Chapter 25

Mindy was about to walk out the door when Kevin came in.

"Hey Mindy, how did your meetings go?"

"Good I think, we're going to talk more tomorrow in a more casual environment, oh, that reminds me, Mark and I are going to have a cook out tomorrow, you should come, if you want to. Its just our teams and Mark's crew. Grill a few steaks, drink a few beers. Very casual and hopefully laid back."

"I'd like that, I will try, but no promises."

"I know its short notice, but we'd love to have you. We both thought it would be good for our teams to mingle and get to know each other. I suspect we will all be seeing each other a bit whether we are on the same project or not. Most of Mark's team is legal and financial types but he says they are pretty impressive academically."

"I'm sure they are, and that makes sense for everyone to get to know each other, especially you and your team. The reason I stopped by is that Director Sanders called and the folks from the Secretary of State's office are at Mark's office right now. They want to meet with both of you before you leave. Btw, transfer your old Ipad material to this one, its set up for conference with me and your crew, individually and in any group you desire. Should make communications easier when you're on the road. It comes with the job I'm afraid, it has more advanced security so your conversations can get a little jiggy and delayed sometimes but you get used to it."

"Oh! Thanks!"

They wouldn't be meeting with the Royals or anyone from Parliament until Tuesday, but this was the first chance anyone from State had to meet with the couple. They went over the peculiarities of meeting with Prince Harry and the rest of his family. Harry had been quite active as a representative of the UK to the ESA and was picked to honor the astronauts, who were as popular in Britain as they were in the US it seemed. Unfortunately Mindy learned from the Secretary of States representative that as the crew wasn't actually British they would be receive Honorary Knights of the British Empire as opposed to actual KBE's. The difference meant that Mark would not actually be whacked with a sword, he would just bow and they would pin a medal on him. Bummer. Mark didn't seem to care.

Two designers had volunteered their services for attire and needed both of their measurements. This was both a surprise and a relief as neither of them had considered what one wore to get whacked by sword or to watch their significant other while they were. The department reps went over the trip in detail, mostly the dinner at the US embassy as well as the reception with to follow the actual ceremony. Everything was discussed down to which fork to use and nothing was left to chance. Mark had a selection of exactly one tux, but Mindy was able to choose between several designs and in the end just picked the one that looked easiest to put on and walk in. Then she was told that one was for the formal dinner at the embassy and she had to pick out something more business like for the actual ceremony.

Inside Mindy lamented how much her life had changed in a week, but hoped that after Germany things would calm down and her and Mark could just get back to their casual, unhurried selves. If Mark had a casual, unhurried self. Since they had met he had been on the run pretty much all the time. She hoped for a more relaxed life as it fit them better than the trappings of fame.

Once they finally were able to leave, about two hours after they had planned, it was a quick trip to Costco for cookout supplies then finally by Mindy's to pick up a few things, then to Mark's, or rather, their place. They sealed steaks in zipper bags of marinade, and planned to eat delivery in front of a romcom Mindy had seen several times before and then collapse to sleep. Neither mentioned work, other than Mark thanking Mindy for putting up with the State Department's BS.

"It's okay Mark, I knew what I was getting into."

"No you didn't." Mark smiled.

"Okay, no, I didn't, but it will slow down soon and then I will have you all to myself. Instead of worrying about royalty, we can drink beer on the back porch and watch the sun go down in the evening. That is the end game for me."

"I confess that does sound nice."

Then Mindy's phone rang and Rachel reminded her that she was to give Rachel a full explanation as to how in less than a week she had ended up with Mark. She was given the address, invited over and pizza delivery was called.

"So Mark, about that BS I knew I was getting into, have I explained my friend Rachel to you?" Mindy grinned.

They skipped the romcom and instead Mindy told her own tale of romance, which in her opinion was better than anything Hollywood had developed, and Rachel lamented that after a freezing week on the Appalachian Trail, complete with both snow and bears, she had dumped her boyfriend on the flight back.

"What kind of an idiot goes camping in bear country in the mountains in February?" She asked rhetorically.

They had not been dating either long or serious, but both had an interest in the outdoors. Rachel just had a more civilized interest. They talked into the late night and Rachel stayed in the guest room, too tipsy to drive home. She went to bed with the knowledge that her presence was expected at the cook out, and that both Mindy and Mark had several single and attractive guys on their staffs at it.

The next day was also a flurry of activity beginning with Mindy going to her house to pack for the trip, which took most of the morning, while Mark stayed and likewise packed. It took Mark a good half hour before he was done. Rachel went home to nurse a hangover but would reappear later.

After packing Mark busied himself making sides, something Mindy had volunteered for but it was clear her day was busier than his. By the time Mindy returned Mark was finished with prep and was resting on the couch.

"You... you made potato salad." Mindy said, shocked.

"Why so surprised? At one time I was the best on the planet at cooking potatoes."

"Its just," Mindy started to say as she used a spoon to taste, "Hey, this is really good."

"Best potato cook on the planet? Remember?"

"Ha, very funny, I was going to do this. You should sprinkle paprika all over it and tell everyone its how you do it on Mars."

"That's not a terrible idea and no worries, I had time. I made some BBQ beans and a salad too, but I haven't baked the bread yet, I wasn't sure if you would want to grill it or just bake it, either way is fine with me."

"We can just bake it, much easier. Are you going to run the grill?"

"I thought we both would, its been a while since I've..."

"No, that's cool. Is it gas?"

"Yeah, and I just hooked up a fresh tank."

"Aren't you the little domestic god? You know, you might just be husband material" Mindy said, then immediately regretted it.

"Why? Are you proposing?"

"No! Nononono! I... that came out wrong." Mindy smiled.

Mark stood and put his arms around a very nervous Mindy.

"No, it came out months early. Don't worry about it, I know humor when I hear it. We're still at the day dream stage."

"Yes, exactly. Thanks." She smiled. "Sometimes my filter doesn't work and words just come out without me thinking about them enough. Or at all."

" You do that too?" Mark giggled before adding "Besides, I'm a traditional guy, when the time comes, I'll ask and you will"

"Say yes?" She smiled and her eyes had a certain twinkle to them.

"No, if the pattern holds you will say 'Not yet,'" Mark laughed.

"Probably true. You are wise Mark Watney. Now, what are we going to do until our guests arrive?"

"Well, we both have Artemis packages to read, but its going to be a long flight on a plane full of people, so why don't we make out now and read on the plane?" Mark grinned.

"An excellent suggestion!" Mindy exclaimed as she took Mark's hand and pulled him to the bedroom.

They had told everyone to come around three and dinner would be around five, so most people showed up between four and four-thirty. Mindy was more confident on the grill so she took care of it while Mark greeted guests and made sure they had either tea or beer, both ice cold depending on their preference, then went to the back deck to enjoy a beautiful spring-like middle of winter Houston afternoon. Randy and David both flirted with Rachel and Teena, who was Mindy's chemical engineer and metallurgist. Both seemed responsive but it was just at the meeting stage, although they did couple up for the afternoon. Reg and Commander Lewis were both Naval Academy grads and hung out all evening once she arrived. Martha clung tight to Mark and away from the office was a lot more humorous. She was one of the few to giggle when Mindy made a joke about Mark making potato salad better than anyone on the planet just a year ago.

Commander Lewis, Rick and his family and Alex and his came by and Lewis confided when alone with her crew that Jennifer felt the case was going well. She thanked Mark for talking with Teddy, and Alex for doing an affidavit as to how the Purcell maneuver was presented. The affidavit was true so far as it went and matched what was in Sanders' and Kapoor's but left out a few key facts, like that the email had told then NASA had rejected it.

Alex announced that he would not be flying back with the crew from Germany, but would instead be on a flight with his wife and children as he was now on loan indefinitely to NASA. This made Rick, Mark and Melissa quite happy as they all adored their German friend. He wasn't sure what NASA would be doing with him but word was the planning groups for Artemis needed a chemist. Rick and Mindy glanced at each other when they heard this. Mindy had a chemical engineer, but not a chemist per se', although the liklihood of getting both was remote.

Chris and Beth were in New England telling his parents of their pending nuptials and would join the crew when the plane stopped to top off fuel in Boston if all went well. If not, they would fly by themselves to the UK.

Eventually the party wound down and by midnight Mark and Mindy were snuggling in bed.

"Mark?"

"Yes?" he replied, only half awake.

"Are we.. never mind."

"Well, I'm awake now." He thought. "Are we?" He asked as he lifted his head from the pillow.

"It's just... I don't know. The last week has been a whirlwind. I just worry that, are we moving too fast?" Mindy asked

"Well, I don't regret anything so far, so my guess would be no. I thought you were comfortable with"

"Oh, I am. I am. Never mind, it.. well, one of the symptoms of abandonment and isolation syndromes is"

"Latching on to people too fast, I know."

"I don't want you hurt Mark. I, I couldn't stand myself if I hurt you."

"Is this coming up because of the husband joke you made?"

"I guess so. I mean, I was just kidding, but I shouldn't, well, thats the sort of joke you make to someone you're not in a relationship with because it might be taken the wrong way, and I'm comfortable, I love you, I adore you Mark, but, well, I worry I might not be the one for you and, well, you are attaching to me, I think, I mean you seem to be, and its all going... well, fast. You know? I'm just worried I guess."

"Well don't be. I've put some thought into this and I'm not psychiatrist, but I think your mom might agree with me. Yes, attaching fast is probably a sign of someone who has felt abandoned and isolated, but, well, with me, maybe its a sign that.. that I... that I really appreciate being alive and want to relish every minute of it. I spent so long thinking I was going to die at pretty much anytime Mars decided to stop playing around and just kill me, and, look, you're a nerd, a geek like me. We suck at people and relationships, right?"

"Duh." Mindy grinned.

"And we're sarcastic"

"Duh!" Mindy laughed.

"Well, I think the reason we suck at people is a long seated fear of feeling like outsiders. When you were in school, you were the smartest kid in the room. So was I. Well, now we aren't, but during the time most people learn to get along with people, we learned we were different, outsiders. We got along by being wallflowers, too afraid of rejection and being found out to be awkward that, well, we learned to be afraid of getting attached. You told me you've dated what? Two guys?"

"Well, really dated, yes, I mean I've been on dates but it was always just friendly, you know. My relationship history is,,, well, embarrassing."

"Right, you dated losers. So did I. Did you ever read "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" in school?"

"Oh I love that book! Wait, are you saying I'm having a breakdown?"

"No, I'm saying we allow ourselves the love we think we deserve. The thing is, being alone, more alone than anyone has ever been, has made me appreciate not being alone even more. I'm not afraid anymore. You're easy for me to be around. I love you, I adore you and I'm not going to try to analyze it or fight it. You should stop too. You deserve to be adored. You're beautiful and wonderful. I probably shouldn't tell you all this or you'll realize you can do better." He smiled.

"Huh. So you're not falling in love because you're abandoned, but because you appreciate what love is worth now?"

"Yes! Exactly! See? I need you to tell me words sometimes. And honestly, the other day when I asked if waking up together felt normal? Well, to me it feels like that is how I should have always been waking up. Beside you. You are my entire karrass. And make all the marriage jokes you want, you're not going to scare me. And don't worry about saying the wrong thing."

"You know, anyone that can quote Chbosky and Vonnegut is probably husband material, you know that, right? I think I just had a nerdgasm."

"If you say so. Anyone that knows the meaning of karrass is certainly wife material." He smiled then kissed her good night.

Two weeks ago at that time Mindy was reading a book alone in her living room wearing panties and an oversized REM tee shirt. Yesterday she had shopped Vera Wang and Dior, then today packed for London with a guy she was madly, insanely, in love with.

"Please don't let me fuck this up." Mindy thought.