"Decurion," Melman corrected. He turned back to his Marine guest, handing her a cup of tea. "So, Hoola, you said you had a gift for me. Is it oysters?... No, not the oysters. I found you some staff," the sergeant said, a little uncomfortably. "We picked him up at a resort spa in Germany. He specifically requested Civil Service." Excellent!" Melman beamed. "That is a gift, but I doubt I'll get to keep him -- the colonies need staffing far more than Artemis Base. I hope he's not afraid of hard. My lips connected with her warm skin as I kissed the back of her neck, holding her hair to the side with my hand. She turned and gave me a quick kiss before smiling at me while looking me deep in the eyes. I stared into her green eyes momentarily before she turned away from me and started adjusting the bacon in the skillet. I took a seat at the kitchen table while my wife cooked me breakfast, another first in quite some time. We sat and ate together while she talked about wanting to start a. As long as it was something."It's okay, Day," she cut him off. "Don't even try. You'll only end up lying and that's the one thing I couldn't take. I'd rather you not say anything; at least I know you're honest with me." B-but ... I-I..." he paused to gather his thoughts and words. Then he murmured, "I really am sorry, Mrs. LaForte."She looked at him and asked with a strange grin, "Sorry you did it, or sorry you got caught?"For thirty seconds or so, student and teacher stared at each other, then. At nine, suitcase in hand, off they set for the bus, and an hour later they were dropped at the lane leading to the gateway of the little farm. The old walnut trees in the long drive dripping rainwater on them as the trudged up to the pretty little farmhouse. Old Jed the only worker now, greeted them as he herded a calf towards a box in the courtyard, they had known him for years, appearing at the farm every day, winter and summer, on his trusty old bike, from his cottage at the other end of.