A Secluded Bar

[Silver.2]

As she gets up, he mirrors her movement, smiling.

"Yes. Let's return to the festivities. We've done a great thing, today!"

[stardust47]

James looked at his watch. Just on time. He'd promised Catherine that he would be there, right then...
"So, just what the hell were you doing in Rheinland?" Catherine's voice, smooth as her skin and soft as her hair, was somehow as sharp as a knife in the back when she really wanted it to.
"Well, funny you should ask. It's made me a lot of money but also sent a lot of uncomfortable questions my way," said James, trying to keep as quiet as possible about is new-found 'source of income'.
"You were smuggling, weren't you? Let me guess... Diamonds?"
"Dresden to Colorado. It's a long run without using trade lanest going across the border but it does make a tidy profit,"
"Well, who am I to complain? My parents used to do a Cardamine run, from Malta to Manhattan. The police didn't bother them much, but... " Catherine hesitated. "Hey, you know you asked if I needed anything?" said Catherine, putting her arms around James' waist.
"Yes, babes?"
"There's something that isn't sold in Rheinland, but moves about Sirius, not doing much..." And with that, Catherine gave James a deep, passionate kiss and dragged him off to their room.

---

[Petitioner]

McCoy smirked to himself, watching the young couple head out of sight.
Ah, but he was still young, and there was time yet for him to find that special someone. He took another long drink from the bottle and waved Mordecai over.

---

Recruitment | Task Force Prometheus | ICN FIRESTORM

[stardust47]

James and Catherine were in the bar brewing coffee when they thought about what they were going to do.
"Look, James," said Catherine, "We've been spending so much time apart lately. Don't you want to do something together for once in however long it's been?"
"Hey, how 'bout I get something ready for dinner tonight and you go exploring the system, see what's here. how does that sound?" said James.
"Oh, but..."
"Actually, I have a different idea. Why don't I go get Steve and Dave. You remember them, don't you?"
"Yeah. But, what could we do?"
"You still got those old Dark Dungeons books?" said James.
"Yeah! But, isn't Dave a bit old for that stuff?"
"He'll just have to adapt to the new edition, that's all," Catherine was surprised. Dave didn't really seem like that kind of guy. James poured his coffee into a flask, put a drop of milk and spooned as much sugar as he possibly could, then got his ship up and running to fly to Southampton Shipyard.

---

[stardust47]

James opened a bottle of wine. "It's been a while, hasn't it?" he said to Catherine.
Catherine replied, "It sure has,"
James poured himself and Catherine a glass. "Well, here's to us," he said, knowing that wouldn't be his only glass. "So, what've you been doing while I was gone?"
Catherine sighed. "Getting drunk, playing video games, the stuff we do together,"
"That supposed to mean something?"
"Well, with you gone for so long... it just isn't the same without you,"
"Hey, tell you what, I'll do one more Diamond run from RHeinland, and then I'll give you the biggest surprise of your life,"
"What kind of surprise?"
"You'll see,"
James and Catherine drank into the night and when there was no more wine left, staggered off to bed.

---

[stardust47]

Catherine looked at her watch. Where is he?
James walked in just as she had closed the lid.
"Where have you been?" asked Catherine, sternly.
"I was just getting ready for this," replied James.
"Ready for what?" said Catherine, intrigued. A small tear came into James' eye as he pulled a small velvet box from his pocket.
"Catherine, I know I'm sometimes away for a long time, But I've always came back, haven't I?" he said, getting down on one knee.
"Uh, yeah..." said Catherine. James opened the box, revealing a beautiful white silver ring with a small, perfectly cut ruby set into it. To the side of the ruby were withe diamonds, shining in the bar's lighting. On the inside of the ring was engraved:

You are my angel,
My guide, my shield and my sword.

You are my protector,
Who shall drive back the dark horde.

"Catherine, will you..." James wiped another tear from his eye. "Will you marry me?"
Catherine lunged forward, landing on the floor with James in her arms.
"Yes," she whispered into James' ear. The happy couple, without knowing uqite what they were in for like so many before them, shared a deep kiss and retired for the evening.

---