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[James Stratus]

Royal Palace of Coruscant
After the Turbulence

The High Prince had moved from his office to the Royal Throneroom, where official proceedings generally occurred, though in this instance it was empty, save himself and hiding guards. He sat on the Throne and meditated. Much had happened recently, and there was much to do, many decisions to make. Some difficult, some easy. Executor Treyson had returned to Coruscant to tend to many similar such duties and decisions, and was now joining the High Prince in the Throneroom at his request. He nodded as she came in and took a seat. She rarely bowed in private, though did so slightly on occasion. She was the only one other than the Royal Family that did not. She was his second in command, and partner in running the government, though she answered to the High Prince, and to him only. "Ah, Tavria. Thank you for coming." He handed her a "Gold Card" which was the term used for the datacard with all the authorizations and approvals of fiscal assets and spending he had just made. There was also the "Red Card", regarding military and security action approvals and authorizations, and "Blue Card", dealing with diplomacy activities, and the Grey Card, dealing with all other government items of note. After she reviewed it briefly and nodded, expecting to see approvals and declinations in specific areas of note, she put it away. She knew it was not why she was here. He then handed her a "Purple Card" datacard, which she was fairly familiar with though it was used infrequently. It was the datacard containing decisions on high promotions, awards, and other such commendations. He watched her eyebrows raise momentarily as she reviewed it and then she nodded in agreement.

"Yes," said she, "I think this is very appropriate. When do you plan to make this happen?" she asked.

"Now," the High Prince answered. He keyed a button on the comm. "Major Tav, have General Shan and Miss Devin meet me in the Throneroom at once."

[Diandra Devin]

Diandra, of course, was in her office which adjoined the Prince's office. She had noted him leaving just awhile earlier. She figured that he had business outside the office to attend to and seeing that he had not notified her as to where he was going, she also figured that it was most likely private or family business.

Diandra worried about him -- and those around her, especially after what had happened not too long ago. It certainly made her think twice about leaving the office door unsecured as it was now. It also turned her thoughts inward towards a certain someone. She'd been so relieved to see Quinn coming through the secret passage and to hear his voice.

Which meant nothing, of course, except that he was a friend and she had been relieved to see a friendly... helmet in a time of fear. She sat back in her chair and found herself contemplating that rain check dinner he'd promised her. She couldn't say that she knew he was on planet and was beginning to wonder if they'd ever get a chance at all to just sit down and talk without duty getting in the way.

Anyone who saw her would recognize the expression on her face as a dreamy-thoughtful sort of look. This was how she could be found in her office, with a datapad in each hand.

[Kaidlen Shan]

Brigadier General Kaidlen Shan, Commandant of His Majesty's Royal Guard was sitting in her office, dressed in her day to day uniform. Her armor was being tended to, after the whole debacle that was recently finished. Instead she was wearing her navy blue uniform, replete with it's purple flash. Her comm sounded and she answered it.
"General Shan here." Kaidlen answered. She listened to the message. "I'll be right there."
She moved with feline grace into the Throne room and approached the dais where the High Prince sat. With a slight bend at her waist, and with a dip of her shoulders, the General tipped her head down in a bow.
"Sire, General Shan reporting to you as requested."

[Diandra Devin]

Diandra was not far behind Kaidlen. Koru had retrieved her only a few moments earlier, and the trek down to the throne room was short. She paused beside the Brigadier General now and gave Stratus a smile and a curtsy. When she straigtened again, she removed a datapad from beneath her arm and looked at him directly, her stylus poised and ready to take down any directions he might have to give her.

"Here as you requested, Majesty," she said with a cheerful tone. "And ready for your instruction, as always."

[Koru Tav]

"That was uneventful. A first in awhile." Koru muttered as he closed the door to the throneroom once he had retrieved the ladies.

[James Stratus]

The High Prince acknowledged Kaidlen's entrance. "Ah, General Shan, welcome. You will be witness to this along with Major Tav and Executor Treyson. Wait a moment."

They waited only briefly before Miss Devin was escorted in by Major Tav, and the two bowed upon entrance.

"Miss Diandra Devin, please step forward." She stepped forward and came to a full bow before the High Prince who sat upon the golden Throne. "Diandra Devin, you have served me faithfully and well for quite some time now. I am greatful for your extreme loyalty which I have not seen in a long time among my personal staff, since General Shan moved on, anyways. I am awarding you first, a vacation from duty. You may have your pick of any one individual from among the citizens, government, or military of the Imperial Republic. Just give me a name and I will arrange their vacation time."

She thanked him and then stood, right on queue. "Thank you my Lord."

The High Prince nodded, then to her surprise, continued with more and did not dismiss her just yet, as she expected. "Upon your return you shall take on the role and position of my Chief of Staff, officially "His Majesty's Chief of Staff", also an Agent of the Throne. I am also bestowing a title and status of nobility upon you, which you shall henceforth from this day forward be known as Lady Devin. Your vacation time starts officially at midnight, and is valid for three weeks. I do hope you enjoy it. That will be all, Lady Devin."

[Diandra Devin]

Diandra was shocked. A promotion and a title? She was deeply honored by the Prince's decision and she would've thrown her arms around his neck and hugged him silly -- if there hadn't been other people in the room to see it.

She couldn't stop her jaw from dropping, though she closed her mouth quickly when she recovered herself.

"Thank you," she stammered, as the Prince finished. She turned to go, his words still sinking into her brain. She stopped a second later and turned back.

"Sir, you did say 'anyone', didn't you? If there is anyone I'm going to take with me, it'd be Jared Quinn. I trust him with my life. Besides, he owes me dinner. I don't intend to let him off the hook for it, either."

[Koru Tav]

Koru couldn't help but smile for Devin,"Congratulations...Lady Devin!"

[Kaidlen Shan]

Kaidlen smiled and gave the new Noble a courly bow.
"Congratulations, Lady Devin. You deserve it." General Shan declared. She was glad to learn that there was someone else who was as dedicated to the High Prince as she herself was.

[James Stratus]

"Ah, Lady Devin, you do indeed drive a hard bargain, one of my senior officers....however I meant what I said. Therefore I grant him leave the same as...." he paused for a moment. "The same as you. Though I think it would be much more exciting if I simply ordered him on an assignment to accompany and protect you on your vacation, and to put him at your command for the assignment, my Lady." He smiled widely. I'll leave it up to you. You now have the power to arrange it on my behalf. So let it be done."

[Diandra Devin]

Diandra returned the Prince's smile and thanked Shan and Koru for their kind words. She listened to the Prince again. Her smile turned to a wicked smirk.

"Under my command, sir? I doubt that he'd like that very much. I will do as you command, sir, and send out the appropriate orders and papers to accompany it. By your leave, your Majesty, I will go back to my office to carry out these orders now."

[James Stratus]

The High Prince nodded and waived his hand in dismssal. He then stood and shook her hand, and then himself departed to his own office, as he motioned for General Shan to follow him along the way. He spoke to her in a whisper. " I want guards assigned from my attachment to protect Lady Devin. She is now a person of high importance to the government. For the vacation, the Shadow Guard will suffice, however the Royal Guard must take their place upon her return to Coruscant."

[Kaidlen Shan]

"It will be done before the end of the hour, Sire." Kaidlen replied, also in a whisper. "Would you like me to ask Neehmai about who she think would be suitable, for a ShadowGuard?"

[Koru Tav]

"Is there anything else, Sir?"

[James Stratus]

"Yes, very good, General. Carry on. You are both dismissed."

[Diandra Devin]

It hadn't taken very long for Diandra to return to her office. She was just beginning to start the paperwork that would allow Quinn to "take" his "vacation" with her. As she did the paperwork, she pulled out her communicator and pressed a button on it. It immediately dialed Quinn's number and gave her the signal that it was waiting for him to pick up.

On the other end, Jared was buried under paperwork. He was going over things concerning the merging of the two imperial republic military branches, and there was still a lot to be done before the official merger could happen. The events of the past month had pushed it back even farther. He heard his com beep twice with an incoming signal.

"Quinn," he said. "What I can I do for you?"

Diandra grinned and sat back as she heard his voice. "Well, Lieutenant Colonel, you can stop whatever you're doing and talk to me a for a moment. I've got some news for you."

Jared wondered what Diandra needed. They hadn't had a chance to go to dinner that night or any other night since then. He'd been shipped off to Berchest shortly after everything concerning the general was wrapped up, and that is where he sat at the moment.

"I'm listening." He sounded tired and worn out as he sat there in the makeshift office he had.

"You'll be getting new orders in a few hours," she said. "I think you'll be very interested in knowing what they are, and I think you'll be absolutely delighted when you get them." She couldn't help but give a little laugh as she worked on the forms before her. "Oh, and I do have some news to share with you as well. I thought you might want to know before the reporters get ahold of it."

He found himself a bit annoyed from her vague answers. He was tired and had been dealing with paperwork all day, so it didn't help his mood. "Out with it, Devin." He leaned back in his chair as he waited for her answer.

Her voice sounded a little hurt as she spoke next. "C'mon, Jared, don't be so grouchy with me. How do you ever expect to get another date with me if you're going to be an old grouch?" He could hear a pout in her voice, though she continued.

"I was promoted," she said finally. "And... you should call me Lady Devin from now on. In public, at least." She paused for a moment and then sighed. "I don't suppose you'd be interested in hearing about your new orders."

Jared kicked his boots up on his desk."Well then, Lady Devin, I am curious about them since I was given orders facilitate the merger." He also began to wonder what her being a lady meant about his chances with her. She had almost been out of his league before, but now she really was.

"Well..." she said. "As I said, I was promoted. I was also... well, rather ordered on vacation. Three weeks of it. I was told that I could take anyone I want. I'm taking you." She laughed now. "Just think... you, me, alone on a tropical beach... You can finally take me out to dinner -- with no interruptions."

He lifted a brow as she spoke of them being alone. "Are you sure you want to be seen on a tropical planet with the likes of me? Especially alone?" His tone teasing slightly as he sat there waiting for her response. The idea appealed to him, but somehow he doubted they would be alone completely given how much protection members of the throne usually had.

Diandra laughed and shook her head before she lowered her voice slightly and leaned over her paperwork, the comm close to her mouth. "Hey, if you don't think you can handle the sight of me in a bikini, just say so. I'm pretty sure that his Majesty would allow me to change my mind, especially if I told him that you were revolted by the thought of my swimsuit body." She filled out a few more lines and then she spoke again. "Last time I saw you, you were pretty built, so I don't think we'd be alone. The beach girls on Spira would take one look at you and you'd be like fresh bantha meat."

He sat there listening to her and chuckled slightly. "Well now doing that would be a insult to you. As for me going, if there are new orders for me I do believe I won't have much of a choice will I?" He was curious why she wanted to go to Spira. It was a beautiful planet from what he had heard, but he also had heard it was rife with people and tabloid photographers.

"See, that's the beauty of it. You're being ordered to accompany me so that you can't say no." He heard her laugh again. "That, my dear sir, was completely his Majesty's idea. I went along with it because I knew it wouldn't give you a chance to say, oh, find an excuse to stand me up." She was teasing, of course. It just seemed that every time she finally said yes to get him off her back, some situation would pop up that would keep them from going out together. It had finally aroused her curiosity enough to begin wondering what sort of date Quinn would be.

Jared sighed as she spoke of him trying to stand her up. "Now why would I ever do that Lady Devin? If anything, I would think it would be you standing me up rather then the other way around." He was trying to think if there was anything else they needed to discuss before he returned to the doldrums of his work.

"Jared! I realize that I'm... not always the most friendly person. Alright, fine, I can be downright cold and boring," she said. "But, if there's one thing I'm not, it's a breaker of promises. If I agree to meet you for dinner, I'll meet you for dinner." She grinned a little and put down her pen. "Now, then," she said. "I should get back to work before my co-workers think that you've somehow seduced me from Berchest."

This brought a chuckle from him as she spoke of her being boring and cold. A light hrm coming from him when she said he seduced her."Well in that case you should get back to work. Send me the vitals on this trip and I will meet you there." Jared knew a vacation sounded amazing at the moment since he'd been jumping from operation to operation since becoming a officer.

"Will do," she said. "I'll send them along with your new orders, soon as I get the paperwork finished." She bid him goodbye and then ended the call before she went back to work, thinking about and looking forward to the next few weeks.

Edited by Diandra Devin, 20 September 2009 - 07:39 PM.

[James Stratus]

Timeline: This scenario and these orders are issued after the Turbulence series completed.

Orders said:

Imperial Republic Government
Royal Imperial Throne
His Majesty the Supreme Ruler

TO: COLONEL JARED QUINN
Cc: FIELD MARSHALL COGNATUS
GRAND ADMIRAL OVERMIND
LADY DIANDRA DEVIN
FROM: HIGH PRINCE STRATUS

Colonel Quinn,

You are hereby ordered to accompany Lady Devin on a special mission, which shall last for exactly three weeks. During this time, I expect the highest respect and treatment for my Chief of Staff. You will guard her with her life, but know that a few members of the Shadow Guard, which you will not see, I guarentee, will be trailing her. You will be at her disposal during this timeframe. After three weeks time, you will return to Berchest (Army Headquarters) and report for regular command duty. That is all.

Dictated, signed, and verified,


High Prince James T. Stratus
Supreme Ruler of the Imperial Republic

Typed by Diandra Devin, His Majesty's Chief of Staff, on behalf of the Supreme Ruler, High Prince James Stratus

[Jared Quinn]

Jared had sat there for a few moments before he got the message signalling his new orders had arrived, he looked them over for a moment before sighing slightly. It would be nice to get off planet and away from the mountains of paperwork that seemed to be generated by the merger that was coming up, but his mind turned to the Special Force team he commanded and the gears began turn inside his mind as he was brought back to Captain Malia Hollis.

He sent a message to Captain Hollis issuing her orders to oversee standard maneuvers for the next three weeks, he figured that would keep them busy while Ghear was off at OCS; Jared's mind went back to the trip he was about to take before he stood from his desk. It didn't take the Colonel long before he breezed through his office door into the waiting room where his secretary sat idly punching in paperwork he had written down.

"Lilly, I'm going to be out of the office for a few weeks. Take messages and send this to Captain Malia Hollis." He handed the woman a datapad Captain Hollis's new orders and his signature authorizing it. Jared then adjusted his uniform cap, it was now slightly cocked to the side as he headed towards his quarters to pack.

[Diandra Devin]

It didn't take long for Diandra to get home after she had finished up her paperwork for Jared and sent it off. Now she was in her room and packing her bags. Nirium was helping her in many ways -- folding, suggesting what to take, etc. She had to say that she was happy to be going on vacation. She was also looking forwards to time alone with Quinn.

"I really hope," she said, turning to Nirium. "That the vacation will go well. Do you think it will?"

Nirium gave Diandra a look that seemed somewhat annoyed before answering. "Sweetheart, if he's been hounding you for dates the way he never did me, I'd say yeah. You'll be lucky to come home... ah... in one piece."

Diandra looked confused, but Nirium waved her off and they continued packing.

"Just do me a favor," Niri said. "Tell Jared that if he does what he used to with the ladies, I'm going to break his spine in three places."

[Jared Quinn]

Jared didn't take that long to make to the unit's barracks, most of the troops were either checking their gear or spending their time catching up on reading or other hobbies they had. He didn't waste much time in packing since most of his possessions were either not fitted for this type of assignment or weren't nice enough, what he did pack was his light field armor and a few of his weapons in case he needed them but he doubted it.

After that he spoke with Sergeant Vekdar leaving him in command of the unit until either he returned or Captain Hollis reported to the planet so they could run maneuvers. After taking care of a few last minute things he headed towards the spaceport, Jared had already assigned a pilot to take him to Spira in a lambda but what was going through his mind was more along the lines of why Diandra had chosen him to go with her. He wondered about this as he tossed his bags under a bench seat before he climbed into the spartan looking transport he knew was used to drop soldiers into hot zones.

With that he felt the shuttle rumble to life and they quickly left the atmosphere of Berchest before he heard the pilot that they were making the jump to hyperspace, Quinn sat there and closed his eyes feeling his stomach lurch slightly as the hyperdrive motivator engaged.
He rested there and knew the trip to spira would only take them a few hours at most in the military transport. As if on que a few hours later the pilot turned back and informed him they were making the descent into Spira airspace.

Edited by Jared Quinn, 22 September 2009 - 06:34 PM.

[Diandra Devin]

In the meantime, Diandra had finished packing and was making her way into the starport. A few moments later, she said her good-byes to Nirium and boarded the transport that would be taking her to Spira. She was excited and couldn't wait to get there. Three weeks of vacation with no interruptions, no unexpected situations to smash whatever plans they had. Three weeks of being herself, without having to act stiff and proper as she always did. She had to admit that since being around Niri and Jared, to a point, that always being prim and proper was draining.

As she settled into her small cabin, she laid down to rest. Her trip would be much longer than Jared's, considering that he most likely took a military transport. All the better, since it would give him time to get their rooms and rest up before having to meet her there at the Spira starport.

A nice nap and several hours later, she was awoken and informed that they were descending into Spira's airspace.

Thirty minutes later, she found herself stepping off the transport and onto Spira's terra firma with her luggage in tow. Now she stood there, smoothing out the wrinkles in her white cotton dress and hoping to Ara that she looked amazing. At the same time, however, she kept her eyes open for Jared.

[Jared Quinn]

Jared had been busy since he arrived, but he was exceptionally pleased with himself do to how he had gotten them upgraded from a room in the tower to a secluded bungalow away from most. All it had taken him was a wink and a grin with the Twi'lek woman running the front desk, he of course also attributed it to the fact that he had been wearing his full uniform which was currently was hanging in the bungalow while he wore a pair of shorts and a light blue button up shirt. All in all Jared was dressed completely different compared to what he normally dressed like, he stood near the starport with a cuban hat that shaded his eyes from the sun.

Diandra gathered her luggage and moved further away from the transport. He could see her dark hair through the crowd first, and then the rest of her as she moved around a Hutt. She kept looking and then walked right past him. She'd obviously expected him to be in uniform. She couldn't even imagine what he looked like out of uniform, much less in what he was wearing now.

Jared moved easily up behind Diandra and murmured something about taking her bags for her, his head down slightly keeping his face covered in shadows to obscure it. He wondered if Diandra would catch on to him wearing what he was or if he would have to announce himself.

She turned and handed him one of her bags before it hit her. Immediately, she snatched the hat from his head and plopped it down on her own. She tilted it at a jaunty angle and grinned at him. "You won't fool me that easily, Jared," she said. "Let's get to the hotel, though. I'm dying for a long soak in a tub and some good food."

He didn't say anything as he led her over to a waiting speeder, he had booked it for the entire three weeks they were to be there since he imagined Diandra would want to see part of the planet and also probably do some shopping. The speeder was one of the newest models completely decked out with everything they needed from a GPS to bantha leather seats, of course Jared failed to mention that in the trunk sat a case with his weapons and field armor in case he needed them.

"This is nice," she said as she got in. "How much did this pretty little thing cost you?" She buckled herself in with a smile and removed his hat from her head. She settled it in her lap, along with her purse, more than ready to get to her room for a bath and some much deserved relaxation.

Jared slipped into the driver's seat of the speeder with a quick hop over the side before starting the repulsors on it."Well it cost me some if that's what your asking." With that he turned the speeder away from the series of high rise condo's on their island towards the coast. It took around half an hour for them to reach their destination and as they approached it the bungalow came into view quickly as he slowed the speeder.

"No," she replied. "I was asking if you bought this to play with it, or if you bought it to impress me." She grinned at him again and then sat back to relax for the rest of the drive to the bungalow. Diandra of course, had no clue that they were going to a bungalow at all and had rather expected a very nice suite within the hotel. The long journey in itself had made her suspicious as to where they were going. Now she looked over at him again. "Are we staying in a bungalow?"

As she asked that he pulled the speeder into a small covered area to the side of the bungalow."Well, what do you think?" His lips curled into a slight grin as he hopped out of the speeder and grabbed the bags he had placed behind them in the smaller seats, with that Jared walked up the short set of stairs onto the wrap around porch that surrounded the bungalow.

Diandra got out slowly and looked up at the bungalow, then at him again. She headed up the steps after him, still clutching her purse and his hat. "I don't know how you got this, but this must have cost a fortune. I was looking at one before I left, thinking I might call you and tell you to book one. But they were so expensive." She stopped on the porch now, her hands on her hips. "How did you afford it, Jared? Are you a trustfund baby?"

Jared turned to looked at her and made a scoffing noise."High unlikely, let's just say I made some proper investments with my money." With that he walked into the large bungalow, in truth Jared had buttered up the booking agent and receptionist into giving him a good deal via using Diandra's name."Now are you going to stand out there all day or are you coming in?"

She'd actually stopped to admire -- well, his backside. He caught her in this act and she looked up, a little startled. She recovered quickly however and entered the bungalow behind him. "No, I had actually planned on standing outside all day and admiring the view," she said. "But if you insist. Where's your room? I'll take the other."

He motioned to the single door in the bungalow."It's only got one bedroom sadly, so I'll be sleeping out here on the couch or out on the hammock." He motioned to the hammock that was out on the deck facing the ocean, the window also highlighted the fact that they had this stretch of beach to themselves completely.

[Diandra Devin]

Diandra set her purse down on the table next to the door before setting his hat on top of it. She bit her lower lip and then moved towards him. She brushed a stray piece of hair from her eyes and then stopped next to him, her hands on her hips again as she eyed the bedroom door.

"Actually," she said softly. "I think I'd feel better if you slept in the room. Well. Not in the bed, maybe, but you know. In the room. You could set the hammock up in there."

Diandra looked over at him now, her silvery-blue eyes searching his face for his reaction. She wanted to get to know him better and she felt bad to a point that for his three weeks of vacation, he'd be spending his nights on a couch or in a hammock. She supposed that he'd spent nights on harder beds than that, but still... a vacation was about luxury and relaxation, not stiff backs and sore muscles.

"You won't mind, will you? I just will feel safer..."

[Jared Quinn]

OOC: Another joint post

Jared looked at her with a sigh before shaking his head slightly."I'll be fine out there Lady Devin." He didn't know where the shadow guard was and had no doubt they'd be listening to his every word to make sure he was on his best behavior, he wanted to call her Diandra or even Dia but knew with them lurking it wouldn't be possible.

Diandra sighed and then looked at him. "Please, Jared... call me Diandra. We're not on Coruscant, we're not on assignment. We're on vacation. Please, just call me by my name." She smiled at him and then set her bags on the bed before she began to unpack and put things away in the dressers. She looked back at him several times, still wishing that he'd at least consider her offer.

He set her luggage down inside of the bedroom before slipping through the doorway again, the whole shadow guard bussiness annoyed him beyond belief since it meant either someone up the food chain thought he wasn't trained enough to protect her or they didn't trust him. He looked back at her for a moment and it only served to bristle him more about the shadow guards.

Diandra caught his gaze again and smiled at him before she looked back at her luggage. Now that she was unpacked, she put the empty luggage in the closet and then shut the door for privacy. She changed into a pair of cream-colored linen pants, leather sandals with wooden beads on them, and a bright teal blue shirt. She had left three buttons undone and had let her hair down by the time she walked back into the living area of the bungalow. She looked relaxed and comfortable, much different from her usual self. "Say," she said as she walked towards the couch. "Are we planning on doing anything tonight? Night on the town? Skinny dipping...?" She looked for him, a playful smile on her lips.

When she came out Jared was leaning in the doorway watching the waves, as she spoke he turned to look at her."Well your looking a might bit comfortable there." He ran the ideas for what they were doing for the night through his head."Well we can stay in and order room service or we can go out, your choice."

She walked closer to him and stopped a few inches from him. She fixed the collar of his shirt idly before she lifted her gaze to his face. "Well... it is a beautiful bungalow," she said slowly. "The porch is gorgeous, and I did come here to get away from it all for awhile... I think room service sounds like a great idea. Dinner on the porch, by candlelight, with a nice ocean breeze coming off the water?" She let her hands drop as she looked up at him again. "What do you think, Jared?"

He leaned back after she straightened his collar before looking out over the beach and porch."That sounds like a perfect idea." He still wanted to call her Diandra but he knew his orders and also knew they those shadow guards were around, he didn't want to chance it given the climate within the republic since it seemed the new chief of military police had a stick firmly shoved up his backside.

She sensed his tension and she looked away with a sigh. Diandra's ire rose then, and she couldn't help but be cranky a moment later when she spoke to him again. "I suppose I'll be eating dinner alone too," she snapped as she turned on her heel and walked away from him and towards the door of the bungalow to grab her purse, which she had dropped by the door. "If you'll excuse me, I believe the beach is calling me."

Jared moved after her and then softly took her arm before leaning in to whisper into her ear."Let's take a walk out by the water." His eyes speaking the words he couldn't at the moment as he moved to open the door for her, he figured if they went down there the shadow guard wouldn't follow probably.

She glared at him for a moment, then away again with an annoyed huff. She had just picked her purse up, but now she dropped it again. "Alright," she said before heading out the door and down the steps. There she waited for him until he joined her before she began to walk down towards the water.

Jared was walking with her a moment later, he waited until they were far enough from the bungalow."Diandra, you have to understand, right now in the republic things are odd given what happen with the general. Plus the new cheif of military police is so overbearing about all protocols. I have to really watch it right now."

"Jared, I've asked you to call me by just my name. I'll vouch for that if you get in trouble, and if I have to, I'll flaunt my position and use my prestige to keep you from being in trouble. The bedroom thing doesn't bother me so much as you being so tense, like you've got a stick of some sort of explosive up your butt." She sighed and rubbed her forehead before she tipped her head back to look at the sky above. "I asked you on this trip to... well, spend time with you. Get to know you better. Date you a little, too, I guess, before I have to go back to being just me."

He leaned down then and rested his forehead against hers softly."I know, I just am edgy with this guy around.. He's watching the general and myself like a hawk." He softly brushed his hand over her arm and smiled softly, he knew she wanted to spend time with him and he understood it.

She tipped her head up a little, the tip of her nose brushing against his. She laughed a little and concentrated her gaze on his mouth, then on his eyes. "You're the first guy I've liked in forever," she said softly. "I guess I can't blame you for being edgy..."

His right hand softly took hers in it as he watched her for the moment, her saying she liked him was a big step he figured for her. His fingers and the palm of his hand rough from years of carrying rifles and physical work.

She squeezed his hand gently and then she pulled away from him. She did not let go of his hand, though; she had wanted to edge away from him before the air between them began to physically spark from the tension between them. She didn't say anything, but stood there, looking out over the water now. "Still up for room service?"

He nodded as they stood there together, it made him realize this was the first real time they'd spent together since the incident at the palace where he and his unit had gotten Diandra out of the office. It also made him realize how long they'd known each other, he remembered meeting her for that first time at the balle royal and how he'd had to down a few drinks before he had the courage to approach her.

Then again, Diandra hadn't been exactly the approachable type back then. She rested her head against his shoulder for a moment, then looked over at him. After a moment of watching him, she gave him a playful shove towards the water with a grin.

Jared turned and quickly threw her over his shoulder."You asked for it now Lady Devin." His tone playful as he started marching out deeper into the water, he had a good grip on her waist as it rested on his shoulder.

She squirmed and tried to break free from his grip, shrieking and laughing at the same time. She beat on his back a couple of times and then gave up for the moment. "Jared Quinn," she said in a semi-serious tone. "If you dump me in the water or try to dunk me, so help me, I'll have to demoted to the lowest level in the army!"

That brought a deep laugh from him, something she probably would have never heard before."I've been there before, it's easier then where I am now. So are you trying to get me to dump you in the water?"He waded out to about waist deep and just held her there smirking slightly to see what she would do.

She squirmed some more and beat his back a few more times. "I'll have you put on latrine duty for the rest of your life," she threatened. "I've heard the horror stories about men's bathrooms!"

Jared acted like he was about to dump her in the water, but instead she would find herself being cradled in his arms with him looking down at her."The water's nice."

He started backing up as she batted her lashes at him."Well now I can't have that, I figured you were made of solid rock instead of sugar." His tone teasing as he turned to head back towards the bungalow while slowly wading out of the water.

Instead of letting go of his neck, she bit his shoulder gently through his shirt with a playful growl. "Rock? Rock! If I were made of any sort of substance like that, it would be the finest, most flawless marble," she returned hotly. "And I would be highly prized and very expensive. Which, sadly, I am neither."

Once they were back on the beach he gently set her down and then moved to head for the bungalow since he was drippign wet from the waist down at the moment, he figured she was probably watching him but he didn't care at the moment as the wind had picked up a bit and made him realize how cool it was becoming.

[Diandra Devin]

They were on the beach, staring up at the bright blue sky overhead. Diandra had never felt so relaxed in all her life, and she was truly enjoying just being able to lie there and do nothing. The would end tomorrow, however. Today was their last day on Spira; the last day that she'd really, truly be able to enjoy Jared's company for quite awhile. She twisted the new ring on her finger, playing with the simple band.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" She asked him softly, turning her head to study his profile with a sweet smile.

Jared looked over at her for a moment before he looked out at the ocean, things had been whirlwind the last few days and he had also finished chartering the ship that would take them back to Coruscant a few hours ago.

"It is, almost a shame to leave but I doubt Dene or His Majesty would be too pleased with either of us if we just vanished." His thoughts wandered to what would happen once they were back on Coruscant and back in their normal routines.

She half rolled on top of him then to look down into his face fully. "I know," she said, sounding a little disappointed. "And if we did, they'd have the whole blasted fleet coming after us, I bet."

She leaned down then and placed a gentle kiss on his mouth before pulling back to laugh. "Did I ever tell you how handsome you are, Mister Quinn?" Diandra's blue eyes searched his face as a soft smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. He watched her for a moment after she pulled back from kissing him with a grin upon his lips as she asked him her question."Well, you have but I think you have alot of time to catch up on." He was teasing her of course but he knew she'd take it good naturedly.

Diandra rolled her eyes and slapped his chest playfully. "And you've got a lot of time to catch up on for telling me how beautiful I am. The whole time we were dating, all you could do was ogle." She tweaked his nose then and sat up before looking out at the ocean. She wore a simple bathing suit with one of his button-up shirts over it. She pushed back some loose hair from her face and looked back at him again. "I hate having to keep it a secret," she said suddenly.

Jared reached up and lightly batted her hand off his nose as he looked up at her."And I thought that would tell you how beautiful you were, I couldn't keep my eyes off you." He playfully tickled her midsection as she was pushing the hair from her face."Yes well, once things quiet down that shouldn't be a problem."

She squirmed and batted his hands away, as he had hers. "Behave, you! Or you'll be in the dog house for quite a few months." Diandra laughed at him and then lay back again, her head resting on his shoulder as she curled herself against his side. "What are we going to do about the rings, Jared?"

He put his arm around Diandra as she curled up against him, he then looked over at her."You should probably keep them with you, until things quiet down." He knew in a few hours they would be Coruscant bound, headed back to their normal lives.

Things had changed so much in the past three weeks. Diandra had never in her life thought that she could feel this way about another man again, not after what happened with the last one. Not that the first one had died but feelings had gotten hurt, and feelings had gotten in the way of discovering important things that could've been discovered much earlier. Like the fact that she'd fallen in love with Jared around the time that she'd seen him down in the requisitions office. Apparently, vacation was just what they had needed to get their minds up to speed with what their hearts were feeling. Eight years they'd known each other. Out of all of them, they'd been on a handful of dates. What they'd done last week some might've called crazy, but there was no better time than the present.

"I love you, Jared Quinn," she murmured into his ear as she got comfortable and began to doze off for a nap.

Jared smiled as she got comfortable to take a nap. He heard her murmur in his ear and gently brushed some of the hair away from her face as they relaxed on the towel together in the warm sun."I love you too, Diandra." He knew she was probably fast asleep when he said it but hoped she had heard it all the same.

And she did, because she smiled in her sleep and snuggled closer to him. Their lives were complete, and they couldn't be any happier.

Edited by Diandra Devin, 03 April 2010 - 11:11 AM.