Avitus was received well and Vetra was glad that faith had returned to some of her people scattered around Andromeda. Kandros informed her that many got back or asked for exile on Nexus. Some of hope was not lost anymore and many accepted Avitus former Spectre achievements as worth to consider his citizenship status amongst the highest. The hierarchy of the Turian society had some good sides especially in times of crisis. It warmed her heart to see more Turians walking around the docking base. She leaned on the rail at her favourite position and followed the shuttles bringing new incomers to the station.

"Vetra…" She heard Kandros voice. He leaned next to her and watched the scenery with satisfaction.

"Hey, Tiran." She kept staring at the arrivals. The number of messages exchanged between them increased since they heard about Macen distress signal.

"Finally, we can earn our place here. With a Pathfinder." Said Kandros. Coming from a respected family, he desired to earn his place just by his own effort. It was as important for him as breathing. His life, his adventure, his place.

"Hmm… Surely." Vetra found his determination quite charming despite he was too into rules and into obeying them. However, he was one of the first to show Sara some support and she appreciated that.

"Well… that does not include you. I mean, you already earned it." Said Kandros. Vetra looked at him confused.

"What do you mean, Tiran?"

"The work… you do alongside the Pathfinder… I'm sure that your waist proved to be very supportive for her…" Said Kandros nervously… Wait… Her waist… Was he trying to flirt with her?

"If you say so…." She did not know how to react to this.

"Yes. You are so devoted to your duty that you even broke the rules here and…. I mean, I know about your connections with the black market." Vetra's gulped. Was this some interrogation or expression of affection? She could not tell the difference.

"Going to arrest me, chief?" She tried to joke, but it just made her feel nervous.

"Maybe I should, but… I'd rather invite you for a drink in Vortex?"

Shit…

"Oh… I mean… Oh… Well…" Ryder, Liam… Drack.. anyone, please come and save me. Kandros was looking at her waiting for some answer.

"Well, there is a lot to celebrate. People are returning, we have a pathfinder, so…" He tried to play it on just a common gathering.

"Of course, … Maybe, later? Need to check on the supplies first…"

"That takes usually 2 hours. 6pm then?" Said Kandros and Vetra wished to leave the station right away. He was straight to the business and did not give her a chance to back off. It was quite hot, but Vetra did not think about Kandros as a romantic option AT ALL. There was no other choice though than to accept his invitation.

"Uhm… Ok…" Said Vetra. She lost this battle. She saw the interrogation Sid would have ready for her any moment after.

"Great… See you then, Vetra…."

IIIIIIIIIIIII

Peebee was sitting at the same corner of Vortex she once found Sara drinking at. Nervousness was filling her veins. This was one of the most important meetings in her 'short' Asari life, at least for the time spent on Andromeda. Kalinda accepted her invitation and promised to be there around 2pm. Peebee touched the drink on the table and finished it. She was thinking about her new family, reminding herself that she was supported and was not forced to survive on her own on some hostile planets.

Then she saw her. She distinguished easily the specific white face tattoo. Kalinda noticed her fast and was walking towards her. The moment was here… They had not talked like this since Kalinda abandoned her for the last time. Pain filled her heart and mixed with all those feelings in her when she saw her at the edge of death.

"Pelessaria…" Kalinda sat down opposite Peebee. Her name she uttered even intensified the feelings inside her. Peebee looked at her like seeing a ghost. There were stiches on her nose after she broke it with her fist. She deserved much worse, so much worse… Maybe Ryder was right and she should had left her…. No… She could not... and that realisation made her feel like in a cage…. She stood up…

"No... I can't…" She nearly said sorry as she felt so weak to settle this down and started to run away… Worthless... She felt so worthless now. With all those promises she made to her own heart, she still could only run…

Her legs directed her to her apartment. She was still paying for it in order to keep her personal space only for herself. Peebee walked in and moved her hand alongside her star-like head. This was so typical… It was easy to hate Kalinda, to despite her, to call her bitch to break her nose, when they were under pressure, in fight or distant. But under peaceful terms? It was hard. Too hard.

The door opened and her body froze. Someone entered. She forgot to lock the door… So stupid, again so stupid…

"I knew you'll come here…" It was Kalinda. She followed her here. Her voice was tame, nearly sad. She continued.

"I haven't really had a chance to thank you properly. I sent that message to do that, but you really surprised me with response…" Said Kalinda…. Sweet talk. So typical of her, thought Peebee still facing Kalinda with her back. She was trying to put herself together.

"I'm full of surprises…" She finally turned and looked at her, wild, with untameable look. She needed to find her rebellious nature as a defence despite being defensive was not her primary intention. What she found, however was Kalinda looking submissive and vulnerable and Peebee heard her own voice in her head… Death can change people, Ryder. She cursed herself that she ever said anything similar, because it bugged her deeply seeing Kalinda like this.

"I know… You came for me there…" Said Kalinda with nearly a submissive tone. "That was one of the biggest surprises…" Those words were like coming from a huge distance and Peebee just kept staring at her. Then, it was anger which filled her veins.

"What... you think I'm a heartless bitch like you? That I'm gonna just let you die like some Kett shit there?" Peebee was on edge of screaming at her, the pain, hate and….. silenced love… mixing together in an unstoppable force.

"No… maybe… But you always were the better one, Pelessaria." Said Kalinda and looked at the floor.

"Stop calling me that. Your sweet talk doesn't work anymore… Hear me?" She was shouting. That name made her lost control of her emotions.

"That's why you paint your eyes black, Pelessaria?" Said Kalinda and looked at her again. That question surprised Peebee. When they were together and Peebee still believed that Kalinda really loved her, Kalinda was telling her that she fell for her eyes. It reminded her of green landscapes of her home.

"To burn my visions in a black dust?" Kalinda continued and so Peebee's thoughts. She often talked about her dream to get lost on those plains, because it stripped her off all the masks she wore around others pretending to be someone she was not. Peebee believed it, she believed that her eyes made Kalinda feel free. Then she found out about her double life…

"Don't flatter yourself, Kalinda. It's cool... Modern…" Peebee promised herself to not let anyone in. Black was her barrier as was her wild and joking nature. She let Ryder slip in, too much and how it ended. They were great and the best buddies, but nothing more. She was still on the run. And even now, she acted the same way, defensive, angry, attacking. She had a problem to deal with her emotions. Kalinda smiled. She wanted to punch her for that 'knowing' smile.

"You've changed and matured… a lot.. Even beyond me, Pelessaria… But…"

"I'm not going to repeat it again.. Don't call me that." Peebee's body started to glow with biotics.

"But I'm glad your heart hasn't, Pelessaria … and is still as big as…." She could not finish because a force of power kicked Kalinda hard and smashed her against the wall. Peebee was glowing like a sea under a moon. When she realised what she had done, Kalinda was already unconscious. This was not how Peebee wanted to settle things down… This was not a proof she was ok to move on, but Kalinda's words made her so furious, so outside herself. Because they were kind, and she was not prepared for kindness.

Peebee ran towards Kalinda and grabbed her by the arm. She was quite heavy but she managed to bring her on the sofa and stabilized her so she could check for some injuries. She kneeled next to the sofa and quickly reprogrammed her omni-tool to use the scanner… Shit, shit shit… She really did not want to do this. Peebee had not saved her life to kill her afterwards.

"It was quite long, I've seen you worry about me like this." Kalinda's eyes were open and she was looking at her smiling. There was a thin stream of blood running from her mouth, but the scanner had not shown anything serious, just one broken rib. Shit. Now it was Peebee who felt tame and guilty. She could kill her. She was not thinking straight.

Her lips were trembling. She could not stand this stare. Peebee raised and walked towards the sink. She got a clean cloth and put it under the water.

"Don't move, your rib is broken… I think…" Said Peebee quietly.

"Well... nothing I haven't deserved long time ago…" Said she and tried to raise just a bit, laying was not comfortable as well. One of her hands automatically touched the hurt place. First her nose, now the rib… Why she was so kind to her? Death can change people… SHUT UP. Her mind was scolding her memories.

"Stubborn, I told you to be still." Said Peebee when she returned with the wet cloth. She moved the table closer and sat on it.

"Always…" Kalinda laughed but the pain immediately turned her face into grotesque play of muscles.

"Told you..." Peebee uttered quietly and raised the cloth towards Kalinda's lips to get rid of the blood. She was focusing on her action fully to not get disturbed by the closeness. They weren't so near each other for a long time.

"You were always so caring after messing something up… Pelessaria" Said Kalinda with a smile.

"Shut up or I break another rib of yours…" Said Peebee angrily when her movement was stopped by Kalinda's hand on hers. Peebee dropped the cloth in shock and only observed Kalinda guiding Peebee's hand on her face.

Kalinda closed her eyes and sighted. "Pelessaria…. I know you started to hate your own name because of me… because of what I've done… Please… forgive me… for everything." Kalinda's voice was shaking. She kept her eyes closed looking vulnerable as never before.

Peebee kept staring. She did not move her hand away, sensing the warmth of Kalinda's skin. They had been through a lot together… How all of this could return to shit so fast? New place, new face? This side of Kalinda was something Peebee thought was already dead. A vulnerable side she shared only with her before, before she started to play a pirate, live the adventure and escape to wilderness… Peebee felt forgotten, used... The call of new start made Kalinda forget her so fast….

"I don't know how…. You… you hurt me badly…" Said Peebee slowly and quietly. Kalinda opened her eyes again and looked at the young Asari in front of her. She was watching her, the pain visible and obvious in her eyes.

"I did… I got lured by power and strength. You made me feel… vulnerable, Pelessaria." Kalinda was still holding her hand and guider her down, so she could hold it between her both hands. She did not give Peebee chance to respond and continued.

"Your joyful rebellious nature… care you tried to hide… Pride of being my Little Rouge… It got to me too much, too deep…. It terrified me, it was easier to hurt you… I was selfish and tried to protect myself only…" Said she slowly but honestly.

"That doesn't matter now…" Said Peebee. Why she was telling her all of this? Closures were important but worthless and her words made her nervous and sad. She was watching her own hand between Kalinda's.

"It does… You saved my life, Pelessaria, although you had the full right to leave me there… It made me believe that you don't hate me that much…. And you also broke my nose and my rib, so…" She tried to ease the air and she noticed a short smirk on Peebee's lips. Peebee looked at her.

"No… it doesn't…" Repeated she again.

"Yes….." Kalinda used all her strength and raised one of her hands to Peebee and touched her cheek wet from tears… She got closer. "It definitely does for me…" Kalinda kissed her lips cautiously searching for something she believed was not yet consumed by the past.