My heart pounded in my chest as I stood outside my door. I could hear the rest of my crew inside chatting loudly. Gem’s laughter floated out towards me but still, I couldn’t bring myself to go inside.

Elliot had left me just around the corner from the room after saying that he had to get back to the war rooms urgently but something about the slow way he walked away made me suspicious. I was pretty sure that he was doing it just to give me a chance to be alone for a little. I appreciated it.

I wasn’t really sure how to feel about the mission. I thought I’d be worried or nervous but I wasn’t. I didn’t really feel anything. Normally before a mission, I did. I’d feel restless or almost excited but I just felt a little numb.

I barely managed to write too. Dr Hila kept telling me to, They said it would help me process and prepare, in case something bad does happen but I couldn’t find the motivation to.

Knowing that our time could be cut short so soon, I mostly just wanted to spend time with my crew, not writing. I knew that it was important, of course. In case something does go wrong, I want my crew to have something from me. Maybe I’ll write them all a letter? Or a note or something? Something that they can read if I am taken… or worse.

I’d started to write them a few times but I always ended up deleting the whole thing. It felt morbid to write a letter for “In case I get arrested/killed” and honestly, I didn’t know what to say. My crew know how much I love them and how much better they’ve made my life just by being in it.

I think.

I can’t write it. If I do, I’ll start worrying too much and I’ll start spiralling about if I’m doing the right thing or about what happens if they capture me. Or what happens if the Guardians don’t even bring Peggy and the whole thing is just a trap to capture the fighters and me.

“Cas!” Gem’s shriek came through the door, rousing me from my thoughts.

I took a deep breath and waved my hand in front of the sensor.

I watched, puzzled as it flashed red. I waved my hand again, slower this time. Still red.

Ummm, why is the door not opening for me? I thought.

“Shhh!” I heard Gem hiss immediately.

A series of thumps came from the other side of the door and I fought the urge to use my eye mods to look through. They were clearly up to something and, as much as I wanted to peek, I wouldn’t ruin the surprise.

Hello? I thought again after no reply.

Wait a second! Gem called back.

I crossed my arm, my eyes narrowing on the door. I wasn’t sure whether to be nervous or excited. I settled on both.

“Okay, ready?” I heard Gem ask quietly.

My nervousness spiked as the door started to lift, stopping halfway. I stared at it blankly, wondering if I should duck under, before Gem started to crawl out.

I stepped back, still watching confused as she clambered to her feet and grinned.

“What’s going on?” I asked suspiciously.

“So,” Gem started. “We had started making some plans for the next few days because we all wanted to do something with you before the mission but we just got the message from Captain Aquila so… we needed to make some changes.”

My stomach dropped at the meaning behind her words but I forced myself to smile.

“Okay… What have you planned?”

“Well, we all wanted to do different things. Cas wanted to have a date night with you but obviously, we aren’t meant to be leaving the ship so that’s had to be changed a bit. I wanted a pamper night and then we all wanted to play zero-G. I know it won’t be the same without Peggy but we could still do two versus two?” Gem said quickly.

“That sounds good… How are we going to do all that before tomorrow?” I asked, a small smile growing on my face.

Gem grinned widely and swung her arm out to the scanner. It flashed green and she stepped out of the way as the door lifted.

My breath caught in my throat as I stared into the room. It looked like the inside of Frida. The bed was still in the centre but the stars had been projected onto the walls and roof. The moved slowly past us, as if we were moving through them.

My eyes landed on Cas’ face. He was standing by the end of the bed, staring back at me, and for the first time in a long time, he wasn’t wearing a jumpsuit. I slowly let out a breath I hadn’t noticed I was holding as my gaze roamed his body.

He’d pushed up the sleeves of his white button-down shirt and my hands itched to grab hold and pull him towards me but I was very aware of Gem and Cory standing near us.

“What do you think?” Cas asked quietly.

“I love it,” I smiled, love blossoming in my chest before ducking my head and looking down at my jumpsuit. “But I feel a little underdressed.”

“Don’t worry, I knew you would,” Gem grinned, nudging me towards the bathroom.

I reluctantly tore my eyes away from Cas and walked into the bathroom. Gem slipped in behind me and grabbed an opaque dress bag that had been hanging from a hook.

“What’s—” I started but Gem interrupted me.

“I did my best. I tried to order one that looked like that dress you wanted to buy on Rhomia but they kept saying that any special orders had to be approved by the head of production but obviously I don’t really know Deseai so I felt really weird asking her but I spoke to Andy and he helped!” she said quickly, fiddling with the zipper.

“Really?” I asked, confused.

It seemed weird that he would have. Normally, he didn’t like people getting preferential treatment but that he does always say how important it is for kids to be able to be kids and have “normal life experiences”, whatever that means.

Gem bit her lip but didn’t reply.

A realisation hit me.

“Is that why Elliot took me such a long route back here?” I asked.

Gem grinned.

“He also cancelled your food order. You won’t need it.”

“Oh, I kinda wanted those dumplings though…” I said, my shoulders slumping.

Gem laughed.

“Don’t worry, we got a plan.”

I smiled before looking back at the dress bag.

“Has Cas seen the dress?” I asked.

“Nope. Cory and me sorted it out. He has no idea what it looks like,” Gem said with a smile that made me a little nervous.

“Okay. Open it?” I asked.

Gem slowly lowered the zipper, watching my face as I got a glimpse of black silk.

“Is that—” I started to ask.

“Not real waspsilk but it’s a pretty good imitation. Are you ready?”

I nodded, swallowing anxiously.

Gem reached into the bag and shrugged it off the dress, revealing the most beautiful dress I’d ever seen. I wiped my hands on my legs before reaching out and touching the buttery soft material.

“Wow,” I breathed.

“Do you like it?” Gem asked nervously.

I lifted the full, flared skirt carefully, watching the way the dress rippled with movement. I almost didn’t want to put it on, I was scared I’d ruin it or that I didn’t deserve to wear something so beautiful.

“Oh Gem, I love it.”