'What did you let him do?!' screamed Lawrence so loud, it hurt her throat.

'I didn't let him! Stop yelling at me, that was his idea. How you imagine, I could stop him?' response Tennessee firmly.

'You could tell me, before he left!' Lawrence almost cried. She couldn't believe David did it. Her greatest fear, that she will lose him again, became terrifyingly real.

'Relax, Lawrie... He will be okay' Ledward cut in.

'And if he'll not?! Why you didn't tell me? Guys, I thought I can trust you' she hid her face in palms, desperately trying to hold back the tears. She slumped to the ground, near the Covenant entrance, where they all was staying.

As Tennessee said, it had been eight hours since he had set off. Too long, they couldn't hide it from Lawrence longer, especially that the connection between Covenant and Lander 2 damned.

Ledward bit his lip, regretting he let them encourage him, whilst he was watching Lawrence, in the dim light of dusk. Poor girl, didn't deserve to have broken heart again. He started to pray to all gods of this lands, to let David come back in one piece.

'Hey, Lawrie...' Daniels, who witnessed this argument, kneeled near Lawrence and wrapped arm around her shoulder. 'Don't be afraid, he will come back, I'm sure.'

'Dani, you... you just don't understand. I h-have terrible nightmare today... If I didn't t-tell him about it, he wouldn't go... That is fucking self-fulfilling prophecy.'

'No, it's not. He probably is too far, that is why we lost communication, and it will last quite long to set the satellites properly, be patient.'

'But he was supposed to go only on the orbit, it is not so far! And he should be back in here four hours ago.'

Daniels stay silent, didn't know what to say for that. She couldn't argue with Lawrence, so she only hugged her tighter.

David hadn't given them any sign through the night. Lawrence spent in on the Covenant, waiting. There was no doubt, she would launch with it and fly to look for David, but Daniels, as a captain, excluded such possibility. She had informed Mother, to not let anyone, except her, launch the ship. However, Lawrence was arguing with her.

'If he won't come back till morning, I'm going to find...'

'No, you are not!' Daniels didn't let her finish. 'Do not think I will let.'

'Dani...' Lawrence said. 'I don't need your permission. If I want to fly, I will do it. I can manage to work around the security codes, that's not a big deal for me.'

Daniels shook her head.

'Stop saying so, Lawrie, please, or I will have to close you in a cell. He will come back, just give him more time.'

'I already have given him too much time...' Lawrence sigh.

Daniels decided to keep an eye on her and stayed on board. She can perfectly understand, how Lawrie was feeling, again separated with the only person, she had ever loved and considered as a family, but couldn't let her go looking for him.

In the middle of the night, when Daniels' body lost the fight with somnolence, Walter and Ledward came into the ship. The first one, took Daniels in his arms and sending Lawrence sad smile, carried to their cabin.

The second one stay with Lawrence.

'He'll be back anytime' he said, sitting next to her.

Surely, Walter had asked him to accompany Lawrence and keep up her spirit. She just sent Ledward stern look in response.

'Alright, you know I'm bad with comforting small talks' he admitted, rising his hands in apologetic gesture. 'How's your leg?'

'Fine' focused on the monitors, waiting for some sign, that David is all right, she barely looked at him.

'Come on Lawrie, talk to me...'

'I'm not in proper mood to do that'

'Yeah, yeah.... You love him, I know. But... he's just... you know... just a machine. He doesn't love you back...' without thinking much, Ledward said, what he thought, could help.

But it didn't.

'Shut the fuck up! You know nothing and the way you choose to cheer me up is pathetic!'

'Sorry... I just want you to understand that maybe David is not everything you need'

'So, what is, in your opinion?' finally she looked at him, and that was what he intended, to focus her attention on him.

'Maybe some other human being? Not synthetic but... organic'

Lawrence looked like she had no idea what is he talking about, and indeed he hadn't.

'Oh god' Ledward googled. 'I mean, you need someone with whom you can have some intimate contact... with whom you can fuck. You need it same as everyone'

'What now? You're a doctor?'

'Don't need a doctor to notice the obvious.'

'I don't think it's best time for this kind of conversation. My private life is my own business'

'I didn't mean to admonish you, just to put forward... my candidacy' involuntarily, he blushed saying this.

Lawrence raised her eyebrows.

'No... you can't be serious!'

'Why? Don't you find me attractive?' he smiled, showing all his teeth.

'That's not the point! I just... we're just friend... After all that we've gone through... I don't know. I've never thought about you like that.'

'I have and it pleased me' Ledward shrugged. 'I like you Lawrie. I like you very much and I think you like me too, so why shouldn't we try?'

She was staring at him with disbelieve, she would expect everything but this. Declaration of feelings now, in such dark hour for her. She didn't know what to do with it, what to say. However, she had been freed from the need to answer, for now. Covenant sensors detected signal from lander 2, notifying about it loud. Lander 2 again was in range. David was coming.

'You are fucking asshole' Lawrence whispered violently into David's torso.

'I love you too, Lawrence' soft smile appeared on his face, while he hugged her tighter. 'I had to do this. Now, if what you dream of, is true, we will be warned. I set the satellites as far as I could in time, in which you wouldn't go to look after me.'

'Still I'm mad at you. Why didn't you tell me?!'

'You wouldn't let me fly then'

Lawrie sighed, but say nothing more. The main thing was that he came back, in one piece. Reprimand could wait.

She had run out of Covenant when lander 2 was landing, but now they both go back inside, so David could check if the satellites are sending signals properly.

'How much time we will have?' Lawrence asked, meaning the time the satellites gave them, between noticing Engineers' ship and its landing on Origae-6. David understood without further explanation.

'Four maybe five days. Not much, but still something'

They reached their quarter just before the dusk. David had checked the satellites, everything had seemed to be in order. Then Ledward had offered that he would send the message to Daniels and Walter, about David's back, so there was no need for Lawrence and her synthetic friend to stay longer on Covenant's board. Lawrence thought it's better to go, she was afraid that Ledward would take up the subject of them two again.

'I'm so sleepy' Lawrie yawned entering her bedroom.

'Some cocoa before sleep?' asked David, in his usual polite tone.

'No, thanks. Anyway, we don't have milk... it's ran out, and we don't have cows there' she just threw off her shoes and jumped under the blanket. 'Ohhh... how amazingly good is here'

David's lips slightly curved, while she looked at her.

'So, no more cocoa for us?'

'No more... thanks god we have tea bushes planted'

'Your grandfather would appreciate it'

Lawrence remained silent for a while, then she asked 'You remember him, Davy? Grandpa?'

'Yes, of course I remember'

'And I'm not so well anymore. The details are blurred in my memory... I remember his back... I was looking at it most of the time. And I think I'm forgetting his face...'

David stepped forward and kneeled next to Lawrence's bed.

'Are you feeling bad about this?' he asked.

Lawrence thought about his question for a minute.

'No. I just feel nothing... It's completely emotionless for me'

David seemed relieved 'That's good, my dear' he said. 'That's how you supposed to feel about him' he kissed her forehead and exited the room wishing her a good night.

The next day started late for Lawrence, who had gone to sleep almost at the first light. She lazily stepped to the porch, covered with her blanked and with mug of steaming brew in hand. The Origae-6 climate was quite cool, but Lawrie like it. She preferred lower temperatures and always felt good in colder months on Earth.

David was not there. He left a note, that he was going on a walk and will be back shortly. She was anxious if it isn't another dangerous idea, but after considering all options, she decided he couldn't do anything that threatened him directly.

She sipped hot liquid, smiling widely when it warmed her inside and look at busy day on Origae-6.

Observing the colonist, who was doing their jobs was always interesting for her. She was working only with broken equipment, it was important, but boring task. And some of the colonist have really amazing works.

Like for example Dr Henry Richner, the young zoologist who was exploring Origae-6's fauna, or Armande Rocher, always smiling lady, who taught children. Lawrence liked to observe her and the pupils during outdoor lessons.

Suddenly, she was strike by a thought. Maybe Ledward was right? Maybe she was craving for human's intimacy, which is something she had never experienced. Maybe that was why she was so fond of watching people during they everyday activities. Not because she was fascinated by their jobs, but because she wanted to join them.

'Isn't that a beautiful day?' Tennessee winked, passing by.

'Indeed, it is' Lawrence nodded. Looked like Tee was really getting used to their new home. Lawrence wasn't adapting so quick. But with David at her side, everywhere felt like home.

She noticed Ledward in the distance. He was enjoying his break, sitting on the bench and smoking cigarette. Luckily, he was so occupied by this, he didn't see her.

Lawrence still had no idea how to tell him kindly, she's not interested in his offer. She decided to avoid him as long as possible.

'Good morning sleepyhead' she was taken from thoughtfulness by nobody else but David. 'Did I just caught you in the act?' she grinned.

'What you mean?' Lawrence frowned, curiously looking at his stomach. There was some weird bulge he was holding under his blouse fabric.

'I mean you staring at Ledward'

'Oh... Come on. I wasn't starring like that, I was staring because I was thinking about something we talked about yesterday. I haven't told you yet, but it can wait. Where have you been?'

'I left you a note' he answered, the bulge shivered slightly.

'Yeah, but you are quite sneaky lately, so I was worried if you didn't have another idea for the salvation of the world'

'Not quite. I just want to take a walk and it's good that I did so. Good for this poor thing I got there' he uncover the blouse, showing a fuzzy ball, which he hid under it.

'What's that?!' Lawrence stood up to see it better. The ball shivered again and now Lawrence noticed it has ears, little pink nose and big, terrified eyes, which looked at her winking in confusion.

'The cub of species, Dr Richner called lupus ursi' said David. For Lawrence, who known Latin well it wasn't hard to understand.

'Wolf bear?'

'I believe Dr Richner called it beast wolf in English. Not so original, but actually describes his features'

He was right. The little animal was similar to Earth wolf with its paws and ears, but also to a bear with its snout. Cute little beast.

'It's adorable, but why did you bring it here David? Its mother could look after him...'

'She won't. I find her dead, with three other cubs. Only this one survived'

'Dead? What happened to her?'

'She was wounded. Probably some other lupus ursi attacked her'

Lawrie bit her lips 'And you think, we can keep this guy?'

'Yes, we're not in prison Lawrence. And as a child, you never had any pet, so now is the best time' David smiled encouragingly.

'It would be nice... I don't deny it'

'Hold him for a while and you'll be sure' he handed her the little beast wolf. Warmth of tiny body immediately makes her happier, more relaxed and she smiled widely.

Again, she sat on the porch, putting the beast wolf on her lap. David took place next to her.

'Cover it with the blanket. It's quite cold' he ordered. Lawrence did as he said.

'Now, tell me what happened between you and Ledward, I am very curious about that'

She debriefed what Ledward offered. David wasn't surprised at all, and admitted that the man was right, she should find some human with whom she could have a future.

'You just gave me this little fellow' she stroked the beast wolf gently 'I think it's enough organic love for me'

David sighed theatrically, but said nothing more. He knew perfectly well that Lawrence was stubborn and just hated when someone give her good advices.

'Davy, could you promise me something?' Lawrence spoke after couple minutes of silence.

'What, my dear?'

'That you will never, ever do it again?'

'I mean leaving me here without saying a word' she added, seeing his confused look.

'I think I can promise that now' David nodded.

'I hold you by the word' she sent him serious look, then turned to the animal on her lap. 'So, how we'll name it?' she asked.

David grinned 'I've got an idea... But I don't know if you like it'