Chapter 9

Harper finished the grand tour of his home in the main bedroom, walking over to the balcony and opening the doors so he could step outside into the night air.

'It's so nice, this house is amazing,' Beka spoke with admiration as she joined him outside. 'And I don't usually like houses,' she added.

'This house is my home,' Harper offered. 'I can't explain it, but ever since I woke up this is the only place I've wanted to be,' he spoke quietly as he leaned on the railing that surrounded the balcony.

'I can kind of see why,' Beka offered, moving to his side and she gazed upon the stony cityscape that surrounded them, a cascade of light from other houses lighting the city before them. 'It's so peaceful and calm.'

'The nights are the best,' Harper smiled fondly. 'Still warm, and that low hum of the city, the echo of the stone streets,' he took a deep breath. 'I can't imagine anything else and really, this,' he gestured. 'This is my strongest memory now, just stood here looking over the city, just like this,' he smiled distantly.

'Its very different to anything else you've known,' Beka responded, as she glanced at him in wonder, and for a moment it felt as though she was only just getting to know Harper. He knew nothing of his own horrors, knew nothing of the bad times he'd experienced and it showed in his face in that moment, relaxed, carefree and happy for the first time since she'd met him all those years ago.

This was a guy who only knew what surrounded them now, Edenia and the sanctuary of its walls, the peace and quiet, a place to call home and she wondered if she really wanted to be the person who would destroy that, who would help him to remember who he was.

'Feels weird,' Harper then commented distantly.

'What does?' Beka asked.

Harper held his head to his left side and his expression frowned. 'I'm noticing the slight loss of hearing in my right ear, I mean I've struggled a little with hearing people speak but this,' he paused, and rubbed his hand over his ear. 'I really notice it now, I can't appreciate the silence,' he offered with distraction.

Beka looked at him before speaking. 'What does it feel like?'

'Feels annoying, it's like a hiss,' Harper tried to explain, and she could tell he wasn't comfortable with it. 'Can't make it stop and it seems louder now,' he added confused.

'Maybe the silence just highlights it more, with less distractions and noise to drown it out,' Beka suggested.

'I forgot,' Harper then pushed himself away from the railings. 'I only have one bed, not use to visitors,' he added quickly.

'Oh,' Beka walked back inside after Harper and noticed the one double bed.

'We could always share, if you trust me,' Harper spoke with a tired air and there was no cheekiness in his suggestion, as he sat down and removed his boots.

'I don't have any night clothes or anything since our packs were destroyed,' Beka frowned unsure.

Harper got to his feet and padded over to a dresser, opening the door he sorted through some shelves and then pulled out an oversized shirt. 'Will this do?' he asked helpfully.

'Yeah,' Beka accepted his offer and took the shirt. 'I trust you, with regards to the sleeping arrangements,' she then added before moving towards the bathroom.

'I'll sort out another bed tomorrow,' Harper called after her and pulled off his shirt and pants, he retrieved some sleep bottoms and quickly undressed to slip them on before Beka returned.

He was in bed by the time she returned and noticed he had put a couple of spare pillows down the centre of the bed. Beka smirked and climbed into her side of the bed. 'Thanks for not making me sleep on the floor,' she offered.

'I figure if our friendship is more than romance, then this can't be all that unusual or awkward,' Harper offered sleepily, as he settled down to sleep having turned off the light. 'I figure we're pretty comfortable in each others presence.'

'Yeah, you could say I've seen it all before,' Beka returned with a small smile, seeing Harper's bare back facing her with the pillows separating them. She saw past scars that she knew littered his body and briefly wondered if he'd noticed them too, if he had wondered or chosen to ignore them.

'Have I seen it all before, with you?' Harper then returned, sounding a little more like the Harper she had known.

'If you have, you've never let on,' Beka returned lightly.

'And would I say if I had?' Harper responded and she could tell by his voice he was smiling, and it made her smile by return.

'It's so hard to remember that you don't remember anything of our friendship,' Beka spoke with sadness.

'I guess it must be tough for you,' Harper agreed, and then turned over so he faced her. 'I'm sorry if I've been an ass to you,' he then spoke sincerely.

'It's ok,' Beka smiled. 'I'm used to it,' she teased and was pleased to see Harper could tell she was teasing.

'Good night,' Harper then turned back over and she felt her eyelids grow steadily heavier as they both fell asleep.

Beka stirred and then became more aware of the light and noise, before she slowly awoke remembering where she was. Opening her eyes Beka saw she was alone, and the other side of the bed was now empty with the covers bunched up. Hearing running water, Beka rolled onto her back and stretched her limbs before slowly sitting up and glancing out to the blue skies outside.

The water stopped and a couple of minutes later Harper emerged from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. He didn't seem to notice she was awake as he headed to the dresser and found some fresh clothes.

'Morning,' Beka offered finally.

'Hey,' Harper returned and moved out of sight into the adjourning room to get dressed. 'Did you sleep ok?' he called out.

'Great thanks,' Beka responded, glancing outside again.

'We can go to the market today, see if we can get you some new clothes,' Harper spoke up. 'I don't think anything I have will fit, but you can borrow another shirt,' he figured.

'A shirt will be fine, my pants will do for a few more hours,' Beka slowly pulled herself out of bed. 'I guess they won't do my usual style here though, but I'll just have to make do,' she added. 'Though I'm not sure my money is good here.'

'We don't use money,' Harper appeared now fully dressed, and she caught him staring at her bare legs before he quickly looked away. 'I usually barter with the offer to repair stuff,' he added.

Beka moved past him and entered the bathroom to freshen up. 'Not sure what I could offer to barter.'

'I'll barter for you, it's not a problem,' Harper offered. 'No offence but it could be dangerous if you try to barter round here with nothing to offer,' he hinted. 'There are some curious people out there when it comes to us.'

'Us?' Beka turned seeing Harper stood in the doorway.

'Aliens,' Harper smirked. 'I was fortunate that Asa gave me this house, it had some furnishings and stuff lying around, but those first few barters some wanted more of me than I was prepared to give,' he suggested. 'They wanted to see more of the novelty alien, lets say,' he strongly hinted.

'Oh my god, you're kidding me?' Beka exclaimed.

'It wasn't so bad but I quickly learnt not to be so eager to barter with the males, I made sure I only made available what I was prepared to give out,' Harper moved away from the door saying no more. 'Are you hungry?' he called as he went down the stairs.

'Actually I'm famished,' Beka admitted as she closed the door and prepared the shower. She noticed it looked modified and guessed Harper had customised it to be more like he was use to in space. She heard Harper reply about preparing something while she got ready, and she stepped under the water feeling relaxed and happy.

Beka had taken her time getting ready and she now slowly descended down the stairs into the open space living area. She saw Harper already at the table with a pad in his hands, but not the usual one that she was use to seeing on her ship or on the Andromeda. This one looked bulkier and it wasn't until she got closer that she saw the text wasn't anything she understood.

'What's that?' she idly asked, before settling down to eat the breakfast he had prepared. It smelt wonderful, and she savoured the smell of the toasted home made bread and then took one piece of the fruit arrangement on the table.

'I'm not sure,' Harper frowned. 'But I remember using this for my work, every day,' he added. 'I can no longer understand this language.'

'Oh,' Beka stopped and looked at Harper. 'You've forgotten Earth's language, that's what that is, right?'

'I guess,' Harper shrugged.

'I was the only one who understood this,' Harper threw the pad down onto the table in frustration, as he leaned back and rubbed his face.

'Maybe you just need some time,' Beka suggested. 'You might be trying too hard,' she added but didn't miss the flash of anger that crossed Harper's expression before he looked away.

'Maybe,' he reluctantly agreed.

'Did I hear you go out?' Beka then asked, wanting to change the subject.

'I had no food in the house, so I went scrounging off Junia,' Harper tried to hide his smirk. 'You didn't think I made the bread did you?' he checked.

Beka just smiled. 'Not for a second,' she admitted.

'I wasn't sure if it was something I ever did,' he frowned and he looked suddenly unsure and confused.

'Are you ok?' Beka asked, putting her food down, concern filling her senses as she looked at her friend staring down at the table.

'I thought being back here would make what happened to me meaningless,' Harper spoke up, as he looked at her again. 'While I was on that ship and away from here I was lost and I felt stupid, everyone knew who I was but me,' he took a deep breath. 'But I'm still lost, I still need my memories, I can't function not knowing who I am, or was, I can't keep pretending I'm ok,' he stressed looking away again.

Beka moved from her seat and over to where Harper sat and simply put her arms protectively around him. 'It'll be ok, I'll stay as long as you need me too and I'll help anyway I can,' she stated firmly. 'I'd brought some stuff from the Andromeda that I thought would help once you reached this stage.'

'Let me guess, it all got destroyed with your pack,' Harper figured.

'Sorry,' Beka frowned. 'But my offer still stands, I'll do what I can to help you.'

'I guess it's just hit me what I've lost,' Harper admitted softly, sounding down.

'We'll find it, you and me,' Beka assured him before moving away. Before she could retake her seat there was a knock on the door and Harper immediately went to answer it. On opening the door he was surprised to find a female Edenian practically jump into his arms and before he could stop her she was kissing him.

'Shay?' the female finally pulled back. 'What's wrong?'

Harper composed himself before glancing at Beka and then back to the female. 'Naomi, I'm sorry, you just surprised me,' Harper admitted and quickly closed the door behind her.

Naomi showed surprise until she glanced over to where Beka sat. 'Oh,' she simply responded.

'Hi,' Beka gestured, but chose to remain finishing her breakfast not wanting to make more of an awkward scene, as she felt the female's stare on her.

'Can we talk?' Naomi then asked, and as she did she brushed Harper's hair back with her hand fondly.

'Yeah, course,' Harper gestured to a side room and closed the door after him.

'Who's the alien?' Naomi asked once they were alone.

'That 'alien' is an old friend, Beka,' Harper answered with a heavy sigh. 'It's not what you think. She's just staying with me for a couple of weeks,' he added.

'Here?' Naomi asked.

'Yeah,' he answered.

'Shay, you only have one bed,' Naomi reminded him.

Harper chose his next words carefully. 'Yeah, right now we're sharing but we're not friends like that, it's purely plutonic, ok?'

'She's wearing your shirt, my shirt, your shirt that I usually wear,' Naomi stressed, and looked like she was trying hard not to be angry.

'She has nothing else, her bags were lost on the way here,' Harper answered. 'Look aren't you just a little bit pleased to see me back?' he asked, and looked interested in her answer, there was a nagging thought in his mind that made Naomi being there just a little odd, but he couldn't remember why.

'Get over yourself it's only been a week, I can survive without you for that long you know,' Naomi answered curtly.

'Fine, whatever,' Harper decided and moved to the door, before he could open it he found her arms suddenly wrapping themselves around his waist and light kissing on the back of his neck.

'Of course I missed you, Shay,' she purred. 'Don't leave like that again, especially when you were so ill.'

'I had to,' Harper answered even though he couldn't remember why, but he guessed Zal must have made it a very quick exit. 'Look, while I was gone, something happened.'

'What?' Naomi asked as Harper turned around in her hold. He took a moment to admire her beauty before answering.

'I had an accident, nothing serious but,' Harper paused seeing her concern and strangely feeling comforted that she cared. 'I lost all my memories, all I remember is some of the last few months, but even that's a blur as well.'

'Oh,' Naomi simply offered. 'What happened?'

'Got hit by an electrical charge, direct into my head, they said I was lucky to be alive and that this port saved my life,' Harper answered, then smiled fondly. 'But I remember us, that's the main thing,' he half smiled, no longer caring about his nagging thought in that moment Naomi being there felt right.

'That's something,' Naomi smiled and this time they both initiated the kiss, and spent a small time getting to know each other again before Harper broke the kiss, a hazy memory hitting him suddenly and he moved back towards the door.

'We shouldn't be rude to my guest,' Harper offered quickly.

'Oh, I forgot about her,' Naomi frowned, but moved towards the door.

'Be nice to Beka, she's not a threat,' Harper stated. 'I promise.'

'Beka, I know that name, was she one of the other aliens who came with you the first time?' Naomi asked, before he opened the door. 'You mentioned her once or twice before,' she added.

'Yeah, I think she was here before,' Harper agreed showing uncertainty.

'Oh, sorry, of course you wouldn't remember, I wasn't thinking,' Naomi quickly apologised.

'It's ok,' Harper smiled. 'We're going out to get Beka some new clothes and her own bed, do you want to join us?'

'I can't, I need to help my parents with their crops, I just heard you were back and I didn't wait to hear if I was allowed to leave to see if it was true,' she admitted. 'So I should get back.'

'Ok, well, I'll see you maybe later?' Harper hinted.

'We'll see, it's papa's birthday in a couple of days, I might need to start preparations but I'll try to escape for an hour or so,' she smiled sweetly and then kissed him on the cheek before moving past him and leaving, offering a short goodbye to Beka before she left the house.

Harper remained in the small side room and sat down on an old chair, putting his head in his hands.

'She seems nice,' Beka's voice interrupted his troubled thoughts, and he looked up to see her stood in the doorway.

'She is, we've been seeing each other for a couple of months, that I can remember,' Harper sat back and just stared ahead.

'So why don't you look like a man who has a lovely girlfriend?' Beka asked with confusion. 'And more importantly why didn't you mention it before?' she teased lightly.

'I also remember breaking up with her,' He simply revealed, the memory he'd seen as they'd kissed hitting him again. 'I caught her sleeping with this other guy, Saul, he was working with me on my team before I convinced him he was no longer required,' he added with a heavy sigh.

'Oh,' Beka offered. 'That didn't look like a girl who was trying to win you back, it looked like a girl who already had if that's the case.'

'I don't remember,' Harper shrugged, looking troubled. 'Why did I take her back? I was angry, Beka, I hated her, she made me look a fool.'

'You didn't seem to object when she threw herself at you,' Beka reminded him.

Harper sighed. 'I guess I like her,' he simply said. 'A lot.'

'She didn't know about your memory loss?' Beka checked.

'I don't think so,' Harper considered. 'I mean, maybe she did and just thought she'd test it, who knows? Not like I feel I can trust her, it could all be a game.'

'Listen,' Beka moved into the room and kneeled in front of Harper, taking his hands into her own. 'If it means anything, I didn't see anything odd about her but what I did see was my friend looking completely at ease with a pretty girl, I could tell you were smitten and it looked to me like the feeling was mutual.'

'You seem happy about it,' Harper noted, looking at Beka's expression.

'Maybe I'm a romantic and maybe I've seen you hurt a few too many times,' Beka offered fondly. 'So all I'm saying is go along with your instinct on this and don't let paranoia destroy it, it seems to me you forgave her and she seems to think everything is back to how it was.'

'Sucks that I only remember the bad, but you're right, we could have made up,' Harper considered.

'Maybe once you got sick?' Beka suggested.

'She did mention that,' Harper remembered, and brightened slightly at the connection. 'We should head out, go and get that stuff,' Harper then got to his feet. 'Not sure Naomi will be so understanding if you keep wearing that shirt.'

'I thought it was yours?' Beka checked.

'It is, but it's her 'my' shirt, whatever that means,' Harper shrugged.

'Ah, boy I'm surprised she didn't slap me,' Beka realised the weight of what she was wearing, even if Harper didn't understand.

There was a sudden commotion at the door, loud banging followed by male voices shouting to be let in. Seconds later the door swung open and crashed against the wall and before Beka or Harper could react, an armed task force of Edenian Palace guards surrounded them.

'What's going on?' Harper asked unsure.

'You're presence is requested in the grand hall,' the leader barked. 'You come with us!'

'What's this about?' Harper checked.

'Our leader needs to speak to you,' he directed to Harper, and then glanced at Beka. 'And you, you must come to, he said he needed to speak to you both.'

'All you really had to do was ask, what's with the dramatics?' Beka checked as they began to move out, both Harper and Beka being jostled to hurry their walking as they left the house.

'I'm not able to say, our orders were to bring you back to the palace as quickly as possible,' the leader simply answered as Harper and Beka were bustled along the stony street towards the palace entrance at the bottom of it.

TBC