Posts: 8,084
Threads: 730
Joined: Aug 2008
Staff roles: Moderator
"Not as beautiful as the one who wears it," he replied, holding her tight. After a kiss, they again began a slow walk. This time though there was some discussion that needed to be done.
"With the kids now with me full time, I have no choice but to build a new home," he explained giving her a smile, "for all of us. We need to head back into trading post to get that going. If there's one thing Erie has plenty of is a work force of Zoner laborers. That said, while it's being built, we should think about going to Foster to get that end of things done. I mean, we can't put it off forever in as much as we'd like to."
He thought a moment, "I'm just not sure what to do with the kids. Foster is really no place for them and I'll shoot the first Rogue that makes a pass at Emiko." I just don't want to leave them on my yacht while things are being built."
He turned to her, his hands on her sides, "While we travel, we can discuss the wedding although it sounds like it would be simple, probably here or on the grounds of our new home. Either way, I'm curious to how your people will take this because I, for one, won't let anyone berate you."
As they walked, she nodded, listening to him talk about the building of the house.
At mention of the kids she frowns slightly "As it is.... Foster is no place for children.... I don't want them to be around Rogues either. As wise as Emiko is, she is still only a child and they will try and take advantage of her, which could result in her ending up in a lot of trouble, if not killed.... The twins too...." She knew they weren't her children, but the idea of them being around Rogues was not an idea she like, and she certainly did not approve of it, nor was she happy to let it happen. "I am sure we can think of something...."
She knew the Rogues wouldn't take this well. She had become a problem, no one would expect her to return as it was. But to return engaged to be married? She had dropped her gaze, looking at the ground while she spoke. "Honestly.... The intention was for you and your men to end up killing me. They only ever send one Rogue out on something like this if it intended to be suicide. They know they can't afford to have someone leading them who is not entirely committed to the cause, and I haven't been for some time now. I don't see them taking it well." Shrugging slightly as if it was nothing "They wont ever admit that, and things will be fine though."
Posts: 8,084
Threads: 730
Joined: Aug 2008
Staff roles: Moderator
Doc looked at her stunned. "Me kill you? Is that all the credit you get? Sometimes I wonder if I'm too well intended."
He looked into her face, "If you don't want to go back, if you just assume forget all of it and stay here then I'm fine with that but it's your call. I don't want you to constantly be looking over your shoulder for an approaching dagger."
He thought a moment. Regardless, he had a team at Foster he wouldn't abandon. Fact is, he had to go back at some point or order an extraction. "Well, there is an option," he thought as he rubbed his chin, "My yacht commander, Commander Schmidt, she hasn't had shore leave in a very long time. I COULD see if she wants to stay here a bit, maybe stay with the kids, and I could take the yacht to Foster. She just may like the idea since Emiko has the twins well in hand."
He turned to her, "As I said, you don't have to go if you don't want unless you feel we can continue with the project. Again, your call."
"It would have been an easy fix for the problem Rogue among their ranks" With a slight shrug, trying not to let on how concerned about it she was, she continued "As it stands, I am in a position that the only one who would get away with doing anything is Moka.... He wont. I will be safe there.. And it will be safer for you, and the project, if I return." She looked at him with a slight smile. Dodging daggers and people out to hurt her, it was nothing new. When you stepped into that world, it was normal.
"Please, see if she would. I would rather the children not be there. It's not safe for them." She rubbed the back of her neck, trying to get her thoughts in order. Before realizing what she was about to say, she had spoken again "I.... I found that out the hard way. They killed my girl."
Posts: 8,084
Threads: 730
Joined: Aug 2008
Staff roles: Moderator
He nodded when she mentioned returning to Foster. "Yes, I agree. I set out to help, to make lives a little easier if nothing else. We will return." He shook his head, "And I have no problem reverting to old ways to kill the man who may threaten you." He then smiled and gently squeezed her shoulder and started to turn, "I will get a hold of Commander Schmidt."
"I.... I found that out the hard way. They killed my girl."
Doc turned back, stunned. He again took her close, "I....I didn't know." He swallowed, "I'm so sorry." He then held her tight, "Mark my word that should we ever have any other children, that won't happen again." He could only hold her and try to take her pain away.
She let him hold her. Despite it being nothing new, she still struggled with the loss. The fact she watched it happen had only made it worse, she didn't know whether to mention that or not, deciding against it she cuddled into him. "She did nothing wrong" was all she said while taking a shaky breath and telling herself to not cry. Despite her best attempt, she wasn't able to stop the tears rolling down her cheeks. Eventually she shook her head slightly and wiped her eyes, hoping he hadn't noticed. She took a half step back, keeping her arms resting on his shoulders "You have nothing to be sorry about."
"If Commander Schmidt doesn't mind looking after the children. Everything will be well...." Despite it obviously taking more effort then it should have, she manages a smile "We should see if that will happen so we have some kind of plan there at least."
Posts: 8,084
Threads: 730
Joined: Aug 2008
Staff roles: Moderator
He noticed but left it alone. Anyone with a sense of humanity would have and he read people well. With a kiss and a smile, he pulled away to go speak with his commander so it was back to the shuttle.
"Oh," he quickly said turning around, his finger in the air, "make sure the food doesn't burn. I'll be but a few minutes." It was then off to the shuttle for another conference call.
He returned a short time later, the aroma of a cooking meal filling the air. He took a deep sniff as he came in, "I see all is still good in here."
As he tended to his dinner, he updated Ashlea.
"That was too easy," he explained, "she will stay here until we return while the rest of the shuttle crew, minus one pilot, will take shore leave in the big city and branch out from there. At least with the one pilot we can enjoy the trip in quiet and do some planning." He smirked, "I guess I'll have to do the drink pouring since the rest of the ship staff will be on leave."
"We will be leaving in the morning," he added, "I don't mind another night here to at least get the kids settled." He smiled to her, a stirring spoon in hand, "And I didn't figure you'de mind another night here either."
She nodded, the plan sounded good. Ever better since it involved another night there together. "I'm going to miss this" she spoke quietly as she wrapped her arms around his waist as she stood behind him while he tended to the food.
She had pushed the thought of he child out of her mind again -as much as she was able. The pain had never lessened, she had just learned to cope.
She smiled and shook her head slightly "this still feels too good to be real...."
Posts: 8,084
Threads: 730
Joined: Aug 2008
Staff roles: Moderator
"It's real," he answered softly as he cooked, "I make sure I spend a good deal of time here but many a times does my work take me to some pretty exotic places. You should see Planet Lyonaise in Gallia. It truly is a beautiful place and I've long wanted to take a research trip to planet Gaia and uncover it's mysteries. The unknown plants alone hold new cures and researches."
He then put down the spatula he was using, "I could use your help there."
He turned to her, holding her close, "I bet you would like it." He then started doodling with his finger on the skin of her chest just below the neck, "And um, if you want, we could just um, "tie the knot" tomorrow and do it as Mr. and Mrs. To hell with what others may think." Doc just smirked the whole time as he did.
At his mention of tying the knot she giggled, cuddling in close to him. "are you sure this is what you want?" she couldn't keep a straight face, she was smiling. She wanted to do this, but wanted to be sure he wanted it as much as she did. Before he answered she added "I'd like that.... I mean... the Rogues... They won't. I'll lose my rank, but I am OK with that. Either way we will be able to keep use of Foster."