It always began the same way. Every time Queen Stephanie came to Halifax, the fleet of five tugs would go out to greet her. They'd sound their whistles and she'd sound her whistle in return. George had never paid the exchange much mind. It was standard protocol. Except he noticed a change when Theodore wasn't with them. Stephanie's whistle sounded duller somehow, less vibrant. He shook it off as simply Theodore being Theodore. The kid had an affect on everyone. When he was around, his rays of sunshine shown on all his friends, brightening their days and moods considerably. That was just how he was. George figured Stephanie was no exception to this. He'd had yet to see a ship who was immune to Theodore's cheer.
And then he noticed how the two greeted each other. At first it was simply an exchange of cheerful whistles as the tugs all maneuvered into position to bring Stephanie into the harbor. And then Theodore started breaking rank. Moving ahead of the other tugs in an effort to reach the liner first and when he did the two would touch noses. It was a simple touch, quick lasting no more than a second or two. But it was enough. And George began to wonder if there was something more going on besides Theodore's infectious cheerfulness.
He had his suspicions confirmed purely by accident. He was on the night shift and on advice from his ears which were picking up "suspicious noises" he went straight to Stephanie's dock. Seeing the liner on her back in a compromising position with Theodore sitting chilly on her keel in a harness with the two playing tongue twister left no doubt in George's mind. Instead of telling them both off because such a thing was so far outside the rules he could've laughed, he simply bowed and said "apologies your majesty. I shall continue my rounds" and left. Theodore couldn't look at him in the morning and even Stephanie avoided him. This continued for several days before George had enough and decided to speak to each partner separately. Bringing Foduck into the loop wasn't a poor idea either and between them, both tugs were able to get the full story.
Foduck had not been nearly as surprised as George was about the coupling. He'd known or at least strongly suspected where Theodore had been going at night. The young male's personality made it easy to attract all sorts of ships into his harem. And Stephanie was just as susceptible as anyone. According to her however, Theodore had made no move until she gave the okay. That had been George's biggest concern. If Theodore had tried to claim Stephanie, that was a breech in protocol he could not ignore. But since Stephanie herself had initiated the coupling, and even after all these months George was still surprised by the liner's behavior sometimes, it was okay. Still completely unacceptable but that was not Theodore's problem. And if Stephanie cared she didn't show it.
If George was being completely honest, he thought Stephanie enjoyed breaking all the rules. It was no secret anymore that the liner despised formality and everyone in Halifax now treated her as one of their own. But the tugs had learned that Stephanie's relationship with her sisters was far from a good one. The liner made a game out of defying them and their traditions at every turn. And at first that's what he thought her coupling with Theodore was all about. If she desired to couple with Theodore that was one thing and George could overlook that as long as she was willing to deal with the fallout on her end. But coupling just to find another way to annoy her sisters was not okay and George would not tolerate the liner playing with his friend's feelings like that. George even went as far as confronting her about it. It didn't go well.
To say Stephanie was furious at the accusation would be like saying her mother's sinking had been sad. It was the first time George, or anyone in Halifax really, had heard the liner shout. Stephanie was such a gentle soul there were many in the harbor who thought it wasn't possible to rouse her temper. But George managed to do just that. Never had he seen a ship's eyes blaze the way Stephanie's did. Those big blue orbs were like an icy fire that burned into his soul. He said what he needed to, then promptly turned and left. His short talk greatly upset Stephanie and after a few days when she finally came clean to Theodore about what George had said, the big tug got a second round of scolding from his fleetmate. And when Theodore was mad enough to give someone a lecture, everyone stopped and listened. It was a humiliating experience.
Fast forward a year and war had broken out in Europe once more. Stephanie had been ordered across the Atlantic to take shelter in Halifax. Theodore couldn't rush out to greet his mate fast enough. Instead of the usual nose touching, there was an entire dance. Theodore skipped around her and Stephanie matched his movements with graceful shimmies. George watched as the two, one a great dame of the sea, come undone before one another as though they were children in love. And that's when he finally put his concerns to rest. Stephanie looked at him and he gave her a nod. Her eyes flashed gratefulness before she resumed her nuzzling of Theodore who returned her gestures in kind. George was the lead tug in the harbor, the eldest harem male; and he had just given his approval to the most forbidden of coupling's there was. But since both partners were willing to take the fall out for their relationship, he supposed he could do so as well.