I still couldn't sleep. I couldn't believe it, I just could not believe what was happening. I was physically spent, I hadn't felt this good emotionally in months, and I had a beautiful, powerful woman beside me. So why did I feel so damn anxious? It felt like any second the door was going to blow off its hinges and a tactical team was going to rush in and take me away, and no matter how much I tossed and turned and tried to clear my mind, this bad feeling refused to leave.

While I tried to move around without disturbing my bed partner, I wasn't very successful in that regard, either. As I let out a quiet sigh, I felt Musashi stir beside me, pushing herself up to get a better look at me in the dim light of her room.

"What's wrong?" she softly asked as she leaned in close, pressing against me. "Are you still unable to find rest even within my bosom?"

In the pale moonlight that streamed in through the window, I could barely make out the contours of her face, but there was no mistaking the concern in her voice. "It's not that, it's just…" I sighed, the frustration tinging my voice, "I can't sleep. And it's not because I'm not tired or because I haven't slept here before. You were amazing and this bed is beyond comfortable. I've had problems sleeping since…well, you know."

She nodded, and she reached out to gently cup my cheek, her thumb running along my cheekbone. "I understand," she said softly. "Is it nightmares?"

"No," I shook my head as I placed my hand atop hers. "I get them from time to time, but for the most part, it's problems getting to sleep. I just feel…anxious. Like something bad's going to happen and I'm just waiting for it. And I know, I know that I am safe location and that here, with you, specifically, I'm safest, but…"

"It's okay," she whispered. "It won't always make sense, and I can't imagine how frustrating that is for you."

"Very frustrating," I agreed. "I used to be able to just put it to the side, compartmentalize it, save it for later. Now, it's not so easy."

"Your anxiety and frustration are not easily set aside, you say?" Even in the dark, I could hear the comforting smile in her voice. "...Hehe, cast your fears and doubts away and be at peace. As long as you are in Musashi's embrace, you shall be protected from all harm."

With that, she took me into her arms and held me close to her, keeping me in a warm, protective hug. When it became clear that she wasn't about to release me anytime soon, I spoke up. "Uh, are you just going to hold me all night long?"

"Does it make you feel better?"

Much to my surprise, I realized that, yes, I did feel some of my anxiety had subsided. I felt safe, secure. I nodded and sighed, "Yes, I do."

"Then if I must, I will," she whispered, planting a tender kiss on my cheek.

"I…I can't ask you to do that," I muttered, feeling incredibly unworthy of the love and devotion Musashi had shown me.

"It's a good thing you didn't ask, then," she giggled. "But it's okay. I want to do this, especially if it will help you." When I opened my mouth to protest, she quickly silenced me. "No more talking. Rest now."

I thought about objecting but swiftly realized it would have been futile so I simply lay my head down and closed my eyes, focusing on our breathing. Before I knew it, I was fast asleep.

I awoke the next morning to find Musashi pressed against my back, her arms still holding me tightly as she promised she would. While I'd never been the little spoon in a relationship before, I had to admit, it was a comforting feeling. It felt safe, soft, and secure, and I gently stroked her arms as I began to look around the room. However, I didn't get much time to look before I felt my lover stirring behind me.

"Good morning, my kintsugi," she breathed into my ear as she began planting kisses on my neck and shoulder. "Did you sleep well?"

While still in her embrace, I turned to face her and give her a proper good morning kiss before I answered. "I slept great. You?"

She happily hummed into the kiss, her cheeks flushing a light pink. "It was something of a…novel experience to sleep with someone else in my bed, but…I enjoyed it."

"Perhaps that's something you'd like to repeat?" I asked with a grin.

"You're incorrigible," she giggled playfully. "But yes, I think that would be a wonderful idea. And I think it would help you out, as well."

"I did feel like I had an easier time getting to bed with you…uh…holding me like that," I admitted. "Did it take me long to fall asleep?"

Her smile was warm and comforting as she shook her head. "It only took you a few moments before you were out."

"Good," I smiled back, feeling a weight off of my chest. "I have to admit, though, I'm torn."

That seemed to surprise Musashi, who raised an eyebrow. "You are? Why?"

"On the one hand, I don't want us to have to do anything out of any sort of obligation or necessity," I began. "I don't want to feel like we have to sleep a certain way if we don't feel like it."

"And on the other?"

"I, uh, I really really liked it."

Her grin could have lit up the room brighter than the morning sun. "Well, then, I don't see any reason to stop doing it for now. If it becomes a problem later, we can discuss it then. Agreed?"

"Agreed," I nodded, feeling a bit of relief. "What time is it, anyway?"

Musashi craned her neck to look past me at the antique clock on her office table. "Just after six thirty."

I nodded, then quickly remembered something. "Aw, nuts," I groaned. "I think I forgot to turn off my alarm. Probably going off right now."

"I'm sure Haguro will get it," she said dismissively, "she tends to wander by your room in the morning anyway."

At first, I nodded along, somewhat mollified until I put the pieces together. "Uh-oh."

"Uh-oh?" Musashi repeated, clearly not following me.

"If she goes in there, finds my alarm going off, but no sign of me in there, and no sign that I'd been in there since last night…"

"Oh dear," she muttered, "We'd better-"

Just as we were about to throw off the covers, Haguro burst into the room. "Musashi, I can't find the Commander anywhere and- OH GODS MY EYES!" She quickly covered said eyes as she turned away from the sight of us in bed together. I felt my cheeks burning and waited for Haguro's screaming to subside. "Guys, could you at least put a note on the door or tell me you won't be in your room or…you will be in your room together…or whatever!"

Musashi draped an arm across my chest and I glanced up at her to see a bemused smile on her face. "My apologies, Haguro. But for future reference, I think it's safe to say the Commander will be spending his nights here from now on so please, knock before entering."

Haguro, still adamantly facing away from us, nodded. "Yeah, fine," she groused, "Just…warn me earlier next time…" Without waiting to be dismissed, she left the room, and the last thing I heard before the door shut was "...great, now the couch isn't safe."

We both waited for Haguro to get far enough away from the door before we burst into fits of nervous laughter. "Oh no," I chuckled as I wiped the tears from my eyes. "That poor girl. We really should make it up to her someday, buy her a new game system or something."

"Agreed," Musashi grinned as she caught her breath. "But that's for another time, we should probably get out of bed and get ready for the day."

A few days later, Haguro popped into the office with an announcement that set my heart racing.

"Commander, Admiral Clark is on the line."

I looked up at her and nodded. "Thanks, Haguro, I'll be there in a moment." She gave me a thumbs up and shut the door behind her as I shot Musashi a hopeful look.

"Wish me luck," I told her as I walked past her desk.

"Good luck," she smiled warmly up at me. "You can do this."

"Thanks," I smiled as I headed out. After making my way through the now-familiar passages, I entered the communications room and locked the door behind me. Waiting on the monitor was the familiar face of Admiral Clark, although he looked decidedly less cheerful than usual. He was practically chewing on the end of his cigar as if it were a piece of gum and he drummed his fingers on the desk impatiently. Not a good sign.

In any case, I didn't want to show weakness or anything that would put me at a disadvantage for what came next. I turned on the camera at my end and saluted smartly. "Admiral Bogan, reporting as ordered, sir."

"Paul, what the hell is this?" he began without preamble, waving a sheaf of papers that I presumed to be the proposed treaty. "I said extend the treaty, not move in over there! The hell are you up to?"

"My best, sir," I answered bluntly before I allowed myself to relax somewhat. "Look, you wanted a treaty, I got you a treaty. I got you a better treaty. Now we get to integrate the entire Sakura Empire into Azur Lane! This is going to completely lock up the Pacific for us! But all that integration is going to come at a cost, and quite frankly, I can do that a lot better here and in person than over a communications link."

Clark tossed the treaty back onto the desk with a sigh. "And what about your obligations to Azur Lane?"

"What about them?"

"Your job as Commander of Azur Lane is to manage the entire fleet, not just the Sakura Empire."

"I understand, sir, and I am still as capable of doing that here as I am back home. In fact, since being stationed here, have you seen any drop in my efficiency?"

Clark's lips pursed around the cigar as he growled, "No."

"Have you ever seen any drop in efficiency from me when I was at an overseas post?"

"No," he begrudgingly admitted a second time.

"Then, with all due respect, sir, what's the problem?"

He fixed me with a hard stare as he took the ruined cigar out of his mouth. "The 'problem' is that this could be handled by a subordinate and not you. I don't see why you, personally, have to oversee this. Let Saratoga take over, or Enterprise." I raised an eyebrow at that last suggestion, and he quickly backtracked. "Okay, not Enterprise, but someone else."

I took a deep breath as I prepared to make my case. "For starters, they asked for me. Sakura Empire leadership is fairly complex and byzantine, and it would take a newcomer weeks or months to learn how to navigate it, something I've already figured out. Second, I've already been studying Sakura Empire tactics and chain of command since I got here, and again, I'm familiar with how it works." I paused before asking my next question, and I gave Admiral Clark a rueful look, knowing he wouldn't like it, "And finally, and with no due respect, sir, they still haven't found those cultists yet, have they?"

Clark leaned back in his seat, a bitter expression on his face. "No, they haven't."

"The Sakura Empire leadership has taken a…vested interest in my safety, and they feel that it would be remiss of me to return to a post under threat when I was just as safe, if not safer here in the Empire in-" I almost said "in her arms", but I managed to quickly catch myself and say, "under their protection."

"And finally, they've flat out said if I don't head up the integration, they won't sign the treaty."

Clark let out a long, resigned sigh and reached for his cigar, only to toss it back down when he saw the state of it. "It seems you've got me over a bucket on this one, Paul."

"Not my intention, sir."

"No, no I imagine it wasn't," He muttered as he rifled through his desk drawer and pulled out a fresh cigar. "Well, the rest of Naval HQ isn't going to like not having you back at your old post, but, quite frankly, I think they'll be happier with that treaty with the Sakura Empire. We'll get this approved and we'll do an official transfer of command ceremony for your old posting in a few weeks. Gives us enough time to make sure the security on it's ironclad."

I smiled thinly, not wanting to give away the joy that threatened to burst out of me. Had to keep it professional for just a few more seconds. "I look forward to it, sir."

"Same," he said as he lit his cigar, taking several puffs before he nodded to me. "You take care of yourself, Paul."

"You, too, sir." I saluted and the line cut off. I double-checked that the camera and microphone were off before I let out a triumphant yell and ran out of the room.

I flew down the ladders and burst into the office, starting both Musashi and Haguro. While Haguro continued to shoot daggers at me for startling her, Musashi saw the smile on my face and instantly put it together. "They agreed, didn't they?"

"They agreed," I confirmed. She ran to me, gathering me up in her arms for a fierce embrace that I eagerly returned, hugging her tightly.

Musashi was practically giddy as she smiled down at me. "Oh, I can finally show you my home!" Something flashed behind her eyes, and her smile grew mysterious. "But first…"

The ship shuddered, and I heard the distinct and now familiar noise of the Musashi raising her anchor. I looked over at Haguro, who shrugged helplessly at me. "Uh…we going somewhere?"

"Mhm," Musashi confirmed with an eager nod. When she didn't volunteer any further information, I asked, "...you plan on telling me?"

"It's a surprise," she smiled. "One I think you'll enjoy very much…"

A/N-Only one chapter left! And as a reminder, the character poll will close on Friday, June 30th, although Yorktown still has a commanding 10-vote lead. Until next time, fair winds and following seas!