Note: Hey everybody, how's about some shameless, self-indulgent fluff? All aboard for Cavity Town!

Chapter 20: Head Over Feet

You've already won me over in spite of me
And don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet
And don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are
I couldn't help it
It's all your fault

.

A few days later, the entire Syndicate sailed out in the middle of the night to the new island that would be their base of operations. It had been a great find; a vast bunker built deep into the largest mountainside of Konkin Archipelago. It was apparently one of the many deserted laboratories of the legendary Dr. Vegapunk. The location was especially ideal because of its isolation. As a former laboratory used for various experiments, it was nestled far away from most of civilization. The small towns that existed along it's smaller landforms nearby appeared to have been long since deserted.

The laboratory itself had been previously occupied by a large group of bounty hunters, though the Syndicate managed to seize it after a fair amount of effort. However, upon closer inspection, it seemed that every scrap of scientific worth within the structure had already been stripped. No matter, they only needed the space and the seclusion. The giant warning skull and crossbones on the many signs that lead to the place were enough to keep others away, and the rocky bay was more than big enough for all the exports and ships. Anything else the Syndicate would need, they could just build.

Rocinante had only done some light work and lifting to help set everything up and he'd barely had a chance to see his partner. He missed her terribly, especially since they usually saw each other on a daily basis and often for hours at a time. And now that their relationship had become more than just professional…

He found the location of her new office the day after they'd arrived. It was much bigger and nicer than the old one, though the décor was a little odd considering they were using what was once separate, small labs as makeshift offices. There were still wires, outlets, and stains on the wall from being covered with various technical aspects that were no longer there. Luckily, aesthetic wasn't a top priority of the Syndicate's at the moment.

Rocinante managed to find a single daisy growing between the outcropping of rocks near the bay and he brought it with him to Aylin's office, holding it carefully in his large hand. He knocked on the open door, a shy look coming across his face, his heart leaping in his chest as she looked up at him and his face split into a relieved smile.

"Hey stranger," he half-whispered as her presented her with the small token.

Her eyes practically lit up at the sight of him, and she smiled at the gesture.

"Thank you," she said, a slightly flirtatious air in her tone as she reached forward to accept the daisy.

Her fingers brushed against his, and Rocinante was momentarily struck by how receptive she was to his small gift. It was a stark contrast to all the times before. He didn't have much time to contemplate this further, though, because a moment later she was grasping his hand and pulling him into her office.

"Better come in, or they'll see you standing around and put you to work," she said with a roll of her eyes.

He flushed as he followed her in, happy that she had closed the door behind them. He nearly tripped on…well, actually there was nothing there to trip on, but all of a sudden he felt very self-aware. Aylin released his hand, but he kept his grip on hers, not letting her go. Instead he knelt down, pulling her into an embrace.

"I missed you…" He whispered, stroking his other hand through her hair.

She pressed her smile into his shoulder, hesitating for a moment before her arms snaked around him to return the hug. "I hate that things have been so crazy," she said as she sighed into his shirt, breathing in his scent. One hand slid carefully over his chest, fingertips grazing the bandage beneath the fabric of his shirt. "How are you feeling?"

Rocinante hugged her as tightly as he dared. "I'm okay...still on 'light duty,' whatever that means…" He held her for a while longer before he pulled back, looking into her eyes and brushing the hair back from her face. His cheeks flushed pink as he realized how close his face was to hers.

Deciding to momentarily throw caution to the wind, he closed the gap between them and kissed her fervently, pulling her back into his arms. There was something he wanted to discuss with her, but damn, it could wait a few seconds more. He was almost surprised yet again at the eagerness with which Aylin responded, her hands gripping the collar of his button-down shirt as she leaned into the kiss and pressed their mouths together.

It had only been a few days, but amidst all the chaos and the stress of the move, it had felt like so much more.

They pulled back after a long moment, breathless, locking eyes with each other. Aylin gave him a small smile, her pale cheeks tinted with a healthy flush.

"Do you want to sit down? I don't have any chairs yet, but I guess we can go sit on my cot," she said, gesturing with her eyes toward a plain white folding bed in one corner of the room.

Rocinante nodded and followed her to the aforementioned cot. He gingerly sat, cringing when it let out a loud creak in protest of his weight. Feeling brave, he reached for Aylin and gently tugged her into his lap. She made no move to resist, even leaned forward against him, so he rested his arms gently around her waist and snuggled into her shoulder.

After a minute of contented silence, he said, "Lin…I wanted to talk to you about something. It happened right before the Syndicate move, but it's got me worried."

Aylin quirked an eyebrow. "Okay. What's going on?" Sensing his unease, she reached up to rub his shoulder in a reassuring manner.

"I'm not supposed to tell you what I'm about to tell you, but...I feel like I have to. You mean more to me than this title does. Lin…the thing is, when they promoted me to Escort, that wasn't the only thing they did. They made me a Scout, too." He paused for a few seconds at Aylin's sharp intake of breath, but she didn't say anything further so he continued.

"Before we moved here, I had a meeting with the Inner Circle about Denise's betrayal. After I told them everything I knew, they asked me about you...and whether your loyalty was questionable. Of course I told them you were completely loyal, since I know you're really doing this for your daughter, but the way they talked about you and looked at me when they mentioned you…" He frowned and shook his head slightly. "I just have this really terrible feeling. It worries me. Why this? Why now?"

Aylin closed her eyes, resting her head against his shoulder as one cool hand reached up to cradle his cheek, gently thumbing his warm skin. She was silent for a moment before she finally replied, "I don't know. They keep a lot to themselves. It could mean anything. But you shouldn't worry about it. I don't intend to give them any reason to think I'll betray them." Her fingers made a feather-light trail down his cheek to his jaw, a small smirk on her lips. "More importantly, you realize you just broke the cardinal rule by telling me they made you a Scout, right? They've killed people for less."

Rocinante shivered slightly under her touch. "I don't care…I wanted you to know. It's not like you're going to go gossip about it. I trust you." He smiled and pulled back so he could see her face, grasping her hand and pressing a kiss to her palm.

If only she knew all the other things about him, he suddenly thought. He'd been withholding the truth from her all along, and he knew it would only become harder the further their relationship progressed. He wondered, would she be upset? Would she hate him for it? There was no doubt in his mind that she deserved to know...but now didn't feel like the right time for full disclosure.

No, not yet...

Wanting to lighten the mood now that they finally had some time alone together, he smiled. "So, about that date…I know I said I wouldn't ask, but I really want to hear you say 'yes' for once." His grin widened. "So...Lin, what do you say? Will you go out with me?"

She scoffed, although she was smiling as she answered, "Yes, I will go on a date with you, Roci."

Rocinante mock-gasped and clutched at his chest. "Oh my gosh, you finally said yes!" He grabbed her hand and squeezed it. "I guess the hundredth time is the charm, eh?"

Aylin sighed, rolling her eyes. "You already knew what my answer would be."

"I don't care! I loved hearing it so much!" Roci's grin widened, and he thought in the back of his mind that it was good he'd put up the silent barrier...for more than one reason. He idly wondered somewhere in the back of his mind if they'd remembered to lock the door, as the barrier could end up working against them as well, but in the next second he didn't even care because he was so happy.

"Wow, so what should we do on our first official date? Dinner? Dancing? A romantic walk?"

Aylin gave him an amused look. "I think dancing is a no-go for you. Which is fine, it's not really my thing anyway. Besides, I don't know how much you've seen of this island so far, but it's kind of a ghost town. Perfect for that walk, though dinner in the new mess hall would probably not be romantic."

"Ahh, that's right! Damn, I really wanted to see you in that little black dress again..." A healthy flush bloomed across Rocinante's cheeks.

Aylin smirked up at him through half-lidded eyes. "Well, who says I can't still wear it?"

He fairly beamed at that response. "Would you?! I thought you looked so beautiful in it that I could barely take my eyes off of you."

She gave him a knowing look. "So I noticed."

Rocinante's blush intensified. "Ah, you did, huh? I'm so embarrassed! I hope I wasn't staring too you much…I wasn't trying to be a creeper or anything! You see…" He reached for her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it gently. "…I love you, Lin…so much…" He pulled the smaller woman close and leaned down until their foreheads touched.

Aylin blushed deeply at his words, though she wasn't surprised that he was being so open with his affections. He had always been that sort of person and she supposed she still wasn't entirely used to it. Still, hearing those words from someone who genuinely meant them felt so nice that she couldn't help the smile stretching her lips once more. She relaxed against him, running her hands along his broad shoulders.

"It's alright, I didn't think that." In truth, she'd been staring at him just as much; it was a relief that she could finally admit that to herself.

Rocinante pulled her closer into his embrace, enjoying the way her hands felt on him. He leaned further down, pressing a kiss to her shoulder, followed by one in the crook of her neck. He leaned up to kiss her cheek, and then finally, after hesitating a brief second, he claimed her lips.

Aylin sighed at the sensation, returning his kiss eagerly as she framed his face with her hands, eventually moving to clasp them around his neck.

When they finally pulled back slightly for air, she chuckled huskily. "You know, I don't really care what we do, or where we go…this is enough for me. We don't have to-"

Rocinante cut her off with another long, lingering kiss. "No way, Lin. I'm going to take you on a fabulous date, followed by more of this…" He ran his hands up and down her arms gently, finally settling them at her waist.

"Well," he continued, "I may pass out from exertion first if we keep this up for long, but…" He pressed several more gentle kisses to her lips, then one to her forehead as he continued to hold her close. "I'm so happy right now…"

Aylin murmured agreeably as she rested her head against him. She was quickly discovering how good it felt to be able to let go of everything that had been holding her back from this; to be free to explore her feelings for Rocinante. Sitting there with him, feeling the warmth of his body encompassing hers and listening to the steady beat of his heart, she almost couldn't remember why she'd ever resisted in the first place. It was a level of intimacy that she'd not experienced in so long that she'd honestly forgotten how wonderful it could be. She moved to bury her face in the crook of his neck, placing a small kiss at his collarbone.

Rocinante closed his eyes, enjoying the way she felt tucked against him. She was warm and soft, and now she was his. He smiled as he traced tiny circles on her back with the fingertips of one of his hands.

"Lin," he whispered and then pulled back to look at her, tracing the outline of her face and brushing his knuckles against her cheek. "I'm always…so stunned by how beautiful you are," he finished breathlessly, drinking her in with his eyes. He still had to remind himself every day that this was real, that he wasn't dreaming.

Aylin felt her cheeks heat up almost immediately and found herself fairly speechless. She'd heard him spout compliments many times before, although she'd always simply assumed that it was just part of his kindhearted nature and hadn't given any of them a second thought. She had never imagined that he'd truly meant each one.

Not sure how to respond, she simply let out a soft, somewhat flustered chuckle.

He smiled again when he met her eyes, but quickly found himself tearing up and he rushed to hide his face in the crook of her neck, letting out a nervous laugh as he did so. A single tear managed to slip out and Rocinante's face flushed as it fell onto the bare skin of Aylin's shoulder. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise and she felt her heart clench at his display of honest emotion.

"Ah, dammit," he muttered as he wrapped his arms around her again and gave her a small squeeze. "Don't laugh at me…"

"No," she quietly assured him, responding by leaning her head against his and combing through his hair with her fingers. "It's okay."

She rubbed his shoulder with her free hand and wondered what it must have been like for him during the entire time she had been wrestling with her own inner turmoil. Surely something like torture, she surmised. But in the end, despite the mountain of reasons she had come up with for why they shouldn't be together, Aylin had decided to choose happiness.

Even if doing so went against her better judgment. Even if there was no way for them to ever really have a normal life.

Aylin had found herself with a lot of time to think things over while she was waiting for Rocinante to wake up in the medical bay. Everything he'd said during their last argument had been true; she'd had a lot of excuses, but none of them had anything to do with their compatibility. They'd been just that-excuses. Ultimately, she came to the conclusion that she'd lied to him because she had been too afraid to admit to her feelings for him and take a chance. Years ago, she had decided that her own happiness was unimportant and therefore not worth pursuing. She lived her life only for the sake of securing a future for her child. That was what her very existence had become about. She supposed she'd become entirely too complacent with it.

But then Rocinante had come along, and little by little, he began to change tiny pieces of her life until one day she realized she couldn't imagine living it without him by her side. Treading water beneath that sheer cliff, listening to the racket of gunfire above, she'd felt frantic despair at the very real possibility that he could be killed. Sitting beside his bed a day later, she'd felt her heart fill with a crushing emptiness at the thought of him never waking up.

That was when she made up her mind. Hadn't she wasted enough time on emptiness? Would it be so bad if the both of them could grasp even the slightest shred of happiness within this miserable, corrupt lifestyle? Perhaps she didn't deserve that much, but Aylin was quite sure that she could no longer subsist without it.

"Thanks Lin…" Rocinante mumbled against her neck as he continued to just breathe there for awhile. When he finally pulled back, he was smiling. "I love holding you…and I just love you. I hope you're ready to hear me say that every day…but if you don't like hearing it that much, let me know." He reached for the hand that had been resting on his arm, bringing it to his mouth for a kiss.

The corners of Aylin's lips turned up slightly. "It's...just going to take some getting used to," she admitted.

Rocinante looked down at her with an expression akin to reverence as he kissed each of her fingertips, the palm of her hand, her wrist and her forearm, making a trail that inevitably led back to her lips. He felt like a teenager again, a time that in truth wasn't too long ago. He didn't have much prior experience with kissing, but he was doing the best he could and Aylin didn't seem to have any complaints with his technique. He kissed her chastely and gently, several times, pulling back to look at her after each one before threading his fingers through her hair and deepening the next kiss, making it much like the one she'd given him after he had woken up in the med bay.

The both of them were short-winded when they pulled away, just slightly, noses still touching. Aylin gasped softly, feeling his hot puffs against her mouth. She found herself wanting to stay like this all day, just being together, kissing each other, exploring each other...it was nicer than she ever imagined it could be. It only made her want more of it. Her lips sought out his once more and they melded together again, breathing each other in as their hands roamed as much as they dared.

She let out a breathless laugh when they broke away once more, her face painted with a healthy flush. "You put up your barrier, didn't you?" She said in a low voice as she smirked, her fingers toying with the collar of his shirt. "I thought it was unusually quiet. People are going to come looking for us, you know..."

"Nah, they're too busy getting everything set up. I think we'll be safe for a little while… I'll keep an eye on the door." Rocinante grinned at her. "Though that's extremely difficult when such a beautiful lady is sitting in my lap…"

His heart felt like it would burst in that moment as he held the woman he loved. The woman who loved him back. That was the thing that most surprised him; that she did, in fact, return his feelings. Of course, he had always dared to hope, even when things looked hopeless. Even when she'd lied to his face about her feelings, that spark of hope had always remained.

Didn't they both deserve to be happy? That happiness found within each other...it was such a great treasure. He just wanted to bask in it for a while. The mission was still there, but it would keep. He had to bite his lip to keep from telling her he loved her yet again. He didn't want the words to lose their meaning, but he couldn't help but feel like there was so much time to make up for. He had so many questions; would she open up to him this time if he dared to ask?

Rocinante slid a warm hand down her shoulder and grasped her hand in his, attempting to thread their fingers though it was a more difficult task than he thought it would be given the size of his hands. He blushed and contented himself to just clasp her hand.

"...When did you know...?" He finally plucked up the courage to ask. "When did you know you had feelings for me, Lin?"

She blinked. "When? Hmm…"

Aylin turned her gaze downward and staring at their hands for a moment while she considered the question. If she were being honest, she hadn't even recognized it when it happened; it was the sort of thing that had just crept up on her. But, thinking back, there was a certain moment that stuck out in her mind. One noble, heroic, stupid act that had changed the way she'd looked at him.

When she met his eyes again, she wore a rather coy smile as she replied, "When you rescued that little girl during the whole Society mess... I was surprised, and..." She trailed off, finding herself unable to explain to him why his heroism had meant so much to her in that particular situation. "...I guess that was the moment I knew. When I saw how much you were willing to risk to keep that innocent kid safe, that was when something changed."

Rocinante's face split into a huge grin at her disclosure and he squeezed her hand tightly. "That long ago…oh, Lin! I'm too happy to wish things had happened any other way right now. I'm just glad I know. I didn't mean to almost die on you. Leaving you is the last thing I want to do. We're partners…and now we're…" He trailed off, wondering if it was appropriate to put a label on this brand new dynamic. His feelings for her had been there for some time already, only held back by her reluctance. In the end, he said, "...now we're more…"

He extricated one of his hands, moving it up the curve of her waist, over her shoulder and up her neck, a thrill going through him as she leaned into his touch. He lifted her chin ever so gently before leaning down for another long kiss, memorizing the taste of her, relishing her soft sounds and how she fit so perfectly in his arms.

"And," Aylin whispered against his lips between kisses, "what about you?" She kissed him once more. "As long as we're being forthcoming..." She ran her hands up the length of his broad chest, settling them around his neck. "When did you know...?"

Rocinante's eyes glazed over slightly from all her kisses and he looked down at her. He chuckled, feeling his cheeks flush. "Well, remember that time we almost died? Ah, I guess I should be more specific, eh? After the mission that turned out to be a trap, where we thought we were meeting a prospective client but it turned out to be Don Fettuccine Alfredo…that's when I started falling in love with you, and I never stopped. I knew something was different, but it wasn't until a few weeks later that I realized what it was."

She stared at him, thinking back to that time, and indeed found herself recalling that something had seemed different after that assignment. She grinned suddenly. All along, Aylin had simply thought that the mission had worn him out psychologically, and attributed his amplified awkwardness to some sort of post-traumatic stress. She had never guessed the real reason for it.

He tucked her head under his chin, holding her close with one hand as the other brushed through her hair. They would have to be careful, Aylin reminded herself; relationships within the Syndicate often didn't last long, due in part to the tendency for those bonds to be used against those who had forged them. She had seen many go down in flames that way. Keeping things to themselves would prove rather difficult, however, as evidenced by the fact that people like Maynard had assumed they were together even when they weren't.

She felt his fingers fall from her hair to trace invisible paths down her back, a touch that was innocent enough but still incited a shiver and a longing that she'd not dared to put a label on until now.

"Roci," she began, breathing against his neck, drawn in by his warmth and the faint scent of his skin.

But before she could get another word out, her den den mushi began to ring from atop her desk. Rocinante groaned at the sound as Aylin reluctantly pulled away from him to answer.

"Work calls, eh? I guess I should get back to resting for the day. Stokes wouldn't like seeing me up and about for too long." He snorted softly as the den den mushi continued to ring. He snapped his fingers, dispelling the Silent bubble that had encompassed Aylin's office.

Aylin reached her desk, grudgingly picking up the receiver and quieting the snail. "Yes?" She appeared to be listening for a long moment and turned to lean against her desk, her eyes meeting Rocinante's every now and then. "...Really? Again? ...Alright, tell them I'll be there in a few minutes. I have some business to finish up here first," she said, her tone never betraying her blatant lie. A moment later she hung up and shook her head. "It's always something around here...Priscilla seems to have lost her keys for the third time."

Rocinante chuckled at this information. "Wow. I didn't peg her for the type! Well, we've all been scrambling around like crazy these past few weeks anyway. Except me, doctor's orders and all." He cringed a bit as he stood up from his seat on the cot. "Don't work too hard, okay?"

She scoffed, "As if that's a promise I can make."

He smiled and, not trusting himself to keep his balance if he bent over, kissed his fingers instead and then pressed them to Aylin's lips, delighting in the dark flush that spread over her pale cheeks.

"I'll see you later."

She nodded, a soft look on her face as she watched him walk out the door. "Watch your head."

"Ow!" The warning had come seconds too late and Rocinante poked his head back in with a sheepish smile before heading back to his room.

.

oOo

.

Most of the Syndicate men and women had been assigned to one of the military style barracks to lay their heads, but the higher ranking officials each had their own rooms. Rocinante's room was the same size as his bedroom back on Agora island in Penndel, down to the size of cot they'd given him. He'd managed to weasel a second cot, however, and it just barely fit his ten-foot frame when pushed end-to-end with the first.

He laid down, groaning a bit at the still healing wounds in his side. It was then that Rocinante reached down into his bag where he kept all his personal effects and pulled out his den den mushi.

"Silent." He snapped his fingers, creating a bubble around himself, picking up the receiver and dialing the number he knew by heart.

A few seconds later, Sengoku picked up on the other end. "Muffins? Is that you?" He asked cautiously.

"Bagels! It's so good to hear your voice." He smiled into the receiver, though he became serious seconds later as he noted the worry in the older man's tone. "Yes, I've got so much to tell you, I'm sorry it's been awhile since my last report you see…"

"Yes, I noticed," came the gruff response. "Did something happen?"

"One of our high ranking officials betrayed the Syndicate to this rival organization, the Hive, and we ended up having to move our entire base of operations…" Rocinante went on to describe the debacle from start to finish, leaving out the details about his and Aylin's relationship and how it contributed to his actions.

"I was out for a few days after the incident at Raven Rock Cove, but don't worry! The doctor has almost completely cleared me. You should see all the new scars I've gotten since I joined the Syndicate, quite the collection!"

Sengoku snorted, apparently not amused by that remark. "Well, so long as you're alright. It sounds like the Syndicate was dealt a massive blow...this could very well lend itself to their undoing. I'll see if I can uncover anything about useful about the Hive...perhaps we can use them to our advantage."

"Great! I bet we can!" Rocinante was fairly bursting to tell Sengoku about his new romance, but he knew without a doubt he couldn't. It was, however wonderful, a distraction. Rocinante knew that, but he also knew it was impossible control an emotion like love.

Having been cooped up and not working for a while, Rocinante was a little tired of all the business talk. Sengoku was always direct and straight to the point in their calls, and he decided it was time to change that.

"So, enough about work, Sengoku. Tell me, how's the family doing? Buki still wanting to join the marines when he gets older?"

"Ah...he certainly is!" A crunching sound came through the receiver as Sengoku began eating his favorite snack. "I'm trying to set him up part-time this summer as a Chore Boy," he chuckled. "Buki seems excited by it."

"I remember the days when I was a Chore Boy. Good times!" Rocinante laughed into the receiver. "And Sanga-san? I do miss her home cooked meals, even if some of them had weird ingredients…well, except the wheatgrass juice…" He made a face remembering it's pungent smell and strong taste.

"Don't remind me! She won't let me out of the house in the morning without some disgusting concoction in my thermos..." He sighed. "Oh, the wife is doing just fine. Up to her elbows writing those uncouth novels of hers, as usual. Buki found one the other day and questioned me all afternoon..." He grumbled to himself a bit more about his wife's hobbies costing him his dignity before stuffing more okaki into his mouth.

Rocinante burst into hysterical laughter, thinking about how poor Sengoku must have been utterly mortified. He wiped at the tears that started to come out of his eyes in his mirth as a memory of a similar situation surfaced.

"Ahh, Bagels! I remember when you had that talk with me! Sanga-san's novels have educated lots of young boys over the years, I'd wager."

"If you don't mind, I'd really rather not think of it..." The older man grimaced as he swallowed a mouthful of crackers. "Anyway...mission details aside, tell me...how have you been?"

Rocinante paused for a moment, a huge smile spreading across his face as he thought about Aylin. "Oh...um, I…great, great, I'm great! You know, except for the almost dying part." He laughed awkwardly into the receiver as Sengoku continued to crunch on his okaki. "But really, I'm doing fine, there's no need to worry, just another scar for my collection!"

"Yes, you mentioned that already..." Sengoku didn't miss the telltale nuance in the young man's answer, though he supposed if it were important then Rocinante would have certainly told him what he'd purposely left out.

The Fleet Admiral found himself wondering if this skirting around had anything to do with the partner that Rocinante appeared to be smitten with. Sengoku wasn't the most perceptive man when it came to romance, but he'd been young once and he knew the signs. He also knew that it was useless to tell the youngster that getting involved was a terrible idea. Rocinante tended to get himself mixed up in peoples' lives regardless. That was just the sort of person he had always been, and it inevitably ended in some sort of heartbreak each time.

Sengoku wanted to say something more to caution the young marine, to try and spare him of more pain, though at that point he was quite sure anything he said would be akin to beating a dead horse.

'That's the trouble with these kids,' he thought to himself. 'They never listen to a thing their elders say to them.'

In the end, Sengoku decided to bite his tongue on the matter. "Alright then," he said after a short pause. "I won't keep you much longer. I'm sure you have much to do in the coming days. Just...be careful, Rocinante. Don't forget about the danger you're in."

The young man smiled into the receiver once more, Sengoku wasn't a touchy-feely man by any means, but his words definitely conveyed how much he cared to Rocinante. "Of course I will, Sengoku, I will succeed in this mission, I promise you. Nothing is going to get in the way of my goals. Tell the family I said hi, and I'll visit as soon as I can. You take care of yourself as well."

"Of course," Sengoku replied. "Until next time, then." He hung up a moment later and the connection was cut, leaving Rocinante in silence.

.

Notes: The chapter title is a song by Alanis Morissette and it honestly fits Roci and Aylin so well that it totally gives us RociLin feels when we hear it, lol

Til next time! :)