Beka's cries became gradually lighter until she was merely hiccupping and breathing deeply. Beka first realized that she was awake, and then that she still had arms holding her securely, but in a comforting way. Looking through teary eyes she saw that the arms around her body had boneblades and seemed strong-definitely not her dad's.

The trip to her mother and Rhade accompanying her came rushing back as she tried to stop crying completely. She after all, did not want Telechamus to see her as weak. Beka wanted him to see her as a strong, capable female.

'Not like I really care what he thinks. I mean, he's not the most capable. I could probably take him. Hell, Harper could take him, purple trance could take him! Although, with his strong arms, great strength, and sexy ass- whoa. Gee Becky, where the hell did that come from? We're insulting him here, not commenting on how we want him. Not that I want him. Just his body. Err, I mean, I just want to be someone who knows him. Maybe hangs out sometimes between missions. Acquaintances really. Not like I care him all that much anyway. Although, he is so sweet, even though I can be mean to him. Great to argue with, I love the conversations we have. And did I mention how he looks? Looks. His arms. Boneblades. Can't forget the boneblades. Must not forget the boneblades. He's neitzschean Becky, neitzschean. They don't do human, usually. Arugh. Probably just think I like him because of how good I feel in his arms. Probably should get up now. Probably should unwrap my arms from around him. And probably should stop noticing how good he smells and how much I want see how his kisses taste. But tired, so very tired. I'll just go to sleep and yell at him later for coming into my room and touching me. Yeah, that's it, that's what I'll do. Later. Yeah, right, later. Who am I fooling? I like an uber, again. Figures.' And that was Beka's last coherent thought before she slowly drifted off to sleep again.

Throughout the entire time Rhade held her tightly. By the time that Beka had drifted off to sleep again, her and Rhade were laying down on the bed under Beka's large plush blanket. Rhade put it over them earlier when Beka began to shiver, whether from cold or fear he did not know. His arms were still around her, and somehow hers had wrapped around him as well. Her head was against his chest, and his was above her head. Rhade was lying on his right side and was closer to the edge of the bed, Beka being in the middle. Shortly after he began to hold her he slid his boots off. Rhade still had his jacket on, unbuttoned. Rhade eventually slid off to sleep still holding Beka, feeling worried for her but also glad in a way that she had been vulnerable in front of him.

He woke up some time later when he felt her stir. The first thing Rhade noticed was how nice it felt to just her. Then that somehow her hand had gotten into his jacket and wrapped around him. He smirked.

"Mmmmmm", Beka woke up and loosened her grip on Rhade and stretched, as much as she could without fully letting go of his warm body. She then sighed. Beka did not want to get up. But Thalia's escorts would be here soon.

'I'm giving up lying in a bed with one sexy-assed neitzschean to have a shouting match with one woman who abandoned me. Oh, yeah, who's says life's not fair?' She sighed again, this time with annoyance, not sleepiness.

"Guess we should get up." Beka said as she sat up and looked down at Rhade. "Don't wanna though. Hey, ya think Thalia will notice if I go to a casino instead of seeing her and don't show up?"

Rhade looked at her with both expressions of amusement and skeptic written all over his face.

"Yeah, I thought so. Oh well." And with that Beka got off of the bed and walked out of the room.

Rhade sat up and slid off of the bed and followed. He found her at the bar, pouring a drink for herself, a very large drink. He sat on a stool at the front; Beka was sitting behind the counter where all of the drinks were.

"Here, Beka, why don't you have my scotch and I have your tequila. Don't worry I haven't had any yet, so you won't get any boy germs or neitzschean cooties. Swear."

Beka laughs, "Thanks. Hmmm."

"Hmmm? Is hmmm good, or is hmmm bad?"

"Hmmm, it's just that I did picture you as a scotch drinker."

"Is that good or bad?"

"Neither, just is."

"Good to know."

"Yep. So, what's your first name again?"

Rhade then spit's his drink a little, says 'what', gets some napkins to clean the mess, and pretends to be angry and growls as Beka laughs at him.

"I said, what's your first name again. I mean, I know how to spell it. T-E-L-E-M-A-C-H-U-S. But how do you say it?"

Rhade looks at her and starts laughing. "Is that why no one calls me by my first name? They don't know how to say it?"

Beka starts laughing as well. " No, well, yeah, maybe. Hey, I don't know! Shut up! Look, just tell me how to say it. Please! I'll be you very best friend! Please! Or else no more tequila for you." And she moves to take the glass away from him, but he moves it out of her reach.

"Fine, I'll tell you. But only because you threatened the safety of my drink. Tel-em-a-chus."

"Yeah, don't like it. Still calling you Rhade. Ooh, ooh, ooh! I know! Let's give you a nickname. But, ooh! Only I can use it!"

"Well that's not fair."

"Well, okay. You can make one up for me too, okay?"

" Alright, seems fair. And what's your name again? I mean, how do you pronounce it?"

"Ha ha ha. Very funny. All right, let's see. Tel-e? No, that sounds like a puppet. Mmmmmm. Chad. You know, off the 'cha'? No? Okay. Oooh, I got it! Tim! It's short, easy to say, unlike a lot of uber names, and somehow works."

" Okay, Tim it is. Now for you. Rebecca. You already have Beka. So that throws out Beck, Bex, and Becky." He stares at her for a moment. "How about Ree-ree?"

"Tim and Ree-ree. I like it."

It was then that a beeping noise was heard throughput the ship. Indicating that the escort had arrived. Beka and Rhade looked at each other and Beka said, "fun time's over," before heading to the cockpit.