Free Promise of Love by C. M. King Page A

“They used to visit on breaks and leaves together, and after Tiro died, my family kept inviting him. Like a part of Tiro is there if Shawn is.” Shawn is a bit of a reflection of Tiro. There are parts of them that are very much alike. “I think Shawn feels kind of the same about visiting my family."
    There was a time after Tiro's death they had all needed each other. His death had come as such a shock, so unexplained and unexpected. It had hurt so much, for Shawn as well as them. In the process of healing, they had grown so close that the intertwining bonds that held them together were no longer visible.
    "He's basically family,” she said. A Hayashi family get-together without Shawn wouldn't be complete, their family wouldn't be complete without him. “Being on the Resolution together was hard at first. Serving with him, being distant and proper.” Shawn didn't want there to be talk of them being too close, it might lead people to the wrong conclusions. Maybe she had needed that distance from him to learn how to professionally interact with him. “It really has taken time to think of him as ‘Captain’ and not Shawn, but there are times now he is just Shawn and it's nice.” Times when he calls her Rieko like he's Shawn, even if she does have to answer back with ‘Captain'.
    "I know that as long as he's here, I'm safe out here,” she said. She had doubted about whether or not she really wanted to be out here, but she had never doubted she was safe. “Not that you, Taylor, Mike, and the rest of the crew don't look after me as well.” Maybe if she wasn't the little sister of three older brothers, it might bother her.
    "Shawn...” She paused. “I've always had a feeling they shared words right before Tiro died, words that involved my family and me.” Shawn never spoke about there having been words, but she was sure there had been. “He looks out for me like Tiro would, if he could.” A little piece of Tiro was out here in the stars with Shawn.
    Rieko sighed deeply a little drained from the story, but happy she had shared it all with Stuart. “Well, that was longer than I intended. Your turn again."
    "We haven't already talked enough?” he asked a little dismayed.
    "No.” Her answer was flatly stated.
    "Well?” He resigning himself to further onslaught of questions he didn't like.
    Okay , Rieko thought, a question that did not involve his father . At that moment, Stuart swiftly climbed off the bed, crossed to his desk, and slightly moved a cup of paint brushes. Then just as swiftly he returned to the bed and arranged himself in the same position he'd been before.
    "Sorry, been bothering me,” he said. Rieko looked at him with confusion, wondering why it was necessary. “It was out of place,” he answered her unspoken question.
    "Did you even move it?” She hadn't seen him more than touch it. Stuart just looked back at her and didn't dignify her question with an answer. “How long has it been bothering you?” She felt a bit afraid to hear the answer.
    "Since I noticed it,” he said. “After I sat down on the bed.” He looked worried about what she would think. “Should've made sure everything was in place before I got up."
    "Anything else out of place?” she asked. His room was spotlessly neat and organized like always. Even the model pieces were ordered. If all it took to be out of place was being a millimeter off, everything could be out of place.
    "Well, the...” He started to answer, then stopped. Fear showed in his eyes. Rieko shot him a gentle look, trying to encourage him to finish. “Bed sheets are rumbled,” he continued. “I can straighten that when you leave."
    The bed , she thought. “We're sitting on it and you're going to be sleeping on it soon enough.” It must be getting late now.
    "Possibly not for a bit,” he replied.
    So, the bed had to be neatened from them sitting on it ? “Attention to detail is his?” Rieko asked. She made sure to leave his father anonymous, like he