Blood is thicker than water

By Natta

Beta-reading by Ashley

Summary: Someone unexpected turns up on the ship and makes Dylan think over his feelings for Beka. But what will happen when something is uncovered, something none of them could have known? Beka/Dylan, set somewhere in the first season.

Disclaimer: Andromeda belongs to god-knows-who and I own nothing. Well I own this story...I think.

When the Maru docked in Andromedas hangar bay, Dylan shook off the shock and escorted the crew to the med bay to see Trance. He closely watched the little boy who walked with Sarah and looked around him with big eyes.

Get in here please, and Trance will have a look at you. The captain of the Aphendix frowned when he saw the purple girl.

Who is she? he said to Dylan. This is the third person Ive seen whos not part of your original crew. Dylan smiled.

They are the crew of the Eureka Maru who...saved me when I was frozen in time. He decided not to mention how they really met. This is Trance and you can feel safe with her, dont worry. He decided to leave the room to try and clear his mind up a bit. He was getting really confused, not only by the fact that he had Sarah back with him and also a son, but also his feelings about it. He should be happy, shouldnt he? His life, his family was back. And all he could feel was that he just wanted things to get back to normal.

Okay, he thought, it just came as a surprise. I absolutely cant tell Sarah about this, itd destroy her. He took a deep breath and continued to walk. He was going to go back with new awoken love and happiness, or thats what he tried to convince himself. When he was on his way back, he saw Beka walk toward him. She had a sad look on her face and when she saw him she turned on her heel and started to walk quickly in the other direction.

Beka, stop! he called. There was no way she could claim she didnt hear it, and it seemed like she knew that. She stopped and turned around, slowly and non-willing.

Beka, whats wrong? Youve been avoiding me ever since we got aboard the Aphendix, continuously running away. She just shrugged and looked at a certainly interesting spot on the wall.

Nothing. Nothings wrong. Dylan didnt believe that, but saw that she wasnt in the mood to talk, so he was ready to go away when he heard her say something under her breath.

Except for the fact that... she mumbled the rest so low he couldnt hear it. He turned her head towards her again.

What fact? She didnt answer, just bit her lip and looked down at the floor. Beka, you know you can talk to me.

Not about this, she whispered and almost looked as shed start to cry. Dylan was going to hug her and try to make her tell him whatever had happened so that he could help her but she looked up with the tears in her eyes, but also a look that said being hugged was not what she wanted.

Go to the med bay. You have a fiance and a child to take care of. And then she spun on her heel and left. Dylan shook his head in total confusion. Just what was wrong with his first officer?

Beka went back to the Maru to clear her mind up a bit. She sat down in the pilots chair and looked at the stars. Ever since she was so little shed have to climb, she would always get up there and watch the black space when she had a problem or was sad about something. It would always feel better when she did, but not this time. The pain wouldnt stop, and it was worse than any physical, or psychological pain she had ever felt. And for the first time of her life, Beka Valentine let herself cry without trying to stop the tears, and once she had started, the tears never seemed to end. Soon, her whole body was wrecking with sobs, and her shirt was soaked. But she didnt care. Because it felt so good to cry.

When Tyr entered the cargo ship, he immediately spotted the blonde pilot in the chair. She was asleep he noticed and when he walked around her he saw her face was tearstained and her eyes were red and puffy. Even her shirt was wet, and he understood that she had been crying for hours. He smiled a sad little smile. He had noticed the tension between Beka and Captain Hunt, and even though he was a bit jealous, he considered the meeting with Sarah a tragedy. He knew Beka and him would be a bad match, even though they were very much alike. Maybe they were too much alike. Dylan would be perfect for Beka, but now that his fiance had returned it might never happen. Or as Trance would say: It spoiled the perfect possible future. He shook his head so the dreadlocks danced on his back and then lift her sleeping form up. She wasnt heavy and he was strong, so it was an easy thing for him to carry her all the way to her quarters onboard the Andromeda and put her on her bed.

I really have to talk to her tomorrow, he thought and shot her one last glance before closing the doors behind him and leaving her alone with the darkness.

Dylan had returned to the med bay, where Trance stated that all the crewmembers were just fine and they should be assigned quarters. Dylan had no problem with giving them that, they had so many spare quarters they could probably start renting them out soon. Last of all, he came to Sarah and the little boy. He hesitated. He knew she expected to stay in his quarters, but he just felt wrong about that. He simply didnt want them to sleep together. Apparently, she read the feelings on her face and smiled warmly.

I understand. You feel uncomfortable with having me in your quarters aboard this ship and you dont know how to say it. Dylan smiled, relieved.

Im glad you do. I think I just need some time to adjust. He looked at the boy so he wouldnt hear, but he was preoccupied with looking at Trances tail while she worked, so he leaned in a bit closer and whispered to her, and I have a feeling your, he corrected himself, our son does too. This must all be very new to him. She nodded and smiled. Then she called for the boy with the name Ethan.

Ethan, Dylan thought. So thats his name. He looked at the boy and try to see himself in him, but it was hard. He only had his mouth. The rest was almost an exact copy of Sarah.

~TBC~