Chapter Eight
"So Oscar wants us to stay put?" Jaime said, nestling happily into Steve's arms.
"He couldn't actually say that, since we're technically hiding from justice, but yeah - I'm supposed to call him again in three days."
"If General Bailey is stationed right there in DC, it shouldn't take more than an hour or two for him to straighten things out -"
"I know that," Steve said as he pulled her even closer. "You know that, and even Oscar knows that, but he's a good guy. He's giving us a special wedding present - peace, quiet and time to ourselves."
"I like that idea."
"But ya know, you're changing the subject. What was it that Oscar thought was happening?"
"You don't wanna know that," Jaime said lightly, tipping her head up to kiss him.
"Jaime Lyn..."
"He thought we should've gotten married years ago."
"He'd have told me that himself. No - he apologized for this. C'mon; what is it?"
"Like someone I know and love said, not too long ago: it really wouldn't do you any good to know that."
Steve grinned. "I'm prepared to tickle you, if necessary."
"Ok, alright! Just promise you won't get upset. After all, he did apologize."
"Now entering tickle mode..."
"He thought you and Lydia were...um..."
"I think I get it. You know, the only person who never doubted me - was you." He kissed her again, this one long, deep and inviting. "There's something I need to ask you, though."
"Kiss me like that, and you can ask me anything."
"For as long as we've both looked forward to it, this marriage had a pretty unusual, kinda rocky start."
"I'll say," Jaime agreed.
"Would you rather get this annulled and do it over again, the right way, for the right reasons?" Steve asked cautiously.
"Is...that...what you want?"
"Sweetheart, the only thing I want is for you to be happy."
Jaime didn't even need to think about it. "We've both been through hell and back in the last couple of days. We fought hard for this - for us - in spite of everything going on around us. So I would actually rather keep what we have." She smiled at him, her eyes dancing with happiness and glowing with love. "I wouldn't wanna change the way I'm feeling right now. But...there is one thing you could do if you want me to be ultimately happy..."
"What might that be?"
"You could pick me up, carry me into that bedroom, and make sure neither one of us emerges until it's time to call Oscar."
"And you think that'll make you happy."
"I know that'll make me beyond happy."
"You're the boss," Steve told her as he stood up, lifting her into his arms.
"Can I have that in writing?"
"You know what I have to do to you now, don't you?"
"You wouldn't dare..."
Halfway to the bedroom, Steve paused just long enough for one good tickle.
END