Shadowed Paths

Part 1

"I don't know what life would be like"

Kyizi

Rating: This part: PG

Archiving: Mail me 'n' ask 1st

Spoilers: Most of the 1st Series.

Timeline: The future sometime! Sometime after Crais has stolen Talyn.

Disclaimer: They ain't mine, jus borrowed them…think anyone'd notice if I did a runner?

Notes: OK. This story is NOT a part of the "Home For Christmas" series BUT future parts WILL contain the character Lucy Crichton (cuz I like her!) so if u want to know more about who she is read my story "Home For Christmas". This crew has NEVER met Lucy before - xept John course!

OH EXTRA NOTE: My friend Charlie, who proofs everything that I write, has yet to check this over so there may be a few changes to come to this part.

Summary: This story is kinda complicated, or at least it will get that way in future parts, so if u get confused about anything that would be understandable! If this doesn't make sense to n'one then jus mail me n I'll explain!

Feedback: PLEASE!!!!!!! Mail me at [email protected]

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"Chiana, stop whatever the frell you're doing!"

"I'm not doing anything!" Chiana jumped back from the panel she was at when Aeryn's voice came over the comm..

"Oh and I suppose the lighting is pink for no reason."

"Well maybe Pilot wanted a bit of a change…"

"Fix it."

"Alright, alright don't get your knickers in a twist."

"Don't what?"

"It's something Crichton says, it means…"

"If it's one of Crichton's sayings then don't bother…we could be here all monen."

"Yeah well…"

"Chiana just fix the problem. And the next time you touch one of Moya's controls I'll cut your hands off."

"Yeah, yeah whatever."

"Don't think that I won't…"

"Did I say that I thought that?" Chiana asked innocently.

"Just fix it, Chiana." There was a click as Aeryn shut off her comm.. Chiana grumbled as she went back towards the panel to try and fix whatever it was that she had done.

"Frelling Peacekeeper. You'd think they didn't know how to have a little fun…" she laughed to herself, "hmm…fun…I wonder where Crichton is!"

~x~x~x~x~x~

John entered the 'canteen' and smiled as he saw Aeryn sitting staring into space.

"Penny for them."

"hmm?" She stirred and turned around, "What?" she asked, her brow knitting in confusion.

"Penny for your thoughts? Nothing, it's just another one of my human sayings. I mean what are you thinking about?" He took the seat opposite her.

"Oh…em…noth…nothing."

John smiled in confusion, "If I didn't know better, Miss Sun, I'd say you sounded embarrassed."

This only caused Aeryn to stutter more and he noticed a small flush in her cheeks.

"It's none of your business, Crichton." She stood to leave but he grabbed her arm.

"Sorry baby, only teasing." He pulled her back down into her chair and she smiled at him.

"So…" he looked at her and gave her a lopsided grin. "What have you been up to today?"

After a moment she launched into a long explanation of a problem with the air vents on tier 5 and he found himself unable to stop himself from smiling at her new found enthusiasm for learning and understanding what was going on around her.

*What was it you were thinking about that made you blush like that?* he began to wonder. *Were you thinkin' about me? Or is that just wishful thinking on my part? I cost you your entire way of life…do you ever regret that choice? Do you regret following this path?*

"…and then…Crichton? Are you listening to a word I'm saying?"

He shook himself out of his thoughts and smiled, "Sorry Sunshine, I was miles away…and before you even ask, yes that's another human saying."

Aeryn smiled at him, "Actually I was going to ask where you were."

"Oh…I…um…"

"If I didn't know better, Crichton, I'd say you sounded embarrassed." John smiled at her and she smiled back - for a moment at least.

"So what were you thinking, John?"

"Nothing."

"Tell me…please."

He looked away from her and wondered whether or not to proceed.

"John?"

"I was just thinking…wondering…" He looked at her. "Do you ever regret following this path?…do you ever regret choosing to stand up for me? Do you think you'd be happier if you hadn't?"

"I…um…" Now it was her turn to look away embarrassed. She took a deep breath and continued, "John…I don't know what life would be like for me if I had chosen not to stand up for you…we make so many choices in life and we never know how it will turn out…I can't tell you whether or not I'm happier now, because that is something that I will never know."

They looked into each other's eyes and she smiled at him.

"I can tell you this much…I do not regret it."

He smiled back at her and they continued to stare into each other's eyes. After a few microts she turned her head away and cleared her throat before standing up. John, knowing that she was about to leave, stood up in front of her, blocking her escape route.

"Crichton what…" she stalled when she looked into his eyes and gulped. Slowly he leaned in closer, she felt his hands creeping around her back and then his breath in her face. Almost afraid, she looked into his eyes…

"Crichton, Aeryn, I need you on tier 5, NOW."

~x~x~x~x~x~

"What is it Big Guy…? Woah." John stopped and immediately drew his weapon at the strange pink…energy…before him and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Aeryn doing the same.

"What…the frell…is that?"

"How the yotz am I supposed to know."

"Well have you ever seen anything like it…before…"

"What is it Crichton?"

"I dunno. But I'm sure I've seen it before…or something like it anyway."

"I too…have been getting a similar feeling."

"I suppose it is…almost…familiar." Aeryn slowly moved towards the rippling energy.

"Aeryn! what the frell are you…"

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END PART 1

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