“I’m fine.” She’s just standing there. Awkwardly. “How are you?”

Just staring down at Willow for a few moments before finally sighing. “I missed you too.”

Turning around, and setting her hands on Willow’s shoulders to hold her still. “Refrain from biting my ear.”

“Ow, ow — 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬.”

"This is sounding more and more familiar," she tries an encouraging smile.

"Whatever comes our way, I'm sure we'll handle it. We have to."

With a few deft flicks of her fingers she scrolls over some of the information again before nodding contentedly.

"So, when do we leave?"

A mild case of getting shy.

Too bad. She is hiding.

“I’m sure.” Unfolding her hands, she set her palms on either knee and gently drummed against them. “We don’t… Have to do anything exciting or interesting tonight. I know you’re disappointed.”

There is zero evidence that Yvette occasionally likes attention.

In fact, she is now going to hide to prove as such.

By the time Yvette was comfortable in a plain white t-shirt and black sweatpants, the water was ready. After pouring the water in the cups, the commander sat cross-legged on her bed and folded her hands on her lap. “Well… You could always requisition things. They may just take a while to get here.”

“I don’t know. We’re in the middle of nowhere, last I checked.” While she waited for the water to boil, Yvette moved to her closet to shed her uniform.

“Since we can’t take the whole ship with us… Far enough to where cryo would be recommended.” Yvette had never been to Earth, nor did she have much of a desire to go.

On the other side of the room Yvette filled the electric kettle with water and fetched two mugs.

“That is… A horrendous idea.” At least the idea had Yvette’s tone shift to one of amusement. “Let’s avoid ever suggesting such a thing again.”

The door was unlocked and opened, and Yvette stepped inside. “Tea?”

She’s quiet all the way up until she’s outside her quarters and unlocking the door. “So, not even an attempt at an idea?”

She slowed her pace so Willow could catch up. Once the other was near again, Yvette turned her head to glance at her. “Don’t be sad about it. We’ll figure out something.”

Yvette was disappointed, even if she was not great at expressing it. She wanted to spend time with Willow, but she had neither the time, the energy, nor the permission for anything that would have her suddenly taken away from work.

“Right.” For a moment she hesitated before turning to leave.

“If you don’t have a feasible ideas for what we could do tonight,” Yvette continued after a long pause, “I’ll be in my quarters.”

“I have the next few hours. It’s hardly enough time for a kidnapping.”

“So, what? Are we doing to do anything, or are you going to take your leave and run off?”

“That makes one of us. I’m stuck here.”

“That’s tough. You’re a Spartan now, there’s no impromptu running off for leisure.” Reaching out, Yvette nudges Willow’s shoulder. “So for today, there is only here.”

“Don’t be dramatic,” Yvette answered with a sigh. “I have time now for something here. We’d have to plan something like that in advance.”

“I mean — we should do something tonight. There isn’t a chance I’m getting any leave approved this weekend.”