Erin smiled at the woman sitting in her office looking dreamy eyed and mellow. Mia’s contented smile told her more than words ever could.

“So I guess you’ve made yer decision then.”

Mia nodded. “An alien, Erin. I’ve fallen in love with an honest-to-god alien. He’s just so… amazing. Kor-el is amazing. And in bed… wow. I don’t know if I could ever be with a regular man after Kor-el. I don’t even want to be away from him now. His people are excitedly waiting for our return. He said our children would be honored and raised with more care than I could even imagine. He said I would be respected just because bearing a child is so honored there.”

“He certainly does sound like quite the catch, as does his homeland,” Erin said. “But…?”

Mia chuckled. “You and Angus are amazing. How do you know there’s something else on my mind?”

“Finely honed matchmaker instincts,” Erin said, grinning as she shrugged.

Mia snickered and shrugged. “I just wish I could have a wedding—that’s all. Like most women, I’ve dreamed of having one. They don’t have ceremonies like that on Kor-el’s world. They just make an arrangement and announce it in public. The man stands in some city square and talks about it all day. He also takes on anyone who disagrees and makes sure the matter gets settled one way or the other before he goes home to his wife.”

Erin ran a worried hand through her hair. Angus told her in great detail about the bloody fight between Kor-el and Jex. She was suddenly glad Angus had decided to return to the alien common room with Kor-el. If the now contented man decided to spend the afternoon bragging to all the still horny aliens about Mia’s choice of him, Kor-el would need someone to have his back.

“Maybe we could have a little wedding ceremony on the airship,” Erin said.

Mia looked around. “No. There’s no need for that trouble. This place is not exactly romantic, is it?”

Since the woman was right, Erin shrugged. “True enough. Is there anything else I can do for ya?”

Mia looked down at her hands. “Can I ask you a personal question?”

Erin spread her own fingers to brace herself, even though Mia didn’t see her action. “Ya can ask. I can’t promise an answer.”

Nodding, Mia lifted her chin. “Are you and Angus breaking up? You’ve been together like five times longer than most relationships in existence. I guess what I’m saying is that I hope you work things out. I wouldn’t have had the courage to do this if it wasn’t for both of you.”

Erin smiled at the woman. “Angus and I are fine. We’re not perfect, but our relationship is supported by a large foundation of knowing each other well. My heart belongs to him—always has—and I can’t believe I’ve said this to two people just today. I usually don’t do that much confessing. Angus tends to use it against me when he finds out.”

Mia giggled. “So your arguments are just normal for the two of you?”

“I suppose they are,” Erin said, a bit surprised at how right the answer felt. “We’re getting better at compromising. That’s more important to us than disagreeing about something.”

When Angus walked through the office door with a frown on his face, she and Mia both turned to him.

“Is Kor-el still alive? Mia was just telling me about the customs of his people,” Erin said.

“Are ya kidding?” Angus exclaimed. “There are celebrations happening left and right in there. The ale is pouring freely… so freely in fact, I had to leave. Too tempting to a man trying to stay out of the box.”

“What box?” Mia asked.

Erin laughed. “It’s our word for Nate’s rejuvenation cylinder. Angus requires frequent visits to stay in proper form.”

“Oh,” Mia said. “Well, you look great, Mr. MacNamara.”

“Aren’t ya the sweet one for noticing my fine manly figure. Ya should see me in my kilt, lass.”

Mia laughed. “I wish I could. I wish I could see Kor-el in one too. He’d so tall and his… uh… legs would look nice in a kilt.”

The blush lighting Mia’s face drew a grin from Angus. Luckily for the woman, Angus let his wicked thoughts go unspoken. Erin pictured Angus in his kilt and smiled. He did look impressive in it. He wasn’t even exaggerating.

The idea when it bloomed in her mind came bursting through fully and with all details intact. Nate would squawk like a wet hen… or forbid it… which might put a real damper on things. Best not to dash anyone’s hope by mentioning her idea to the happy woman in her office.

Mia stood to leave and hugged them both. Erin felt her heart clenching as she leaned against her desk and watched the woman thanking Angus for his help.

Why couldn’t these brave women get back in touch with New Earth and the world they hailed from? Were they chattel being bartered to the aliens or were they heroines volunteering to save their world? It seemed to her like Nate and the Guardians were confused about what these women were. Well, she and Angus weren’t. The truth was real clear to the two of them. And the very least each heroine deserved was a proper wedding before being sent off on her big adventure.

When the door closed behind Mia, Erin rose from her perch and walked to the man who was both lover and friend in this strange land.

“Angus, how would ya feel about a hosting a big wedding?”

She laughed at the momentary surprise on his face, but it faded to a determined look and tight jaw as he nodded.

“Alright, Erin O’Shea. I accept yer proposal. I’d be honored to make ya my wife.”

Erin laughed from her belly. “Goddess, I wish ya could see yer face right now. It’s beaming with a fecking mixture of fear and resignation. Ya can relax yer manly figure, Mr. MacNamara. I wasn’t offering to take yer arse on for eternity.”

Angus frowned hard. “No? Why not?”

“Because I don’t want any man marrying me as a fecking favor.” Erin put a hand to his chest and smiled up into his worried gaze. “I was talking about Mia and Kor-el. Do ya think we can have a wedding ceremony at Dargoona Castle for them?”

Erin grew a little alarmed when Angus laughed loudly and picked her up to swing her around. She called out his name which had Toorg sticking in his head. He shook it and did the equivalent of an alien eye roll when they looked his way. They both laughed again when the door closed back.

Angus lowered her feet to the floor. “Ya are fecking brilliant. Not only can we do a proper wedding for the happy couple, we can do a series of games for the entertainment of all. When the lasses see what the alien lads can do, everyone will be lining up for sweet meets.”

Erin’s vision seemed to expand as images of it filled her mind. She patted Angus on the chest again as she thought about it. “I like it, Angus. How dangerous will it be?”

Angus shrugged. “No more than any céili at Paddy’s where the Guinness flows freely.”

“Okay. What could go wrong then?” Erin teased.

“Nothing worth worrying about,” Angus declared. “Nothing at all. This is going to work better than you can possibly imagine.”

Erin looked at Angus and remembered her fight with Nate over him. This was the man’s true power. His excitement could sweep ya up and everyone else close by him. She chuckled as she looked at Angus. There was so much love in her heart, it felt like it might burst.

“What’s so funny?” Angus asked.

“Ya are. I am. Being here is fecking absurd. Now we’re planning a wedding at a castle that we’ve inherited from some other version of us. Doesn’t it all seem like a dream to ya? It does to me.”

Angus snorted, but nodded. “Sometimes. Then I think about the new peace between us, and I hope no one wakes me.”

“Bet that’s yer cock talking again,” Erin teased. “It’s been a whole fourteen hours since he and I were friendly.”

Angus laughed and pulled her into his arms. “No. It’s the rest of me this time. Yer obsession with my cock is between you and him. He’s been lounging around all day thinking about last night. He’s nearly as happy as Kor-el’s cock. If my wicked appendage gets any more contented, they’ll be no living with him.”

Laughing, Erin slipped her fingers through Angus’s and pulled him to the door. “I’m telling Toorg we’re leaving early today. May have to make an early night of it too.”

Angus didn’t answer her. He just hummed at her side for the entire walk to their room. Erin felt as happy as she could remember ever being. More… she was contented. Something she knew was much harder to find in any life.