For Better or Worse
Posted on Fri Mar 15th, 2019 @ 8:12pm by Commodore Jane Saulitis & Hak
Mission:
Sojourn
Location: Marga III
842 words - 1.7 OF Standard Post Measure
"You're sure this is what you want?" Hak asked again, quietly, as they walked down the massive pier of Marga III's capitol district. He squeezed her hand. It was what he wanted for the longest time, more than anything, but her feelings had been more complicated and he respected that.
Jane smiled and squeezed back. "Yes, I said yes twenty years ago and I've always meant it. It was really just a matter of when I think. I thought I was too young back then, I wanted to experience the world and then our careers separated us but you were always the one I was thinking of. There's never been anybody else."
"There never has," Hak agreed, looking over to meet Jane's blue eyes. His heart soared happily in that moment, like the gulls that flew across the pier looking for dinner in the twilit waters off either side.
"I'm just sorry it took me so long." She gave him a small smile but felt a pang of pain knowing that she may have hurt him while she was bouncing around the universe looking for herself.
He said with a lopsided smile, "You don't have to apologize. Truth was that neither of us were ready. We waited until it was the right moment. No one can judge us on that."
"True," She thought that was fair. "So . . . what shall we do afterwards? Do we want a little celebration on the Majestic? Surprise people? Or do we want to keep this to ourselves for a bit?"
"You really want me to meet your people? Not afraid I might embarrass you?" Hak laughed softly. "I think we should wait and see what we feel like doing."
"Okay," she nodded though she couldn't imagine how Hak would embarrass her. She didn't care if her crew knew she loved him. Jane shivered slightly. "I can't remember the last time I wore a dress."
"You look cold. Beautiful, but cold." Hak let a small sigh out and he broke into a sincere smile. "Let's do this thing, Jas, and then we can go warm up," he said taking her by the hand again and starting in the final stretch toward the point at the end of the pier where the Margarian officiant was already waiting for them.
Jane let him pull her along, a smile on her face. She was so happy that they were finally doing this.
Hak turned from the official to face Jane and silently steeled himself for the weight of the moment. He reached out and took her hands in his, ran his thumbs along the backs of her fingers, and looked again into her blue eyes. "Jane Alta Saulitis. I've known for a long time that you are my imzadi, my perfect puzzle piece, meant to complete me and make me a better person in every imaginable way. The universe threw us together and you've unlocked parts of me that I didn't know were alive. More than I could ever explain to you, you've saved me by being my anchor. I now commit to you, in front of all these... birds and tourists... that I will be everything I am capable of being for you, that I will do everything I can to love, protect, and cherish you until the end of our days, " Hak's eyes twinkled mischievously as he said the next line, "And that I will break warp regulations and border crossings in up to eight sectors to be with you when you need me."
Jane couldn't help but chuckle, mostly at the birds and tourists line. They were indeed witnessing their wedding. She felt strangely calm in the moment as if they were only talking to each other. "For a long time I thought that you were the person who built me up but over the years I've come to the conclusion that you were only pointing out things I already possessed. If it weren't for you I'd be some clerk in an office somewhere and never have known what I could accomplish because you see me even more clearly than I see myself. I'm not a writer, and you know this so I borrowed an ancient poem I've always loved." Jane cleared her throat. "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach, when feeling out of sight for the ends of being and ideal grace. I love thee to the level of every day's most quiet need, by sun and candlelight. I love thee freely, as men strive for right; I love thee purely, as they turn from praise. I love with a passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose with my lost saints, -- I love thee with the breath, smiles, tears, of all my life."
OFF:
Commander Jane Saulitis
Commanding Officer
USS Majestic
Hak
Not just a guy anymore
