Part three
Aeryn thought John was being ridiculous. Why would anyone intentionally get wet for purposes other than cleaning themselves? She thought she would never understand these strange human customs. She just watched, amused, as Crichton threw off all of his clothes except for his underwear and jumped in. "Hmmm," she thought. "Maybe swimming isn't such a bad thing." She watched John play around for a bit, enjoying the view. Eventually, she walked over and lay down on her side next to the water's edge. She dabbled her fingers in the water and laughed as John attempted to do a series of underwater flips, failing miserably, and sputtering noisily to the surface.

"Now that's what I like to see," he said as he swam over and rested his arms on the edge putting his chin on his crossed forearms.

"What?" she asked curious.

"You. Laughing."

She looked down and blushed at that. Why did he make her feel so nervous, and yet giddy at the same time? It only seemed to complicate things and as a Peacekeeper she shouldn't even be getting involved with this alien. He was still looking at her. He reached over and tugged her chin up so that she would meet his gaze. She did, but with a guarded look that didn't give anything away.

"Have I ever told you how proud I am of you?" he asked.

"For what?"

"For taking a chance, for being your own person, for getting away from the Peacekeepers, for being more," he said softly.

She blushed again, this time sitting up quickly and fidgeting in order to avoid his intense gaze. He wasn't letting her get away with anything, though. He quickly pushed himself up and out of the water sitting next to her closely. He was kicking his legs out like a child and at that she had to smile.

"I am proud of you, you know," he said. "You've done so much in such a short time. You've changed and grown from just another Peacekeeper grunt into a beautiful woman so full of life, heart, and soul. You have a very beautiful soul." The last was whispered just before he met her lips in a light kiss.

Aeryn froze. The rational part of her mind knew that she shouldn't be kissing him, that it went against all her training. The other part told the rational part to shut the frell up! She was alone, kissing the man she was incredible attracted to, who just happened to be half-naked, and she didn't know if they'd ever get another chance like this again. Aeryn just shut her brain off after that thought. She couldn't think anymore, it was much nicer just to feel. She responded to his kiss, slowly at first, but then with increasing passion. She could feel his surprise and knew that this was not what he had expected from her.

He broke the kiss and looked deeply into her eyes. She was unsure of what he expected to find there. Slowly, he reached one hand out to the back of her head, still looking her straight in the eye. He undid the clasp she used to keep her hair back. Her soft waves fell to her shoulders and he began twirling his fingers through them. She smiled her half-smile and pulled his mouth back to hers. She let him lay her down and moaned softly as he nipped her jawline. She couldn't remember another time when she had felt this good. He way making his way down her neck now, alternating between using his lips, his teeth, and his tongue. She sighed. Her whole body felt like it was on fire. Every nerve in her body tingled with excitement and pleasure. She pulled her hands up from where they had been busy roaming his back. She put a hand on the back of his neck and pulled his mouth back up to meet hers. She moaned softly again into his mouth. All she wanted was to feel like this for the rest of her life.

*****

He has kissed her. Of his own free will, under no threat of death. And she responded, slowly at first, but then passionately. He had never felt this much desire coming from one person before. She was so cold to him sometimes he often forgot how real and alive and...warm she was.

He was raining kisses down on her forehead, cheeks, eyes, chin, nose, and jawline. She was favoring him with some very encouraging noises, when there was a cracking sound and something dropped noisily in the water. He broke the kiss, looked around for a minute and then looked into her eyes. He slowly kissed her once more and then got up. He walked over to the water's edge and saw it was a large chunk of one of the qatley crystals. It must have fallen from the ceiling. Aeryn sat up and tied her hair back while he quickly put his clothes back on. He looked over at her. She was fidgeting with her hair, avoiding his gaze again. He smiled and walked over offering her his hand to help her up. Surprisingly enough, she took it and allowed him to help her. "Well, wonders never cease," he thought to himself.

Out loud he said, "We should probably get back to the cave and see if it has stopped raining. I don't like the idea of being inside this cave if there are gonna be large chunks of crystal falling on our heads."

"Don't you want to know what's through there?" she asked, gesturing to the back of the cavern. "Come on John, where's your sense of adventure?"

He just grinned and said, "Lead the way then."

She walked through the opening she had been looking at earlier. He noticed it led to yet another tunnel only this time, it was more tightly confined. The both had to crouch down a little to make it through. Again, they made their way through a series of unremarkable tunnels and caves until they ended up in a large one. And this one opened up into a valley, bright with sunshine. They walked out and John had to squint to see, the sun was so bright. He looked up at the mountain they had gone clear through.

"Huh, the storm must be limited to the other side of the mountain range," he said. "It must be blocking the storm from coming over here."

She said nothing. He glanced over to make sure she was alright and then surveyed his surroundings. This valley was very different from where they had landed. The air was more humid allowing for lusher vegetation.  Where on the other side there were forests typical of colder temperatures, on this side it was more of a tropical area. These trees were bright, bright green and there were many types of flowers and fruits on them. Everything was bright, and in John's opinion, breathtaking. He walked up to one of the many bushes and scanned it. The bright magenta berries were edible and a good food source.

"Yo, Aeryn. This stuff's edible. And there's tons of it!" he said.

"Well, at least we didn't come here for nothing then," she replied, looking at the berries.

John grinned at her and went over to scan a tree. The fruit on it was also edible. "Man, this place is great!" he said. "Rygel won't want to leave."

"Oh, he'll want to leave alright," she said. "Just after he eats everything in sight."

He smiled again and looked over at her. She looked tired and dirty...and absolutely gorgeous. Her hair was now slightly curling from all of the moisture and her clothes stuck to her shapely figure. She had dirt all over her and there was a smear of grime down one of her cheeks. John reached up and picked a beautiful orange and red flower and walked over to present it to her.

"For you," he said holding it out.

She just simply looked from him to the flower and back to him again in bewilderment. "What?" she asked taking the flower in her hands.

"It's a human custom. Human women love flowers."

"What's it for?" she asked.

"Nothing, really. They're used for decoration a lot, but the actual gift of flowers is like a symbol of a man's affection for a woman," he said.

She looked down slightly, twirling the flower in her hand. He brought his hand up to her cheek and wiped away the streak of dirt there.

"What? Peacekeepers don't have a similar custom?" he asked, his hand still rubbing her cheek.

A little flustered she answered, "No, um, it's not encouraged for Peacekeepers to get involved with each other...romantically."

He nodded in understanding, "Yeah, our military has something along those lines, too" he said. "Well, what about with non-military Sebaceans? I mean, they wouldn't be as restricted, right?"

Now she was just downright embarrassed. John was busy wondering what exactly it was that could make Aeryn, of all people, embarrassed.

"Well, yes, I mean...probably. I, uh...I wouldn't know, personally," she said turning slightly red. John noticed she was using that same tone of voice she had used when she first told him that she was interested in him, right after she had caught he and Gilina. Then it had surprised him, now it did not. He smiled slightly and shifted forward a little bit. She was still talking and turning even redder under his scrutiny.

"I was always so focused on my career and I had just put in for a transfer to the Marauders...so I never really had the time. And no one wanted me any--" she was cut off as he pulled her closer and kissed her slowly. She hesitated a minute and then wrapped her arms around him and slowly melted into his embrace. She gasped when he lightly bit her lower lip, which he filed away for later investigation. He was kissing her deeper now, more passionately. He never ceased to be amazed at how feeling this woman was. He could feel her desire, even now. Suddenly, Aeryn's communicator came to life.

"Aeryn, are you there?" D'Argo asked.

John and Aeryn reluctantly broke apart as Aeryn answered him. "Yes, D'Argo, what is it?"

"Where the hezmana are you?" he asked. "And where's Crichton? We can't find you anywhere."

John grinned as D'Argo's tone went from worried to mildly angry. "Hey, don't worry about us big guy. We're fine."

"Give us your coordinates. Zhaan has helped me load what food I did find. It's not much, but it will help supplement our shortage."

"Well, you can stop worrying about that, too, because we hit the jackpot. There's all sorts of stuff here," John said.

D'Argo just snorted softly as Aeryn transmitted their coordinates. Once they were through talking to him, John pulled her into his arms and nuzzled her neck a little. He led her to a nearby tree to sit under while they waited for D'Argo. Once he was seated, he pulled her down into his arms.

"We always do get interrupted, don't we?" he asked, half amused and half annoyed.

She said nothing as she closed her eyes and shifted closer to him. He wrapped one arm around her and leaned back just watching her and breathing in her scent. What seemed like seconds later, D'Argo landed the transport pod not far from where they were sitting. Aeryn looked up with a start at the sound of its engines. John just grinned at her and quickly got up, offering his hand to her. She took it, for the second time that day, and they walked over to the pod together. D'Argo came out immediately, followed by Rygel a few moments later.

"Hey! Big fella," John said to Rygel. "I didn't know you were down here."

"Well, I shouldn't be. That blue monstrosity that I'm forced to live with bullied me into coming down with her!" Rygel said. "And then she left me with this mongrel while she went back up to the ship. Of all the undignified, disrespectful ways to treat me!"

John laughed at Rygel's mini-tantrum. That one never ceased to amaze him "Hey, D'Argo. The scanners show most all of this stuff is edible. I figure, we fill the pod up and we'll have enough food to last us until we get to Peridiam III."

"Yes, this is a good find," he said.

"Oh, and there's some kind of crystal in there than Aeryn says is valuable," John said pointing to the cave.

"Qatley crystal," Aeryn supplied.

Rygel's ears perked up. "Qatley crystal?!" he said. "Where? Show me this at once. It will help with my contact on Peridiam III. Now I can get that Hynerian cream soap. And it's about frelling time too! I've been far too neglected especially with my title. I doubt any of the other Rygels would have stood for this treatment, and I'm not going to either!"

Ignoring him, D'Argo said, "So that's why you two look like you've been to hezmana and back."

"Yup," John replied. "It was an adventure!"

Aeryn merely shook her head and went off to start loading up the pod with food. "What'd I say?" he asked himself. Oh, well. It'll be good to get back home anyway. Realizing what he was thinking, he stopped. He had called Moya home. Grinning a little, he jogged off to help Aeryn. The quicker they got out of here, the better. There was definitely something about this planet's atmosphere that lowered inhibitions.

*****

Aeryn was standing on the terrace looking at the planet. Crichton and D'Argo had finished unloading the food a while ago. She let her mind wander down to the events on the planet. Why did that man affect her so? It didn't make any sense. She had been asking herself this very same question ever since she had met him and the answer was still not forthcoming. She sighed and turned to leave. And there he was. Standing just inside the doorway in the shadows. He had changed into his black pants and black shirt. He looked good. Aeryn let her eyes slide down his well-muscled frame. He noticed and his eyes betrayed his amusement. She colored slightly and looked away.

"Hey," he said, slowly walking up and standing closely beside her.

"Hey," she replied, smiling slightly.

"Ya know, sometimes I regret teaching you some of my human nuances," he said. "You're too smart, Aeryn. You take them and use them against me."

She said nothing, only letting a small smile reach her mouth before she quickly hid it. No one had ever called her smart before. And besides, what could she say? He was right, she did use them against him.

He saw her smile and continued, "You're just getting too quick for me Aeryn."

She really smiled at that one. Why was he complimenting her? There had to be some ulterior motive that she was just not seeing. He couldn't really be this perfect man she saw before her. They watched the stars in silence for a while. It was nice...different from other times with him, but nice all the same.

"So," he began. "Why don't you like to go swimming?"

She rolled her eyes at him. "Okay, maybe not so perfect," she thought. It seemed just when she was beginning to understand this human, a new facet of his personality decided to show itself.

"I will never understand why you humans would get wet just to get wet," she said.

"It's fun," he countered. "Don't you Peacekeepers understand the concept of fun?"

She just looked at him. He must have found an acceptable answer in her eyes because he stayed quiet. He stepped up closer to her.

"Well, if you ever want to investigate that concept further," he said. "Come talk to me."

And then his lips were on hers, again. They were just like him: warm, soft, and insistent. She gave herself to that kiss, enfolding herself in his arms. Sometimes, it felt like that was where she belonged, where she was supposed to be for the rest of her life. She sighed as he began kissing her neck. One of his hands came up and wrapped itself in her hair. She smiled at that. Humans certainly were extremely focused on hair, or, at least, this one was. She jumped slightly as he bit her earlobe and moaned as he made his way back up to her mouth. She was just about to lose all coherent thought when Chiana walked in. They quickly separated themselves as Chiana eyed them, an innocent expression on her face.

"Well, I'm hope I'm not interrupting anything," she said in a sickeningly sweet tone of voice. "But, Zhaan wants to see Crichton in command."

Aeryn was ready to kill her. She knew very well that she was interrupting and Aeryn did not like the way she was looking at John. "Too bad I can't just take Rygel's advice and shove her out the nearest airlock," Aeryn thought to herself. "John might get mad if I did that."

Crichton, for his part, was chuckling softly to himself. Aeryn looked over curiously at him. "Man, it never fails," he stated simply.

What was he talking abo-- oh. She understood what he was saying. She smiled at that, too. Crichton just grabbed her hand and pulled her out into the corridor. Once the doors to the terrace had fully closed, he pulled her close again.

"We'll finish this later," he growled softly into her ear. And with that, he disappeared down towards command.

"Oh, yes," she thought to herself. "We'll definitely finish this later."


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