John didn’t really know where he was going. He just got in the car and started driving. He had too much on his mind lately to concentrate and couldn’t believe that Dariena had only left a week ago. He was even more surprised that she hadn’t told him she was going home. He wished he could go back and rewind that last conversation. Maybe it was a mistake to tell her what he was feeling. No point in torturing myself, he thought. I can’t undo what’s already been done. He sighed; driving wasn’t doing very much to improve his mood.

Grey had heard John’s car pull up outside and went to the window. After watching him for some time he decided to go downstairs. John was pacing back and forth on the porch and looked up when the back door slammed.

"So my friend, what’s up?" Grey asked casually.

John looked a bit embarrassed. "What makes you think something is up?"

"John, you are wearing a hole in my deck at four in the morning."

"I don’t suppose you would buy that I was in the neighborhood and."

Grey shook his head and grinned. "Wrong but thanks for playing and as a parting gift you get day old coffee and good company."

John laughed and followed Grey into the house. After a cup or two of coffee John looked ready to talk.

"How long has it been then since you have heard from Dariena?"

John sighed. "Too long. I don’t know what’s going on Grey, so how can I blame her for backing off? She’s your sister don’t you know something?"

Grey shook his head. "Sorry Pal, this time you are on your own. Just because she’s my sister doesn’t mean I have her all figured out. I’m new at this too, you know, give me a break."

"New at what?" Nicia asked, as she appeared behind Grey, looking half-asleep and slightly confused. "Is there any of the coffee left?"

Coffee was not something that the Trephi would normally drink but Nicia had developed a taste for it in her time on Earth as long as it had lots of sugar.

Nicia sat down at the table and Grey brought her a cup of coffee. She was studying John with a quizzical look. "Which one of you is going to fill me in?" she asked with a knowing smile.

John and Grey looked at each other. Grey spoke first. "John was um...he was in the neighborhood and stopped by for coffee. Yeah that’s it," he said grinning.

Nicia looked from one to the other and then got up from the table. "Well, I’ll believe you for the moment, but don’t think I don’t know when something is up. I didn’t get to be an emissary over night you know."

After a whole day of trying to look busy Dariena gave up and took a walk. Looking for distraction she thought maybe she’d go and check on Khado. She’d been preoccupied and didn’t want him feeling neglected. She was normally very driven and focused in her work, but lately, no matter what she tried to do, her mind always seemed to wander, unable even to focus enough to talk to John and explain her recent lack of communication. By the time she reached the hangar she had decided that the best thing to do for now was just put it out of her mind. She punched the code into the pad on the door. Khado was never very happy about spending time in the hangar although she couldn’t really figure out why. Either way she thought that a visit would do them both some good and she could use the time to get some of the more routine maintenance done for him. There was a long list of things that she’d been unintentionally neglecting. She knew that Khado’s nutrient packs needed to be replaced and figured she might as well get something done since it was obvious sleep wasn’t part of the plan.

"Hey Buddy I just thought I would come see how you were." She smiled feeling how happy he was to see her and as usual full of questions. Recently his favorite topic was John. Ever since she took him for a ride at the cabin most of what she felt from Khado was confusion. There was no way for her to explain to him something she didn’t understand.

Dariena kept replaying their last conversation in her head as she worked. She’d found John sitting alone in the basement.

"I’ve been thinking about us," he had said quietly. "I’m sure I’m not doing this right and I know I’m not doing this they way I wanted to. I have feelings for you. I am not sure when it happened and I’m not even sure what it means, but I wanted you to know."

He’d said it all in one breath. She was shocked and hadn’t handled things the right way, but there was nothing to be done about that now.

She tired to concentrate on what she was doing and push everything else out of her mind. Unfortunately Khado seemed to be just as intent on figuring out why she was upset as she was about ignoring the entire situation. They became engaged in a silent debate. Dariena normally loved his curious nature but just didn’t know the best way to answer his questions. After an hour of trying to stay one step ahead she was exhausted and exasperated. Normally nothing stopped Khado from his barrage of questions until he got answers but suddenly she realized he’d become quiet. Dariena was about to ask him what was wrong when a sudden burst of jumbled questions hit her and she jumped. Something had obviously startled him.

She turned from Khado’s main control panel to see her brother standing in front her.

After she recovered from he own surprise and managed to calm Khado she said, "You know how jumpy Khado is especially when he has to stay in the hangar. It wasn’t very nice of you to sneak up on us like that."

"I’m sorry but you never come home any more and I didn’t know how to reach you so this was the only way"

"The only way to what scare me to death, well you did that, and wait a minute how did you know I was here?

He ignored her questions and moved so that he was standing between her and the access panel.

"Please I really need to talk to you it’s important"

"You have ten minutes," she growled at him. "I am a little busy and as much as I’m glad to see you, you can’t just show up here like this. I have things to do." Dariena pushed past him and went back her work. "And you know, you’re not even supposed to be in here."

Leyron grinned at her. "Oh, come on Dari, you know you’ve missed me."

In spite of the front she was trying to keep up Dariena found herself stifling a laugh. He only called her that when he wanted something. "Okay, then out with it. What do you want?"

"I know that you’ll want to help, seeing as how I am your little brother."

She rolled her eyes this must be big because if the name wasn’t enough he was going to play the age card too. Leyron was just a few cycles younger then she and never took advice from his big sister. Whatever he wanted it must be very important to him.

"Well?" she asked, growing just the tiniest bit impatient. "Did you blow up the holographic matrix again? I can’t go around bailing you out all the time you know. You need to tell Dad what you are doing or at the very least stay away from that machine."

Sometimes she could swear that he was much younger then the four cycles that separated their ages. Leyron was very talented in the field of holographic imaging and had gotten himself a job in Father’s department at the holo-imaging center. Unfortunately for their Dad and maybe Leyron, this sometimes caused him trouble.

"For your information, big sister, I was hoping you could help me with something," he said with indignation in his voice.

"Ha now we are a getting to it," she said amused. "Come on little brother what is so important that you would keep me from my work and risk getting into trouble."

Leyron looked at her and a cloud came over his face. "If you are going to mock me, Dariena, I may as well go home." He turned to leave.

He looked so hurt that she felt bad and called to him to stop. "Wait, wait, you came all the way here to talk to me, and I could use a break anyway. How about a snack? I’m starving."

"Don’t look so happy little brother you want a favor from me so you’re buying"

Leyron smiled "Typical anything for free food" he said laughing

Dariena was half way through her meal when Leyron finally told her his plan.

"You want me to what?" Realizing that the small number of other patrons in the cafe were watching, she quickly lowered her voice. She pushed her food away and stared at him.

"Have you lost your mind? Please tell me you’re kidding right? I’m not going to do that I can’t. I won’t."

"Please Dari, I know this is weird, Okay... but at least hear me out," he pleaded with her. "I really need your support on this. It would help a lot."

Dariena sighed she could tell by the look on his face that his was serious about this. That most likely meant that he would do it with or without her help. She was his sister after all and in spite of all the ribbing she gave him, he very seldom came to her for help. Although she thought that this was a little fast, maybe–just maybe–it would be okay.

"All right Leyron, I’ll help you. I’m not exactly sure what you want me to say or how you think my being there will help, but I’ll do it. What’s her name? If I’m going to help you I should at least know her name."

He looked at her feeling more calm the he had in a very long time. He smiled. "Her name’s Farell. I’m sure you to will get along very well. You know she works for SDF too."

"Umm hmm I’m sure we will," Dariena said, thinking how this could really complicate her life. "So when were you planing on doing this?" she asked. She needed some time to plan and get used to this idea.

"You know John, maybe you should talk to Nicia about this. I mean, she’s a female maybe she could give you some insight."

John shook his head, turned toward the window and watched the snow blow across the water. "It’s so peaceful here. I can see why you like it."

"John, are you listening to me? Don’t change the subject."

"I’m listening. It’s just that it’s my fault. I think I over stepped my bounds a little. I mean, I knew she had issues with her family. I think I messed it up pretty badly."

"No, that doesn’t sound like her to me, though you might have frightened her a little bit. Do you love her?"

John nodded. "Yes I do Grey, I don’t think I knew until she left. I would never hurt her."

"Oh, I know that. Cause if you did you would have to deal with me and that would not be pretty, my friend."

John laughed. "Is it dinner time yet? I’m really hungry"

"Oh, the two of you will be fine just fine." Grey smirked at John and Dariena’s shared love of food.

Dariena spent four long days in transition between Synac and Earth. She was almost as nervous as when she applied to SDF. Part of her was afraid of what lay ahead, and part of her was afraid not to move on. She was only now beginning to realize that this was more about her own fears then John or his questions. She hoped to make him understand that too.

She brought her ship into a hover over the lakeside and hopped out. She watched as Khado drifted out over the lake then settled below the surface before making her way up the hill toward Grey’s cabin. It looked peaceful and deserted she checked her watch and calculated for the difference in times.

Good, she thought to herself, maybe I can just sneak into the house and get some sleep.

Dariena walked up the porch steps as quietly as possible and opened the back door slowly so it wouldn’t squeak. She stepped inside the door and out of no where somebody grabbed her from behind.

"Hi stranger," Grey’s voice came out of the darkness.

Dariena jumped. "Geez Grey, you scared me. Don’t you ever sleep?"

Grey was to busy gloating to answer her question. "Ha! After all this time I finally got you! See what it’s like to be on the other side of that now." Grey grinned.

Dariena fumbled around for the switch on the wall and flicked on the lights. "Not now, big brother, okay?"

Grey backed off a bit and let her come in the door.

"Actually, I’m glad you are up. I was going to wait until morning but I want to talk to you."

"Uh oh. Do I need to sit down for this?"

Dariena didn’t even crack a smile. She had never felt nervous around Grey before, but suddenly he wasn’t just her friend. Right now she felt like he had all the cards. Before she could get up the courage to say anything he spoke up. "It’s okay, hon. You know, he’s been a mess since you left too."

Dariena forgot her fear for a moment. "Really," she said with a look of genuine surprise and a small smile.

Grey nodded, "Yep, worst I’ve ever seen him. He’s been walking around here looking like you did a few minutes ago. It’s been a long three weeks for us. Thanks a lot," he said teasingly.

Grey looked at Dariena and something in her eyes told him she wasn’t in the mood for teasing. He changed the subject. "So you wanted something? I mean, I assume that’s why you look like you want to murder me about now."

Dariena had not realized her feelings were so easily read on her face. "I want to take him with me when I go back, Grey," she said quietly and without looking at him.

"Oh really," he said, feigning surprise. "Don’t suppose you are going to tell me what you plan to do with him when you get there?" he asked grinning at her.

"That depends on who is asking me. Is it official diplomatic duty or are you trying to fish for information in a big brother capacity?"

Grey looked hurt. "Me try to get information from you, what would make you think that?"

Dariena laughed. "That pitiful human look might work on Nicia, big brother, but don’t try it on me."

Dariena yawned and got up from the table. "In any case, that’s all you get for now because I’m in need of some sleep."

Grey watched her head down to the basement wondering what John would say about an unscheduled vacation.

Dariena couldn’t remember the last time she gotten a good night’s sleep. She had hoped that talking to Grey would make her feel a little bit better. Unfortunately it only served to churn up her nerves a little more. As she drifted of to sleep she found herself wondering what Leyron would say about John.

Dariena woke the next morning to the smell of breakfast cooking. Never one to miss a meal she hurried upstairs. John was standing at the stove with his back to the basement door. She stopped in her tracks and shot a warning look at Grey who winked at her from across the room. She could see he was getting a good deal of enjoyment from this situation. Thankfully no one else seemed to have noticed anything.

John knew as soon as heard the door open he didn’t even need to turnaround and look. His first thought was that he was glad she was okay. Followed closely by the realization that he was going to pound Grey for not telling him she was here. Nicia came up behind him and said very softly, "Oh, by the way, we got an unexpected visitor last night." She smiled at him.

" I can see that," he mumbled under his breath. "Just when were you two matchmakers planning on telling me this?"

"Who? Us? " She asked still smiling "We aren’t matchmakers dear. We just know a good thing when we see one." Nicia turned and headed back to the table to sit down.

John glanced up from the stove and glanced toward the group at the table he could tell from her demeanor that she was just as surprised to see him.

"You can smell food twenty miles away can’t you?"

"Actually big brother, sometimes it’s not the food but the cook that gets all the attention. I was wondering if I could steal John for a little while?"

Grey nodded. "Don’t take too long or there won’t be anything left when you get back."

John followed Dariena down to the basement, wondering what was on her mind. Dariena paced back and forth in front of John who had seated himself on the arm of the couch.

"I have something I need to ask and I need you not to interrupt until I’m finished." She didn’t mean to sound rude but she knew that in this case if she didn’t say it all at once she might chicken out.

John nodded slowly and waited for her to continue; slightly afraid of the turn this was taking.

"I need to ask you for a favor--a big favor. I need you to come home with me." She paused to see how John was taking this information. Sensing his confusion she added, "We could talk on the way."

John was a little surprised by what she had just asked him. He certainly wasn’t expecting an invitation to Synac when he got up this morning, not too mention this was not the conversation he expected to be having when he came down here with her. On the other hand he thought it might be just what he needed, a change of scenery and a chance to work this out with Dariena.

He looked at her and smiled "Okay. When do we leave?"