Isaac groaned as he woke. A quick look out the window told him it was beyond midday and the sun was on its journey towards the horizon. A look around found his bed empty, a far sight from earlier that morning. A small note on the table and a steaming silver lid adorned his bedside table. Isaac picked up the note.
"Such a late sleeper. That's okay. I will take command until you're up and about. However, it would be good for you to be ready to receive visitors considering we aren't in the midst of battle, people may want to talk with you. Shinano and Nimi made you dinner. I put a small hot plate under it to keep it warm. Depending on when you wake up, be careful, it might be very hot. Thanks for the fun last night, Isaac. Let's do it again sometime ;)" The note read. Isaac studied the handwriting and saw it was Odin who had left him the note. A bright red pair of lips marked the corner of the paper, causing Isaac to smile.
"Such a romantic when nobody's watching." Isaac whispered as he used a corner of the sheets to pull the silver dome off of a plate. Underneath was a side of local Milkfish, something Isaac assumed Shinano had caught beforehand. Upon inspection, he saw that she had fileted the fish, leaving him two sides of fish to eat, along with rice and a bowl of Miso soup, the origin of which Isaac was unsure of considering their distance from Japan.
"Thanks for the food girls." Isaac whispered as he took his first bite of the fish, a jolt spreading through his body as a sharp punch of citrus hit his senses followed by the delicate flavor of the fish.
"This isn't bad. I'll have to thank her in person." Isaac said as he pulled the tray over to the bed and began eating. Several minutes later, a knock came to the door.
"Door's open." Isaac said as he pulled the covers over him before wiping his mouth.
"Such a sorry state to greet her majesty with…" Belfast spoke as she opened the door and saw Isaac laid up in bed.
"Two for the price of one. How exciting." Isaac said as he set his food off to the side.
"No need to do that, Admiral. I wasn't here to interrupt your dinner." Lizzy said as she and Belfast entered the room.
"Sorry… I can't exactly stand to greet you." Isaac said with a chuckle.
"I heard. Kind of jealous if I say so myself." Lizzy said to which Belfast gasped.
"Your majesty! You can't just say something like that!" Belfast exclaimed.
Isaac chuckled.
"Why not? I came here and joined this fleet to see him again. I'm not going to hide what I feel from him anymore. Neither one of us know when it will be the end for either of us. Although I will say… I will die before he will. I will see to that personally." Lizzy said as she locked eyes with Isaac, who gulped nervously.
Belfast sighed.
"You really aren't the Queen I am used to." Belfast said softly.
"I told you this when we met for the first time, Bel. I have had different experiences than the Queen Elizabeth from this world. It's only natural that my personality would deviate." Lizzy said as she turned to Belfast.
With a sigh, Belfast returned to her normal stature.
"No matter. I will still stick with you while serving my master. You are still Her Majesty, even if you are not the one I know." Belfast said as she bowed her head.
Isaac cleared his throat in an attempt to clear the air.
"So, what can I do for you? I can't exactly leave the bed at the moment." Isaac asked.
"I came to talk to you about the construction of my vessel. You currently have Enterprise and the Izumo Class Multipurpose destroyer as the main force of your air fleet, is my assumption correct?" Lizzy asked.
"Not really… Enterprise is powerful, yes. But the main brunt of my force comes from the sheer number of carriers in the fleet. We can put over a hundred planes in the air in a very short amount of time thanks to Shinano, Richthofen, Enterprise, Eagle, Illustrious, Vengeance, Kaga, and Graf Zeppelin. The Izumo class whatchamacallit… what is that?" Isaac asked.
"The Japanese carrier with the CIWS systems like Enterprise." Lizzy explained.
"Oh you mean my daughter, Yume." Isaac clarified.
"A daughter? You managed to conceive a daughter?" Lizzy asked, clearly surprised.
"Yes. She is Shinano and I's daughter." Isaac said which caused Lizzy to take a moment to reflect.
"So… you managed to get a carrier from my time… by having a child with Shinano?" Lizzy asked.
"So it seems… I don't really understand how it works, but I know that I love my daughter very much and that her power, even now, is on par with anyone else in my fleet." Isaac explained.
"Well… allow me to fill you in then. Since you might not have a full grasp of what your daughter is capable of." Lizzy said as she pulled a chair to Isaac's bedside, taking the hot plate from his sheets and holding it on her lap before gently prying the fork from his hand.
"I am capable of feeding myself, Lizzy…" Isaac said as she took a bit of fish and held it out to him on the fork.
"Shut it. I'm thinking about how to tell you this." Lizzy said as Isaac took the bite and allowed her to feed him.
"Basically, Yume is not a regular aircraft carrier. She may be longer than the carriers in the fleet, which might be good for her, but in my world, she uses helicopters and fighter jets." Lizzy began.
Isaac swallowed.
"Helicopters? Fighter jets?" Isaac asked.
"Yes. Helicopters… Germany at this point in the war had something called the Kolibri. It was a simple scout helicopter, but it was the basis used for every rotary wing aircraft that followed." Lizzy said as she summoned her rigging and allowed a small chinook to form on the smaller flight deck. Isaac, now fully invested, reached over and attempted to pick it up, finding it quite impossible.
"It won't move without my order, Isaac. You should know this." Lizzy said with a small chuckle as she allowed the miniature helicopter to be picked up by Isaac.
"It's quite heavy. How does it fly?" Isaac asked as he looked at what now was effectively a model chinook.
"The rotors and blades on top provide lift by turning at an incredible rate. This helicopter is capable of carrying its own weight in cargo. Quite useful considering your current state of affairs." Lizzy said as she fed Isaac a fork full of rice.
"It has no weapons?" Isaac asked.
"No. Nor should you need them, considering you can carry armed troops inside, and they can engage through the windows seen here along the side." Lizzy said as she pointed to the small circular windows on the side of the craft.
Belfast leaned over to see the model as well, genuinely fascinated to see such advanced technology.
"So how does this affect Yume?" Isaac asked.
"Yume, or her class, from my time, is mainly used in conjunction with short take off jets and helicopters. I can teach her helicopter's… but upon trying to form my usual fighter jets with my rigging, I find myself limited to something much more primitive. Sea Vampires and FJ-2 Fury fighters. Things I can still launch… but will require a small tweak to my hull design." Lizzy explained.
"You will have to show them to me as well… the most advanced aircraft we have is Vengeance's aircraft, and those are just Siren Aircraft." Isaac said.
"Jets are a bit of a tough topic to teach, Isaac. I can teach her the helicopters. But I would recommend her just sticking to the propeller aircraft that your fleet is accustomed to. Her flight deck is plenty long enough for it." Lizzy said.
"I see. So, you wish to teach Yume how to create and summon helicopters?" Isaac asked.
"I do. But in order for that to even be possible… I need my vessel back." Lizzy spoke flatly.
"I see. Well… I guess if you know how your vessel should be… You can use the blank cubes we have onboard the Norfolk once New Jersey and Akashi get here." Isaac explained.
"New Jersey and Akashi? What do they have to do with rebuilding my ship?" Lizzy asked.
"Akashi has a Wisdom Cube Matrix that she uprooted from Bermuda. She is transporting it here where we will engineer a separate power source to power it so she can keep the matrix inside her hull." Isaac explained.
"I see. So, either way I will have to wait?" Lizzy asked.
"Unfortunately, that is the case." Isaac said as another knock came to the door.
"Come in." Isaac said as Arizona walked in carrying a bundle of blankets.
"Sorry to intrude, Commander. Yamato and Musashi requested that I bring her to you so Yamato could get some more rest." Arizona said as she passed Yume to Belfast, who proceeded to hand her to Isaac.
"Thank you, Arizona. How is Yamato doing?" Isaac asked.
"She is doing a lot better physically. Mentally… she is suffering. She was abused beyond what anyone should have to endure. We should prepare ourselves for the possibility of only having one Yamato Class battleship at our disposal." Arizona said.
"She is in no condition to fight?" Isaac asked.
"In a mental sense… she should never see the battlefield in the state she is in. We need to focus on her recovery before deciding to push her to the front." Arizona suggested.
"I will keep that in mind. Thank you, Arizona." Isaac said as he cradled Yume in his arms.
"Of course, Admiral. Now I have to go and tend to Perkins… poor guy." Arizona asked.
"What happened?" Isaac asked.
"Well… Kaga and Iowa brought him over not too long ago with a dislocated hip and several deep bite marks. I can only assume Kaga was not as gentle with him as Shinano was with you…" Arizona said as she looked pointedly at Isaac.
Isaac shuddered at the thought.
"Please go and help him. And apologize on my behalf for failing to warn him about this…" Isaac said.
"I will relay the message, Commander. Have a good evening." Arizona said as she left the room.
"Your fleet is very open." Lizzy remarked.
"Aye. We're one big happy family… or at least I like to think that way." Isaac said as he poked Yume's cheek. Yume opened her purple eyes and looked at Isaac, cooing happily upon seeing her daddy. Yume tried to move her arms but found herself unable to due to the swaddling that Arizona had done. A small pout on Yume's face came before a small green dragonfly appeared on the tip of her ear. With a small giggle, the dragonfly flew around Isaac's head.
"She is a curious little thing." Lizzy said as she looked at the face of Isaac's daughter.
"That she is… but she is also one of the greatest gifts that I could have received." Isaac said as the small green dragonfly landed on his finger, filling his body with a soft warmth akin to being wrapped in a blanket of fur.
"Maybe one of these days, I might have you make me one of those." Lizzy said, earning her another gasp from Belfast.
Isaac smiled.
"When this war is won… and peace is restored… I will grant all of those with rings a child if that is their wish. After all… a family isn't a family if it doesn't stand the test of time." Isaac said as he undid the swaddling on Yume before covering her with the blanket and holding her to his chest.
Upon seeing this sight, Lizzy swooned just a bit.
"Bel. I have a request." Lizzy asked.
"Anything, Your Majesty." Bel replied.
"Can you make this little one a dress to wear? Something simple yet elegant. A Sakura motif wouldn't hurt." Lizzy asked.
"I will begin working on it right away." Belfast said as she quickly left the room.
"Finally, alone." Lizzy whispered as she looked at Isaac and Yume. The continued sight made Lizzy feel the same sense of love she had felt for her own world's Isaac.
"She cares for you, Lizzy. She lost her own Queen… so maybe you fill the void for her just as much as you do for me." Isaac said as he looked at Lizzy.
"I know. And it's a lot better to see her like this. Still… I do like having a bit of private time." Lizzy complained a bit.
"Lizzy… something keeps bugging me. Something you said when I saw you for the first time." Isaac said.
"What's that?" Lizzy asked.
"You said you came here, because I was here." Isaac said.
"That is correct." Lizzy clarified.
"And you said you wanted to marry… your version of me." Isaac said.
"That is also correct." Lizzy spoke.
"Is… that it? Am I that important that you would put yourself through fighting the Sirens again just to be here?" Isaac asked.
"Yes. Plain and simply… yes. I never took a husband after you died. I held onto my ring, using it to remember you throughout the years. Numerous captains tried to propose… I shut them down without a second thought. They all saw me as a queen… but you… you saw me as a woman. Not someone who needed to be worshiped… but someone to be treated like an equal. Nobody else could do that. Nobody else gave off that air like you did. So… when we tested the mirror sea generator in my time… and I was brought here. I asked around. I asked the year. They said 1945. I asked about recent events… they replied with the Second battle of Australia. Where a mysterious Admiral and his fleet kept Australia from falling to the sirens. I asked around some more…" Lizzy stopped and looked out the window.
"I asked around some more and found Allan and Yukikaze in Brisbane. They said Isaac Garner was the mysterious Admiral… When they said your name… I couldn't believe it. To me… you had died nearly 80 years ago. But now… you're here. I decided then that I would fight the Sirens again. No matter the cost… just to be here with you." Lizzy said as she pulled a worn leather box from her uniform. Inside was a meticulously maintained gold band. Isaac realized that despite the gold being from his time, the ring had seen decades of wear that even the most rigorous of maintenance couldn't hide.
"Was this…"
"Yes. I was going to propose to him. But he never came back. When the Hood detonated… he went down with the ship." Lizzy said as she looked at the ring.
Isaac sat in silence. He continued to entertain Yume but said nothing.
"I won't burden you with accepting my proposal today… but… It is my ultimate goal to join the merry band of girls you have wedded. And for that… I will fight the sirens to my final breath." Lizzy said as Isaac held out his hand.
"The last thing my Lizzy told me… as she faded away in my arms… was that she loved me. She was the first to treat me like a person, and not as some second rate citizen. It was only after her death that I realized that what I felt for her was more than friendship. I found out that I loved her. So… I accept." Isaac said.
"What?" Lizzy asked.
"You just proposed to me… I accept. I will take your hand in marriage as I have with the others who have rings." Isaac said as Lizzy smiled tearfully.
"Let me do it properly then… if you are ready." Lizzy said as she knelt down on one knee and opened the box again.
"Admiral… Isaac Garner. Will you marry me?" Lizzy asked with tears in her eyes.
"Yes. Yes, I will." Isaac said as Lizzy allowed herself to cry as she took the single golden band from the box and slid it onto Isaac's ring finger. She rose to her feet and took him in a gentle embrace as she cried into his shoulder. Isaac used his free hand to return her embrace.
After they separated, Isaac reached into the drawer on his nightstand and pulled out a blue velvet box. He opened it and removed a ring with a silver band and diamond set into it. He took Lizzy's hand and slid the ring onto her finger, proving to her that she was now his.
"A moment… 80 years in the making." Lizzy cried softly as she laid a kiss on Isaac's cheek.
"Is it all you had hoped for?" Isaac asked with a soft chuckle.
"Everything and more. I am struggling to contain my emotions right now." Lizzy said as tears streamed freely down her cheeks.
"Well… maybe we can do something about it. Would you mind helping me up?" Isaac asked.
"Are you sure you're okay to move?" Lizzy asked as she placed a hand under his back to help him sit up.
"We're going to find out. I need a bath. And I'd like to give Yume one as well." Isaac said as Lizzy smiled.
"I could go for one. I hear the Shinano has a wonderful Japanese style bath." Lizzy proclaimed.
"It does. Big as a swimming pool." Isaac said.
"Then I think I shall accompany you, Your Highness." Lizzy said.
"Excuse me?!" Isaac stopped cold hearing her speak to him in such a manner.
"You are married to a Queen. And since I desire to be an equal to my husband, I will call you as such, My king." Lizzy said with a giggle.
Isaac thought about it. It made sense. But he was no Patriarch.
"Is it negotiable?" Isaac asked.
"Nope. If Shinano and Friedrich get to call you dear husband. And Eagle gets to call you darling. Then I will call you my king. I will hear no further objections." Lizzy commanded playfully as she helped Isaac to his feet.
"So… does that make Yume…"
"A Princess? Yes." Lizzy interrupted.
Isaac sighed happily.
"It will take some getting used to… but I'll accept those terms." Isaac said as Lizzy draped a robe over his body.
"Now, My King, Shall we be off?" Lizzy asked, blushing.
"We shall." Isaac said as Lizzy helped him walk from the room.