"And all thanks to Bob for teaching me how to shoot so well. But nobody groped me while I was doing it." She grinned. Then she shrugged. "Shooting the... pistol was harder, but I figured it out. I never shot expert, but I got Marksman. I need to buy a hand gun so I can practice here, in the back yard."The only thing she was sad about was that she missed William's first toddling steps as Cherokee, Lucy, and Bob had encouraged him to walk.Mallory's success in basic training and AIT had fired her. Finally you came to the door and saw me. It sure took you long enough, you know. I could have died out there. I must have been in that rain for at least two hours.’ he explained. ‘Well you’re safe now. We’ll just have to make sure you don’t get sick from being in that cold for so long.’ she said as cheerfully as possible. ‘Yeah I guess,’ he answered. The two finished their paltry meal in silence. Brianne finally got up and started to clear the dishes from the table. She washed and dried them. As they outlined their grandiose plan the SES engineers brought in to consult with them at first threw up their hands. It couldn't be done, they protested; no vessel of the size that would be required could possibly withstand the acceleration forces necessary to reach the velocity to enter worm space and make transit to the Eden system, then decelerate and rendezvous with the planet at the other end, and then replicate the feat in reverse on the return trip. The repetitive stresses would be too. Neither of them wished it to ever end. They wanted it to last forever.One morning Nathan said, "Tomorrow is Saturday. My family will be having a little get together. I would like you to come with me." Why would you want that?" Alex said unsure of how she should feel."I want to show you off as my girlfriend, and make my brother Peter jealous that I found a woman to care for me who is so beautiful and special." Nathan said with a grin while he stroked her hair."If you want me to come I will.