It was rare, but nice to have a quiet evening on the Condor. With a recon mission looming ahead of the team in the morning every one of the boys took to their rooms to get some rest and be battle-ready. Piper, on the other hand, had preparations to finish for the morning.

She had already triangulated the possible positions of the Raptors on the map of the small terra they'd scouted. She knew where their camp was. Just not where they were going every day they spent there. They'd return at dusk covered in dirt and dust like they'd been digging all day long and complaining that something didn't exist. And that's all the Storm Hawks knew.

"For now," the navigator concluded as she proudly surveyed her labeled map.

It would get the guys exactly to where they'd need to be while she and Stork kept an eye on the main camp. So long as they followed it. The girl pulled her attention from the map laying between her hands on the table to gaze through the front windows of the bridge. The sky was clear and starry.

The door opened. She jumped, hitting the table and sending pencils rolling. She snatched for them while quiet chuckles came from behind. She should've known Aerrow would have ulterior motives for ordering everyone to turn in. Holding the pencils in hand, Piper turned to see him walking to the table.

"Sorry, Piper. I didn't mean to startle you."

He smiled. Taking a deep breath, the girl returned it.

"I was just lost in thought. What are you still doing up? We have a mission tomorrow and you should be resting."

"Says the only other person still up," he teased and leaned against the table with a book in his hand. "You know I'm a night owl. Especially the night before a mission."

"Doesn't change the fact that you're being a hypocrite."

She set the pencils back down with the map. He shrugged his shoulders.

"It's not the first time and not the last. So?"

He held the book out with a small shake of his hand. She sighed. Taking the book, the navigator made her way toward the bridge window with him in tow.

"It's been over ten years. Will you ever stop asking me to read to you?"

She took a seat.

"You read better than I do. And it does help me get to sleep."

"That's because you never actually read yourself. You'd get better if you did."

The sky knight plopped himself down beside her. Leaning back, he rested his arms on his knees as she angled herself to lean against both him and the window. The starlight illuminated the book of stories. The same book had been given to them by their favorite teacher when they still lived at the orphanage.

"Yeah," Aerrow agreed with a shrug. "But I like this better than reading by myself in my room."

As Piper opened to the latest story they were reading she quietly mentioned, "But you don't have to ground the others. What if the rest of the guys might enjoy a story too?"

He went quiet. Smiling, she flipped through the pages imagining the cocky smile on his face being replaced by the rare, bashful pout she'd more than once induced in the hot-headed young man. Reading together was their thing. She knew very well and he was protective of it. Piper had a strong inkling as to why but never found the courage to test her theory. Merely watch as the boy sought her company alone.

"Which story were we on?" she asked.

"The one about the Captain. And his wife."

Curious, the girl turned her head enough to see Aerrow gazing at the ceiling deep in thought. His brow furrowed. Biting his lower lip.

"That one's a romance. Do you want me to skip it?"

He shook his head. "I like that one. It was always my favorite."

"I thought the Dark Prince was your favorite?"

He shrugged again. "When I was a boy, maybe. Not anymore."

His gaze flicked to her. Feeling her cheeks warm, she looked back to the book before settling with her head leaning against his shoulder.

"Alright then," she began. "The worst mistake you could ever make was to take his woman from him. The only thing keeping him a man, rather than a monster..."

The story was a long one. It took almost an hour for Piper to finish and when she did, Aerrow sat dozing with his head resting over hers. She quietly closed the book.

"Aerrow? Aerrow, you should go to bed."

A low groan escaped him. He slid further down the window to rest his head on her shoulder while snuggling into her arm. A sigh escaped him as his eyes remained closed.

Smiling, Piper set the book down to brush his hair from his face. "Aerrow. Get up."

His fingers captured hers. He held the girl's hand against the side of his head, making her skin tingle everywhere it made contact with his. His eyes fluttered open. She remained quiet as he blinked while his light touch turned into a gentle squeeze around her fingers. His eyes widened. Yanking their hands from his hair and sitting up he stared at their intertwined fingers for a moment before lifting his gaze to her. Piper smiled.

"Having a nice dream?"

He chuckled nervously. "Yeah... I guess... The story must've gotten to me."

He unlaced their hands. Hopping to his feet, Aerrow took several steps away while gazing at the floor with his hands on his hips. His furrowed expression returned. Curious, Piper stood with the book and took a few steps closer to the sky knight.

"Aerrow, is everything okay? What's on your mind?"

He grew tense before muttering, "Nothing. We should get to bed."

He gave her a smile while ushering to the bridge doors. The navigator shook her head.

"You know you can talk to me if something's on your mind, right? We were friends long before we were a squadron and we still are."

His smile faltered.

"It's actually kind of about that."

About being friends? She wondered if he didn't want to be anymore. Piper's heart fearfully fluttered.

"About being friends? Is something wrong?"

Stepping closer she rested her hand on his shoulder. He leaned into the touch. His expression softened as he gazed at Piper while resting his hand over the top of hers.

"No. Absolutely not. It's just..."

"Just what?"

"I..."

She searched his eyes trying to find the answer. It was rare to see Aerrow so unsure of himself. He couldn't keep his eyes on her as words seemed to hang on the tip of his tongue. He closed his mouth, hanging his head.

"I couldn't imagine this team without you, Piper. You're important to all of us."

"Oh..."

Her chest felt heavy. Both relieved and saddened by his words, she crossed her arms and gave him a tired smile.

"I'm glad to know, Aerrow. Thank you. Now we should get to bed."

"Yeah..."

Returning to the table, Piper picked up her map and pencils to stash them away on a shelf with the other maps stored there. She left the book sitting on the table. Turning, Aerrow stared at it as the navigator slowly made her way toward the door.

"Alright. Goodnight, Aerrow."

He broke from his daze.

"Goodnight, Piper."

As she turned she heard him sigh. Piper slipped through the door but not before peaking at the young sky knight over her shoulder. He turned and leaned on the window to stare outside.