Here be today's chapter. Hope you guys like it. And the pairings will most likely change later in the story. And I now have no idea on where this story is heading, so updates might become more...sporadic. But I'll try, so no hurting, maiming, or killing me. But you can do those things to Muse/ViH.

Muse/ViH: What!

:Shrugs: It's a mean world. You ah...might want to start running.

Muse/ViH: When I get my hands on you...

You don't have hands though. And I don't own a thing in this story.


Sam walked onto the Ragnarok and saw her brother typing on his laptop. She leaned against the doorway to his room and cleared her throat. He glanced up and leaned back, his back cracking in several places.

"Whatcha working on?" Sam asked.

"Trying to come up with a new serum that can let vampires withstand the sun's rays," he answered. "So far it's a no go."

"Have you thought about getting Doctor Beckett and his team to help you?"

He nodded. "I pitched the idea to him and he seems interested." He brought his hands up and rested them on his head. "I mean think about it: If I could walk in the sun, think how much more helpful I could be."

"You mean how more human you'll seem," she corrected.

He frowned. "What are you talking about?"

She walked into the room and sat down backwards on a chair. "I've known you for a long time Dante. I know how much you wanted to walk in the sun with Janet."

He looked down. "I don't know what you mean."

"Cut the crap Dante," Sam ordered. "You were happy with Janet and she was happy with you. You can't deny that, no matter how hard you try."

"She was the most beautiful thing in the world and I killed her," he said softly.

"You didn't kill her Dante. How many times do I have to tell you that?"

"I kept her in the night world! I could have pushed her away to keep her safe but I didn't! You didn't see her die!" he shouted.

"Would you have been happy if you had pushed her away?" she asked.

"No, but I knew she would have been safe and alive. And that's all that mattered. But I failed," he said. He closed his laptop and looked at his half sister. "If you don't mind, I'd like to be alone." Sam nodded and left the ship. Dante closed the ship and flopped down on his bed. He kicked off his boots and took off his shirt. He reclined on the bed and slowly drifted to sleep…

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"Hey handsome," a voice whispered in Dante's ear.

Dante opened his eyes and found himself staring up at Janet, the afternoon sun warming the meadow they were in. "This could be considered stalking you know," he said as he sat up.

Janet smiled. "How else am I going to see you?"

"I thought you weren't allowed to," he said.

"I'm not. But I wanted to see you one last time before I had to go. You know, to say a proper goodbye."

"Janet I…" he began.

"I don't blame you Dante," she said, cutting him off. "It was my time. Call it fate or destiny; I don't care. But my death was not your fault."

"I could have tried harder," he said.

"You did the best you could Dante. I couldn't have asked for more." She reached out and caressed his face with her hand. "But it is time for you to move on. Chances are I won't get myself Descended. I still care about you, but I want you to be happy."

He reached up and held her hand with his own. "I was happy with you," he said quietly, looking into her eyes.

She smiled sadly. "I was happy too Dante, but I'm sure there's someone else out there for you. You can't exactly hold out for a dead woman. It would be…weird."

He looked down, a sad smile on his face. "I guess I was hoping for the impossible," he admitted.

"Dante, you are an incredible man and will make some lucky woman happy. But you need to learn that loss is a part of life, whether you're mortal or not. Everything has a beginning and an end," she said.

"If you realize the candle is fire then the meal was cooked a long time ago," he said softly.

Janet smiled. "Oma says that a lot," she said.

"Gotta love those old, cryptic sayings," he said.

Janet rolled her eyes. "They can become rather annoying though," she said.

He chuckled. "I can imagine so."

Janet smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "It's time for you to wake up now," she whispered.

"I'll never forget you," he promised her. She stretched up and kissed him. He closed his eyes and returned her kiss, finally feeling at peace with what had happened all those months ago…

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Dante stretched and opened his eyes. He frowned when he saw a blanket had been placed over him. He tossed the blanket to one side and sat up, his feet touching the cold metal of the floor. He rubbed the last remnants of sleep from his eyes and ran his hands through his hair in a mild attempt to tame it. He looked up when he heard boots approaching his room.

Vala halted in the door, a cup of coffee in her hand. "I…I hope you don't mind me intruding in your ship," she said. "I just didn't feel comfortable sleeping in the city."

"So you chose to sleep in my room?" he asked in a serious tone.

"Don't flatter yourself," she retorted. "I was more interested in looking at the controls for this ship."

"So you can steal it?"

"So I can fly it if something should happen to you," she returned.

He held up the blanket. "And this?" he asked.

She shrugged. "You looked a little cold."

Dante smiled softly. "Thanks."

"You're welcome," she said.

He rose to his feet and pulled out a clean black shirt. "Night or day outside?"

"I think the sun is beginning to set actually," she said, her eyes roaming up and down his backside. They lingered briefly on his lower back when he suddenly turned around. Vala quickly averted her gaze, a faint blush in her cheeks.

"Nice view?" he teased.

She arched a brow at him. "I've seen better." She watched him as he pulled on a fresh pair of socks and his boots. "You seem to be in a better mood today."

"Came to terms with some stuff while I slept," he said.

"Finally accepted that Doctor Fraiser's death wasn't your fault?"

He finished tying his boots and looked at her. "Yeah, actually."

Vala saw the Ancient bracer on his left arm. "So what exactly is that?"

He held it up. "I guess you could call it an Alteran version of a supercomputer laptop. Does a bit of everything. Has a teleporter, a remote control for this ship, it can bring up holographic images of desired information or people and I think it also might be able to remotely control parts of this city."

"I'm surprised it can't dial the Stargate," she said.

He grinned. "I never said it didn't."

She shook her head in amazement. "That could come in handy. Though I suppose only those with the Ancient gene could operate it."

"Correct," he said, pulling a bag of blood from the refrigerator. He poured the contents into a cup and began sipping on it.

"You have no idea how creepy that looks," she said.

"I do actually," he replied. "I've been doing this for over five hundred years."

"That's old," she said.

"Yes it is. But there are older vampires than myself."

"Not surprising," she said. "So, how are you going to freak out the Earthlings today?" she asked, seating herself on his bed.

He quirked a brow at her. "What do you mean?"

"Oh come on. You freaked them out yesterday when you not only sank the city, but when you tortured that Wraith thing. It was…scary I'll admit, but it was also a bit funny now that I think about their faces. Especially that McKay's face. I don't like him much. He's quite annoying."

"Won't argue there," Dante agreed. "I'm actually hoping not to freak them out. I need their help, or at least Doctor Beckett's help, in coming up with a serum that can allow normal vampires to walk in the sun."

"Sounds complicated. But don't you have the Ancient's knowledge in your head?" she asked.

He nodded. "I do, but they couldn't figure it out before the Wraith forced them to sink the city and flee. The vampire serum is actually very complex."

Vala shrugged. "Maybe you should simplify it then." He stared at her. "What? Do have something in my teeth or something?"

"That's it!" he exclaimed, opening his laptop.


What's gonna happen next? I don't know. Still can't see into the future. But reviews will make the future happen sooner...or something like that.

Muse/ViH: You're a moron.

Takes one to know one. Please review!