Note: "But For The Grace Of God" is sung by Keith Urban.

He squeezed past the two Rangers facing off in the hallway with a muttered "Excuse me", but he doubted either of them noticed. He had thought they had reconciled since the Honor ceremony, but Aura seemed to think it would take more than two days of good behavior to make up for the months of angry words between them.

They certainly weren't making much of an effort, he thought, ducking into her room. For two of the most respected people on their planet, Cetaci and Delphinius repeatedly earned their place as the most childish couple he had ever known.

He dropped his warm-up jacket on the chair by the door and went over to the vidscreen, calling up the IN feed and switching the monitor to a language he could understand. He couldn't help rolling his eyes when the broadcast didn't completely disguise the argument taking place in the hallway.

The door slid open behind him, and he turned in time to catch Aura's exasperated expression. It vanished as soon as she saw him, but he gave her a sympathetic look nonetheless. "They been like that all day?"

"Yes," she muttered darkly. "But at least they waited until it was light out. If I am woken up by them even one more time, I will not be amused."

He motioned "sorry" at her, and a reluctant smile tugged at her lips.

"It is not your fault," she reminded him. But her hand went to her mouth in a "thank you" gesture anyway. "Do you have time for dinner?"

"I was hoping you'd say that," he admitted sheepishly. "I got out of soccer practice early, and I was hoping to see you before I have to bury myself in History homework for the evening."

She stepped away from the door with a smile. "Here I am," she said, holding out her hand a little shyly. "I'm glad you came."

He smiled back, running his fingers across her palm before sliding them between hers and pulling her closer. "Me too," he said, wrapping his free arm around her in a warm hug.

From out in the corridor came a sound like a door slamming, and he winced. He felt Aura sigh irritably. Suddenly, though, the whole thing struck him as strangely funny. The doors around here were as unslammable as they came, and yet somehow...

"Only them," he whispered, chuckling.

She must have understood, for after a moment she started to giggle too. "Thank heavens," she murmured wryly, and he hugged her a little tighter as he heard more in those two words than she had said.