The next day he was busy getting the ship cleaned up, while dealing with a hell of a hangover, and everything sorted out amongst the fleet. The day after that, he dropped off a few families to the colony they were building and then flew back.

Thursday, he felt like everything was on fire. People talked to him, but he didn't hear them. His first mate, Jorif, was capable and made sure to get his attention for the really important stuff. His second mate, Pella, was clearly amused by the whole thing and made lewd jokes that he ignored.

He woke up on Friday and pin-balled around the bridge until Pella made him sit down and eat something.

Another ship approached and docked at noon. He waited in the hangar with Pella, his trademark cocky frown on his face as the ramp lowered and two figures walked down. Walked, his mind screamed, did she come willingly? The second figure was definitely her. That light step, the impish grin as she caught sight of him. His heart leapt into his throat.

"Darth Decimus," greeted Pella, "Darth Oculus," she bowed and then winked at Darth Decimus, who for a moment seemed stunned and then confused before the mask of sneering superiority fell into place.

Andronikos froze there, watching her approach. She stood in front of him, looked him up and down and said, "You look good, Rev. Pirate life agrees with you."

"It always did." Was that smooth voice his? "You don't look so bad yourself."

"Well now," said Darth Decimus, "delivered as promised. I'll be back in two weeks."

Liri nodded to him and turned back to Andronikos as Darth Decimus walked back towards the ship.

He made a noise in his throat and moved towards her, but she hissed, "Wait until he's gone."

He ran his eyes over every inch of her and then finally just stared.

The ship behind them took off smoothly and the second he couldn't see it, she was suddenly in his arms. He didn't know which of them had moved first, but she was definitely moving to kiss him and then she was kissing him and then there was nothing. There was nothing but her lips and her body pressed against his. He lost all concept of time, but a cough from beside them brought him back to reality and he looked up at the sound, confused.

"Revel, you do have your own quarters," said Pella, laughing. He lifted Liri into his arms and made for the bridge. He couldn't stop looking at her. She clung to his neck and didn't stop looking at him either. If they spoke, he would ask questions, he would ruin the moment. He just walked as fast as he could, passing his crew on the bridge, most of whom made some kind of rude comment or howled. He got her into his quarters and then the world fell away again.

Andronikos lifted his eyes to the clock.

"Liri, we should probably eat something." It was the first complete sentence he'd gotten out in... he squinted at the clock again.

She made a negative noise into his neck. He chuckled, "Liri, c'mon. I'll have them bring us something." No answer. "We won't even have to get out of bed."

She stretched against him, "Fine then," she said with a pout in her voice, "But no moving."

"I guess we sort of... burnt ourselves out early. We do have two whole weeks."

"I'm not burnt out."

"Can you move?"

"Not... presently."

He laughed again.

"It's been over a year, Rev. I think we're entitled to burn out on each other."

He clamped down on his tongue. He would ruin this; he would have to ask eventually, but right now he couldn't stop touching her, knowing she was right there.

"It has been a long time." He couldn't seem to make himself shut up.

She rolled away from him and propped her head up with her hand.

"I know I owe you an explanation," she said quietly, "And I meant to do that first, it was just seeing you..."

"I know." He shifted one of his legs to lay against hers, unable to stand not touching her with her so close.

"Did you really make a deal with Decimus to kidnap me?" she said, amused now.

"I did." He gestured at the restraints on a table across the room. "Those are force resistant. I believed you when you said you were done with me, Liri." He tried to keep the pain out of his voice. "I figured if you would just talk to me, we could come to some understanding..."

"If you believed me, hopefully Darth Ravage certainly did."

His head shot up, "What are you talking about?"

"I'm a Darth now, Rev. They want to control me. They want something to hold over my head so I do what they say; it's all politics. You were what Ravage chose to use against me."

"He threatened you?"

"He threatened you. He said he'd have you disappear if I didn't do what he said, so I broke it off and sent you away. I couldn't stand... and they have ways of making people vanish." She sighed and reached for his hand, which he gave her. "They'd have ripped you open and put you back together. They'd have made you hate me or... or..." She was crying. "I couldn't think of any other way to save you."

He gathered her up into his arms, murmuring something he didn't even understand.

"I'm so sorry, Rev; I couldn't stand the thought of what they'd do to you."

"All this time, I just thought you got bored." He leaned back to look at the ceiling. "You missed me, the whole time I was missing you."

"I know..." her voice was hesitant, "there must have been other women and you know to cement my position that there have been other men, but..." she sounded so sad now, "you've always been it, for me."

"Liri..."

She spoke over him, her voice more steady, "I heard from one of Darth Decimus' apprentices that he'd been in contact with you. I found a deal with Decimus made sense, after all, he needs my support on the council and we agree on a lot of things. I agreed to defend someone he cares about against Ravage as well, so he came through on his deal with you."

"So, you can come back?"

"Not all the time, but yes-" He cut her off with a kiss.

"Liri, can you move yet?"

"Somewhat... not really."

"I'll move for you then."

"Liri, we should probably eat something."

"You said that already."

"I said that hours ago." He chuckled, "We still haven't eaten."

"We do have to keep our strength up."

"We do."

"So that I can do this..."

"...Damn." A few minutes later, "Food, Liri, we're going to pass out."

"Fine, but I'm not moving."

Andronikos swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat there for a moment, disoriented. He got to his feet and shifted through the clothing on the floor for his pants.

"Get enough food to last for awhile."

"I will." He couldn't look back at the bed; if he did, he wouldn't leave.

He walked out of his quarters and onto the bridge, as his crew split into howls and cat calls. He scowled and looked for Pella.

"Settle down," he snarled.

"Don't mind us, Revel." said one of his bridge crew, "Been too long since you took any time off. We're just happy you are."

He nodded tersely and looked around again. Jorif greeted him, "Something you need, Revel?"

"Food, a couple of meals and some snacks to keep around."

Jorif smirked at him, "Got it, I'll have it sent up immediately."

"Actually, let me grab something to take in there now; in case whatever you arrange has to be left outside the door."

Jorif shook his head, "Who is this woman, anyway?"

Andronikos cleared his throat, "My wife," he admitted.

Jorif blinked and then grinned, "The one you've been pinning over for the past year? She's a Sith? You always did have dangerous tastes."

Andronikos shrugged, "Leave the bridge to Pella and help me carry?"

"Sure thing, let me call her."