Prisoner of War(Rina/Grimm)

[FreedomLivesOn]

Daniel returned the squeeze, the smile that had been on his face just a few moments before reappearing in full force as they turned to the officiator of the ceremony.

"We are gathered here today..."

The words were the usual ones that preceded the actual "till death do you part", the former causing many a groom both on and off the silver screen to prompt a kind of impatience that would not go away until the command to kiss the bride was uttered. Daniel was no different, the former soldier desiring to get the ceremony over with as soon as possible, partially because they had a flight to catch.

Of course, he hadn't TOLD Ari about the getaway, but then again, he had been told to keep it a secret. His parents gave Daniel a substantial amount of money and told him to get he and Ari away from the world for a while. Madre Kingsly had said as much:
"Poquito, you've gone through too much to not go away."

She still called him that childhood nicknam...

"And do you, Daniel Kingsly, take this woman to be your wife?" He looked over at Ari, giving his answer more to her than to Mr.Hutchinson:
"A million times over, yes."
"Then, as the authority invested me permits, I now pronounce you man and wife." Daniel leaned in and kissed her lovingly, wrapping his arms around her waist. He didn't hear the applause, the cheering, didn't see the happy faces; all he saw was the most beautiful woman in the world releasing from his kiss. He linked arms with her as they proceeded down the aisle, Daniel telling her just loudly enough for her to hear above the music:
"I guess we made it, huh?"

The reception was rather informal, all sorts of guests mingling together to talk with one another and to get in some sort of congratulatory message to the married couple, who had been making the rounds to what seemed like every known human being on the planet. The initial waves of greeting finished, Daniel took the liberty of finding an unoccupied bench situated on the back patio that one had to walk through to get to the ceremony area. Once found, he plopped down, breathing out a sigh of relief as he looked up at Ari, telling her:
"Babe, you can take the heels off, you know; you've been walking around in them for almost two hours. Bride's gotta be comfortable to greet guests with a smile, you know."

[Rina]

Ari was quite thrilled when he returned her affectionate gesture, since his small little action calmed her nerves. It only signified that they made each other stronger in tougher times, and that they could even calm each other's nerves.

Ah, the famous starting words. In movies it seemed to go quickly, but it seemed that it was a different story now that it was their wedding.

She almost began tapping her foot in slight impatience as the ceremony began, but a bight smile appeared on her face when it was her time to say, "I do", she recited it with an enthusiastic response. There was no hesitation with her words, and she only seemed to offer Daniel an even bigger grin at that time. After that she was happy to hear and see Daniel's response to his part of the vows, and she couldn't help but quietly laugh at his enthusiastic response.

It did her heart wonders to hear his heartfelt response, and to just see the happiness in his own eyes. Ari knew that their past struggles had only strengthened their bond together, and nothing that life threw at them in the future would ever make them feel any less for each other. Today was the real showing of that.
Plus, it showed the people out there that doubted their relationship that they WOULD make it. No matter what.

It wasn't that the doubt bugged her, but she just grinned at it.

Making them actually see their success and happiness was the best kind of thing she could have asked for, and she knew she'd never ask for anything else.
Finally, Mr. Hutchison uttered the words that they were man and wife, and she leaned into Daniel's kiss as her arms gently wrapped around his neck. Ah, it was nice to finally be married, and to be called Mrs. Daniel Kingsly. It was a sentimental thing to take her new husband's name, and she wondered if he was just as giddy to call her his new wife. Once the two parted she laughed happily as they walked down the aisle with joint hands, and she strained to hear him as he spoke.
"That we did love, that we did!"

The real part of the wedding started when the reception began. The guests then were allowed to be showered in alcohol, and even little finger food to feed their hunger for the time being. It may not have been the fanciest thing in the world, but it suited both Ari and Daniel. Plus, it gave them more of an opportunity to personally thank each person that was able to make it, and it gave their friends a time to relax after all the time and effort they put into helping with the planning. But, it was nice to escape for a little while, and she gladly followed Daniel out to get some fresh air. Once he sat down she decided to take a seat beside him before replying:
"You're right. I just didn't want to dirty the dress at all, but since the ceremony is over, who cares right?" As she spoke she decided to take his advice before hiking up the bottom portion of her dress so she could unclasp the strap that kept her feet securely in place.

[FreedomLivesOn]

"Absolutely. No one's going to try and enforce some kind of 'bridal fashion code' that requires you to wear heels." Once her cumbersome footwear had been removed, he motioned for her to sit on his lap before telling her:
"You know, we won't be able to stay for much longer." He allowed the seemingly cryptic remark to hang in the air for a moment or two before following it up:
"We have a flight booked to New York that leaves in five hours. Once we get into New York, we're going to take a taxi to the harbor where one of the biggest cruise ships known to mankind is currently stationed. We're going to board that ship and baby, we're off the grid for two weeks. Two. Weeks." He mischievously bit her ear gently, telling her in a quieter tone:
"I think we can figure out what to do with ourselves with that much time, don't you?"

Only a couple of minutes passed before Jonas found them, a martini glass in one of his oversized hands(they seemed out of proportion with the rest of his slight frame). He walked over to the bench the duo were situated at before asking:
"You tell her yet?"
"Yep."
"Good. I can handle things from here."
"You don't have to do ANYTHING; the lady of the manor has people who are going to take all of the decor down."
"Yes, but I want to at least appear I'm somewhat important."
"The martini glass is doing it for you."
"I guess so, eh?" Jonas emitted a slight chuckle.
"Listen, Jonas, Ari and I appreciate everything. You guys have been fantastic."
"Well don't thank us just yet. You may want to check the passenger seat of your car."
"Oh?"
"There's some information about a program you may want to try out."
"I've heard that line before."
"No fake gunfights, I promise."
"What is it?"
"I'll let you read it for yourself." Jonas rolled his suit sleeve up just a bit to check his watch, letting out a whistle.
"You guys need to get to the airport."
"I guess we do, don't we?"
"Get outta here. We'll talk once you get back."
"Jonas...thanks."
"I already told you; you don't get to thank me just yet."

__________________

After wrapping up their goodbyes, Daniel drove the couple to back to Ari's apartment in order for her to get any clothing she needed(they would have to move in all of that stuff once they got back. With the wedding planning going on, Daniel hadn't even thought of it) before getting HIS stuff from his(their!) home. Once sorted out, the duo went through the typical airport proceedings and arrived in New York on time, which was quite a rarity coming out of Baltimore. The taxi ride to the harbor was a bit long due to traffic, but one look at the boat more than made up the lengthy trip. The patriotic color scheme was a bit tacky, but the boat itself was almost the size of Rhode Island, boasting all sorts of entertainment venues, eating options and amenities. With the money his parents had provided them, Daniel had managed to get a suite just one level below top beck. The suite itself was well appointed with a living area that led into the elegantly designed master bedroom. The former soldier let out a whistle as he placed their luggage at the foot of their king sized bed, commenting:
"This looks way better in person than on a computer screen. Had no idea we were going to be living it up this much." He flopped down onto the bed, sprawling himself out.
"Waddya think? Sweet, huh?"

[Rina]

She gave a small snort in response. “Uh huh, that’s what you say mister! Some people would love to harp on that fact!” Her tone was playful as she slipped her shoes off, and placing them beside the bench so no one would trip before she took his offer up and sat on his lap.

When he spoke of not staying at the reception for too long, one brown eyebrow arched. Ari had no clue what her new husband had been planning, and it was natural that she was so confused by his statement. But, it only came to make sense when he fully explained what he meant. “You had me worried there for a minute, cause I wasn’t too sure what you meant. I thought you were going to say that we were getting kicked out or something.” She commented with a soft laugh. Of course it was natural that that would be her first reaction, but she knew something else would be said.
Yet, she really wasn't expecting this response. “We’re really going away for two weeks? Two.. Whole.. Weeks?” She asked, a stunned look clearly showing on her face. She was quickly shaken from her initial shock at his whisper.
“Hmm, I have to agree. If we can’t then we might just have to improvise, now won’t we?”

Ari looked up once Jonas appeared, and offered him a wide grin before leaning her back against Daniel’s chest. It had been a little while since they both saw him, yet it was definitely good to see that the other male was enjoying himself.


Though while they spoke she listened and gave a few small nods in response.

Waking up early was starting to wear on her, yet the alcoholic beverages she consumed after the ceremony were making her drowsy as well.

But, her ears perked back up when she heard Jonas say something about the passenger seat of Daniel’s car.

In a sense it could be a ton of different things, but the curiosity of it all was only causing her to liven up more, since the plane ride would be an ideal place for sleep to claim them.

“Yeah, we do appreciate all that you’ve done. Both you and Marian have been a huge help, and you’ve been the best friends anyone could’ve asked for. “ She softly replied, before offering him a smile.

She knew thanks probably wouldn’t be quite enough, especially with the new little adventure that Jonas had placed in Daniel’s car.

Though, it would be rather intriguing to see what said surprise would be, but she knew that whatever it was, that both Jonas and Marian had picked a good surprise.

Especially with the way that Jonas was speaking since it definitely left a lot to the imagination.


__________________

Ah, the goodbyes definitely went smooth and it seemed that people were quite sad that the party scene was wrapped up, yet they seemed happy to see the new couple leave. This honeymoon was a good way for them to just get away from the world, enjoy each other’s company, and just bask in the moment after what the two of them had been through after all these years. After the last guest was thanked they were able to escape to the car, and Ari couldn’t have been happier. She got to take her shoes off once again, got to breathe a sigh of relief, and the best was the excitement was bubbling in her stomach. When they arrived back at her apartment she drug her suitcase from the closet, grabbed some warm clothed outfits, some bathing suites, a few pairs of pajamas, and even some colder weather clothes just in case the rooms were a bit chilly at night. Heck, even if the room was a bit chilly, there wasn’t any doubt in her mind that they could easily change that. Her packing hadn’t taken long, and she even managed to grab her medication and such before closing her suitcase, and following Daniel back out the door so he could pack. But, she had to admit that the plane ride had been the ideal napping spot, since with that little bit of a power nap she was able to have the strength to go through the airport once again, and handle the taxi ride before boarding the boat.

She knew her eyes had to be wide as they scanned the boat, since she didn’t quite expect anything quite this luxurious. Her new husband definitely knew how to pick things, and she’d definitely need to give him the proper thanks he deserved once they settled into their rooms. After exploring their room, and staying silent from said exploration she grinned as she sprawled out beside him. “Oh, this is way beyond sweet! I’ve never seen anything this big and luxurious! You kept one good secret Mr. Kingsly! But, I love it. Thank you!” She softly murmured, leaning over to kiss his lips gently.

[FreedomLivesOn]

He returned the kiss for a brief moment before he shifted position to where he was situated on top of her, both arms straddling her body. Daniel then bent downward, biting her neck gently before moving to the top of her ear.
"Two...weeks..." He whispered before going back to her mouth, kissing her now with an intense passion, his hands grabbing

The sheets to cover their naked bodies from the sudden blast of cold that had enveloped their room. He drew Ari closer to him, blowing out a sigh of contentment as he told her:
"You have no idea how long I've been waiting for that." He looked down at her with a smirk before saying:
"I've never heard you THAT loud before in my life. Hope we didn't disturb anyone next to us, eh?"

[Rina]

She grinned into the kiss as her affections, and took in the comfort of the mattress below them. A soft sigh escaped her lips as he bit her neck, laughing softy as he moved to her ear. Her neck had always been a ticklish point, and she knew Daniel had to remember.
"Two weeks of happiness and bliss. Two weeks of nothing but relaxation." She murmured, returning the passionate kiss happily.

She was very grateful when he pulled the covers up, just as a shiver passed through her body. She grinned at him as she curled against his body, resting her head against his chest with a laugh. "Don't worry, I've been waiting that long as well. But, the wait has made it ten times better." With his comment she blushed and hid her face.
"Hey now, I had a reason to be so loud tonight. It was just all pent up. As for the disturbance.. I don't think they'll be too upset. I think they've had the same thing in mind." She winked.

[FreedomLivesOn]

"You are so naughty." He smirked, planting a kiss on her lips before sighing contently. Suddenly, Daniel spoke again:
"That 'surprise' Jonas was talking about? I looked through it on the plane ride over; it's a program associated with the University of Maryland that would have me certified as a counselor. It may take a few years, but I'm going on the Army's dime, so it won't cost us much." He looked down at her, asking:
"What do you think, baby? Should I even be a part of this? I mean...I don't know if I'm qualified to be in that position. I want to help, but..." He blew out a sigh.
"I don't know. Maybe I'll try it out, but I don't want you to have to bring in the money. May have to cut back on a few things, too." He shot her a small smile.
"The joys of being married, huh?"

[Rina]

She laughed softly before poking her tongue out. "Well, you should feel lucky. Cause I've only been naughty for you." She softly commented, before returning his kiss.
Ari listened intently to Daniel as he spoke, taking in each and every word he said. "You want my honest opinion? I think you should do it! I think it can definitely benefit you, and it might be a career that you'll enjoy rather than something you think you need to do." She softly commented. "I don't mind if you go to college, and I most definitely don't mind carrying the expenses while you attend classes. I just want you to pursue something you enjoy." She was completely honest with that, and she didn't mind taking over the expenses for a while. Her new job was definitely a lot higher pay, and it could easily cover the costs that they'd incur from a day to day basis.
"Sweetheart, I think you're more than qualified for the job. You know how hard things can be, and with your knowledge and advise I think anyone would benefit from it." She then laughed softly at his marriage comment. "Hey now, it's really no different than what we did when we lived separate. It might just be a little bit more expensive, but not a lot." In a small playful moment she leaned over and placed a few soft kisses to his neck.

[FreedomLivesOn]

Daniel let out a surprised laugh when she went for his neck, fully aware that she was attacking the more sensitive part.
"A surprise attack? That's not fair! I need to launch a counter offensive." He reached over and began to tickle her midsection, laughing somewhat maniacally as he proclaimed:
"You shall never escape the wrath of Darth Kingsly!!!" If there was any sign that Daniel had returned to his normal(well, that was a questionable term) self completely, this was it. The playfulness that he had exhibited before his time in Iraq was back in full force, as made evident by his latest antic. He stopped for just a moment, hands around her hips as he told her:
"Lets make this night last a little longer, shall we?"

"I think that's a great idea." Daniel beamed slightly as Professor Leaklen typed in a few more concepts, adjusting his glasses every so often. Once he was done typing...no, he wasn't done. A few minutes passed by without a word; there would be times like this, when the Professor would "zone out" and leave Daniel quite in the dark as to what he was doing. Of course, he should have been used to this: he had been working with Leaklen over the past two and a half years on a close basis. The man had even attended the surprise french themed two year anniversary party that Norman and Harriet had thrown for the happily married couple. Still, Daniel couldn't help himself to interrupting...again.
"So ah, John..."
"Oh, right! Sorry. Reading a fascinating study on the effect of leadership principles at a retirement home. Quite entertaining."
"About the position?"
"You start next Tuesday at Fort Meade."
"Just like that?"
"Your experience impressed them. Field experience, of course. In the..."
"I know. Just glad that actually helped, you know?"
"That it did! However, you were pushed through rather rapidly...ah well, whatever the case may be, Sergeant Paulsen will be emailing you the details and giving you a call by this Friday."
"Thanks, John. This means a lot."
"No, thank YOU, Daniel."
"For what?"
"For showing me there's hope."

On the drive home, Daniel couldn't help but reflect on what the past three years had brought: new friends(Norman and Harriet, among others), a whole lot of education, surprise parties(French themed? Really?) and an overall sense of happiness that only Ari could have brought him.

In other words, it was the happiest three years of his life.

Although, he had considered just a few days ago that he was about to hit twenty nine. A good number, but still...

He couldn't help but think about children.

Daniel hadn't brought it up to her yet. They had talked about it just slightly, but they had been having too much fun by themselves to really sit down and have serious discussions about having children. Lately though, the desire had started to set in. Maybe they DID have to talk.

After parking in the driveway, he noted that Ari's car was missing.

Where had she gone?

[Rina]

Ari grinned at his slight bit of shock before she grinned. She enjoyed the look of surprise on her husband's face since the action was rare.
"Love, all's fair in a surprise attack! Other wise it wouldn't be called a surprise attack!" Her voice held a bit of the 'duh' tone, but it was all for play.
Though she wasn't quite expecting his sneak attack on her, and she withered as his hands ticked her tummy while she laughed. She happened to be EXTREMELY ticklish, and her tummy was one of her most ticklish spots.
"Nope.. I will.. Escape your.. Wrath! D.. Daniel.. I am.. Your father.." She spoke between laughs, the last part trying to intimidate Darth Vader. This new playful side of him was definitely a huge improvement, and it couldn't have happened at a better time. Sure, she wouldn't have minded either way, but it was nice that he.. No.. They'd be able to relax and continue on with their playful moments.
"Let's make this night the best one, and last for a long time.

A soft sigh escaped Ari's lips as she flipped through a few papers. They were a few new projects she'd need to start within the next few days. She was still at their house, and she was dressed up rather sloppily in a t-shirt and some sloppy sweats. She had been cleaning the house that morning since she liked to do it at least twice a week, and this happened to be one of those days. When she checked her phone she sighed, seeing a missed call from her work. Today was supposed to be one of her days off, yet it seemed like that wouldn't be the case anymore. After listening to the message and giving her work a quick call back, she confirmed that she was needed for a little while.
She took a quick shower, dressed up in her blazer and skirt, dress shoes and scrunched hair before throwing on her watch and necklace. Since she planned on having today off she still had her glasses on and she didn't bother putting her contacts in.
Her trip to the office took about fifteen minutes before she lugged her briefcase in, and she settled herself in her chair before pulling her usb port and hooking it into the desktop.


She had forgotten to send Daniel to inform him that she might not be home when he arrived, since her thought process hadn't been one hundred percent. Though she didn't get out much longer after he did, and she smiled as she saw a message that she received from Harriet. It was definitely nice to gain new friends, and was completely surprised by the party that was thrown for them.

It seemed that they had a relationship equal to Ari and Daniel's, and it was amazing to have more than one couple that you could hang out just incase one couple couldn't make it.

She had been happy for.. Wait a second, happy isn't the appropriate term. These past three years had been the happiest that she'd ever been.

Daniel had been part of that, yet she was starting to think about children as well.

Just hearing the pitter patter of small feet on the floors would make things more solid and more complete, plus Ari and Daniel would have a perfect carbon copy of each of them. Plus, they'd have another person they could shower love upon just like they did for each other.

She was only a year younger than Daniel, so at twenty-eight she was perfectly ready. The question would be when, and if they could have a child.

On that thought she started to drive home, and pressed Daniel's number in her phone, and smiled as she heard it ringing.