"So you are that 'Sliver' chick?" Han asked, sounding somewhat skeptical. His eyes retraced her figure underneath her clothes. He still was having trouble getting used to the idea of her being so pretty and challenging at the same time. He reasoned that she was so tough, which made her more attractive.

"Yeah," Makoto confirmed with some measure of ill-ease.

"What are you?" He gazed at her. She was silent a moment, nearly expectant. Han looked puzzled. Then he clued in: the fight, the kiss. He frowned, almost looking sheepish.

"Hey look, it's not like I mind you bein' all powered up and CyberKnight-like… but I never figgered a legend to be a chick unless it was Erin Tarin," he started. Makoto indicated to him that she was listening by raising an eyebrow. "I mean, every girl I've been with couldn't fight. Scared dumb of it. But you know, I ain't going to argue 'cause money."

Makoto gazed at him steadily. He hadn't answered the question. He rapped his fingers on his thigh and said, "Well, yeah, I'll say it: You're sexy when ya fight."

Even though he seemed finished, Makoto said nothing in reply. Again, he took a moment to speak.

"What can I say about the kiss, Mako? Maybe I did it 'cause I don't know how else to say… what I just said."

Something grabbed her. She could not be sure exactly what it was at first. She knew, however, that it was something about him. She regarded him, wanting, for a reason she could not quite understand, to hold and kiss him again. She closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind of the thought. Stubbornly, the desire remained.

"Hey, you okay?" he asked. She looked at him and nodded.

What is it about him? Why do I… a knot tightened in her stomach. Even thinking of it brought the desire forth like a lure. What is the difference between Han and the other men… no, boys. The thought dawned that this was the first man she was attracted to. That is what it was. She was uncertain. Almost… afraid.

"Hey, babe?"

Of him? No, that wasn't it. But… what? Makoto snapped out of her trance of thought. "Um, yeah. I was thinking."

He smirked. "I kinda got the feeling you were like me when it came to thinking. I usually go for the trouble first. Even if I know it."

Makoto was not sure what to say. "I guess so."

He leaned forward. "We can't stay here too long, sexy, but maybe you could tell me something about being a… uh, what is it?"

"Sexy?" she returned with an amused smile and a warmth on her face. "Guess I could."

It turned out that Hanlan did not live very far away. He lived on the top floor of the building. Laray and he had been friends for years and helped each other out in the knowledge-starved society the CS was creating. Laray was kind enough to provide Hanlan with weapons (at a friendly price of 40% black market value) when he needed them, and Hanlan, in turn, primarily due to the type of people he hung around with, kept up a steady flow of clients for the cyber-doc and part-time techno-wizard. Unfortunately, Laray was terrible at the latter, so he avoided it most of the time.

Makoto and Hanlan sat across from each other in his three-room home. The central part consisted of a kitchen/living room - or rather, what passed for one - bedroom and storage bathroom. The bedroom was in shambles. He was a much more efficient fighter than a keeper of house and home. Not that this surprised her; most men like him relied on women - often very much like their mothers - to keep such things in order. It could have been worse; most of his clothes had somehow ended up in a pile - destined for what she hardly cared for. The rest consisted of Pre-Rifts artifacts, mostly melee type and other ancient-type weapons.

"You know we didn't even have a chance," Makoto began, somewhat hesitant. "Only I could transform, and no way could I have fought them off alone."

Han gazed at her, not quite sure what he was hearing. "Uh, what? Whaddya mean, 'transform'?"

"The slaver barge. Uh, my… well, I have a pen that turns me into a sailor-suited warrior."

"A what?" he asked with a quirked brow. "Show me?"

"Well, I…" her mouth curled in consideration. "Um…"

"I won't laugh," he grinned. "Promise."

She frowned, worrying about exactly that point. Gradually, she nodded. With a motion practised to the end of expertise, she brought the pen above her head and called: "Sailor Jupiter - Make Up!"

There were no lights, no flashing lines of energy, just Suddenly Jupiter. She gazed over herself as Hanlan took in an eyeful and then some. "You sure you ain't some kinda street wal…"

Her stern glare cut him off. "I didn't do this so you could leer at me!"

"Uh, okay, sorry. Why don't you sit down, huh? We can talk, okay? You can tell me about the… uh…"

"Senshi?"

"Well, actually, the Splugores, or whatever y'all 'em."

"Splugorth," she pronounced delicately. "I guess. There's not much to tell. We woke up in Atlantis, all still together."

She paused, noting his politely raised hand. "Okay there, sexy, who's 'we'?"

She glanced at her hands as they fiddled with the hem of her micro skirt. "My friends. Ami… Usagi, Rei, and Minako."

"All girls?" A nod. "Okay. Go for it."

She looked at him, indicating that she hadn't exactly been waiting for his permission. He shrugged. "Apparently, we were together because of our uniqueness, being aliens - from the moon, I mean."

"So Atlantis is legit?"

"Yeah, where'd you figure I got my scars from, hm?" she set upon him nastily.

"Kinky sex life?" he half-grinned, eying her skirt as if to peer underneath.

Makoto sighed. She wondered what she saw in him until she looked at him again. The thoughts of his ill-humour faded. Whenever she thought about it, she fell more deeply in love with him. "I met someone called Sivil Nira." Makoto closed her eyes momentarily as if watching an unpleasant scene play in her mind. "She… brought us together, and…"

"What happened to her?" For a moment, a flicker of recognition shone in his eyes. Makoto noticed, but in her state, it failed to register.

"She died attacking one of them," she said, her voice hushed with emotion. Han's eyebrows knitted, and his gaze fell for an instant. "She had to create a diversion for us to escape."

"So tall, leggy?"

"What kinda… well, yeah, she did have long legs…"

"Ah damn. That sucks. That sucks," Han stated, sounding sullen.

Makoto arched an eyebrow. "You talk like you knew her."

"Yeah, actually, I did. She was a client and an old girlfriend. Freaky, huh?" He spoke with a soft wistfulness in his tones and the anxiousness of recollection.

"Yeah," she replied somewhat numbly.

"So, how'd ya get here?"

She shook her head, lifting her hands to her head and rubbing her temples.

"Okay," he shrugged. "You take it easy, K? I'm just going to get up here in a sec and… uh… you hungry?"

Her eyes widened. "You have a kitchen in this dump?"

"Yeah, there's a hotplate someplace an' a coupla shelf, and, yeah, a fridge – I think," he replied with a chuckle. "What? You cook?"

"Oh yeah," she smiled and approached the one-wall culinary outfit. Modest was a kind word that could not have been attributed to the kitchen-like structure, but it was enough. A keyword both were used to live by. She opened the waist-high refrigerator and began rummaging through the contents and plucking out the occasional helpful item. Mind you, they could all be useful if one was skilled, knowledgeable, and creative enough. Fortunately, this was an area where she excelled even when out of practice. Ten minutes later, she had a vegetable, ham, sweet and sour sauce stir fry prepared and served.

"Gots damn," Hanlan gasped as he gaped at the plate set before him. He'd never seen such a well-prepared meal before. Not in his apartment, anyway.

Itadakimasu… she thought half-heartedly, then corrected him, "Actually, it's 'thank you.'"

"Oh, uh… yeah!" he smiled. "Wow! Uh… thank you. Looks, cooks, and kicks ass! Damn, you rock, Makoto."

She gave him a curious glance briefly. "I will tell you how I escaped from… uh…"

"What was the place like? All white like a hospital?"

She nodded, chewing delicately.

"Musta has been Neo Tech. They're the only outfit out here that could have kept a CyberKnight under wraps."

She gazed at him steadily, trying to read his meaning beyond the words.

"I just punched through the wall and into the sewer. It was tough, but… I'm here, right?"

"Oh geez… Just how strong are you?" he asked, the smile disappearing.

"I can put my hands through CS Armor like tearing paper."

Ouch. Han was visibly impressed. "You sure you don't wanna talk about Atlantis…?"

Makoto averted her eyes as Han sought them. She said nothing.

"Okay, forget it. I wouldn't push you, even if I could."

Abruptly, Makoto's expression became sorrowful and looked to promote tears. Han immediately felt terrible for speaking, even though he wasn't sure what had set her off. She made not so much as a single sniffle, but he knew she was torn up inside. Tough girls rarely ever cried, he reasoned. Never in front of others. He just gazed at her, a powerful ache in his soul for her as she set the chopsticks beside her empty plate to cover her tear-streaked face with her hands as her shoulders began to jolt with the forthcoming wash of pain. This ache, its presence, was sudden but immovable. How to deal with her pain, he did not know. All he knew was to be silent. He had learned that from Astin. She had been very clear about that.

'You don't talk when a girl is shedding tears,' she had said. She was shedding tears. She said that.

And why precisely this powerhouse of a girl burst into tears around him puzzled him even further, but he wasn't precisely insensitive. He rose and walked around the table, nearing her side. Folding her arms across her stomach and bowing her head, she refused him, bravely shouldering her agony, though somewhat foolishly so. His offer was the first, and while sincere and worthy of honour, her hesitance was understandable.

"Han…?" an emotion-choked voice whispered. Han snapped back into reality. He was with Makoto, not Astin. She was still crying softly, so Han did not say anything.

"Hanlan?" The heaving of her sobbing trailed to a close.

"Yes, Mako?" Han said, voice also hushed cautiously.

"You're not…" she hesitated half-instant, "involved, are you?"

He blinked at the question. "Uh, no," he replied uncertainly. "Listen, babe, you okay? Can I ask why you were crying like that? If it was something I said…"

Makoto shook her head silently and gazed up at him, red-eyed and so very vulnerable. The contrast startled him. With not much more than a thought, she could have killed him, yet at this moment, she appeared as fragile as thin glass. He could not claim to understand her. Silently, he grasped her hand and gently drew her to her feet and into his finely muscled arms. His mouth opened, worked as if to speak, and issued nothing.

"Oh blasted hell…" He took her chin in his hand and kissed her softly.

"Han… I don't…" Makoto looked down for a moment after their lips parted. "I can't."

He nodded slightly, sensing only afterward that his advance had been ill-timed. She stepped back from him and not so much as sat but crumbled into a nearby patchwork recliner.

"That's cool, babe. If you want to take it easy, I'm going to hit the couch, okay? I'm beat."

She watched him rise and leave without so much as a lingering glance. He did smile at her before flopping on the aforementioned furnishing, and there was a trace of disappointment. Yet, he hadn't insisted, not even arguing a single wit. After much thought and prayer, she joined him some hours later, leaving the pieces of her fuku in a trail to the couch.

—

She was naked with him again. This time, however, she did not mind. It was not that he was naked as well; it was that she had gained some amount of certainty - and control, having made love with him like this. She looked up at the complex features of his face. He looked so calm, almost peaceful. She ran a hand over his cheek and then kissed it softly. Carefully, she stood, trying her best not to wake him. She almost regretted what she knew must be done. The emotions she felt for him were more specific now and felt all the more like love. She felt a pang.

I know you wouldn't want me to do this, she thought. But I'm going anyway. My friends are still out there. I can't give up. Not yet. She slipped on the blouse and other clothes he had given her earlier. For a bruiser, he was rather sweet. I know you won't understand.

The leather jacket slipped quickly around her shoulders, fitting perfectly. He groaned, shifting in his slumber. She froze, watching his eyelids carefully. They did not open. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, he relaxed, snoring quietly. She noted that his home was not much but more than she had now. It was more than she ever had since arriving here.

Makoto had almost discarded the desire to settle down, having joined the Cyber-Knights. She let herself be consumed by the war against the D-bees, the demons, the evil. There was so much of it. There was more every day. Not all of it came from the Rifts, she knew. One man was a great source of it: Prosek and his son. To think a man of such corrupt power had procreated sent shivers through her. Rumours told her that Prosek had Rei. Or at least, a girl who sounded a great deal like her. Then there were the rumours of Ami's capture, of the violence she endured, that perhaps she was dead.

Makoto walked into the kitchen, or that which passed for it. She gazed at the wall section and thought about how much she had missed cooking. Hanlan had wolfed down the stir fry with male politeness. It was nice to have that aspect of her life appreciated again after so long. Well, she thought, what am I supposed to choose? Give up? Fight? How can Han hope to help? I—

"Hungry? I suppose you were just runnin' out for a snack, eh Mako?"

She turned on one foot, tense as a drawn bowstring. There was a sour expression on his face. Her tension drifted to the floor as her eyes did, and she wanted words.

"What y' suppose you were going to do? Save me some trouble by takin' off?" He was angry, and rightfully so. Still, Makoto could say nothing. She gazed at him as he stood there, and strangely, despite his anger at her, she felt drawn to him again.

"My friends are out there, Han," she started. "I can't let them go."

The anger drained from his face, and understanding was in its place. A boyishly quiet look came to his face. "I ain' had a lot of friends in my life," he admitted softly. He stopped for a moment, clearly thinking about his following words. "I guess I ain' so mad at you for wanting to help them. Death ain' scary, bein' lonely is."

Makoto felt herself near tears again and hated herself for it. She cursed under her breath. Han walked up to her and took her in his arms. She let her head rest on his barrel of a chest as tears flowed.

"I think I love you," he said. "I guess that's why I don't want you to take off. I think maybe I can help. I think maybe I want ta … help you."

They were silent for a time. He continued talking. Makoto was unsure of most of what he said but found it comforting. She wondered why it was her crying and not Usagi. She did not know. Maybe Usagi was crying a lot still. She… no, Han kept stressing that they would find her friends. Then what? Makoto thought they were not the same as they used to be or that they would not be. But what would happen after they found them?

"Mako? Are you okay?" she heard his voice ask. She nodded against his chest. He pushed her away slightly so he could look into her eyes. "Are you sure? I mean, you seem to be doin' a lot of cryin'."

"I think so," but her face did not share the conviction of her words. She looked away, bringing a concerned look to his face.

"What, babe…? What?" His voice was soft, gentle. She wanted to say it but found the words locked in her throat. He was silent. In his eyes, she could read he wanted to help her but did not know what to say nor how to say it.

"I'm scared…" she said, leaning against him, the spoken emotion welling inside her. "I've never really been scared before like this. Even when I died for Usagi… I wasn't scared."

"Died?" he grunted. "Uh?"

"Later," she muttered faintly. "Please…"

"Yeah, you got it, babe," he replied warmly.

He wondered what she had to be afraid of in his mind. His eyes narrowed, and he grew angry at the thought of her being fearful. He paused and wondered at this feeling. He had protected women before, but not because he cared about them. Instead, because it was his job. This was different. He cared about Makoto and wanted to see her happy. That was all that mattered to him now. If fighting made her happy, then she could fight. If being with him made her happy… he did not mind that. He smiled gently.

"Makoto," he said, breaking Astin's rule. She was silent. He gently pushed her away, kissing her softly to reassure her. "We're going to see a friend of mine. I think he can help us."

"What? Who?" she asked, sounding startled. "You mean Laray?"

He shook his head. "Nah. Laray's just a techie. He's a good guy but just a techie." He let go of her and headed towards the other room. Makoto looked tired and afraid.

"What's his name?" she asked, voice hushed.

Han stopped just before leaving the room. He smiled and said, "Conroy."

—

They had been on the road for a while. Nothing much had happened. Makoto had tripped up a couple of black market thugs looking for a quick credit hit.

"So you never really told me much about being a Cyber-Knight," Han said, smiling at Makoto. "All those monsters you fought."

She shrugged. "I just defended a couple of towns from some demons."

"No wonder you took out those guys like that," he smirked, thumbing behind him.

"Humans are easy to fight, most of the time. Unless they have magic or power armour, I like fighting Juicers," she smiled darkly, "they're a little tougher, but they're all human."

Han blanched. "You mean you fight Juicers for fun?"

"No, but I could," she eyed him. "What?"

The bruiser looked amazed. "You ain't nuts. At least you don't look like a Crazy. You don't have those freaky knobs stickin' out of yer head."

"I guess that makes me a little more than human, eh?" she grinned, enjoying his reaction.

Han scratched the back of his head, still unbelieving. "Okay, so maybe I don't wanna know."

Makoto shrugged, "Whatever, hon."

Han gazed at her. "Hon?"

She smiled and nodded. Han still could not quite believe he was falling in love with the tough girl he had never dreamed existed. Yet, here she was, accepting him with argument aplenty. Such is love.

"Uh, okay, so maybe I do."

She shrugged, saying nothing. Han waited.

"Are you going to say anything?" he asked, incredulous.

"Are you sure you want to hear it? Fighting Juicers is the least if that gives you any idea of what I've faced." She did not look at him, concentrating on where they were. "How much farther is it anyway?"

"New Quebec's pretty frickin' big, and alleys ain't the best way to get around. We still got awhile." He paused. "Yeah. Sure. I can handle it."

She smirked, and then her face assumed a more serious expression. "I became a Cyber-Knight one year ago because I didn't know what else to do. I did it to repay a favour and for my friends."

"What kinda favour?"

Makoto hesitated.

"Well?"

"A Cyber-Knight saved my life. I thought becoming a Cyber-Knight might help me to find a direction. Besides," she giggled lightly, "he was so cute! It was worth it to train under him."

"Cute? Okay, sure. Wasn't easy, was it?" Han was watching something ahead of them. It appeared like a fire had broken out in a small industrial building. People were scrambling about like headless chickens.

"Oh flak, Coalition. I won't have a problem with them. But I don't think we wanna get you mixed up with them."

Makoto nodded. "I want to avoid any ISS Kooks if I can."

"Damn straight, babe. We're just gonna have to take the long way 'round then." He indicated the adjoining alley to his right. "This'll take us there, but not fast."

She nodded, then proceeded with her explanation. "You want to know why I like fighting Juicers? 'Cause one almost killed me."

"Yeh, sure," Han shrugged. "Do'ya think you'd mind tellin' me how?"

She echoed the motion of his shoulders. "I guess he was just a rouge. Probably at the end of his term, too. Just after I'd arrived here…" she closed her eyes. "Um, no, never mind. Anyway, I was lost in the woods, wandering, and wounded. I was hoping to find a city - or something. Instead, I ran into the Juicer and his pals.

"One of them just looked at me and said, 'Squishy.' He laughed. I don't know if he saw me bleeding, but he must have figured I was an average human. Maybe he was looking for credits. Or fun. I don't know.

" 'C'mere pretty thing,' he sneered. I did. I didn't know what he was then, but I figured I'd wise him up for badmouthing me. I just swung at him. He seemed to know it was coming. He side-stepped the punch and laughed again. I never saw anyone move so fast before! He didn't swing back; he just stood there and laughed.

"I was getting pissed off. So I tried again. I was weak and was bleeding pretty severely. I wasn't thinking straight either, trying to fight him like that. I tried a few times and just kept missing. He joked about it, dodging before I threw my punches and commenting on my swings.

" 'You fight like a girl,' he said. He was looking at his pals and laughing loudly. I don't know what happened after that. I guess I just lost it, snapped, or something like that.

"I didn't know if he was careless, drunk, or what, but I tagged him. I can't have hit him that hard. I was practically dying, but I ripped his shoulder open… damn nearly took his arm off." Makoto closed her eyes, remembering a look of pain and distaste passing over her face. "He didn't even scream. His pals just looked scared and then ran off. One of them muttered something about him being 'juiced.' I saw a crazed look in his eyes and knew no matter how fast I ran; he was going to kill me. He nearly did, too."

Han looked slightly upset but lost for words. "I'm sorry, Makoto."

She gave him a glance portraying a trace of gratitude, then shook her head. After a moment, she continued. "I was barely conscious when the Cyber-Knight came. All I heard was a scuffle. I felt his presence and heard his voice. That's when I fell in love with him. It's more of a crush. He saved my life. Took me back to his house, healed me, and eventually taught me the ways of the Cyber-Knight." Han looked chagrined.

"Is that it? You just learned it all?"

"Well, no, of course not. It took me weeks to accept the lifestyle. As for the training, do you want me to get into philosophy?"

"Philosaucafie?" Han started, confused. "Damn. Uh, I guess not."

They walked for a while in silence. Makoto watched the area around her. Somehow, they were managing to avoid a lot of Coalition troopers. She watched Han, too. He seemed to be very aware of what was happening around him and wanted to stay out of the way of the Coalition as well. Makoto slowly worked up the nerve to speak.

"So what do you do?" she ventured.

"Do? Uh, I'm a Bodyguard."

"Protecting who?"

"Depends who's still alive," he stated flatly. "See, I'm real good… I keep my clients alive. The other guys ain't so good or don't care. Scruff it; dunno which. Tho, some of them work for the black market, too. So, if a client dies accidentally, no one notices. Dig?"

Makoto looked a little shocked. "You don't care?"

He inclined his shoulders upwards indifferently. "Me? Damn yeah. I care, but I won't get the black market on my case, right? I'm just one guy. I like my life just fine."

"Before or after?" Makoto asked with a smirk.

"What? Oh," he smiled. "After, of course. And I'm thinkin' maybe I'll just quit the bodyguard biz. We'll find plenty of action lookin' for your friends." He looked at her. "Speak'n a which, who are they? And what's this frack about you dyin'? You immortal 'r something?"

"You heard of the girls caught at Lone Star?"

"No, but you told me lots. Remember? Gots damn, they're a mess. You sayin' those your friends?" Han had an expression of distaste written on his face.

"I'm pretty sure that those two are Rei and Ami. Ami was, well, still human when we, um, parted company… So I don't think that's changed. I think it's a lie."

"Uh-huh. What do I know from lies?"

Makoto frowned again. "You know me."

"No. I know you're the sexiest woman alive, but that's just physical."

She eyed him doubtfully. "You gonna listen or flirt with me?"

"I like flirtin' with ya, babe," Han grinned, reaching for her. She stayed out of reach. He mock sulked. "Okay, I'm listenin'."

She took a breath. "We were heroes, like Erin Tarn. Saving the world, fighting against a force - the Negaforce - that wanted to spread darkness all over. Those friends of mine are warriors like me."

Hanlan perked. "They dress like you, too?"

"They…" she blushed. "Did yeah, but I don't know if… can we not do that now? They could be dead, you lunkhead."

He shrugged. "Jus' wonderin'. Keep goin'. I've got to guess you saved the whole planet. I mean, from the darkness."

"Well, there weren't many of them; they only tried to take over Tokyo. I'm not human, if that helps to explain it. I'm from the Moon. I'm a Princess of Jupiter. Well, I was, anyway."

"Kickass, princess. I like it," he remarked with a grin. "And what, you still got killed? By what?"

"We protected Tsukino Usagi, the heir of the Moon Kingdom. We were all senshi. Her scared champion protectors. It was our job, our destiny. We died fulfilling that destiny and defeating the crowned Queen of the NegaVerse."

"Pretty cool job if ya ask me," he said, still grinning. "So, who brought ya back?"

She stopped altogether, and so did he. Hanlan studied the stoic look on her face. He said, "What?"

"You're taking this all in stride. Is it so easy to believe?"

He lifted a brow and waved his hands as he said, "C'mon, you saw this place, right? The portals, aliens who don't look as pretty as you. Come on, Mako! I've got to choose what I believe, and I like believin' in you. You're my kinda gal."

She blushed modestly and began walking again. They turned a corner into a covered alleyway.

"You gonna say somethin' after greasin' me like that?"

She gasped and thought, How inconsiderate! She spun and bowed, 'Domo arigato!'

"Uh… domo arigatoni?"

Makoto slapped a hand to her mouth, shocked. "I'm sorry, twice now. I'm Japanese. That … just slipped out."

"Nah, babe, it was kinda sexy. We'll talk it over later. We're about there, so you better tie it up. Or down, or whatever you wanna do."

"All right," she nodded. "Queen Serenity. She's… related," she coughed, "to Usagi. Sort of. We beat Queen Beryl, Allan, Ail, and the Doom Tree, but then we were brought here."

"Huh," Han mused, "You didn't have a choice then."

"Well, no! Do you think I would've wanted to be here?"

Han's face suddenly darkened. "No, I guess not."

"Um, that is… I'm okay now…" her voice and tone dropped. "Well, sorta… But…"

"You ain't gotta say more if you don't want. I can ya."

She grabbed his arm and stopped him, looking worried and upset. "Han, don't think you haven't made me happy. You have… but I miss my friends. I can't be happy until I know what happened to them." Han frowned, still unsatisfied. "I don't think I want to go back now anyway. I mean, I guess the NegaForce took over by now without us there to stop it."

Han turned to her and took her shoulders in his hands. "I'm sorry. I guess I was bein' selfish. They're your friends… I know I miss mine."

Makoto's anger faded as she looked up at him slightly. "What happened to them?"

Han sighed. "As I said, I ain't had a lot of friends—mostly just one or two along the way. Most of 'em're dead. Others, well… gotta stay on yer toes, right?"

Makoto looked to the ground for a moment, then to his eyes. "I just like to crush 'em."

Han smiled, "I love that about you." He pulled her into his arms and squeezed her gently. "It's going to be okay. Really."

Makoto leaned her head on his shoulder. "Oh, I hope so."