She wanted cherry. We got the cherry. I added a matching book shelf and stereo cabinet so her study wouldn't look so spartan. This stuff would be d...livered this afternoon as well. We stopped for an early dinner then headed home. Her furniture and bookstore purchases were arriving as we pulled into the drive. After having the delivery men carry the furniture and books up to what would soon be Jenny's study,she busied herself with arranging and putting it all in it's place. I stepped. “How’s the battle as a whole going?” the Epilochias asked.“The aliens are retreating to their command fleet, but fighting all the way if we get too close.”“We’ve won?”“Looks that way, this part of the battle anyway.”“Good. Costly, but good.”“Yeah, sorry for your losses,” I acknowledged, glancing over at the body-bags of the unlucky.“Would have been more if you hadn’t been in command, plus you’re a Healer too.”“Still hurts though.”“Yeah, I get that. Same here.”It was thirty rotations later that. ”“Me too.” Paul smiled at her as he returned the embrace. “I could definitely use a hug right about now. It’s real nice to share the evening with someone.”As their arms folded around each other and drew the comfortable warmth of their bodies together they both seemed to exhale a sigh of relief. Stacey’s cheek came to rest at the top of Paul’s chest and he eased his face down towards her, first to smell her hair, then to very gently kiss the top of her head. When she looked up at. "This isn't a very good place to talk. Listen, all I have to do is serve. Since I'm on the set-up committee, I don't have to stick around to put everything away. Why don't we meet at the Kozy Kitchen in a half hour. You know where it is?"I could have backed out gracefully, but I still was, after all, flying by the seat of my emotional pants. My own decisions, my own actions, fate, and a slightly aggressive middle-aged Methodist woman had combined to create this particular crossroads of time and.