Veronica stared at Jared for a long moment, not really sure she heard him correctly. Then sighing she stood pacing away from his cell before pacing back, "I tell you that I am pregnant and all you are worried about if your Career!" she snapped a bit harsher then she probably intended but it was to be expected given the stress level of the day.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">"No..." Jared says quietly from between his hands. Slowly his face drags up from where it is buried so he could look at her. Tears were smeared across his cheeks and it took a moment for him to choke out the next words. "I'm worried about being sent away somewhere, where I will never see you again or our child," Jared's voice cracked a bit as his heart felt like it was breaking at the same time.<br/></span><br/>Veronica sighed again, feeling like a total selfish bitch for even thinking that Jared was so cold. "There is no trial, at least as far as I know there is not going to be a trial. Think the captain is going to let this incident slide given the situation...." she goes to the shield and exhales in frustration because what she really wanted and needed was to be able to hold him and be held in turn. "I did not plan on telling you like this...I just thought I was going to lose you out there and I could only think of one thing to say to you in order to get you to snap out of it..." her voice cracking a bit from the emotions that she held in check.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Jared got up and came over to the shield, forcing his body to move even though it just wanted to collapse. He reaches out and places his hand where one of hers is resting as if he might be able to reach though to hold it. "No if anyone should be sorry it should be me... I should not have lost it like that. Don't blame yourself for doing what you felt was necessary," He said with warm but sad eyes.</span><br/><br/>Tears slid silently down her face as she looked at him. Then being unable to take this anymore she turned away and went over to the security personal. There was some hushed words and once Veronica even poked one in the chest. Then she was back standing before Jared once again, a soft smile on her face as she shield lowered just long enough for to step through into his cell then it was up again. Standing there looking at him she hesitated for only a moment before going to him and throwing her arms about his neck as she held him close to her. Silent tears continue to flow readily from her eyes.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Jared could not see where Veronica had gone or what she was doing and thought she had left rather than bear the pain any longer. He started to go back to his bunk to just shut down when he heard the shield drop. He turned around and saw Veronica standing there inside his cell with him and paused for a second in shock. It did not last long though as he eager hugged her close as tears of both sorrow and happiness ran down his face.</span><br/><br/>She could not get enough of just holding him and hugging her to him. Wishing that they could be like this for days, uninterrupted "I love you" she whispered to him genuinely and full of emotion.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">"I love you too," Jared responded back with equal emotion. He just held her close for what felt like a long time before the emotions with in him could not be contained anymore. With all that had happened... that was going to happen... and what might happen, Jared just could not hold the words in any longer. "Marry me," he whispers into her ear fully serious and equally apprehensive.<br/><br/>It was another breath or two later before he moved back to look at the stunned Veronica before taking a knee before her with her hand clasped in his. "Veronica," He says full of love and eyes gazing hopefully (and nervously) up at her. "I've been wanting to do this for a long time but I've been afraid... afraid that at any moment fate could simply rip one of us away...and I didn't want you to suffer but to move on if it was me." His words are heavy with the truth and his voices chokes a bit as he speaks. "Now I know though that I can not live without you in my life. You have been there for me since we met... pulled me back from the brink, stayed with me through all the rough times, and held me together through everything..." Jared swallows a bit and has a small pause as he builds up the little courage he needs to say his final words, "Now I want to be there for you always... Veronica Johnson... Will you marry me?"</span><br/><br/>Veronica was not sure at first that she had heard him correctly, then he was on his knee before her and it was like all sound left the world. She stood there, with her heart hammering in her chest, looking down into his eyes, at the man she loved and wanted to be with and raise a family with. She did not hear his words but she saw his lips moving and before her mind could catch up on what was going on her head was already nodding, soon to be followed by a very emotional and somewhat breathy ''Yesâ€™'<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Jared stayed where he was for a second blinking as if he could not believe her answer. When it finally sank in that she had said yes, Jared was up on his feet kissing her and he held her tight. The tears that now sprang from his face were completely of joy at her answer. It seemed like forever before he separated from her lips breathing heavily in happiness. "Sorry I didn't have the ring...It's back in my quarters behind a lighting panel," Jared just blabbered. No words felt right for saying at this time but just standing there stupidly felt wrong with the amount of energy in him suddenly.</span><br/><br/>Veronica could not stop smiling after the kiss as she just stood there looking at him. She didn't need the ring; his words would have been and were definitely more than enough for her. At the moment she wished that they were back at either of their quarters just so that they could be alone for a while. "That is probably the first time I have ever seen you blabber...makes you even cuter" she says with a teasing smile, as she takes his hand and leads him over to the cot to sit down with her, knowing that he probably should be resting.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Jared actually blushed at Veronica's tease, having no real idea of how to respond. "Well... I... ummm... I think... I think I'll just be quiet now before I do something I regret," He stammers over his words still blushing. He takes a seat with her and immediately pulls her close as he leans back to rest against the wall. Honestly Jared probably was not going to get any rest at that moment...he just felt so alive and wired.</span><br/><br/>Veronica stifled a giggle, thoroughly enjoying how Jared was behaving; it was completely out of the norm for the normally calm and collected pilot. She nuzzled into his chest breathing deep his familiar scent and wishing they had a bit more privacy or mostly that Angela was not directly across from them. She got the report on the words that were exchanged between them and she really did not blame Angela for attacking Jared. She did not even mind the harsh words that Angela used against her, not like she had done anything to truly help out the rumors that floated about in regards to her. And with what Jared said, itâ€™s a wonder she did not kill him because speaking of HIM was the one thing that everyone on the ship knew not to do. Their break up had been very painful and very public with Angela never quite being the same after it. Sighing and pushing her mind from those depressing thoughts she slipped a hand under Jared's shirt to rub against his stomach slowly, "So your place or mine?" she asked in reference to where they would end up staying once he was released.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Jared rubs her side a leans down to kiss the top of her head. "Well mine is closer this time," he says and leans in to rest his forehead to hers as he gazes into her eyes. "... and also I can give you your ring," he finishes with a smile before giving her a quick kiss. Jared's eyes fluttered tiredly for a second as her hand rubbing him was helping to sooth him a little and he was starting to come down from his high. The culmination of the entire events just was suddenly draining him and that emotional moment just burned out what was left of him. Still he fought to stay awake as he just did not want to leave for a moment the woman that was going to be his wife after getting his answer.</span><br/><br/>There was little else to say at the moment, Veronica felt that words would cheapen the moment so she was content to just lay there and continue rubbing his stomach gently. Eventually she felt sleep overtake her and she guided Jared to lie down so that she might cuddle with him while they both rested and slept.<br/><br/><br/><span style="color: #FF4000">The day had be hard and trying for everyone and after a couple of hours rest and everyone given time to shower change and overall having a refreshed feeling Captain Troy called for a celebration of sorts. After all they were all still alive despite what looked to be their certain doom and so it was only right that they celebrate it. Taking the ship out of red alert but everyone was still on high alert, the enemy had done a number on them but still they were alive and that was worth celebrating. <br/><br/>The officers and the pilots, along with the same for the visiting ship were invited to a special meal with the captain, one of the halo-decks specially converted to look like a medieval castle banquet hall which would be more than enough to hold all of those who were invited. The decoration and scene was mostly to try and lighten the mood of those in attendance, even Angela and Jared were released from their cells for this and a chat with the both of them let them know of their punishments to follow the next day. Double Mess-hall duty for Angela and some therapy sessions with the councilor on board; she had let Angela go on long enough with deal with the pain of loss. <br/><br/>Jared was going to be cleaning filters and various nooks and crannies about the ship, the really tedious jobs that the new recruits always got stuck with. Plus he too was going to have to get some counseling to try and deal with his emotional issues. This was going to go on for a period of about a week with the counseling to continue on till they were cleared from the therapist. Neither were too keen on the idea but it was either that or they were going to find themselves in the brig for an undisclosed amount of time with notations being made in their otherwise spotless records. <br/></span><br/><span style="color: #40BF00">Standing there at the head of the great table Captain Troy held her glass aloft lightly tapping it with the edge of her fork to silence the chatting that was going on. When she had their attention she spoke. <br/><br/>â€œToday was probably one of the hardest days of our lives and for our missionâ€¦â€ pausing a bit as there were many nods of agreement â€œYet still despite that we are still here. No matter what the enemy throws at us or tries to do to us we will fight. Life is a precious gift and no God or spirit would ever want to see it wasted. So tonight we celebrate life, our future and the true beginning of our missionâ€ she held her glass up â€œTo life!â€ she says and they all repeated something similar before taking a drink of the mildly alcoholic beverages, well Veronica had something with  no alcohol given her condition. </span><br/><br/>She was truly glowing and many of the crewmen took the time to come over and thank her and Jared, many jokingly asking when the wedding was and that Veronica still had time to escape.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FFBF40">Angela sat down a couple of chairs from Jared and Veronica, next to Dren still his designated tour guide and what not in getting to know how their world worked. He looked better since he had gotten some sleep and after learning that he had eaten a ham sandwich earlier she tried to make sure that he got the fruit and vegetables that he would probably enjoy more. Though that did not stop her from trying to get him to try some of the meat that was there, â€œLook if you can eat Ham and be alright you should be able to eat steak and be alright. Just give it a try I promise you will love itâ€ she coaxed as she offered a piece of meat from her own fork. </span>