by Mike Smith
His constant touches and whispered words of reassurance, finally allowed her to relax and fall asleep in his arms. That had been many hours before. He, however, just wanted to stay awake to relish the time they had together alone.
Dropping a kiss onto her pale skin, Jon promised himself he would never again leave her. “You are going to be fine,” he said, the words comforting himself just as much as they were meant to comfort her. “I am not going anywhere. I plan on staying here by your side, just like this, for the rest of our lives.”
“Was that another proposal?” Sofia asked sleepily, burrowing closer to his shoulder, her head still resting on his chest.
Smiling absently, Jon replied, “I didn’t know you were awake.” Taking a ringlet of her hair, he wrapped it around one of his fingers.
“How am I expected to get any sleep with your constant whispering?” she asked, her lips turned upwards in a smile. “Anyway stop avoiding the question. Was that another proposal? I must say it was about as romantic as your last one.”
Jon thought back, finally remembering saying something similar to her while they were in his bed, almost five years before. The day after they had made love for the first time. At the time he’d told her it was a promise for the future. But suddenly that did not seem enough for him. He wanted more. So, very quietly, so not as to awaken her if she had fallen back asleep, he whispered. “Yes, that was a proposal. Sofia will you marry me?”
After several moments of silence, Jon sighed, guessing she had fallen back asleep. Instead, she whispered, “I thought you would never ask.”
*****
Staring at the ring shining in the palm of his hand, Jon could not help but think there was no better ring to wed Sofia with than her mother’s. Something that many years before she had admitted to him was all that she had left of her. She was trying to hold back her tears, and mouthed a soundless Thank you, as he unhooked the chain from around her neck and slid the ring into his hand. However, before he could put it onto her finger, there was one other person’s approval that he sought.
With the ring still resting in his palm, Jon turned to face his soon-to-be father-in-law, lifting his gaze to look him in the eye, only to observe the older man’s sight focused on the object in his hand. “My Lord?” He asked hesitantly, unsure of the distant expression on the other man’s face. It might have been his imagination, but Jon thought he saw tears in the Emperor’s eyes before he nodded in agreement.
“I’m no longer your Lord,” Marcus gently reminded him. “You're soon to be my son and should address me as such.”
Jon thought for a moment, then with a quirk of his lips replied. “Dad?”
Marcus visibly winced. “Only occasionally,” he insisted, before adding. “Anyway, are you going to marry my daughter, or do you want me to find someone else?”
“I’m on it,” Jon laughed, turning back to once again face the pastor.
Now that a suitable ring had finally been found, the pastor continued on with the service. “Since it is your intention to enter into marriage, join your right hands and declare your consent.”
Looking Sofia in the eye, delicately slipping the ring onto her finger, unsurprised to find it was a perfect fit, Jon stated in a loud, clear voice. “Sofia take this ring as a sign of my commitment and fidelity to you.”
“Jon and Sofia,” the pastor concluded. “In so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in matrimony, have promised your commitment to each other by these vows, and the joining of your hands, by the authority vested in me by the Confederation, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Congratulations. You may kiss your bride.”
“Again,” Paul added from his side, good-naturedly.
Jon did not need to be told twice, and his mouth swooped down to catch his new wife’s upturned lips.
A few minutes later Paul added softly “I think you can stop kissing the bride now Jon.”
All in all, everybody agreed it was a perfect day for the wedding of the last Imperial Princess, Sofia Aurelius and Commander Jonathan Radec. The day was only slightly marred, at the very end, by the distant roll of thunder and the storm clouds appearing on the horizon.
Chapter One
Present Day
Planet Eden Prime, Eden System
Sofia Aurelius-Radec, the last Imperial Princess, wrapped her robe tighter around herself to ward off the morning chill. It was still early, several weeks since her wedding and the sun was only just starting to creep above the horizon. The early morning rays, pushing back the darkness, projected bands of colour across the domed roof of the Confederation Senate. The white marble colonnades, refracting the weak morning sunlight, cast streamers of red, yellow and gold, which all merged together until it seemed as if the Senate were aglow, on fire.
Nursing her first cup of hot coffee of the morning, trying to banish the last vestiges of sleep, she watched the steam rise from the cup, swirling and unfolding in the brisk morning air. Finally tearing her gaze away from the scene outside, Sofia turned back to her empty apartment and equally empty bed. She had been up for hours, having awoken cold and alone. Twisting the wedding ring around her finger, in what she had come to recognise as a gesture of concern, she wondered for the twelfth time that morning if she should just call him. However he was probably still asleep and, after all, it was she who had banished him from her sight the night before, claiming it was considered bad luck to see the groom on the morning of their wedding day. With laughter in his eyes Jon, of course, had pointed out to her that legally they had already been married for several weeks, but she had still stubbornly insisted, claiming tradition. Therefore she had nobody to blame but herself when she had awoken missing her husband’s warm embrace. They had already been forced to spend too many years apart and now she felt his absence even more keenly, when finally there was nothing left to keep them apart, yet…
She knew his absence was not the only reason for her lack of sleep. Her conscience had also been bothering her. Jon had bared his soul to her many months ago, telling her the truth about his deception, but she hadn’t done likewise. Sighing to herself angrily, Sofia reluctantly admitted there were still far too many secrets lingering between them, and they were never going to be truly happy until both had confessed all.
Yet Sofia had no idea how to tell Jon her secret. She had loved him for many, many years and his absence had weighed heavily upon her soul. Now that they were finally together, she was desperately frightened that if she told him the truth she might lose him all over again.
This time forever.
However, he had a right to know and, even worse, Sofia knew he would eventually find out about the shameful secret she had kept from him for so long. How terrible it would be if he found out from somebody else. No, it was better to hear it from her own lips. At least that way, after he knew the truth, she could get down and beg his forgiveness. On her hands and knees, if necessary, for the chance to explain why.
Turning once again to look outside, staring at the Senate, she wavered. Perhaps now was not the best time. After all, they were soon to be married, officially, and this time with all the pomp and pageantry due to her position as an Imperial Princess. Sofia once again suppressed the urge to throttle her father.
It was entirely his fault.
*****
“Absolutely not,” Sofia practically screamed, her eyes burning with anger. Stamping her foot and tightening her fists, she seemed prepared to physically strike her father.
“But princess—”
“Don’t you princess me,” she interrupted him. “I am not six years old anymore, father, and I am more than capable of making my own decisions, especially regarding how and where I am going to get married.”
The snigger that emanated from the couch made both protagonists turn round to stare angrily at the source of the noise.
“You’d better take care Marcus. She has a vicious right hook, and I should know, she has hit me with it enough times,” Jon said, in an amused tone. He
was reclining on the sofa with his feet propped up on the antique wooden coffee table, his hands resting comfortably behind his head. With his sword resting on the edge of the chair, he watched both father and daughter with a considerable amount of interest. In the past he would have intervened in these arguments to protect Sofia from her father’s wrath. However, in this instance, she seemed to be doing a more than an adequate job of holding her own. Jon was most curious to observe the final outcome in this epic clash of wills.
“Jon.”
“Commander.”
It was obvious from both adversaries’ tones his interruption was less than welcome. Deciding to suggest a compromise before they resumed their argument and one of them said something they would live to regret, he quickly added, “Why not just have two ceremonies?” Realising he now had their attention, he expanded upon his earlier statement. “A small intimate wedding, just for family and close friends, followed by a more elaborate affair to satisfy the political obligations. After all, you are still the Confederation President, if only for a few more months.”
“But where to hold the family ceremony? Every building on this planet has one political affiliation or another,” Sofia mused out aloud, warming to Jon’s suggestion.
“Then don’t hold it inside. Hold it outside. The Senate Park is close by and I, for one, have always been particularly fond of it. I have always found it refreshingly free of squabbling politicians and datapad-clutching bureaucrats. I always assumed they were all allergic to bright sunshine and fresh air,” Jon quipped, forgetting he was presently in the company of both.
With a growl from Sofia and an angry glare from Marcus, Jon quickly added. “Present company excluded, of course.”
“We’re having the family ceremony first,” Sofia stated firmly, turning back to her father.
“But princess—”
Jon just laughed when his wife-to-be shook her fist angrily at her father.
*****
Sofia shook her head firmly. No, there was always going to be one reason or another for her to postpone this. She had never been one for procrastination, preferring to tackle her problems head-on. It was just this decision she had been wavering over. With newfound determination, she was marching back inside, toward the communication console, to call Jon, when the chime of the apartment door interrupted her. Biting back a curse, she wondered if the universe itself was conspiring to postpone this conversation with Jon.
“What? Come,” she called out, changing direction and headed towards the entrance of their apartment.
As the door slid open and the visitor stepped inside the room, Sofia’s jaw dropped open in shock. “What the hell are you doing here? You cannot be here. Didn’t I tell you we couldn’t see each other until the start of the ceremony?” She demanded in a waspish tone of voice, conveniently forgetting she had just been about to summon him anyway.
“Good morning my love. You are awake early this morning,” Jon replied, stepping inside, completely ignoring her comment and dropping an easy kiss on her lips. He snatched the coffee cup out of her hands on the way past. “Thanks, I need that. Busy day ahead. Have you been up long?” he asked with a knowing smile.
Sofia just stared at him in astonishment, hands resting on her hips, trying to decide if she was more amused or annoyed by his antics. What was even worse was that he knew why she was up so early, and was just so damn smug about it. For a moment she considered pouring the contents of the coffee cup over his head but, before she had the opportunity, she observed his clothes. With the tight-fitting jeans, sweatshirt and light jacket he wore, he did not look like a person preparing for a wedding. But instead—“Where do you think you’re going?” she demanded with narrowed eyes.
“Out,” came the succinct reply.
“I gathered that from your clothes, but out where? I don’t need to remind you that we’re scheduled to be getting married, again, in a few hours,” she added before Jon could remind her.
“You want to elope?” he inquired, with a warm smile that made her stomach flip. Having put down her coffee cup, he approached and gently slid his arms around her.
Sofia leaned into his embrace, relaxing when his warmth, his scent, that essence that was unique to him, surrounded her. It was only then she realised just how tense she had been all morning. She pretended to give his question careful thought and, in all honesty, she did briefly consider it, just to pay her father back for all his recent meddling in her life.
“We could run away together,” he continued, unrepentantly. “Steal a shuttle, find some undiscovered world and populate it with our offspring.” Meanwhile he continued to press gentle kisses along his wife’s neck, pleased to observe the way she angled her head back to give him better access.
“Hmm,” was her only response, lost somewhere between a sigh and a moan.
Jon smiled, mission accomplished; now hopefully he could make his escape before his wife enquired—
“So where are you off to and why don’t you want me to know about it?” she glared at him.
Damn. Busted.
“Just a brief meeting. I’ll be back before you have even noticed that I am gone,” he replied evasively, with a casual smile.
“I know when you’re lying to me. You never look me in the eye when you lie to me. ”
Sighing to himself, as his wife really did know him too well, he explained. “There was a message waiting for me this morning. The caller did not identify himself, but he did know me by name and wants to meet this morning.”
“To discuss?” she prompted him impatiently.
“A possible threat to you, your father and the Confederation,” Jon exclaimed in a rush.
“What?”
“You’re not going to make me say that again, are you?” he cringed.
“But why? Why you? It’s not your responsibility. There are other people, and it’s their job to—”
“I don’t care about other people. It’s my job to protect you and to keep you safe. Now that I finally have you, I am not going to let you go, not for anything. I don’t know what I would do if I ever lost you. When we were in the Senate and I heard that shot…” he shuddered.
Recognising that Jon needed her reassurance, just as much as she needed his, she tightened her hold on him, pulling him more firmly into her embrace. “You’re not going to lose me. I know you want to protect me but, at the same time, you cannot go hiding me away every time somebody makes a threat against us.”
“Actually I was thinking of tying you to our bed instead,” Jon said with a grin, giving her a heated gaze.
Sofia blushed, assuming he was joking. But, considering his look, perhaps not.
“Anyway,” he continued. “Gunny has agreed to accompany me. He is almost as bad as you, constantly mothering me.”
Having known each other for over five years and, for much of that time, serving as one of Jon’s deck chiefs on Terra Nova, Master Sergeant Patrick “Gunny” Reynolds was one of Jon’s closest friends. However, prior to the disbanding of the Imperial Navy, Gunny had been in the Imperial Marines. At over six feet in height and weighing almost two hundred pounds, the man’s presence was intimidating. Rumour had it Gunny had once, single handily, led a marine boarding action against a pirate cutter, only to have the pirates immediately abandon ship when faced by him.
“It’s just because we worry about you,” Sofia added softly. “You cannot save the galaxy by yourself you know.”
“You never know, maybe I just haven’t tried yet,” he replied, with a boyish grin.
Sofia just rolled her eyes, but tightened her hold on him fractionally when he tried to pull away. At his quizzical expression she added, “Do you have a few minutes? There is something I need to tell you.”
Jon opened his mouth, about to explain that she had to be quick, as Gunny was scheduled to arrive any minute now, when he abruptly snapped his mouth shut. How many times had she uttered those exact words to him? When they had last been together, here, on Eden Prime. Perhaps
if they had made more time for each other, had better communicated, then all of the subsequent lies and misunderstandings could have been avoided. So instead he just nodded his head in agreement.
Staring into Jon’s soft, grey eyes, Sofia wondered for the life of her how she was going to tell him what happened. “Jon, I have been meaning to tell you something for a long time. You have been nothing but honest with me and I should have told you this a long time ago, but I have been scared. I have only just found you again and I do not want to lose you. I love you, so please give me the opportunity to explain—” he did not say anything, just nodded in agreement, taking her hand in his and giving her such a loving look that it almost broke her heart. How could she tell him? This wonderful man had sacrificed everything for her, and she knew this would destroy him. So instead she just continued to stare at him helplessly.
“You’re trembling,” Jon exclaimed in surprise, taking her other hand in his and lifting their entwined fingers to brush gently against her pale cheeks. “I love you,” he insisted firmly. “There is nothing you can say or do that will make me love you any less. Just tell me what is troubling you so I can help.”
Nodding her head in agreement, Sofia drew strength from him, explaining, “When you were last here, on Eden Prime, five years ago, after we—”
The chime from the door interrupted her explanation, leaving Sofia unsure whether to be relieved or frustrated.
She had been so close.
Jon just ignored the sound, continuing to stare intently at her. “Ignore it,” he insisted. “You are more important. Tell me what is worrying you, let me in, please?” He gazed beseechingly into her frightened eyes.