XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Chapter 49 - Chapter 49 - Jane and Lance's New Life

Jane finished her work on the computer and left the small room that she had made her office in their new island home. She wore a black tank top and a lovely red skirt that flowed as she walked barefoot down the steps. She found Lance doing push-ups in the sitting room while he was watching the news. He was wearing a pair of shorts, no shirt nor shoes, and had apparently been working out for a while.

The reporter spoke. "And New York is all in an uproar. Where did the Starks go on their honeymoon? No one seems to know."

Lance continued to do push-ups as he watched the tellie. He pushed himself off of the floor, grabbed the remote, and changed the channel to a football game.

"Yes." He growled and returned to doing push-ups.

Jane laughed. "What is on your mind?"

He continued to work-out as she walked over to sit in the chair, close to where he was. "A bet with Lewis."

She pointed the football match. "About this?"

"Oh yeah." He told her as he continued.

"You look like you've been at this a while."

"I just came back from a run."

She nodded. "A run?"

"And some training." He told her as he continued to do push-ups. "I got to throw some recruits across the room. It was fun."

She crossed her legs and counted on her fingers. "A run. Training. And now push-ups and football."

He looked up at her as he pushed himself off of the floor. "Yeah?"

"What has happened?"

He dropped his head and sighed.

"And something has happened. I know you."

He stopped and sat up on his knees. He took the opportunity to wipe the sweat that had formed on his face, arms and chest off with a towel. "Am I that transparent?"

She smiled. "You're that sweaty. Out with it. What has happened?"

"Are you wearing knickers?" He grinned.

She pointed at him. "Answer my question, then I'll answer yours."

He ran his hand through his sweaty hair. "Tony Tyler stole Stark's ship, and took off."

"Oh my God." She covered her mouth. "Where did he go?"

"No idea. Stark's ship isn't traceable. He's put some things on it."

She sighed. "What did Jackie say?"

He chuckled. "Hell, I didn't tell her-"

"That's his Mother!"

"Not my job."

"Whose is it?"

"Pete's. Lewis told him." He returned to doing push-ups. "And from what I was told, he took it rather well."

She sighed and sat back in the chair. "He's gone out after those aliens that had him and Sam, hasn't he?"

"Most likely. Either that, or he's just being a pain in the ass. Lewis seems to think that."

"Lartius needs to be told."

Lance stopped and sat on his knees again. "He has been informed. The Quauthin all have orders to stop him before he does anything stupid. Hang on. You didn't answer my question-"

"Never mind about that."

"But-"

She pointed at him. "If he goes in there while they are negotiating-"

Lance walked on his knees over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Stop worrying about Tony."

"I'm worried about him starting a war-"

"There are people handling this. Quauhtin Jane."

She smiled at his teasing. "Okay. So, are we going to go out to get him?"

"Stop worrying about him. Arles says he will most likely be back in a few days."

"So, we're ignoring this problem?"

"We're not completely sure it's a problem, yet."

"So, we're waiting for it to become a problem?"

"How many questions have I answered?"

"I have a few more."

He groaned and leaned back on his feet, putting his hands on his hips. "Okay. Go."

She started to ask him something, and decided to stop. "You are being very agreeable."

He looked confused, "Am I usually not?"

She took his hands and pulled them into her lap. His heart leapt.

"You are so sweaty, Lance." She told him quietly.

"I'll go shower-"

"In a bit." She said as her lips met his. His heart felt like it might pound out of his chest as he kissed him.

She held onto his neck and smiled. "Maybe I like you sweaty."

"Are there knickers? Tell me."

She giggled. "Maybe."

He rose his eyebrows, "Maybe?"

She laughed and whispered, "Lance. I want to tell you something."

"That there aren't knickers?"

She giggled and continued to hold him. He ran his hands up and down her thighs, above her skirt. "May I tell you something, first?"

She smiled, "Sure."

He continued to rub her thighs. It helped him hide his nervousness. He closed his eyes as he worked through how he was going to tell her.

"Lance." Jane said quietly. "Is something wrong?"

"I have…put my status as a Quauthin Warrior, on hold."

"Why? For how long?"

"One hundred years. Maybe a bit less."

She looked confused. "Lance, why would you do that?"

"So, I can return to it one day." He continued to rub her thighs.

"When?"

He smiled and looked up at her. "One day. Umm. I thought about what you said."

"About what?"

"That you want to take photos. Of all of the beautiful places, here, and other places."

She smiled, "Lance. We can't do that. Arles needs us."

"Lewis has given me a ship-"

"You're not leaving him! He needs you more now-"

He took her hands in his and smiled. "I'm not leaving him. You're not either."

"How can we possibility do this?"

"Lewis is well. We can go for a few days, return to be with him, and then go for a few days."

"So, a holiday every few weeks?"

He nodded. "Yeah. Anywhere you want to go."

"I have a job. I'll have to-"

"Rose and John don't need you all of the time. You can put all of your appointments during the time we are here. I'll stay with you in the studio to keep you safe, and we'll come back here. That's why I'm still training. Plus, it helps me think."

She smiled in disbelief. "This is madness-"

"This is what you want. Let me give this to you."

She whispered in her surprise. "How could I ever repay you for something like this?"

"Love me. Let me love you. Promise that you'll let me make you happy."

She wrapped her arms around his neck, "Lance. You know I love you."

He looked into her eyes and smiled. "And you haven't been drinking-"

"Well, what the hell does that mean?"

He laughed, "I told you that I loved you before. But, you were drunk and didn't remember it."

She giggled. "And I've told you that I love you probably twenty times. You've always been asleep-"

He continued to smile. "I wasn't asleep. Not every time. Forgive me. I just, was too frightened to tell you."

"Why?" She smiled.

"Well, I'm just….have you seen you? I'm still trying to catch my breath."

She giggled. "I'm flattered, Lance."

He kissed her lips quickly and sat back to rub her thighs again. "So, knickers?"

"Hang on. Lewis, gave you his ship?"

He nodded. "Yes."

"And you didn't bet him, or anything…"

He laughed, "No. He won it in a bet with John, and says that didn't need it. Actually, I want you to name it for me. Give it some thought."

She rose her eyebrows and took a deep breath.

"Too much? Should I have made you a drink?"

"No. There's just one part I'm confused about."

"Which part?"

"Your status as a Quauthin-"

"Don't worry about that-"

"You're throwing out a career-"

"No, I'm putting it on hold. I'll return to it, maybe. Rank and everything. I've wanted to leave for a long time. Now, I just have a reason."

"Me?"

"You." He smiled. "Now, are there knickers?"

"When does this start? When's your last day as a Warrior?"

"It's effective now. Lewis and John can't order me to do anything, or go anywhere."

"But, you are throwing recruits around-"

He chuckled. "I'll still help out. It's something I enjoy. And they can always ask me to do something. But, I can actually tell them 'no.' Lartius can order me to do something, but that's just because he's king."

"What does he say about this?"

Lance grinned. "It's rather, vulgar. But, it's good."

She covered her mouth and laughed. "This is a lot to-"

"Don't think about it. You would do the same for me. I know you would." He told her as he looked up at her sitting in the chair.

She slowly smiled. "You're right."

"So, this is the plan. You tell me where you want to go, and when. We'll leave, and come back when you want."

She grinned. "We have a party to go to."

"Not until next week."

"We have to watch Arles tomorrow for Lewis. And I have three appointments this week."

"There are a few things I would like to do the ship before we go in it. Little Arles can help me. So, don't worry about that."

"How can you fly such a large ship on your own?"

He grinned. "I'm just that damn good."

She giggled.

"Sort this all out when you can be gone. And I'll take you. Just being gone for the day is fine, too. Few days. Whatever."

She wrapped her arms around his neck again. "And the older Arles needs your attention-"

"Yep. I can give him more attention that I'm no longer going to be called on duty."

She shook her head and laughed, "This will take some getting used to. What are you going to do with all of this time you're going to have?"

He smiled. "Well, I would like to start by kissing you."

She giggled as he leaned into her and started to snog her. She ran her hands through his sweaty hair and felt his hands slowly slide under her skirt and up to her hips.

"Damn it. There are knickers." He groaned.

She laughed, "And you are welcome to remove them. Come on, we'll talk more about your Grand Kidnapping Scheme as you shower."

He stood up and held out his hands to help her out of the chair. "That's what you're calling it?"

She smiled at him as held both of his hands. "The Grand, Photo Taking, Kidnapping of Jane the Quauthin."

He leaned down and rubbed his nose to hers, "And knickers. You should just leave them here. What do you think?"

She looked at him in surprise, "How are you going to fly that huge ship if I'm up there without any knickers?"

He wrapped his arms around her and laughed. "That's true. It's a safety concern. I'll fly us right into the side of a meteoroid. Bring knickers."

She laughed and kissed him.

"Well, hang on. What did you want to tell me?"

"It's really, not as big a deal as this-"

"No, it is. What is it?"

"I wanted to tell you, that I'm so in love with you. I can't imagine my life without you, and I never want to be without you."

He smiled painfully, "These could be my own words."

She hugged him tightly and let go of him just as fast. "Ew! So sweaty-"

"Right, to the shower!" He insisted as he scooped her up in his arms and made her laugh.

XXXXXXXXXXX