Outside Sarah's quarters.

Sam knocked on the door to Sarah’s quarters. She shared it with two other women on the ship, but they were both out for the evening. Sarah and Sam had been looking forward to this for some time. It wasn’t often people had a moment alone on this crowded ship. He quickly put one of his hands behind his back to hide what he was carrying.

The door swished open and Sarah looked at Sam with a smile. She was wearing a sky blue blouse and a black skirt. Sam noticed she was wearing some light make up, and had had her hair done up.

‘Wow, you look amazing Sarah.’

She smiled, ‘Thanks Samuel. You don’t look so bad yourself.’

Sam looked quickly down at himself. His button up red shirt was neatly ironed and his shoes were freshly polished. He looked back at her, ‘We thanks, I tired. Though I’m sure my natural good looks helped.’

She laughed at this, a genuine laugh filled with warmth.

Sam felt his heart swell in reply. He remembered the package he was hiding and moved his hand infront of him.

Sarah’s eyes went to what he was holding and she inhaled in surprise.

‘Tulips and chocolates Sam? How did you manage that on this ship?’

Samuel smiled, ‘I had been hoping for roses, but those were just impossible. I had Exo place a special order with the agricultural department head. I had to promise him that I’d get more seeds from Axion for him. Had to call in some favours on that one.’

‘They’re beautiful Sam. Thank you.’

‘Seemed appropriate given our mutual love of old things. Nothing says old school romance like flowers and chocolates at the door.’

She took the flowers and the chocolate and stepped back from the door, ‘Do come in Sam.’

‘Thank you.’

He stepped inside and looked around. This wasn’t his first time inside her quarters, but it was the first time without her roommates, and it was clear she had taken time to make it special. The table was set with care, and had a cloth draped over it. The dishes were plain, as the kind of fancy dishes that would normally be used, just weren’t present on board.

It was neat, it was cozy, it was warm. It was more than Sam would have been able to pull off.

‘Have a seat Sam, dinner is almost ready.’

‘Anything I can help with?’ He asked, leaning against the wall so he could watch her.

‘No thank you, I’ve got things under control.’

Samuel nodded. He looked back at the table and noted there was a candle in the centre of the table. It was unlit, for now.

‘How did you manage to get your hand on a candle?’

‘Do you like it? I brought a few with me in my personal items,’ she looked over from her cooking, ‘I had hope I’d have a chance to use them. Never thought it would be this soon.’

‘Was this the kind of use you had in mind?’ Samuel asked, smiling again.

Her cheeks flushed slightly and she looked down, Sam could still see her face melt into a new smile, ‘Yeah. Something like this.’

‘I consider myself very lucky.’

‘Good. We’ll see if you keep that thought after we eat though. It’s been a while since I last made a meal. My roommates here have been doing most of the cooking on this trip. Though I used to do some back home in Idaho.’

She lifted what she had been cooking off of the cook top and walked it to the table, setting it among the other dishes that were already present.

Sam walked over to the table and pulled out a chair. She smiled demurely and sat in the offered seat. Sam helped pushed it close to the table, and then walked around and sat down across from her.

She reached towards the candle and lit it with a small fire starter.

They looked at each other for a moment, and then down at the candle.

Sarah giggled and covered her mouth, ‘It’s not quite how I imagined it. Maybe it’s because the lights are still on full. I always pictured it dimmer, more moody.’

‘More intimate?’ Sam said helpfully.

She nodded, ‘Yeah, but there’s no dimmer switch. Just on and off.’

Sam leaned back, ‘Hold on a second.’

‘Exo, dim the lights in Sarah's room. Cut power 70%.’

‘That will be against regulations Advocate.’

‘Humour me for tonight. I’ll explain later.’

‘Very well Advocate.’

The lights in the room dimmed noticeably, making the flickering light of the candle stand out far more powerfully than it had before. Slowly, Sarah’s face lit up in a smile, and then she leaned forward in her chair and looked intently at Sam.

‘That’s more like it. Thank you Sam.’

Sam raised an eyebrow and wave a fork towards her, ‘No thank you, for inviting me to dinner. Without this oppurutnity, I could never have wooed you with my light dimming powers.’

She laughed and Sam felt relax at the sound. She was beautiful, and Sam found it hard to look away for long, and yet had to force himself to do so he began to feel embarrassed by his staring.

‘Please Sam, eat, enjoy.’

‘I do so most eagerly Sarah.’

They began to put food on their plates.

‘Do Advocates need to eat as often as the rest of us?’

‘Not really, we can go for longer without food. Not only that but we actually have to occasionally eat a kind of nutritional paste, so that we have the balanced nutrition we need. Normal diets are sometimes deficient in one way or another, ‘he leaned forward conspiratorialy, ‘Though trough be told, the paste is flavor deficient. But don’t tell Axion that.’

Another giggle, another feeling of warmth and relaxation for Sam, ‘I won’t tell if you don’t.’

‘Deal.’

There was a momentary pause. Sam looked across the table and caught Sarah doing the same. She looked back down at her plate quickly, but then raised her head again, in a lopsided grin.

‘We’re both adults here Sam. We can look if we want to.’

‘I do. Frequently. It’s been one of my favorite things to do on this trip.’

‘You like what you see that much?’ She asked carefully.

‘More than just what I see, but what I can feel too. You are amazing. Look at you, a farm girl from Idaho on your way across the stars for a new start on a alien world because you thought it sounded like a challenge.’

‘I love a good challenge.’

Sam was aware that his heart was beating faster. His Advocate systems flashed an option in his vision to slow it, but he ignored the option. This feeling was addicting.

‘Advocate?’

‘Yes?’

‘I’m getting some s-strange readings from your systems. Are you all right?’

‘It’s all part of the human experience, or at least as much as it can be when you are half human. Don’t worry Exo, everything is fine.’

‘Y-yes Advocate.’

‘Is everything alright with you?’

‘I believe so.’

‘Okay.’

‘Sarah,’ Sam said carefully.

‘Yes Sam?’

‘I just... wanted to say that I think you’re incredible.’

She made a face at him, ‘You think so do you?’

Sam smiled uncomfortably, ‘Yeah, pretty incredible.’

‘Glad you think so. You don’t really have a lot of experience with women do you?’

Now Sam laughed, caught off guard by the question, ‘That obvious?’

‘Yep.’

‘No I haven’t. I haven’t found anyone who would make me want to take the chance before?’

‘The chance?’

‘Most Advocates date other Advocates. If anyone at all. We’re just so different.’

‘We have some similar tastes don’t we?’

‘Yeah we do, but I mean like different on a deeper level than that. I am almost not human anymore.’

Something like anger flashed across her face, Sam paused.

She said, ‘You’re one of the more human people I’ve met. Earth is full of humans with less humanity than you show. You care about people Sam, genuinely care. You want to give people the best of yourself. That’s very human of you.’

Sam felt a warmth come over him, and smiled softly, ‘Thank you Sarah. Thank you.’

‘I’ve come to really care for you too Sam. You’re becoming very special to me.’

Sam nodded, ‘And so are you. I love our time together.’

‘Just our time?’ She said, that lopsided grin coming back.

Sam returned the look, ‘And more.’

‘How much more?’

‘All of you. You are intoxicating. Fascinating. And so beautiful that you’d be breathtaking if my lungs still worked that way.’

She let out a short laugh and shook her head, ‘You really can’t keep it serious for too long can you?’

Sam looked down at his plate for a moment and then looked back up, ‘I suppose not.’

‘And yet I’ve still fallen for you.’

A thought for another joke flashed across his mind, but he suppressed it and replied, ‘And so have I. So what now? Are we serious about this?’

‘That’s awfully direct.’

‘I... can’t afford not to be. Where other people might be able to forget a failed relationship, it will stick with me in perfect clarity forever. I won’t be able to forget. And... truth be told, I’m rather old fashioned when it comes to relationships. I don’t want a fling.’

‘Neither do I.’

Sam swallowed nervously, ‘So we’ll see where this goes?’

She nodded, ‘I’d like that.’

‘So what now?’

She laughed fully now and stood up from the table. With one hand she motioned him forward. He stood up and walked slowly towards her. When he got close enough, she wrapped her arms around his neck, and gave a little pull, brining him closer.

‘Now you kiss me,’ she said softly.

Sam reached a hand up to her face and gently cupped it. He tilted her chin back and leaned in close as she closed her eyes.

Sam, lovingly, obliged with her request.