The Commander looked over his desk, paperwork was strewn about it haphazardly. He hadn't been concerned during the Sakura War with it, but now that Sakura had been beaten and the only threat remaining being the Sirens, the Admiralty was hounding him for their forms and reports. The first rays of sunlight crept through his window; he knew that he had been at this for hours, but he didn't realize that he had been at it for the entire night.

Standing up, and hearing his back protest, loudly, he looked out his window. Seeing Fuso shepherd the destroyers around reminded him just how long he had been working as she normally began taking care of them around 0800. Rubbing his eyes, he debated what to do before his stomach made the decision for him, leading him to the canteen.

Nodding to Akashi behind the counter, he took his normal seat and was served quickly. He began eating when he heard the voice he dreaded hearing after pulling an all-nighter, "Good morning Commander," Hood remarked, taking the seat across from him, "I see you pulled an all-nighter after sending me away, as usual." she chastised.

The Commander rolled his eyes, "I don't always pull an all-nighter, but Admiralty really wants those papers on their desk yesterday."

Hood just hummed, dropping the matter for now, but he knew that he was in for a rollicking once they got back to the office. They ate their breakfast without much fuss until familiar voices wandered in. Looking up, the Commander sighed, "One of these days they'll stop beating around the bush…"

Hood looked up and saw Belfast and Enterprise walk in, talking about something. "Commander, you know Enterprise perhaps better than anyone else on base, do you really think that will happen?" she muttered.

The Commander smirked, "Fair point." he remarked, "Just like you know that Belfast won't make the first move."

Hood just smiled and continued with her breakfast. It didn't take long before they finished their breakfast and began walking back to the office. Allowing himself to walk at Hood's sedated pace allowed him to fully appreciate the Royal Navy Battlecruiser. When he first met her, he had thought that she would be like the rest of the Royal Navy personnel he had the displeasure of working with before but was pleasantly surprised when she didn't behave like a haughty, stuck up person, but rather she took to working with him quite easily, even running this very base before his arrival. Because of her, he found himself reevaluating his opinions on the girls of the Royal Navy.

Soon they reached their destination. Always trying to be a gentleman, and hoping that good behaviour would lessen the rollicking that he was in for, the Commander opened the door for Hood, allowing her to enter first. Surprisingly, Hood didn't start laying into him for his late-night, but instead brought up something else, "Did you get a chance to see the Oath Ring prototype yesterday?" she asked.

The Commander nodded, "I did, though I didn't see any obvious takers for why it disappeared by mid-day." he replied, remembering that it had shown up then disappeared, "All Akashi will tell me is that 'all will be revealed in due time' whatever that means."

Hood raised an eyebrow, "Akashi being mysterious, how unlike her." she murmured before looking at the Commander, "Are you sure about it?"

The Commander sighed, "Hood, I had gone to see how much it was, and after seeing the high price tag on it, I had come back to my quarters for the gem supply but once I got back, it had already disappeared." he replied. He then squeezed her hand "Trust me, as soon as I buy a ring, you will know about it."

Hood leaned back into the Commander, knowing full well that he was right. Before she could speak, however, a knock sounded from the door, leading them to separate, "Enter!" the Commander called.

Much to their surprise, in walked Enterprise and Belfast. While not surprising in itself, what was surprising was the smile on Enterprise's face and the ring on her finger.

Hood and the Commander looked at each other, "I get the feeling there is quite the story here," he remarked before gesturing to the chairs in front of him, "I'd love to hear it."

Taking the offered seats, Belfast began, "Miss Enterprise and I were on our usual morning walk yesterday when we saw the display of the prototype Oath Ring. Miss Enterprise asked about it and I informed her that it was the equivalent of Human Marriage." she began.

Enterprise then picked up the story. "I then asked her if she ever thought about that and she said that she did, then asked if I did which I replied that I didn't really ever think about Human customs until she came along."

Belfast finished the story. "Later that morning I went back to Akashi on my own and asked her what I'd have to do to get the Oath Ring, you can imagine my shock when she handed it to me and said 'you have the face of true love, that is priceless' before busying herself." she finished before looking at Enterprise, "Later that day I met Miss Enterprise at her quarters and, as you Humans would say, "popped the question" and got a yes."

Hood smiled, but the Commander spoke first, "Allow us to be the first to congratulate you both," he began, "but forgive me for being dense, but what does that have to do with us?"

Belfast smiled, "Well, we were hoping that Lady Hood would be able to bring the matter before Her Majesty and we'd like for you to officiate, Commander."

The Commander shrugged, "I don't see why not, though I'll probably tag along with Hood to argue your case before Queen Elizabeth."

Neither Belfast nor Enterprise saw the significance of his comment and left soon afterwards. Hood on the other hand turned to him with a raised eyebrow, "Why are you going to come with me when I go to argue for them? The conversation will more than likely be short and not require any actual arguments."

The Commander simple turned his head to the window, "Because damn tradition, I don't want to go another day without being able to proclaim our love from the highest rooftops, if you are okay without a ring until Akashi gets another one, that is."

For a moment, the Commander thought he botched it as Hood didn't say anything until she poked her head out of the door, "Oh Javelin, could you be a dear and ensure that no one tries to bother the Commander, he's going to be a bit… preoccupied for the rest of the day."

Javelin agreed and after Hood locked the door the Commander raised an eyebrow, "Hood?"

Hood simply smiled, "Well, close the blinds, otherwise, we'll give people quite the show."

True to Hood's claim, they wouldn't be seen for the rest of the day, and even then it was only because they were walking to the Commander's quarters. However, many would notice the dishevelled clothes and redness of their faces and it would set tongues wagging.

It would be a week before Belfast and Enterprise were married and not more than a day later the base would celebrate the marriage of Hood and the Commander. These two events opened the floodgates to shipgirl relationships, from the expected, such as Cleveland and Helena, to the unexpected, like Prince of Wales and Prinz Eugen. But all of them were encompassed in the glow of the Oath.