Opeli didn't know how long she lay there as she felt his steady hand stroking back her hair. She made to move but he gently squeezed her shoulder. She gave him a look.

"John-"

She stopped as he gently put his index finger against her lips. He gently picked up her palm and laced his fingers through hers, palm to palm, and squeezed it. Opeli remembered the meaning behind this gesture, it wasn't one that Joyce had taught her, it was one that she and John had come up with.

'I am here.'

"John."

She could only whisper his name now, a part of her fearing this was a dream and if she was too loud she'd awake to the horrid alternative that was reality.

He squeezed her hand again.

'I am here.'

She smiled and gave a soft snort as she returned the easy squeeze.

'I am here.'

She set her head against his chest and nearly fell asleep there as the steady beat of his strong heart sang through her ear.

Joyce had just opened the door to the Healer's wing. It had been a truly long day: the Captain being injured, the alert issued for the Elven assassins, and the fear that seemed to spread throughout the Pentarchy all from this botched skirmish. She and the others had gone around the kingdom calming down everyone while sending messengers out to the four winds. By the time everything was said and done Joyce was thoroughly exhausted and decided to check on the Captain and by extension Councilor Opeli.

She sighed as her mind began to wander back to what her life was like as she made her way to the Captain's room.

Life in the army had been hard but fair, she didn't ask for a soft bed every night just a chance to serve her kingdom. She at first had been content to act as nothing more than a clerk in one of the numerous divisions that rotated through the castle. Then the day came, just as every day before had, the one exception being who the day brought. The Thunderman, Captain John Revo came to the kingdom, and from then on Joyce's everyday life began to change.

It was subtle at first but then more drastic changes became apparent. The Captain took the old traditions and introduced a new way of thinking that meshed so well that no one noticed unless they paid attention. Joyce had.

She gave a small smile at thinking how many women knights and soldiers she had passed coming here, several with the Captain's recommendation were sent to General Amaya for officer training and would someday become leaders in the army. Others like her had become members of the first all-female knight division. Joyce closed her eyes as she again felt a surge of unbidden pride in her chest. Despite being offered a chance by her Captain to become a Captain herself and lead this new division, she politely declined and continued to serve as the Captain's interpreter. The Captain had done so much for her and her sisters by giving them a chance to fight alongside their fathers and older brothers, she wanted to repay him even if it was in a small way.

She stopped in front of the Captain's door and bowed her head. She heard what the Healer had said, what would happen if the Captain died this night? Would things change back to how they had been? Would she and her sisters be sent back to managing the supply rooms and guarding the warehouses and caravan trains while the men went out to fight?

She didn't want to think about it. Then Opeli's face drifted into her thoughts and Joyce felt like slapping herself. Here she was thinking selfishly of losing the chance to fight while her friend was losing the man she had come to love. Joyce had wanted so badly to grab Opeli by the shoulders and bluntly ask how dense she was.

She saw the body language the two shared and the looks Opeli gave him when she thought no one was looking at her. Joyce had watched since her assignment as the Captain's interpreter as Opeli had gone from a young girl with a simple childish crush to a blushing maiden in love with a handsome knight.

Joyce gave another smile, it sounded like something from one of the cheesy romance novels she loved to hoard, though none ever knew it. She was careful to keep her interests safely hidden in the floorboards beneath her cot and only dared to pull one out when she was alone and the barracks door was locked. She was entitled to act womanly when she so wished after all.

She looked up at the Captain's room door again and felt her gut sway slightly. Opeli hadn't left the room once and had missed three meetings, more importantly she had missed midday and evening meals. Joyce was determined to drag her out, by the hood if she had to, and get her some much-needed food and company.

The door swung inward without so much as a squeak and Joyce felt her eyes widen and her back go ramrod straight. She had to bite her lip to keep the dry remark from escaping her while her heart soared at the sight before her. Councilor Opeli and the Captain cuddling close and from the way the Captain's arm held Opeli, he was awake and damn well wasn't letting go anytime soon.

Joyce could only smile as she eased the door shut and as silently as she could, lock it. She moved to grab a chair and sit outside the door to the Healer's wing. Only then did she finally giggle and throw her head back with a massive smile that would put the stars to shame as she reached into a pouch and withdrew a small calendar-like booklet.

She held it up to a covered torch as she went through the days.

"Damn it Opeli, you were cutting it close there weren't ya?"

She snickered again, it would seem the betting pool would be moving forward after all. That is if Opeli did indeed propose in the next five days. Oh well, Joyce closed the book as she gazed up at the ceiling. It was about time those two woke up to the truth in front of them.

Joyce continued to grin as she realized how similar they looked to a pair of characters she was currently reading about in her newest addition...

Opeli listened to the heartbeat for several more moments, she vaguely thought she heard a small squeak but that was drowned out by the steady thud under her cheek.

She looked up at John and gave him a warm smile as she nuzzled against his chest again. Then she blushed in force as she realized something, how long had he been awake? Had he known about the kiss?

She was panicking internally until he gently tugged her arm up. Curious she moved with the tug until she was nose to nose with him, her hair making a curtain around them once again. She felt like explaining herself but stopped as he softly stroked her cheek, and then moved his hand until it was barely hovering above her skin.

She knew what he was doing. He was giving her a chance to move on, she could put her hand in his hovering one, ease it down and that would be the end of it. They would continue as friends and only be as they were.

Except that wasn't what she wanted. She felt a flicker of courageous fire spark in her heart and at that moment it spread to every fiber of her being as a ferocious blaze. She pressed his palm back to her cheek and kept it there as she dove back down and softly pressed her lips to his again.

She knew he returned her passions when his grip increased slightly on her cheek and pressed his lips more firmly against her own.

At that moment the ferocious blaze just seemed to grow warmer. It didn't feel wilder, or weaker, it just felt warm and strong in her breast. She hadn't experienced a feeling like this since her Nana had died and had thought she'd never feel it again.

Opeli didn't know what the future would bring but she knew she wouldn't be alone anymore. She gave John's hand a firm squeeze as he gave her one in turn.

'We are here.'

The early daylight began to peek in through the window, announcing the dawning of a brand new day.