Smugglers Cove (Love2write and Silence)

Hearing the doctor laugh only made Killian feel angry. Turning to look at the doctor again he growled. "You always were an little ass behind scene." Cautiously he moved his hand toward his side only to have it pushed away. Obviously the doctor wasn't done yet. It hurt and he wanted to put his hand on the injury. Looking at Kato a little more carefully he sighed. "Alright I'll do what I can. Thanks for the moral boost though I don't think it helped that much." A slight chuckle started and then he felt a poke from the needle. "Be careful...That thing's sharp."

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After nearly 2 days of rest Killian was feeling like walking again. He was taking small walks and trying to get himself to a decent shape before having to meet with Star. Part of him was terrified that she would immediately hate him. She had just tried to kill him a few days ago. On his walk Killian decided to go see how Mike was doing. His old friend was always stopping in to see him and he figured it was about time he lumbered that way. Taking a deep breath he rounded a corner in time to hear Star yelling. She wasn't supposed to see him yet and since she was holding a gun and pointing it at Timo he figured the worst had happened.

He could always take a chance. Killian yelled, "Hey!" When it looked like he had her attention he raised his hands. "What are you doing? That's Timo. Leave the boy alone. If you got a problem you talk with me about it." Chances were he was going to get shot but, it would give the crew time to do something about her current state and get her under control. "Star." His voice got softer and he continued, "Just put the gun down. Nobody here is gonna hurt you."

Mike peered out of his door when he heard all the commotion. Stepping out behind Star he waited to see what she would do.
 
Star's eyes widened, her hands trembling violently as the gun turned on him. The violent clash of emotions was almost too much. There was a tiny part that was excited even happy to see this beast and the rest that just wanted him to die a slow painful death. "Take...me...back. Now..." She growled angerly.
Timo glanced over his shoulder to Killian. "I told her...I told her Kafus was dead and that there was no one to go back to..."
"No! He's not dead! He's far too clever and powerful to be killed. He's not! You're lying!" The gun and turned to train back on Timo. "I don't want to hurt you, Timo...but I will. Take me back to him. Drop me off on the planet I don't care...just take me back."
 
Slowly Killian started to work his way closer to her. He caught sight of Mike behind the little lady and he was hoping that they could get her settle down. "Star, put the gun down." Timo wasn't helping the situation by lying to her. Finally Killian was close enough to say something in a calm tone. "Kafus isn't dead..." Peering at Timo he gave the boy a warning glance. "Now, Star I need you to put the gun down. We need to take Andy back home. She's been waiting for a while to get back there."

Mike was standing behind her ready to make the move. It was better if they could talk her down because they risked somebody getting shot if she happened to pull the trigger when he grabbed her.
 
"DON"T TALK TO ME BEAST!" Star screamed at Killian, gun trained on him now, her hands trembling. "You attacked him! You attacked my master! And you kidnapped me! I don't believe anything you say. Take me back!" Suddenly the gun went off and Timo yelped as the bullet ricocheted right by his feet.
Mike grabbed her from behind pinning her arms and causing her to drop the gun. "Let me go!" She screamed, kicking her legs mid-air to try and throw him off balance. Kato hurried to Mike's side and with much effort managed to hold her arm still enough to inject her with a sedative. She whimpered as she came down and Kato helped Mike set her down. He felt her pulse and nodded, sighing in relief. "What the hell the happened?"
Timo hung his head. "I...I couldn't stand hearing her talk about Kafus anymore. I, I tried to convince her he was dead so she'd give up on it."
 
Killian glowered at Timo. "You don't lie. It doesn't matter how damn bad you want to. If you can't stand it then you don't talk about it. There are a lot of things in life you just learn not to say." He wasn't particularly angry just a little shook up and he didn't like getting screamed at or shot at. Kato and Mike helped her to infirmary and Killian leaned against the wall. The first time they met and she called him Beast. That name was particularly distasteful to him. Once he was sure that she was locked away again he decided to go catch up with Mike and Kato.

Carefully sitting down across from Kato at the desk he winced a little. "So...It's been 4 days and I'm still Beast. I guess its progress since she didn't attack me this time. Only tried to shoot me."

The sarcasm was practically dripping from Killian's voice. Mike shook his head. "To be honest it wasn't your fault. Timo hasn't had as much...."

"Life experience?" Snorting the ex-captain met his friend's gaze. "Anyway...Looking ahead. How long should I stay away from her?"

Though it was a little snippy Mike could understand for now. Sounded like a long time to wait if you had about bled to death for someone two times. The older man nodded. "I guess we'll be getting right along to Andy's then and we'll try some more walking and such when we get there. Might be good to keep weapons locked up."
 
There was nothing quite like have a sun and moon in the sky at the same time. The more planets one traveled too the more one discovered the things they had previously taken for granted. Such as having a moon at night instead of nothing at all. Star sat on the bed in the room that the crew had imprisoned her in. Andy's house was beautiful, and garden even more so. It reminded her of the time when the crew had been trapped in that house on the war torn planet. Timo had been eating strawberries...just a little boy. She remembered being worried about Mike and Killian and making them promise to come back safely.

She frowned. Back then, she would've given her life for him. She would've married him, sacrificed everything to be with him. And then...Kafus helped her see the truth. There was peace and joy in serving him, and him alone, where there had only ever been anguish and pain with Killian. She lay down on the bed and clenched the blanket in her fist. She hated him...hated him so much. More than anything else...but she couldn't pin-point exactly what she hated about him...and that confused her.

A soft knock sounded at the door and Kato entered with food. She didn't bother turning to greet one of her many captors. She couldn't understand why her crew had turned on her. Timo, Kato, Andy...even Mike. They'd all turned on her...keeping her captive. Not letting her return home no matter how much she begged.
"Andy made an incredible stew from her garden vegetables. Its really quite delicious." Kato says, setting the tray on the desk.
She didn't answer.
"Star...we love you, and we're trying to look out for you." He says softly.
"If you cared about me you'd let me leave. You wouldn't keep me prisoner here. I don't care what you say about Kafus. I need him."
"No, Star. You don't. But...its ok if you don't see it right now. You will."
He kept saying stuff like that. It was annoying. "Whatever."
...

Kato came back down the steps to join the others at the dinner table and took his seat next to Andy. Timo glanced at him hopefully but the doctor simply shook his head. "She'll get there. The fact she doesn't require sedatives to remain calm anymore is a good sign." Kato was always managing to find some sort of good sign to pick out...no matter how small.
Matt, Duke and Curly were doing their own thing outside, having found a strange little drone to fly around.

"So, Andy...what sort of places are there around here that are good for exploring?" Kato asks cheerfully.
 
Andy proudly showed all of her guests to a room. She made sure to give the biggest bed to Killian since he was by far her largest guest. Even then the bed didn't seem to fit him. He couldn't lay straight on the bed unless he let his feet hang off the edge which of course resulted in all the sheets being untucked and it made for a mess in the morning. Being a good little hostess it really bothered her to find that whenever she went into the room in the mornings that the sheets were in a ball. Accompanying Kato again she watched him from the doorway and held the tray with the medicine. Seemed that there were plenty of things that had gone wrong with Killian's healing and most of it resulting from the early days of treatment that hadn't been done right.

Killian was sprawled out on the bed with the sheet over one arm and the other clearly in view along with half his chest and part of one leg. At least he had the decency to wear shorts to bed. Snorting, he sat up in the bed when felt a hand on his shoulder. "Mmmkay." When Andy came over with the glass of water and pills he took them and laid back down. "I'll get up in a few hours." He was too tired to do much but, he was starting to feel better than he had for weeks.

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By midmorning everyone was up and about except Killian who was probably still sleeping the day away. That was the only thing he'd done for the last 3 days since they got here. Star was still problematic like usual. The report didn't sound that thrilling. It was frustrating after just over 2 weeks that she hadn't made more progress. Grinning a little Andy stood up. "Well you've seen my paintings and I think I'll take you to my favorite one."

Grinning she met his gaze. "How about the lake with the islands. I have a little row boat out there and we can head that way. Lets go before the rest of them figure it out." Andy grabbed one of his hands and started to run Northeast. Finally reaching the boat she was panting and completely pleased with herself. Looking back at Kato he didn't appear to be quite as well adjusted to the running. She was reminded of his condition and rested a hand on his cheek. "We really need to talk to Killian about the bone samples and I'll get a doctor here to perform the surgery. You're gonna start getting to be arthritic and then you'll really start acting old." She was slightly worried just looking at him now. "You ok after the run?"
 
Kato was breathing heavily but he nodded his assurances, clutching his hands tightly on his knees so she wouldn't see how they trembled from the excursion. He finally got his breath after several seconds and smiled kindly. "I don't think Killian is any condition to be talking to him about that right now. He's just started to get better. If...if I go in asking about that sort of thing..." He shook his head, clearly uncomfortable with the idea. He took her hand and helped her into the boat with a teasing, "M'lady..."

Kato took the oars, and began pulling them through the water. He took a deep breath when they had gone a distance from the sands. Fresh air, soft waters. His eyes locked with Andy. A beautiful woman...once he dared not raise hope in his heart for. There chance that it would even work was so slim. He lowered his eyes down to his hands which had begun trembling from the simple act of rowing the oars. He felt older everyday. He hadn't said anything to anyone, but by his estimate, he'd beyond hope of saving within the year.

He raised his head with a smile, hoping none of his careless thoughts had shown on his face. "You should sell your paintings, Andy. They are good enough. More than good...infact."
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Timo walked over to Star as she lay on the bed and handed her an electronic journal with a weathered leather cover.
"What's this?" She asked, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Its your journal...I've kept it safe for you all these years."
Star took it and opened it. The picture...of her and Killian. She remembered putting it there. She'd been so in love. Tears trickle down her face unbidden and she closes it quickly and hands it back to him. "I don't want it...I don't...I don't know why I ever cared about him. He's just...a monster, a beast."
"You don't really believe that." Timo says softly. "You never believed that. Kafus poisoned your mind...Star. Think about the things he did to you...how can you say that was really out of kindness?"
Star curled up into a ball covering her ears. She shook her head, tears trickling down her face. "Do you really love Kafus, Star?"
She nods emphatically. "Then, ask yourself why? What is it about him that you love? Was it the way he tortured you, humiliated you, forced you to do horrible things for him?"
Star's eyes blink as she struggles for some sort of answer.
Timo continues, "Has ever once said a kind word? Touched you in a kind way. Treated you like the most important thing on earth?"
She continues to be at loss for an answer.
"Killian did." Timo says. "I think that's part of why you fell in love with him."

Timo stands, feeling like he'd said enough, leaving Star to mull over what he'd said. He could tell by the look in her eye, he'd just ignited a spark of her old flame.
 
Andy couldn't help noticing that Kato had taken the oars like he wanted to be the man but, they didn't get far. Still she pretended not to notice. Her acting could go more than one way when necessary though it was more difficult to hide her feelings for Kato then it had been for her to hide her feelings when rescuing Star. Not that she didn't care for the woman but, Kato was the one she had fallen in love with. "I don't want to sell my paintings. Maybe I'd sell prints or something." Raising her eyebrows slightly she wiggled them. "I want to show you this place so let me do the rowing and you do the watching. I've already seen it enough times anyway." That was her excuse to take over the rowing so that Kato wouldn't make himself sick on her account.

Soon as they got back to the house she sat outside with him long enough to get something cool for all the men to drink. "I'm gonna go see if Killian is going to get up." Giving a little grumble she started up the stairs. Almost every afternoon she'd tried to get him up and if she couldn't she would open the shades. Knocking on the door she waited for some kind of answer and got none so she went inside anyway.

A gentle little hand ran over his back. Killian breathed in deeply and he started to relax till it occurred to him that even if it was Star she wasn't particularly stable right now. Carefully he turned toward the person and noticed Andy was sitting very close. "What?" He was used to her coming into the room and throwing the shades open. Instead she was almost in tears and she was petting his shoulder and it was kinda weird. Moving away from her hand he looked at her face and then back to her hand which was inching closer again. "What's wrong?"

"Kato's dying." Pulling her hands up Andy burst into tears. She'd been as tough as she could be this whole time pretending not to notice the signs but, it was too much watching him barely function for a simple outing. "He's getting old so fast."

"I know he's got gray hair."

Andy lowered her hands and glowered at Killian. He was so dense sometimes. "No! He's dying Killian. Its that weird disease and it makes a person get old too fast. I need your help."

"I'm not a god. What I am I supposed to do about this?" Before Andy could answer he was already starting to get the idea. It was something he had thought about asking for treatment for Star and they never got around to it. Maybe all these years later it would have advanced in technology.

"There's some research and they think that your bone marrow might help stop or reverse some of the damage to Kato's body. I love him." Bursting into tears again she grabbed the edge of the sheet and wiped her eyes. It was surprising to hear the captain so readily agree to the procedure. "Really?" Sniffling she nodded anxiously. "I'll start by getting a doctor to do the procedure and he'll check you over too before doing anything." Trying to be careful for the ex-captain's side she threw herself on him for a hug.

Killian was almost plastered to the bed when she flopped on him. "Don't get too exuberant. We don't know if it will work yet."

"It will!" Andy leapt up from her place. About an hour later she re-appeared outside and took a seat next to Kato. Every now and then she would look at him with some worry. Part of here was worried that he would flop over dead before the 10 days got here.

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The day before the procedure she walked into Killian's room while Kato did the checking. It seemed that Killian had made some good progress healing. Sleeping a lot had done him good and he'd been up and about walking a few days. Which unfortunately would be done for another week or two after this. "Kato...?" Beckoning to him she had him step out of the room. "I have a special guest coming this afternoon. I need you to meet him its important that I have your approval for this and I won't accept no for an answer."

Finally the doctor arrived. Andy promptly took the man to analyze Killian first. Seemed that the blood work showed he was healthy enough for the procedure. Then it was time to make the assessment of Kato. Already the captain had signed off on everything so all she needed was for Kato to agree to it and tomorrow they would get it done. Taking the doctor to Kato she smiled. "Kato meet the doctor who agreed to come. He's been doing research with bone marrow his entire career." Getting closer she whispered in his ear. "Remember I won't take no for an answer."
 
Kato couldn't help but notice Andy's odd demeanor. One minute she was humming to herself like everything was good with the world and the next she was staring at him like she was worried he was going to topple over. He knew she cared about him...alot, but he wished she would let him go. He was dying and nothing was going to change that. And then she brought in the bone marrow doctor. Kato and him exchanged pleasantries and Andy whispered in his ear. She'd set everything up...right under his nose with Killian, and the doctor. He couldn't help but smile at her. Clever, ambitious young woman.

"So, Dr. Sands...I have some questions for you." Kato spent the next hour grilling his fellow doctor on the procedure. Finally he was satisfied enough to signs the papers and shake the man's hand. He escorted the doctor out and Andy looked up at him expectantly. He smiled lightly at her, walking over and taking her hands. "I'll do it."

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Star had tossed in her bed non-stop since Timo had talked to her. She felt tortured by what her memories told her and what her feelings told her. But the more she thought about...the more it made sense that mind had been tampered with somehow, and these feelings...as strong as they were...weren't the real ones. She picks up her comm with a shaky breath. "Timo...I want to talk to him."
"You mean...Killian?"
Star winced at the name. She couldn't believe she was doing this but she nods. "Yes."
"That's great! I'll let him know!!" Timo sounded way too excited.

Which he was. His talked had worked! He rushes to Killian's door and pounds on it. "KILLIAN! Killian! Get your ass out of bed. Star wants to talk to you!"

...

Star's fists clenched and unclenched as she sat on the bed, staring out at the garden. She heard the door open and she cringes. Her mind was demanding she hide, run, fight...something. Every instinct within her wanted to get away...but she had to know...she had to figure this out. She didn't want to be living under false feelings for someone. Her heart rate increased as she heard his voice. She couldn't turn to look at him for fear of what she might do if she saw him. God, why did her heart hurt so much? Now that he was here...she was finding it difficult to say anything. It was taking all her concentrate to not give into the panic and fight or flight. Finally she takes a breath and forces out a question at the forefront of her mind, "Did you really love me?"
 
Andy almost threw herself on Kato. Grinning broadly she leaned in and kissed him. Once she pulled away she nodded to him. "I need you make it. The procedure will work." If sheer will power could do it she would make it happen.

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As soon as the doctor left the room and finished his examination Killian decided to go back to sleep. He probably should have been spending time walking around and enjoying being up but, he was still trying to get some energy back. While he was deciding what he wanted to do he fell asleep. It counted as a decision. Suddenly everyone wanted to talk to him. Timo was pounding on the door like the house was on fire. "What!" Yelling back he heard the part about Star.

"I'll be there." Killian threw the sheets and blankets off. Even if it was a little hasty for his condition he scrambled into a pair of pants that he hadn't bothered to button yet and snatched a shirt from the back of the chair near the doorway. Throwing the door open he stuffed one arm into the shirt and the next while he walked next to Timo. There was plenty of time to get dressed the rest of the way to wherever she was at. Killian didn't want there to be time for her to change her mind. Finally zipping the pants and buttoning them at the top he swallowed a few times. His throat felt dry and here he was standing outside her door. Glancing at Timo he shoo'd him away with his hand. "I'll be fine." Taking a deep breath he used the extra moment to try and tame his wavy black hair. It was never tame but, he tried. Turning the knob he opened the door and stepped inside.

The last two attempts hadn't been all that successful. Since the time she threatened Timo with a gun he hadn't seen her. Now he was just staring at her back and she wasn't even turning around. Instead she asked a question. Killian thought for a moment before he answered. "I still love you. You're the only reason I made it through the Killing Fields." More than likely she wouldn't remember that night but, he did. That had been the sole reason that he even had the heart left to fight. Hold on for those last weeks no matter how far they drug along. That was until he was injured and then he knew it was over. "What do you remember about us?"
 
Kato flushed red at the kiss. He stammered awkwardly again then thought "screw it" and pulled her in for second kiss.
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"Everything." She replies bitterly. "I remember everything...that's the problem." Her shoulders tightened almost swallowing her ears. "I know how I used to feel about you...but I don't feel like that anymore. I know how I used to feel about him, but now I can't get him out of my mind." She buried her face her hands, her long hair falling over her shoulders. "Even when I close my eyes he's there but now I feel sick every time I think about him, and confused every time I think about you." She sniffed and rubbed her face, sitting back up. "Timo said he messed with my head...Kato explained it too. I couldn't stop thinking about it and figured...well, I figured I owed it to myself to figure this out."
 
The tone of Star's voice wasn't any good. Killian felt like she just shredded his heart and threw it out the door. She used to feel that way and now she doesn't. Those were hardly encouraging kinds of things to hear. Of course Kato had told him that she would be confused for a while and he would have to be the same guy that she fell in love with. That was where it got tough. At least she continued to say that she felt confused. Still the Chippequoti stayed close to the door. He was pretty sure if she punched him in the guts he would have permanent damage. Felt like it last time though Kato said he was lucky it just bled a lot and not a whole lot else.

Finally after a few moments he ventured a little further into the room. "Yeah you need to figure it out for yourself. Would you try and kill me if I sat over there on that chair?" Killian didn't really want to sit next to her just yet. He couldn't trust her that much. He might try getting closer though.
 
"No..." Her voice bubbled with the undertone of a laugh, as if she found the question amusing. She turned her head just enough to see him out of the corner of her eye then immediately looked away as a new wave of emotions flooded her. Some positive some negative. Like her mind couldn't figure out whether she loved or hated him. She didn't know quite what so say so she said the first thoughts that were coming to mind. Mike had said that she processed outloud...it would help. "I remember when I first woke up from that Coma...and I couldn't remember anything. This feels worse than that. Timo was small then...he had that stupid cat." She chuckles lightly. "Why you got it for him, I never quite understood...I just figured it was your way of being "sensitive."
 
Killian still wasn't to sure that she wouldn't flip so he cautiously proceeded and sat on the chair that was part way to the bed and still gave access to the door if he needed. It was still difficult to have her looking over at him and then glancing away so quickly. Clenching his jaw he waited for her to say anything else. Otherwise they were just going to sit here staring at each other. Finally she started and it was all the way back at the coma. A frustrating time for both of them. "Yeah I never could figure out why I got that cat for him either."

Resting his hands on his knees Killian leaned forward slightly and then rested one hand over his side. "So I uh...Oh...Hmmm just occurred to me that his ship is called Comet. Wasn't that name of his cat? I haven't thought of thing in so long. Mostly I remember it being caught in air vents. Especially liked the one above my bed so the cat hair would blow over my face all night long." Chuckling a little bit he glanced at Star and then stopped. Wasn't a whole lot else to say and he didn't want to go overboard even if it was nice to just be able to talk to her.
 
She massaged her knees with her hands, then paused, looking at her hands. Her right one was still scarred from the knife he'd pushed into her hand that day. Her fingers touched her throat. Every now again she'd catch a glimpse of the ugly red scars around her throat, and she remembered the pain. Nothing could ever take away the memory of that constant pain. Going to bed at nights in to much pain to swallow and barely breathe. He never did anything that should've made her feel the way she felt now. And yet she still felt herself longing to return, though she couldn't understand why. Return to what? Return to slavery and torture? That thought made her mad...mad at herself for even wanting to consider it. Like a drug addict desperate to go back to the drug despite the pain and horror of the day after.

Star forceably turned herself, forced herself to look at him...stare at him...this man she had once claimed to love. Her mind didn't automatically scream beast this time, rather it wondered why he looked to worn and tired. He looked different than how she remembered. A tiny part of her screamed to rush to him and hold him close, doing whatever was needed to return life to his eyes. She concentrated on that...it had to be real. She had to keep forcing herself to stare at him...reminding herself the fear and pain was fake...an illusion. But god it felt real, too real.

Finally she couldn't handle it anymore and dropped her eyes to his legs...his knee. His knee spurred a whole new set of memories from the time she had teased him about the terrible story to Kato breaking several screws to try and repair it, to learning that he was an alien with bones nearly impossible to destroy. No doubt, that was the only reason he'd survived the Killing games. She remembered begging him to survive...no matter what it took as he sat in that cell. To become the monster if that was what he had to do to come back to her alive. "I told you to come back alive...and you did. I think...the other me would've thanked you. So...thank you." She said somewhat awkwardly.
 
It felt odd. They were still just staring at each other and then she broke the silence. Killian set his jaw while she talked about that last night in the cell. "Yeah I remember that. You're different, so am I." That was probably the simplest way to put it. Loving her hadn't changed but, there were other things he struggled to deal with most days. Half the time getting out of bed wasn't worth the effort. All her chatting had opened a lot of wounds and he wasn't sure he was going to make it much longer talking with her. She was still more like a stranger than the Star he knew. Finally Killian got to his feet. "I need to go. I'll see you later."

********************************************************************************

Andy checked on both her patients regularly. Neither of them were running fevers or anything alarming. It would just be some time to know if the bone marrow transplant had done any good for Kato. Right now they were both laid up and barely getting around with their canes. She always got an early start and made sure to check on Kato last just so she could sit with him as long as she wanted. Didn't want to forget about Killian or checking the dressings on his leg or anything like that.

After her usual morning check she got onto Kato's bed with him and held one of his hands. Winking at him she leaned over and kissed him. "I think we need to have a party once you're officially proven to be recovering." She felt somewhat bad knowing that the special ultrasounds were helping the bones heal faster, but it was still painful. "How you feeling today? All your bones hurt again or is it just your leg?"
 
Kato smiled at her. She worried over him like a mother hen. He wasn't used to this kind of attention, but it was nice. He'd begun to kick himself at having not noticed her sooner. "It's mostly just my leg, but modern medicine is working its wonders." He held her hand tightly. "I'm looking forward to that party...but..you should prepare yourself, Anne, just in case it doesn't work."
He chuckles lightly. "Yes...I did just call you Anne. You look much more like an Anne, now than an Andy...is...is that problem? If you don't like me calling you that..."
 
Andy rolled her eyes. "I would slap you for talking like that except your already my invalid." Of course he was more concerned about calling her Anne. The little woman raised an eyebrow. "You can call me Anne but, my middle name is Anna if that's what you were aiming for." She knew that occasionally folks would get her name mixed up. Leaning a bit closer she snuggled carefully. No need to jostle the poor doctor. Reaching up with one hand she brushed at his graying hair. "You know if you want I'm pretty good at dying hair. We could make it an exciting color."
 
"Oh, I don't know. Grey is pretty exciting, don't you think? Got you going." He chuckled teasingly, wrapping his arm around her shoulders as she snuggled close. "Who knew you were actually just attracted to old men?"


*********************************
"There are days where I sit here and I wonder...why did I even fall in love with this man. He’s completely clueless with it comes to relationships, he’s hard-headed, stubborn, a unsympathetic jerk sometimes and has no personal moral boundary lines to speak of....
And yet...I’m drawn to that big ‘ol teddy bear just beneath the surface. The one that set out glasses of wine, bought me that red dress, teases me impishly and listens when I confront him. He has big heart, but no one has shown him how to manage it. He has the passion and honor to protect his crew...no matter what...but he forgets the “no matter what” is not always in the best interest of the crew or himself as a person.
Despite all his flaws there are some absolutes about Killian that I never have to worry about. I am always safe with him. I will always be loved by him. If it is in his power, he will always protect me or save me. And above all...I am precious to him.
Call me foolish, or blinded...but I love him and I can’t imagine anything ever changing that.

Star lay on her bed weeping as she set the journal aside. She felt it. For the first time in over a month...she felt it.

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ONE WEEK LATER

"Andy this is silly." Star rolls her eyes as Andy insisted on dolling her up for the party. It would be the first time since they'd gotten here that she'd been deemed safe enough to let roam free. "Seriously, I look silly in this dress." In reality she looked beautiful, but she felt self-conscious about the burn scars around her throat, and the dress felt like it accentuated them.
 
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