Trevor grabbed his pants and went to the outer room to let the robo in with whatever the chef imperiously decided Gianna needed to eat.
“Jake said to tell you your only duty for the rest of this flight was to watch over Gianna,” Maeve said as the efficient robo came, laid out the meal and left. “And escort her to the all the wedding festivities and the ceremony itself of course.”
“I can handle the job.” Trevor picked up a slice of the special toast and spread jam on it. “Thanks for helping us save Gianna, Maeve. I can’t begin to count what I owe you and I’m in awe of your capabilities. I wish I’d seen you in action in your former embodiment. You must have been something else indeed.”
“Captain Fleming and I did rack up the victories and successes,” she said, surprising him with a personal remark. Maeve never discussed her own past. “Of course there were dark moments too but we came through and protected our crew while accomplishing the missions. This existence is different but it has its own rewards.” Her tone changed. “I’ll let you know when you have to leave to be on time for Lady V’terre.”
“Thanks.”
Gianna walked out of the bedroom, her hair wrapped in a towel and wearing her unbelted silky robe but otherwise naked, fresh from the shower.
“Oh I could so get used to this every morning,” he said, catching her to him. “You’re a work of art and all mine.”
“Too late for either of us to back out now,” she said with a sly laugh. “I see my evil plan to ensnare you is working.”
“I’m yours heart and soul.” As he helped her with her chair at the small table, he said, “I’m sorry I didn’t trust you with my secret sooner.”
“I completely understand why you didn’t,” she said, kissing him again. “But we won’t keep secrets from each other ever again.”
“A promise I have no trouble making.” He reached across the table to toy with a strand of her hair, before cupping her cheek with his palm, his heart full of joy. “I was terrified for you when the Provimters kidnapped you.”
“I was scared to death,” she said, “But I tried to be brave and defiant to the Shemdylann.”
“That took guts.” He knew the entire episode had been her single worst fear come to life. “Should we talk to V’terre about giving you the Peace of Mellure again?”
Busy pouring herself tea and stirring in cinna spice, Gianna shook her head. “I don’t need it. I’m actually doing okay. Between you coming to rescue me and me being able to take direct action to help in my own rescue, shooting the Shemdylann bitch when it counted, I think I can handle the aftereffects. Besides, I’ll have you to help me. And there’s always Verlaine.”
The hound barked as if to join the conversation and Trevor threw him a slice of breakfast meat, which immediately disappeared down Verlaine’s throat.
“He’s not supposed to have table scraps,” Gianna said, shaking her spoon at him. “You’ll spoil him.”
“I think we could all do with a little spoiling after what we’ve been through. I promise to reform my habits though—he is your service animal.”
With an impish smile, she gave Verlaine a bit of scrambled egg on a saucer. “Now we’re all even and at lunch we can be on our better behavior.”
“You do know I’ll go anywhere to be together, right?” he said, cutting through the banter. “I’d ask you to marry me today but I don’t suppose you want to steal the limelight away from your brother and his bride.”
She reached out to clasp his hand. “I accept the proposal but thank you for understanding about Paolo. We can be engaged and keep it a secret for now.”
“I’m agreeable to whatever you want, as long as we’re promised to each other.” He munched on his toast and sampled the omelet Chef Stephanie had prepared. “I can find work on your planet, if you want to live on your estate.”
“We need to talk to Juli about the artist in residence idea I had,” she said. “Maybe we can alternate where we live so neither of us is making all the changes.”
After a leisurely breakfast spent discussing the future and all the possibilities open to them, Trevor took a shower, interrupted by Gianna deciding to join him, after which they both got dressed rather hurriedly and rushed to the gravlift to travel to Level Two, Verlaine in tow.
Gianna had never been so happy in her entire life as she was now, holding Trevor’s hand, with the future spread out for them. As she exited the gravlift on Level Two, her heart began to pound and her steps slowed despite her previous buoyant mood. Verlaine whined and pressed himself to her side.
“We don’t have to do this,” Trevor said as she stopped walking. “Whatever you and V’terre have in mind. I’m sure she’d understand if you cancel. I can ask Maeve to let her know.”
Gianna considered the offer briefly, petting Verlaine’s head with her free hand. “No, this is the final step in my return voyage. I’ve wanted to do this for so many years so I need to finish the journey.”
Trevor put his arm around her as she walked the final few yards to the cabin which was the equivalent of the lodging her family had on the long gone Nebula Dream. He paused outside the door, which was slightly ajar, turning her gently to face him. “Listen, whatever happens or doesn’t happen, I’ll be right here with you.”
She stood on her tiptoes to kiss him and then pushed the portal the rest of the way open, stepping inside before she lost her courage.
V’terre was seated in a plush chair, sitting so still Gianna had the fleeting thought she was a hologram rather than a real woman but then the Mellurean adjusted her position and smiled at them. “Well? How does this compare to your memories?”
“Not at all,” Gianna admitted. “It all seemed much larger to me as a three year old, more luxurious, prettier.”
“We are a newer ship,” Trevor said. “And our décor is modern. No offense to whatever was in fashion when the owners outfitted the other vessel but tastes and styles change.”
“The rug was cream and brown, with faint blue flowers,” Gianna said, gazing at the deck which sported a pale green, taupe and gray abstract pattern, with the furniture done up in matching or coordinating tones. She let go of Trevor’s hand and walked with halting steps to stand in the center of the room. “Paolo and I were sharing a room.” She moved to the door of what would have been their chamber and paused, looking at the entrance to the suite, remembering the tons of debris which had fallen when the ship suffered its accident, and through which she, Paolo and Nick Jameson had had to crawl to safety. Rubbing her arms, she opened the door and entered the bedroom, feeling a chill. Dimly she was conscious of Trevor and Verlaine behind her.
There was a mist swirling in the room, partially obscuring her view but this chamber was decorated in the original style. There were two beds and she saw her stuffed bear, Huntington, plush and intact, no hastily repaired purple ear yet, sitting on the far bed, the one by the bulkhead. A curly headed child sat on the bed clutching the bear’s paw and sucking her thumb. A young boy in brown pajamas lay on his stomach on the other bed, concentrating as their mother read them the last pages of one of their favorite books, although of course Gianna was too little to read or even to understand most of the words but it was Paolo’s choice and she idolized her big brother.