lition was finished, that you
were probably dead....."

And he felt too what she must have endured, and the veil was lifted
between them. They had both suffered, both changed, though their love
for each other had not. Or if it had, had only deepened and grown
stronger. But with the almost masculine resolve that he knew so
well in her, she still her tears and pushed forward, determined to
finish the thought---to face the hard truth.

"But I never lost hope. I knew you would find me. Somehow I knew."
But she could not maintain this control any longer. Nor did she wish
to. She set her face to his chest and wept silently as he comforted
her.

"My beautiful Ara. Forgive me. I was so wrapped up in my own loss, I
had forgotten how it must have been for you."

She became quieter, shook her head against him "I was all right. And
with the baby inside me. . .I wasn't alone somehow. But I was so
terribly worried for all of us. I knew how hard you would take our
separation, not knowing."

He released a breath, felt once more his own dependence. "How can you
love me?" he said mournfully. "I am such a weak and timid fool."

She put a finger to his lips.

"Do you know what Colonel Liebenstein told me on Rembrandt?" He
shook his head, eyes closed.

"He told me that he was recommending you for a Medal of Valor---that
you held together a destroyer group consisting of twelve ships, in
which nine were knocked out or severely damaged. . .and held your
position against an attacking forced nearly twice your strength, for
thirty-six hours without relief or reinforcement. Do you know what
else he told me?" He could only release a troubled breath, that seemed
to have been caged inside him for years. "He said that you defended
Dracus with equal tenacity, and landing, kept your head when more
experienced men couldn't. He said that you've been sick and hurting
throughout, but all the while have been an exemplary officer." He felt
hot tears flow down both sides of his face. "It's true, isn't it?"

"Yes..... But I wish I didn't cry so much. It makes me feel weak, and
I think that in your eyes----" Again the finger touched his lips.

"Stop, Olaf." She kissed him, then snuggled close. "It takes so much
more courage to admit your feelings than to deny them. Why do you
think I fell in love with you?"

He turned toward her as he had longed to do from the first night of
their separation, and buried h