No big deal.No big deal." "No other staff?" "Why bother? Like he said, Josh'll run out most of the extras, and this place is great this late at night. Deserted and quiet. I come here often." "You stay up this late often?" I asked, incredulously. "Sure, why not? After all, when I'm up all night working on a new program, you know how it gets...you lose all track of time. I usually end up here." "I'd think you'd teleport to some daytime pub and get some action." "Why? By then, I'm tired. I just want a quiet meal and to return to The Castle and crash out." I shrugged. "I suppose." A TDisk floated over and we took our drinks off of it. She sipped hers, at first dubiously, then in a full draught. "This is good." "Like it? Dane taught me that." "Dane? Who's she?" "Just a friend. Sister of another old friend." I smiled. She caught the smile and said, "Oh, THAT kind of friend." "Yeah, that kind of friend." I grinned. She returned the grin. We sat sipping our drinks and staring at each other over our glasses, then began giggling uncontrollably. I looked into her slitted eyes, and she returned the look, then leaned over kissed my cheek. "I love you, you know," she said. "I hope so," I said. "I'd be crushed if you didn't." I paused for a moment. "Ember, I love you. I know that after Donna was born I began treating a lot of people like they were less important, and when she. |