Thick clouds of grey smoke billowed across the deck of the Bebop. Both Spike and Faye choked on the smoky air that stung their eyes.

"I told you those pieces are too big! It's never going to catch."

Spike sighed and threw his hands up in the air. "Fine then, almighty queen of the wilderness. If you think you can do better, then please, be my guest."

Faye shot Spike an annoyed glance as she carefully grabbed the pieces of wood by their uncharred ends. She had tried to tell Spike that he had cut the kindling to big, but of course he wouldn't listen.

As she grabbed the hatchet from the deck and cut the pieces smaller, she thought in the back of her mind that maybe she should cut his fingers off while she was at it. He thinks he knows everything.

Using the remnants of the beer box, Faye carefully rearranged the smaller pieces of wood, and lit it, watching intently. As the flames finally caught, she turned to Spike with a triumphant grin on her face. "Well….you may bow down now peasant."

Flipping her off, Spike walked away without a word, heading for the edge of the deck. Faye plopped down in a chair beside the fire, and tossed a log on. She lit a cigarette, a smug smile still on her face, proud of herself for showing Spike up. Exhaling a small cloud of smoke, she let her eyes wander over to Spike.

Over the crackling of the fire she could faintly hear him whistling a low tune. The sun was starting to set, and she couldn't help but admire the way his silhouette looked in the diminishing light. She would be lying to herself if she said she wasn't attracted to him. Part of her dreaded this weekend ending. Soon Jet and Ed would be back, things would go back to normal. Back to the bickering, the ignoring, the snide remarks, with moments of kindness sporadically sprinkled through out. Does it have to be like that though? Faye was snapped out of her reverie as Spike's whistling abruptly stopped and was replaced by a faint tinkling sound.

"Seriously Spike! Are you really peeing over there!? We have indoor plumbing ya know? You even said yourself that the bathroom wasn't off limits."

Spike turned to look at her over his shoulder, there was just enough light for Faye to make out the lopsided grin on his face. "Just trying to keep things authentic my dear." Continuing about his business he turned back to Faye again. "You're not trying to sneak a peek are you?"

"Yeah right, I am pretty sure I have had more than enough disappointment in my life. Why add to it?"

"Disappointment….No Faye you must be confused, I think the word you are looking for is awe inspiring."

"Yeah, I'm sure that's the word." Faye rolled her eyes and tossed her spent cigarette into the fire, reaching into the cooler for a beer.

Spike, who was now attempting to retrieve a beer of his own, scowled as she slammed to cooler lid closed. "Go wash your hands first, nasty."

Spike kicked the leg of her chair as he walked passed, mumbling under his breath. "Yes mom."

As Spike headed back inside, Faye took a sip of her beer. She closed her eyes, getting lost in thought. Her mind went back to 8 months ago when Spike had returned to the Bebop. He had been gone for a month, and even though Faye had tried to hold out hope, she had finally begun to resolve herself to the fact that he was dead. She remembered sitting on the couch, idly filing her nails, Jet had been searching for potential bounties when the sound of a ship landing on the flight deck had startled them both. Faye had felt her heart race, and once Spike had entered through the door, she thought it might explode. Jet had gotten off the couch, and limped, his leg still healing from the bullet wound, to slap Spike on the back, and jovially welcomed him back. Faye had to fight back the urge to run up to him and throw her arms around him, instead she silently thanked whatever great force out there that had brought him back alive.

Everything had gone back to the way it had been before. Back to hunting bounties, bickering, meager meals, fleeting moments of familial normalcy. About a month after Spike's return, Ed and Ein had returned. Once again there were few explanations or questions asked. Though it was still sort of surreal to Faye, she had to admit that it was great to have everyone back together once more. She had just learned to accept the fact that they were just the kind of people who didn't pry into one and others business. They kept certain walls up, and respected unspoken boundaries, herself included.

Spike returning to the flight deck snapped her out of thought, and she flashed him a sly grin. "About time."

They spent the rest of the evening roasting hot dogs, and drinking beer. At one point they toasted marshmallows, Faye laughing at Spike as he lost his first two into the fire. They reminisced about bounties caught and lost, about drinks shared in smoky bars, pranks played on each other, and other good times.

The fire had all but burnt to embers, and it was getting late. Spike turned his eyes toward the night sky. "We should probably get situated in the tent."

Nodding in agreement, Faye made her way toward Spike's tent like creation. Climbing in, and getting situated, she was surprised at how comfortable it actually was. Spike joined her, and Faye couldn't help but laugh a little to herself. While she fit just fine, Spike was almost too tall, his head almost hanging out. Faye was also thankful that the amount of space forced them to lay pretty much side by side, something that she would appreciate in secret.

Both laid on their stomachs, heads poking out of the tent, a battery operated lantern between them, each with a beer in front of them and a cigarette in hand. The silence that had settled over them was thick, but not uncomfortable. Spike stared out straight ahead, and Faye used the moment to enjoy the side profile of his face. She couldn't help but notice that he seemed lost in thought, some place far away, even though he was right beside her. "You still miss her." It wasn't a question, just a plain statement.

Spike took a drag, and exhaled, eyes still focused out toward the edge of the deck, he knew who Faye was speaking of. "I do. Every single day. I loved her, and I think a part of me always will, I mean you can't really forget the first time you ever really feel love."

Faye nodded, not really knowing what to say to him, and she was thankful when he continued to speak again.

" Before I came back to the Bebop…I mean, after everything. I was in the hospital for three weeks actually. I had a lot of time to think, and think and think some more"

Faye was a bit taken back at how casually he had offered up such information, after months of all of them pretending nothing had happened. She placed a hand on his arm, waiting for him to continue.

"I cant let the past control my life though. I learned that. And I guess if there is any important lesson to be learned in life, that might be it. I can be grateful for what I had, and love the memories, but not let them consume me. I had memories of the past, but if I only live in them, Ill never have the chance to make new memories. I feel pretty confident that I can move on with my life somehow. I mean I have my friends, Jet, the kid, the damn dog, and even you."

She was totally floored. Part of her wanted to ask him where the real Spike was, but she decided if he was going to be open with her, the least she could do was spare him some of the sarcastic remarks. At least for now.

Faye smiled a genuine smile, and leaned over kissing his forehead right above his eyebrow. "Good night Spike."

He was stunned at her actions, but he would be a liar if he said he wasn't enjoying this side of her. He smiled as he watched her get under her blanket, her back to him. Spike reached over and turned off the lantern, getting situated himself. "Night Faye."

Sometime in the middle of the night Faye awoke, and panicked, upon opening her eyes as everything remained dark. It took her sleepy mind a moment to realize that the back of Spike's arm was draped across her face. Shoving his arm off her face she poked him in the side. "Move over lunkhead."

Mumbling something incoherent, Spike rolled over, and started snoring softly. Faye briefly thought about waking him back up to tell him to stop snoring, but instead scooted over, snuggling up against his sleeping form, letting sleep claim her once more.

"Faye… Hey..Faye…Wake up."

Slowly opening her eyes to the soft voice speaking to her, Faye pulled the blanket up over her head. "What do you want Spike?"

"You gotta see the sunrise, its amazing."

Crawling out from under the blanket, Faye stuck her head outside of the tent, truly in awe of the bright red and orange painting the early morning sky. "Its beautiful."

Both had resumed their prone positions from the night before. Spike placed his hand over the top of Faye's and nodded. "Yeah it really is huh?"

Faye made no motion to remove her hand from under his, it was too early to feel awkward, and so she just let it be.

"Hey Faye?" getting no response, Spike turned his eyes from the sky to Faye, who had her head resting on top of their hands, she had fallen back to sleep.

Chuckling to himself, and lighting a cigarette with his free hand, he glanced from his companion, and back to the brilliantly lit sky. If this what living in the present could be like, he wondered why it had taken him so long to get with the program. There would always be memories, both old and new. There would be bumps in the road along the way, mistakes made, lessons to be learned. One thing Spike knew about himself is that he was slow to learn, but damn it he was going to give it his best shot this time around.