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He just smiled. He saw her look at his gun. "I usually keep one near the door. Critters at night aren't uncommon."
Standing at the bar, her hand on his back, he thought a moment at her "Surprise me!" comment. Gallic wines were always nice but with a request like that, it was time for something different. He then reached into a cabinet above him and pulled out a bottle. It was old. He held it to where she could read it.
"Only the best," he stated, "it is cognac but it is aged, very aged, and therefore that much better. I don't remember why I was saving it or even where I got it but I just know I'm saving it for that right occasion....which is now."
He took two clean glasses and filled each half full. He handed one first to Ashlea and then took his and offered a toast, "To us. To future successes."
She watched him pull out the bottle and pour the drinks, nodding at what he was saying. "The right occasion...." There was a pause before she continued "I'm glad you think this is worthy of sharing such a drink." She took the glass he offered her and smiled, thanking him and raising her glass at the toast he offered, brushing her hair out of her face with her free hand.
"We should sit out under the stars...." She eventually said "I will miss them.."
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He agreed. He just smiled at her and offered up his arm to escort her outside to view the stars as she wanted. His glass was in his left hand, the bottle in his right.
The night was pleasant as the sun was setting in the distance and the stars were coming out one by one. He placed the bottle on the stump by the fireplace and put his arm around her waist, holding her close to him.
His smile went to a relaxed face as that is just how he felt with her, relaxed. Even his ex never made him feel so much this way. As they watched the stars appearing, he looked to them and spoke aloud.
"“Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.”
He again looked to her after he spoke, pulling her a little tighter to him.
After she took a sip of the drink, she cuddled into him as he pulled her close. She watched the stars as he spoke, and despite being unsure as to what he meant, she didn't ask. She moved and stole a kiss from him before cuddling into him again.
"I don't want to go back." She said quietly, once again watching the stars. "I don't want to be just another Rogue." She shrugged slightly, the thought of having to go back bothered her but at the same time she knew she had no choice. "I just... It's not who I am." She sipped her drink before adding "What bothers me more is that I know I will miss you, a lot. Probably more then I should."
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Doc thought a moment at what she said. He looked ahead as he spoke, "When I requested to fix up Foster Base, I intended to spend a great deal of time there working." He paused a moment and continued, "I learned something from my failed marriage. I learned that I was working too much and away too much. So, I turned over TAZ, hung up my robes of diplomacy and appointed people to head up my ships of Med Force Enterprises."
He turned and looked at Ashlea, "You don't have to miss me if you don't want to. I can stay close to you at Foster and..." He extended a finger from around his glass and raised her chin up a bit to him, "I don't have a Rogue representative in Med Force anywhere. I can keep you on a ship. You could stay here. Maybe then you will feel as if you're part of a bigger purpose and perhaps the Rogues could benefit."
He then smiled, "Perhaps then we can......well......grow closer.......build a future. I just don't want to move to quickly is all."
She was silent as she thought about what he had said. Eventually nodding slowly and speaking "It could work.... It would be an out.... without really leaving." She looked back up at the stars before continuing "I'm more concerned with your safety then the Rogues benefiting from anything. If I properly left and they assumed it was because of you, that would put you in danger.... And that isn't necessary. Doing this, no one would be hunted.... No one would be killed..."
She finished her drink but didn't move. She was comfortable being close to him. "I don't want to miss you... I don't like the idea of you not being there. But I know I don't have much to offer, and I do understand you have things you need to do." She fell silent again. She knew he wouldn't always be there. He had things he needed to do and she knew she was of no real use as far as helping went and the last thing she wanted was to get in the way. She spotted a shooting star, losing train of thought as she pointed it out to Doc.
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He looked at the shooting star and smiled. As he looked, he suggested to Ashlea that she wish upon it.
He also thought of what she said, about not having much to offer. He also knew that she was no dummy. She wanted to work the legal profession but stopped studying. The more he thought on it, the more he began to give a Cheshire cat grin.
"Well, Dahlin'," he began, "I need a good legal mind and I'm not afraid to pay to have the right person educated." He then turned his smile upon her. "You started studying legal before, I'm willing to help you finish. I can either send you somewhere safe for some schooling or I know a person or two that can get you educated, certified and barred to practice."
He put his glass down and turned to her, his hands at her sides, "If you will do that, you could work legal for my Enterprise and we could stay close. You could also use the experience to help the Rogues."
His fingers gently dug into her side a bit, "I need a good lady at my side and while I like what I see, I'm prepared to help you better yourself but for now, you need not change a thing."
Doc was holding back. He wanted to propose but it was too soon. Way to soon. Yes, he had her that wrapped around him.
She made a wish on the star and couldn't help but smile when she noticed his grin. She loved when he smiled, His happiness meant a lot to her. Frowning at his offer, she bit her lip and spoke quietly "That's a lot of credits......" She wanted to take him up on his offer. It would be a fresh start. Not only would she be able to stay close and work with him, she would eventually be able to step back into the more 'legal' side of life. There would be no more hiding, and she wouldn't need to fear the authorities quite as much as she did now.
"It really is a lot of credits.... I mean.... I would love to do that. To be given that chance... It would be amazing. But I can't ask you to pay for it." She placed her glass next to his and moved her hands, linking her fingers behind his neck. She shook her head slightly and looked out into the darkness "I don't understand why you would consider doing that."
His comments about needing a good lady at his side made her smile and she looked back up at him "I don't know whether I would consider myself to be a good lady.... But I will stay with you for as long as you want me to." After a moment she added "I love you, John. I don't want to be anywhere but by your side."
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As she looked into his face, he softly replied, "You didn't have to ask. I offered. I wouldn't have if I didn't have the means. I also don't think you give yourself enough credit for who you are."
He just looked at her blankly for a moment and then with a light smile at her. "Then stay with me," he answered softly, "build a future with me...together. I don't want you to leave my side."
With that, he again lowered his head to hers and began to kiss her.
"Even so.... It's a lot of credits... You shouldn't be paying that much to get me through something." She shrugged slightly when he told her she didn't give herself enough credit "It's hard to believe that you're something special when your whole life you've been told you are nobody." She dropped her gaze for a moment before looking back up at him.
She smiled when he continued to speak. "I would love nothing more then to do that..." She kissed him back "I will stay with you."