Because of The In Amber Clad

By: The New Girl Of Lycanthropy

It was in October that our squad had gone into the Battle of Mombasa.

I was- and probably will be called this forever- The Rookie of the group. Still am. Things have been made so that most likely, I always will be.

I was with Captain Dare and Gunny Sergeant Buck, my team leaders, when they came together again. It was a sort of funny, albeit awkward moment for me and that big, pink alien. Even he looked at me like, 'They have to do this now?'. But I just shrugged it off; I'd do the same with my girl.

That's why I'm such a quiet person, I suppose. I don't really have much to say, and I appreciate really looking deeper into actions than words. Their actions, needless to say- especially for me- told me everything that they felt. It was funny because of the quick flow of the captain's actions. She punched him first to get all of her frustration out, and then kissed him to show him how she really felt about seeing him again.

Then I heard the quiet conversation on the Phantom they had. From what it sounded like, they were back together. I wasn't sure. She told him to win the war, then ask them about their relationship again. From that only, I could've thought that maybe she was rejecting him. Then I saw their hands intertwine.

I knew that was the beginning of them both being with the squad for the rest of it's time. Captain Dare stayed in her assignment as our team leader- though she, begrudgingly so- shared that power with the Gunny. Romeo would crack a few jokes whenever we happened to be on a carrier, and the two weren't seen for the entire day. Mickey, who in the months before the war ended had become a good friend to me, would quietly wolf whistle while me and him would see them walking together, hands still intertwined. The idiot would hide behind me when the Gunny turned around to see who it was, and would call out Mickey, knowing I would always be quiet about what Gunny knew I noticed.

Mickey always did like talking to me. I guess it was because he talked so much, and I had didn't waste time telling him what to do. I was like a silent counselor- Dutch talked to me when he had worries about Gretchen, and even Romeo came to me about the rare woman that really broke his heart. Mickey was one of the only one I ever talked to, beside the Gunny and Captain. He would ask me about my family, or my girl. He was one of the only people I ever talked to aloud.

But the day I remember the most was the day the war ended. It was in December, and the carrier we were on was nearing Luna. Me and Mickey had been looking out the carrier windows, hoping to catch a glimpse of our home planet. Comically, everyone in the squad had begun to miss Earth. It had sort of a pull for us; I guess it was our planet of special origin wanting us back. It was actually where we had planned to go, when the war was over. Really, we had grown to like the place around Mombasa. And to be honest, none of us really had anywhere else to go. Sure we had family, but family was family. They might not understand just everything we had gone through. For Dutch, Gretchen had been moved to Earth, and he had no want to go back to Mars. Romeo didn't care where he went. The Gunny had probably lost his home, and the Captain too. Mickey was going wherever they were. And while my girl was on Luna, me and her both wanted to go to Earth. So it was set.

But right now, we were going to Luna for an update and carrier supplies. Then suddenly, we heard the ship's AI come over the intercom.

"The head of commands has an extremely important message for the people aboard this carrier, and any UNSC personnel, or any humans for that matter. On this day, The Flood has been eradicated by a Halo, and with that, the end of the Human-Covenant War has come. Thank you."

It was quiet for a moment after that. Me and Mickey turned to look at the large group of people in the room; we were in the cafeteria. It was a mixture of ODSTS, Marines, Navy Intelligence, Air Force, everything. There were even a couple of a Spartan-II and a Spartan-III. They all just stared at the intercoms. The message had come so quickly, that people were just dumbfounded. Even I was at a loss of- well, not words, but just thought.Then the screaming came.

The first person to react was Dutch. Suddenly, he jumped up out of his seat, and starting to shout and call out to no one. After him, came everyone. Romeo got up on a table and grabbed the girl he had been sitting with. Her name was Rena, and I had a feeling that she was going to stay around for a long time. He pulled her up, and began to kiss her, long and with love.

Mickey start to whoop and holler, and grabbed my shoulders, bringing me forward to the crowd. The ODSTS were starting to throw anything they could find in the air, and everyone else was jumping on whatever was taller than their head. Dutch was still yelling to no one, but he went over and put in a call on a long-distance Chatter to Gretchen. I heard him talking to her, and he turned around to make sure no one saw noticed me, but didn't mind. I wasn't going to talk.

He was crying. I thought it was because he would see her again later, and it was part of it. But it was something else.

Later, he told me that Gretchen was 5 months pregnant. She wanted to make sure she was out of the first trimester before telling him. They both thought they might die before ever being able to have kids; now that they would, he couldn't believe it.

Mickey grabbed a bunch of guys, and started to sing with them. Romeo and Rena joined in, with Rena balanced on Romeo and Mickey's shoulders. I put in my own call to Luna; my girl was probably hearing the news right now, too.

She meant so much to me; I talked to her the most. Leia was her name, and she was the one crying in my call. She was always worried, because of me being an ODST. Now that I was finally coming, I promised to look for her in the carrier port on Luna; she wasn't allowed in their, but Leia had a tendency to get what- or into where- she wanted.

But what I really noticed was the Gunny and Captain. Actually, EVERYONE noticed them. Someone let out a whistle, who was probably Mickey, and suddenly everyone was looking at the two.

Gunny was sitting on one of the tables, and at first was hugging Veronica so hard she got red in the face. Once he let her go, she gave him a long kiss, not wanting to let go. But she gave in, because it got real quiet. She realized everyone was staring, and started to blush, quickly letting go.

But either Gunny didn't notice, or didn't care, because he quickly started to dig something out of his pocket. People got quiet, trying to see what was going on. Even the two Spartans looking on.

After much digging, he finally pulled it out. It was a small, purple box, and once most people saw it they all breathed in at the same time. Romeo called Dutch over from his corner, and when Dutch saw what was going on, he ran over as fast as his legs would take him. Rena stepped off Mickey and Romeo to watch.

I was the one in the very front. I had ended up having a front-seat view of the entire thing, and was watching, observing.

Dare had an expression of confusion, until she saw the box. Even though everyone else was waiting in positive anticipation, the Captain looked...guilty.

Buck's speech would tell why.

He got down on one knee, and opened up the box. In the box, was a beautiful, one karat diamond amber ring.

When the Captain saw what the diamond was, she gasped louder than any proposal gasp I'd heard. Amber diamonds have to be old to be really classified as diamonds, and are usually only sold in rare places on Earth. And the cost would've done more then put the Gunny back a few...

After she breathed back out, the Gunny started his speech.

"Veronica Dare, a long time ago, I asked you to marry me. You didn't answer then. I would've told you later that it was a simple yes or no question, and you couldn't answer. Then, a few years later, you came as a newbie with me on a mission with me and my ODST squad." Chuckling, he continued. "First thing that happened was that one of my squadmates called you beautiful."

Mickey snickered, while Dutch let out a loud guffaw. Romeo chuckled nervously, while Rena punched him in the ribs. "Ow." he murmured. I could even feel myself laughing, which garnered a hit on the back of my head from Romeo. But everyone quieted down to listen to the rest.

"I told them to shut it, and the you took control of the entire squad. You steered us off course, and scattered us across Mombasa. I was pissed off. But that's why I got this ring, an amber diamond. Because of the carrier, In Amber Clad. If it hadn't been because of you not wanting to go near it, we would've died."

Everyone knew the reality of his words, and the feeling of the room was a very serious one.

"No thanks to you, I had to find your pod, since it had stuck itself upside down somewhere in the city. I came to get you, but I couldn't find you. I almost thought you were dead." As the Gunny said this, he swallowed quickly. The Captain didn't stop looking at him, but I saw her starting to rub her neck a bit.

"And then, when I was about to leave you, I knew where you were. I found you with the Rookie of my team and a big, pink alien. It was just like you." He laughed, and so did she. "When we finally got out, you punched me straight across my face for abandoning the mission. Then you kissed me right after." People were still watching, and the Navy Intelligence almost arrogantly nodded their heads.

"Later, I asked you where our relationship was headed. And you told me to win the war, and ask you that again. Well, unless that AI wanted to screw me over bigtime today," That got a chuckle again, even from the Spartans. "we just won the war. So I'm asking you again, but I just decided to specify. I know how you get when I don't listen."

One time, and only one time, I saw a tear go down Veronica's face. Eddie saw it too, but just me and him. He looked worried- hell, he looked scared shitless- but he smiled for her.

"Miss Captain Veronica Dare, will you marry me?" He didn't look sure, or necessarily doubtful either; just wanting an answer.

The Captain coughed a little, which was covering up her tears, but the eventually starting flowing. It didn't make anyone think any less of her though. She brought her hand to her mouth, and shook her head.

While this movement looked to everyone else as a no, I knew she was just trying to be composed. But people started to get nervous, and the Gunny started to frown. But the Veronica chuckled, and replied. "Yes, Eddie. Yes."

The moment she said that, Eddie was dumbfounded. I guess he had been so scared, he almost thought it was a no. But he looked at her, and saw her crying and laughing at the same time, and sprang back on his feet- ring still in hand- and started to kiss her.

The whooping and the hollering started again, and I don't know why, but as soon as the pulled apart I went over and grabbed both of them in a hug. They didn't expect it, but it was returned.

"I knew you would say yes." I whispered to Veronica, and both her and Eddie started to laugh. I knew I was The Rookie, the kid of the squad, but right then I felt the greatest mixture of being the FNG and being part of the group at the same time.

I pulled back, and watched as Dutch came over to deliver a blow to the Gunny's back. Rena and a few other ODSTS lifted the Captain in the air, while Romeo and Mickey took the Gunny. Both crowds merged, and the Captain grabbed the Gunny, toppling everyone over. I could feel the laughter and joy coming from everyone, and I knew it was true. I had heard it as the AI had said it, and felt it when I saw everyone piled onto the other, like a family, with me sticking out from underneath. I knew it when I saw Dutch cry at the news that he had lived through the war to have a kid; when Romeo had no problem with Rena stroking his face, and him holding hers in his hands. When Mickey started sing in a bawdy voice, and everyone was comforted to hear it. Why my girl, who usually never like to show much of herself, had shown it all to me. And she had understood me, and she would love my family. And I knew that we would be together, if not forever, then for a while. A long while.

It was finally the end.