My bedroom door slid open. Peaking into the dark hall, the ship sat silent with only Junko and Finn's loud snores coming from down the hall. Utilizing my chance, I snatched my bag to toss it over my shoulder and sneak along the hall. Past Stork's room. Junko's. Finn's. And finally Aerrow's. His door sat open so when I passed by I glimpsed our young sky knight passed out on his bed. Half draped over his side table with no shirt while Radar snored lightly on his bed nearer the door. His foot somehow managed to press against the door controls. Rolling my eyes I hit the outside close button and continued down the hall.

Stopping in the kitchen to grab a canteen of water I shoved it into my bag and walked quietly to the roof hatch of the Condor. With a hard twist of the mechanism the hatch popped open. Onto the roof I climbed. I closed it but left it unlocked. I strode to the spot I liked to sit directly in the middle of the roof of the bridge. I pulled a blanket and pillow from my bag. Tossing them down I made myself comfortable to gaze up at the bright sky of stars above.

On calm nights when the Condor sat on remote terras there was nothing better than seeing the bright sky of stars with nothing else overhead. The crickets below sang. Bats whizzed by in the air. Staring straight up at the sky like I did made me feel like I did when we were still kids in the orphanage. I wouldn't want to go back, but I miss the simpler times Aerrow, Finn, Radar and I shared.

I'd stay up half the night after sneaking out. Going to our fort and lying on the roof to gaze at the stars above. The world just seemed peaceful. At least for those moments when I rested there. And sometimes Aerrow would join me. We'd talk long into the night about becoming the greatest squadron in the Atmos. Now that we were I suppose we wouldn't have as much to talk about anymore. But I still enjoyed the memories from when we were gradually getting closer and closer.

A creak startled me from my reverie. Sitting up I turned as the hatch in the roof opened. To my surprise a dark ginger head popped up yawning before his bright green eyes landed on me. With a smile he rested his arms outside the hatch as he gazed at me tiredly.

"I thought I heard you close my door. Watcha doing?"

I shrugged. "Stargazing, I guess."

"You still do that?"

"Occasionally. On nice nights like this one. I like coming up here to just relax and think under them."

Aerrow glanced back into the Condor before asking, "Do you mind if I join you?"

Pleasantly surprised I gestured to the whole of the Condor. "Pick a seat. There's plenty of room."

With a smile he hopped up and out of the ship. Still shirtless. Also wearing his trousers as he walked straight to my blanket but I turned my head to hide my blush. We'd been friends forever but he was still good-looking and without a second though he sat down next to me on my blanket. Leaning back on his elbows Aerrow stared up at the sky.

"So," he asked, "what are you thinking about tonight?"

"Memories," I answered and returned to lying back on my blanket.

He did the same and I felt our hair muss together as we both stared up at the sky. Just like when we were kids.

"What memories?"

"Our fort. Doing exactly this and staying up late. We had such big dreams back then and now we're living them. Sometimes it's hard to believe what we've done."

Aerrow sighed. "Yeah. Fighting back Cyclonia. Creating a great team and becoming an official squadron even though that only took us four years."

I giggled. "Yupp. I'm the last one to turn nineteen. In a few weeks."

"Yeah," he agreed and added, "And you're a crystal mage beyond comparison to... Anyone really."

"Well..." I fiddled with the crystal at my neck. "I wouldn't say beyond compare. There are many great crystal mages out there."

"Yeah but they were taught. You learned everything you wanted yourself. You're brilliant."

Smiling, I couldn't contain the blush spreading across my cheeks. "Thanks, Aerrow."

"No problem."

We sat quietly staring at the stars again. I felt more of Aerrow's thick hair press into mine as he fidgeted and his arm slid to touch mine at our sides. His fingers slid into my hair as I guessed he rested his other hand under his head. I bit my lip to hide my smile.

"What else were you thinking about?" he asked quietly.

I shrugged. "I've only been out here for a few minutes. I haven't had the time to think of anything else yet."

"Nothing at all?"

"Nope. Just sitting here."

"Darn."

With a laughing snort I asked, "Why?"

"I like hearing your thoughts," he answered calmly and sighed. "You have the best ideas. That's why I always used to follow you out when we were kids. I liked listening to you."

Raising myself to rest on my elbows I looked down at the young man beside me. His smiling eyes shifted to my face as I averted my own.

"That's sweet, Aerrow," I mentioned while returning my gaze to the sky.

He sat up fully. I tilted my face away to continue hiding my blush as he watched me.

"You think so?"

I nodded. "Of course."

I could still feel his eyes on me. Biting my bottom lip again I took a quiet, deep breath to try and calm my heart. It was rare, us having time alone. I guess with always having the other guys distracting us I'd forgotten how much I really liked Aerrow. His smile. His laugh. The way his voice would always get low when he needed to talk to me about something important. How he did always listen to my ideas even if my plans weren't always followed.

"Piper?"

"What?" I asked turning to look at him.

Aerrow chuckled as he watched me. "You were definitely thinking of something there. What was it?"

"Oh..."

My face felt hot. Sitting forward to hide it I wrapped my arms around my knees as I raised my face toward the sky. One thing I couldn't do was lie.

"I was... Thinking... About..."

"About what?"

His amusement seemed to grow. He knew I couldn't lie either and his boyish smile had been accentuated by the afternoon shadow darkened his jaw line.

"Crystals."

His head tilted to one side. "Crystals made you blush."

Staring at him in surprise I corrected, "I am not blushing."

"You're totally blushing, Piper."

I sighed. Turning, I gave him a playful shove.

"Fine, I was blushing. But those thoughts are off limits to you."

With an exaggerated sigh the young sky knight leaned back on his arms. "I guess that's alright. It's not like I don't already know who everyone else has crushes on."

"Crushes are for kids, Aerrow."

He chuckled as his hand slid closer behind me. I could feel the warmth of his torso radiating against my back and side from him sitting so close. When I fixed a piece of my hair he scooted himself slightly closer.

"Would you tell me if I guessed who it is?"

I shook my head, smiling. "No. What are you, five?"

"Nah. Just interested."

His grin grew wider as I rolled my eyes at him. But what did he mean by, 'interested?' As in, interested in me? My heartbeat started picking up. Taking another deep breath I stole a glance to see him staring at the stars in thought.

"I know," he turned to me confidently and pointed. "Harrier."

"Of course. He's definitely the one for me."

I laughed as he smiled more.

"Alright then..."

He returned to thought while glancing at me occasionally. Curious to see who he'd guess next I watched him. His eyes flickered between the ship and me before they studied me continuously. His eyes began to twinkle.

"Hoerk."

It took a moment for me to remember the Raptor Brothers. I elbowed the redhead as he chuckled.

"As if, Aerrow!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

Still laughing, he sat forward and I felt his shoulder barely resting behind me. He'd moved closer again. Shaking my head as I controlled my giggling, I turned to see the young sky knight in thought once. He eyed me deviously before nodding.

"I've got it this time. I know it."

"Do you now? Enlighten me."

He waited several moments before stating, "Billy Rex."

Rolling my eyes I rested my head on my fist as I gazed at him. He innocently shrugged his shoulders while tilting his head. I hadn't even realized how close he'd moved as he rested his arm over his knees while still leaning on the other behind me. We were inches from one another.

Taking a deep breath I asked, "Anymore wild guesses you'd like to throw out there?"

"I'll throw out hundreds if I knew they'd make you laugh."

"You always make me laugh. Don't worry about that."

I returned my eyes to the sky. My heart wouldn't stop hammering and I could feel his eyes studying me. I wondered what he could possibly be thinking. Did he like me? Was he just trying to make me laugh? Aerrow could make anyone laugh. Especially when they really needed it like I had so many times in the past. But if he was just being Aerrow then why had he moved so close to me. He could just be cold...

I shifted my eyes to his arm draped over his knees. Not a bump in sight. Not counting the scars from battle and how many times he hurt himself when we were children. One scar in particular caught my attention. A thin scrape over the back of his wrist from when I fell out of the fort and he caught me. We both fell and his arm slammed against the tree trunk. I smiled.

"Now what are you thinking about?"

His voice had gone very low. So quiet it made tingles run up my spine before I turned my head to face him.

"When you got that scar. From trying to catch me when Finn accidentally pushed me out of the tree fort?"

"I remember that," he chuckled.

Gently, Aerrow reached forward and took my hand from under my chin. He opened my palm while glancing my way.

"You got this when you fell out."

He ran his thumb over the scar in the middle of my palm. I could barely keep my hand still as it rested in his. His touch was so soft. I forced myself to keep taking slow breaths as a grin reappeared on his face.

"I know," he declared. "It's Finn, isn't it?"

Pulling my hand from him I slapped both hands to my face as I muttered, "Absolutely, no! I'd shoot myself."

The redhead chuckled as he reminded me, "Hey, you have kissed him before, remember?"

"Trying not to!" I smacked him in the middle of his chest. "You dared me to do that during truth or dare and you know it. Plus, you gave me five bucks because Finn struck out with another girl and you felt bad for him."

Aerrow's eyes drifted back up to the stars as he quietly agreed, "Yeah... I wish it had been me though."

My heart jumped into my throat. "What?"

"Nothing," he replied with a coy smile.

Shaking my head at him we both continued to look up. I folded my hands over my knees. Taking a deep breath of the night air while listening to the singing crickets, I leaned back into Aerrow's arm making him turn his eyes to me. My body froze. Swallowing nervously I leaned forward again.

"Sorry. I didn't realize how close we are."

"That's alright."

His voice was low again. Husky and soft as he spoke. Could it be possible he liked me? Why else come out here? Why else get so close? Why else say what he just said a moment ago? Perhaps I'll never know unless I do tell him.

"Hey, Piper?"

I flinched. Taking a few deep breaths I cleared my throat as he smirked at me. I huffed at him playfully.

"What?"

"Truth or dare?"

Raising a brow I shook my head as I gazed at his cheeky smile. "Really?"

He shrugged. "If you want."

I studied his mischievous eyes for a moment before sighing. "Alright. I'll pick... Truth."

"Who do you like?"

"Because I didn't see that one coming..." I shook my head at him.

"Okay. Switch then."

"Fine. Dare," I declared and pointed at him. "And you can't dare me to tell you who I like either."

He nodded. "Fair enough."

"I'd say so. Now choose wisely. You get only one so you better make it good."

His smile changed. Captured by this new expression I gazed at him quietly. It turned soft and knowing. He hadn't even said the words yet but slowly leaned toward me.

"Kiss me."

If my heart had been hammering before I couldn't count its beats now. Aerrow stopped leaning forward. He kept still to gauge my reaction and began moving away when I froze. I had to move. Almost too fast I touched my hand to his warm neck to catch him and his pulse was beating as wildly as mine. His arm left the ship to wrap around my back. He slid me closer. Our eyes closed as he leaned forward.

"Yes!" Finn's voice rang from behind us.

We pulled away. Our eyes locked before we turned to see four sets of eyes watching us through the slim crack of the open hatch lid.

"Finn!" I shrieked as I chucked my water canteen.

The hatch snapped shut. Muffled voices came from inside followed by bumps and a cry of pain. Radar screeched. When the noises finally stopped Aerrow and I turned back to one another. Sitting far apart. Staring with wide eyes. We were silent for several seconds as we watched one another until the young sky knight shrugged.

"Apparently we've been shipped?"

A laugh escaped me followed by his. We laughed together until slowly calming down.

"You think?" I asked as I brushed my hair from my face and my gaze fell.

I couldn't help the disheartened feeling settling in my chest. It felt like our only shot had been blown. We'd go to bed now and it would just be another funny, happy memory to think back on the next time I came out to sit under the stars. I sighed.

"Piper?"

"Yeah?" I looked up to Aerrow watching me.

His voice was still low. Hi smile was gone and his eyes were hesitant as he inched himself closer again. He returned to his former position as I sat with my legs tucked up close to myself, facing him. He took a deep breath.

"Do you think we could try again? Without a dare?"

Perhaps I was wrong. My heart skipped as his bright green eyes searched mine.

"What if," I ventured timidly, "instead I told you it was you?"

His smile reappeared on his face.

"Then I'm the luckiest guy in the world."

I laughed nervously before biting my lip to stop. Aerrow reached forward and touched his hand to my neck just as I'd done to him. Shivers went through me. A small gasp escaped me as he pulled himself so close his chest nearly touched mine. He gently grasped my arm. Before anything else could happen I took hold of his neck and pulled him to me.

When our lips touched my whole body ignited. I wrapped my hand around his head to twist it into his hair as the other snaked around his chest and up his back. He braced my head softly. His other hand roamed up my side and when I gently bit his lower lip he grunted in surprise. I pulled away.

"I'm sorry," I breathed. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

His voice was gruff as he shook his head with a smile. "It didn't hurt."

He kissed me again. This time desperately. He couldn't get enough of me in his hands as we gripped one another. He pulled me as close as our bodies could be while sitting up before I pulled him down to the blanket beneath us. Aerrow pulled himself higher to cradle my head in his hand as I swung my leg around his. All the while biting and tasting one another.

When I felt his body grow tense above me I gently pushed him away. We were both breathless. He stared down at me, his eyes longing for more as I let my hands caress their way along his neck and down his chest.

"We should probably head inside," I suggested.

He closed his eyes and nodded before gently pushing further away.

"Yeah... It's getting late."

I gripped his shoulders. He stopped, confused, as I smiled.

"Together," I added.

He gazed at me quietly for a moment before grinning.

"Yeah... We should definitely head inside."

I giggled as he lowered himself to kiss me again. I wrapped both my arms around his neck to hold him close before he pulled away and lifted me from the roof of the ship. Standing, I stood much shorter than him. He gazed down at me in his arms with eyes smiling. Unwilling to break contact I took his hand and picked up my blanket, pillow and bag with the other.

We walked to the hatch. He grabbed my canteen and we climbed back inside to seal the hatch behind us. The others had long gone and once in the dark I felt everything get pulled from my hands.

"Aerrow, it's pitch-"

I squeaked as he pulled me through the dark. The door to the bridge opened. He led my through, straight to the couches with a view of the surrounding trees and cliffs the Condor sat anchored. He tossed the blanket down. After scooping me into his arms he swung us down onto the couch where for a moment I gazed at him hovering above me. He caressed my cheek as he smiled.

"I meant a bedroom," I breathed, "but this is rather perfect."

"Everything is when I'm with you," he replied before leaning down, capturing my lips and enveloping me in his arms for the rest of the night.