Kaya hugged him back, but she wasn't crying: rather, there was a look of resolve on her face, one of understanding after all of that time. She was grateful to have Billy here, more than happy she'd met such a good friend and Bonded on the ship.

"For now, I'll just be by myself Billy. It'd be nice, to have someone I could hold and care for and everything, but if I have to wait, well, that's just what I'll have to do. But thank you for saying that: it reminds me how lucky Ronnae is."

She smiled. "Shoe's on the other foot, hmm?"