0120 Hours, July 13, 2550 (Military Calendar)/

Prescott Ranch, Idaho, URNA, Earth

"What are you thinking about?"

The question was spoken so softly that Jake almost missed it. If it hadn't been whispered directly into his ear, he may have.

The ODST tightened his grip around the shoulders of the woman beside him. "I'm not sure I was thinking," he answered honestly. "I was just . . . feeling. Enjoying the moment, I guess. What are you thinking about?"

"You," his wife breathed. She shifted slightly to lay her head on his shoulder and snuggle more tightly into his grasp. "I miss you. I miss getting to do this. Getting to be together."

She hesitated, her breath hitching the way it did whenever she had something to say but was too nervous to say it. Jake waited for her to pick out the words she wanted to say. It was difficult for her sometimes, but if there was anyone in the universe that knew how to overcome obstacles it was Maria Prescott.

"I've been thinking," she finally said, thoughtfully drawing out each word. "Maybe we could stay like this."

Jake felt his heart begin to beat faster at the implication of her words. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying what if I - what if we both . . . retired? It wouldn't happen right away, I know that. But we could try."

A grin split the ODST's face. The Office of Naval Intelligence was not likely to take the loss of one of their Spartans lightly. To describe their life as 'tense' when they revealed that they had secretly gotten married would be an incredible understatement. In fact, Jake was still surprised that he hadn't been eliminated by some clandestine operative.

"You say the word, I'll start the paperwork," he promised. He lifted up on his elbows to look her in the eyes. "It might take a few years, but we'll be able to figure this out. Then we'll be together just like this every night." He leaned forward to press a kiss to her forehead.

Though it was too dark to see, he knew Maria was smiling when she said, "I love you."

"I love you too," he answered in the dark, squeezing her into an even tighter hug.