{"id":70,"date":"2009-03-13T12:37:18","date_gmt":"2009-03-13T16:37:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.auroraforce.org\/blog\/?p=70"},"modified":"2009-03-13T12:37:49","modified_gmt":"2009-03-13T16:37:49","slug":"vong-war-annals-muddling-through-3132009","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.auroraforce.org\/blog\/?p=70","title":{"rendered":"Vong War Annals &#8211; &#8220;Muddling through&#8221; 3.13.2009"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rain sheeted down and thunder crackled even as far up the valley from Shay Memorial as the Drake ranch, several dozen klicks away.\u00a0 The hangar near the house was warm and dry, though, and one of the Drake children was taking advantage of that fact.\u00a0 Xander Drake was underneath the old speeder he\u2019d been working on since before he was tall enough to drive it, still working on fixing up the \u2018old girl\u2019 after all the years.<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He\u2019d arrived home late the night before, under cover of darkness and festivities\u2014and fleet activity above.\u00a0 He still wasn\u2019t sure what had happened, but he wasn\u2019t inclined to ask, either.\u00a0 That was his mother\u2019s concern, his father\u2019s concern, his brother\u2019s concern.\u00a0 Not his.\u00a0 Not anymore.\u00a0 Not ever.<br \/>\n<!--more-->\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 His first thought, when he heard the sound of repulsors on an old X-wing, was to wonder what his mother had forgotten at the house and come back for.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t even bother to pop out from beneath the vehicle to greet her.<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cUncle Bobby?\u00a0 Dorrin said that there was something down here I needed to see?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He recognized the voice in an instant.\u00a0 She was climbing down from her portside S-foil when he pushed himself out from underneath the speeder and stood up.\u00a0 He smirked a little, wiping his hands on a rag and leaning against the speeder\u2019s nose.\u00a0 \u201cThink you\u2019ve got the wrong Drake.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Their eyes met.<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She fell off the S-foil.\u00a0 Her helmet bounced across the slick floor, out of immediate reach.\u00a0 He choked on a laugh, even though it wasn\u2019t really <em>that<\/em> funny.\u00a0 \u201cHi Molly.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She scrambled to her feet, blinking, checking herself to make sure she wasn\u2019t hurt even as her eyes never left him.\u00a0 \u201c\u2026when did you get back?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cA couple hours ago.\u201d\u00a0 He finished cleaning his hands and tossed the rag across the nose of the speeder, frowning.\u00a0 There was still a lot of grease there, but he wasn\u2019t going to get it off without liberal application of soap and water.<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Molly nodded slowly, taking half a step toward her helmet before wincing, rubbing at her hip, then continuing the few steps further to pick up her helmet.\u00a0 She hugged it against her belly as she straightened, mouth dry.\u00a0 A couple hours ago?\u00a0 Who had he told?<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou came to see Dad?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Her eyes widened.\u00a0 \u201cNo!\u00a0 Dorrin\u2026Dorrin just said that there was something out here I needed to see, and I wasn\u2019t doing anything in orbit.\u00a0 <em>Legacy<\/em> isn\u2019t shipping out for at least another week, until Davil can do shake-downs on the other ships assigned to\u2026\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Her babbling stopped as he nodded.\u00a0 She swallowed hard, hugging her helmet a little tighter.<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou just\u2026left.\u00a0 And now you just\u2026come back?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Xander turned away so she couldn\u2019t see his wince, then turned back as quickly as he\u2019d looked away.\u00a0 \u201cMolly\u2026\u201d\u00a0 He struggled not to sigh as she looked down, picking at something on her helmet.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry I left.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t about you.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She didn\u2019t look up.\u00a0 \u201cWas rather abrupt.\u00a0 What crawled up your shorts?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He turned away again, raking both hands up into and through his hair, exhaling through his teeth.\u00a0 \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t understand.\u00a0 Mom sure doesn\u2019t.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Molly took a few steps forward before she could stop herself.\u00a0 \u201cWhat wouldn\u2019t I understand?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI had to go find out who I am.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201c\u2026and I wouldn\u2019t understand that?\u201d\u00a0 She pushed her hair out of her face, setting down her helmet.\u00a0 She took a few steps closer, hesitating when he didn\u2019t turn back around, when he leaned against the nose of the speeder, bracing himself against it with both hands, back to her, staring down at an unfinished paint job.<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s easier for you, and Dorrin, and Aly\u2026you\u2019re all happy following the family business.\u00a0 People treat me like I\u2019m an idiot because I don\u2019t want to be a soldier.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She licked her lips.\u00a0 \u201cYou think it\u2019s easy to live in the shadow of my parents?\u00a0 It\u2019s\u2026well.\u00a0 Being in the \u2018family business\u2019 isn\u2019t always what it\u2019s cracked up to be, Xander.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Xander snorted a little, half glancing back at her under his arm, smiling a wry sort of half smile.\u00a0 \u201cYou should have seen how my mother reacted when I told her I was a bounty hunter now.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Molly winced, hugging her arms across her belly, feeling momentarily sick.\u00a0 \u201cDangerous line of work to be in.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe, but you know what?\u201d\u00a0 He smiled a little more, turning to her.\u00a0 \u201cI think I\u2019m good at it.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly as she nodded a little.\u00a0 \u201cSo\u2026what does this mean for me?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Blinking, Xander stared at her, his stomach turning over.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Shrugging, she scuffed a toe against a stain on the floor.\u00a0 \u201cWorried us half sick, y\u2019know.\u00a0 Davil kept trying to figure out how the hell he was going to explain it to your parents, since he knew\u2014he just <em>knew<\/em>\u2014they\u2019d ask.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t going to make Dorrin try to explain.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Xander shook his head slowly.\u00a0 \u201cIt was something I had to do, Molly.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWith\u2026without a word?\u00a0 To any of us?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cCay knew I was leaving.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Her brow furrowed.\u00a0 \u201cSo it was some big Auyn secret?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He stared at for a moment, then turned away, leaning against the side of the speeder again.\u00a0 \u201cMolly, what do you want me to say?\u00a0 Because obviously, I\u2019m not saying it.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She took another step forward, reaching, then stopped herself, forced herself to put her arm back down.\u00a0 \u201cJust\u2026I\u2026I don\u2019t know.\u00a0 I just\u2026I don\u2019t know.\u00a0 Not every boy sees me naked, Xander.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He winced, silently grateful that she couldn\u2019t see his face.\u00a0 \u201cI didn\u2019t leave because of that, if that\u2019s what you\u2019re thinking.\u201d\u00a0 He paused, unable to stop himself from smiling at the memory of her in the corridor, so angry that she\u2019d forgotten a towel after her shower had been interrupted.\u00a0 \u201cBut I\u2019ll admit, it\u2019s a picture I haven\u2019t been able to get out of my mind since.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She hugged herself.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2026I didn\u2019t think you\u2019d left because of that.\u00a0 Not really.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He snorted softly.\u00a0 \u201cBut you enjoyed teasing me about it.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Molly held up both hands.\u00a0 \u201cIn my defense, we all enjoyed teasing you about it.\u00a0 It\u2019s what happens.\u00a0 It\u2019s\u2026a rite of passage, I guess you could call it.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Finally, he turned back around, facing her again.\u00a0 He smirked slightly, crossing his arms and shaking his head slightly.\u00a0 \u201cYou want a rite of passage?\u00a0 Try getting blown off a building on Nar Shadda and falling thirty stories or so.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Her eyes went wide.\u00a0 \u201cYou <em>what<\/em>?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He waved a hand a little, hoping that making light of it would calm her down.\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s a rival bounty hunter trying to collect a price on my head.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHow\u2026how\u2019d you piss off another hunter?\u201d\u00a0 The words \u2018that quickly\u2019 dangled unspoken in the air.\u00a0 Her eyes widened again as a horrible thought clicked.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s not Deathdealer, right?\u201d\u00a0 Though how he would have found a way to piss off Arilyn that badly that quickly was beyond her.<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Xander shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cNope.\u00a0 An Auyn dropout named Match.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Molly tilted her head to the side, expression suddenly puzzled.\u00a0 \u201cYou people have dropouts?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cJust him,\u201d Xander clarified, watching her as her confusion grew.\u00a0 He shook his head slightly.\u00a0 \u201cAnd I didn\u2019t piss <em>him<\/em> off.\u00a0 I pissed off whoever put the price on my head\u2026.and <em>then<\/em> I pissed him off.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She shook her head slowly.\u00a0 \u201cWho did you piss off that royal?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMy partner\u2019s still looking into it.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Both brows went up.\u00a0 \u201cPartner?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He nodded.\u00a0 \u201cCrystal Qel-Droma.\u00a0 She\u2019s the brains, I\u2019m the brawn.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Molly blinked again.\u00a0 \u201cUncle Ion\u2019s daughter?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Xander eyed her for a moment, watching the wheels turn as Molly struggled to process everything that was being pushed into the light.\u00a0 \u201cYep.\u00a0 She was checking up on me on Nar Shadda, but she thinks I don\u2019t know that.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBecause of Ion?\u00a0 Or something else?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Xander shrugged a little.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sure Cay made a call to someone, and they made a call to her.\u201d\u00a0 He pushed himself off the speeder and moved over to her, gently taking her by the shoulders.\u00a0 \u201cMol\u2026you managed to piss off all of the local chapter of Black Sun.\u00a0 Is my life so hard to believe?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She smiled wryly, looking up at him.\u00a0 \u201cI breathe wrong and piss off someone, Xander\u2026comes from being born daughter to my parents.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou look like you could use a drink.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The smile grew a little.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe I could.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to fly back to base in this storm, though.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He grinned a boyish, lopsided grin and let go of her, walking over to the speeder.\u00a0 He leaned in and popped the glovebox, pulling out a bottle of brandy that was probably barreled when they were infants.\u00a0 He held it up for a moment for her inspection.\u00a0 \u201cWill this do?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She grinned back.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019re you going to drink?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He shrugged, straightening.\u00a0 \u201cI thought we could split it.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She peered at the bottle with all the mock-seriousness she could muster, studying it.\u00a0 \u201cYou sure there\u2019s enough?\u00a0 I\u2019m off-duty.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Xander just grinned and pulled out the cork with his teeth, passing her the bottle.\u00a0 She took it from him and put the bottle to her lips, tipping it back for a long swallow as he came around the speeder and opened the door to the back seat, gesturing.\u00a0 She arched a brow as she swallowed the brandy\u2014not quite decent brandy, if she was a judge, and she liked to think she was.<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI redid the leather seats myself.\u201d\u00a0 When she hesitated in climbing in, he grinned, climbing in himself.\u00a0 He threw an arm around her waist and dragged her down into the seat next to him.\u00a0 She yelped, trying not to spill the brandy all over both of them\u2014and the leather seats.<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHey!\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He captured the bottle and took a long swig, eyes widening as he swallowed.\u00a0 \u201c\u2026ugh.\u00a0 I guess it\u2019s not bad for a bottle I smuggled out when I was twelve.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Molly grinned.\u00a0 \u201cI thought it tasted funny.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Xander held the bottle just out of reach.\u00a0 \u201cWell, sorry if it\u2019s not up to standards, princess\u2026\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She laughed.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not a princess, Xander.\u00a0 Give me that bottle.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He grinned, handing it back, letting her have a long swallow.\u00a0 They leaned back together and he threw his arm across the back of the seat behind her head.\u00a0 \u201cSo, you missed me, huh?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She cradled the bottle in both hands.\u00a0 \u201cI worried.\u00a0 You ran off without saying anything to anyone.\u00a0 But then\u2026I\u2019d worry if Dav pulled that shit, too.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAh,\u201d he said, tilting his head back for a moment.\u00a0 \u201cIf I\u2019d told anyone, you\u2019d have tried to stop me from going.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cCan you blame us?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He shifted, looking at her.\u00a0 \u201cNo one stopped Cay when he ran off last year and nearly got himself killed.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Molly shook her head, staring right back at him, expression serious.\u00a0 \u201cThe only one who could\u2019ve talked him out of it was Mary.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Xander nodded a little, expression as serious as hers.\u00a0 \u201cI meant what I said.\u00a0 I thought about you every day.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Her expression softened.\u00a0 \u201cYou did?\u00a0 Really?\u201d\u00a0 He nodded and she smiled, turning slightly in the seat so she could look at him without craning her neck.\u00a0 \u201cWhy?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhy what?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhy would you think about me every day?\u00a0 Seriously\u2026I\u2019m not that memorable, even naked.\u00a0 Believe me, I know it.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He smiled, almost sheepishly.\u00a0 \u201cWell, if you wanted to get naked again so I could get a <em>second<\/em> idea\u2026\u201d\u00a0 He almost blushed when her eyebrow shot up.\u00a0 \u201cBecause what I remember was beautiful.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Xander stole the bottle from her while she was blushing, trying to figure out what to say, finally settling on quipping, \u201cLiquid courage, Mr. Drake?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He grinned the lopsided, roguish grin that he\u2019d learned\u2014or inherited\u2014from his father.\u00a0 \u201cNah, but if I let you drink it all, you\u2019ll claim I took advantage of you while you were drunk.\u201d\u00a0 He winked at her, still smiling.<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She snorted, shaking her head.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll save that one for another time.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cSave what?\u00a0 Being drunk?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She shook her head.\u00a0 \u201cUsing it as an excuse.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He grinned.\u00a0 \u201cI notice you didn\u2019t say anything about putting off the part where I take advantage of you.\u201d\u00a0 She shrugged a little and stole the bottle back, taking another long swallow of the brandy.\u00a0 Xander put his hand on her thigh, almost casually.\u00a0 She glanced down at the hand, arching a brow, then glanced up at him.\u00a0 He shrugged in return.<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAre you trying to put the moves on me, Xander?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The grin returned.\u00a0 \u201cThat depends, is it working?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She smirked.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll see.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhat are you smirkin\u2019 for?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNothing,\u201d she said in her best faking innocence voice.\u00a0 Xander grinned, leaning in.\u00a0 She met him partway, tangling her fingers in his hair for a moment.\u00a0 It was almost experimental, the kiss, the first taste.\u00a0 It was only a few moments before they both pulled back.\u00a0 There was a little color in both of their cheeks as they did.<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Xander\u2019s voice was a whisper.\u00a0 \u201c\u2026I thought about doing that more than once, too.\u201d\u00a0 She smiled and let him get his arms around her.\u00a0 They kissed again.<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She pulled back, looking at him.\u00a0 \u201cHave\u2026have you ever done this?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He blinked, surprised.\u00a0 \u201cDone what?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Molly gestured a little.\u00a0 \u201cDone\u2026this.\u00a0 Anything like this.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He shook his head a little.\u00a0 She grinned.<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNeither have I.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He reached up, brushing her hair back and out of her face.\u00a0 \u201cSo we can be each other\u2019s first.\u00a0 Together.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Her blush hadn\u2019t faded much.\u00a0 \u201cSo how was it?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He grinned and kissed her again.\u00a0 \u201cWell, I keep coming back for more\u2026\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She elbowed him in the ribs, laughing against his kiss.\u00a0 \u201cAwful\u2026\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHey!\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou <em>are<\/em>!\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He smiled, a little sheepish and roguish at the same time.\u00a0 \u201cIs that such a bad thing?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She shrugged, shifting a little closer.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe.\u00a0 Hopefully we\u2019ll have a chance to find out.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He ran his fingers through her hair.\u00a0 \u201cWell.\u00a0 Neither of us are going anywhere in this storm\u2026\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She shook her head a little, smile fading.\u00a0 \u201cI mean\u2026I meant after today.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Xander raised a brow, smile growing a little.\u00a0 \u201cYou saying you wanna be my girl?\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Molly shrugged, smiling weakly.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe?\u00a0 I don\u2019t know.\u00a0\u00a0 Your line of work is more dangerous than mine\u2026and my mother didn\u2019t raise any stupid kids.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He just stared at her for a long moment, mouth dry, stomach turning again. \u00a0\u201cMolly\u2026\u201d\u00a0 He hesitated a moment, watching her, trying to catch and at the same time trying to avoid eye contact with her.\u00a0 \u201c\u2026this is who I am.\u00a0 This is what I do.\u00a0 If you can\u2019t accept that\u2026\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not asking you to change, Xander,\u201d she said quietly, thumb stroking his cheek.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m just saying it\u2019s going to take some\u2026I don\u2019t know.\u00a0 Something\u2026to get me to go against Mom\u2019s advice about boys.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He started to lean back.\u00a0 She held on.<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019d like the opportunity, though.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He smiled at her weakly, nodding.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019d like that.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She leaned in and kissed him gently, smiling as she pulled back.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll have to do my homework.\u00a0 See how much trouble Dad got into when he was our age.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Xander grinned, running his fingers through her hair.\u00a0 \u201cLook at how much trouble mine\u2019s getting into <em>now<\/em>.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She laughed.\u00a0 \u201cThere <em>is<\/em> that.\u201d<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thunder rolled outside and the bottle sat forgotten between their knees as they sat there together in the back of his speeder for a long, long time.<\/p>\n<p>~ Ed and Erin<\/p>\n<div class=\"sharedaddy sd-sharing-enabled\"><div class=\"robots-nocontent sd-block sd-social sd-social-icon-text sd-sharing\"><h3 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