"So away mission eh?" Tracy asked him when he entered their quarters.
It was still pretty sparse and it would remain that way, to an extent. They didn't figure on being here that long really, just the duration of this mission, then they'd be on to either their own commands again or something else at least.
Mark took off his uniform top and laid it on the back of the couch.
"Yeah. Ol Kris figured I'd volunteer. It is okay with you isn't it?" he said, then asked.
She hadn't realized that he hadn't asked. The thought hit her square between the eyes and scrambled her thoughts as her feelings bubbled up.
"I didn't think about it. It does make sense though," she said, adjusting her bun of hair.
He went over to the guitar in the corner and picked it up to play. She hadn't realized she'd sighed until he stopped and asked her.
"What?"
She tried to process what was going on with her emotions and put them into words.
"Sorry. It's nothing."
He put the instrument down and came over to her.
"Oh come on. It's not nothing, what is it?"
"I'm not exactly sure. We're together, finally. We've said for years that we'd like this. And now that we have it - you play guitar. You just volunteer without talking to me-"
"Whoa whoa whoa, if there was a mission that involved some deep infiltration you wouldn't be the first to raise your hand?" he said, dropping his hands from her arms.
"That's not the point," she said, but he was right in a way.
"I don't see the difference. We're here because we could be together yeah, but we've still got our jobs to do," he countered, rubbing her crossed arms again.
"Okay, you're right about that. But-" she started to say something, but stopped and exhaled, frustrated.
"What is it honey?" he said, kissing her forehead then resting his own on the kiss.
"I'd like you to give me some attention when you can. If it's not too much to ask," she said. "It's been a long day for me too. Lots of catching up."
Mark chuckled.
"Welcome to the XO job sweetie. Now you know what you made Evertt go through all the time," he said, smiling.
"That's not true. I did a lot. Course I was gone for extended periods of time, but he managed just fine," she said, smiling herself as she thought of her ship and first officer.
"Yeah yeah, so how bout some dinner at home then? I request a mean chicken parmesan," he smiled at her next.
"After you put your damn shirt away," she said, pointing at the top on the couch. "We're not starting bad habits in our first house."
_________________ Semper Paratus - Always Ready Semper Invictus, Semper Vigilans - Ever Invincible, Ever Watchful
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