Zen awoke pressed to a firm chest with strong arms around her. For a second she panicked until she saw crystal blue eyes gazing at her. She smiled and snuggled into him. “Hmm, I don’t want to move from here for a bit.”

Stephan chuckled. “Then we won’t. I don’t feel like sharing you just yet either.”

She leaned in and kissed him. He rolled over so she was on top and kept his arms around her waist. She wasn’t so well-behaved and slid her hands under his shirt distracting him slightly. She smoothed her hands on the ridges of his abdomen and slid them up.

He groaned and deepened the kiss, still making sure to keep his hands solely on her waist. She slid them up his chest and over his shoulders. He moaned. They stayed like that for a few minutes just kissing and rubbing his shoulders until she slid her hand down his chest raking her nails lightly across his abdomen. He groaned and she slid lower but his hand stopped her and he pulled back. “You’re not ready for any of that Zen.”

She sighed nodding. “Will I ever be?”

He nodded. “Just not today and not so soon after...that.”

She smiled tracing her finger down his nose. “You’ve got a cute moan.”

He glared at her. “It’s very manly!”

“Whatever you say, waterboy.”

He tumbled her under him and tickled her sides, making her laugh and squirm.

“I-I give! Stephan! No fair!”

The door to Stephan’s room swung open and Edline came bouncing in. “You’re up! Are you still hurt? Are you ok now?”

Zen smiled and patted the bed. Edline climbed on board and Zen hugged the little girl, tears in her eyes. “Not yet but I will be. Thank you, Edline for caring.”

Edline smiled wide and kissed Zen’s cheek. “You’re welcome! Come and play with the others! They’re worried about you too!”

Zen nodded and turned to Stephan. “Well, time to face the others.”

Stephan nodded and let her up. She sat for a minute staring at the wall then Stephan handed her her favorite hair tie. The rubber band. It had been through this long journey with her. She tied her hair and she smiled. I’m not alone.

She did her hair up in its usual ponytail and stood. Stephan stood with her and took hold of her hand. Together they stepped out of the room and into the hallway that led to the common area. Taking a deep breath, she began to walk towards where the others were sure to be. He walked beside her a silent sentinel. Every now and then their eyes would meet and she knew everything was going to be alright.

###

As she had guessed everyone was there. Marco was reading one of the books he stole from Senka’s library on the sofa while Marek and Val sat repairing a piece of metal that had broken away from the star generator again. Kiera sat arguing with Layna about medical procedures. That’s a new one.

Isaias sat on the floor trying to meditate with Edline, shocking him every few minutes. He would wince but keep his eyes closed and his face facing forward. Senka was sitting before him droning about the history of the Amargaritas. Oh, every time he falls asleep Edline shocks him awake! But why is he learning such a hard method of meditation?

She glanced at Stephan who shrugged and kept walking. He cleared his throat and everyone faced him and by consequence her.

She blushed and smiled. “Thanks for coming after little ol me,” she said. Edline’s face lit up and she stood and walked up to her. “You’re one of us. We always look after our own don’t we Stephan?”

Stephan smiled at his sister and nodded. “That’s right.”

Kiera smiled warmly. “Zen there are some tests I would like to run on you later.”

Zen looked at her quizzically but Kierra stared at her womb for a minute and she flushed. “He didn’t get so far. I shadow warped before he could do anything really bad,” she muttered.

“Still I’d like to check for damages.”

Zen sighed. “Alright, Kiera.”

“Good,” she said.

“So you’re alright then? He didn’t…” began Isaias.

“No Isaias he tried but didn’t get far. Is that why you are learning such hard meditation?”

“I kind of lost it in Stephan’s room and let the shadows roam so Senka is teaching me strict control,” he said glaring at Senka who was staring back with an eyebrow raised.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“If you hadn’t lost control so damn fast you wouldn’t need remedial one-o-one.” He turned to Stephan. “So where to now, Captain?” he asked.

“Layna has a direct line to Don Rodriguez. He’s expecting me,” Zen said grinning.

“Lil Rabbit told me of your guy’s plan to contact Don Rodriguez, and since he’s my benefactor I decided to help. He told me to get her to him in whatever way I could. I’m assuming all of you are going so I’ll make the call and warn him,” Layna said.

“How do we know we can trust you,” Marek said, sitting from Val’s lap and searing her with his unusual eyes.

“I’ll let you listen in,” Layna said, shrugging.

Stephan nodded and Layna connected herself to the neural cables that led to the sound system.

“Why not a vid?” questioned Marco.

“We only use those in emergencies but I guess this counts as one and he’d probably like to see Zen safe. Alright, vid it is,” she said, switching cables and calling on her employer. He came on a few seconds later slightly ruffled from bed.

“Layna, did you get Zen out?”

“The SMVK crew got us out...again,” Zen said as Carmelo focused his attention on the group.

“Is that Zen on? Let me speak to her, Carmelo!”

“Mom,” choked Isaias as Rosalinda came on in a men's bathrobe, hair slightly mussed.

Zen rolled her eyes and punched Isaias when she felt the shadows creep along her skin. “You knew they were going to end up together. This shouldn’t surprise you,” she said, knocking Isaias from his shock as he rubbed the spot she hit.

“Zen! Isaias! Where is Bernado and why are you with space pirates again,” Rosalinda asked as Carmelo leaned in closer to her to see the vid.

“It’s a long story mama. Suffice it to say we can’t trust Uncle Bernado right now...I don’t know if ever. We need a safe place to stay for a few days...at least while the Dons pick up the mess we left them. I don’t think we have seen the last of them,” Zen said, running her hands through her hair and remembering it was up in a ponytail. She ran her hands through that instead, leaning against Stephan who gripped her waist gently. She looked up and smiled before snuggling into his frame.

###

Rosalinda watched from the vid and smiled. Had her Zen finally found someone? It didn’t escape her notice how Isaias had his arm over the boy who had saved the twins three weeks ago. My babies are growing up!

“You can come here then. We have plenty of room for all of you and Bernado has no say in my side of the island. I own the airstrips as well so I can make sure the others land far away from you. I can’t stop them from landing but I can give a head’s up if that’s the case,” said Carmelo.

Zen grinned. “Thanks, Dad.”

Rosalinda blushed while Carmelo cleared his throat.

“You’re welcome. What became of Ishevara?”

Zen played with her chain. “Ishevara is almost gone now.”

Rosalinda’s eyes widened. “What do you mean, dear?”

Zen sighed and Stephan squeezed her waist slightly. “ I’ll explain when we see each other. Someone could be listening.”

Carmelo nodded. “The same airstrip as before will be waiting for you. Be careful. Layna, watch over them.”

“What makes you think these guys can’t watch out for themselves? They got us out of Con Station...alive,” she said pointing to everyone who either grinned or waved at the vid. Edline sent a kiss giggling.

The vid cut off and Layna unplugged the neural cables from her neck.

“Well, we have our orders then. We’ll be there in a few hours tops,” Stephan said, letting Zen go and walking over to the cockpit. Everyone began to chatter while Senka smacked Isaias over the head.

“Oww! What was that for!”

“Back to meditation...now boy. You’re lucky your sister punched you out of your rage.”

“This is turning into a bad Star Wars case,” muttered Isaias.

Senka turned to Isaias. “What was that boy?”

“Nothing Master Yoda.”

Senka smacked him again with the butt of his sniper rifle.

“Oww!”

Zen huffed hands on hips. “Isaias quit being a baby and sit! You need this meditation.”

“I liked it better when you were quiet,” muttered Isaias.

Zen froze and this time Marco hit him. “What is with people hitting me today!”

“Maybe you should watch what you say,” mumbled Marco. Isaias’s eyes widened as he took in Zen’s glassy stare. ‘Oh shit! I didn’t mean...I’m sorry Zen.”

Zen nodded and walked away. Edline glared at Isaias and walked over before shocking him and walking off in a huff.

“YEoOW!”

Kiera looked over and shrugged. “I’m not curing those burns. You earned them,” she said and walked in the direction of Zen and Edline. Layna shook her head and followed Kiera.

Senka sighed. “See what losing your head causes?”

“Yeah,” Isaias muttered, slipping back into his meditation stance.

Senka slid to the floor in fluid grace. “Now where was I...ah yes so…”

Isaias tried not to fall asleep but a few minutes later he was shocked awake by grinning Edline.

Skin watched the spectacle from his seat and grinned, spooking Isaias further.

Skin: Two. Isaias: Zero.