Her communicator chirped once again. Alec had told her he'd contact her in a week, and it was almost a week to the day.
"Yeah?" she asked. "Okay, where? Okay... Yeah, send the information through... Yeah. Don't worry; I'll take care of it."
As she closed the connection, she stared at the device in her hands. More and more often she was wishing it wouldn't chirp at her.
She then contacted Tyran. "Alec is sending me out," she said softly.
"Again? Did he say where?" Tyran asked her with sleep in his voice. She'd awaken him from his beauty sleep as he liked to call it. He always slept late the day after he'd worked a late shift.
"Avari II," she replied. "I don't have to leave until tomorrow afternoon. I was hoping to spend some time with you tonight."
"Tonight's fine. Not now. Well, come to my house if you feel desperate. But I need to get some sleep. I worked late. I'll be awake around dinner." He yawned.
She laughed softly. "Get your rest," she replied. "You might need it." Her voice was playful, off-setting her previous mood.
"Oh dear..." He grinned and closed the comm. Soon he was asleep, dreaming of her...
Jaya continued with her usual routine. She started with her work-out. Finally her injury had healed completely, but she had been frustrated by the length of time it had taken.
After her work-out she had grabbed a shower and dressed. She then went for a walk around Serenity City. She went to the park to watch the children play and then to a florist to buy some flowers. There was nothing like a pleasant surprise, she thought to herself.
Noting the time, she continued on to the Starlight Inn and to Tyran's apartment in the back.
The sun was just beginning to set as she rapped gently on his door.
"Yeah?" He said grinning; he was already dressed and awake. "Ah! Just the one I hoped it would be, my dearly beloved Jaya."
"Surprise," she said producing the flowers and handing him the bouquet.
"Thank you. They'll look nice in the living room. Come in." He opened the door, showing her inside. The living room she entered was quite large, and looked out over a small garden with lots of trees and flowers. The room had large windows and was well-lit by the natural light. It was also decorated with wood and leather furniture, and marble tiles were on the floor all in earthy tones. Tyran went into a small kitchen to find a vase.
"It's a nice place," she replied as she looked around.
"Thanks, larger than you thought I think; but small compared to that house of yours." He put a crystal vase on the table filled with the flowers and smiled.
"Well, something tells me you wouldn't know what to do with the space of a large house if you had one," she smirked.
She went to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Tenderly, she kissed him.
He kissed her in return. "Oh no or yes... maybe." He smiled. "I just like this the way it is. I'm not planning to move, unless I get a very good reason." He said stealing another kiss, melting in her embrace.
"Like maybe making your presence at my place more permanent?" she offered with a sly smile.
"Yes... maybe when we marry. The truth is, I just don't want to part with this place. My wife designed it and it holds many memories for me."
She caressed his face. "I understand completely," she said as she kissed him again tenderly.
"Thank you." He smiled gently. "I'll move in with you, but I also want to keep this. Just for myself, for when I need to be alone. Or for when I have late shifts and am too tired to walk to your place. The truth is, your place isn't home for me; while this is."
"Whatever works," she smiled. "We both have our own things to deal with, and I'm not always going to be there myself. Besides, it's a house. You're home here," she said with meaning, kissing him again.
"Thank you for understanding. Even if we marry I want to keep this. Just so you know I won't be walking the streets all alone in the dark. This neighborhood isn't what it used to be." He smiled and kissed her, suddenly sniffing. "I guess the food is ready."
He got it. It was home made turkey filled with fruit, and some other dishes he put on a wooden table in the garden. "Sit down and eat."
"Wow!" she said surprised. "It smells fantastic. I haven't had someone make me a home cooked meal in... Well, a very long time," she said, pushing the memories away.
"Then enjoy, I made it as a welcome home dinner, because I hope this will be your home sooner or later. If you find it too small, I might be able to buy the apartment next to this one. Then we'll have 4 rooms more."
She smiled. "Anything's possible. I just need room for my training area, as you've seen, it requires a room all its own," she replied.
"No problem. I can always make the bar smaller and the house larger, again if needed." He replied.
She laughed softly. "Well, we'll just have to see what the future holds." She allowed him to serve her and began to eat. Everything tasted wonderful. "You've a very good cook!" she said as she continued to eat.
"I had a good teacher." He grinned. "Before replicators were any good, I had to make all my meals myself."
"Well, you do your teacher a great service," she smiled as she finished eating and sipping at the wine.
He smiled. He was happy that she liked his place, and with the food he'd made. It was a long time ago since he'd last cooked.
Finally when the food was eaten he looked at her. "What did you tell me about having some fun?" He asked.
She smiled as she got up from the table and went to him straddling his lap. "Oh, I think you can get a few ideas of what I meant," she laughed softly as she kissed him once again.
He returned her kissed, having her stand back up, so he could get to his feet. Then slowly he led her to his bedroom. It was styled in the same fashion as the living room, but it wasn't as neat and clean. It was clear he was a man living alone.
She giggled as she looked around, but was more interested in him. She allowed him to take her to the bed, losing herself in his kisses.
After long hours of lovemaking, they had both fallen asleep in each other's arms dreaming peacefully...
But Jaya's dreams did not stay that way...
She stood outside a house. She had just arrived. A little girl was walking out of the door followed by a man. She had knelt and opened her arms to greet her little girl. But suddenly there was an explosion. Instinctively she had turned away; being blown into the street by the blast. She could see her daughter lying dead nearby.
"Emmy! Emmy!" She cried as she went to her little girl fighting the pain in her back.
Suddenly a man was behind her whispering in her ear.
"Don't let your guard down... or this will happen again..."
A shiver went down her spine. As she turned around, she saw it was the Dark Shadow. He had a phaser aimed at her head.
Suddenly, she woke with a start. She was sweating and shaking.
"Jaya?" Tyran sat up, looking at her. "Are you alright? You were screaming!"
She took a deep breath, tears still lingering in her eyes. "I just had a nightmare... that's all," she said quietly.
"What was it about?"
"An explosion," she said softly. "The one that... Emmy and David..." She couldn't say anymore than that. "Then he was there. Had a phaser to my head. Told me if I let my guard down, it would happen again." She looked at him and shook her head, her green eyes reflecting the turmoil in her heart.
"It was only a dream." He said softly, putting his arms around her. "Dreams are hardly ever true. They reflect our fears, yes. But often it's no more than that."
She nodded as she allowed him to comfort her, but the truth nagged at her. "I am getting too close you."
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"It could happen again," she said softly. "I don't know if I could go through that again." Tears misted her eyes even as she tried to pull herself together. But the nightmare had caused the pain to feel fresh all over again.
"It could. I could also get run over by a skybus tomorrow or I could get stabbed by some drunken Klingon. So just stop that nonsense. I love you." Tenderly he caressed her face.
She sighed and kissed him.
"That's better." He smiled and kissed her lovingly.
Finally she fell asleep in his arms once again; the nightmares banished for the moment.
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