position. "I'm trying to relearn how to walk here."

"Going going, yet no place to go..." singing while spinning, Edward took an elaborate bow."These boots were made for walking!" she pointed deliberately to her bare feet.

"You're not wearing boots, Ed," Faye grumbled, shuffling back to the couch. The last thing she needed was for Ed to knock her over.

"Hmmm," Edward looked at her wriggling toes. "You don't need to see them to know that they're there, Faye Faye!"

Faye smiled, "I suppose your right Ed." She looked down at her own bare feet. "After all, I have boots on too right?" She leaned back against the couch, and put her feet up on the coffee table trying to relax.

Ed crawled over via the floor and peered over the coffee table at Faye. Between her feet she could see her less than impressed look, and she fell back onto the ground with an exasperated sigh.

"Ed," Faye said, looking at her feet. "Paint my toenails ok?" She hadn't had her toenails painted in awhile - well, since before she had been kidnapped. "I think they could use it."

Ed sat back up again and rolled her eyes at Faye. "Really? What color, Faye Faye?"

Faye tilted her head to the side, "Purple. To match my hair." She closed her eyes for a moment, and then reopened them. "I have a bottle of the color in my room." She gave the girl a small smile.

"Yay!" Edward tumbled backwards towards Faye's room. "Purple, purple, oooh...violet..." her voice echoed back into the corridors.

Faye watched Ed leave, the gymnastic-like movements making her smile. Ed could probably ease her mind. Although they treated Ed like a child, she was 13, which wasn't that childish of an age. Although, Ed for the most part acted much younger than she was.

Ed returned moments later thrusting the bottle of nail polish around as if it were a chew toy. Luckily the cap was screwed on tight, or else the contents would have spewed everywhere. Ed sat back down in front of the coffee table and carefully unscrewed the lid, picking up the brush and beginning to paint Faye's toenails.

"Ed," Faye said softly, her eyes staring off into the distance. "What do you think about Spike?"

Continuing to paint Faye's big toe, Edward smiled, "Spike-person is a big nice person who gives Ed stuff from his adventures!" her smile turned to more a beam. "Normally it's food that he doesn't seem to want to eat..."

"But sometimes he also seems like there's something wrong with his insides, do you know what I mean?"

Faye suppressed a small laugh. "Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. Although, I think it's something wrong with his brain." She glanced down at her toes. If there was one thing Ed did extremely well besides hacking it was painting toenails.

Nodding, Edward blew on her toe to help speed up the drying process. "Do all guys like Spike have brain problems, Faye Faye?"

Faye sighed, "Unfortunately, Yes. Just when you think you can count on them, they go off and do something stupid. Especially guys like Spike."

Edward sighed, "What did Spike-person do, Faye Faye?"

Faye looked up, her eyes studying the child. Ed was always a little crazy, but Faye detected a seriousness in her question. "I don't know, Ed. It's that what he does and says... changes so much." Her mind replayed the last time she had seen him. She could hear his voice in the elevator while he held her, and yet he had left her on a park bench. Her cheeks flushed at the rush of conflicting emotions that surged through her. "I just can't figure him out."

Suddenly Ed leapt up and screwed the lid back on. "All done, Faye Faye!" she smiled as if she had not heard Faye's words.

Faye sighed exasperated. "Did you listen to ANYTHING I just said, Edward?"

Nodding, Ed repeated, "Spike-person very conflicting! He makes Faye-Faye confused! Men are weird."

"And no matter how old they get, they always stay weird." Faye looked down at her toes, inspecting Ed's paint job. Ed always did a good job of painting her toes.

"Faye Faye?" Ed stopped her incessant twirling for a moment to study the woman. "How are you feeling today?"

"Better, Ed." Faye let her hand stray to her chest, where she softly prodded the knife wound. "I think I'm healing up pretty well. In fact, I think we should tell Jet it's time to get off this rock." Sooner, rather than later.

"Faye Faye no like Mars?"

"I think it just has too many memories right now." Faye replied. Funny, she'd kill to get back the rest of her memories.

Ed sighed again. "Where would Faye Faye like to go?"

"Anywhere, but here." Faye muttered, looking away. "Besides, we're bounty hunters, Ed. We need to roam and find criminals - that way we can continue to eat." And be far far away from Spike.

"Faaayyyeee Faaayyyeeee..." whining, Ed rolled on the ground clutching her stomach." Foooooddddd..." she then sat back up again quickly. "Would Faye Faye like something eat?"

"Faye would love something to eat Edward." Faye said, checking her toes and confirming that they were dry. "Should we check the kitchen?" She could use the walking practice.

"Yay! Food!" Ed spun in circles with her arms out and headed towards the kitchen. "We're getting food!

" Faye slowly stood, and with wobbly steps followed Edward towards the kitchen. Once there, she leaned against the wall, letting Edward take care of searching the place for something edible.

Being her usual noisy and rowdy self, Ed began tearing through the kitchen cupboards and fridge in search of edible treasure. She found more cups of noodles, but threw them aside as soon as she saw the box chocolate chip cookies high on the tallest of the shelves. "Wait here, Faye Faye! Ed will get them!" she scurried up the side of the shelf and landed gracefully at the top, grabbed the box, and jumped back down before Faye. She dug into the box and revealed the fresh cookies...obviously hidden by somebody who really wanted them.

Faye laughed as Ed turned the kitchen into a jungle gym in order to reach the cookies. "I can't remember the last time I had a cookie. I wonder how these got here." She reached into the box, and pulled one out.

Ed took a nice handful and began to munch as well. "Well they're not bad, so I guess it must be okay to eat them!"

Faye slowly ate hers, savoring the taste. "Ed, at least some things never change right? A cookie will always be good."

Shaking her head around, Ed agreed, "And so will Faye Faye! She may change a lot, but Ed will always like Faye Faye!"

"And I'll always like you too, Ed," Faye replied, a small smile gracing her lips. "That will never change either."

-

Kael knocked soundly on the thick mahogany door to Nathair's office. It was nine o'clock exactly; Kael liked to be precisely on time. It was one of his many quirks.

Nathair glanced up from his paperwork when he heard the knock at the door. Glancing up at the clock, Nathair realized that it would be Kael at the door. "Come in..."

Kael opened the door and walked up to the desk with his usual assured steps. Stopping before taking a seat he bent slightly to show his respect. "Sir," he said rising again. "I hope you are well this morning?"

Nathair nodded shortly in reply, "I'm well this morning. I trust that you are as well?" Without really waiting for an answer Nathair added, "What is it that you have to report Kael?"

Kael liked the way Nathair spoke. His straight forward and blunt approach always kept him on his toes. "I have found your daughter," Kael said sitting down on the hard leather chair that faced Nathair who was in his own very luxurious arm chair. "She just left Mars on a bounty hunter's ship."

Nathair remained silent for a moment trying to gather his thoughts. He had of course had already heard from Simone that Cloria had been found. However he still wasn't certain how he wanted to approach this. Cloria was his daughter and he did care for her, despite what had been said and done. He was disappointed in the girl and felt extremely angry that she would even think of betraying her father as she had done. However, when all was said and done he would do anything to get his little girl back ... if she were back perhaps she would realize that this was where she belonged. Finally he looked up at Kael and said, "Do you know where she is at the moment Kael?"

"She's in route to Jupiter if my sources are correct," Kael said purposefully neglecting to tell Nathair he had been in direct contact with his daughter. "But to which port is still unknown."

Nathair nodded thoughtfully before saying, "When you find out where she is I want her brought back here. I want to have a little talk with my daughter. Bring her back whether she wants to be brought back or not and Kael if any of her new friends bother to interfere you know what to do to them correct?"

"Of course, Sir," Kael said. A smile slowly crept to his lips at Nathair's words. This was exactly what he had wanted to hear. "I will be on my way before noon."

"Good," Nathair looked over at Kael and nodded approvingly. "When you get her Kael, I want you to bring her here to see me. Be cautious though, I am aware of the fact that several of the syndicate members won't be fond of her return."

"She will be under my protection," Kael said haughtily. "I will take the utmost care with your daughter."

Nathair nodded and murmured, "Excellent work Kael." He looked directly at Kael and added, "Did you have anything else you needed to report?"

"Not currently," Kael said. He'd gotten what he wanted. Standing bowed slightly again. "But I will keep you informed and bring her back as quickly as is possible."

"See that you do," replied Nathair in a way of dismissal, all ready to get back to his previous work.

With that Kael turned on his heels and walked out of the office feeling much happier than when he had entered. "You will soon be mine Cloria."

-

Mei paced around the room silently, chewing on a thumbnail. She couldn't really clean up the room since she owned so few belongings anyway. There was nothing to do but wait for Kade to show up-that is, hoping he kept his word of course-so they could talk.

What came of this talk was wholly unknown. Mei realized that she'd probably shove her foot into her mouth and choke on it, only shoving him completely away. So she'd have to watch herself- a hard task for one who usually never cared before.

Kade stopped about five feet from her door. Why was he doing this? He was the carefree asshole that didn't give two shits about a woman. He knew this, and yet he had already violated that principal by letting himself get caught up with Mei in the first place.

And now, here he was, hands balled up into fists, as he tried to convince with himself that the reason he was going to her room was not because he cared about her, but because he just wanted to make her suffer. Not because he wanted answers, but because he had a few choice words he needed to say.

But in the end, he was going for all of those reasons. He crossed the last five feet to her door, and with shaking hands undid the lock. With a deep breath, he pushed the door open, and resolving to remain calm and tough, entered the room. "What did you want?" The words were cold, mingled with a hint of feeling he couldn't quite dispel from his voice.

"Can you close the door?" she asked quietly, holding her hands up and out at her sides to show she wasn't holding anything dangerous. "No weapons. Just wanted to talk."

Turning her back to go to her bed, she didn't bother to look and see if he left the door open or not. Mei sat down on her bed and pulled her pillow against her chest while she folded her legs under herself nimbly. Stoic eyes regarded him for a moment before looking away. "I'm sorry," she murmured. There she'd said it. Mei knew it wouldn't be enough but... it was a start nonetheless.

Kade pushed the door shut, and leaned back against it. He fought with himself to remain there, letting the door hold him up where he felt his legs failing. Was that an apology that came from her lips? He shook his head.

"How many lies will you tell, Mei?" Again, the words were laced with pain - a pain he tried to deny to himself even as he stared at her. Her posture betrayed her emotions, but he told himself that it was just another part of her lies. She, who was so graceful at every movement, would have little problem having her body act as much as her mouth could.

"Dammit, Kade," Mei hissed, the wall crumbling away as she fought to keep her emotions from being seen too easily. She looked at him. "I know you have no reason to trust me. You have every reason to not trust me now. But I've said what I wanted to. No, I haven't said all of it... but it's a damn start," she said, fingers digging into the pillow without her realizing it.

Her mouth opened to allow her speak again but no sound came forth. She couldn't find the words. Mei, who was so at ease with lying, was at a loss for words at that moment.

Kade looked away, his face portraying the conflicting emotions he felt. She sounded sincere, but then, this wasn't the first time she had spoke sweet words in his directions. Then again, these words weren't all that sweet to begin with.

"Then say what you need to say, Mei," Kade replied, his eyes settling back on her. "Because then I have a few things that I need to say. Things that you probably won't want to hear." His head leaned back and hit the door, and he took in a deep breath. Things that he didn't really want to say.

She watched him for a moment or two while contemplating before she finally hugged the pillow to herself self-consciously. "This all would have been a lot easier if I didn't care," Mei mumbled. Her gaze flickered to the small computer she'd been allowed to keep, remembering the brief talk she'd had with Faye.

"But that's the problem. Speak your thoughts, Kade. At least get it out in the open," she said with a soft sigh, dreading the coming words.

Kade took a few steps into the room, small tentative steps, as though he was trying to keep himself from moving towards her. In the end, the steps won, and he found himself crossing the room, stopping only when his hands had found their way to her face. "God, Mei. Do you have any idea?" He closed his eyes, trying to stop himself from touching her but he couldn't.

"Dammit all to hell. Why you? Tell me Mei. Why the Fuck did YOU have to come into my life. Why did I have to fall for some bitch from the syndicate who was only using me to tear out someone else's heart?" His voice was raised, and he was venting a deeper anger than he had realized he harbored.

Mei stared at his face, startled. Those were not the words she'd been expecting. Her eyes closed and her head lowered slightly-realizing at that moment that her heart had fluttered when he'd touched her. Before she'd consciously realized it, one hand lifted to cover one of his own.

"You were right when you said I'd led a sad life, Kade," Mei said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Walls built so damn high that I would have never cared. No one ever cared about me in the slightest and the feeling was always mutual. So why YOU, Kade? Why did you have to be the one I found as my contact point? Why did you have to care about me?" Mei asked.

She wasn't blaming him. No. Not at all. Rather, she was utterly confused how this one person could have made her feel guilt over anything she'd done. Mei took in a sharp breath and lifted her free hand quickly to her face and blinked, startled, as her fingertips came back wet with tears. Shit, when was the last time she'd cried?

Kade looked down at her, the figure of a broken woman reflecting in his own sad eyes. Things might never be the same between them, but in that moment, he wished he could pretend that all the hurt, all the pain, and all the betrayal would just wash away with her tears.

He knelt down between her legs, his head resting softly on her chest. His own eyes were dry, but heart felt torn in two. "Mei," he said softly, lifting his head briefly. His eyes met hers, and for a moment, he felt guilty about making her cry. He leaned forward, letting his lips brush against her, all against his better judgment. Should his heart break again, this time it would be his fault.

Still, he couldn't stop himself. A moment later, his arms were wrapped around her body as he kissed her with more passion than he could have ever imagined.

Could he really ever cease to surprise her? When his lips first brushed against hers, her eyes widened. But when the man before her pulled her into such a warm embrace, she gave herself over to him. The pillow separating them was tossed away and one warm hand rested against where his jaw line met his neck.

Mei returned the kiss but almost hesitantly. When their lips separated in favor of a good intake of air, she rested her head against his neck for a moment. The moment passed and she lifted her head to look him in the eye again-this time not avoiding it. The very look she tried so damn hard to keep hidden was very easily visible in the dark hues. Mei Makani looked vulnerable.

"I can't say sorry enough," she murmured, mentally kicking herself at her lack of eloquence.

A shadow crossed his face. "And you could say it a thousand times over, Mei," Kade replied, holding her shoulders as though he suddenly needed space between them. "Words can't change what you did to us. What you did to me."

"I know that," she said, gaze lowering once again... as though she wasn't any higher than dirt and didn't deserve to be able to meet his gaze. "But I am sorry," came the whispered response. "For the first time in my life, I'm regretting something I did. And I find myself wishing that I could go back and do it all over."

Even with him holding her shoulders, she leaned forward and rested her head against his chest. Goddess, she was sorry. She didn't want forgiveness. That would be asking for too much. Mei didn't know what she wanted anymore.

Kade sighed softly, one arm finding its way into her soft black hair. "Too bad we can't turn back time." He kissed her softly on the head, as though it would be the last time. He felt torn, a part of him wanting to believe that she was really as sorry as she said, and another convincing him it was better if he never saw her again. But she couldn't leave - Faye had made him promise that she wouldn't - and he couldn't kill her.

"I suppose the only question left is what to do with you." Kade finally said.

"Tie me up and have your way with me?" Mei asked, the words meaning to come out in an attempt at lightening the mood but only managed to come out sounding like a pathetic attempt. "Even if you'll at least talk to me, the others wouldn't bother to give me the time of day. So I don't really see any chance of me being the least bit social."

Which didn't surprise her in the least. If she were in any of their shoes, she would have already put a bullet through her own head. "I'm sure any of them would like to just shoot me where I sit. Still surprised you haven't, to be quite honest."

"I probably should have," Kade replied. "You'll probably be the death of me." God, why did he have to be so damn honest with her? He pulled her from his chest and looked her in the eyes. "Mei, tell me. Tell the honest truth. Why me?"

"Why you? Because you were there. It was pure chance that I even met you. You were receptive. Yes. I used you," Mei said honestly. They'd already established that she'd used him. "But even as Vicious pressed forward with his plans and therefore made me go forward with my orders, I couldn't help but want to be around you. Even if it meant missing out on the chances I needed to take in order to do as I was instructed."

"As much as the truth sucks, there it is. Nothing more. It was never meant to be personal. It was never meant to get personal," Mei said with a sigh before a sardonic smile graced her lips. "I guess Cloria was right. I suck at my job. Looks like it's time to get a new one."

"You could always be a bounty hunter," Kade replied, a small smile crossing his lips at the thought. Her words echoed in his mind - chance perhaps that they had met? Still, it hurt more than anything that she had used him, especially after it got personal. And he knew that she knew he felt that way. He had gone ahead and made that clear to her - something he had never done for a woman before. Then again, he'd never felt this way about a woman before.

"Probably. It would just be another addition to the list of things I've done," Mei said, tilting her head a bit. Even though the irony of the thought hadn't escaped her, she wasn't shoving the idea aside. "Although... how many syndicate members do you ever hear of becoming bounty hunters? Besides Spike."

"Not too many I suppose," Kade replied. She was beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Jin was going to kill him for this. He leaned down again, and let his lips rest softly on hers. "As long as you never go back..."

"I never had a reason to stay," she murmured. Mei smiled against his lips. "Well, outside of the money." Taking the initiative, she kissed his lips softly one time before closing her eyes as her thoughts took over. Like a shining glimmer of hope, she-Holy shit. Her life had become a damned drama!

Kade kissed her again, and then, as though something inside him snapped, he pushed her away. "What the hell am I doing," he muttered taking three steps back. He looked at her again, his eyes a mix of emotions. "I'm not that stupid." He was falling for her again - her and her little tricks. He moved towards the door. "Don't think you can just worm your way back into my heart as though nothing happened." he said coldly, turning his back.

She stared after him in surprise but then her own wall went right back up as his own snapped back up into place. "Right," she said simply, no emotion held in her voice. They'd said what they had wanted. Mei turned onto her side and curled up on the bed, looking at the bare wall as though it were the most interesting thing in the universe.

Mei said nothing more and just waited for him to leave. If she were forced to speak again, she would probably just end up crying. Now who was playing tricks? She had thought she had a chance and then in the next instant, it was yanked away like some cruel joke.

Guess the joke was on her. Not that she didn't deserve it, after all.

Kade turned, his eye glancing over his shoulder and he watched her curl up for a moment before returning his gaze to the door. This was the part of the story where he'd leave, curse her name, and never come back. His hand reached for the doorknob, but for some reason he sensed that the ending would not be so simply. "Good night, Mei," he said softly, the words shattering his heart even as he uttered them.

But he couldn't stay. He wasn't weak. He wouldn't let her break his heart into pieces again. Woman could never be trusted - and he wouldn't start now.

-

Julia walked into the bedroom where Spike had been recuperating. She crossed the room and opened up the curtains to allow the last light from the sunset into the room. "I bought some vegetables at the market," she said starting up some idle chatter. "Would you like a stir-fry tonight?"

Spike was sitting up in bed. He smiled when he saw her. "That sounds great," he replied, voice louder and stronger than it had been before. "Just so long as it isn't bell peppers and beef."

"You don't like bell peppers?" Julia asked turning back from the window to look at him. "Anything else you don't like?"

Spike closed his eyes and leaned back against the pillow. "Not so much that I don't like them as they get really old. Practically the only thing Jet ever makes, and you know what a good cook I am. Of course, that's when we eat real food at all. It was usually just instant noodles." He spoke about life on the Bebop fondly, and realized with a pang that if he vanished with Julia, then he'd never see any of them again.

"But you still miss it," Julia said coming to sit down next to him on the bed. She would never be able to replace his life on the Bebop, and at some point he would have to choose between the two lives. Just like she was being forced to choose between the two of them.

Spike sighed. "Yeah, I guess I do." He looked down for a moment, then up again to meet her beautiful blue eyes. "But I have you, now. And you're more important than anything. You know that, Julia. No matter where I go, I'll miss something. But I want to be with you."

"No matter what something always seems to be in the way of happiness," Julia said brushing back a strand of hair from his forehead. "Do you ever wonder if it was just never meant to be between any of us?"

"But I am happy," Spike said, slipping an arm around her waist. "I'm with the woman I love. What could be better than this?" A warning lance of pain from the slash across his chest answered that question for him, but the smile did not leave his face.

"I'm glad you're happy," Julia said, smiling at him. She adjusted herself so that she was leaning against him, and slipped her arms behind his neck. "I want to be happy with you."

Spike sat fully upright, shifting her weight off his wounded chest, and drew Julia towards him. Gently, he grasped her chin and pulled her close for a tender kiss. "So much for stir-fry," he murmured, holding her close.

Julia kissed him back passionately. Leaning back with a chuckle for his comment, she said, "If you were that hungry you should have said something." Pulling her arms back from around his neck, she smiled. "I'll go fix it for you."

Spike maintained his precarious hold. "Food can wait," he told her, eyes sparkling.

Julia sat where she was, looking into his eyes. She could tell instantly what he wanted, but she wasn't quite sure if she was ready yet. Closing her eyes she sighed, she could feel her desire for Spike coursing through her veins, but her head was filled with thoughts of Vicious and Faye. "You're not healed yet Spike," she said placing a hand lightly on the bandage across his chest.

Even that touch caused a twinge a pain, but Spike was determined not to let it show. Instead, he clasped his hand over hers. "I'm healed enough," he replied. Something was holding her back, he could sense it. If it had to do with Vicious ... then he didn't want to know.

"Spike, I don't want to hurt you," Julia said looking up into his eyes. "You still can hardly walk around the room."

Spike slid his legs off the bed, then stood. Moving slowly, he made a lap around the room, then spun in place. He tried a high kick, but double over in pain as the wide motion jerked wounds only partially healed. Using every ounce of willpower he had, he shoved aside the pain and straightened again. "So play nice," he said, still smiling.

Julia had leapt from the bed when he had doubled over. Reaching him where he stood Julia ran a hand across his cheek, burying it into his hair. "I love you Spike," she said reaching up on her tip toes to kiss him. "But you're foolish."

Spike kissed Julia back, putting an arm around her shoulders and letting just a little bit of weight rest on his – enough to help, but not enough to make her alarmed. "That's probably true," he agreed, looking down at her fondly. "And I seem to recall that that's what you loved best about me."

"Possibly," Julia said wrapping her arm around his waist. She had missed the feel of him against her, his kisses, and all the foolish risks he took. It has been a long time since they had been together. "Where do we go from here Spike?"

Spike started forward, then allowed himself to put a bit more weight on Julia. His side was throbbing, but there was no way he'd let that distract him now. "I'd say we go about six feet that way," he said jovially. Directly ahead of him was the bed.

Julia laughed walking backwards with Spike leaning on her all the way. "You're determined to have your way, aren't you?" she asked smiling. She wanted this, no matter how much she knew she shouldn't. She knew she couldn't refuse Spike, because she wanted to feel him again too.

"You better believe it," Spike replied, sitting down on the bed and pulling her down next to him. "Willful as well as foolish. That makes me pretty close to perfect."

"Perfect?" Julia asked nibbling at his ear. "I would have thought you were far from perfect."

Spike could feel himself responding to the smell of her, the feel of her, the sound of her. He kissed the base of her throat. "We'll have to find out, won't we," he said impishly.

Julia sank back down into the bed drawing Spike back down with her. "Are you sure you can do this?" she asked kissing him again.

Spike slipped a hand up Julia's shirt, gently caressing the firm skin of her stomach. "I don't think I can't," he told her truthfully.

Julia arched up towards his hand, wanting to feel more of him. "Spike," Julia said reaching up to run her own hands down his partially bandaged chest.

The touch hurt, but it was a good kind of hurt. Spike carefully unbuttoned Julia's blouse. He kissed the base of her throat again, and this time slowly worked his way downward. "Told you," he whispered.

His kisses sent chills down her spine, making her shudder. She kissed his bare shoulder, nibbling at it with her teeth. "Told me what?" she whispered before kissing his neck.

"Told you that I would be fine," Spike replied, eyes gleaming. He paused to kiss her belly button, then moved back up to kiss her full on the lips. "You really think a little scratch like this is gonna run me down?"

"You have a little more than a few scratches Spike," Julia said running her hand down one of those scratches. "You'll have some very nasty scars from this."

Spike visibly flinched as Julia's hand, however gentle it was, pressed against the tender skin. "I will," he admitted, "but I've had plenty of scars before. I just … never thought any of them would come from him." For a moment, some indecipherable emotion flickered across his face, but then it was gone as he kissed her again, more forcefully.

Julia knew what he needed, and held him tighter against her. "Some girls think battle scars are sexy," she said giggling when their mouths parted again.

Spike planted a kiss directly in the center of her forehead and fondly ran his fingers through her hair. "And are you one of those girls?" he asked.

"Maybe," Julia said running a finger across an old scar on his shoulder. "I guess you'll just have to find out."