Maddy laid down on Mark's cot as he took the floor next to her. They had been talking for the past three hours, since deciding to court. It had made her much more relaxed. But she still rambled, and hoped feverously that she wasn't boring him.

And she wasn't.

Mark was so happy to have a wife, but the fact that she was smart, beautiful, and kind made it impossibly better. Though he had never heard of half the things she spoke about, he asked her to describe them. Something she did with a blush.

He was listening to Maddy's tired voice talk about Bonsai plants. He had never heard about these before and wanted to know about the ancient art, when she became silent.

Sitting up slowly he looked at her and smiled, she had talked herself to sleep. Taking Maddy's hand he kissed her knuckles before placing the arm under the blankets too. "Goodnight, Mrs. Reynolds." He whispered so soft as not to wake her up.

He was settling into his bed when he heard a sigh and, "Goodnight, Mr. Reynolds." Smiling he pulled the pocket book from beneath his pillow and continued reading it. He really wanted to get this right.

The last coherent thought Maddy had, was of him. Maybe she would be very happy with Mark.

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Mark woke up before dawn, like every morning, and looked around his room. It was simple, one room, the bed against the wall and a window not far from it. There was a table across from the bed and one closet in the corner of the room. Next to the closet was the door to the bathroom as well.

He stretched before sitting up to watch his wife sleep. Maddy was curled up on her side, one arm lay over the side of her waist and the other cushioning her head and hair. Mark didn't realize that she was cold 'til she shivered and curled tighter.

Taking his blanket and draping it over her, Mark smiled when she opened her eyes. "Morning." Maddy mumbled out and stretched, arching her back deliciously.

"Good morning, Maddy." He kissed her temple and watched her eyes widen. Mark held his breath, afraid he had moved to fast in their relationship. "I'm sorry, I won't do that if you-"

"No it's fine, just a little surprising," She sat up and pulled the blankets off her before yelping and diving beneath them once more. "God, its freezing." She shook and Mark laughed.

"Sorry, it's cold in the mornings because there's a twenty degree difference between night and day. It'll warm up." He sat next to her and wrapped his arms around Maddy.

"Well, what are we doing today?" Leaning into Mark's warmth, she peaked up at him. He smiled at the way her lashes laid against her skin. He brushed her hair behind one ear and cupped her cheek.

"Whatever you'd like, well, we can't go into the colony, or outside the gates, so it's pretty much the recreation center, training grounds, and the nursery."

"Nursery?" She sat up to look at him better, even though the chilly air attacked their comfortable warmth.

"Well, since the soldiers and their wives live here for three weeks a month, and the wives often have jobs at the same time as their husbands, they built a nursery and daycare for the kids. Well until they're old enough to go to school that is." He stood and pulled off his shirt before walking to his closet.

"So if you and I have kids we will live in a tiny space like this and leave our children with someone we don't know?" Maddy wrinkled her nose and stood form the bed too.

"No, when you become pregnant, work on a housing unit is started so when you have our child we'll have room." She was a little fazed by how casually he spoke about having a child with her. What the heck?

Walking from the closet with a soldier's uniform on, he saw her frown and furrowed brows, "Maddy?" He caught her attention and watched in amazement as all the worries seemed to melt from her.

"I'm fine," He has no idea how many times she has repeated those words in the past. "Let's go to the recreation center, but food first."

"Oh good, we are so on the same wave length." He joked and smiled when she giggled. She grabbed another dress from the closet, some of her clothes having been brought to his room the day before their marriage. It was pale blue and hugged her body wonderfully. Mark really liked it on her.

"Whatever you say," She pulled her boots on and took his offered arm before they left for the mess hall.

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Mark was a little worried about walking her into the mess hall, he didn't want to embarrass her. He remembered when other soldiers brought their new wives into the hall and how everyone, even he, would stare for the first day.

Luckily only a few men were there, it being so early. Maddy looked around as her hand clutched the crook of Mark's elbow tighter. She let him lead her to a secluded table and pulled the chair out for her. Mark retrieved two plates of food for them and presented them to her, letting her take her pick of food.

"Wow, you eat better than I did in 2149." She said before taking a bite of a sweet fruit, she made a soft noise in her throat before blushing a deep red. "Sorry."

Mark had to stare across the hall. That noise was amazing, and if it wasn't going to embarrass him, he would certainly ask her to repeat it.

Maddy cleared her throat and put the fruit back on the plate, "So, um, when can we go see my parents? I want to check up on my family, and I want you to meet them too."

Know more people outside the army? Mark smiled, he would like that very much. Up until he met Maddy he wasn't allowed to even speak with civilians, only army personal. "Well, I have today and tomorrow off, then training and a mission. So in two weeks we can go to the colony and meet them." He scooted closer to her when her face fell. "But you can always go earlier without me. If it makes you happy?"

She smiled at him before someone approaching their table interrupted them. Maddy tensed but felt Mark's hand in her palm and breathed out slowly.

"Reynolds, is this your wife?," the man's eyes on Maddy as he spoke. "I feel insulted, that you won't introduce me. And to such a pretty woman."

Mark laughed loud and Maddy smiled, he must have been a friend, "Sorry Tim, This is Maddy." Turning to her, he rubbed her hand gently. "Maddy, this is Tim Curran. Don't take him seriously, he's an idiot." A soft giggle left her throat and she waved at a chair across from them. Tim sat and leaned back, eyeing her before giving Mark a smirk.

"So Maddy," he drawled, "when did you get here?"

"A little over a week ago," Answering with her eyes on Mark's and her hands intertwined. Squeezing gently, he rubbed the base of her thumb with his own without looking away from his friend. "Now, are you married as well?" She asked softly and felt Mark shake. Maddy looked at him and raised an eyebrow when he shook in silent laughter.

"If Curran had a wife, she would be thoroughly mad." He leaned back in his chair.

"More like madly in love with me. Who can deny me?"

"Plenty of women, I assure you." Maddy smiled, but she was facing the door as more men filed into the mess hall, several making their way to her. About a third of them had women with them.

Mark introduced each to her and soon she was grateful they were all so nice. Even the other wives were happy. Throughout breakfast there was much talk, but Maddy didn't pay attention to most of it. She was busy stealing glances at Mark, making eye contact several times as their thumbs stroked the back of each other's hands.

He leaned in to whisper only to her, "Would you like to take a walk after this?" She smiled, maybe she could find more samples for her books.

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Mark walked Maddy around the barracks, letting her stop to examine the flowers, and it gave him a chance to study her. He noticed that she had a scar just beneath her shoulder blade and above the fabric of her dress. He almost passed it by himself, but now he worried about how she got it.

When he asked her, she just shook her head and rambled off about the flower buds and their medicinal purposes. He sighed and looked around, noting a woman approaching them.

"Do you mind," she started, eyeing him, "If I speak with your wife?" He looked at Maddy and nodded.

"Looks like you're making friends all over the place." He smiled and stepped away to stand by the fence, and give them plenty of room to talk.

Maddy looked to the woman standing a few feet away and smiled, "I'm Maddy Shan- I mean Reynolds." She reached out a hand and noticed her flinch.

"Lily," The blonde woman said quickly, keeping out of reach of Maddy. "Listen, being here isn't paradise, in fact I'd say you should escape."

Maddy's brows came together in thought, "Why, Mark is nice."

The other woman laughed angerly. If that was possible, "Look he may seem like a real prince, but all these soldiers are made for is hurting, killing, and missions. They will hurt you in the end." She started wiping harshly at her face, removing her makeup. "This is what he'll do to you."

Maddy gasped as the massive bruises on her jaw and cheek bones stood out against her pale skin. "They are all the same, and they will hurt you. So just get out of here, while you still have time."

Maddy kept her mouth shut tight. Time before what?