He opened his eyes. Shit, he didn't remember the last time he slept that well, no nightmares, nothing. Maybe the desert air was good for him, or maybe it was the company. Panam was still on his chest, but he could feel her starting to stir. The sun was just coming up over the horizon. Fuck, he'd forgotten about the sunrises out here. He had been sleeping so poorly he'd missed them all so far. Now the entire horizon was reddish orange, with bands of pink and purple. Fuckin' preem alright. All the neons in Night City couldn't do that.

"You up?" He heard her ask.

"Mmhmm" he answered, his voice still raspy from sleep.

"You seeing this?" She was looking at the sunrise now too.

"Second most beautiful thing I've ever seen" He said with a smile.

"What is the first…?" Then it dawned on her. "V you fucking sweet talker! Cut that out."

"Does it work?"

"You know it fucking works. Too well." She leaned up and gave him a kiss. They sat there for a while, her head on his chest, watching the sunrise.

"When did you know?" He asked her.

"What?" She looked puzzled "Oh... last night." She looked up at him, back at the sunrise, and then sat up.

He sat up as well. "I told you… Gotta tell me now".

"I fucking know you gonk". She yelled, but then her face softened "Sorry, just trying to find the words." She turned to face him, looked him right in the eyes, her gaze was firm. "That night in the cabin after we saved Saul from the Raffen. I think that is when I really knew. I was getting chewed up by Night City, double crossed by everyone I met, and then I met you. You stuck your neck out for Saul, for me, for the family. For free. In Night City, where nothing comes free. I do not… think we would have survived if we would not have gotten him back. Me or the family. V… I would probably be solo in NC, struggling to pay rent if not for you. Or dead in some parking lot. You reminded me how important family is. That there are still good people in the world. That this is where I belong". She pointed at the sky, it was full of color now. "I think Saul saw it too, that night. What was happening between us. Shit maybe he knew before either of us. I think he even tried to encourage it"

V smiled. "He did leave us alone on that couch, in that beautiful Independent California Motel."

She looked confused. "Independent California Motel? What the fuck… How did you come up with that?"

"Fuckin' Johnny. That was his name for the little shack we were in. I think he knew too. What was happenin' with us, he tried to encourage it. Johnny was an asshole sometimes, but he looked out for me. He liked you too you know. Told me I shoulda' gone after you the morning after we stayed in that cabin, right after we saved Saul. Said it right after that kiss. Shit, that first time you kissed me, that scrambled my brain more than Johnny, or Dex's fuckin' bullet.

She smiled. "You sweet talking me again?"

"Nah, That's how it was. Didn't know what to do. Especially after you turned me down the night before."

She muttered to herself. "Independent California Motel. I like it" She kept smiling briefly, then her face turned serious, and he felt her grip his shoulder. "V… I just… had to be sure, really sure. Just… So many people had taken advantage of me. I just... wanted to take it slow. I liked you, really liked you, but I just…was not ready. I was just getting back with the family, trying to keep my head from getting gonked out. Had to get things straightened out before getting serious with you. I didn't want to move too fast and ruin it"

"I get it…just giving you a hard time." He hugged her. "Glad things went the way they did".

"We got there eventually". She said, turning to facing the sunrise, and giving the basilisk a little tap. "I do not think we are ever going to live that night down. Mitch still gives me shit about it."

"Yeah, me too. Worth it though." V replied with a sheepish grin. She returned it with one of her own. Then her expression changed, more serious now.

"Saul had heard about you, you know. He knew about how broken up you were when the Bakkers dissolved."

V looked surprised "Saul knew about me? He never said anything."

"He liked to play his cards close" She looked at him. "You know that".

He nodded again. "Terrible when a family breaks up like that. Lotta people... never find their way again."

"That was almost the Aldecaldos. We were in a bad spot. Good thing you talked some sense into me and Saul. Raiding Arasaka was the second-best thing that ever happened to us."

"What was the first?" Now he was confused. "Stealing the basilisk?"

"When you showed up, you fuckin' gonk". She said, sitting up and giving him a slap on the shoulder.

He laughed. "Now you sweet talkin' me?"

"Do not get used to it" She said and pulled him in for another kiss. She looked over at the camp now, it looked like everyone was waking up. She hopped off the basilisk. "Let us get some fucking coffee and take a look at that warehouse in the daylight. Maybe we can still find something for you."