Twenty-eight years later…

Miriah had been sweetly torturing her husband all day. From little touches when he least expected them to licking cake frosting off his lip, she'd been stoking his desire for her. Not that it was hard, she thought, to make him want me. She giggled as she recalled the look on his face when she'd first used her tongue to lap frosting from her own fingers before settling on his mouth. She watched him as he struggled to keep his attention on his son and new daughter in law, failing to be able to tear his eyes from her for more than a few seconds at a time. Winking at him, she ran her fingertip along the neckline of her dress, following the plunging v down to it's point before breaking her eye contact with him. She grabbed a champagne flute as they were passed, momentarily losing sight of Corso. When she felt him behind her, she felt her breath catch.

"Dangerous game, darlin'. Careful with that, at least for now. I have some chilling on the ship for later," he whispered, his warm breath creating goose bumps on her neck as she shifted closer to him. Her newly found force ability wavered over them both, and the temperature of the air around them rose. He put his hands lightly on her waist, and she felt the tremble in them. She leaned back and put her head on his shoulder.

"We should be able to slip away soon, sugar," she told him, and pressed a kiss to his jaw. She saw his eyes close and his hard swallow. She reached up to trail a finger down his cheek and she felt his whole body respond, pressing her closer. She eased away from him, turning to watch the festivities of the wedding reception. Devin looked so happy, she thought. I gained a daughter today, and my son will always love her. She waved her fingers at her sister, who sat with Aric, her husband. She and Maura had set her ship up for her anniversary evening, and she saw Maura nod at her. She turned and took Corso's hand, making her way to the happy couple. "Dev, we're going now, but I wanted to tell you again how happy we are and that we love you both," she told him, getting a hug. They stopped to tell Calypso they were leaving as well, and got more hugs. By the time they'd made their way out of the mess hall, Corso was reaching for her.

"That dress leaves little to the imagination when you turn," he said, his voice husky with want.

"Probably a good thing I didn't wear anything under it then, I hate it when undergarments show," she said, pretending nonchalance. She strutted in front of him, just out of his reach, enjoying the feral look in his eyes as he advanced toward her. He growled low in his throat as he rushed her, throwing her over his shoulder as he bounded toward the hangar, her giggles stopping as she started to pull his dress shirt out of it's tucked position.

Corso had been excited by her all day. The wedding, on their anniversary, was special. He loved seeing his oldest son take that step, with a young woman who was his match. But his mind, and other parts of his body, were consumed with his wife. Now, her body was warm against his, her scent fueling his desire, and he keyed the code into the ship's panel. As soon as the door opened, he dove inside, and felt Miriah slide down his body, her hands seemingly everywhere. He heard her soft moan when she felt how ready he was for her, and it made him grow harder. She palmed him through his pants, and his hips jerked involuntarily. His eyes were closed, enjoying her touch, when she spun away from him.

Miriah stepped carefully out of the beautiful gown, and placed it safely away. Standing in front of her husband in only silver strapped shoes, she ran her hands along her own body, and saw the longing in his eyes. He needed no further invitation, and lifted her, wrapping her legs around his hips. "You are so beautiful," he breathed, kissing her deeply as he made his way to their quarters. He lay her down, never breaking his kiss.

Miriah felt it when Corso gained control, and smiled to herself. All these years, she thought, and he still is afraid he'll hurt me. She gently bit his ear, and felt him tremble. "You are still wearing too many clothes," she whispered to him, unbuttoning his best shirt slowly, then kissing his chest. He stood, stripping off the rest of his clothing quickly, then settled himself between her legs, and she sighed contentedly. His skin on hers made her stomach clench, the heat spreading over her body. He took her hands in his then, and threaded his fingers through hers, then stretched his arms to each side of her body. She was pinned, his body on hers, his hands holding hers still, and her breath stuttered. He began kissing her, starting at her throat, never letting her hands go. His tongue joined in where mere lips needed help, and he made his way down to her belly. When he gently suckled her nipple, her body came off the bed and her legs wrapped around his waist.

"Easy, darlin'. Relax. You've had your fun today, now it's my turn," he said softly, and she lay back, loving the look in his eyes. He still held her hands in his, and now his thumbs were stroking her palms and wrists as his mouth continued to explore. He loved this, making her feel, her trembling feeding his own desire. She began the sighs and moans he loved, and he knew he wouldn't be able to hold out much longer. He pulled himself up to her throat again, and gently slid inside her. Her insides clenched around him immediately, but he didn't move, still holding her hands in his. He gently kissed the insides of her elbows, her shoulders, and each nipple before pulling back to slide in again, feeling his control starting to slip.

She rocked against him, urging him faster but knowing he would hold himself back until she reached her own peak. She was close, and when he bent to take her breast in his mouth, she flew, her muscles clenching around him, her cries making him move faster to his own release. Still, he stayed inside her, the closeness too good to change. He rolled onto his side, pulling her with him, kissing her nose and then her lips. When she finally opened her eyes, he was smiling at her. "I know it's been a few years, darlin', but you still make me lose my mind. I love you, now and always." She leaned over to kiss him.

"Remember once, when I asked you if you'd still be into me when we were old and gray?" she asked, and saw him nod. "Well?"

Corso propped up one elbow. "Are you asking me if I'm still as much in love with you as I was twenty-eight years ago today?" He saw her uncertain expression and laughed out loud. "Miriah Julianne Chantalle Riggs! How can you even wonder, darlin'?"

Miriah looked at her husband, saw his relaxed, smiling face and she felt a little foolish. "I just put you through so much, sugar. All the time. I feel a little guilty, that's all. I mean, five years of being frozen, along with all the stress of the past few months..." Her words were stopped by his mouth on hers, his kiss deep and intimate. He stopped for a few seconds to breathe, and took her mouth again, over and over. When they both had to breathe, he looked deep into her silver eyes.

"The only thing I've ever felt for you is love, darlin'. When you were gone, I still loved you so much it almost destroyed me. I wouldn't change a thing from our years together," he told her, thumbing a tear from her cheek. "I never want to be anywhere but where you are. You are mine, and I am yours." She snuggled to him then, the reassuring steadiness of his heartbeat in her ear.

"I love you, Corso Riggs. You've always been my one constant in an ever changing world. You are my true north, my standard by which I measure others." She ran her fingers down his chest, resting them over his heart. "You told me once that I was your heart. I love that."

He looked over her head at the decorations, noticing them for the first time. "Hey, when did you put all this in here?" he asked, and she giggled.

"Maura and I came down here last night after the rehearsal." She looked up at the draped tulle fabric, the flower petals nesting in them, making the ship fragrant. She sat up and reached beside the bed, pulling a bottle of champagne from the small cooler. Once she'd poured it for them, she faced him and touched her glass to his. "Here's to twenty-eight years, to my lover and best friend, the best dad and husband I could ever have dreamed of." She sipped, then kissed him again.

"Wait, my turn," he said, and she grinned at him. "To the love of my life, the only woman I will ever love, and the only woman who would have left her spaceship and settled on a ranch, just to make me happy." She leaned forward to kiss him, and the champagne was put aside. Since he was sitting against the headboard, she sat in his lap facing him, feeling his growing arousal against her belly. He held her close, her long hair brushing his hands, her lips on his. She wrapped her fingers around him, stroking upward, and he held her closer. "You are the most amazing person, Miriah, and you make me want you so much every single day," he whispered, and let out a little moan when she brushed her core against him.

He shifted to push inside her again and she threw her head back, loving the way he filled her. She wanted to move, but he held her still. "Just be, love. Just here. Oh stars, you feel so good," he told her. Her insides trembled, but she tried to hold still. When she tightened her muscles, she felt him twitch.

"I love how you feel inside me, sugar. Always have," she purred, and she saw him struggle to maintain control. She gently bit his neck, soothing the spot with her tongue, and heard him catch his breath. Slowly, he lifted her, and then lowered her, thrusting up with her downstroke. Miriah moaned, wanting more, and he obliged her. When she came, he held her against him, trying to hold off his own orgasm, hoping to give her more pleasure before he had to rest, but her writhing and cries proved too much, and he feathered kisses over her neck, rocking with her. When the shuddering slowed, he scooted down to stretch out with her, and they slept, as always, tangled together.

Miriah woke to Corso's touch, his fingers gliding over her skin. It had been several hours since they'd left the wedding reception, and Miriah thought he would be tired. Instead, he began whispering to her about how much he loved her, how he'd missed her, how he never wanted to be without her, ever again. He kissed her then, and Miriah felt his heart in his actions. Years ago, he'd told her that her actions spoke louder than her words ever could. Today, he showed her the same thing. And they were happy, knowing that whatever else the future held, it also held them, together.