[i]"Your technique could use some improvement here and there, but that was a solid first try for a newbie pilot. Nicely done, m'girl. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to take a nap in my bunks. Do not disturb me until we arrive at our destination, understand? Good." [/i] Sofie blushed and leaned back further in the seat, crossing her arms and quirking the corner of her mouth into a bashful smile.  She watched as Darcy walked off and gave a small chuckle before stretching her arms over her head, the grin on her face only growing wider as she listened to Ed talk.  She made a show of shielding her face with her hands and a laugh managed to escape her this time, filling the room as it echoed off metal walls.  It had been so long since she had laughed that Sofie almost immediately muffled it.  Taking one glance at Ed's smile and at her own open expression she remembered her old friends and how they had shared so many laughs together after funny stories.  Those were times when she had been allowed to be happy, away from her father...her colleagues.  This moment here with Ed reminded her of that and a wistful smile appeared on her lips. Again, she remembered that they wouldn't be able to know where she was, if she had achieved her crazy dream, if she was alive at all because they were buried under cold soil and their smiles were rotting from their faces but she was sure they were watching somewhere and that they would be happy to see her in such joy.

The room turned quiet as Sofie watched the stars pass by.  She had never really allowed the loss of her friends to hit her but now that it did she wondered why.  Her gaze strayed over to Ed.  Maybe it was finally because she was feeling comfortable with him here? Maybe it was because she was in the sky again after so many years of dreaming of it.  Or maybe it was simply because it was time for her to remember that again.  She didn't know why it was exactly but found that amongst the planets, the dark navy sky and the soft light falling on Ed, she didn't really care.

Sofie caught onto the silence anticipating her reply.
"I'm waiting for the day that he tells those stories...imagine us doing that someday, Ed.  When we have enough stories to tell."