The Cruel Hand of Fate
The Cruel Hand of Fate 11
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.
They were at the Captain's table. There was soft music playing. The people were friendly. Perhaps too friendly. Susan was relieved that John stayed by her side, holding her hand. The last few days had been a daze for her. One minute they were in the garden, the next he proposed, the next they were married, and from the way she was feeling right now, the next could be the baby.
Their relationship would not be idyll. She knew that now. That night was between them. They could love, cherish and honor. But she was sure they would not be together again for a long time if ever. Even now, the furthest they had gone was handholding. That was all they could manage right now. It made her sad, but at least they were together.
She was wearing a navy blue dress John had given her. There was matching jewelry. It was beautiful. She was touched by his thoughtfulness.
He walked her back to their quarters. They both quickly went to sleep. When Susan woke in the morning, John was up and dressed. He was sitting on the sofa. When he saw she was awake, he smiled and rose. " Good Morning. I have already ordered breakfast.. It will be here soon. Why don't you take a shower? There's plenty of real water."
She nodded half dazed. She got out of bed and showered, savoring the warm water. When she stepped out she dressed in a long, sleeveless cotton print dress of a light blue. She wore slip on, nearly heelless white sandals . She brushed her long hair and stepped out into the room.
When she stepped out into the room, breakfast was set out on the table for two. John helped her sit and the began.
The rest of their two weeks passed in such. They were more like best friends than a married couple. John had shown her the gowns he had purchased for her. She thanked him and he was pleased she liked them. There was another function on board and she wore the emerald green gown. They took walks of the gardens and observation domes, and enjoyed not having work to do.
On the day they were to arrive, John asked Susan to wear the lavender gown. She did so. Their things were sent ahead as they slowly walked to the door of John's quarters, where John took her. Most of the inhabitants of the crew were quite surprised to see the iron lady in a silk gown, but no one, not even Michael and Stephen who came to meet them.
When they got to their quarters, John opened the door, and then to Susan's surprise, lifted her up and carried her over the threshold to the sofa, where he put her down gently. He stepped back and let her look over things. The furniture was new. The kitchen was larger and their was a hole in the wall. She walked around slowly. Her kitchen and his had once been adjacent, with only a wall between them. Now the wall was down. It was one large kitchen. There was a hall between where their had once been a wall. It lead to Susan's quarters. They too were furnished with new things. Her section was obviously meant to be a recreational side. There was living room furniture and a table for four, as well as the two barstools on her side of the kitchen. . Her piano was still their. But their was also a pool table, a game they both enjoyed, and a pinball machine. John followed her silently as she explored. Next she went into what had once been her bedroom. It was no longer. It had been turned into a nursery for the baby, done completely in white. His crib set up, a rocking chair, curtains, toys, clothes and other necessities which were put away. She put her hand to her mouth as John nervously explained, " Your stuff is in my bedroom. I hope you don't mind. I thought we would need to live together with the baby coming. And with a child we will need somewhere to conduct business if we can't leave so I thought we could have my quarters be the formal side and this could be the living side. Your office and mine are untouched," he finished referring to the offices that were next to their bedrooms in their quarters.
" It's beautiful."
John grinned bashfully, obviously pleased.