Chapter Thirty-Seven: A Defensive State
Two days had passed since the night on the beach and River was still at a loss at how to handle affection from the extremely intimidating cyborg she called husband and master. She had spent the last two days spending it with Juniper and Kamea, she enjoyed both the mother and daughters company and found it a great way to spend her mental recovery since her physical recovery was complete, it would be very soon that Count Dooku would call her and her master back to their duties.
At the present time River was alone and she decided to practice walking backwards like she had been earlier with Kamea and Juniper. They had been playing a game that required walking backwards and River was not good at it so that was why she decided to practice.
She started at a slow pace so that she wouldn't harm herself in the process and gradually gained speed. She had made it up to a brisk walk when she slammed into something hard and she was engulfed in folds of cloth. She stood there for a moment recovering from impact with the object when she noticed the hands gently resting on her stomach.
She of course knew who it was and not certain what to do in a situation that could have been handle lightly with a smile she of course panicked.
"YIPES!!!" she yelped panicking and jumping out of the cloak.
"WHAT?" he yelled clearly taken aback.
"WHAT? WHAT JUST HAPPENED IS WHAT?" she shouted clearly being over dramatic.
"WHAT JUST THAT I WAS TRYING TO SHOW SOME AFFECTION!!!" he shouted back starting to get defensive.
"DING DONG WE HAVE A WINNER!!!" she said on the verge of collapsing in her panic.
"WILL I'LL DO MY BEST IN THE FUTURE NOT TO UPSET YOU WIFE!!" he retorted growing more defensive by the moment and hurt.
"I advise you do." she said with a huff and stormed past him.
After she was a great distance away she collapsed to the floor and replayed what had just happened. When the concept hit her that she had actually been in the wrong, and she of course felt awful, he hadn't done anything wrong he had just tried to show her affection by giving her a hug but instead had it slapped back in his face.
She started to cry due to how frustrated she was with everything but with herself more than anything else. After she had stopped crying she came to the resolution to write an apology. She made her way to a desk pulled out a data pad and typed what she wanted to say, then she hunted down a droid and told it to take it to the General immediatly and she didn't care how long it took.
Hours had past since she sent the data pad when he found her in her supposedly secluded spot in the garden. She stood up but he made a motion for her to stay sitting.
"Count Dooku just contacted me and said that we are to return back to the Invisible Hand tomorrow. We will be leaving at first light so be ready." he said rather coolly and walked off not waiting to hear her response.
He must still be upset, oh well at least she tried. She got up and went in search of her friend and niece to spend the rest of the day saying good-bye.