Tombstone Estate

[Doc Holliday]

Location: Planet Gran Canaria, Omega 49 System
Tombstone Estate lakeside house.


A quiet night on the Estate which was perfect for John Holliday and Midori as they decided to spend an evening away from the main house by the side of the north end lake. He was finishing setting the table when Midori came out. She dressed in her fine dinner gown of white and red. Kusari pearls adorned her wrists and neck. Once again, as he had so many times before, he stopped what he was doing to admire. He smiled before he spoke.
"It never gets old, Dahlin', this making me feel I am not worthy of you," he said, "Radiant. Simply radiant." She turned in place with a smile of her own, her long, black hair flowing down her back. He then pulled her chair out to seat her and did so. He then excused himself.
"I will be right back, Dahlin'. I need to go fix something," he said. As he walked behind her and into the bathroom, he closed the door. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled the small box out and opened it, looking at the ring he had made for her. He then looked into the mirror and adjusted his bow tie.
"John Henry I sure hope you know what you are doin'," he said to himself. He stood for a moment and after looking at himself he then said, "Yes, John, you have never been more sure in your life. It's now or never, Boy!" He put the ring back in his pocket, opened the door and headed to the table.

"Are you OK?" asked a concerned Midori as he walked by.
"Nevah bettah!" he declared. "Nevah bettah!"
He then opened the bottle of Gallic Wine that was on the table and began pouring her glass.
"I would like to toast......us," he said as he poured. She only looked up at him with her usual smile.
"Did anyone ever tell you that your smile lights up a dark room?" he asked her.
"No," she said sheepishly, "you just saying that."
"No, Dahlin'," he answered, "I mean it. You do."

He then poured his glass. At this point his nerves were getting the better of him. His wine poured, he put the bottle on the table and took her hand.
"Miss Sato, if you would stand, I would appreciate it," he softly asked. Confused, she stood up before him.

"Before we drink this fine wine. Before we eat one bite, I have something I want you to have," he explained with his voice starting to crack. He then produced the box from his pocket and with his voice wavering a bit, he opened it to reveal the 2 carat diamond. Her mouth opened in surprise as she took it from the box and looked at it. Her eyes welled up as she looked. She knew what it was about and what she was being asked. In her surprise, she never saw John take a knee before her. She tried to speak but could not as tears of joy began running down her cheeks. On his knee, John spoke through his own emotion.

"Miss Sato, I cannot live one more day without you. I can't fathom life without you so I would be honored if you would be my wife. Miss Sato, would you marry me?" he finally asked. Still unable to speak, she looked down into his eyes and began nodding and smiling as she did through her tears. John then stood up, "let me help you." He took the ring in his left hand, her left hand in his right and slipped it on her ring finger. She then stared at the large diamond sitting on her hand. Finally, after many minutes of her inability to respond, she said in her soft, wavering voice, "Yes, John Henry Holliday, I will be your wife." Finally, they embraced and just held on. As she held him, she kept her hand where she could see the diamond. For the first time since his mother's death, he found himself in tears as well. Then, they just stood holding hands.

"I just thought you should know that I had lunch with your parents on Honshu today," he confessed. "I did it to ask for their blessing, which they gave me. I just wanted it to be a secret."
"My father like you," she said, still staring, "he told me so many times. I glad you asked him first. He see more honor in you because of it."

He then turned and took the wine glasses, handing one to Midori. Then, they held them up and toasted one another.
"To you, Miss Sato," he began and paused, unsure of what to say. Finally, he just said, "for saying yes."
She then followed, "And to you John Holliday, for asking." They then clinked glasses and drank.

They then had their dinner as they had planned. As they ate, she constantly looked at the new diamond adorning her finger. He noticed but only smiled when she did. The discussion, of course, was a wedding.
"I guess we have a lot of work to do," he said, "Where? When? Guests? All that."
She then looked at him with a gentle expression, "John, I don't want to wait long, even if it means it is just us and whoever marries us."
"Then, Dahlin', I guess we have more work then we thought," he responded, "but tonight belongs to us." They would slow dance to soft music on the dock that night before turning in, never letting go of one another.

The next several days would be indeed busy. Even with his sense of commitment, he still was a diplomat with many issues to be worked.

*more to come*

---

[MFE]Med Force One | Tales of Recovery|Med Force Enterprises