There was a fair amount of conversation buzzing between the people that were occupying the launch pad where the small transport ship stood, various engines firing at any given point, startling those who stood too close.
Upon the entrance of the couple, all, save the engines, fell silent and turned towards them.
Among those that stood there were Anthony and Aurora, Ella stood between them with a comforting arm around each shoulder.  A little apart from them stood two of the ship’s officers and, with his back previously turned, stood their senior.  At the foot of the ramp that led to the small transport were another couple, a middle aged man and woman, clearly the couple that commanded the vessel.
It was a few moments before Jessica noticed a police officer standing just behind one of the transport’s lower propulsion wings.
She frowned.
Surely they hadn’t changed their minds, they couldn’t arrest her, could they?
Before she let herself run off in such a distressing direction, she stopped herself.  ‘Think rationally,’ she told herself, ‘they don’t trust me, that’s all this is all really about after all, he’s probably just here to make sure I don’t take anything to expensive or unbidden from home.’
Home.
And that’s where it struck. 
She had none, her home was simply now Hart Manor, a place where she had once lived.
The tears she could feel rising would never meet the surface.  Quickly she searched her new found feelings and summoned a few into place.  A calm passion for life and a strong need for everything to be right flowed through her, and taking a steady breath, dissolved her tears, soaking them into the bitter acids in her stomach.
If she cried now, she knew that they would all feel the worse for it.
It was odd, now she was thinking about it, how much she seemed to know lately, how much easier it was to perceive what other people were feeling not to mention the predetermined ideas that were more obvious to her mind.
A cough from the police officer brought her mind back to a sharp focus.
“I’m sorry to press you all,” he stepped into the centre of the circle that the groups of people seemed to have formed, “we have a rather tight time schedule to keep to I’m afraid, so if you’ll say your goodbyes Miss, we’ll be setting off.”
Nodding her head, Jessica gave David’s arm a soft stroke and smiling sadly to him, left his side and went to her friend.
“Oh Ella,” she sighed, embracing her “thank you so much for everything, I could never have wished for a better friend, during this time, or at all.”  And forcing the tears down, with a grim smile, gave her one last squeeze and turned to Anthony and Aurora.
“I want you two to behave for Miss Cox and Mr Jacobs.  Once I’ve settled, I’ll let you know and we’ll keep in contact, all right?  Please promise me you’ll be good and live the lives you deserve.”
Aurora stepped forwards, “I promise,” she said, clearly trying to hold her unsteady lip steady, “I love you Jessy.” and she flung her arms around her sister.
They both clung on tightly for a second, before letting go.  Jessica turned to her brother.
“Anthony?”
His face was creased in a scowl, “I shall promise nothing” he growled, “You promised father you’d look after us, and if you break your promises, then I shan’t even bother to make them in the first place.”  He turned his back to her muttering, “I hate you for leaving us.”
Jessica could feel her heart shattering in place, but taking a deep breath she masked it saying, “And I love you, and I’ll write to you even if you don’t read or reply to them.”
She tried to rub his shoulder, but he shrugged her off and went to stand a few more metres away with his back still turned.
Jessica could see her hand shaking as it was held in mid-air, so she clenched it into a fist and let it hang down by her side.
Turning back to the others she could feel the concern radiating off of each of them in waves.
She fought to conceal the feeling of despair that threatened to consume her.
Taking another deep breath she turned to face David.
They made to move away from the group a little.
“Please Miss,” spoke up the police officer, “we must be leaving now.”
She nodded, but continued to stay with David, “just a minute.”
“I suppose that this is goodbye for the time being,” she said, “I only wish that we’d had more time.”
“That’s not all I would wish for,” he replied, “but more time, given the circumstances, would have been well received.”
“Miss please!” said a voice, with increasing agitation.
“Oh god,” she gasped, the tears pressing at the insides of her eyes, “it’s not fair.  I’m not sure I’m strong enough to last without you.”
He pulled her into his arms, not giving a damn about the people surrounding them, “I know you are plenty strong,” he took his hand to where the ring rested, “but I am with you.”  He looked into her eyes, “we will be together, promise me.”
“Miss!”
“I promise, I promise,” she could feel the sobs trying to force themselves to her throat.  She reached up and stroked his face, immediately finding herself soothed.
A hand from behind her, grasped her arm, pulling her away, “Miss Faileas,” said the senior officer, “you are ready to leave now.”  And at the calm, sternness of his voice and face, she pulled herself away from David.  Keeping her head down she allowed the officer to lead her towards the transport.
So much calm stole over Jessica’s body until she became still with it all.  She closed her eyes, drew in a deep breath and centred herself.
There it was, what she must do at least once before foregoing it forever.
Her eyes snapped open and she wrenched her arm out of the grip of the suddenly startled senior officer.  Tearing herself around she dashed in what felt like slow motion into David’s embrace yet again, however this time rather than burying her head against him, she met his mouth with such a force that they found one another’s faces and backs.
Their lips locked and seemed to be trying to merge with one another in a kiss that was somehow tender and yet ravenously passionate.  The fusion of their mouths sent both minds and hearts soaring and exploding among the stars.
Then just as suddenly, they found themselves being torn apart as the senior and police officer took Jessica by her arms, at the same time the other two officers were restraining David’s arms.
Keeping Jessica firmly between them, the two men escorted Jessica towards and up the ramp of the transport.
She didn’t struggle, just kept her head turned to David with an aching sad smile on her face.
After an attempted struggle, David regained his calm and submitted himself to watching her as they strapped her into her seat, her bag placed in a compartment above her head.
He held her eyes until the doors clanged shut, obscuring her from him.
The small crowd retreated to behind the air lock doors, David going straight to the observation windows as the air was sucked from the room and the great bulk doors rolled open to reveal the stars.
Without a moments notice the small transport ship began to hover off the ground and the rear began to glow as the generator built up energy.  Smoothly the ship pushed out into the nothingness.
Once it was clear of the ship’s hull there was a bright flash as the transport leapt into hyperspace.
Four solemn faces stood at the window staring at the wisps of emissions that was all that remained.
The doors noiselessly shut.
Jessica was gone.