Without expecting it, they both laughed, sharing a long and meaningful look. "We've been doing that a lot more recently," Carolyn smiled, "agreeing on things, seeing things the same way, and now we're both sighing at the same time too." Reaching toward her, the Captain let his hand linger near the side of her face, tracing a line from the corner of her eye down to the center of her mouth. "Indeed," he said softly, keeping his gaze on her, without wavering, "yet, no matter our current happy understanding, I always found it was always a great gift when the sun set, the winds stilled and you could just stand quietly watching the stars become visible in the sky. At least I assume that was what prompted our shared sigh?"
Grinning, Carolyn turned back to the wheel there on the balcony where they had stepped out to watch the rapidly shifting panorama during the rosy sunset that evening. "You may, my Captain, assume whatever you wish, but in all honesty, I suspect there are many reasons for a happy, contented sigh to escape me these days."
"Carolyn," he whispered softly into her ear. Unbidden a shiver ran through her. "It always feels like a gift when you say my name," she said gently, as she rested close enough to him to feel their energies blending and swirling together. Sighing together again, they each let out another chortle.
"As lovely as all this is Captain," Carolyn said, turning to face him, "it isn't helping move our work on your memoirs forward, is it? It's taken us so long to get to this place, where your past and our current life have been finally able to meet. I do want to make sure we keep making progress." "Indeed," he smiled again, "and no matter how wondrous the moment, I doubt we'll be able to include them in my history, at least not in any official edition." "Captain!" she growled in mock upset, "that's not the kind of progress I meant!" Looking totally unrepentant, he merely tugged his ear with a wide smile. Rolling her eyes, she continued, "And that's probably for the best," she said nodding seriously for a second, "while I suspect Claymore has his own theory about our relationship, I doubt he'd be willing to help if he knew everything." "No guarantee he will in any event," the Captain said gesturing for her to turn back and face the increasing swirl of sunset colors around them, "it's not like we can call upon his family pride or loyalty. . ." "Or affection," Carolyn continued for him. "But actually that's not a bad place to begin, but at some point we'll probably need to negotiate to get the documents we'll need out of his files." "Or I could just go with you tomorrow and add my own 'persuasion' to the discussion?"
"Oh, I think I can handle Claymore alright, but if you don't mind, I'll hold out the possibility of your 'persuasion' if I need it." Leaning closer, he spoke gently into her ear, "That would be more than acceptable," he smiled, "in fact I have a few ideas that I'd like to present to you now, so perhaps I should save my persuasive skills for that discussion?" Fighting off the urge to dash back into the master cabin, Carolyn forced herself to just nod, "I look forward to it." Silently, but happily they stood quietly together, until the sky finally turned dark and the first few stars shone above them, and with complete and happy understanding they slipped back through the balcony doors.