Update: This is now the final chapter. It is the same as before, except for the opening line, and the fact that it is now labeled as chapter 4 instead of 5. As I said in the update to the last chapter, an adult chapter has been removed.

Chapter 4 Conclusion: Rome Stands Victorious

Quite a long time later, Jess and Becker walked into the canteen. They were giggling and smiling abashedly.

"Hello Miss Parker, Centurion Becker," she Kimberly, Bernie's second sous-chef. "Would you like to try some gelato?"

"Ooh, yes, I would," said Jess, taking a cold bowl from the tray. "I've wanted to try this for some time."

"What is it?" asked Becker.

Kimberly said, "It's an Italian frozen dessert, similar to ice cream. It's really good, Captain."

Becker saw Jess making ecstatic faces, and jumping around giddy-like. "I think she likes it," he said, taking one of the gelato dishes. "Thank you, Kim."

"My pleasure," said the young woman, clad in a simple yellow Romanesque tunic tied with a green apron. She had a matching green bandana covering her brown hair. "I get extra credit in my pastry chef training for helping to make these. So, I'm very happy," she said with a smile, and then left to work the room.

"This is so good!" cried Jess. "Where's Bernie? I have to go give him a hug, then I need to find Kim and get another one."

She skipped off, leaving Becker alone with dessert.

"Hi there," said a female voice, as Abby appeared beside him. "Where have you been?" she said in a syrupy voice, and with a smirk.

"You and Jess were gone a long time, Captain," said Emily, gracing his other side.

"Great, I'm trapped," said Becker.

"No trap, Becker," said Abby. "We were just concerned."

"That is correct," said Emily. "Are you well?"

"Yes, thank you," said Becker, licking gelato from his spoon. "I am well."

"How well?" asked Abby. "Are you well, very well, or very, very well?" She smiled.

Becker grimaced. "I'm well. Period. End of story. Goodbye," he said and exited the Abby-Emily sandwich.

Abby and Emily giggled.

"I believe the Captain was not truthful."

"Oh, yes. He was not.," said Abby. "He's very, very well." They giggled.

Jess was across the canteen, blubbering to Bernie how she was in love. Bernie was polite, but he seemed anxious.

"Best thing I ever, ever ate," she said. "You must, must add this to the canteen menu. I'm in heaven."

"Careful," said that sexy, smooth voice she loved almost as much as the gelato, "you'll get brain-freeze."

"Oh, it's worth the risk, Becker," she said.

"Are you all right, Bernie?" asked Becker.

"I'm fine, Captain. Thank you," said the chef, but he looked around nervously.

"What is it Bernie?" asked Becker.

"Well, I can't find Ryan," he said. Ryan was the number one sous-chef in Bernie's kitchen. He had seniority over Kim and everyone except Bernie. "It's silly. I just haven't seen him in a while, and he's usually starting clean-up by now."

"I'll help you look," said Becker. "He's here somewhere. Hopefully he's not under one of the tables with a snoot-full."

"Ryan doesn't drink," said Bernie.

Becker and Jess looked through the small groups of people standing and sitting in the canteen. Well, Becker looked, Jess followed him, eating gelato.

"Ow, ow, ow," whined Jess suddenly.

"I told you so," said Becker. "Brain freeze, right?"

"Right," said Jess, grabbing her head.

They finally found Ryan.

"Please, sir. I really do need to go back to work," Ryan was saying.

"No, I am the boss. I need you here," said Lester. "What's the good of being a crazy tyrant, if I have to feed myself grapes."

Ryan sighed, and pulled off another grape, dropping it into Lester's mouth as he leaned back and opened his mouth wide.

"There you are Ryan," said Becker. "Bernie needs you in the kitchen."

"Bless you, Captain," said the young man, standing up immediately and jumping off the throne.

"Now see what you've done," said Lester. "Fine. You can feed me grapes now."

"I don't do grapes. Sorry," said Becker, making a quick exit.

"Don't look at me," said Jess, quickly. "I have to talk to Kim about something urgent. It can't wait, it's time sensitive." She ran off.

"You're all bloody useless," said Lester. "The mammoth has a long trunk, I wonder if I could train it to feed me grapes."

"Don't even think about it!" yelled Abby. Lester looked around, but he didn't see her.

"Woman's a bloody phantom."

Becker joined Matt and Emily at the counter.

"Would you care for a glass of wine, this one is...red," said Emily.

Becker laughed. "Thank you Emily. How much wine have you sampled tonight?"

"Hmm? Oh, um...many, thank you," said Emily, smiling.

Matt smiled. "Isn't she the most polite drunk you've ever met?" he asked Becker.

"Yes, actually," he said with a laugh. "How about you?"

"I'm an angry drunk," he said. "Not tonight, though. I'm a designated driver. Let me know if you need help, huh?"

"This is only my second. I think," he said. "Jess may need help. She's getting drunk on gelato," he said as he saw Jess approach carrying a tray of empty gelato dishes.

"How many of those did you empty?" asked Becker.

"All of them," she said proudly. She put the tray on the counter, lifted one of the bowls up to her mouth, and began licking it.

Becker and Matt laughed, both shaking their heads. Emily, who had just emptied the bottle she had, was looking for another. Finally Jess emerged from the bowl, licking her lips.

"That is just delightful. I'm going to take this to the kitchen," she said, picking up the tray full of dirty dishes. She hit the door with her back, opening it, but looking still at Becker.

"You don't fool me," he said. "You're not being helpful. You're just looking for more gelato."

Jess smiled at him and disappeared into the kitchen. He shook his head, then noticed Emily behind the counter picking up bottles, finding them all empty, and frowning.

"I think our women may have a problem with knowing when to stop," said Becker.

Matt looked at Emily and smiled. "Well, I'll be with her all night, so I know she'll be safe. She doesn't do this often, if ever." he said. "By the way, Jess is your woman?"

Becker's eyes widened, and he stared at the wine glass in his hand. "Maybe I've had too much after all."

Matt laughed. "She's a lovely girl, Becker."

"Yes, she is." He said, drinking the wine.

Matt looked at him expectantly.

"I"m sorry, Matt. What were you saying?"

Matt laughed, and said, "You've had more than two, Mate. I'm driving you home tonight."

"OK," he said without argument, "but Jess is coming home with me."

Matt's eyes bulged. "Really?"

"Of course," said Becker, matter-of-factly. "She's my woman."

Jess chose that moment to reenter, frowning. "They're hiding it. I swear. Don't worry, though. I'll find it. I'll just go butter up Bernie."

"Jess," said Emily, who finally found a full bottle, and was pouring herself another drink. "The captain called you his woman. Is that all right, or should I hit him for you?"

Jess looked at Becker, and Becker's eyes were full of surprise, but then they softened and he smiled.

"Emily is correct. I called you my woman."

Jess smiled, ran around the counter, and jumped into his arms, kissing him deeply.

"I think it's OK with her Em," said Matt. Emily nodded, and raised the wine glass to her lips.

"It looks like Greece surrenders," muttered Matt.

The End