a/n: Long march, high step.

From the possibilities of an end came a fluttering beginning.

A beach of white sand in the middle of nowhere. Another classy pursuit.

The sun was hot and glaring. Almost oppressive.

The beach was only lightly populated.

Gentle waves of crystal clear water would lap against the shore. A sparkling sort of foam would gather and retreat into the sand.

The sky was blue again. But unlike Milan's regulated paradise, the sun's light bled into it.

She found herself under the shade of a large umbrella, lying on a beach chair. This time she had insisted on matching swimwear for them both. Two pieces, pink. And with cute, strategically placed ribbons on the tops.

The other woman was reading a book, sunglasses perched on her head. She held the pages open with one hand and picked up the bottle with the other, sipping a fancy wine cooler from it. Her lips glistened for a moment before she licked them.

"What are we doing again?" Amy asked.

"Who knows. It's something," Rouge replied. She closed the book and brought the sunglasses down over her eyes. "I guess you've finished your journey of self-discovery, then?"

"I think so," she said as she looked out to the sparkling waves.

"That's part of being an adult, too. Wondering where you head out from where you stalled."

"It's a bit frustrating."

"You're on a beach in the middle of who knows where. It's as good a time as any to be frustrated."

"You think so?"

"What's the alternative?"

"I dunno."

"Exactly. I'm not gonna say to suck it up and enjoy yourself, but consider it."

"I might."

Amy picked her sunglasses up from the arm rest and set her feet into the sand. She tied a silk wrap around her waist and walked out onto the sand. The heat of the sand was sudden but quickly faded beneath her feet. She walked until she hit the edge of the water, then walked a bit further, feeling the wet sand seep between her toes. With a careful toss of her hair, the sunglasses went on.

The breeze was a bit stronger now. Just a bit cooler. The water was bright and sparkling, a brilliant blue that she could see right through for an extended distance. Beyond those creeping waves were nothing. The water met the sky and created the horizon.

She observed the emptiness.

And she did so for a long while. The water lapped against her legs and nipped at the silk wrap. A wave would rise up and splash her with warmth. Light glittered from the darkness of her lenses and she stood, thinking. Or maybe trying not to think.

She wondered if the emptiness would swallow her if she let it. She stood for a few minutes and waited. Nothing.

Ennui? She wondered about that briefly. Dismissed it.

She was already filled up from this experience, as strange as it had been. She wasn't at a loss for things to look into.

Amy turned away from the gaping horizon and walked back through the water, feeling the heat of the sun again. The hot sand quickly licked up the moisture on her feet. Raising her head, she saw that Rouge had disappeared, leaving her book behind. Amy picked it up and sat on the edge of her beach chair.

"Lost History. The True Story of Space Colony ARK," she mumbled.

"It's a novelty read."

Rouge came back and lay back on her chair. She held out a large and clear plastic cup to Amy.

"Novelty?" Amy asked as she took the cup from Rouge. It was a strawberry sundae, topped with white almond. A spoon was stuck into it.

"Well, I already know the real story. I was there. It's just something to pass the time, have a little fun. See how other people look at things."

"That so…"

"Yeah. It's awful, by the way. A real brick. Good for a few laughs, though."

"I understand that much."

"Hm."

Amy leaned back in her chair and ate a spoonful of ice cream. "This is really good."

"Best I've had in a while, yeah. I'm more a fan of this than gelato."

"Yeah, same here."

"I've never had one of those…uh, what do you call them. Floats, that's it. I never got to try those."

"Really?"

"Honest. I mean, I've always meant to."

"I know a place."

"Station Square."

"Mm-mm. Further out. San Colabelo."

"That's a 10 minute drive south. That close?"

"Yeah. Me and Sonic went one time, when we were just bouncing around after ARK and before I thought he went missing. They have good burgers, too," Amy said before taking another spoonful of her sundae. "Make it our last stop before home."

"Yeah, sounds good."

They ate in silence for a few minutes.

"Did you see anything out there?" Rouge asked. Amy set down her empty cup in one of the holders.

"Not a thing."

Rouge smiled. "You've got it good, then."

"Why? What can you see?"

"Sometimes the past, sometimes the future. I know I'm having a nice day when nothing comes up."

"I haven't seen anything out there for a really long time," Amy said.

"It's for the best."

"They're terrible things?"

"No, not much of the time. It's…mm." Rouge tugged at one of the ribbons on her bikini top. "Life sometimes…you don't always wanna see what's in front of you. Kind of dictates your destiny, you know?"

"Changes your actions before their time."

"Yes, that's it."

Amy leaned back in her chair and smiled. The light melted against her sunglasses. "Live for the moment, then."

"Live for the moment." Rouge adjusted her glasses and dug a spoon into her sundae.

The waves were coming in a few inches higher.

A faded blue sky.