Seven weeks, he thought. Seven weeks I've seen her every single day. And now that her objective is complete, she's moving on to her next assignment. He sighed, wishing he could make time stop until he could say the words he wanted to say to her. He'd never known himself to be at a loss for direction before, but he really had no idea what he might do on Hoth now. He wondered where he'd be sent next. It always seemed to be another unit that just needed a blaster and a warm body. He would have to prove himself all over again. His entire career had changed in just one incident, and he didn't think it would ever recover. If he knew how to do anything but be a soldier, he'd just resign his commission. As it was, he figured he'd just have to keep moving forward.

He walked from his quarters to the main briefing room, his thoughts all over the place, but eventually came back to Magdalane. Over the time that she had been on Hoth, he'd seen her do some of everything- she could swing her purple lightsaber in a deadly dance, use the Force to throw objects several times her own mass into enemies, and perform healing that he hadn't known was possible. And, he thought, she was genuinely nice—to everyone! Even working with the Imperials against a pirate faction, she was unfailingly courteous. She'd won over everyone at the base with her quick humor and smile.

This place is miserable, but it will become unbearable without her, he thought. When he arrived at his desk, he saw a message there: the Aurek Base Commander had requested his presence. Lovely, he thought, and I'm really not in the mood to pack again. He slowly made his way over to the Commander's office, and knocked at the door. When it opened, he was sure the Commander had said something to him, but the only thing he knew was that Magdalane stood at the window, and she turned as he entered and smiled.

"Lieutenant? Lieutenant Iresso?" the Commander said.

"Oh sorry, sir, yes sir, Iresso reported as requested"

" I wanted to commend you for all the progress you've made here, Lieutenant. Master Jedi here has told me that you were invaluable to her mission here. I also am pleased to report that your unit is being sent home. They've been here far longer than they were supposed to be, and I know they're anxious to move on, " the Commander stated.

"Yes," Felix replied, "I know they and their families will be very pleased to be reunited. But sir, where will I be going?"

"Well, seeing how the Jedi council sent us Master Magdalane, I could hardly refuse their request that I assign someone from Hoth to accompany her on her work for the council. She has chosen you to be reassigned to her crew, but only if you agree."

Felix was stunned. He was going to be with her! He had a choice? No, not really, he thought. Life would be less without her in it. He looked at Magdalane, still standing at the window. She turned to face him fully.

"I cannot promise adventure of the sort we've been seeing every day, Lieutenant, but I can promise that we will represent the ideals of the Republic and work with them to see peace restored," she said.

"I'm sorry, Master Jedi, I was temporarily stunned into silence by the thought of being warm again," he said with a smile. It had been a running joke between them, her need for multiple layers of warmth out in the field. "I'd be truly honored to join your crew." He held her luminous green eyes with his, not wanting to break the contact, the promise her gaze held. When she held out her hand to him, he almost kissed it, but remembered in time where he was and shook it instead.

When the Commander dismissed him to go gather his things, Magdalane walked out of the building with him. She looked up at him under her hood, and made a statement that set his heart racing, something he'd been thinking since he woke up that morning.

"I am so looking forward to seeing you every day, Felix."

She looked down, then, maybe a little embarrassed, and told him she'd meet him at the shuttle to the orbital station in 3 hours. He went to his quarters to pack his few belongings, his excitement and anticipation making his hands fly and his heart light. When he met her at the shuttle bay, she'd taken her hood down and drawn the stares of the flight crews, which she ignored. Qyzen must have gone ahead since she was standing alone. It was rather unusual, since she'd told him that the council had requested she keep a bodyguard with her. Felix thought about this for a minute, and felt his heart stumble at the thought that maybe she wanted some time alone with him.

He was right, she did want to tell him about the crew he'd meet shortly, but she did so with less of the formality that she'd always wrapped herself in on Hoth. By the time the shuttle arrived at the orbital station, they were laughing together and he delighted at the closeness he felt. Onboard the ship, the droid took his pack to the crew area, and Magdalane showed him around the ship making introductions. Then they had dinner with the rest of the crew, where he and Tharan had quite an enjoyable discussion, and Qyzen had regaled the crew with stories of their "great hunt" on Hoth.

After dinner, Magdalane bid good night to her crew, and retired to her quarters. After a few more stories and a drink, Felix did the same. Since Nadia slept elsewhere, and Tharan was with his Holiday, he was alone in the crew quarters. He lay in the comfortable bunk, hands behind his head, warm and cozy for the first time in two years, and laughed softly. Just knowing she was near was enough. For now.