Kris:

  Kris knew that expression. The one Mari made when her mind was made up and she was going to endure something awful just so someone else didn’t have to.

  “No. No, no, definitely not! You can’t just throw yourself at these problems all on your own. I won’t just let you do everything without my help.” Kris firmed her resolve, then took a step forward, reaching out for Mari’s hand.

  Instead, Mari wheeled back just as far, pain written clearly across her face.

  “Enough.” Alynne’s voice cut through them both. “We have a problem to solve. These issues fall squarely on the shoulders of the government, not on you two girls. While the empire settled all of this on Marielle’s back, that isn’t the world we live in. You two should live your lives, and if we need something from either of you, we will approach you with a request for assistance. Do not take it upon yourselves to bear a burden that could crush you. We’ve had enough of that already.” The woman cast a pointed look down at Mari’s weakened state in the wheelchair.

  Kris nodded, closing the distance to Mari and moving behind her to push the chair.

  It didn’t move.

  Looking down, she saw Mari’s hands clenched with white knuckles to the wheels of the chair, holding it still. The girl’s eyes were locked onto the terminal screen. Flicking her own eyes to it, she saw a roster displayed with an entry for some familiar faces.

  At the top of the list, however, were two specific images. One she recognized and one she didn’t. The first was an older Mari, presumably Marielle, but the second was entirely unfamiliar to Kris.

  “Sylvia…” The name was muttered so quietly that Kris almost missed it.

  “Who?” Alynne apparently had caught it, too.

  Mari shook her head as if to clear it, refocusing on them. “In Marielle’s memories, she was a doctor who specialized in genetic research. She was supposed to take a limited population and help turn it into an actual civilization again. She was also carrying a child made between hers and Marielle’s genetics. They were… engaged to be wed.”

  Kris felt her chest tighten, and worry clawed at her incessantly.

  “But she died.” Her words were bitter and tinged with more despair than Kris had ever heard from Mari before. Despite everything she ever went through, Mari had always been strong enough to not give in.

  And yet, though she cursed herself for it, Kris felt relieved. Her grip tightened around the wheelchair’s handles, and she wanted to scream. Still, she held it in as she mentally berated herself for feeling that way about someone who was clearly important to the girl she loved. She had never felt like such a horrible person before.

  Silence hung heavy over the three of them, and Alynne almost reached out to play whatever presentation was prepared for the doctor.

  “Stop.” Mari’s command was firm. The most military order she’d ever heard in her life. “I don’t think I want to know why her profile is there. And I’m not sure Marielle wants to live through the grief again.”

  Alynne nodded, then gestured to the door. “It’s been a long day. Go ahead and get some rest. Especially you, Kris. You have classes tomorrow.”

  Kris checked the time and realized they’d missed dinner. Sunset was only half an hour away. Her stomach growled on cue, and she angled them towards the nearest elevator. “Let’s eat something in the Citadel before we head back. What do you want done with all of Marielle’s belongings?”

  Mari hummed a bit before replying. “It’s all a bit much to be stored in my place. And I’m sorry for that confrontation a moment ago. When I thought about all the things that were likely to go wrong, I remembered all the people who got hurt being around Marielle. I remembered how Sylvia died. It seemed irresponsible for something to happen to you too.”

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  Kris heaved a deep sigh. “Then, I assume you thought about it from my perspective afterwards?”

  At Mari’s nod, Kris let a little relief seep through her aching heart.

  “I’m sorry. I’m trying to be better. It would be awful to leave you behind and take it all on alone. It just isn’t how I’m used to thinking yet. I’m still getting used to the idea of you feeling that way about me.”

  A flutter reached Kris’ heart as she thought about it, too. It was a good feeling. One that she tried not to indulge in too often.

  They reached the elevator and began their ascent when Kris felt Mari’s hand on her own.

  “We have a lot to talk about. And I want to make sure we do talk about things. No bottling anything up. So long as we actually discuss how we’re feeling, it’ll help to make things work.”

  That was when it hit Kris. “You have more experience in romance than I do. I think I’m a little jealous.” She paused, took a deep breath, then continued in a more deflated tone. “I have to apologize. If we’re going to be honest with one another, then you should know. I was relieved to hear… that Sylvia was dead.”

  Mari visibly stiffened, then turned in her chair to face backwards. “Kris, that’s—”

  “Awful, I know.”

  A long pause. “Look, that was a long time ago. Another life. That was her love. Thinking about it is a little like looking back on the experiences of a close friend or maybe a neighbor.”

  Kris knew that was all bullshit. She’d heard Mari slip up and refer to plenty of Marielle’s things and experiences as being her own. There was very little that seemed to distinguish the two people apart. In some ways, it was hard to see any of Mari left over in the girl before her. Then again, the rational part of her mind had already gone over Marielle’s file and noticed how many of their core personality traits were in common. There was overlap that her emotions refused to recognize.

  Her expression probably carried all of her thoughts and emotions, because something incredible happened in the next moment.

  The wheelchair shifted, and soft lips met her own, an arm wrapping around her neck to draw her in closer.

  Kris felt something fly away in her chest as her heart soared. It was the best possible affirmation. It meant more than the world to her. She leaned into it, fumbling carelessly as the seconds wore on.

  That breathless contact stifled all her senses, drowning them in a warm, all-encompassing pressure in her chest. Soft lips became her whole world, only faintly aware of a distant sensation of thin fingers parting their way through her hair, keeping that singular moment going for eternity.

  It was a moment she wished she could savor for longer.

  All too quickly, it was over, and they parted, leaving Kris poorly stifling whimpers of protest. Then she remembered that Mari didn’t have her lung capacity, so they’d have to breathe sooner than she liked.

  “Kris… I know I’m not anything approaching perfect. Breaking the habits of multiple lifetimes is going to be hard. Just try not to let me go, alright?” Mari’s tone was desperate, rushed and short of breath. She looked like hell, but it was Kris’ hell.

  “We need to get you back in shape. That was much too short for a first kiss.”

  She watched smugly as Mari’s ears tinted with red, fully ignoring that her own face was heating up in the same way.

  Then, they wheeled off the elevator and rounded the corner.

  Standing there, looking as if she couldn’t decide what expression to wear, was Karin.

  “Mother!” Kris’face flushed fully as she realized her words had likely carried. And the elevator door had been open for quite a while.

  “Hello, Kris. Mari. Do not worry, I have already begun preparations for you both to have your own shared living space. I have heard that pursuing a romance while your parents are around can be… embarrassing. I suspect Stacy is already decorating the place.”

  Kris didn’t know how to feel about all of that. Embarrassed? Probably. Terrified? Certainly. Her other mom was almost definitely filling their shared home with more plant-life than she knew how to maintain. Assuming the poor mute woman didn’t plan to visit daily with precisely that as an excuse. How she ever found time for all the things she did was truly beyond comprehension.

  “Kris, I understand why you would be avoiding me. I have not had the opportunity to apologize yet. I am sincerely sorry for everything. For putting Mari in such a position and for getting upset with your decision to pursue her. Of all people, I should understand what it is like to choose a partner very suddenly. I should have been more understanding and supportive.”

  “Mom made you practice that in front of a mirror, didn’t she?” Kris couldn’t stop the chuckle that rose to her throat as she saw her mother carefully restraining her own blush at being caught red-handed.

  “I will be headed home. Enjoy your meal, you two.”

  Kris and Mari both nodded, then headed for the public eatery that had been created from the old throne room of the Imperial Capital.

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