True to her word, Dunkerque led us to a quiet little bistro, tucked away in a quaint little side street I never would have thought to look. She had also changed back out of her swimsuit, as attractive as it was, into something more casual, although equally fetching. In this case, it was a white button-down chemise along with a matching white silk robe, the edges embroidered with the red, white, and blue of the Iris Orthodoxy flag. A broad-brimmed black hat, rose-tinted sunglasses, and a large violet bag completed the outfit.

A server quickly showed us to our table and took our drink orders before leaving us to our menus and quiet conversation. I skimmed it over, idly wondering what I wanted for lunch and thankful for the English translations next to each dish. In between each item, I looked around the place. Despite its outward appearance of a humble, quiet restaurant, inside it was quite trendy, with ebon wood paneling and burnished silver fixtures. A few pictures, some of the beautiful Iris countryside, others of a more art nouveau style adorned the walls.

Dunkerque caught me looking around the place, and she beamed at me over her menu. "Don't you simply adore the atmosphere in this place? It's one of my favorites. The desserts here are to die for."

"Hadn't even gotten to those yet," I admitted, "Still perusing the entrees, and it all looks so good. What would you recommend?"

"The croque glaces," she answered, her eyes lighting up. "It's such a delicious contradiction."

That piqued my curiosity. "What do you mean?"

She set her menu down and leaned over, still smiling broadly. "Croque glaces is an ice cream sandwich, but they use brioche instead of cookies, and the bread is warmed when they press it together to form this wonderful sealed treat. It's warm, yet cold, crispy and melty all at the same time."

"That does sound tasty," I agreed, "Any recommendations for the entree, though?"

"Oh!" she started, realizing her error. "My apologies. Ah...as much as odd as it sounds the fish and chips is actually one of the best things on their menu."

I smiled and shook my head. "It's alright, things happen. And now I know what I want for an entree and dessert. So what flavors of ice cream do they have?"

Her smile returned in full force, flipping my menu over and tapping on the list of available flavors on the back. "Personally, I adore the coffee flavor, but to each their own. What's your favorite flavor of ice cream?"

"Coffee," I grinned. "Loved it growing up. Kinda left me disappointed as a kid when I tried actual coffee for the first time and it didn't taste anything like coffee ice cream."

"I can imagine it must have been a bit of a shock finding out it had such a bitter taste," she giggled.

"Yeah," I sighed, "Wouldn't touch the stuff again until I went to Annapolis, and even now, I tend to like it more on the sweet side."

A playful smirk crossed her face. "Nothing wrong with enjoying the sweeter things in life."

"None at all," I smirked back, enjoying the none-too-subtle flirtation that was going on. Sadly, it was briefly interrupted by our waiter, who took our orders and quickly vanished into the kitchen, leaving us alone again.

"Speaking of the sweeter things," she began, "I don't think you've told me your favorite dessert yet."

"Oh, that one's easy," I replied, "Chocolate cake. Although I suspect I haven't even begun to scratch the surface when it comes to confections."

"And why's that?" Dunkerque asked, leaning forward again, resting her chin on the palm of her hand.

"Because I don't know half of the desserts you've mentioned, and we've only known each other for barely two days." I smiled and reached out, taking her free hand in mine. "But it's a journey I'm looking forward to."

She squeezed my hand and smiled back at me, gazing deeply into my eyes as I looked into her own. It was funny just how close I felt to her in such a short amount of time. As I'd just said, we'd just met not even two days ago and now we're on what could be very much considered a date. Maybe it was the sheer stress and chaos of the rush to prevent Case Anton, combined with the multiple times she'd saved my life, and the genuine interest in getting to know me that has me so infatuated with her. But maybe, just maybe, there was something more to this, something I'd not felt in a long time...maybe I was beginning to fall in l-

"...der, Commander!" Dunkerque's voice snapped me out of my reverie, and I found her looking at me with a bemused expression on her face. "Look at you, staring at me and spacing out again, am I really so captivating? Did the ice in your drink melt?"

"Huh?" Drink? I had been so lost in thought that I didn't even notice the drinks had arrived. And a quick glance down showed that the food had as well. "O-oh! Uh, sorry, I-I uh, guess I got a little lost in thought, there. Guess you were a bit more captivating than I realized."

Her tone became playful again, her eyes sparkling. "Oh? And what were you thinking about, hmm?"

"Just...how short it's been since we first met, but how much my feelings for you have grown," I said slowly, hesitantly, unsure if I was saying the right thing. "It's only been a couple of days, but I feel like I've known you for months now. Almost every moment with you has been absolutely amazing, and I only want to keep on spending time with you."

"I..I...Bernard, I don't know what to say…" she stammered, her cheeks flushed and her eyes averted, staring down at her dish.

Inwardly, I winced. Looks like I screwed this up big time. "I said too much, didn't I? Too soon?"

Her head shot up, and as her eyes met mine, I realized I was wrong. "Non, non! Not at all! I feel the same way, but…" She looked away again, just for a moment. "I didn't want to seem like I was coming on too strong, or that I was intruding on your relationship with another."

Her reticence was understandable, given her questions about my love life that, until a few hours ago, were unanswered. But now that we knew we're both available and felt the same way, the question is now: what were we going to do about it? "Maybe this is a little too forward, but...would you like to go on a date with me tomorrow night? Like, a proper date. Dinner, dancing, the whole nine yards."

The question seemed to take her by surprise, but she was still quick to answer. "I would love to, Bernard," she smiled. "In the meantime, we should eat before our food gets cold."

I have to admit, she wasn't wrong about the fish and chips. The fish was fried perfectly, with just a hint of lemon to brighten it, and the chips were crispy on the outside, pillowy soft on the inside. Before long, we had both finished our meals and were awaiting the "croque glaces" to arrive.

While we waited, I decided to get to know my lunch companion a bit more. "If you don't mind me asking, what first got you into cooking?"

"My home country is famous for our sweets, is it not?" she answered with a playful smile before continuing. "When I was built, everything was so dour, so serious. Which is important, of course, especially in our line of work. But it didn't mean we should go without the simpler joys in life. Of course, I didn't know how to do that, until one day, I took a wrong turn down a little side street and wound up right here. I ordered a croque glace, not knowing what it was, and when I took a bite…" She smirked and shrugged. "Maybe it is being a teensy bit overdramatic to say it changed my life, but I wanted to share that sort of joy I felt in that moment with everyone else. And so I began to learn how to cook."

"Ahhh, I see," I said as it began to dawn on me just how special this place was to her. "And you took me here because it's someplace special to you, correct?"

She nodded eagerly and chirped, "Oui!"

I felt my cheeks get hot as I blushed. "I'm glad you decided to show me something so close to your heart...thank you, Dunkerque."

"It was my pleasure, Bernard."

Right on cue, the waiter returned, with two rather large buns, each one sealed, the edges crimped like a pie crust. We nodded our thanks as he departed before I picked mine up to inspect it. It was still very warm to the touch, just shy of hot, and I wondered yet again how the ice cream managed to keep from melting. Keenly aware of Dunkerque's gaze on me, I decided not to wait any longer to find out and took my first bite.

Immediately, I felt the soft, warm bread give way to the cool, but still firm ice cream inside in a, as my beautiful lunch companion had so eloquently put, "delicious contradiction". The individual elements were all exquisite on their own, combined, it was a very unique, unbelievably excellent dessert. While it was no Dunkerque gateau, it was certainly scrumptious. "Oh, that's good," I muttered between bites.

"Mmm-hmm," Dunkerque agreed as she took another bite of her own.

I briefly paused from rampantly devouring the dessert to take a closer inspection. "You gotta tell me, though, how they manage to keep it from melting."

She held up a finger as she finished her own bite, taking a sip of her drink to clear her throat before she explained. "The key is to keep the ice cream tres cold. Almost frozen solid kind of cold. That, and serving it as soon as you've made it. That way, the warm bread manages to soften the ice cream, but you don't have a runny mess on your hands after the first bite."

My curiosity sated, I nodded and tucked back into the croque glaces, Dunkerque doing the same until there was nothing but empty plates between the two of us. Just as I wondered where we would be heading to next, she spoke up and asked, "Commander, shall we go for a stroll?" Upon seeing my slightly surprised expression, she added, How often do we get to go out on a date? Let's not waste this one sitting around chatting."

This time, it was my turn to cock an eyebrow as I couldn't keep the grin off my face. "Date, huh? I thought tomorrow was gonna be our first date."

"Oh, it is," she grinned back. "This is the warm-up date."

I slowly nodded, playing along with her. "Ah, yes, the warm-up date. How silly of me. Did you have a location in mind?"

She shook her head, "Not really. Just wander around the city for a while, see the sights."

While I wasn't one for wandering around aimlessly, with Dunkerque, it sounded like a good way to spend an afternoon. "Lead on, then."

As it turned out, we spent all afternoon, and well into the evening, just walking around Toulon, taking in the sights. We stopped in the Grand Cathedral, did some window shopping, and all-around just enjoyed each other's company. At the end of the day, though, we found ourselves back at the docks, sitting atop Dunkerque's bridge as we watched the sunset.

"When I sit here like this, I sometimes forget I'm a warship…" Dunkerque sighed happily. "But, to fight for these little moments, that's not such a bad motivation, is it?"

"Not a bad motivation at all," I agreed, glancing over at her. She caught my glance and turned to face me, her eyes capturing mine.

"And what do you fight for, Bernard?" she asked. It felt as though she were staring directly into my soul.

I let out a long sigh as I considered her question, her rose eyes boring into me the entire time. "In the beginning, I joined out of duty, a love for my country. Then the Sirens attacked, and things changed so quickly. I lost a lot of friends, shipmates, sailors, and I vowed I wasn't going to lose anyone else. Not under my command."

"And those not under your command, as well, it would seem," she smiled, taking my hand in hers.

I shrugged, breaking away from her gaze as I felt the familiar blush return to my cheeks. "A-as I said, I had my reasons. But now that you are part of Azur Lane again, I will do everything in my power to keep you all safe."

"I know you will," she replied, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. "And it is my honor to help you. And to keep you safe."

I couldn't suppress the grin at her last comment. "That's a tall order. I get in a lot of trouble, lately."

Dunkerque sighed theatrically and nodded, although the smile was still on her face. "Mon Dieu, I know. You've been such a handful so far, mon ami, but...I think you'll turn out to be worth it."

The next morning, I woke up, grabbed a quick breakfast, and headed to headquarters. It felt strange to be in there without my uniform, almost as if I was naked without it. I certainly felt like I stood out a lot more. But, I had a task to accomplish, and accomplish it I would. After a few minutes of asking around, I found my target. Algerie was striding down the hall, a stack of reports in her hand. I desperately wanted to ask about them, but that wasn't why I was here. I needed information of a different sort.

She spotted me and grinned wryly at me. "Amiral, last I checked, it hadn't been two days yet, and here you are…" she chided.

"I know, I know," I said, holding up my hands as if to ward off further recriminations. "I'm not here to work, I promise, as tempting as that is. I'm here because I need your help."

"My help?" she repeated. "Interesting. What do you need my help with that isn't about work?"

I looked around and quickly guided Algerie into a quiet alcove where it would be harder to overhear our conversation. "I'm taking Dunkerque out on a date tonight, and I want to take her out to someplace fancy. You know, dinner, dancing, maybe some live music, and I was wondering if you knew a place?"

Her smile was that of the proverbial cat that had eaten the canary, and she gave me an appraising look. "Mon Dieu, Amiral, you move fast. You've been here a few days and you're already wooing one of our Templar Knights?"

"It's not like that!" I protested. "I just...we just hit it off really well and she's sweet and kind and warm and caring..."

She laughed and shook her head. "I understand. We thought there might be something between you. But if you want to take her to someplace really special, I know just the place you're looking for…"

That place happened to be La Mome Piaf, a nightclub that Algerie promised would delight Dunkerque to no end. We were ushered inside, Dunkerque on my arm, wearing a beautiful floor-length evening gown, crimson red with sequins that formed subtle fleur-de-lys patterns. Once we were seated and ordered our drinks, we both took the opportunity to look around the place. A relatively intimate establishment, it centered around a small stage and dance floor, currently occupied by a few partners. On stage, a band was playing a slow, soft number, the singer singing a song. The words were all in French, so I had no idea what they were, but she made them sound beautiful. Tiny lights had been strung up above the dance floor to look like a starry sky, and candle-lit booths were dotted around the edges. A bar lined the far wall, the illuminated liquor cabinets like a beacon in the dimly-lit club.

"This is wonderful," Dunkerque sighed, "How did you find it?"

"Algerie," I confessed. "I asked her to give me a few recommendations, and this was the first one she came up with."

She smiled approvingly and nodded. "I'll have to thank her when we get back to work tomorrow." There was a brief pause as she eyed me up and down. "Although, I'm surprised to see you aren't wearing your uniform."

I shrugged, adjusting to the black three-piece suit I had picked up earlier that day. "I'm off duty and I didn't want to cause a stir. Why? Do you think I should have worn it?"

Her hair fell around her shoulders, standing out against the vibrant red of her dress as she shook her head. "You look quite fetching in this, mon cher. Of course, you look just as good in your uniform, too."

I wondered if she could see the blush creeping across my cheeks in the candlelight as I stammered, "O-oh, thanks. Good to know."

She leaned in and rested her chin in her hand. "Bernard, can I ask you something personal?"

"Oh, gosh, I don't know...we've kept things so mysterious and impersonal until now…" I quipped.

She laughed softly and playfully swatted my hand but pressed on. "What will you do once the war is over? When the Crimson Axis is defeated and the Sirens have been driven back to...wherever they came from, what do you want to do?"

"Honestly…" I said slowly, "I've never given it much thought. Probably go home, visit my folks for a bit. Visit the graves of a few friends. Then go back to running Azur Lane, assuming they would keep it around."

"And if they didn't?"

That gave me another moment of pause. "I'm...not sure. Azur Lane's become such a big part of my life I don't know what I'd be without you all in it. I guess I'd travel the world, find a place to settle down in. Somewhere by the sea, definitely. What about you?"

"The same. I think I'd want to see the world, no longer ravaged by war before coming home and settling down. Open up a little bakery." She sighed happily.

"You do that and I guarantee I'll be the first one in line," I grinned, and she smiled back at me.

"I'll hold you to that," she replied as the music softly faded away. We looked up as the club applauded, some of the dancing couples moving off the floor as the band prepared their next song. The singer smiled a dazzling smile and said something, again, in French, so I didn't catch most of it, just the last words, "La Vie En Rose." Dunkerque's face lit up at the words and she sprang out of her seat, grabbing my hand.

"La Vie En Rose!" she gasped, "Bernard, would you have this dance with me?"

With that excited, hopeful look on her face, how could I say no? Not that I ever would, mind you. "Absolutely," I answered as I stood and let her lead me out to the dance floor.

"This is my favorite song," she explained as she turned to face me, one hand resting on my hip.

"It means 'The life in roses', doesn't it?" I asked as I placed my hand on her hip, taking her other hand in mine.

"Close," she answered, "I believe the literal translation is 'my life in pink', but the more accurate version is 'my life in rosy hues'. Like rose-colored glasses"

"With your beautiful eyes, I can see why that would be your favorite," I smiled, and she sheepishly smiled back.

"Among other reasons. The words are just...so romantic." The music began to pick up and we slowly swayed in time with the beat. "I've always wanted to dance with someone to it."

"I'm glad I could be you first," I said softly, my words barely audible over the singer's voice as she began. "...I've actually never heard it in French, just the English cover." I sheepishly admitted. "It sounds beautiful."

Her amaranth eyes sparkled in the lights as she smiled warmly. "Would you like me to translate for you?"

"Please."

She moved close, pressing herself against me as we slowly danced, her head resting on my shoulder as she quietly whispered the words into my ear. "When he takes me into his arms, he speaks to me softly, and I see life through rose-colored glasses. He speaks words of love to me, they are everyday words and they do something to me. He has entered into my heart, a bit of happiness that I know the cause of. It's only him for me and me for him, for life." Her arms wrapped around me, holding me tightly as mine wrapped around hers, still swaying around the dance floor. "He told me, he swore to me, for life. As soon as I notice him, I feel inside me, my heart beating…"

We held each other for another second before parting, to look lovingly into each other's eyes, the singer taking a break for the musical interlude. "That's...that's beautiful. Totally different from the version I grew up with."

"And how did that version go?" she asked, her eyes not moving away from mine. Just then, the singer broke out into song again, and I began to sing softly, my words in English, just loud enough for Dunkerque to hear me.

"Hold me close and hold me fast

The magic spell you cast

This is la vie en rose

When you kiss me, Heaven sighs

And though I close my eyes

I see la vie en rose

When you press me to your heart

I'm in a world apart

A world where roses bloom

And when you speak

Angels sing from above

Every day words

Seem to turn into love songs

Give your heart and soul to me

And life will always be

La vie en rose"

On that last line, Dunkerque's heavenly voice joined mine, a duet only we could hear as our bodies moved of our own accord, drawing in closer to each other. Her lips tentatively brushed against mine before we both met in our first kiss as the music swelled to a crescendo before slowly fading away. When we finally broke for air, I can only imagine I had the same happy, ear-to-ear smile on my face that I saw on hers.

"La Vie En Rose, indeed," I said breathlessly as the band began playing another slow song. "Shall we, mademoiselle?"

"Oui, mon cher." And so we continued our dance, well into the night, blissfully unaware of the storm that awaited us tomorrow…

A/N-I have been eagerly awaiting this chapter, and it only gets more exciting from here! Bonus points if you get the reference in the club's name. Up next week, a return to danger, excitement, and something I haven't really done in these stories yet. Until next time, fair winds and following seas!