Now they were sitting on the observation deck, watching the stars shine by. Dylan had come here for some piece of mind, but instead ended up lulling his worried heart with a bottle of Earth's finest wine. Beka had joined him half way through the bottle. But seeing as alcohol was hard to come by, they were both mercilessly drunk.

"Hey," Beka said, swaying slightly. "You know Dylan, when we were gone. I missed you most."

"I missed me most too- I mean… I missed you a lot." Dylan replied, cradling the bottle of wine, or maybe the second, in his lap.

"And you know something?" Beka looked at him with both eyebrows raised. "I kinda like you." She shook her head and her hair turned back to blonde.

"Wow." Dylan said, taking a strand of her hair in his fingers. "Your hair is pretty."

"Haha- Ha. Good one Dylan." Beka laughed. "You're so strong. Like this one time- I remember- you like… oh jeez. I forgot. But you are a strong boy!" She waved a hand in front of her face, frowning slightly, "I didn't know I had two hands…"

Dylan looked at his own hands, still holding onto the bottle of wine. "Hands are like, perfect cup-holders."

"Hey, hey Dylan. Have you seen what I can do with my hair?" Beka changed it back to brunette again.

"Wow. Have you seen my force lance?" Dylan reached for his pocket reflexively.

"I don't think so." Beka said, leaning towards him, smiling at the innuendo. Dylan froze, and then leant in towards her. He brushed his lips against hers, and then tilted his head. They kissed for a while, their long-forgotten friendship escalating quickly into love.

When he finally broke away for air he asked, "Would you like to?"


Rommie did not like what she saw. Sure, her captain had been unresponsive since he gave up his dream, and she did enjoy seeing him walk around like a regular old biped, but things had sure escalated quickly. I mean, one minute, everyone was in the hangar bay, crowded around a box, then the next, and Dylan was hopelessly drunk with Beka Valentine? And on top of this, they kiss? Rommie did not like what she saw at all. And to make matters worse, Rafe was stealing from her, again.

But Dylan had wanted privacy, so even though she knew what he was doing, she couldn't see anything. Well, at least she thought she knew what he was doing. But who knows. Humanoids could be so unpredictable.

But what Rommie didn't know was that Dylan wasn't doing what she thought he was doing. No, he was doing something better. Like a better man would.

He was opening his 16th birthday present.