Last Bit of Peace

The sun was melting into the ocean's horizon as Jaya walked in the sand with Tyran's fingers intertwined in her own. Her jacket kept the chill of the wind away . . . She looked at Tyran and smiled.

"I never thought I would ever grow to love Serenity so much when I first came here . . ." she smiled.

"And why not ? I have loved it since the day I arrived here. Then it was still wild, green... that was in the old days... before the cities were formed. As pioneer, sometimes I miss those days.”

She smiled. "Yeah, I bet . . . when I arrived though, I didn't have any expectations . . . Then I met you . . . actually started having a life again . . .” She stopped walking and caressed his face, looking deeply into his eyes.

He smiled, his eyes sparkled, and the wind blew through their hair. Gods how he loved her...

Suddenly, she knew she couldn't put it off any longer. "Alec contacted me with a new assignment . . ." she said very matter-of-factly. It was after all, her job she was talking about.

"What? And we are on holiday!" He looked pretty irritated this time. "For once you have to say no.”

"It's set for next week . . . So I still have a few days," she said. "Unlike all the other times when I've had to leave the next day. Apparently there's a lot of set up for this one . . ." she replied.

"What is it about ?" He asked; a concern edged on his face. He was none too happy with this.

"The Ambassador of Belori has made a few enemies and the word is that a contract has been put out . . . or at least the feelers for a contract . . .” she said. "That's why I have the leeway this time," she said softly gazing into his green eyes.

"I wish you would stop this, before... before you get hurt! You have a family, if you don't realize it... You have me; I want to marry you... I want that more than anything! And you have Danayal... And I want a baby of my own... Dan won't stay with me forever...”

She kissed him gently. "Tyran, if I don't take down the Dark Shadow being in the position I am, who will? There's no one that can take this job over for me . . . and if I don't help these people, the Dark Shadow will kill them . . .”

"But you will live !"

"And how many will die ?" She replied. She sighed and turned toward the ocean. "Tyran . . . I can't end this yet . . . I have to end the Dark Shadow's reign."

"And what if he ends your reign, Jaya Bourne ?" He said sarcastically.

She was quiet and suddenly grew withdrawn. It was always a possibility. She'd be stupid if she thought otherwise. "He won't kill me . . ." she said softly. "I've found his weakness . . . and one day I'm going to exploit it."

Tyran folded his arms over his chest. "You found his weakness, sure, and what if he also found yours ? That is a possibility, and you know that, don’t you ?"

"Then I have to exploit his before he can exploit mine . . ." she said softly as her eyes met him. She knew what her weakness was . . . Him . . . Him and those she had grown close to . . . The Dark Shadow knew of Tyran already and the thought scared her. But there wasn't much she could do except find a way to draw him out . . . she just hadn't found the way yet. But she would . . . "The only way I could escape him is to disappear, Tyran . . . this job isn't something you just decide to quit . . . and I'm not willing to do that . . . Though I would to keep you safe . . ."

"I fear no man, not even the Dark Shadow, but I do fear a woman, you."

She again caressed his face and leaned in, touching his forehead with her own. "I love you, Tyran . . . and you should be scare of him . . . If it came down to it I would disappear to keep you safe." She kissed him tenderly.

"Then I would find you, and follow you… you won't lose me so easily, Jaya...”

She smiled. "I'd hope not . . ." she said softly kissing him again. "So, at least we have until next week . . . what do you want to do?" she asked with a playful glint in her eyes.

"How about a quiet walk, no talking about work, and just be with each other now while we can, now I do not have to worry…" He took her in his arms, and kissed her.

She melted into his kiss and the worries of her life slowly slipped away. God, she loved him . . . would do just about anything for him . . .

He just enjoyed the moment, a moment of love, passion, one of the memories he would store for his lifetime...