[ Truthfully, Bastila has become increasingly aware of that sense of separation between them, and she knows she does not like it. To her, Paul will never be an outsider; he'll always be someone important to her, someone she cares about very much, and those feelings of care may very well be something more. Not that Jessica approves of those feelings, even if all she has is a suspicion that something is going on between them.

And now more than ever, Bastila wants to find a moment to sneak away with Paul so it can be just the two of them talking over these recent developments and trying to lay their own plans, even if nothing ever comes of them. ]

Of course. [ She still thinks of her family as her family, but the members of House Atreides are like her family as well. Perhaps they might even be more than "like family". ] If they refuse, where will I go?

[ She knows the answer but she wants to hear it out loud, at least once more. ]

I wonder why all of this is happening now. I know it must not be sudden, as the plans must have been discussed, but it feels like it is sudden.

[ She pauses long enough to take a bite of the breakfast portioned out for her, and as she does so, she steals a glance in Paul's direction, wishing she could reach for his hand. ]

Arrakis is a nice-sounding name, even if the place itself is quite different.