Not that it mattered. He was already alert as it was, looking vaguely like a mutant bat as he lounged in the dark room. Sprawled across one of the nice cushy couches, he'd been contemplating the meaning of life when he'd heard the footsteps from above. The pattern was obviously that of his student's, though she seemed to be walking slower than normal. Even for him it wasn't hard to feel bad for the girl; she'd have one hell of a hangover if she went back to sleep.

Sighing to himself he stood, running a hand absent-mindedly through his curls. It was rather ironic, wasn't it, how some people always seemed to show up when you were thinking about them?

- - -

The kitchen was much to white for her eyes, as she leaned against the blue-tinted water cooler. So far she'd managed to fight off the headache that was brewing, but she'd lose sooner or later. Deciding not to chance carrying two full glasses back when she was lucky to have made it thus far, Katie simply filled one three times draining it the first two. Feeling much better (relatively speaking) now that she was awake, she'd barely made it halfway down the hall before nearly walking into someone.

He grabbed her by the arm and turned her to face him, keeping the hand on her shoulder. "Are you all right?"

It was, to be expected, Vader. "Um. I'm fine… feeling better." She felt stupid as a blush rose on her cheeks. "Did I wake you up?"

"No, not at all. I didn't bother going to sleep." He didn't say that it was because he'd been thinking things over… important things. It was hard to think of the right things to say what with her looking up at him so trustingly.

She just nodded idiotically up at him, trying to think of something to say. It was funny how tongue-tied she was now, compared to the babble of earlier, despite the eventful day with the dinner and the excursion. Opening her mouth slightly to say something, she found she didn't know how to phrase it.

He decided to end her worries, very carefully leaning in to press his mouth on to hers. It was on impulse, though he'd been thinking about doing it all day. She tasted like dry champagne and uncertainty, as he'd caught her off guard with his forwardness. Surely she'd felt it too, earlier on the ridge? It was insane, what he was doing, but sometimes insane was right. Once he was sure she wasn't going to pull away his hand went to the back of her neck, twining his fingers into her hair.

Surprised, she stiffened slightly before just letting it happen. It was like an electric shock had traveled through her body, sticking her feet to the floor and exploding fireworks behind her eyes. He tasted of whiskey and power, a heady and tempting mix. Relaxing into his hold she couldn't help hoping the moment would last, as it said everything she'd ever wanted to say.

Reluctantly he pulled back. "This isn't right." He commented, voice husky with emotion.

"No. It isn't." She replied. Placing the glass on the floor where it was out of her way she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Now it is."

He chuckled, kissing her again before regaining his seriousness. "But that's not what I meant." He was thinking of what anyone else would think, especially Obi-wan. The Jedi would definitely not approve, and would try to do something about it. Besides, he was older than she was. He ought to know better than to do something like this, bringing personal feelings into everything. Attachments were dangerous, as he'd learned the hard way. It was a violent world; full of lives ended much to short. Anyone close to him was a potential target for a Resistance that was often as harsh as the Empire itself. Even the Emperor would see this, and separate them if he know. And how could he ever be sure if she actually loved him back? He could always just order her affections, or bewitch them.

She understood some of what he was thinking of, mainly that concerning the opinions of Obi-wan (and for her, Melissa). "We just won't tell them. It should be easy enough."

He leaned forward to rest his forehead against hers, wanting to exclaim that he was tired of secret romances. But he did not. She was right, and it was the best plan they had. "I love you." It was early, so very early to put such strong sentiment into words. But it was true, and he'd had plenty of time to watch her and think about it first.

"I love you." She replied, less sure but willing to take a plunge. There was no need for caution, really. She could take care of herself, and it was time to live a little beyond her little safe bubble. There was a comfortable silence laced with those damning words, before she broke it again. "What's your name? Really?"

"Anakin." He replied. So long ago that name would have seemed formal, unbearably so, but it had been years since someone had honestly called him by it. Now it had a gesture of intimacy he never would have imagined.

"I love you Anakin."

- - -

Katie walked into her room much steadier than she'd left it, placing the still-full glass of water next to her friend's head. Mel was looking better as well, though still nauseous.

"Anything interesting happen? You were gone a long time." It was in her nature to still be watching out for others even as she was the one who needed help.

Katie smiled, though her friend couldn't see it very well. "Not at all."