Editing Take The Leap

<span style="color:#800000">'''Joshua's always fun to RP with and he did all the heavy lifting in this one. Thanks, Andy!--Maer'''</span> <br> 


'''Sunday 20 Jun 2523'''<br>
'''Somewhere on the coast, Angel'''<br>
'''Kalidasa (Xuan Wu) system'''<br>
'''Late afternoon'''<br><br>

Nika had thought of everything. The cottage she'd rented for us had everything included—meals delivered, stocked pantry, fresh linens daily, paid up for two weeks. It even had a stipulation that lifted Sharia Law on the property and I got the feeling it made for a lucrative business. It would be a very popular destination for a couple looking to get away from it all.<br><br> 

It certainly was remote. Nothing met the eye except the ocean, sand, and sky. It was turquoise and white perfection backed by tropical forest. Our driver brought in our things, showed us the amenities of the place with smiling efficiency, and left us to our honeymoon.<br><br>

The cottage was simple. Two rooms, lounge in front, bedroom behind. Wide verandas on all four sides with the walls folded back to let the outside in. The breeze off the water blew gently through the place, making the curtains billow and the vases of flowers flutter. Birdsong and the murmur of the ocean drifted on the breeze and I could smell the salt on it. Three steps up overlooking everything lay the bed, wide and inviting. It was covered in flowers. I stood in the middle of the cottage and took it all in.<br><br>

"Wow." I turned to Joshua, my eyes big as saucers. "Just...wow."<br><br>

---<br><br>

Dressed in a cute little green and black dress, Rina, to Joshua's eye, looked more relaxed than she had in months. Maybe it was the sheer beauty of their honeymoon space, maybe it was getting out of the coveralls she wore perpetually, or maybe even just getting away from the responsibilities of the ''Equinox. Or maybe'', he thought with a grin on his face, ''getting married was just good for her''.<br><br>

He leaned over her and kissed her forehead. "Nika went above and beyond, 'tis true," he said smiling in agreement with her unspoken thoughts.<br><br>

---<br><br>

I wrapped my arms around his waist and leaned into the kiss. For the first time in years I had nowhere to go and nothing to do. I was married to the man I loved and that fact changed everything. Closing my eyes I could hear the space echoing all around us, that odd sense that the world was holding its breath. In a way it was. <br><br>

"So," I breathed, trembling inside at the enormity of it. "What now?"<br><br>

---<br><br>

A quirk of a smile and a twinkle in his eye were the only visible signs of how happy Joshua was inside. He almost was afraid to let it all burst out. "Well, lots of choices, love. We could go to the beach and play in the waves. Or we could sit on the veranda and just let the cool breeze blow over us as we talk."<br><br>

He looked into those beautiful dark eyes of hers and grinned. "Or did you have something different in mind, my love?"<br><br>

---<br><br>

"I ...," I faltered. The universe was balanced on a knife's edge inside me and I didn't dare move lest I fall and get swallowed up. I looked up at him and managed to whisper, "I can't … You decide."<br><br>

---<br><br>

''So serious''. Joshua placed his hand lovingly on Rina's cheek. "Why so worried, love?" He moved his hand from her cheek to her hand and led her to the steps. As he sat down with her on the low steps, he smiled at her again.<br><br>

"We've got plenty of time, Rina. What are you thinking about?" It was nice just to being able to sit without being worried about being chased or even simple ship duties. He was a thrill seeker, for sure, but Joshua knew the quiet moments were needed to make the excitement worth it.<br><br>

---<br><br>

Sitting down helped. Joshua's arm around me helped, as did the warmth of his body where it touched mine. My insides steadied and the world began to breathe again, but the feeling I was balanced on the edge of something profound stayed with me.<br><br>

"I know it's been a few days but I think it's finally hit me," I said carefully, praying he wouldn't get the wrong idea. "We're actually ''married''. You're my husband. I'm your wife. Everything is different.  I've got my whole life ahead of me to spend with you and it's …It's ''amazing'' and ''liberating'' and …." I took a deep breath and cupped his face and said with every scrap of courage I could muster. "And I'm ''scared to death'' and I don't know what to do."<br><br>

---<br><br>

Joshua chuckled a little. "Of course you're scared. I'd be worried if you weren't. You're standing on the edge of the cliff, hang glider on your back. Next step puts you in the air, free of all constraints...but when you're standing there on the edge, of course you'll be scared." He smiled. Rina had that odd way of being so experienced about some things and yet so unfamiliar with others. They shared that odd duality and he loved her for it.<br><br>

"So, what you do you need to do?" He pressed his hands against hers, feeling the warmth of her hands against his cheek. "Take the leap, love." And Joshua brought Rina's face to his and kissed her deep, feeling the exhilaration of flying as he did.<br><br>

---<br><br>

His kiss called to me, my heart answered, and the edge I'd balanced on for weeks disappeared. ''Take the leap''. So I leapt and given wings by his love, I truly believed I could fly.<br><br><br>



----
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