He's so serious, and I know what the shrinks at the hospital would say. He's desperate for security, for connection. He's not thinking straight, and maybe he's not. But I also know that we wanted this even before he was captured, and I can't help it, I know my heart, and I know his heart as well, shrinks be damned. “Yes, Simon. I will marry you.”

The smile that spreads on his face is worth it, and he takes my hand, kissing it before he starts to cry. “I... I forgot the ring. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry...”

“Shhhh...” I reassure him, knowing that it's part of his recovery. “I don't need a ring, and we can get one later. I know what I do need right now though.”

“What?” he asks, wiping at his eyes and recovering.

“I want to feel my future husband holding me... and maybe more, if he wants,” I whisper, reaching out and kissing him. “I know you said she tried to seduce you, but it doesn't matter to me. I'm your woman, Simon. And I want to give myself to you.”

Simon blinks, surprised. “You mean we can? But what about the twins?”

“I looked it up just in case, after we video chatted. I didn't know if the situation would arise, but with a little creativity, we can make love right up until I go into labor,” I reassure him. “Just no missionary, that's a no-no. Too much pressure on my belly.”

Simon laughs and rubs his hand over my stomach, which looks kind of like someone's shoved a basketball under my shirt. “Yeah, I guess so. But Ashley, I don't want to force you or anything.”

“Trust me, you're not. I would like to make love with you very much.”

Simon nods and stands up, pulling his shirt off. We've bought some clothes that will fit him for now, knowing that as he gains weight we'll be discarding a lot of it. His chest is still bony, the muscle wiry under his skin that shows the ghosts of the wounds he suffered, but he's already put on more weight, up to a hundred and fifty three pounds this morning, and I don't really care as he pushes his casual sweats and underpants down, revealing himself to me. “Still attractive?”

I nod and pat the bed where he was laying before, smiling. “Come here and I'll show you.”

Simon climbs onto the bed while I do my best to get my shorts off, and he stops my hands, helping to peel my shorts and panties off. “Still attractive to you?”

His cock twitches and grows, and we both chuckle. “Guess so,” Simon says, running his hand up the inside of my thigh. “So... give me some guidance. You said creative, how so?”

“Depends on how you want me,” I reply, my words turning into a soft moan when his fingers drag through the hair on top of my pussy. “Yeah... I grew that out again. I kinda forgot to trim them again after I got the news.”

“They're beautiful, and part of you,” Simon whispers, stretching out and kissing me tenderly. I lose myself in the twin sensations of his lips on mine and his fingers lightly playing with my pubic hair, the two of us slowly reacquainting ourselves with each other's body. “So beautiful.”

“So are you,” I remind him, running my hands through his hair. He's gotten a hair cut since a week ago, he's within Army uniform limits but it's still longer than what it used to be, and I smile. “I like the hair, by the way.”

“Then I'll keep it this way,” he promises, kissing down to my throat. It feels so good, and I let myself just murmur my appreciation, I don't even know what I'm saying as he kisses and sucks at my pulse points, nipping the skin occasionally and lighting my nerves on fire. It's almost as if by magic that he knows every place that feels good, and every place that used to feel good but doesn't now, like my hyper-sensitive nipples.

Simon's fingers drift lower, dipping inside my pussy and making me gasp, I've missed his touch so much. “Simon... my love....”

Simon slips his fingers in deep while we kiss again, his body pressed against my side but not on top of me, my skin thrilled by the contact between us. Slowly, lovingly his fingers pump in and out, my body on fire with every caress and touch. It's been so long, and my pussy is desperate, slick with the six months of missed touches and caresses, of missed whispers and shared promises. I need him, and I'm going to be his, forever and always.

Simon pulls his fingers out and gets off the bed, grabbing a pillow from his half before helping me slide down to the edge. “Is this what you meant by a little creativity?”

With my help he lifts my hips, sliding the pillow under my lower back and lifting my hips, my pussy on the edge of the bed as he stands, no weight on me at all but still I'm able to look into his eyes, the look on his face as he takes me in. “This... is perfect,” I coo, lifting my shirt up and pulling it over my head to free my breasts. “I know you've missed these.”

“I've missed every inch of you,” Simon whispers, taking his cock in his hand and squeezing it, bringing it to full hardness and looking me over. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Simon. Please... do what you want.” I'm conscious of the words, and while I'm choosing them carefully, there's nothing but intense meaning behind them as Simon shivers and steps forward, lifting my legs up and out to the side. His cock is so big, and looks even bigger on his skinny frame, but it's still amazing as he slides into me slowly, both of us shivering and groaning as he sinks, inch by inch, inside me. “Yes... oh God yes....”

Simon's silent, his eyes closed in rapture as he pushes in, pausing when I squirm in pain, and stops halfway in. He looks down, then grins sheepishly. “Sorry, I forgot.”

“Don't worry, just go slow,” I rasp, the pain disappearing as he pulls back and starts to stroke in and out. It only takes a few more thrusts before I feel him all the way inside, and in a perverse, sexy way I feel more womanly than I have in my entire life. My midsection bulges, filled to overflowing with the life building inside me, the man who completes me and gave me this gift now inside me, his cock filling me totally. I reach down and take his hands, entwining our fingers. “Forever, I swear, here and now, I will be your woman and wife. I love you.”

“And I will always be your man and husband,” Simon promises before pulling back and thrusting in again. It's heaven, my body crying out in pleasure as he lights my nerves with his electric touch, our hands clasped as he strokes in and out, not rough, neither of our bodies wanting or needing that. Instead, his cock moves on its own, our souls connecting and completing the healing inside us. I can feel his pain inside him, and I pour myself into him even as he fills me, our bodies, minds and spirits becoming one again.

His cock moves faster, both of us in harmony as we make love, my thighs trembling with sensations that shoot down my legs from my pussy to make my toes curl on their own. His cock fills me, my body lit up with pleasure with every thrust, the heat building between us as we look into each other's eyes. It can't last long, it's been so many months in between for both of us, but it doesn't matter, minutes can last hours or an eternity when we're like this.

I can feel his hips quiver, he's trying to hold back and draw it out, so I wrap my legs around him and pull him into me, letting him know he doesn't need to hold back, he just has to be himself with me. Tears trickle down both of our faces as Simon speeds up, his cock nearly blurring inside me as each thrust seems to start even before the one before it ends, my body rising higher and higher with each passing beat of my heart.

My mouth drops open, I'm gasping for air in my lungs as the waves build inside me, and my pussy clenches, squeezing on his cock as I feel my climax trembling on the edge. Simon grunts, his cock thrusting harder and faster now, and then I'm there, every nerve in me crying out in happiness as I come, giving myself totally to my man, this man that I love. I feel more than hear him cry out, and his warmth fills me, his cock deep inside me and causing my heart to explode in joy.

We stay that way for long moments before Simon pulls out, sweat shining on his body as he gasps for air, his body taxed. “I... I...”

“Come here, my love,” I say, scooting back as best I can and holding my arms out to him. He collapses on the bed, and I pull him into my arms, laying his head on my chest as he sobs, the demons inside him purging themselves from his heart at least for the moment. I know there's a long way to go, but that's okay. “I'm here, Simon. I'll always be here for you.”

Simon's sobs slow, and I feel him drift off into an exhausted sleep. I kiss his forehead and lay back, snatching the pillow from above me and tucking it behind my head. When my phone rings, I pick it up, holding it to my ear and speaking softly. “Hey Tammy. Hmmm?”

“I said, why are you whispering?”

“Simon's sleeping on my chest. I don't want to wake him, but I want to tell you guys first. He asked me to marry him,” I whisper, smiling. “You can guess my answer.”

“That you have to check with your sisters, right?” Tammy jokes, and I giggle. “Congrats. Tell you what, hold off on the official announcement until after he wakes up and you two can tell us together. I know he'll like that.”

“He will. And Tammy?”

“What's up, Ash?”

“Would you like to be my maid of honor?” I ask. “I can't think of anyone else that I would like more.”

“Damn straight I would. Cara gets to be in the whole group as well, right?”

“Of course. I'll call you guys later. My first official announcement's going to be to my folks after Simon wakes up. Then you guys. I love you.”

Tammy sighs happily, and I know how she feels. After all, we're sisters. “I love you too, Ash. 'Bye.”

* * *

“Since your due date is so close to the end of the course, I talked with the school commandant,” Captain Simson says while I sit on the other side of the desk, feeling huge, “and we've both agreed that while it might be possible under normal circumstances for you to graduate with your class, with the particular situation you're in, we feel that it's best that you go on maternity leave. You'll have to repeat the last month of the course after delivery, but that's okay, we'll just bump you back to the class behind you. Your choice however.”

I could fight it, but I know that he's right. By taking the recycle, it gives time for Simon and myself to both get back into condition and get married before we go back. “Sir, that sounds good. Although I'm not very good at sitting around on my fourth point of contact and doing nothing.”

“I would hear nothing of it,” Captain Simson says. “Actually, that was another thing the commandant wanted me to address with you. In addition to helping Lieutenant Lancaster, his schedule takes priority right now, you'll become my assistant here for as much as you can handle. It's not much, a little typing, poking around the office for the most part, but we'll try to keep you busy for the weeks until you want to go on full leave.”

I smile, knowing he's trying his best. “Sounds good, sir. You might if I still sit in with Captain Bali's classes when there's free time?”

“Of course not. In fact, if you get a move on, you'll catch the beginning of his lecture on basic sealoading operations. That's a fun one, you get to play with the Squids,” Captain Simson says. “Carry on, Lieutenant.”

I make my way up to the lecture hall, sitting in the back instead of taking up a desk as Captain Bali starts his lesson. There's a stir about halfway through when Simon comes in, wearing his current set of ACUs, and talks with Captain Bali, who nods and points to me. Simon comes back and sits down in the chair next to me, leaning over. “Your CO said I can sit through lectures in my spare time with you if I want.”

“Don't you want to catch up on six months of pop culture and TV instead?” I ask. “It is just Transpo.”

“I want to be next to you,” Simon says with quiet intensity, and I feel protected and loved more than ever. The lecture restarts, and at the lunch break, Simon helps me to my feet. “Okay, it wasn't exactly as exciting as when I was in Aviation classes. That was... well, at least I can say I've been through worse.”

His sense of humor is returning slowly, and I have to smile as we leave the lecture hall. He stops and reaches into his pocket, taking out a box. “By the way... I don't know if you want a ceremony on this or not.”

I open the box, looking at the white gold engagement ring inside, and shake my head. “Nope. We'll save the ceremony for the wedding. If we don't do that, Cara and Tammy are going to kick our butts.”

“Your Mom and Dad too,” Simon says, rolling his shoulder and wincing. “Protein powder, creatine, and all that's good, but I gotta remember I'm not going to regain the strength and weight overnight. Damn I could use a massage.”

“If you don't mind a massive bellied woman doing it, I could take care of that tonight,” I reassure him. My belly twinges, and I stop, rubbing. “Hmmm, maybe not.”

“Another one?” Simon asks, concerned. “Painful?”

“No.. just deep, different than I've had before,” I tell him, breathing deeply. “I go full term in only a few weeks, I'm not that early, and they say twins come faster than single babies. Think we should get to the hospital?”

“Better to be safe,” Simon says, leading me to the elevator. “So how can we tell false labor from the real thing?”

I feel wetness soak my pants, and I look down, surprised. “That's how.”

We end up taking my car to the hospital, it's faster than waiting for an ambulance, and twenty minutes later I'm in just my undershirt and a hospital robe thingy. Simon's out in the hallway calling everyone, and comes in a minute later, his face happy but serious. I've seen it before, it's his mission focused face. “Okay, Mom and Dad are on the way, Cara and Tammy are notified, and I told Brenda to fuck off when she called me wanting to worm her way back in.”

“Really?” I ask, gathering my breath in between contractions. Okay, okay, I've been a bit lazy with my Lamaze classes, but if I can get through Sandhurst, I can get through this. Especially now that Simon's here with me. “How'd she take it?”

“Don't know, I hung up on her after I said it. I get it, I'm nominally famous, but she can still go fuck off. I've got my family now.”

Another contraction starts, and Simon helps me bear down, holding hands with me the whole time. Things go quickly, I'm lucky for that, and Andromeda Julia Carlyle Lancaster is born at five seventeen PM, February twentieth, with her brother William Gavin Carlyle Lancaster coming at five thirty. Eight hours of labor, not too damn bad, but I'm still exhausted as I hold my babies in the hospital room, Simon next to me, his face full of amazement as Andromeda holds his finger while she sleeps.

“I guess it's pretty tough on them too,” Simon says wonderingly as William yawns and closes his eyes. “How're you feeling?”

“Tired but not sleepy yet,” I whisper, looking down. “We did it.”

“You did all the hard work, I've only been around a few weeks,” Simon protests, “but that's going to change. When you go back to school, I'm going to be a total Mr. Mom, taking care of them all day and all night if need be.”

“You'll have help,” Dad says from the doorway, where he and Mom have just come in. “I'd hoped to get here in time, but you were in quite a rush, Ashley.”

Mom and Dad come in, and I show them their grandchildren. “Andromeda... and William.”

“Andromeda?” Mom asks, curious. “Why Andromeda?”

“It's Tammy's middle name,” Simon explains. “Actually, these two have middle names with meaning too. Andromea Julia... and William Gavin.”

Mom and Dad blink, and for the first time in years I see my Dad start to cry. “Thank you,” he says, leaning down and kissing my forehead before kissing William and Andi. “Thank you both.”