Making the Best of It.

[Annabelle O'Halloran 0]

The bangle with its cabachon cut blue stones set in the odd colored metal had drawn her interest, not because it was pretty; her first impression had been just the opposite, in fact—there was a barbaric quality to the cuff. No, it had caught her eye because the metalwork appeared unique. There was a grayish cast to thesilver—though she still wasn't sure it was silver and its dull gleam did little to add luster to the truly extraordinary granulation that surrounded the light blue stones. Trained as a journeyman metal and goldsmith, Anna knew how much skill had gone into creating the piece.

While Will finalized the details regarding the crystal bowl they'd chosen for his mother's upcoming birthday, she'd tried the bracelet on. From the moment it had warmed to her skin, she'd realized it was meant for her. Bewildered by a sudden onslaught of fleeting impressions, Anna flatly told the shopkeeper they would take it and barely noticed as Will took care of the sale.

When he reached for her wrist to look at the bracelet, Anna took a step back without thinking, automatically moving her hand behind her back to keep it from him. Protect it, she heard, and she frowned, distracted by the voice, even while asking, "Will, what's the matter?"

Will frowned. "Anna, why are you suddenly so overprotective of that bracelet? It is as if..." Alarms went off announcing that the USS Reaent is now under quarantine. Will looked up, "Ah hell! Why can't we have a peaceful day off?" His hand went to hers automatically. It seemsthat he had forgotten about her bracelet for the moment.

With Will's fingers around the hand not encircled by the bracelet, Anna relaxed, suddenly feeling a momentary confusion as to why his reaching for it had mattered in the first place. The blaring sound of alarms swept the thought away. "I wonder what's happened?"

He looked at her drolly, "Its the Reaent Anna. What doesn't happen? We should probably see about finding some accommodations until this is over. If the ship is under quarantine than we aren't getting anywhere near it." He smiled wanly, "Perhaps we should go and get something to eat, too?"

The woebegone quality to his smile caused her fingers to tighten comfortingly around his and she nodded, eyes gleaming with amused affection."You make it sound like we need to make the best of a bad situation." She leaned closer, reaching to whisper in his ear, "It's kind of nice being trapped off ship together."

Hearing that tone in her voice brightened him up considerably and he looked at her. "Yes, it is, but I think that dinner would be nice to have before dessert, don't you?" "I don't know," she teased, giving his hand a tug to start him moving towards the commercial district where they could get a meal. "You know what they say..." She waited a beat and then added, "Life's uncertain--eat dessert first."

He laughed as they went toward the commercial district. "Come on, love. Let's find some food; I'm starving." From the look he was giving her, she knew he didn't mean for just food either.

Glad to see his lighter mood returning, she smiled, that particular look of his still able to make her blush. "Oh, me too," she agreed, quickening her pace to keep up with his longer legs. "Absolutely starving."

Edited May 26, 2011 by Annabelle O'Halloran