Phoebe was on the deck even before Tessa touched down, a spot of tired white and dusky gold among the cold gull gray of the hangar bay. Waiting, hands in her pockets, she watched as Tessa climbed from the cockpit, then shuffled forward in the lower gravity, eyes sometimes fixed on the other woman, sometimes darting away. As they got closer, Tessa noticed the differences in the way the younger officer held herself, the way she shined like sunlight, only darker, as if tarnished by time. The last four years had been hard on her, showed in the deeper lines that had worn themselves into her face, the darkness in and around her eyes, her hair. She looked stronger, deeper, no longer the green recruit she had been when she’d flown as Tessa’s wingman all those years ago. She looked experienced, like she’d been through hell, like she deserved to be an L.C., and it brought a moistness to Tessa’s eyes that she couldn’t shake.

“Phoebe.” Tessa smiled, touched the younger woman’s arm in a tender gesture. “How’s Minerva squadron treating you?”

“Great.” Phoebe smiled past the tears, reached out to pull at and play with the edges of Tessa’s flight suit in absent movements. “Ultima Thila been treating you well? You look good.” She smiled, let her gaze meet Tessa’s, blinked, looked away again, wiping fiercely at her eyes as she sniffed. There was only a moment of hesitation before Tessa reached out, pulled Phoebe into a hug, closed her eyes as Phoebe hugged fiercely back.

“I’ve missed you, Phoebe.”

“I’ve missed you too, L.C.– uh, Major.” Phoebe managed, almost blubbering into her shoulder. “You left big shoes to fill, but every time I think that I might not be able to fill them, I just pretend you’re there, y’know?” She sniffed, closed her eyes. “I try to do. . . whatever it is that I think you might do.” She shook her head, hugged harder. Tessa’s hand went to the younger officer’s hair, moved in a gentle caress. “I miss those old days. I miss you. I miss Izzy.”

“I know.” Tessa swallowed, closed her own eyes against the building buds of tears. “Me too.” She shook her head against the wetness, leaned down to kiss Phoebe’s dirty blond hair. “It’s going to be okay though. I’m going to find a way to get her back, I promise.”

Hands tightened on the synthleather padding of Tessa’s flight jacket as Phoebe forced herself to meet the other woman’s eyes, concern brewing under the firm strength in her misty blue gaze.

“Back?” Phoebe swallowed, then whispered. “How?” Her eyes followed the other woman’s as Tessa looked to her rig, then glanced back again, smiled. Phoebe blinked, and then the realization hit her, struck her soul like a cold, resounding chord. “I. . . I’m not going to like the answer, am I?”

“We need an edge in the war, Pheebs.” Tessa looked away, swallowed against the lingering edge of Phoebe’s expression. “You’re tech savvy. Keep in touch. I might have a few technical questions for you when I start rewiring systems and bypassing security limiters.”

“I’ll encode a link-up between my quarters and yours tonight.” Phoebe said hurriedly, looked away herself. “I can rig a pair of portable QE transmitters.” She looked back, met Tessa’s eyes again. “What you’re doing though. . .” She held a breath, shook her head, whispered: “are you sure about this? I mean, really?”

Tessa swallowed again, closed her eyes, shook her head.

“No.” The major pulled in a shaky breath. “The truth is, Phoebe, I. . .” She bit the inside of her lip. “I don’t even know anymore.”

“Come back to us, Tessa.” Phoebe squeezed the other woman softly, gently. “I’d give your old seat back at the top of the squadron if it meant having you as LC in Minerva again.”

Tessa chuckled quietly, opened her eyes, met the other woman’s gaze with a tired smile on her lips. “I can’t, Phoebe.” She leaned down, kissed the younger officer’s forehead. “It wouldn’t be right. You’re Minerva’s LC now. No one should take that away from you.”

Phoebe opened her mouth to say something, seemed ready to beg, to argue, but before the words could come, another voice broke the teary silence, a voice they both knew, both smiled softly at as it caught their ears.

“Hey, you two.”

“Cordova” Tessa grinned. She glanced back at Phoebe, gently broke away to reach out and hug the newcomer. “Its good to see you, Jose’.”

“Same here, Major.” He grinned back as they broke apart, shook hands. “It’s been a while.”

“Nice uniform.” She reached up, pulled at his collar, smiled playfully. “Those aren’t Minerva Squadron colors you’re flying though. Who are you hotdogging with these days?” She grinned again, glanced at his rank insignia. “Lieutenant Commander.”

“Sulus Squadron.” He grinned again. “After the battle for the Seindrive shipyards in Sirius, I was offered a promotion and a transfer to the Luguvalium.” He laughed. “It’s definitely a whole different experience leading your own squadron, eh?”

“Definitely.” She nodded. “And the kids?”

“Safe on Earth with their mother and her family.” He breathed a relieved sigh. “They caught one of the few transports back before the military started enforcing refugee lockdowns.”

“Everybody’s lost something. “ Phoebe swallowed, stepped up and hugged Cordova. “It’s been too long, Jose.”

“For sure.” He smiled back. “Good to see you again, both of you.” He nodded softly, almost soberly as he and Phoebe parted, she taking up a position next to Tessa, he taking them both in, swallowing. “Well, I’ve. . . I’ve got a little time–” He gestured loosely. “Should we hit the officer’s mess, for old time’s sake?”

“Yeah.” Tessa grinned, caught Phoebe’s tired nod. “Yeah, sounds good.”