She took my face in her hands and kissed me furtively. I was completely overwhelmed and she gently pried my lips open and pushed her tongue in. It t...ok a few minutes before I was able to put my arms around her back and pull her tighter to me. I was aware of the strange aroma of perfume and coffee as she explored my mouth and I realized I liked it. Just as I was getting used to it, she pulled back and said "That's wonderful." She pushed me back against her desk and her hands reached for my. They were mostly standing on the outer ring, where the laser batteries and the small number of grafted railguns were mounted, the inner ring spinning like a centrifuge to make up for the lack of artificial gravity generators. It must be fucking with their heads, space combat could be so bizarre compared to fighting on the ground. The only horizon was the curving hull of the station, there was no atmospheric haze, and so objects were as clearly visible at ten feet away as a thousand. The. ...." When a woman in blue to their right turned to face him, turning quickly in response to the sound of his voice; Somehow inevitably, and undeniably it was Mary, taller now, fuller, more elegant and if changed at all only for the better.Her hair was loose and floating on a breeze, and those eyes and the smile, oh God the smile." Sean," she cried delighted.It was all he could do to stop himself grabbing her by the shoulders and kissing her right there and then." Mary." he whispered instead.". "Then she reminded me how difficult my life will be because of this." She gestured at her leg, and Simon felt a pang of hurt on her behalf. "And then, since I guess she just wanted to make sure she hit all the bases, she told me I'm overweight and don't dress well." She was silent for a minute, then continued, "I always assume she doesn't quite realize how this stuff sounds, and how hurtful it is. Maybe she does, though." Connie shook her head. "I can't think like that. It's too disturbing.".