Hovard felt the smile forming as he watched his wife, her wondering face pressed to the glass with the excitement of a child.

"Hovard, are you seeing this?" Her gaze remained focused on the planet below. Their home.

"I've never seen anything so beautiful," he replied earnestly, his gaze wandering from the way her auburn hair caressed the dimples of her smile down to her delicate fingers splayed across the viewing window, her fingernails painted a beloved obnoxious purple in honor of the occasion. Their sun, setting for the twelfth time since they found the luxury liner's viewing lounge, framed her ample figure beautifully in its fading light.

She looked up at him then, blushing as she caught his eyes. "I meant Sparnell!" She placed her hands on her hips and attempted to glare, but her shoulders remained relaxed.

"My view's better."

Her dancing laughter warmed his heart. "I don't know how you managed these tickets." She furrowed her brows, and Hovard could see the worry beginning to paint its way across her face. He wrapped his arms around her, the muscles fit and defined from years of lifting and moving hydroponics equipment. She buried her face in his neck, the wet of her tears tracing his veins. "How can we afford this?"

"Shhhh. I told you, friend of mine had to cancel last minute. Gave me the tickets at a steep discount." He tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear fin. The statement was true enough, but she'd never learn the true cost he paid. The money, sure, it was affordable enough. But the rest? He'd take that secret to his grave. Best to change the subject. "Will you marry me?"

She pulled back then, playfully punching his arm. "We're already married, Hovard, or did you forget again?"

"Five years tomorrow," he nodded solemnly. "Happy Anniversary, My Darling Annalay. I hope our cruise is a suitable apology for all the time you've been stuck with me so far."

"It's everything I thought it would be." She was looking outside once more, absent-mindedly twisting her finger through his thick blonde hair, and Hovard recognized she was talking about the view again. "It even feels different up here. More alive than I thought it would be. Do you feel it? The stars... It's like they're singing..."

∼∼∼

Annalay closed her eyes, reaching out with her senses to feel the magical fields pulsing through the hydroponics garden. "It feels just like home," she sighed, her hand lightly pressed against her husband's arm. "But different."

"We are in space." Annalay cracked her eyelids, covertly watching as he spread his muscled arms to indicate the Void Between the Stars just outside the domed glass. "And not a ship or planet in sight besides us and our escort."

She turned her attention to the large Mordena warcruiser lurking outside. The mercenaries' escalating tensions with the Sparnell Confederation had expanded to include the Dylant Sector, requiring their luxury liner to pause in Mordena space for clearance before proceeding to the neutral resort planet of Tesch. Annalay remembered her disappointment at learning their stay within the famed floating underwater island resort would be cut a day short, but none of that mattered at this moment. This beautiful, wondrous moment in the space between places, the Void Between the Stars, and the song of the Universe pulsing through her veins.

"I wish I could stay here forever," she sighed quietly.

Feeling Hovard's hand on her shoulder, she turned to meet his concerned gaze. "I will do everything in my power to make you happy," he began hesitantly. "I just... The only way we can afford to stay here is if we work here. And despite all of this..." His voice faded as his arms motioned to include the large hydroponic garden, the countless varieties of food-bearing and oxygen-producing plants and trees, the couples wandering hand in hand through the various paths curving lazily between the installations. Annalay watched his face fall, his shoulders following in disappointment and frustration. "I don't think they have much use for two simple botanists."

Annalay reached up, cupping his chin to rub her thumb across the rough stubble of his cheek. "I know that, Hovard." She tugged at his chin, rising to her toes to plant a kiss on the same cheek. "I love the life we built on Sparnell." She reached behind with one hand, closing her eyes as the tips of her fingers brushed the small bush at her back, willing them to flower just as she always did in their home garden. She felt the bush respond, opening her eyes to savor his relaxed smile...

...and instead met his wide eyes, the muscles in his arms and jaw firm as he backed away slowly, his hand tight on her arm as he tugged her towards him.

She let him guide her, turning around apprehensively. The bush had indeed flowered, its branches covered in small, aromatic purple blooms. It had also grown to three times its original size, towering over the couple at its base.

"I... What... I can't have... That was me...?" Annalay gazed at her handiwork, reaching out with her Imperium to check on the plant. Everything seemed normal. If anything, the plant seemed... happier? than before.

Their reaction drew other couples to gawk at the bush. She felt Hovard's ingreasingly desperate tugs trying to pull her away but she stood still, transfixed. One of the liner's security detail arrived on the scene, drawn by the commotion, and sized up the plant and the growing crowd. Annalay felt his eyes on her until he finally spoke, jabbing a thumb towards the bush. "You do this?"

She felt a surge of pride as her husband stood in front of her, his shoulders defiant. "I did."

She was tempted to stand there and admire him, the firm stance of his posture, his muscles clearly visible through his clothing, but decided against it. She tugged his sleeve before stepping in front again, and felt him relax slightly, still eying the officer warily. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to." She twisted the hem of her dress nervously. "I just wanted to make it flower a bit. I didn't realize it would be so susceptible to magic."

The security officer held her gaze, intense brown eyes searching her face for any kind of deception. Satisfied, he relaxed and motioned for them to follow. She obeyed, her husband falling into step dutifully behind her, his hand tensely holding hers.

"I'm so sorry. Are they... Are they going to send us home?"

The officer halted suddenly, turning to face them. "Send you..." he puzzled. "Why would they..." His face flashed recognition, followed by a smile. "Ma'am, nobody's sending you home." A pause. "Not until you're ready to go, that is." Annalay felt her heart quicken with his next words. "With Cosmic Attunement that powerful, they'll probably offer you a job."