Disclaimer: The Among Us universe belongs to InnerSloth LLC and PlayEveryWare. This is a work of fanfiction and is not intended for profit or copyright infringement. I do not own the rights to Among Us or its setting/universe.

The selfish part of me wants to stay with Del for the rest of the day and not leave the safety of the cabin. The rational part of me knows that we're expected to show up for dinner, at which point the fantasy will be over and we will be required to attend regular life. Besides, we still need to visit Ebba and ask her about what I found in the journal - what happened twenty years ago during Polus I and about the monster-like creature and what it has to do, if anything, with the murders on Polus II.

Del and I eventually roll out of bed and I notice something sitting on the nightstand. Dr. Barnett's glasses. They're cracked and stained and I pick them up to stare sadly at my broken reflection in the lenses. I resolve that the first thing I'm going to do when I get back to Earth - and I will get back - is to find Dr. Barnett's family.

Walking into the hallway is like stepping into a completely different world. The door to Medbay is locked again and I wonder who is tending to Dr. Barnett's body. Nobody has asked me to help clean him up and I'm grateful for it - it would be too much.

Del and I walk side-by-side, relapsing into our familiar silence as we head to the Cafeteria. I pause just before crossing the threshold. It's dinner time but the loud rumble of voices is replaced with a melancholy silence. I don't know how they're going to react to seeing me. Will they pity me? Will they try to console me? Will they ignore me altogether? I'm not sure which is worse.

Del's hand slips into mind and I look at him. He doesn't smile but the light in his eyes says You can do this. I'm here with you.

Feeling slightly bolstered, I gather my courage and enter the cafeteria. It doesn't matter that I brought myself to hysterics over Dr. Barnett. It doesn't matter that I had a literal bloodbath, nor that I screamed myself hoarse. It doesn't matter that Del and I are holding hands. If people care they don't show it. In fact, no one really shows much of anything. As we weave our way between the tables, people raise their heads to give us sad smiles that quickly melt off their faces as they bow their heads back to their meal. I lock eyes with Quill, who sits alone on the far end of the room, and make my way toward him.

He stands as we approach. I release Del's hand and fall into my brother's arms, letting him squeeze me until I can barely breathe. He smells like bleach. When we pull back I don't ask him about cleaning the hallways and he doesn't ask me how I'm feeling. He just holds me out at arm's length and says, "You look like you could use some food. Are you hungry?"

I don't feel hungry but I know I haven't eaten anything all day. I nod, figuring I'll be able to choke a couple bites down.

"I'll get you something," Del says. "You two sit and talk."

We watch him amble over to the kitchen before Quill and I sit down on the plastic bench at the table and he turns to me with a very serious look in his eye.

"How much do you want to know?" he says quietly. Talking about Dr. Barnett is not something I want to do right now, and perhaps he can sense that because he adds, "Or we could talk about something else."

I lift a shoulder in a noncommittal shrug. "Del filled me in a little. When I'm ready I'll talk to Zale and ask him my questions. I just don't feel like talking about it right now. I actually wanted to talk to you about the journal."

"Yeah? Go for it."

"Remember those drawings we showed you? Of the human turning into that...thing?"

"Unfortunately I do - do you think they have something to do with what's behind these attacks?"

"I think so. I want to talk to Ebba still. After all, she was there twenty years ago. If she can give us information on what caused the attacks then, I'm sure it'll bring us one step closer to getting to the bottom of it today. Of course, I'm concerned about people finding out about the monster and panicking but if it could potentially save a life then it's worth it. I'm done playing games - I'm ready to fight back."

Quill gives me an appraising look. At that moment Del returns with my food: pulled pork on a sesame bun and sweet potato fries. I give him a grateful smile. Now that I can actually smell my meal the idea of eating becomes a lot easier to entertain. I nibble on the edge of a fry and discover they are actually quite delicious.

"Lenna has been giving me the stink eye ever since I walked in," Del informs us quietly, glancing over at the far table where Lenna sits next to Osiris. She watches the three of us like a hawk. "I'm going to see what the problem is - I'm sure it's something very important, as always." He allows himself a small grin. "Wish me luck."

"Alright, well good-" Quill stops short as Del gives me a quick kiss on the cheek before walking away. My face warms with delight and I can't help but smile at the dumbstruck expression on Quill's face. "-luck." The word drops flatly in the space between us and Quill can do nothing but stare at me.

"You still haven't shared your thoughts with me about the journal and the drawings," I tell him seriously. "Should we make them public or should I speak with Ebba about it first and get her opinion?"

It takes a second for Quill to find his voice. When he does it's strained and oddly high-pitched. "Right. Well. It seems like I'll need to share my thoughts on more than just the journal."

I arrange my face into the most calm, innocent-looking expression I can. "Oh? Is there something else you wanted to talk about? It's not about the engines, is it? You know how bored I get when you start talking about pistons and spark plugs."

"No it's not about the engines," he says icily. All pretense forgotten, he leans forward and looks me straight in the eye. "What the hell was that?"

"What?"

"Don't play dumb. You know what."

"Oh, the thing with Del? It's called a kiss, Quill. People do that when they like each other. Why? After everything that's happened you're not going to let something as trivial as a kiss deter you, are you?"

Quill's shoulders stiffen and his green eyes flick from my face over to Del, who listens to Lenna as she gabs and gesticulates madly. His eyes narrow. "Do I need to beat him up?"

I snort so loudly a piece of sweet potato lodges in my throat. It takes me a moment to cough it down the right pipe, and when I finally regain myself I laugh. "Beat him up? Be serious, Quill. He would break all the bones in your scrawny body."

"I can't believe this." He leans back and watches me eat. "First people are getting murdered in cold blood and now my own sister is off having a dalliance with a crew member?"

I roll my eyes so hard my vision goes black. "Dalliance? Seriously, what is this, the 1800s? And get over yourself - it's nothing nearly that serious. We're sweet on each other, that's all."

"Uh-huh. And this, coming from the woman who has her mind focused completely on work and refuses to date anyone because it's 'unprofessional and could get in the way of her job'?"

"Okay, first of all, that was back before anyone realized we were stranded on an inescapable murder ship. Second, you know I say those things to deter Zale from trying to get too cozy with me."

"But now that it's someone you actually like, you have no problem 'getting cozy' with him?"

"Listen, can we stop talking about this please? We have an actual problem on our hands and getting salty about my romantic pursuits isn't a helpful solution."

"I'm your brother. I'm allowed to be salty. At least tell me he's treating you well."

"Obviously. He carried me all the way back to my room and washed all the blood out of my hair and clothes and stayed by my side until he knew I was feeling better. Is that good enough for you?"

"Fine. Then I think you should."

"I should...?"

"I think you should ask Ebba about the attacks during Polus I and then tell Zale about the journal and the alien creatures depicted in it."

"I think you're right." I drop my half-eaten sandwich back onto my plate. "I just don't want to cause mass panic."

"Trust me, Sage - this is going to help more than it will hurt."

At that moment Zale's blinding cyan uniform and bouncy golden curls appear at the door. He walks stiffly and awkwardly as he approaches Lenna and Osiris's table. The conversation happening between them and Del is cut short and Zale delivers his own news - news that makes both Del and Osiris get to their feet with official, no-nonsense expressions. Osiris nods curtly and the three of them leave the Cafeteria, leaving Lenna all alone with a look that I know well. She's miffed about something. She catches my eye and brightens immediately, standing up to join us at our table.

"Hiya, Sage, - I'm glad to see you're up." She slides onto the bench next to me and gives me a big hug that I know is meant to be comforting but really only feels like a slap to the face. If it were anyone but Lenna I would immediately shrug them off but I know this is her way of showing affection. "Okay, so there's two things I want to talk about and I know you don't want to discuss either of them, but I'm going to talk about them anyway. The first is Dr. Barnett. Did anyone tell you," she leans in and lowers her voice conspiratorially, "the weapon they found on his body was Minka's missing dagger?"

I tense and give a stiff nod. "Yeah. I heard. So they think she did it, then?"

"Zale thinks so. 'Course, he's still blinded by so much hatred for the woman he refuses to see facts. Just now he came to collect Del and Osiris. The three of them are going to interrogate her. Osiris says he's not going to tell me anything about how it goes, but I plan to wheedle the information out of him one way or another - I'll probably just annoy him until he cracks, like I usually do."

"How could it have been her, though?" I ask. "She's been stuck in her room the whole time. I'll bet you anything she doesn't even know what happened."

"So let's say it wasn't her." Quill leans forward on his elbows. "Don't you find it odd that the killer went after Dr. Barnett, who was with Zale in the hallway, instead of Minka, who was alone in her room with no chance of prying eyes to witness it?"

"It is strange," Lenna nods. "That's a fact that works against Minka's case of innocence."

"He knew too much," I say quietly, remembering the dark blood sample and what it revealed. "He was getting too close to the truth and had to die."

Silence greets this dramatic statement.

"Well," Lenna says, timidly, "Minka may not be a murderer but she's far from innocent. You remember how she stabbed Osiris for confiscating her flamethrower, and you saw the way she reacted when she realized her precious dagger was gone. Honestly I don't blame Zale. She's the only one on this ship who has incriminated herself by acting so violently. I mean, think about it - who else here could you imagine being homicidal?" She looks around the Cafeteria at the rest of the crew. I follow her gaze. "Kenzo may be a big guy but he's a major softie - plus he has a little girl at home so I doubt he has a murderous bone in his body. Ebba was on the first failed mission and she's too frail to hurt anyone. Del and Osiris are physically gifted and capable of hurting someone but they were on the force together - neither of them would risk their job to be a dirty cop and kill people for no reason, no matter how many death threats Osiris mutters under his breath when he thinks I can't hear him. Let's see...even if he did have the brawn, Zale doesn't have the brains. He's just too clueless. I've been around the two of you long enough to know that you're the kindest people ever - far too small and skinny to do any real damage."

"Gee, thanks." Quill frowns at her. "And what about you, Sherlock?"

"Obviously I'm the sweetest, most beautiful and innocent crewmate on board. I love people and cry at the smallest upset."

"You do love everyone," Quill nods. "Damn. Minka's case is getting harder and harder to defend. Unless the killer is some kind of mutant that can possess another person, it really isn't looking good for her."

Lenna and I grimace. "I wish I could be a fly on the wall during the interrogation," I say wistfully, staring out the Cafeteria door into the hallway. "It's a shame Zale is hushing it all up."

"He doesn't want information to slip out until he can validate it," Lenna says knowingly. "Typical Zale. Still, I suspect the details won't be a mystery for long - especially for you, Sage. Which brings us to the second topic of the day: Del. I mean, the way he pines for you he's bound to tell you anything."

I choose the wrong moment to take a sip of water. I inhale, choking on it as it forces its way down the wrong pipe. "I b-beg your p-pardon?"

"Please. I have eyes, girl. Who was holding his hand? You think I don't see these things but I live for this stuff." A wicked grin spreads across her face. "You're not telling me everything and I'm determined to sniff out the tea."

"Well, I can't say I'm surprised." I release a disappointed sigh. "I was just hoping it wouldn't get in the way of everything."

"What are you talking about? It's not getting in the way of anything."

"The fact that we're still talking about this is evidence that it's getting in the way."

"I'm with Lenna on this one," Quill says, betraying me completely. "I want to know more about your new boyfriend."

"First of all, he's not my boyfriend," I argue, ignoring the way my heart jumps at the word. "Second of all, if you want to know so badly why don't you ask him instead of badgering me?"

"He scares me," Quill says just as Lenna says, "Because you're a pushover and Del never talks to me."

I'm spared from answering when Zale reappears, flanked by Del and Osiris. We turn in unison, watching their expressions closely. As usual, Del's face is a mask of calm and Osiris just looks angry. Zale appears nervous, a twitch forming in his left eye. His eyes dart from table to table. Kenzo and Ebba are watching them, too. In a move that is unexpected and very unlike Zale, he scrambles onto an empty table and stands above our heads, clearing his throat importantly.

There's not really any point, since we're all watching him already.

"Your attention please," he says unnecessarily. "I know you are all grieving the doctor and want some updates on what we're going to do moving forward. I consulted with my team -" I assume the "team" he's referencing is Del and Osiris "-and we've decided to officially repeal the buddy system."

A few interested murmurs ripple through the Cafeteria.

"Of course he did," Lenna whisper-hisses at me. "Dr. Barnett died on his watch. He's just trying to save his own skin. Oh well. As least I'm shot of Osiris."

I barely hear her. My eyes and ears are trained on Zale, determined not to miss any information.

"I know what you must be thinking - What was the point of doing it all in the first place? The intent was to pair people together to discourage easier targets and increase the chance of being able to fight back. Regrettably..." he pales and dabs at his forehead. "Regrettably, this system has failed us. In other words, it does absolutely squat."

Dubious looks float around the room and I hear Kenzo as he says to Ebba in a carrying whisper, "Well, better late than never. Damn shame it took a death for him to recognize the truth."

Zale sniffs, looking even more nervous than before, and soldiers on, "I still think we should stick in groups of two, or even three, but I recognize that this can hinder our daily tasks. Furthermore, I want to publicly thank Kenzo and Ebba for coming to my aid during the tragic event. We will be hosting a funeral for the doctor tomorrow morning so please prepare to give your respects. That is all. Er...dismissed."

He scrambles off the table but his announcements are far from over. He hurries over to our table, locking eyes with me on the way. Del follows. Osiris, apparently equally pleased to be free from Lenna, takes advantage of his newfound freedom and leaves the Cafeteria entirely.

"Sage." Zale sits across from me, looking extremely somber. "I just want to start by expressing how sorry I am for what happened to the doctor. He was your closest colleague and good friend and I know you looked up to him. I can't imagine how difficult this must be for you, and I want to personally apologize for letting this happen. After all, I was supposed to be there for him. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."

If the topic didn't weigh so heavily on me I would almost be tempted to laugh, the way he's groveling. It's ridiculous in the classic Zale style but I can tell he's trying. "I appreciate it," I say sincerely. "But you don't have to apologize. I'm sure you were doing everything you could."

"That's the thing, though," he whispers, looking suddenly scared. "I didn't do anything because I didn't know what was happening. One moment I was walking down the hallway with the doctor, on our way to Communications to try and contact MIRA, and the next thing I knew I was completely alone. I doubled back to find him, retracing my steps all the way to Navigation. Somehow the assailant snuck upon on us from behind, silenced him, and dragged him to Nav where they finished him off. I heard and saw nothing. When I found him my reaction attracted Ebba and Kenzo who were passing and we did what we could for him before we ran into you and, well...then we took him to Medbay. I must say, it was not an easy thing, cleaning him up without a proper doctor, but Osiris has some first aid experience from being on the field and he was able to handle the worst of it." He bites his lip, waiting anxiously for my reaction."

"I see. Well...thanks for telling me, Commander. I appreciate it."

"You are very welcome. I wish I could be more helpful about who or what killed him, but I'm afraid we're in the dark. We all are."

Not all of us. I think of the journal and the drawings of that horrible extraterrestrial beast. If this is what we're up against it would answer a lot of questions, like how it was able to move stealthily enough without being detected, as well as the strength to silence and incapacitate a grown man. I glance at Quill, who nods reassuringly. It's definitely time to talk to Ebba about it - the sooner the better.

When I wake up on my birthday it takes me a moment to remember why I feel so miserable. There's not any daylight in space so the room has its usual shadowy quality and I squint at the digital clock on the ceiling. It's still early but I hear the shower running.

My eyes fall on Dr. Barnett's glasses, sitting on top of my grandfather's journal on the nightstand. I retired early to my room the previous night (escorted by Del and Quill, both of whom have officially refused to leave my side) and stayed up late reading the journal. My grandfather's entries are getting fewer and farther between and the information in them is getting less and less helpful. The only thing he records now are the deaths of his crew members, which are just as frequent and grisly as the ones that have occurred in the past month. He's drawn more concept pieces of the creature, including angles and details and notes like he's studying them. There was a time when I wondered if the alien could take over another person's body through possession, but based on the horrific transformations depicted in the pages of the journal, it seems more like some sort of morphing or shape-shifting than anything else.

The funeral begins in an hour and I'm nervous. A part of me doesn't want to go. I don't think I'll be able to bear seeing Dr. Barnett like that again, but if I don't go it will be an insult to his memory. He's counting on me, of all people, to be there for him in his last sendoff.

The thought stings my eyes and clogs my throat. I swallow heavily, pushing back against the tears, squeezing my eyes shut and clenching my fists until I'm able to get my emotions under control. Once I'm sure I'm not in danger of a breakdown, I grab the journal and pen I was using last night and open up to the first of the blank pages in the back of the journal.

At first I thought it would be sacrilegious to mar my grandfather's precious journal with scribblings and marks of my own. But Quill pointed out that it was a gift from Ebba and that, if grandfather was still alive, he would surely want me to use it for good if it meant getting to the bottom of the mystery.

The first few blank pages are covered in lists and crossed-out bullet points and question marks, all based on what we know for sure to be true, as well as the questions I still have.

Extraterrestrial being

Bloodthirsty, quiet, stealthy

Nightvision

Speed

Large jaws (Warrick)

Strength (O'Connell)

Smart - uses weapons (Barnett)

Q: Shapeshifters? Possession?

Q: Motive?

Q: Using vents as transportation?

Q: Weaknesses?

Q: Eats Human Flesh?

The pages after that contain what I was working on last night. I've never been good at public speaking, especially when people are expecting me to say something heartfelt at a funeral, and I thought it might help if I tried to write out my thoughts. None of them are connected very well and most of them aren't even full thoughts to begin with, but I have a loose idea of what I want to begin with. I'm trying to memorize the points I want to make - it would be a bit insensitive to read off a piece of paper. I ultimately want people to know that it's coming from the heart.

I sigh heavily and flop onto my back, letting the journal fall open on my chest. I'm tempted to scrap my idea entirely and just wing it. I want to make sure I include everything - I don't want to miss a single treasured memory of Dr. Barnett. I can imagine what he would say to me if he saw me in such distress.

"I must say, Sage, it's admirable that you're taking it upon yourself to do well with this task. But it's also important to take care of yourself - try not to stress too much about it. Let the words come honestly and naturally and what you want to come will come. Trust yourself."

I sit up again and stare sadly at the glasses on the table. The shower turns off. Last night I fell asleep with Quill in the bed and Del on the floor and now both of them are gone. I assume Quill has gone off to tinker with his toys in one of the engine rooms (he's been doing that a lot lately and he's only become dirtier and greasier for it), so I assume it's Del in the shower. The door opens and my suspicions are confirmed as Del steps out, hair wet and mussed, wearing nothing but a pair of low-slung sweatpants. I feel my cheeks heat up and surreptitiously check him out as he walks over and sits on the bed next to me.

"Will you check my stitches for me?" he asks, turning his injured shoulder toward me. "It's hard to tell but I think it's healing okay."

"Sure." I set the journal and pen aside on my pillow. I carefully peel back the bandage covering his cut and am pleased to see that the sutures have completely dissolved. The cut itself has mostly healed. Shiny pink skin stretches across the length of the wound, but it still looks as though it might be tender. I gently press on the skin around the cut. "Does this hurt?"

"Not really."

I skim my fingers over the newly healed skin, careful not to push too hard. "How about this?"

"No."

"Good. Well, it's pretty much healed. All the stitches are gone but I'm afraid it will leave a scar. The good news is I keep fresh bandages in the nightstand so we don't have to make a trip to Medbay where he..." I trail off, pausing as I'm in the middle of reaching for the drawer where I keep the bandages. "Um. Never mind."

Blushing, I busy myself with opening the bandage and applying it busily and noisily to his shoulder. I kick myself inwardly. If I can't talk about Dr. Barnett in front of Del, how am I going to talk about him in front of the entire crew?

"It's okay to not be okay." Del turns to face me and cups my cheek. "I know words seem empty, but if there's anything I can do to help don't hesitate to let me know."

"Thank you," I whisper. The tears are back and I swipe furiously at them, sucking in a shaking breath. "It's just...I just want to be in control of something for once, you know? And I feel like I owe it to Dr. Barnett to honor him. I knew him the best and I don't want to fail."

Del moves closer and wraps his arms around me, pulling me in so I can rest my head against his chest. He smells fresh and distinctly male and I turn my face so my nose is buried where his neck meets his shoulder.

"No matter what you say I know you're going to do great. No one expects you to be perfect. You won't fail." There's a beat of silence and then he says, "Do you want to practice? I can listen if you want."

I shrug. For some reason practicing my words for Dr. Barnett seems silly. Besides, I'm too distracted by the warmth of Del's skin, which makes me feel slightly flustered.

"That's okay. I think I'm going to make a few bullet points and go with my gut. I'm tired of overthinking this." I just want you to hold me and never let go.

"Hey." He pulls back so he can look me in the face and smiles. "Happy birthday."

Oh. That's right. I've already forgotten.

"Thanks. What a time to be alive."

He laughs. "I know things are starting off on a somewhat depressing note, but did you have any plans?"

Just to survive. "Just to read," I say, indicating the journal.

"You really need to find a new book."

"That's not all though," I say defensively. "I think Kenzo is making me a cake and Quill is crafting me a present. So that'll be nice."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. I'm looking forward to it. Otherwise I really just want to relax. Maybe sleep."

"I think that can be arranged. I'm sorry I didn't get you anything."

"Don't worry about it. Lenna didn't get me anything either. She's livid. I'm just grateful to have her. And you."

"Well..." He presses his forehead against mine, tracing my jaw with his thumb. "I don't have much to give, but I can kiss you again."

I smile. I try to think of something cute and flirtatious to respond with but my mind is full of static. When he kisses me it's more urgent than before. I slip my hands around his waist, sliding along the strong muscles of his bare back. I skirt around the bandage and trail a hand up his spin, along his neck, and into his damp hair. He grunts and lifts me into his lap. The kiss deepens. His mouth opens and I feel his tongue slide across my lip, enticing a tiny moan from me.

I want him.

I poke my tongue into his mouth. He responds with his own tongue, running it along the edge of mine. The sounds we're making are shocking but all I can think about is his smell and his taste. His hand finds its way beneath the hem of my shirt, cold fingers skimming along my back. I shiver. He finds the clasp of my bra and tugs playfully at it, making my heart flip wildly. Part of me wants to relax and see how far we can take this, but the rationale part of me isn't dumb enough to start something on a ship full of people. Someone could walk in at any -

"Ah - terribly sorry to interrupt. I must have the wrong room."

With the sound of a suction cup being pulled, Del and I part in shock. Hands fall back into place and I tumble off his lap. Quill stands in the doorway. His expressions shifts from startled to scandalized to amused and back again in the span of a second. Neither of us even heard the door open, which is completely mortifying.

"Room service," he announces, grinning widely. Despite the disappointment coursing through my veins at being interrupted, the expression on my face must be priceless. I'm never going to hear the end of this. "Well, if you're done I'll just tidy up here and leave this delivery for Birthday Girl and get out of your hair..." He places a small box wrapped in brown paper on my nightstand and turns to leave. I jump up.

"Wait! Quill, just...wait. Please stay. We didn't, er...hear you come in."

"Clearly."

I flush wildly but refuse to feel sorry for my actions. "You said this is for me?" I pick up the package. It's square and about the size of my hand. It's surprisingly heavy. "Let's go into the hall - I can open it there."

"Sure, if Del can spare you for a few seconds?"

Del rubs the back of his neck, looking embarrassed but grinning widely. "Uh...yeah. Of course. Take your time."

I smile gratefully at him and push Quill out of the room, shuffling out to join him in the hallway. As soon as I close the door the teasing starts.

"I have a weak heart, Sage. You can't go around surprising me like that."

"I know. You're right. In our defense we thought you were up to your elbows in the engine room."

"Well, I was in the engine room but I wasn't working on the engines. I was working on this." He nods at the package. "I hope you like it. It took me a long time."

Excitement and curiosity mounting, I pull the paper off to reveal a makeshift box made of thin cardboard. I pop it open and reach inside to pull out the treasure within.

At first I'm too stunned for words. It's a sculpture - a delicately-crafted handmade sculpture made from scraps of copper and various screws and wires. I place the circular base in my palm and turn it slowly, gazing at it from all angles. A hummingbird. Its small egg-shaped body sprouts fragile wings made from dulled blades. It's head and beak are the handle of a fork that curves gracefully across the back and splays its tines out like a feathery tail. The long beak balances from the center of a sheet-metal flower, connecting to a curved stem made from tiny bolts and screws. It's all supported by a round four-inch gear at the base. I take a moment more to inspect the tiny connection points where things were carefully and skillfully fused together with a steady hand. The harsh fluorescent lights highlight the rust and imperfections in places but I don't care - I've never seen anything so beautiful.

The tears are back but this time they're tears of joy. I let them fall because I still don't have a proper reaction.

"I know how much you miss the sound of birds in the morning," he says with a wide grin. "I remember you mentioning once how you find hummingbirds fascinating - how their wings can beat so fast they're almost invisible."

I remember, too. Almost like it was yesterday. We were sitting in our backyard during the spring (oh, how I miss the seasons) drinking two tall sweating glasses of ice-cold lemonade. The poppies were in full bloom and I gasped as a tiny hummingbird - no larger than my thumbnail - whizzed into view and darted from flower to flower, its imperceptible wings making a faint buzzing sound. It's a moment belonging to a world that lives eons away - so far out of reach yet tantalizingly close.

I pull Quill into a tight embrace. "It's perfect," I tell him, my heart aching with happiness. We pull apart and I notice how shiny his eyes are.

"Happy birthday, Sage. I love you."

"I love you too. And I love this. I'm going to keep it forever."

"I'm so glad you like it."

"I do. I really really do."

"Even more than kissing Del?"

I gasp. I kick out a foot and it finds his shin with a satisfying thump.

"I mean, if we're comparing gifts that guy is hard to beat." He holds his shin, grinning despite the pain. "Just saying."

"Shut your overlarge mouth, Quill Korbel!"

"Speaking of mouths, I think Del still has a little bit of his gift left for you."

"We were having a perfectly sweet moment and you just had to ruin it, didn't you?"

"I'm not the one sneaking around, you know. You gave me some great content. I'm going to milk it for weeks - just because I can."

"You are insufferable!" I pick up the empty cardboard box and fling it at him. It goes wide. He snickers.

"Shameful."

"I'm putting this somewhere safe," I say irritably, indicating the hummingbird, "and when I come back into this hallway you and I are walking to the funeral together like nice, normal siblings. No crying, no teasing, no kicking and no throwing things."

"Sure thing. That is, if you can Del can go five minutes without sucking each others' faces off. What?" He laughs at my expression. "I've still got at least sixty seconds to make jokes until our bargain begins."

I stick my tongue out at him like I'm five years old and stomp back into the cabin. Del is properly dressed in his usual dark blue space uniform. His eyes land on the sculpture and his face brightens.

"Wow - that's incredible. Did he really make that for you?"

"Isn't she beautiful?" I breathe, holding her out proudly for inspection.

"She?"

"I dunno, it just feels right." I hurry over to the bedside table and place it in the very center next to Dr. Barnett's glasses. I grab the journal.

"I'm sorry if things are awkward with Quill," he says. "I didn't meant o put you in that position."

"Don't be sorry - Quill is a big boy, he can handle it. Besides, he now has an unending source to draw from when he's roasting me so I'm pretty sure he's secretly glad it happened." I sigh. "This is karma for teasing him mercilessly about his girlfriend in high school."

"Does this mean I can kiss you whenever I want?"

The way he's looking at me makes my heart flip. I walk over to him and look up into his gorgeous mis-matched eyes, placing a quick peck on his lips. "It would be a shame if you didn't. I mean, it's not like we're trying to hide anything. People are going to react how they react, and now that Quill and Lenna are getting it out of their systems, I'd say we've pretty much gotten through the worst of it."

"I told Osiris."

"Oh really? What did he say?"

"To be honest he didn't really seem to care. He did question my taste, though, which I'm not quite over."

"That's rich, coming from a guy with tribal tattoos."

Laughing over the sheer ridiculousness of the situation, we leave the room and join Quill in the hallway. With Del on my left and Quill on my right, I feel a lightness in my heart that I haven't felt in a while.