The next day, both Aeryn and John were tired and irritable. Everyone, save Rygel, became worried and Zhaan and D'Argo met in the main chamber to discuss the problem.

"I don't know what the problem is. They just didn't get much sleep last night, what does it matter to me?" D'Argo questioned Zhaan.

"Nothing really. It didn't bother me either until my meditation time came. I asked Aeryn if she could finish off the sweeping I was doing. I told her that I'd given myself too much to do in the arn and that it wouldn't take too long. I looked up and found her nearly crying! When was the last time you saw a peacekeeper cry?" Zhaan remarked, with only the slightest trace of worry in her voice.

"I'll try talking with her, perhaps you're right and she's just having trouble sleeping, but I still think there's something more. Why don't you go and have a talk with John?" she said. She always had trouble understanding John's theories and thoughts, and she hoped D'Argo would understand better that she did.

"Ok, I'll go and talk to him, but I'm not promising that I'll get any answers." he warned. "Pilot, where's Crichton?"

"He's back on the terrace, D'Argo, but he specifically asked not to be disturbed," said Pilot.

"Thanks, Pilot. I hope you're happy Zhaan, I'm doing what you want." D'Argo said gruffly. He stalked out of the room and headed towards the terrace. Arriving soon thereafter, he saw Crichton lying on the ground breathing deeply with his eyes half shut.

"What are you doing, Crichton?" D'Argo questioned in his deep voice. Startled, Crichton jumped nearly a foot into the air, "What? Oh, it's you, sorry, I was just having a rest, I'm a bit tired."

"Why? What kept you up?" D'Argo asked. Crichton groaned, "I've been having these dreams for a while and, well, they keep waking me up and after them I can never get back to sleep. I'm not sick, I'm just not getting much sleep." Crichton said, dragging out the words slowly and without much expression.

"What are these dreams about?" D'Argo asked, wanting to know.

"They're sort of private. They're not bad, they're good. Some are very good. But I know the dreams could never happen," John answered.

"These dreams involve Aeryn," D'Argo said. It was not so much a question as it was a statement and John was blushing because of it.

"Yes," he admitted, "She's in them, but what can I do about it? I mean sure, she's beautiful and all but she's, she's... she's an alien for frells sake!" and with that he jumped up and, mumbling to himself, stormed away, leaving behind a very confused but enlightened D'argo.

Meanwhile, Zhaan continued her search for Aeryn. She'd already checked most of the rooms and halls and was about to give up when she turned a corner and tripped over Aeryn who was sitting on the ground.

Quickly apologizing for running into her, Zhaan finally noticed that Aeryn was not paying much attention to her in particular. She was resting her head in her hands and looked very close to crying once again.

Zhaan shook her gently and when Aeryn finally looked up, she asked, "Is something the matter? You don't look well."

"Wha...? Oh, it's nothing. I just haven't been getting much sleep. Leave me alone, I'm okay." She replied in a dreamy voice. She looked away hoping that Zhaan hadn't seen the tear run down her face.

"Why? Why haven't you been getting enough sleep? Are you sick?" Zhaan asked in a soothing voice.

"No I'm not sick! It's these frelling dreams! They're personal and they're good but..."

"What? Do these dreams include Crichton?" Zhaan asked.

"John's in all of them. I like the things I see but I'm afraid of them. I can never get back to sleep after them. It would be easier if John weren't as alien to me as he is! What I see isn't possible and I shouldn't even see it!" Aeryn cried, unable to hold her emotion in any longer.

"I can give you a ointment which will help you to sleep. If you want, I can make it later and leave it in your room. Do you want some?" Zhaan offered quietly.

Aeryn took her time, but in the end, answered, "Yes, now, please just leave me alone70;"

Zhaan was now no longer worried as she knew what the problem was. Though it had a difficult solution, it was definitely manageable. She returned to her lab and asked Pilot to inform D'Argo to meet her in her quarters in one arn. Next, she began to make the ointment, mixing the herbs and plants in the bowl, quietly pondering what to do with Aeryn. She finished the ointment and on her way to her own quarters dropped by Aeryn's and left it on her table.

D'Argo was already waiting for her when she arrived. She quickly let him in and was about to explain Aeryn's problem when she noticed the broad smile on his face.

"What is it D'Argo? What have you found out?" She peered into his eyes looking for an answer but all she worked out was that he reminded her of a schoolboy with a secret.

He didn't even hesitate before he answered, "I know what Crichton's problem is," he said, almost in a whisper, "and I think it's probably the same for Aeryn. She's been having dreams about Crichton hasn't she?"

Zhaan was stunned but nodded in agreement, "So has John!"

"They're in love? Is that what you think?" Zhaan questioned.

"Yes, I've got to be right, but what do we do about it? They're having trouble accepting it, I suppose, because the other is an alien and full of ignorance. They have little in common except for their pride in winning..." His voice trailed off as he saw the arrival of a smirk on Zhaan's face.

"You have a plan? You're going to use their pride to fix this... problem?" D'Argo replied to the smirk.

"Yes, I do have a plan but I need some help from both you and Pilot to make it work."

"Pilot," she called and almost immediately his image appeared on his screen, "I need you to find a deserted planet, preferably nearby," Zhaan requested.

"Well, actually, there was a planet about two arns back, completely uninhabited by intelligent life-forms. It is also the one place I can remember seeing that had those animals, the ones Crichton described, what did he call them? Harses? No, horses," he informed them. " May I ask why you want me to find a planet that is completely uninhabited?" Pilot asked.

"Yes, you may. If you wish to stay I'll tell you my plan, but the main reason is that Aeryn and John are both losing sleep. I think the reason is that they're in love with each other, but they're having trouble realizing it because of the other's alienation." Zhaan replied simply.

"So that's why they always come and see me in the middle of the night." Pilot remarked, "I still don't understand how going to an uninhabited planet is going to help either one of their love-lives, I think they'll both just become angry and bored," Pilot finished, sounding confused and unsure.

"I agree with Pilot, I don't understand it either!" D'Argo said, very upset at the amount of time Zhaan was taking to tell them her plan.

"Well, we give them a preposition neither can resist!" she said. The others only gave her stupid looks, neither had any idea what she was talking about. "Do you remember the time John told us about bets?" Zhaan asked.

"Yes," pilot and D'Argo chorused.

"Well, we make a bet with them. The bet we make with Aeryn, is that she can't make John fall in love with her, and then not kiss him until after we've left the planet."

"For John, we do the same but vice-versa. We tell them that we have to land because Moya needs to rest due to her pregnancy. We say she needs three weekens and then tell them the bet."

"Our excuse is, with three weekens stuck on a deserted planet, they'll both need something to do. Simple. I'm sure it'll work," she said.

"That's fine, but what if one of them doesn't accept the bet?" D'Argo said after a moment.

"Well, we heighten the stakes. Give them something else," Zhaan replied. "Please, D'Argo can't you be the one to ask John? I'll ask Aeryn." Zhaan said with pleading eyes.

"Well...I suppose." D'Argo said. "Pilot how long until we arrive on the planet?"

"Within half an arn." Pilot replied.

"We should go and get ready. I'll inform the others of our 'emergency landing'. They're sure to be thrilled." D'Argo said before turning on his heel and leaving.

"Hmm. Well, I suppose we should call a meeting so we can tell the others of the 'emergency'. Pilot please tell everyone to meet in the main hall as soon as possible." Zhaan said, still deep in thought about her plan, wondering who would break first and try to kiss the other.

Well no matter, as long as one of them did.

Not long after D'Argo and Zhaan's discussion, everyone met in the main hall. Almost immediately Aeryn yelled, "What is it now, can't anyone around here ever get some sleep?"

"Yeah, I could really do with forty winks." Aeryn began to ask what he's talking about, but she is quickly interrupted by John, "Another expression for sleep, okay."

"Alright," Zhaan said in a calm voice, unnoticed, she had walked over to stand between John and Aeryn who, as John would say, were looking daggers at one another. "This meeting has been called because in less than quarter of a arn, Moya is going to land on the closest planet, Zorn."

"Zorn? That planet is completely uninhabited! Why are we going there?" Aeryn screamed, very confused and generally pissed off.

"Moya needs to rest. Her baby is very large and she's having trouble coping. Pilot says we might have to stay on Zorn for close to three weekens. The only inhabited planet close-by is Kriskles, but the inhabitants are mainly Peacekeepers."

"If you want to land there, just say so and we'll drop you off," Zhaan said, getting tired of Aeryn's remarks.

"No? Then it's settled. We land on Zorn and try to find something to entertain ourselves for the next few weekens."

After a slightly rough landing which shook everyone up inside, the crew made their way outside, eager to see what kind of planet they'll be spending the next 3 weekens on.

The landscape before them is beautiful, although no one but John notices this; filled with luscious, shady, green trees, tall, colorful and fragrant flowers, sparkling, cool, refreshing streams and animals which are as indistinguishable from horses as Sebaceans from humans.

'Horses?' John thought, 'those can't possibly be horses. They look like horses; they look like tame horses. Geez, what I'd give for a nice relaxing ride on one of those. I'd go into the forest, lie down in the grass and sleep. Yeah. That's what I'll do, no one to bother me, just me and...' "OW!" he shouted as Aeryn's hand whipped across his face.

"Wake up! We've been saying your name for yanks!" she said, smirking at the mark she'd left on his face.

"Yanks? Oh yonks you mean. Sorry I was just thinkingm," John said, jumping back to reality. "I bet you enjoyed hitting me, huh? Shame it didn't hurt," he said this while glaring at Aeryn. Neither of them noticed the smiles Zhaan and D'argo exchanged.

Rygel did though and once they were all back on board Moya, he confronted them.

"So, what are you two up to? I know something's up and if you don't tell, I'll find out and it might just get to people you'd rather it didn't!" Rygel said, not even trying to hide the smirk on his face.

Chiana, Aeryn and John look at each other, confused. Zhaan had a look of dismay and D'Argo just looked plain mad.

"Well, I'm waiting," Rygel said, chuckling.

"Umm. Can you leave us alone for a few microts?" Zhaan asked, looking at Chiana, Aeryn and John. Aeryn and John shrug their shoulders and left.

"Please, can't I stay?" Chiana pleaded. "No!" Zhaan and D'Argo yelled together.

The three of them walk along the corridors and headed toward their quarters. Only one of them of them is interested and though she may not know it, she has nothing in particular to do with this new secret.

Back in the hall Rygel continued to pry Zhaan and D'Argo to tell him what's going on. "So what's this new secret? Who's involved? Tell me! I deserve to know! I won't tell anyone, I promise," he said trying to put on what Crichton called 'puppy eyes.'

"Okay. We'll tell you, but if you so much as hint to Aeryn or John about what this is about, it's your loss," Zhaan said, her voice full of anger and frustration.

"John? Aeryn? This going to be more crap about their 'love lives', is it?" Rygel said, rolling his eyes.

"Yes, it is. Now if you don't want to listen, get lost!" D'Argo yelled.

"Hmph. Well I'm telling Chiana anyway," Rygel said before hovering off.

For the next three days, there's no work to be done, so Aeryn and John don't get out of bed, for a moment, unless it's absolutely necessary.

Then on the forth day they both appear refreshed and happy, well, as happy as they could be on an uninhabited planet, thinking there'd be nothing to do for the next two and a half weekens.

Aeryn was sitting on the terrace, hugging her knees to herself. As always, the sight amazed her, though she'd never told anyone.

"Aeryn?" Zhaan asked, unsure as to whether this was the right time to put forward her proposition.

"Aeryn?" she called again.

"Yes Zhaan?" Aeryn replied. 'Good,' Zhaan thought, 'she's in a happy mood and she isn't tired anymore.'

"Are you feeling better?"

"Yeah, the dreams are still there, but now I sleep all day so I get plenty of rest, but..." Aeryn trailed off, she had no idea what this all meant to her. She couldn't explain it to herself, how could she explain it Zhaan?

"You need something to get your mind off those dreams. I think you should just become friends with Crichton," Zhaan suggested.

"I'll make you a bet. I bet you can't make John like you and admit it in front of us. The catch is that you're not kiss to him until we leave Zorn. It'll give you something to do and it will help get rid of your dreams," Zhaan said, "What do you think? Can you do it?" she asked, careful to hide her growing smile.

"You're challenging me? I am not one to dismiss a challenge... no matter how easy or stupid! I will do it. I suppose I should start, I only have two and a half weekens," she said, "Oh, and I will never think of kissing Crichton!" aware that even as she said it, the thought of his lips and her lips together was creeping into her head.

"Good, I'll see you around then," Zhaan began to leave, but is stopped by Aeryn's voice, "Wait, what do I get if I can do it?" she asked. "Well... if you can do it, I'll do all your work for the next three weekens," Zhaan replied.

"Ummm okay, deal."

Meanwhile, D'Argo was still trying to work out how to approach Crichton when his problem was solved for him. "Frell, I'm bored!" came a voice from behind him.

"What are you doing? D'argo?" Crichton asked.

"Me? I'm trying to think of a way to entertain us men," he replied. "I've only got one idea and well it isn't that entertaining..."

"Well what is it?" Crichton asked, walking over to sit beside him.

"A bet," he said. "I bet you can't make Aeryn say that she loves you in front of all of us. Lets say you make her say it once we leave Zorn, but you can't kiss her until then. I bet you can't do it!" After a few microts' hesitation, he added, "If you can, I'll do all your work for a moen."

"I don't even like Aeryn, why..." Crichton began, but was then interrupted by D'Argo. "Well, it should be easy not to kiss her then. So do we have a bet or not?" he asked.

"Well... I suppose it'll give me something to do. Yeah, it's a bet! I'd better get going, have to plan what to do you know," Crichton said, smiling to himself.

He got up and left, leaving D'Argo to his thoughts about how easy their discussion had been. With that last thought, he got up and returned to the ship.

"Hmmm. What the hell was that about?" Crichton thought to himself, "Interesting proposition. Well, what can I use..." he continued his train of thought, putting together his plan of attack.

Elsewhere, Aeryn had decided the best thing to do would be to approach John and ask him if he wanted to go for a walk on Zorn. Who knows, maybe he'll know something of interest, she thought to herself, with a snort of laughter.

John had finished planning and was about to go and find Aeryn when there was a knock at the door.

"Come in," he said, thinking it was Zhaan as no one else ever thought of knocking.

He didn't even look up until he heard a voice, Aeryn's, tinged slightly with something else, something he rarely heard from her.

Nervousness.

"Hi."

"Hi."

"You want to go for a walk?" Aeryn asked, her voice unusually high.

John couldn't believe it! She was doing what he wanted her to!

"Ah... um, well70;" he stammered, unsure of what to say.

"Forget it, be bored," Aeryn said, and started to leave.

"No, wait. I... yeah. I'd love to."

"Then lets go!" Aeryn yelled, and half-walked, half-ran from the room. John jumped up from the bed and followed Aeryn. He had no idea how or why, but this was going perfectly.

Maybe too perfectly.

About a quarter arn later, after John had finished packing some food and water into a bag he called a picnic, John and Aeryn left Moya. John looked around at his surroundings while Aeryn decided what to do next.

"So, where do you want to walk to?" John said in what seemed like a whisper to Aeryn.

"Up to that mountain and down the other side, if we get time."

"What? That's too far!" John started to say but mumbled near the end as he saw a couple of horses approach them. The horses continued to walk until they stood a mere foot from them. Aeryn who had been looking at the ground looked up and, seeing the horses jumped a foot in the air.

The black horse took a step back.

"Shhh70; Aeryn," whispered John as he carefully approached the horse. Aeryn opened her mouth to object to him touching a life form as low as this just as his hand touched it's sleek back and his face lit up in a smile.

"Ever been horseback riding, Aeryn?" he asked, knowing she hadn't. Before she had time to answer, he'd somehow mounted the horse. Amazingly enough, the horse hadn't bolted.

"What the frell are you doing?!?" Aeryn said, as John lightly patted the horse.

"Geez, Aeryn, come on. Have fun! It's just something we humans do, ride horses. Have a shot," John slid off the horse's back to stand behind her.

"Please?"

With those words, Aeryn's warning bells started to sound, but she ignored them. She was going to win this bet. Then she felt John's hands on her waist and she was torn between wanting to run, wanting to grab him and frell him for all he was worth and staying in neutral. In the end, she decided to stay neutral, as he gently lifted her on to the horse's back, she snapped back to reality, just in time to remark, "You, John, really are insane."

"Me? Insane? Ha! You, babe, are about to find out just what I am," John said, noting that Aeryn's eyes had immediately found the ground very interesting.

"Now what?" she asked, still determined to win the wager.

"Well, how about we start on the basics? Gently kick your horse in the ribs."

Aeryn did so, and immediately her horse walked forward. For a moment John saw a hint of what he thought to be fear, but she shielded it after a moment.

"What the frell? This is, it's70; it's70; not bad," Aeryn said, as her horse walked forward. John watched and was hardly surprised when he saw that Aeryn moved perfectly with the horse. 'She's so beautiful,' he thought to himself. 'Wait, I shouldn't be thinking that.'

"John, what are you waiting for? Are we going anywhere or not?"

An idea occurred to him, "What if70; well, how about70;?"

"Come on, get on with it," Aeryn said, frustrated.

"Nah70; you wouldn't want to," John said sheepishly.

"Tell me!" she yelled.

"Okay, okay, it's just, I wondered if you'd want to stay out here for, I dunno, say, a weeken or so?" he said hopefully.

Aeryn looked up, careful to keep her surprise and happiness from her face.

"Why?"

"I dunno, forget it," he replied.

"Why?"

"Something to do, teach me some survival skills, but like I said, forget it," he whispered.

"First of all, I don't know how you expect me to forget it, but yeah, why not? We leave in an arn, we can70;share a tent?" Aeryn said calmly and hid the flicker of amusement at the sight of John's face, which was surprised at her saying yes and bewildered at her asking to share a tent.

"Meet back here in one arn then," she said immediately.

"Okay?"

"Yeah, sure. I suppose," he said, in a voice sounding strained and from a mouth trying to form a smile.

"One arn."

An arn later they met outside Moya, both carrying a large bag.

"Let's get going," Aeryn said, as she started to walk off.

John looked around and whistled to a horse, which, amazingly enough, came over to him. He then jumped on to the horse's back and trotted up to Aeryn.

"You should ride, it'd be quicker and more comfortable. Come on," he said.

"No, I can walk. Go as fast as you like. I'll be surprised if that thing can go very fast, anyway," she hissed back, still unhappy about him riding such a life form.

"Okay, but I'm telling you this thing can go a lot faster than you and for a lot longer," he said, as the lop-sided grin Aeryn loved so much crept onto John's face.

"I doubt that," she shot back.

"Okay but don't say I didn't warn you," he yelled.

Aeryn looked back at him and was astounded and amused to see that he had picked up a stick and was sitting on the horse as it turned and staggered, yelling "Yah!" at the top of his voice. Her amusement soon turned to amazement as Crichton's horse reared and galloped the distance between them quicker than she'd ever be able to run.

"Sure you don't want to ride?" John asked, smiling like an idiot.

"Whatever. There aren't any other horses around though," she said, clearly projecting her irritation.

"Well... um70; here," John said, sounding only half sure of himself, and offered his hand.

Aeryn raised an eyebrow but took his hand anyway. He quickly hauled her up behind him and placed her hands around his waist.

"Yah! Yah! Yah!" he yelled, and whacked the horse's ribs with his stick. The horse shot forward and Aeryn tightened her grip around John's waist.

"Now where do you want to go?" he yelled back to her.

"Anywhere!" she yelled back, surprising herself and John as she got caught up in the moment.

They'd been riding for hours and were now surrounded by lush green and yellow rainforest. They'd passed many horses, but had silently decided to stay on the one horse.

"Do you want to stop now, Aeryn?" John asked suddenly, pulling Aeryn from her thoughts on their sharing a tent.

"Huh? Oh, um, yeah, at the next clearing. Okay?"

"Yeah, sure," he replied.

'Now,' Aeryn thought, 'do something!'

'What?!?'

John jumped, realizing that Aeryn's head was now resting on his shoulder. Luckily, Aeryn didn't notice. John smiled. This was going to be easy. He would win this. It was all going brilliantly.

He was about to kiss her on the head when he remembered the details of the bet.

They continued to ride until he found a large clearing. He stopped the horse and slowly turned to find Aeryn peacefully asleep with her head still resting on his shoulder. He gently lifted her to the ground. He put up the tent then went back over to Aeryn.

She was still asleep and he didn't want to wake her but he didn't trust himself with the job of removing her outer layers.

"Wake up, babe. Come on," he whispered.

"What70;? John70;?" she said, half awake.

John smiled at her calling him John instead of the usual Crichton.

"Oh, what time is it Crichton? Sorry, I must have fallen asleep," she said, waking up.

"I'll say, come on, go in the tent and get changed," he said happily.

"Oh, you've already set up the tent. Thank you," she said, somewhat surprised.

She walked into the tent and switched on the mobile light, John immediately saw what was going to happen. The light cast a perfect shadow of Aeryn's form onto the tent wall, giving John an interesting view. He had three choices; look away, watch or tell her.

He wasn't prepared to tell her so that ruled that out and he knew that her knowing he'd watched might get her to say she loved him and then he could give her the chance to watch him. He looked up as she undid her hair, letting her raven locks fall around her shoulders. Then she took off her pants, revealing the shadow of her slender legs and then her top. She got dressed quickly and turned the light off.

She walked out and then approached Crichton, "Done," she said, "Your turn."

"Sure stay here. Right here. I'll be back in a microt," he smiled.

Aeryn watched John walk inside, and found to her horror that with the light on, you could see a perfect shadow. Only then did she realize the reason for John's smile.

'Humph. If he gets to watch, so do I!' she thought.

So she looked up and watched as John undressed, revealing his muscular chest and legs. What she didn't know was that he knew she was watching. When he'd finished he poked his head out and called Aeryn in out of the cold.

When they'd settled in to their beds, John turned to look at Aeryn and asked70;

"Enjoy the view?"

Aeryn gaped, "I70;You70;"

"What is it you're trying to say?" John said, smiling like a child.

"You watched me! It's only fair that I get to watch you!" she shouted.

"That's not a good enough reason," he said.

Aeryn was lost, she didn't know what to say to that.

John had just played his last card, if Aeryn shot back at him he was in very big trouble. After a long, awkward silence, Aeryn responded.

"What is your reason then? If mine isn't good enough I have to hear yours."

"Um70; um70;" he'd lost. There was no reason except the truth. 'Go on John just say it! It might work.'

"Aeryn," he said, more confidently than he felt, "I do have a reason70; You have a nice body and70; and it's been a long time since I saw, and, well, I mean70;"

Aeryn was really lost now, but this had to be good for the bet, so why not? John had looked away after he said it, he could feel Aeryn's eyes on him. Then all of a sudden, she started to giggle, then she started to chuckle and then she laughed full out.

"That's my reason, although I hate to admit it, you do have a great body, too," Aeryn said between laughs and breaths.

John stared at Aeryn, amazed at how much he just wanted to grab her and laugh with her.

And kiss her.

'Shit! One day with her and I already want to break the bet. And she's still laughing,' he thought.

Aeryn looked over at John and noticed he was staring at her, "Geez, What's that erp saying, um, 'Lighten up' John."

John blinked at her, noticed how relaxed she was, and burst out laughing. They laughed until their stomachs hurt then dropped off to sleep, together in the tent.

Late that night, John awoke. He felt unusually warm and safe. It took him a few microts to realize why.

Aeryn's arm was draped over his chest and her head nestled on his shoulder. He himself found his leg comfortably sitting between Aeryn's legs. He couldn't move because he'd wake her up, so he just lay there, feeling content, he didn't know what he'd do in the morning.

He'd worry about that tomorrow though.

About a quarter of an arn later, Aeryn awoke and found them in the comforting position, although sure she wouldn't wake him if she moved, she chose to stay there. 'I have to see his face when he wakes up tomorrow.'

'And anyway, it feels nice,' she thought.

Aeryn woke up first. She could tell John was still asleep by his breathing. She lay there, waiting for him to wake up. After a while she absent-mindedly started to caress his brown hair.

He stirred and Aeryn quickly shut her eyes. John yawned and looked at her, "Geez, Aeryn, you're so beautiful. I can't believe what that stupid b70;" he whispered, oblivious to her being awake.

Aeryn couldn't let him go on, she had to stop him. She stirred and stretched, then without opening her eyes she said, "Morning John."

"Morning, sunshine," he replied.

They lay there for a while, both of them happy and content. Then almost simultaneously, they realized the reason for their happiness and jumped apart.

They got up dressed and packed up. They both rode on the same horse once again. They'd been riding in silence for about five arns when Aeryn tapped John on the shoulder and said, "There's water in that direction. I can hear it. We need to get some more if we plan on surviving."

"Yeah, sure let's go," he answered.

They arrived at the source of the sound and found it to be a beautiful lagoon with a rushing waterfall. They marveled at the place as they collected the water. They'd set the horse free when they'd arrived and were sitting around waiting for another horse to show up when Aeryn whispered something.

"What, did you say?" John asked.

"Nothing." She responded, much too quickly for it to have really been nothing.

"Yes you did, what did you say?" he said playfully.

"I70; I just wondered if you would like to join me for a swim," she said hopefully.

"Sure! I'd love to," he said and stood up, taking off his black T-shirt and his shoes, and, after giving Aeryn a glance, his pants, which left him standing in his Calvins.

He walked over to the water, again looked at Aeryn and then dived in gracefully. Aeryn watched his muscular form glide under the water and then surface.

"What are you waiting for?" he yelled.

'If he wants to play games, he can,' she thought and for the first time, thought about why he was doing all this. The thought quickly left her as John caught her eye.

"Coming?"

She walked over to the edge, stuck her hand in the water and looked at John. Then she took off her shoes, then her top, revealing the tight fitting sports bra. She glanced up and saw John staring at her. He obviously hadn't expected this. She took off her pants and quickly dived into the water, she surfaced near John and shouted at him.

"Race you to the waterfall!"

Aeryn dived under again and headed towards the waterfall. John soon followed. She surfaced just before the waterfall and stood up to look for John. He wasn't there. She couldn't see him, and if he didn't surface for air soon he'd drown.

'He has to be playing games,' she thought. She looked everywhere. It'd been almost 200 microts, where was he?

Hands shot out from under the waterfall and grabbed Aeryn around the ankles, dragging her behind the falling water. She expected her head to connect with hard rock and shut her eyes in anticipation. She was surprised when she found her feet on solid ground and a weird heat coming from something in front of her. Carefully, she opened her eyes and found John standing mere centimeters from her.

'I'm dead,' she thought, 'this is John's heaven. Everything I want is here.'

'John is here.'

She leaned forward to kiss him and was absolutely shocked when he moved back and dropped her. 'That was not what I wanted!' she thought.

'Got you!' John thought. Aeryn was opening her eyes, her eyes showing her amazement. John smiled. 'She was leaning forward, to kiss me? Yes. Kiss her, John. No the bet.' He remembered the bet just in time to move back and let go of her. She fell over.

"What the frell are you doing?!?" she screamed.

"You were going to kiss me, what do you think?" he shouted back. He suddenly realized just what that sounded like.

"I70; I70; Frell you, Crichton! Where are we and how do we get out?" Aeryn said icily.

"Behind the waterfall," he answered, still shocked at what he'd said.

"And how do we get out?"

"Through the water over there," he said pointing.

Aeryn walked over and dived out. John sat there for a while, then got up and followed her.

She was already dressed on the side of the lagoon and she had two horses.

They'd slept there for the night then continued on. They'd gone on another five days, hardly talking, Aeryn still mad at Crichton and Crichton still mad at himself.

The next day, they got up and John went up to Aeryn and said:

"We'd better turn back, we've been gone a weeken and we're supposed to be back soon."

"Sure let's go."

They again went on for another five days until they arrived at the lagoon. John had to do something, he wouldn't give up on that bet. He'd win, he had to impress her, that's it. He told Aeryn he'd be back soon, then disappeared into the forrest. An arn later he came back with several types of creatures.

"Hey, Aeryn, I got us some dinner. Which of these things are edible?" he said to her, holding up the small animals.

Aeryn pointed out the five which were edible and told John how to cook them.

John stomped away, there was no way to get through to this girl.

He had to do it, he had to win and anyway, having Aeryn mad at you wasn't exactly a good thing. That night after they'd eaten, John approached Aeryn.

"Aeryn we need to talk."

"Why?" she said flatly.

"Because, what I said I didn't mean," he replied.

"What did you say? I can't remember you saying anything worth talking about," she hissed.

"When we were behind the waterfall," he said, frustrated.

"I don't want to talk about it," Aeryn jumped up and walked away.

"Okay, we don't have to," he said under his breath.

That night they slept as far away from each other as they could in the cramped tent. John woke up some time later and noticed the absence of Aeryn's form immediately. He jumped up and looked outside, he somehow knew where to find Aeryn and ran straight for the waterfall, oblivious to the cold biting at his bare legs and chest. He dived into the water and silently swam for the waterfall. He surfaced just under the falling water and searched for Aeryn.

He found her lying in the corner in a heap, still in her underwear.

Crying? 'No, she couldn't be,' he thought.

He wished he could comfort her but he wasn't even sure she knew he was there.

He had to make sure.

"Hey," he whispered.

Her head shot up.

She hadn't known he was there.

"What do you want," she spat, bitterly.

"To talk, Aeryn," he whispered.

"You always want to talk! But sometimes I don't, sometimes70;" her voice trailed off.

"Look, Aeryn, what I said I didn't mean, it's just that," he couldn't say it. It'd make it look like their relationship meant less to him than the stupid bet and it didn't.

It meant the world to him.

"Then why did you say it? Why'd you drop me? Why?!?" she demanded.

"Because. Well you know how, um, I didn't mean it," he pleaded, "I'd never purposely hurt you, ever."

"Well, you did, you hurt me," she whispered.

"I didn't mean to. One question, though," he said as it occurred to him, "Why'd you try to kiss me?"

'I can't tell him about the bet, I can't! I have to tell him something,' she thought. "I70; I70; I thought I was in heaven," she whispered, then realizing that she'd admitted he was her love, she looked away.

"God I'm sorry, Aeryn. It's just, I didn't think you'd care," he responded.

"I want you to be honest with me, you dropped me because I'm an alien and I'm so70; bossy and wrong and70; and70; and I dunno, that's why you didn't let me kiss you right?"

Aeryn knew he'd say yes. He was always truthful.

John hadn't expected that.

"No, that's not the reason. I like you! Who gives a frell if you're an alien or if you are a little bossy? You're the most beautiful, intelligent, wonderful woman I've ever met," he replied, after a moment's thought.

She hadn't expected that.

"Then why?" was all she said.

"Because," he said

He couldn't lie anymore.

She couldn't hold back any longer.

"Because of a stupid bet," he said just as Aeryn said, "I would've kissed you sooner if it hadn't been for that bet."

Their heads snapped up to stare at each other.

"What did you say?" they said in unison.

"I70;" they said again in unison.

Aeryn pointed at John, "You go first."

John sighed. She'd kill him if he told the truth. But then a picture of her crying came to him and he decided to tell the truth.

"D'Argo wanted to give me something to do while we were here, so he made me a bet."

At this point, Aeryn's eyes began to widen, but she said nothing and motioned for John to keep talking. "So, the bet was that I couldn't make you say you, um, well, like me and not kiss you until we'd left Zorn. I thought it'd be easy, but70;" he trailed off.

By this stage Aeryn, was gaping almost smiling.

"What was your bet?" he asked hoping it was something the same but sure it couldn't be.

"The same," she said simply, then seeing John's confusion, continued. "Zhaan bet the same thing about you. She said it'd help get rid of the dreams. It seems to have worked."

John stared at her, "You've been having dreams?"

"No70; Yes70; Maybe70; Yes," she whispered.

John couldn't resist, he gently put his arm around Aeryn's shoulders and whispered into her ear, "Me too, Sunshine, me too."

Aeryn jumped at the remark but didn't say anything for a while, "What do you get if you win?"

"D'Argo will do all my work for a monen, every last bit," he said.

"Not fair, I only get three weekens," she said putting on a baby face and a baby voice.

John took one look at her and burst out laughing, his laughing was soon joined by Aeryn's.

"I did it for the pride, but you know if I was in your position, I'd have done it just to see D'Argo leaning over the washing pool washing your socks," she giggled.

He looked at her and realized what would happen if he did what he was thinking about. No don't do it, he thought.

Aeryn looked up and saw an odd expression on his face, almost pained, she leaned closer, worried.

'Oh God, she's leaning toward you, don't do it!' he thought.

"What's wrong," she asked.

John opened his mouth to answer and felt his body take over. He half dived, half pounced on Aeryn, capturing her mouth in a long, sweet kiss.

Aeryn felt John's tongue inside her mouth and gave up, responding to the monens of time she'd resisted in ten microts.

John felt her respond and deepened his kiss, forgetting the bet completely.

Aeryn awoke the next morning and felt incredibly relaxed. It took her a few microts to realize the reason.

John's arm was draped across her stomach and he had his leg nestled between hers.

But that wasn't it. There was something else, she thought. They were both naked, vivid thoughts of the night before, her screams of pleasure and John's moans. She tensed for a moment then relaxed.

She lightly kissed him on the nose, his eyes flickered open and he gave her a lopsided smile. He was rewarded with one of her own radiant smiles.

"Morning Sunshine," he breathed.

"Morning," she said uncertainly.

"What's the matter?" John asked.

"I dunno... nothing. I suppose."

"Yes there is, what is it?" he asked, beginning to think that she'd regretted what had happened.

"It's just... you hate me don't you," she blurted out.

It didn't make sense, John thought to himself, after everything that had happened she was still uncertain.

"No, Of course not, I...I love you, Aeryn," he whispered.

She looked up and caught his lips in a long kiss and said, "I love you too John."

They kissed for arns, touching and tasting. Moaning each others name. When they finally got some control over themselves, Aeryn realized that D'Argo and Zhaan had won.

"Well, Zhaan won," she said, with a grin.

John stared at a wall for a while, "How are they going to know we kissed?"

"Well70; they won't. Why did they make a bet when we could easily cheat?" she asked.

John gave her a look that said, "Isn't it obvious?"

"How dare they! They just did it to get us together, didn't they?" she yelled.

"That'd be my guess, but lets really piss them off," he remarked sneakily.

"What do you mean?" Aeryn asked involuntarily starting to caress his cheek.

"Well, we make it look like they've won," he said and started to discuss the details with her.

After about an arns planning, John whisked Aeryn up in his arms and carried her back to their tent. It was early morning when he put her down and gently climbed over her. He carefully connected the two sleeping bag like things and threw them over the top of Aeryn and climbed in to join her.

He turned to look at her and gave her a quick smile before diving head first under the covers. After a few microts Aeryn felt a warm pair of hands skim the small of her back they then traveled down to pull her black shorts and calvins off.

It was wonderful; she wasn't sure what to expect, back on the fake earth it had been quick and done at the wrong time. This would be different, she thought as she remembered that night.

She tensed as she felt something deliciously warm and moist graze the inside of her leg. Again in an upward motion, what was John doing?

The third time she realized that the warm object was actually John's tongue and lifted the covers to stare at him.

John looked at her; panic written on his face. "What? What's the matter?" he stuttered.

"What the frell are you doing?!?" she yelled.

A smile crossed his face before he realized how hard it would be to explain oral sex to a former-peacekeeper. "It's called oral sex, humans do it70;" he started.

"What? The translator microbes had to have gotten that wrong. Humans use their70; mouths70; down there70;" she said awkwardly.

He gave her a lopsided smile and said, "Well70; yeah."

After an awkward silence John questioned, "I70; do you want me to or not?"

"Okay, I suppose, but is it enjoyable for as much as I assume it will be for me?"

"That's for me to know and you to find out," he said and pulled the covers down over his head.

For the next three arns, Aeryn discovered just how wonderful the experience of making love to John Crichton could be. She must have moaned his name more than a hundred times and he seemed to have had almost as much fun. They'd dropped of to sleep, naked and in each others arms.

And for the first time in Aeryn's life, she was complete.

Later that day, John awoke to Aeryn's sweet voice whispering. "Wake up, we'd better get back."

He got up and realized that Moya was probably almost ready to leave. It took Aeryn and him three arns to pack up and catch another horse. Mainly because half of the time, they'd find themselves kissing or touching each other once again.

When they at last found themselves ready to go, they mounted the same horse and galloped back to Moya's landing place. They arrived late at night and after reviewing the plans, catching another horse and sharing a rather long kiss, they went inside.

Aeryn heard someone approaching and screamed, "Frell you Jo70; Crichton!"

She bit her lip at the mistake and John gave her a look. Then took on the more serious look and did his bit.

"What the hell have I done now? I'm not as quick as you I can't put up those shelter things and I can't climb big rocks, so kill me!" he yelled.

"I will if you're not careful!" she screamed and purposely stalked around the corner into a very upset Zhaan and D'Argo.

Zhaan heard John swear and apparently kick the ship's wall. She turned the corner and asked, "What on earth happened?"

"I'm not perfect, that's what happened," he yelled.

"I think I should tell you, John, that Moya will be leaving Zorn in one arn and I'd like to see you in command about our bet," D'Argo said.

"Whatever!" he yelled, and stormed off towards his quarters.

"Crichton, could you come to command?" D'Argo's voice rang out over John's com system.

Moya had left Zorn only microts before the call.

John walked off towards command, rehearsing his lines in his head.

He entered and stood there looking, at D'Argo and Zhaan.

"Um70; I think it's safe to say that you've lost the bet, and therefore70;" D'Argo started.

"What makes you think that?" John interrupted.

"Well, you didn't sound to friendly when you arrived back after your trip." D'argo answered.

"No wait a minute, I want a fair shot!" he shouted, "Aeryn get up to command now," he said, hitting his com.

"What for?" she asked, clearly irritated.

"Just get up here!" he yelled.

Zhaan and D'Argo exchanged worried looks; he'd gone insane.

Aeryn stormed in and started swearing at John continuously in sebacean.

"Ok, Aeryn, tell Zhaan and D'Argo what you think of me, you half-wit."

"You're a yotz, demented little man, incompetent, irresponsible, ignorant human," she screamed, quite convincingly.

"Told you," D'Argo said.

"Honestly, Aeryn, just tell 'em," John said.

"What about?" she asked.

"You know."

"I hate you Crichton!" she screamed again, and started walking towards the door.

Crichton caught her arm and twisted her around to face the others, "D'Argo I hate to say this but, you lose. Oh and Zhaan you too."

Zhaan and D'Argo looked at each other in horror then confusion.

"How could you have found out? And we've haven't lost! Neither of you has said anything nice about the other since you got back from your trip," D'Argo retorted.

"Say it Aeryn," John said.

"Sure, you just had to ask nicely," she said, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I love you John," she whispered.

Zhaan looked at D'Argo in complete shock, that was one thing she never thought she'd here Aeryn Sun say. Maybe she'd misheard her.

"I don't think they heard you sunshine," John said.

"I LOVE YOU JOHN CRICHTON," she yelled, trying oh so hard to keep the grin off her face.

"I love you too Aeryn," he replied, before D'Argo could question him.

"You cheats," D'Argo accused.

"No we didn't, the deal was that you couldn't catch us kissing and you didn't," Aeryn said.

D'Argo and Zhaan just gaped.

"Well, you can pick up my washing in a quarter arn and I think Aeryn's should be ready by then as well," John said as Aeryn giggled very loudly.

"Now can we get back to what we were doing before?" Aeryn asked.

"Of course, pumpkin," John said as he whisked her off her feet and kissed her long and hard before carrying her off to his room.

Zhaan and D'Argo looked at each other for a moment, then laughed. It had worked, but they'd lost the bet and had a lot of work ahead of them.

"You never know, the way things look, maybe they won't be wearing any clothes for us to wash," D'Argo said, bringing on a new wave of laughter.

The end. At last. Got heaps of new ideas, must get working.