aristastarfyr (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
aristastarfyr) wrote2015-08-24 06:04 am
aristastarfyr) wrote2015-08-24 06:04 am
Meeting Sean
Setting: After the turtles were trapped in the Homestead. Wren goes to college.
Recruit Day. It was the day where the various branches of the military set up their demos, tables, pamphlets, tablets and other items to show the students their potential under their particular brand of heroism. Wren had to go through the gymnasium to get to her next class and she was feeling the pressure of all the military out there. Some wanted to recruit her, others just had that *feeling* about them. She kept away from those particular guys. She wanted to avoid them all together since Wren had no love for the government or the Forces hired to protect it.
Almost making it through the throng of chaos she side stepped a dog that was at the last booth, stretched out and looking very much asleep. A small smile played on her lips, showing a soft spot for the shepherd. Her eyes flickered up to the board, wondering if this was a wounded warrior display. Marines. *Great.* One lone Marine was standing there at attention, eyes straight ahead. She knew he had to have seen her, but he made no motions to indicate recognition. Wren was just about to go, turning away from the striking young man and dog when she heard a near-silent, "hst."
In an instant the dog was up, snarling, barking, lunging at and circling around Wren to keep her from leaving. She shrieked once in surprise, then calmed, keeping her eyes on the dog's feet. There was another quiet command and the dog was silent, sitting and watching the Marine that was behind her. The dog's tongue was lolling out in a lazy pant, eyes sparkling with excitement over the game.
"Seems like you have contraband upon your person, ma'am." That accented voice was smooth and flawless. Cajun? Creole? Wren knew it was somewhere in the deep south. Louisiana to be more precise.
"Like hell I do." Now she turned, her attention on the Marine and not the dog. "You did that."
"Did what?" The gaze was level, looking past her right shoulder. "My dog is the best bomb sniffer in the state. Before then he was on the police force, sniffing out low lifes and crack." Grey-blue eyes flickered briefly to hers. "Ma'am."
"Are you implying that I'm some crack addict?" Wren was clearly unammused. This stranger had no idea who he was speaking to and dared imply such things? Was it the fact that he was in uniform that gave him a swollen ego?
"Of course not, ma'am," Eyes were back over her shoulder.
"What exactly are you implying, then?"
"You carry something that makes my dog anxious." There was a helpful bark from behind her.
"Oh?" Wren's eyes focused on the Marine's face, her own glaring as she was catching the subtle shifts of the mask cracking under her scrutiny. Really? This guy wasn't meeting the quota for the day so he had to pester *her*? "What, does he sense my unfinished homework and is hungry or something?"
There was another crack in that shell of his. The tiniest twitch of a smirk, but then it was gone. "You carry unfinished homework in that bag?"
"Ha ha, Hot Shot. No. I don't." Really, this guy was irritating her! She should go before she was even later than she was. Besides, it wasn't as if he could leave and follow her. "You're making me late for class."
"Which class?"
"The one you're making me late for!" There was another flicker there. Wren ire made him look directly at her, face completely stoic except for the sparkle in his eyes. "Japanese, if you must know."
"Ah. *Anata ga ressun o hitsuyōniōjite korega nihonjindesu*"
Wren's jaw dropped. Gone was the accent and from his mouth spilled the dialect she was working so hard to learn and comprehend. Suddenly remembering her mouth was open, she snapped it shut, throwing him her angriest glare, hoping he would turn to ash. "Ressun o arigatōgozaimashita. Watashi wa watashi no kurasu ni japanese if you needed a lesson
narimashi okuremasu.*"
"Tabun kyōshi?"
******
Okay, the first twenty minutes was interesting, even entertaining. The shepherd was glued to her side, watching her expectantly for what she could surmise was a release command. Only she had no idea what that would be.
Because of the dog, she was thrown out of the rest of her classes for the day. No matter where she walked, ran, or tried to hide, the dog was there dancing under her feet as if they had rehearsed it for months. And she couldn't *get rid of him*. Frustrated beyond belief, she sat down on a bench outside. The dog laid by her feet still watching her expectantly. "I don't know what you want, puppy!" Wren shook her head, looking at the soulful brown eyes. "Why don't you go home to your ass of an owner, huh?"
The dog sat up, tongue lolling as he listened to the young woman.
"It's getting dark. The dorks in the gym must have all gone home by now. Which means he left you here. You know know that, right? He's a sucky dog owner. He probably forgets to feed you, too." She was hungry but there were no places that allowed dogs within the building. It didn't mean they couldn't eat outside.
The walk up window produced two burgers, two fries and two waters. The dog watched her expectantly but did nothing to knock her over or snatch food away. She fed him the burger and fries, trying out common dog tricks just to see what the shepherd knew. When he rolled over to play dead she noticed the business card taped to the dog's badge. Unsticking it, she learned the canine's name. "Rexzilla. Well, Rex I'm very pleased to learn your name." Scratching the dog's ears, she glanced over the recruiting office phone number and then flipped it to the back.
"*Please help me. My human is a stupid human and I need English lessons-Rex." Next to Rex's name was a number. *His* personal number, she assumed. Wren clucked her tongue, sitting on the ground instead of the bench so that Rex could get a proper ear scratch as she called the number.
It answered on the third ring, the voice cautious and reserved. "...Hello?"
"Hi." That warm Cajun voice was on the other end, irritating Wren to no end. "Rex says you need to be told you're an idiot. You're an idiot."
"Hi!" It was as if he never heard her past the greeting. "He's been with you the whole time?"
"Yeah. Went n a date and everything. He wanted me to call and say you're going to be a grandfather to a litter of six to ten." Her voice was dry on the pitch, mind still trying to figure out what this guy's angle was.
"Atta boy!" Rex's tail thump-thumped when he heard his partner's voice on the phone. "Promise you'll name at least one of them after me?"
"They're all girls."
"Wow...gestation's getting hard core."
Wren made a soft, impatient sound. "So why is your dog here with me and not you?"
"Because I had to send my wing man out to butter you up before I could sweep in?"
Wren smiled just a crack. "By getting me out of my classes for the day?" At first she sounded angry, then she softened the tone. "I told him to break it off with you. You'll only drag him down." There was a quiet 'woof' from the shepherd as if to agree.
"Ow, harsh. I suppose I deserve that. So let me make it up to you--"
"--Make it up to me by take me out on a date??" The sarcasm dripped harshly over the false excitement she had in her voice. Clearly Wren was not amused by this form of pick up.
"Well, ah--"
"Really, Hot Shot? This was all a ploy to try and ask me out?" Wren groaned, leaning back against the bench. "I got four illegal abscences because you were too chicken to ask me out yourself." The dog gave a soft whine, licking her hand to console her. "I really pegged you, didn't I?"
"I....I'm sorry."
She gave a heavy sigh. He sounded guilty. Was it guilty enough? "Yeah, look. I'm not interested. The effort was really innovative and romantic and had it been done in a different dimension where I'm insanely wealthy and already had five degrees under my belt, I would have *completely* fallen head over heels for it. But I'm not. So I won't. I've got too much on my plate to juggle a relationship." *Another relationship*. One that meant commitment and time and effort to nurture and then the eventual clipping away and removing all of her other relationships out of her life. A relationship that meant secrets and lies and she wasn't going to sacrifice her life for anyone.
There was silence on the connection. Wren was hoping that the guy was getting the hint. There was a minor comfort that she could hear him speak, but there was nothing to record his voice for future listening times. This was as good as she got. Still no response from him after a minute so she continued the conversation.
"So how do I get Rex back to you? I mean, possession's nine-tenths of the law, but government property's a tricky thing."
"Know the north side hill overlooking the campus? I can be there in two hours." He sounded defeated, resigned to his failure.
It was about time he figured that one out. Marines were such ego maniacs, thinking they could get anything they wanted by flashing a smile. Wren liked the surrender and yet not. Had there been a different set of circumstances, she would have completely taken this and ran with it. "See you in two, Hot Shot."
"All right, Beautiful."
Whatever possessed her to sneak Rex into her dorm room so she could at least shower and change was beyond her. She was returning the man's dog (who was insisting on laying right next to the tub to wait for her to finish.) It wasn't a date. She was returning a *dog*. So why was she putting on a sun dress with a crotchet shawl? There was lip gloss and a little blush on her cheeks with her hair in a lazy up-do. It was casual enough to go return Rex, right? Maybe a dab of perfume oil from the mountain wouldn't hurt, either.
"It's not a date, Wren," she muttered to herself, deciding on the strappy sandals with the peek-a-boo toes. "You're just returning Rex." In the twenty minutes she walked and crested the top of the hill, she realized her mistake. There was the man in a button down and slacks, full spread picnic complete with lit candles and wine. Rex gave a joyful bark and greeted his partner with a full body wiggle.
It was totally a date. And she surprised herself by not minding that one bit.
****
"Marry me?"
"I can't."
His eyes widened as her answer was different from the near identical responses that happened every day for the past six months. Every time he asked, she would laugh, wink and then challenge him with a, "Ask me tomorrow, Hot Shot." It didn't matter if it was in person, texting or messaging, she would respond the same way. And now? Now it was different.
The irony of that nickname was that he wasn't a shooter per se. He was a munitions locator, specifically bombs and detonators. Thus the dog that was stretched out across the doorway, looking positively bored with the whole affair.
"Wren?" He sat up from his half lounge on the couch when she sat up more, curling herself in the process. "What's wrong?" His hand, warm and calloused soothed over her back in slow circular strokes. She was trying so hard not to cry. "*Wren*."
"I-I can't." Her voice was barely above a squeak. "It's not possible, Sean. I just can't do that to you."
"You know, it's usually the guy who's afraid to commit," he quipped, relaxing a bit when she managed to laugh. "Unless there's...something terminal?" That was always a worry but with the way she glared at him he could dismiss it. "Don't tell me you're CIA. Because if that's the case, then the whole nation knows what I've been failing at and that's a little much for me."
Wren shook her head as she muttered. "'M not CIA. My family's actually anti-government."
"You live on a mountain with a fully stocked armory kind of anti-government or are your parents petitioning GMOs and anti-vaxxers kind of government?"
"My parents were once captured and had things done to them kind of anti-government. Not following homeland security or anything. And they won't let it happen again."
"What'd they do?"
"Why do you assume that it was something they did?" She looked up at him defensively. "They'd *kill* me if they knew about you. I'm playing with fire and it's not good. I shouldn't have let you into my heart like this."
Oh, that sounded too much like the 'break up' talk. Sean had been there plenty of times for the 'break up' talk and none of them sent him into a panic more than this one. "Who can resist my charming smile and irresistable good looks?"
"Easy." She decided to stare at the TV that had been off for the past few hours. "Because it wasn't either of those things to begin with. It was your voice."
That was new.
"The cadence, the warmth. No matter what you said, how you said it, it was there." She rested her chin on her knees, sniffing softly. "I've always liked sound."
They sat there in silence for however long it seemed, letting time slip over them. Sean didn't know what to say and Wren had already shut down, looking away, ignoring contact. After six months of trying to get her to open up, it was all going to crash down around him.
"So tell my *why* it wouldn't work."
"It just won't."
"That's not *why*."
"My parents-"
"Children have followed this fine tradition of not giving a fuck about their parents' opinions and doing whatever they wanted. I'm sure yours did the same."
"My brother--"
"Is a nudist. You told me already."
She fell quiet again, her lip trembling slightly. "There are...others."
Others? The way she said it...he felt like he'd been punched in the gut. "Other relatives?" Maybe that's what she was inferring. That's what he hoped she was inferring.
"People. Lovers. I'm poly."
"Polygamous?"
Wren growled softly in frustration. "*No*." The question earned Sean a stern look. It was the first time she focused her eyes on him in the past thirty minutes. "Polyamorus."
"Oh." The answer left more questions than not. "If you're into open relationships, why didn't you tell me before?" Did she have another guy on the side? Another girl? He mentally berated himself and clamped his jaw shut before he could ask about threesomes.
"Because you're the only one I'm relation-ing. Here. And I seriously didn't think it would get this far." Which meant somewhere down the line his proposals had turned into something worth considering. She actually *wanted* something from him.
"So you don't want to get married because you don't want to lose all those other relationships you have out of town." Sean thought about that for a moment. "Does that mean I was the first to propose to you or the latest one to do so?"
"You're the first," she admitted softly. He had been the first and yet she didn't love him enough to cut loose everyone else and stay with just him. But he was the first to propose, to offer the picket fence, the 3.2 kids, the dog. And she was allowing herself to consider it before the rest of her life came into focus. "I can't be monogamous. And I don't want to be. The people I'm with all have qualities that help me be a better, stronger person. And yes, you even do that for me, too. But I don't want to break any of those pieces off when they make up the whole me."
"I'm not asking you to. I just want us to be a part of each other's lives."
"I thought we were, Sean. What we're doing now is being a part of each other's lives. We don't need a wedding to do that." Her face twisted slightly. "I can't even bring you home to my family, Sean. Or really become a part of my life. I can't ask you to keep any more secrets or even try and understand what comes naturally to me. What I grew up with. It would be like," Wren turned, her silver eyes glassy as she reached out for Sean's hands. "It would be like me insisting you give up the Marines and tell me all the dirty, dark secrets you swore to uphold and protect. I can't ask that of you. Don't ask that of me. Please."
Sean watched her as she rose from her seat, looking as graceful and as polished as the day he met her. And now she was going to leave him. He'd never felt this kind of icy panic before, not even in combat. Her kiss told him everything. She didn't want to go, she loved him, she was wishing him the best. At the end of that kiss he knew he couldn't live without her. When she rested her forehead against his, his voice cracked. "I won't give up on you."
"I'm not a war to be won, Sean." Her fingers touched his cheek and he felt that familiar tingle that always happened when she touched him softly. "Oh'--I love you." He tried to hold on to her to keep her from leaving him but somehow she passed through is fingers like water, giving Rex a friendly pat on the head as she walked out the door.
The next day when he texted her "Marry me?" she didn't text back.
******
Every night he still texted her. Every night the response was nothing. Sean knew better than to do anything more than that. During the day he was pulling favors from everyone he knew and then some, digging through intel, collecting information and burning his trail so that no one could find out what was going on. At least he hoped he was being successful. The things he read were so out there that he wasn't certain if he was reading the files correctly. But he had gathered it all, stuffed it in an accordian file folder and took his dog for a ride.
The land marks were true and he gawked a bit as he drove through Realityville. It wasn't so much that the city looked strange but the fact that this was where Wren lived-where she went to school, the MAUL where she hung out. It was her childhood.
Kaitown? Now that was gawked at because it needed to be gawked at. The clones that looked alike save for a change of clothes or hair style, the proto-beck bar, Nicky's grill, the inn...all of it. And somewhere between Realityville and Kaitown was Wren's home. He must have missed the turn off the first time around. After booking a room at the inn, he took the camero off to find the barely there turn off and headed down a gravel road that was draped by a canopy of leaves and dappled light. The trees gave way to a clearing and in the distance he spotted two buildings set on a rise. One looked smaller than the other-probably the garage he read about. Parking the car by the house proper, he headed towards the front door with Rex in tow, freezing only when the dog paused.
Looking to his right Sean noted the young man watching them. It could only be his beloved's brother. Golden tanned skin with fierce, storm grey eyes and sun bleached hair was the sight, complete with a long loincloth and a few bands of leather on his wrists.
Rex whined and Sean dropped his hand to his side, quietting the dog. Hawke didn't move. "Good afternoon, Hawke," Sean greeted as casually as he could muster. Hawke didn't move. Not one muscle flexed nor did his face show that he was surprised by his name coming from the stranger's mouth. The only thing that did happen was that his eyes narrowed.
Sean did his best to ignore his stomach bottoming out.
The young man didn't seem intent on stopping him so he stepped up to the front porch and knocked on the door. He didn't hear Hawke move but rather felt the man's presence come closer. The new pressure made Rex growl in warning and Sean swore he heard a return growl. It was just as low and as deep as Rex's had been.
"Shh."
The growls stopped. Sean didn't bother looking behind him. He'd done nothing wrong and had no intentions of doing so. Seconds ticked by, crawling over Sean's skin like minutes before the door opened. The one who opened the door wasn't Wren as he'd been hoping, but a man with blue eyes that shot straight through is soul. Beads and braids made up his hair, almost looking like dreadlocks. In all honesty he looked like a flamer with the too tight mesh shirt stretched over muscle and bondage pants giving no form below the waist. Part of him wondered if the guy once drank silver since his skin carried a very light blue sheen.
The pair stared at each other unmoving, unspeaking. Then the braided guy squealed, jogging in place and startling the wits out of Sean. "*ARI!* Your mail order husband's here!" Before even the dog could react, Sean yelped as he was tugged inside and the door slammed shut. The dog seemed surprised that he was still outside with is master within and barked once, pawing to be let in.
Hawke made a soft, beckoning sound to get the dog's attention. "Your friend will not be harmed," he soothed, looking at the black and tan pattern on the dog's face. "Let us go wait for Wrrenah."
*****
Sean knew a tactic when he saw one and he glared at the braided man as he straightened himself. "Really?" He paused when he heard Rex bark, but the other guy interrupted before Sean could speak.
"How the hell did you get on our front porch?"
"Well, first I drove and then I walked--"
"*NO.* How did you find us?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're not supposed to find us. We aren't on the map, not on the grid."
"Ah. Well, I didn't need the grid, but you're not as off as you think...or ... weren't as off as you are now?" Nope, that didn't make sense, either. "Anyway. Where's everyone else?"
"Okay, so. Who are you again and what badge do you carry so I can throw it and you out after?"
"Sergeant Gunner Sean Valcour."
Drake did not look impressed. "*ARI?!*" He called out the name again, this time with a sense of urgency.
This time the name did not go ignored and an older female version of Hawke appeared-only this one wore clothes. "Drake? Who's this?"
"Some illustrious hot shot that's decided to show up on our doorstep without proper clearance." Sean couldn't help but smirk a bit at that. Hot shot. "He came with a dog. Hawke has it." The smirk faded instantly.
"My dog better not be harm--"
The woman held up her hand to quiet Sean. "Your dog's in safer hands than you would have been with my son. So why are you here and why do you have that intimidating folder with you?"
"It's a peace offering, ma'am."
Drake cringed as Ari's brow rose. "Oooooo, shouldn't have said that."
"Peace offering?"
Ari interrupted before Drake could answer. 'What is it?"
"Is Wren around? I'd like her to see it, too." The sharp look he got from the mother told him he overstepped a boundary and he straightened, looking straight ahead. "...Ma'am."
Ari was piecing things together. The way the gentleman spoke, his concern for her daughter and the way Wren had been acting ever since coming home for the summer told her almost everything she needed to know.
The heart wants what the heart wants.
She held out a hand, eyes going to the folder. "Let me see it. Drake? Get Kohl."
Drake mockingly saluted her and headed off. Unlike an actual soldier, he didn't bother with the 'yes, ma'am!'
Sean handed the folder over to the woman and stood there, waiting. She leafed through the files at her leisure, not bothering to offer a drink or a seat for the Marine. He wouldn't ask for it, either. He knew that he was being tested and would rather wait and see if his offering would be accepted or not.
"This was supposed to be destroyed," Ari said softly, completely unplussed that she was alone with a stranger in her home.
"Your intel must have missed something or they were betrayed." Sean's eyes flickered on occasion, trying to read the woman. He couldn't get any hint to what she was thinking and she didn't look at him. "Anything on computer I had scrubbed, including the machines themselves, if possible. This is the last hard copy in existence."
Ari looked up, eyeing the Marine. "And if they ever found out what you did?"
"It wouldn't matter if it meant that I have her." Well, it sort of did. Rex was his partner and the dog would surely be re-assigned. But looking at it from a practical standpoint? He wanted that woman by his side. And he was willing to blow everything he had to make it happen.
Arista flipped through the pages until the end. Everything was in there with the exception of some recent arrivals and the mountain. Good. Shutting the folder closed, she looked up at Sean with flinty, dangerous looking eyes. Her voice was soothing, pleasant now that she knew what was going on.
"Why don't you take a seat in the living room, Mr Valcour. Would you like some tea-lemonade?"
"That would be fine, Ma'am."
*****
He'd felt fear before, but this kind of fear? Never. It felt more like a phobia, an irrational panic that threatened to sweep him over and drown him in the riptide. Where the hell was Wren? He was forced to face her family alone with the barest of introductions. The information he had gleaned from the files hadn't been enough to prepare him for this.
Kohl was now seated in a chair opposite from Sean, Fear bleeding out from him like an open vein. Sean did his best to ignore it, trying to concentrate on Arista's explanation of the files.
"It *feels* right, Kohl." Huh. *She* had no problems being around this guy. This guy who was Wren's dad. "All there, nothing's different." Ari's hand rested on the folder. Beside her Drake sat back, humming as he steepled his fingers together.
"So the thing where we--"
"Yep."
"And the zoo?"
"In here."
Drake's eyes lifted. "The Mouse?"
Ari's eyes tightened slightly, but she nodded. "Yes."
"And this is the last copy." Drake started humming *The Last Unicorn*, making the blond smirk.
"*Drake.*"
"What? It's fitting, isn't it?"
Kohl's eyes flickered to Sean who had been tolerating the torture session with a resiliance he knew other humans lacked. Sean was offering total anonymity at the risk of his career in order to have a chance with Wren. Kohl found it commendable considering they all had done stupid things for love at one time or another.
The door opened and the sound of clawed feet echoed on the wood grain. With a happy yip, dog and man were reunited, complete with sloppy kisses and grunting laughter. Behind the dog came brother and sister, Hawke's arm around Wren's waist for support as she came around the corner looking at Sean with wide eyes.
With a command Rex was off Sean and seated, barely containing his excitement with a wiggle. Sean's eyes were all of Wren as she stood before him with Hawke sliding away. She was trembling and Sean determined it wasn't from her father.
"Hey, Beautiful." Ignoring the audience, Sean's smile was all for her.
"Why?" Her voice trembled. The look she gave him was a mix of horror and cautious hope. "Sean, I told you--"
"--And didn't you also tell me to follow my dreams? I'm chasing the only one that matters to me, praying I never wake up." As much as he wanted to go to her and wrap her up in his embrace, he didn't dare move from his seat. He was afraid that if he did, she'd spook and run off. "Outside from Rex, you are the only one who's seen me at my worst and didn't hate me or pull away. How can I let that slip through my fingers?" His Creole was starting to thicken from the emotion. "I can't live without you. The past three weeks was hell enough."
Her eyes fell to the folder. Did she want this much responsibility? What if she still said no? The last thing Wren wanted Sean to do was hurt himself. But then again, wasn't this dogged determination? "What's that?"
"Us," Ari answered. "The last bit of information they had on us, on APEC, everything. It's ours now to do with what we wish."
"What about the guys and the mountain?"
Sean cocked his head to the side in confusion. He didn't know what Wren was talking about.
The Marine's response made Arista smile. "They don't know. So *he* doesn't know. The choice is yours, Wren. This folder's getting burned tonight, regardless."
Sean's eyes lit up as he watched Wren give a cautious smile. 'So does that mean--"
"NO!" She shook her head, looking exaspirated. "Gods, you're so cocky!" No was was she going to just accept his proposal-the one he'd been asking her since the day he met her-right there in front of her family. She was just trying to accept the fact that Sean was out of her life for good and now she was stuck with the reality that maybe not. Maybe Sean just had it in him to stick around and accept whatever insanity happened in the household.
This time Sean felt it was safe and he rose from his seat on the couch. He did what he'd been aching to do and closed the distance, winding his arms around her, claiming her mouth in a heated kiss. He didn't care one whit if the family was watching. He *wanted* them to watch. He wanted them to see how much he loved her and he smiled into the kiss when her hands fluttered against his arms before gripping tightly.
***
Sean never made it back to the inn. He spend the night in the house with the dog by their feet and each other tangled on the couch, casually exploring one another again. He lived for the way her breath caught when he touched her, craved the way his stomach tightened when her eyes peered into his, flashing and challenging. Part of him wanted her right there on the couch, not caring who would walk in on them. The other part demanded he protect his lady's sensibilities so he forced himself to remain content with her quiet sounds and warm body pressed up against him.
"Will you finally tell me how you got those scars?" Sean was quiet as he let his fingers trail down her left side. He knew that they made her uncomfortable, but she always tried to hide that fact.
Years of conditioning couldn't be unmade in one day but she was trying. Her eyes searched Sean's as she tried to figure out what to say and how to say it. "I...guess for lack of a better term...Zombie Dragon."
Sean was quiet as he listened, making decent headway in suspending his perception of reality and trying to live in Wren's. Undead dragon mages, alien brain invaders and nothing but two black (yet living!) dragons, a handful of unicorns, her family and a small clan of ninjas were there to defeat the enemy. When had disobeyed her mother and gotten caught up by the lich. Luckily for her the gashes down her side were from the alien drone and not the lich-not that Sean could see how that was a lucky break. The problem was that the lich had not been defeated and they were at a loss as to how they could get rid of it.
"There's one thing I don't understand. It makes the whole thing seem...unbelievable," Sean mused, watching for Wren's reaction.
She quirked her mouth. Over time, she resorted to sitting on his lap, thighs draped over his and her arms resting on his shoulders. "Really? There was a detail that trumped dragons, unicorns and the alien brain thing?"
"Yeah." Sean tilted his head, peering back at Wren as he responded in a almost joking tone. "Ninjas? Really?"
"Hey, those ninjas had one who patched me up. And why did that part seem unrealistic over all the other parts?"
"Have you seen a ninja lately?"
"Sean, they live in the shaddows." She leaned in close to whisper in his ear. "They're like Batman, terrors of the night." She took a moment to suck in his earlobe, grinning with it between her teeth when he reacted with a hitch in his breath. "Ultimately, if Donnie hadn't been here, I don't think I would be."
Sean watched her face as she gave the name away to one of those 'terrors of the night.' "You like him?"
"It's a crush." She sighed softly, smiling and shaking her head. "I don't think he knew what kind of impact he had on me. Or that he wanted to know. Our paths diverged, that's all."
"But you would have done him if you had the chance?"
Wren made the attempt to sound offended, slapping Sean's arm. "Pervert! Yes. Had I the chance, I would. How do you feel about me, knowing that?"
In all honesty, he wasn't certain. For a while he feared that any guy she liked she just gave herself over to. But now hearing there was unrequited attraction, he relaxed a little more. It was still going to take some time getting used to, but he was willing to work at it if Wren was willing not to bombard him with it all at once. "I feel like I'm the luckiest guy to know someone saved his future for him. Maybe I'll get the chance to thank him."
"Maybe. I hope so. I think you guys would get along." For the most part, at least.
Sean sat there, contented with the tiny movements that Wren was making against him. One could almost say she was trying to make herself comfortable, but Sean knew better. Maybe they would make the most of it on the small twin in her room. But another thought struck him and he said it out loud. "We could blow it up."
"Blow it up? You mean the lich?"
"Mmmhmm. It's possible, isn't it? It's nothing but bones from what you said."
"Yeah, but...the bones would just collect back together--"
"Not if you put them far apart. You said yourself there were different dimensions, right? A few pieces here, a few pieces there...who's going to know?"
Was it even possible? Blowing up a kakariki and scattering the bones or even the dust of the bones across dimensions to prevent its return? "Maybe it'll work. We'll ask mom and dad."
"So how do we get the explosives?"
"Wren grinned. "We have our ways. Now. Come to bed. I want to have my way with you first."
"...Yes, ma'am."
*****
"Marry Me."
He couldn't think straight, couldn't really see straight after he'd been flung into the massive tree. What he did manage to see was Rex beside him barking frantically. A few feet away was Wren swinging what looked like a branch at the strange humanoid creatures, holding her own well enough. At least well enough to not get tossed into a tree trunk. Instead of going for limbs, she stabbed into bellies. The way the men squealed and collapsed into heaps wasn't anything he'd seen before.
With a small groan he rolled onto his back, lifting his hand when his dog started licking his face. A moment later he heard Wren's voice and a heavy sound as she dropped to her knees. "Sean! Sean, look at me."
Her face was determined and terrified but mostly determined. Sean's vision kept swimming as he tried to focus on both Wrens before him. "Marry me?"
"Alright." There was a small smile as she pat his cheek. His focus was impeccible. "But you can't doe on me, you hear me, Marine? If you croak now, no marriage for you. Now. On your feet! We have to get out of here."
That was all Sean remembered of the fight. As far as he was concerned, it was the only important thing to remember.
Today was a brilliant day full of sun and song. He was standing by the offience in his full dress blues, waiting for his wife to be. No. "Promised." Wren had a few suggestions to their big day and Sean was more than happy to concede. For them, no government involvement. Off the grid meant just that. The ceremony would be small yet it could happen in New Orleans so Sean's family could attend and finally meet Wren. A handfasting was in order and at this point, Sean didn't care. Who needed a piece of paper to officialize things when love was the strongest bond?
His family heard bits and pieces of who Wren was but there had been no full disclosure. All they knew was that she was from the midwest, an avid horse rider and finishing up a linguistics degree at breakneck speed. Ask to how or why Sean fell in love with her was a complete mystery. They looked upon Wren's family with suspicion, not quite reaching out with that deep southern hospitality..
Wren didn't wear white but instead a pale blue with delicate lace and her hair accented with drop pearls. Ringlets framed her face and the bouquet was local flowers. She looked as radiant as the day he first saw her and for the tenth time that day he wondered what he did to be so blessed.
The ceremony itself was a blend of traditional marriage and what Wren told him of this hand fasting. Rings were exchanged, hands were tied for the day. Hawke (in pants!) stood by his sister's side as Sean's brother stood by his. At the end it didn't matter if it wasn't going to be recognized by the country. This was unique, this moment was *theirs* and Sean could feel the pull of being a part of something magical.
The after party was a picnic-BBQ held at the park. Mingling was strained at first but people started to mellow out when food was served and laughter danced around when Wren and Sean had to figure out how to work together with bound hands. A few hours later when night fall started they were freed and could mingle properly with everyone. The look of happiness was undeniable on Sean's face. Wren matched the expression, joyfully speaking with Sean's parents and sibling.
They remained two more days in the 'old country' as Ari put it before driving back home. Sean's family still wasn't certain about Wren and her family but they would have to make do with it because Sean wasn't going to budge. Now the next challenge was Sean meeting the other side of Wren's family.
*****
Ophelia 14:00
Hey, happy 6 mo anniversary! Call me when they release you. I have a surprise :)
Ophelia 18:00
Pick up the phone, Sean! I'm trying to get a hold of you!
Ophelia 18:15
Is there overtime?
Ophelia 18:20
Your dog needs to learn to type and read. call me
Ophelia 18:30
This isn't funny. Stop ignoring me
Ophelia 19:46
Please. call me . email. something.
Ophelia 00:01
I love you
Hot Shot 06:00
Who is this?
Ophelia 06:03
Sean?
Hot Shot 06:10
No. It is not Sean. Are you his wife?
Ophelia 06:11
What happened? Who are you to have his phone? Yes, I'm Wren.
Hot Shot 06:13
Very good. We've been trying to reach you, Wren. Please call XXX XXX XXXX
Ophelia 06:14
Will you please tell me what's going on? Where's Sean? Is he okay?
Hot Shot 06:16
Just call the number. Cptn Woods will be speaking with you.
There was a fire in the cottage. The house burned down with the white picket fence and the man of the house still inside. Wren listened to the voice on the other end, her world shattering around her when she managed to register 'horrible accident' and 'nothing we could do.'
Sean no longer went overseas but he was still sent to various bases around the country to train others how to work with their dogs. He and Rex were a team-a damn good one and it was a fair trade off to work at bases than to face the unknown overseas. This particular session was in Texas. The bomb that was supposed to be dead wasn't and went off, taking Sean and three others with it. Rex was injured, but cautiously declared that he would make a full recovery.
Wren got off the phone and took a deep breath. Now wasn't the time to break down. There were things she needed to do. She needed to book a flight. Pack. Breathe. Good gods, she needed to breathe. One by one she ticked off the list of things she needed to do. There was a flight out in three hours. Her carry on was all she needed. Then she dialed her parents. The young woman's voice wrestled and cracked when she heard her father's voice on the other side.
"D-daddy? There was an accident on the base...He's...he's gone" It was all she could say before the tears choked her.
The next week was mechanical for her. Sean's parents were there but they gave most of their support to each other with the young woman still practically a stranger to them. Wren couldn't blame them for that. Her own family made connecting flights and lent their strength to her. Arrangements were made via military and finally Sean was allowed to be laid to rest. The night before the funeral she spent the night in the viewing home with the coffin and one Marine that kept watch over it. No words were exchanged between the living; what she managed to say was spoken with a tight throat to the flag-clad casket. The whispers were private and the Marine respectfully ignored them. Only his white gloved hands tightened when he caught the whispered secret.
The funeral was long and overwhelming. Due to the nature of Sergeant Gunner Valcour's death, a great many officiates came to speak. They all addressed Sean's family and his bride, lamenting over the fact that their life together was cut so short. Wren did her best not to listen to them. She couldn't bear hearing the platitudes. Her eyes remained on the casket and the dog that laid depressed before it. The hair around his middle had been shaved off for the surgery that saved his life and a thick white bandage was in place. Rex lay there. Unmoving. Mourning. Fresh tears streaked down her cheeks in sympathy of the dog's pain that he couldn't save his master this time.
At the end of the tedious eulogies, Rex lifted his head, looking intently at the coffin. Wren caught the motions, the way the dog was listening to an unheard voice. It was an effort, but the shepherd rose, weakly shook himself off and padded over to Wren, settling by her feet with a heavy sigh. Any person who came close to her was met with a wary glare. Any other trying to move Rex from his post received a dark, rumbling growl. Even the dog's handler couldn't get near him.
It was then she realized with a start that Rex received his final instructions: Watch her.
***
"Ma'am." The Marine who watched over the casket came to Wren. She was not the one who received the flag that had rested on the coffin, but her mother. It was Sean's instructions that it happen like that. But the Marine had watched the dog, listened to her grief-stricken words, and knew. "Sergeant Gunner Valcour was an admirable Marine. It's only fitting that his widow be equally admirable." He had watched her be ignored, left to mourn for herself with her family close by. Her chin was held high while she kept to the undefined shaddows that were placed around her by the others.
"Sean wants you to have this." In his gloved palm was a USB stick. Wren looked down at it, then up to the Marine as she took it from his hand. "It's encrypted. We don't know what's on it, only that you needed to have it should anything happen to him."
"Thank you." Her fingers tightened around on the stick as if holding onto it would keep the tears away. "I'll find out what's on it. It'll just take me a while."
"Semper Fi, Ma'am."
"Semper Fi, Marine."
****
Once the code was cracked, the memory stick started playing in what seemed to be mid-transmission.
“Real isn't how you are made,' said the Skin Horse. 'It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.'
'Does it hurt?' asked the Rabbit.
'Sometimes,' said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. 'When you are Real you don't mind being hurt.'
'Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,' he asked, 'or bit by bit?'
'It doesn't happen all at once,' said the Skin Horse. 'You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand.”
The warm Creole read the words, seemingly intent on reading the entire book. Instead he closed the book and leaned back, adjusting the computer camera.
"Hey, Beautiful. It's gonna be six months in a few days and I'm stuck out here in Texas. Home of fire ants, football dads and open carry weapons. Fun stuff, let me tell you. And I'm sure you're going to wade through all the other messages I made, because I made one for every time I was stationed away from you. You never know about things and if I learned one thing being with you, it's this; don't wait to say what's on your mind.
"Who would have thought that you'd accept my proposal while I had a concussion and you were covered in pink blood?" He laughed a little at that, shaking his head. Sean quickly sobered. "You were my rock at that moment. With all that crazy shit going on and I had no idea which way was up, you were there. I can't let that kind of stability go. I'd have been stupid to do that. Thanks for making me Real.
"So how *did* you get your brother to wear pants at the ceremony? Neat trick."
He shifted in his seat, blue eyes looking right into the lens, practically looking at the person who was watching him. "I don't think I say it enough. Those guys who inspired you to learn all those moves with just a stick? I still want to meet them. Dunno why you're not as confident with them meeting me as you were with the kirin, but that's okay. I'll practice here.
"This is for the one named Donnie. I've seen your work. It's pretty good, and it keeps Wren together. Nice job. Thanks for not sweeping her off her feet and carrying her away to your man cave, too. Don't think I would have had a chance then. I still don't know how or why ninjas fit into her crazy world of magic things but I shouldn't think about it too hard. You were there and that's what mattered. Hope everything's going really well for you and your brothers.
"I mean it. Semper Fi. You may not be a Marine..." He paused a moment. "Yeah, not a Marine. Not unless you count the rifle and bayonet as a similar weapon. I still consider you a brother. Albeit a very distant one who never writes or calls and is probably out partying to all hours of the night-ohwait! That's *my* brother. Heh heh.
"And to Roo and Barnas and the others. You are one crazy group of people. If humans really lived like that, I'd be out of a job, you know. I wouldn't mind it, really. Thanks for letting me in against your better judgement. I know I wouldn't have. Seeing how many good people have surrounded her and kept her safe is humbling. Not many people have that in case they need it. So. Take care of her when I'm not around, alright? I know you will."
He rambled on about other things, talking to Wren's parents, shifting to the weather and just...talking. He let the sound of his voice become the lullaby and Wren sat there, closing her eyes as she swallowed harshly.
"Okay, I've got to go. But you gotta know something about this memory stick; there's a bazillion gigs on it and it's not even half full. I won't stop until it's filled and I can't wait until I have to add bedtime stories for our future little ones, Wren. You want a family of your own, right? Let me know. We'll get started on it as soon as I get back. Love you, Beautiful. See you on the other side."
The transmission ended and Wren stared at the blank screen, her face scrunched up while she processed it all. "You're such a jackass," she croaked, feeling her throat thicken. Her words had no bite to them as fresh tears fell, making the dog whine softly and nose her hand.
Recruit Day. It was the day where the various branches of the military set up their demos, tables, pamphlets, tablets and other items to show the students their potential under their particular brand of heroism. Wren had to go through the gymnasium to get to her next class and she was feeling the pressure of all the military out there. Some wanted to recruit her, others just had that *feeling* about them. She kept away from those particular guys. She wanted to avoid them all together since Wren had no love for the government or the Forces hired to protect it.
Almost making it through the throng of chaos she side stepped a dog that was at the last booth, stretched out and looking very much asleep. A small smile played on her lips, showing a soft spot for the shepherd. Her eyes flickered up to the board, wondering if this was a wounded warrior display. Marines. *Great.* One lone Marine was standing there at attention, eyes straight ahead. She knew he had to have seen her, but he made no motions to indicate recognition. Wren was just about to go, turning away from the striking young man and dog when she heard a near-silent, "hst."
In an instant the dog was up, snarling, barking, lunging at and circling around Wren to keep her from leaving. She shrieked once in surprise, then calmed, keeping her eyes on the dog's feet. There was another quiet command and the dog was silent, sitting and watching the Marine that was behind her. The dog's tongue was lolling out in a lazy pant, eyes sparkling with excitement over the game.
"Seems like you have contraband upon your person, ma'am." That accented voice was smooth and flawless. Cajun? Creole? Wren knew it was somewhere in the deep south. Louisiana to be more precise.
"Like hell I do." Now she turned, her attention on the Marine and not the dog. "You did that."
"Did what?" The gaze was level, looking past her right shoulder. "My dog is the best bomb sniffer in the state. Before then he was on the police force, sniffing out low lifes and crack." Grey-blue eyes flickered briefly to hers. "Ma'am."
"Are you implying that I'm some crack addict?" Wren was clearly unammused. This stranger had no idea who he was speaking to and dared imply such things? Was it the fact that he was in uniform that gave him a swollen ego?
"Of course not, ma'am," Eyes were back over her shoulder.
"What exactly are you implying, then?"
"You carry something that makes my dog anxious." There was a helpful bark from behind her.
"Oh?" Wren's eyes focused on the Marine's face, her own glaring as she was catching the subtle shifts of the mask cracking under her scrutiny. Really? This guy wasn't meeting the quota for the day so he had to pester *her*? "What, does he sense my unfinished homework and is hungry or something?"
There was another crack in that shell of his. The tiniest twitch of a smirk, but then it was gone. "You carry unfinished homework in that bag?"
"Ha ha, Hot Shot. No. I don't." Really, this guy was irritating her! She should go before she was even later than she was. Besides, it wasn't as if he could leave and follow her. "You're making me late for class."
"Which class?"
"The one you're making me late for!" There was another flicker there. Wren ire made him look directly at her, face completely stoic except for the sparkle in his eyes. "Japanese, if you must know."
"Ah. *Anata ga ressun o hitsuyōniōjite korega nihonjindesu*"
Wren's jaw dropped. Gone was the accent and from his mouth spilled the dialect she was working so hard to learn and comprehend. Suddenly remembering her mouth was open, she snapped it shut, throwing him her angriest glare, hoping he would turn to ash. "Ressun o arigatōgozaimashita. Watashi wa watashi no kurasu ni japanese if you needed a lesson
narimashi okuremasu.*"
"Tabun kyōshi?"
******
Okay, the first twenty minutes was interesting, even entertaining. The shepherd was glued to her side, watching her expectantly for what she could surmise was a release command. Only she had no idea what that would be.
Because of the dog, she was thrown out of the rest of her classes for the day. No matter where she walked, ran, or tried to hide, the dog was there dancing under her feet as if they had rehearsed it for months. And she couldn't *get rid of him*. Frustrated beyond belief, she sat down on a bench outside. The dog laid by her feet still watching her expectantly. "I don't know what you want, puppy!" Wren shook her head, looking at the soulful brown eyes. "Why don't you go home to your ass of an owner, huh?"
The dog sat up, tongue lolling as he listened to the young woman.
"It's getting dark. The dorks in the gym must have all gone home by now. Which means he left you here. You know know that, right? He's a sucky dog owner. He probably forgets to feed you, too." She was hungry but there were no places that allowed dogs within the building. It didn't mean they couldn't eat outside.
The walk up window produced two burgers, two fries and two waters. The dog watched her expectantly but did nothing to knock her over or snatch food away. She fed him the burger and fries, trying out common dog tricks just to see what the shepherd knew. When he rolled over to play dead she noticed the business card taped to the dog's badge. Unsticking it, she learned the canine's name. "Rexzilla. Well, Rex I'm very pleased to learn your name." Scratching the dog's ears, she glanced over the recruiting office phone number and then flipped it to the back.
"*Please help me. My human is a stupid human and I need English lessons-Rex." Next to Rex's name was a number. *His* personal number, she assumed. Wren clucked her tongue, sitting on the ground instead of the bench so that Rex could get a proper ear scratch as she called the number.
It answered on the third ring, the voice cautious and reserved. "...Hello?"
"Hi." That warm Cajun voice was on the other end, irritating Wren to no end. "Rex says you need to be told you're an idiot. You're an idiot."
"Hi!" It was as if he never heard her past the greeting. "He's been with you the whole time?"
"Yeah. Went n a date and everything. He wanted me to call and say you're going to be a grandfather to a litter of six to ten." Her voice was dry on the pitch, mind still trying to figure out what this guy's angle was.
"Atta boy!" Rex's tail thump-thumped when he heard his partner's voice on the phone. "Promise you'll name at least one of them after me?"
"They're all girls."
"Wow...gestation's getting hard core."
Wren made a soft, impatient sound. "So why is your dog here with me and not you?"
"Because I had to send my wing man out to butter you up before I could sweep in?"
Wren smiled just a crack. "By getting me out of my classes for the day?" At first she sounded angry, then she softened the tone. "I told him to break it off with you. You'll only drag him down." There was a quiet 'woof' from the shepherd as if to agree.
"Ow, harsh. I suppose I deserve that. So let me make it up to you--"
"--Make it up to me by take me out on a date??" The sarcasm dripped harshly over the false excitement she had in her voice. Clearly Wren was not amused by this form of pick up.
"Well, ah--"
"Really, Hot Shot? This was all a ploy to try and ask me out?" Wren groaned, leaning back against the bench. "I got four illegal abscences because you were too chicken to ask me out yourself." The dog gave a soft whine, licking her hand to console her. "I really pegged you, didn't I?"
"I....I'm sorry."
She gave a heavy sigh. He sounded guilty. Was it guilty enough? "Yeah, look. I'm not interested. The effort was really innovative and romantic and had it been done in a different dimension where I'm insanely wealthy and already had five degrees under my belt, I would have *completely* fallen head over heels for it. But I'm not. So I won't. I've got too much on my plate to juggle a relationship." *Another relationship*. One that meant commitment and time and effort to nurture and then the eventual clipping away and removing all of her other relationships out of her life. A relationship that meant secrets and lies and she wasn't going to sacrifice her life for anyone.
There was silence on the connection. Wren was hoping that the guy was getting the hint. There was a minor comfort that she could hear him speak, but there was nothing to record his voice for future listening times. This was as good as she got. Still no response from him after a minute so she continued the conversation.
"So how do I get Rex back to you? I mean, possession's nine-tenths of the law, but government property's a tricky thing."
"Know the north side hill overlooking the campus? I can be there in two hours." He sounded defeated, resigned to his failure.
It was about time he figured that one out. Marines were such ego maniacs, thinking they could get anything they wanted by flashing a smile. Wren liked the surrender and yet not. Had there been a different set of circumstances, she would have completely taken this and ran with it. "See you in two, Hot Shot."
"All right, Beautiful."
Whatever possessed her to sneak Rex into her dorm room so she could at least shower and change was beyond her. She was returning the man's dog (who was insisting on laying right next to the tub to wait for her to finish.) It wasn't a date. She was returning a *dog*. So why was she putting on a sun dress with a crotchet shawl? There was lip gloss and a little blush on her cheeks with her hair in a lazy up-do. It was casual enough to go return Rex, right? Maybe a dab of perfume oil from the mountain wouldn't hurt, either.
"It's not a date, Wren," she muttered to herself, deciding on the strappy sandals with the peek-a-boo toes. "You're just returning Rex." In the twenty minutes she walked and crested the top of the hill, she realized her mistake. There was the man in a button down and slacks, full spread picnic complete with lit candles and wine. Rex gave a joyful bark and greeted his partner with a full body wiggle.
It was totally a date. And she surprised herself by not minding that one bit.
****
"Marry me?"
"I can't."
His eyes widened as her answer was different from the near identical responses that happened every day for the past six months. Every time he asked, she would laugh, wink and then challenge him with a, "Ask me tomorrow, Hot Shot." It didn't matter if it was in person, texting or messaging, she would respond the same way. And now? Now it was different.
The irony of that nickname was that he wasn't a shooter per se. He was a munitions locator, specifically bombs and detonators. Thus the dog that was stretched out across the doorway, looking positively bored with the whole affair.
"Wren?" He sat up from his half lounge on the couch when she sat up more, curling herself in the process. "What's wrong?" His hand, warm and calloused soothed over her back in slow circular strokes. She was trying so hard not to cry. "*Wren*."
"I-I can't." Her voice was barely above a squeak. "It's not possible, Sean. I just can't do that to you."
"You know, it's usually the guy who's afraid to commit," he quipped, relaxing a bit when she managed to laugh. "Unless there's...something terminal?" That was always a worry but with the way she glared at him he could dismiss it. "Don't tell me you're CIA. Because if that's the case, then the whole nation knows what I've been failing at and that's a little much for me."
Wren shook her head as she muttered. "'M not CIA. My family's actually anti-government."
"You live on a mountain with a fully stocked armory kind of anti-government or are your parents petitioning GMOs and anti-vaxxers kind of government?"
"My parents were once captured and had things done to them kind of anti-government. Not following homeland security or anything. And they won't let it happen again."
"What'd they do?"
"Why do you assume that it was something they did?" She looked up at him defensively. "They'd *kill* me if they knew about you. I'm playing with fire and it's not good. I shouldn't have let you into my heart like this."
Oh, that sounded too much like the 'break up' talk. Sean had been there plenty of times for the 'break up' talk and none of them sent him into a panic more than this one. "Who can resist my charming smile and irresistable good looks?"
"Easy." She decided to stare at the TV that had been off for the past few hours. "Because it wasn't either of those things to begin with. It was your voice."
That was new.
"The cadence, the warmth. No matter what you said, how you said it, it was there." She rested her chin on her knees, sniffing softly. "I've always liked sound."
They sat there in silence for however long it seemed, letting time slip over them. Sean didn't know what to say and Wren had already shut down, looking away, ignoring contact. After six months of trying to get her to open up, it was all going to crash down around him.
"So tell my *why* it wouldn't work."
"It just won't."
"That's not *why*."
"My parents-"
"Children have followed this fine tradition of not giving a fuck about their parents' opinions and doing whatever they wanted. I'm sure yours did the same."
"My brother--"
"Is a nudist. You told me already."
She fell quiet again, her lip trembling slightly. "There are...others."
Others? The way she said it...he felt like he'd been punched in the gut. "Other relatives?" Maybe that's what she was inferring. That's what he hoped she was inferring.
"People. Lovers. I'm poly."
"Polygamous?"
Wren growled softly in frustration. "*No*." The question earned Sean a stern look. It was the first time she focused her eyes on him in the past thirty minutes. "Polyamorus."
"Oh." The answer left more questions than not. "If you're into open relationships, why didn't you tell me before?" Did she have another guy on the side? Another girl? He mentally berated himself and clamped his jaw shut before he could ask about threesomes.
"Because you're the only one I'm relation-ing. Here. And I seriously didn't think it would get this far." Which meant somewhere down the line his proposals had turned into something worth considering. She actually *wanted* something from him.
"So you don't want to get married because you don't want to lose all those other relationships you have out of town." Sean thought about that for a moment. "Does that mean I was the first to propose to you or the latest one to do so?"
"You're the first," she admitted softly. He had been the first and yet she didn't love him enough to cut loose everyone else and stay with just him. But he was the first to propose, to offer the picket fence, the 3.2 kids, the dog. And she was allowing herself to consider it before the rest of her life came into focus. "I can't be monogamous. And I don't want to be. The people I'm with all have qualities that help me be a better, stronger person. And yes, you even do that for me, too. But I don't want to break any of those pieces off when they make up the whole me."
"I'm not asking you to. I just want us to be a part of each other's lives."
"I thought we were, Sean. What we're doing now is being a part of each other's lives. We don't need a wedding to do that." Her face twisted slightly. "I can't even bring you home to my family, Sean. Or really become a part of my life. I can't ask you to keep any more secrets or even try and understand what comes naturally to me. What I grew up with. It would be like," Wren turned, her silver eyes glassy as she reached out for Sean's hands. "It would be like me insisting you give up the Marines and tell me all the dirty, dark secrets you swore to uphold and protect. I can't ask that of you. Don't ask that of me. Please."
Sean watched her as she rose from her seat, looking as graceful and as polished as the day he met her. And now she was going to leave him. He'd never felt this kind of icy panic before, not even in combat. Her kiss told him everything. She didn't want to go, she loved him, she was wishing him the best. At the end of that kiss he knew he couldn't live without her. When she rested her forehead against his, his voice cracked. "I won't give up on you."
"I'm not a war to be won, Sean." Her fingers touched his cheek and he felt that familiar tingle that always happened when she touched him softly. "Oh'--I love you." He tried to hold on to her to keep her from leaving him but somehow she passed through is fingers like water, giving Rex a friendly pat on the head as she walked out the door.
The next day when he texted her "Marry me?" she didn't text back.
******
Every night he still texted her. Every night the response was nothing. Sean knew better than to do anything more than that. During the day he was pulling favors from everyone he knew and then some, digging through intel, collecting information and burning his trail so that no one could find out what was going on. At least he hoped he was being successful. The things he read were so out there that he wasn't certain if he was reading the files correctly. But he had gathered it all, stuffed it in an accordian file folder and took his dog for a ride.
The land marks were true and he gawked a bit as he drove through Realityville. It wasn't so much that the city looked strange but the fact that this was where Wren lived-where she went to school, the MAUL where she hung out. It was her childhood.
Kaitown? Now that was gawked at because it needed to be gawked at. The clones that looked alike save for a change of clothes or hair style, the proto-beck bar, Nicky's grill, the inn...all of it. And somewhere between Realityville and Kaitown was Wren's home. He must have missed the turn off the first time around. After booking a room at the inn, he took the camero off to find the barely there turn off and headed down a gravel road that was draped by a canopy of leaves and dappled light. The trees gave way to a clearing and in the distance he spotted two buildings set on a rise. One looked smaller than the other-probably the garage he read about. Parking the car by the house proper, he headed towards the front door with Rex in tow, freezing only when the dog paused.
Looking to his right Sean noted the young man watching them. It could only be his beloved's brother. Golden tanned skin with fierce, storm grey eyes and sun bleached hair was the sight, complete with a long loincloth and a few bands of leather on his wrists.
Rex whined and Sean dropped his hand to his side, quietting the dog. Hawke didn't move. "Good afternoon, Hawke," Sean greeted as casually as he could muster. Hawke didn't move. Not one muscle flexed nor did his face show that he was surprised by his name coming from the stranger's mouth. The only thing that did happen was that his eyes narrowed.
Sean did his best to ignore his stomach bottoming out.
The young man didn't seem intent on stopping him so he stepped up to the front porch and knocked on the door. He didn't hear Hawke move but rather felt the man's presence come closer. The new pressure made Rex growl in warning and Sean swore he heard a return growl. It was just as low and as deep as Rex's had been.
"Shh."
The growls stopped. Sean didn't bother looking behind him. He'd done nothing wrong and had no intentions of doing so. Seconds ticked by, crawling over Sean's skin like minutes before the door opened. The one who opened the door wasn't Wren as he'd been hoping, but a man with blue eyes that shot straight through is soul. Beads and braids made up his hair, almost looking like dreadlocks. In all honesty he looked like a flamer with the too tight mesh shirt stretched over muscle and bondage pants giving no form below the waist. Part of him wondered if the guy once drank silver since his skin carried a very light blue sheen.
The pair stared at each other unmoving, unspeaking. Then the braided guy squealed, jogging in place and startling the wits out of Sean. "*ARI!* Your mail order husband's here!" Before even the dog could react, Sean yelped as he was tugged inside and the door slammed shut. The dog seemed surprised that he was still outside with is master within and barked once, pawing to be let in.
Hawke made a soft, beckoning sound to get the dog's attention. "Your friend will not be harmed," he soothed, looking at the black and tan pattern on the dog's face. "Let us go wait for Wrrenah."
*****
Sean knew a tactic when he saw one and he glared at the braided man as he straightened himself. "Really?" He paused when he heard Rex bark, but the other guy interrupted before Sean could speak.
"How the hell did you get on our front porch?"
"Well, first I drove and then I walked--"
"*NO.* How did you find us?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're not supposed to find us. We aren't on the map, not on the grid."
"Ah. Well, I didn't need the grid, but you're not as off as you think...or ... weren't as off as you are now?" Nope, that didn't make sense, either. "Anyway. Where's everyone else?"
"Okay, so. Who are you again and what badge do you carry so I can throw it and you out after?"
"Sergeant Gunner Sean Valcour."
Drake did not look impressed. "*ARI?!*" He called out the name again, this time with a sense of urgency.
This time the name did not go ignored and an older female version of Hawke appeared-only this one wore clothes. "Drake? Who's this?"
"Some illustrious hot shot that's decided to show up on our doorstep without proper clearance." Sean couldn't help but smirk a bit at that. Hot shot. "He came with a dog. Hawke has it." The smirk faded instantly.
"My dog better not be harm--"
The woman held up her hand to quiet Sean. "Your dog's in safer hands than you would have been with my son. So why are you here and why do you have that intimidating folder with you?"
"It's a peace offering, ma'am."
Drake cringed as Ari's brow rose. "Oooooo, shouldn't have said that."
"Peace offering?"
Ari interrupted before Drake could answer. 'What is it?"
"Is Wren around? I'd like her to see it, too." The sharp look he got from the mother told him he overstepped a boundary and he straightened, looking straight ahead. "...Ma'am."
Ari was piecing things together. The way the gentleman spoke, his concern for her daughter and the way Wren had been acting ever since coming home for the summer told her almost everything she needed to know.
The heart wants what the heart wants.
She held out a hand, eyes going to the folder. "Let me see it. Drake? Get Kohl."
Drake mockingly saluted her and headed off. Unlike an actual soldier, he didn't bother with the 'yes, ma'am!'
Sean handed the folder over to the woman and stood there, waiting. She leafed through the files at her leisure, not bothering to offer a drink or a seat for the Marine. He wouldn't ask for it, either. He knew that he was being tested and would rather wait and see if his offering would be accepted or not.
"This was supposed to be destroyed," Ari said softly, completely unplussed that she was alone with a stranger in her home.
"Your intel must have missed something or they were betrayed." Sean's eyes flickered on occasion, trying to read the woman. He couldn't get any hint to what she was thinking and she didn't look at him. "Anything on computer I had scrubbed, including the machines themselves, if possible. This is the last hard copy in existence."
Ari looked up, eyeing the Marine. "And if they ever found out what you did?"
"It wouldn't matter if it meant that I have her." Well, it sort of did. Rex was his partner and the dog would surely be re-assigned. But looking at it from a practical standpoint? He wanted that woman by his side. And he was willing to blow everything he had to make it happen.
Arista flipped through the pages until the end. Everything was in there with the exception of some recent arrivals and the mountain. Good. Shutting the folder closed, she looked up at Sean with flinty, dangerous looking eyes. Her voice was soothing, pleasant now that she knew what was going on.
"Why don't you take a seat in the living room, Mr Valcour. Would you like some tea-lemonade?"
"That would be fine, Ma'am."
*****
He'd felt fear before, but this kind of fear? Never. It felt more like a phobia, an irrational panic that threatened to sweep him over and drown him in the riptide. Where the hell was Wren? He was forced to face her family alone with the barest of introductions. The information he had gleaned from the files hadn't been enough to prepare him for this.
Kohl was now seated in a chair opposite from Sean, Fear bleeding out from him like an open vein. Sean did his best to ignore it, trying to concentrate on Arista's explanation of the files.
"It *feels* right, Kohl." Huh. *She* had no problems being around this guy. This guy who was Wren's dad. "All there, nothing's different." Ari's hand rested on the folder. Beside her Drake sat back, humming as he steepled his fingers together.
"So the thing where we--"
"Yep."
"And the zoo?"
"In here."
Drake's eyes lifted. "The Mouse?"
Ari's eyes tightened slightly, but she nodded. "Yes."
"And this is the last copy." Drake started humming *The Last Unicorn*, making the blond smirk.
"*Drake.*"
"What? It's fitting, isn't it?"
Kohl's eyes flickered to Sean who had been tolerating the torture session with a resiliance he knew other humans lacked. Sean was offering total anonymity at the risk of his career in order to have a chance with Wren. Kohl found it commendable considering they all had done stupid things for love at one time or another.
The door opened and the sound of clawed feet echoed on the wood grain. With a happy yip, dog and man were reunited, complete with sloppy kisses and grunting laughter. Behind the dog came brother and sister, Hawke's arm around Wren's waist for support as she came around the corner looking at Sean with wide eyes.
With a command Rex was off Sean and seated, barely containing his excitement with a wiggle. Sean's eyes were all of Wren as she stood before him with Hawke sliding away. She was trembling and Sean determined it wasn't from her father.
"Hey, Beautiful." Ignoring the audience, Sean's smile was all for her.
"Why?" Her voice trembled. The look she gave him was a mix of horror and cautious hope. "Sean, I told you--"
"--And didn't you also tell me to follow my dreams? I'm chasing the only one that matters to me, praying I never wake up." As much as he wanted to go to her and wrap her up in his embrace, he didn't dare move from his seat. He was afraid that if he did, she'd spook and run off. "Outside from Rex, you are the only one who's seen me at my worst and didn't hate me or pull away. How can I let that slip through my fingers?" His Creole was starting to thicken from the emotion. "I can't live without you. The past three weeks was hell enough."
Her eyes fell to the folder. Did she want this much responsibility? What if she still said no? The last thing Wren wanted Sean to do was hurt himself. But then again, wasn't this dogged determination? "What's that?"
"Us," Ari answered. "The last bit of information they had on us, on APEC, everything. It's ours now to do with what we wish."
"What about the guys and the mountain?"
Sean cocked his head to the side in confusion. He didn't know what Wren was talking about.
The Marine's response made Arista smile. "They don't know. So *he* doesn't know. The choice is yours, Wren. This folder's getting burned tonight, regardless."
Sean's eyes lit up as he watched Wren give a cautious smile. 'So does that mean--"
"NO!" She shook her head, looking exaspirated. "Gods, you're so cocky!" No was was she going to just accept his proposal-the one he'd been asking her since the day he met her-right there in front of her family. She was just trying to accept the fact that Sean was out of her life for good and now she was stuck with the reality that maybe not. Maybe Sean just had it in him to stick around and accept whatever insanity happened in the household.
This time Sean felt it was safe and he rose from his seat on the couch. He did what he'd been aching to do and closed the distance, winding his arms around her, claiming her mouth in a heated kiss. He didn't care one whit if the family was watching. He *wanted* them to watch. He wanted them to see how much he loved her and he smiled into the kiss when her hands fluttered against his arms before gripping tightly.
***
Sean never made it back to the inn. He spend the night in the house with the dog by their feet and each other tangled on the couch, casually exploring one another again. He lived for the way her breath caught when he touched her, craved the way his stomach tightened when her eyes peered into his, flashing and challenging. Part of him wanted her right there on the couch, not caring who would walk in on them. The other part demanded he protect his lady's sensibilities so he forced himself to remain content with her quiet sounds and warm body pressed up against him.
"Will you finally tell me how you got those scars?" Sean was quiet as he let his fingers trail down her left side. He knew that they made her uncomfortable, but she always tried to hide that fact.
Years of conditioning couldn't be unmade in one day but she was trying. Her eyes searched Sean's as she tried to figure out what to say and how to say it. "I...guess for lack of a better term...Zombie Dragon."
Sean was quiet as he listened, making decent headway in suspending his perception of reality and trying to live in Wren's. Undead dragon mages, alien brain invaders and nothing but two black (yet living!) dragons, a handful of unicorns, her family and a small clan of ninjas were there to defeat the enemy. When had disobeyed her mother and gotten caught up by the lich. Luckily for her the gashes down her side were from the alien drone and not the lich-not that Sean could see how that was a lucky break. The problem was that the lich had not been defeated and they were at a loss as to how they could get rid of it.
"There's one thing I don't understand. It makes the whole thing seem...unbelievable," Sean mused, watching for Wren's reaction.
She quirked her mouth. Over time, she resorted to sitting on his lap, thighs draped over his and her arms resting on his shoulders. "Really? There was a detail that trumped dragons, unicorns and the alien brain thing?"
"Yeah." Sean tilted his head, peering back at Wren as he responded in a almost joking tone. "Ninjas? Really?"
"Hey, those ninjas had one who patched me up. And why did that part seem unrealistic over all the other parts?"
"Have you seen a ninja lately?"
"Sean, they live in the shaddows." She leaned in close to whisper in his ear. "They're like Batman, terrors of the night." She took a moment to suck in his earlobe, grinning with it between her teeth when he reacted with a hitch in his breath. "Ultimately, if Donnie hadn't been here, I don't think I would be."
Sean watched her face as she gave the name away to one of those 'terrors of the night.' "You like him?"
"It's a crush." She sighed softly, smiling and shaking her head. "I don't think he knew what kind of impact he had on me. Or that he wanted to know. Our paths diverged, that's all."
"But you would have done him if you had the chance?"
Wren made the attempt to sound offended, slapping Sean's arm. "Pervert! Yes. Had I the chance, I would. How do you feel about me, knowing that?"
In all honesty, he wasn't certain. For a while he feared that any guy she liked she just gave herself over to. But now hearing there was unrequited attraction, he relaxed a little more. It was still going to take some time getting used to, but he was willing to work at it if Wren was willing not to bombard him with it all at once. "I feel like I'm the luckiest guy to know someone saved his future for him. Maybe I'll get the chance to thank him."
"Maybe. I hope so. I think you guys would get along." For the most part, at least.
Sean sat there, contented with the tiny movements that Wren was making against him. One could almost say she was trying to make herself comfortable, but Sean knew better. Maybe they would make the most of it on the small twin in her room. But another thought struck him and he said it out loud. "We could blow it up."
"Blow it up? You mean the lich?"
"Mmmhmm. It's possible, isn't it? It's nothing but bones from what you said."
"Yeah, but...the bones would just collect back together--"
"Not if you put them far apart. You said yourself there were different dimensions, right? A few pieces here, a few pieces there...who's going to know?"
Was it even possible? Blowing up a kakariki and scattering the bones or even the dust of the bones across dimensions to prevent its return? "Maybe it'll work. We'll ask mom and dad."
"So how do we get the explosives?"
"Wren grinned. "We have our ways. Now. Come to bed. I want to have my way with you first."
"...Yes, ma'am."
*****
"Marry Me."
He couldn't think straight, couldn't really see straight after he'd been flung into the massive tree. What he did manage to see was Rex beside him barking frantically. A few feet away was Wren swinging what looked like a branch at the strange humanoid creatures, holding her own well enough. At least well enough to not get tossed into a tree trunk. Instead of going for limbs, she stabbed into bellies. The way the men squealed and collapsed into heaps wasn't anything he'd seen before.
With a small groan he rolled onto his back, lifting his hand when his dog started licking his face. A moment later he heard Wren's voice and a heavy sound as she dropped to her knees. "Sean! Sean, look at me."
Her face was determined and terrified but mostly determined. Sean's vision kept swimming as he tried to focus on both Wrens before him. "Marry me?"
"Alright." There was a small smile as she pat his cheek. His focus was impeccible. "But you can't doe on me, you hear me, Marine? If you croak now, no marriage for you. Now. On your feet! We have to get out of here."
That was all Sean remembered of the fight. As far as he was concerned, it was the only important thing to remember.
Today was a brilliant day full of sun and song. He was standing by the offience in his full dress blues, waiting for his wife to be. No. "Promised." Wren had a few suggestions to their big day and Sean was more than happy to concede. For them, no government involvement. Off the grid meant just that. The ceremony would be small yet it could happen in New Orleans so Sean's family could attend and finally meet Wren. A handfasting was in order and at this point, Sean didn't care. Who needed a piece of paper to officialize things when love was the strongest bond?
His family heard bits and pieces of who Wren was but there had been no full disclosure. All they knew was that she was from the midwest, an avid horse rider and finishing up a linguistics degree at breakneck speed. Ask to how or why Sean fell in love with her was a complete mystery. They looked upon Wren's family with suspicion, not quite reaching out with that deep southern hospitality..
Wren didn't wear white but instead a pale blue with delicate lace and her hair accented with drop pearls. Ringlets framed her face and the bouquet was local flowers. She looked as radiant as the day he first saw her and for the tenth time that day he wondered what he did to be so blessed.
The ceremony itself was a blend of traditional marriage and what Wren told him of this hand fasting. Rings were exchanged, hands were tied for the day. Hawke (in pants!) stood by his sister's side as Sean's brother stood by his. At the end it didn't matter if it wasn't going to be recognized by the country. This was unique, this moment was *theirs* and Sean could feel the pull of being a part of something magical.
The after party was a picnic-BBQ held at the park. Mingling was strained at first but people started to mellow out when food was served and laughter danced around when Wren and Sean had to figure out how to work together with bound hands. A few hours later when night fall started they were freed and could mingle properly with everyone. The look of happiness was undeniable on Sean's face. Wren matched the expression, joyfully speaking with Sean's parents and sibling.
They remained two more days in the 'old country' as Ari put it before driving back home. Sean's family still wasn't certain about Wren and her family but they would have to make do with it because Sean wasn't going to budge. Now the next challenge was Sean meeting the other side of Wren's family.
*****
Ophelia 14:00
Hey, happy 6 mo anniversary! Call me when they release you. I have a surprise :)
Ophelia 18:00
Pick up the phone, Sean! I'm trying to get a hold of you!
Ophelia 18:15
Is there overtime?
Ophelia 18:20
Your dog needs to learn to type and read. call me
Ophelia 18:30
This isn't funny. Stop ignoring me
Ophelia 19:46
Please. call me . email. something.
Ophelia 00:01
I love you
Hot Shot 06:00
Who is this?
Ophelia 06:03
Sean?
Hot Shot 06:10
No. It is not Sean. Are you his wife?
Ophelia 06:11
What happened? Who are you to have his phone? Yes, I'm Wren.
Hot Shot 06:13
Very good. We've been trying to reach you, Wren. Please call XXX XXX XXXX
Ophelia 06:14
Will you please tell me what's going on? Where's Sean? Is he okay?
Hot Shot 06:16
Just call the number. Cptn Woods will be speaking with you.
There was a fire in the cottage. The house burned down with the white picket fence and the man of the house still inside. Wren listened to the voice on the other end, her world shattering around her when she managed to register 'horrible accident' and 'nothing we could do.'
Sean no longer went overseas but he was still sent to various bases around the country to train others how to work with their dogs. He and Rex were a team-a damn good one and it was a fair trade off to work at bases than to face the unknown overseas. This particular session was in Texas. The bomb that was supposed to be dead wasn't and went off, taking Sean and three others with it. Rex was injured, but cautiously declared that he would make a full recovery.
Wren got off the phone and took a deep breath. Now wasn't the time to break down. There were things she needed to do. She needed to book a flight. Pack. Breathe. Good gods, she needed to breathe. One by one she ticked off the list of things she needed to do. There was a flight out in three hours. Her carry on was all she needed. Then she dialed her parents. The young woman's voice wrestled and cracked when she heard her father's voice on the other side.
"D-daddy? There was an accident on the base...He's...he's gone" It was all she could say before the tears choked her.
The next week was mechanical for her. Sean's parents were there but they gave most of their support to each other with the young woman still practically a stranger to them. Wren couldn't blame them for that. Her own family made connecting flights and lent their strength to her. Arrangements were made via military and finally Sean was allowed to be laid to rest. The night before the funeral she spent the night in the viewing home with the coffin and one Marine that kept watch over it. No words were exchanged between the living; what she managed to say was spoken with a tight throat to the flag-clad casket. The whispers were private and the Marine respectfully ignored them. Only his white gloved hands tightened when he caught the whispered secret.
The funeral was long and overwhelming. Due to the nature of Sergeant Gunner Valcour's death, a great many officiates came to speak. They all addressed Sean's family and his bride, lamenting over the fact that their life together was cut so short. Wren did her best not to listen to them. She couldn't bear hearing the platitudes. Her eyes remained on the casket and the dog that laid depressed before it. The hair around his middle had been shaved off for the surgery that saved his life and a thick white bandage was in place. Rex lay there. Unmoving. Mourning. Fresh tears streaked down her cheeks in sympathy of the dog's pain that he couldn't save his master this time.
At the end of the tedious eulogies, Rex lifted his head, looking intently at the coffin. Wren caught the motions, the way the dog was listening to an unheard voice. It was an effort, but the shepherd rose, weakly shook himself off and padded over to Wren, settling by her feet with a heavy sigh. Any person who came close to her was met with a wary glare. Any other trying to move Rex from his post received a dark, rumbling growl. Even the dog's handler couldn't get near him.
It was then she realized with a start that Rex received his final instructions: Watch her.
***
"Ma'am." The Marine who watched over the casket came to Wren. She was not the one who received the flag that had rested on the coffin, but her mother. It was Sean's instructions that it happen like that. But the Marine had watched the dog, listened to her grief-stricken words, and knew. "Sergeant Gunner Valcour was an admirable Marine. It's only fitting that his widow be equally admirable." He had watched her be ignored, left to mourn for herself with her family close by. Her chin was held high while she kept to the undefined shaddows that were placed around her by the others.
"Sean wants you to have this." In his gloved palm was a USB stick. Wren looked down at it, then up to the Marine as she took it from his hand. "It's encrypted. We don't know what's on it, only that you needed to have it should anything happen to him."
"Thank you." Her fingers tightened around on the stick as if holding onto it would keep the tears away. "I'll find out what's on it. It'll just take me a while."
"Semper Fi, Ma'am."
"Semper Fi, Marine."
****
Once the code was cracked, the memory stick started playing in what seemed to be mid-transmission.
“Real isn't how you are made,' said the Skin Horse. 'It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.'
'Does it hurt?' asked the Rabbit.
'Sometimes,' said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. 'When you are Real you don't mind being hurt.'
'Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,' he asked, 'or bit by bit?'
'It doesn't happen all at once,' said the Skin Horse. 'You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand.”
The warm Creole read the words, seemingly intent on reading the entire book. Instead he closed the book and leaned back, adjusting the computer camera.
"Hey, Beautiful. It's gonna be six months in a few days and I'm stuck out here in Texas. Home of fire ants, football dads and open carry weapons. Fun stuff, let me tell you. And I'm sure you're going to wade through all the other messages I made, because I made one for every time I was stationed away from you. You never know about things and if I learned one thing being with you, it's this; don't wait to say what's on your mind.
"Who would have thought that you'd accept my proposal while I had a concussion and you were covered in pink blood?" He laughed a little at that, shaking his head. Sean quickly sobered. "You were my rock at that moment. With all that crazy shit going on and I had no idea which way was up, you were there. I can't let that kind of stability go. I'd have been stupid to do that. Thanks for making me Real.
"So how *did* you get your brother to wear pants at the ceremony? Neat trick."
He shifted in his seat, blue eyes looking right into the lens, practically looking at the person who was watching him. "I don't think I say it enough. Those guys who inspired you to learn all those moves with just a stick? I still want to meet them. Dunno why you're not as confident with them meeting me as you were with the kirin, but that's okay. I'll practice here.
"This is for the one named Donnie. I've seen your work. It's pretty good, and it keeps Wren together. Nice job. Thanks for not sweeping her off her feet and carrying her away to your man cave, too. Don't think I would have had a chance then. I still don't know how or why ninjas fit into her crazy world of magic things but I shouldn't think about it too hard. You were there and that's what mattered. Hope everything's going really well for you and your brothers.
"I mean it. Semper Fi. You may not be a Marine..." He paused a moment. "Yeah, not a Marine. Not unless you count the rifle and bayonet as a similar weapon. I still consider you a brother. Albeit a very distant one who never writes or calls and is probably out partying to all hours of the night-ohwait! That's *my* brother. Heh heh.
"And to Roo and Barnas and the others. You are one crazy group of people. If humans really lived like that, I'd be out of a job, you know. I wouldn't mind it, really. Thanks for letting me in against your better judgement. I know I wouldn't have. Seeing how many good people have surrounded her and kept her safe is humbling. Not many people have that in case they need it. So. Take care of her when I'm not around, alright? I know you will."
He rambled on about other things, talking to Wren's parents, shifting to the weather and just...talking. He let the sound of his voice become the lullaby and Wren sat there, closing her eyes as she swallowed harshly.
"Okay, I've got to go. But you gotta know something about this memory stick; there's a bazillion gigs on it and it's not even half full. I won't stop until it's filled and I can't wait until I have to add bedtime stories for our future little ones, Wren. You want a family of your own, right? Let me know. We'll get started on it as soon as I get back. Love you, Beautiful. See you on the other side."
The transmission ended and Wren stared at the blank screen, her face scrunched up while she processed it all. "You're such a jackass," she croaked, feeling her throat thicken. Her words had no bite to them as fresh tears fell, making the dog whine softly and nose her hand.