Conna was released from the hospital that night. Hara and I wasted no time getting her home and giving her the grand tour. We assured her that she had free reign of the apartment and she could do as she pleased. I had also told her that we would wait on getting her into school until she was ready. Baby steps and all that.

A few days passed and she seemed to open up little by little. I had walked in on her cooking one afternoon. She caught me off guard by how clean she kept everything during and after preparing the meal. She was a decent chef too. The food she made was fantastic. She was definitely a keeper.

We were sitting at home a few days later when she had told me that she finally wanted to go out. She wanted to go to a park to run around and get some energy out. I was happy that she was ready. We quickly dressed and were about to walk out the door when there was a knock. I answered the door to find Falco on the other side. His arm was out of the sling and he looked a lot better.

"Hey," I managed to get out through my surprise.

"Hey," he simply replied.

Conna came up behind me and smiled up at Falco. "Hello there."

Falco's eyes widened. "She woke up…" He looked at me. "You didn't call or anything."

"I didn't know that it mattered to you."

"I would have liked to know."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Falco," Conna said to him. "I was afraid to ask Skye to call you…"

I glanced to her then returned my attention to Falco. "Mr. Falco?"

"He visited me too," Conna explained. "He would bring other books and read to me. And talk to me…"

I gave Falco the most deathly glare I could muster. "Who's keeping secrets now?"

"Are we seriously going to start this in front of her?"

"We were actually on our way out. I'm taking her to the park. So, if you'll excuse us…"

"I'll come with you then. I could use some fresh air."

"You're coming, Mr. Falco?" Conna asked.

He smiled to her. "Of course. I'll come hang out."

She pushed past me to hug him. He gave me a sly grin then led her to his vehicle. I followed after them in a huff and got into the passenger seat. Falco took us to the biggest park in the city. Conna wasted no time in going to run around and play while Falco and I found an empty bench.

Even though he wasn't honest with me, I couldn't find it in me to stay mad. It actually made me feel better that someone other than me and Hara cared about her and would take the time to see her in the hospital. I was relieved more than anything. Falco sensed that I had calmed down and we went on talking like normal people.

"How did she take everything?" he asked.
"How do you expect a kid to react to losing a year of her life? She was more upset about losing a year than she was about losing her parents. Shocked the hell out of me and Hara."

"She wasn't upset about her parents? Seriously?"

I nodded. "Apparently they weren't around much anyway. They were just people who brought her into the world and lived with her. Her mother tried to protect her from Andross's men when they came but… Other than that, there wasn't a real relationship. Conna was self-sufficient. Why have children if you're not going to spend time with them?"

Falco gave me a sideways glance. "What about you?"

His question caught me off guard. "Me?"

"Ever thought about having children?"

I smirked at the irony. "Children are out of the question for me."

He was shocked by my reply. He turned his full attention to me. "What? What do you mean 'out of the question'?"

"I had an accident a few years ago that rendered me unable to have children. It's not a big deal."

"How can you be so nonchalant about it? You're not the least bit upset?"

"I did my grieving, Falco. Things happen for a reason. I've come to terms with it."

"And Fox?"

I huffed. "Yeah, that's something I'm going to sit down and talk to my brother about. 'Sorry Fox, I'm not going to be able to give you nieces and nephews because I'm an idiot and got myself into a pickle that I couldn't get out of.' I can totally imagine how that conversation would go. I can't deal with the pitiful look in his eyes. Kind of like the look you're giving me now."

He quickly looked away. "I wasn't… I mean…"

"You're forgiven this time. Look, I was young and had just started with working with Craig. I thought I was invincible. Things got out of hand and I paid the price."

Falco quickly turned on me then. "He's awfully blasé with your life, isn't he? Between this and your run-ins with Wolf-"

"It's not like that, Falco," I interrupted. "Not by a long shot."

"Then what is it like?" he demanded. "Because, again, I can only imagine how different this whole situation would be if Fox found out his sister was dead or dying because of her boss."

"Don't make it sound like you know everything that is going on. Craig feels guilty about anything and everything that ever happens to me. Believe it or not, he cares very deeply for me…" I trailed off.

Falco caught on. "I sense a 'but' in there."

I sighed. "He's made it clear that he wouldn't even be with Melissa had he met me first. Don't get me wrong, he loves her and he's not going to ever leave her. He's done too much and given up a lot to be with her. But don't think that for one second that he doesn't care about what happens to me. He plays a good game and knows how to not let anything show. He beats himself up every waking moment over what he's put me through. You have to realize that I am the only pilot on his payroll that knows his secrets. He trusts me and I trust him to not put me in a situation where I'm not going to come back. Craig is a good man and I will vouch for him any time his character is in question."

Falco seemed surprised by my rant. He put his hands up in surrender. "I'm just trying to look out for you, that's all. I meant no disrespect." He let out a sigh. "So, I heard you busted Wolf out of prison."

I rolled my eyes. "Pulling out all the stops today, aren't you?"

"I just wanted to tell you that I think you did the right thing."

I paused for a moment. "Hold on… You actually think I did the right thing in busting him out? I think hell just froze over."

Falco didn't find it funny. "I'm serious, Skye. He helped us when he didn't have to. The fact that he stuck around even when the Cornerian fleet was on its way, I'd say he deserves a free pass for that."

"Why don't you tell me how you really feel, Falco?" He was hiding something, I could see it.

He instantly got uncomfortable. "I don't like how he handled you."

"Excuse me? What do you mean by 'handled me'?"

"He just seemed too familiar, that's all. And the worry that he had for you… It makes me uneasy, Skye. He's hiding something."

"He usually is… Look, if you're worried that he's got goo-goo eyes for me, trust me, it's not reciprocated."

"Have you ever had a boyfriend? Like, ever?"

"I don't think that is any of your business, Falco."

"Humor me."

My death glare returned for a moment. "I don't think so. It's none of your business if I've had previous relations. I don't ask about yours."

"I would be honest with you if you asked me."

"Not going to happen."

"Ask me anything."

"No."

"You don't trust me?"

"Not as far as I can throw you."

"Geez, you two argue like a married couple." It wasn't until then that I realized that Conna had approached us. She came over and sat in between Falco and me. "Can't you two just get along?"

"No," Falco and I said at the same time. He and I exchanged a glance for a second then turned away from each other.

For some reason my heart wouldn't stop pounding. Why did it even matter to him if I had had a boyfriend before? What was he hoping to find out? Was he really as interested as Fox and Craig claimed? Is that why he didn't like Wolf being around me? Regardless, he shouldn't be so overprotective. He had no claim to me whatsoever. Especially if he couldn't even be honest with me about how he feels.

Conna's voice cut through my thoughts. "Skye, I'm a little hungry. Can we go eat?"

I gave her a nod. "Of course we can. Falco and I will show you one of my favorite places."

We took her to the café that Fox and Falco had taken me. Afterwards, Conna had asked me about hobbies and such. Falco beat me to the punch and had told her that I loved to dance. When she got excited, I conceded and showed her the dance studio that I always went to. She went from room to room to see some of the other patrons. She was enjoying every second of it.

"What kind of dancing do you like?" Conna asked.

"Well… I… I like a little of everything I guess," I answered.

She turned to Falco. "What about you, Mr. Falco? Do you dance?"

Falco got flustered at the question. "I, um… I know how to but it's not exactly a favorite pastime."

"He totally dances," I told Conna, throwing Falco under the bus. "You should see him. He's quite good."

He gave me a dirty look. Conna smiled then exchanged glances with both of us.

"Would you show me?"

My heart sank when I realized what she was insinuating. Falco gave me a smug grin. I turned back to Conna. While I was trying to embarrass Falco, I ended up embarrassing myself.

"I don't think that's such a great idea."

"Please?"

I couldn't argue with her big eyes. Falco held out his hand.

"I'll keep it PG this time. I promise."

I glanced at his hand then up to him. I slowly put my hand in his.

"Don't get any ideas, Falco. This is only because she asked."

"Of course."

He led me to the center of the room and maneuvered us into a waltz position. I motioned to Conna to press play on the radio that was in the room. A slow, classical song began to radiate through the room. Falco began his steps, flawlessly moving me with him.

This dance was different than the rumba that we did last time. Last time, it was a game of dominance, to see who could outdo the other. This time it was almost like… A truce… It was hard to describe… I didn't know how to take it or what to do. Something in him had changed, even if it was just for this one moment.

The music began to slow even more and finally ended. He dipped me slowly and brought me back up to him. My heart pounded as we stared at each other. Conna's clapping was the only thing that brought me back to reality.

"That was beautiful…" she murmured. "I've never really seen dancing before now…"

I quickly came to my senses and pushed myself away from Falco. He watched my face as I felt the panic set in. He tried to reach for me to stop me but I instinctively stepped back.

"Skye, wait-"

I shook my head and kept backing up until I hit the barre. I grabbed Conna's hand and pulled her with me to try and make a quick getaway.

"Skye! Please wait!" Falco called after me. "Just listen for a second!"

Conna kept pulling away from me. "Skye, what's going on? Mr. Falco is trying to talk to you."

"We're going home, Conna. I will explain later. I promise."

She simply nodded and let me lead her back home, while my heart was left in a jumbled mess…