As Denobai's outline grew smaller and smaller, Delbert felt the knot in his chest slowly unfold. They'd managed to avoid any other encounters with guards as they cautiously made their way back to their small solar cruiser. Thanks to Lightoller's deft navigation and skillful manipulation of shield harmonics, they'd sneaked through the planet's atmosphere undetected and, within an hour, their ship passed into neutral accorded territory. No pirate or smuggler would dare give chase in such a heavily guarded area, and Delbert knew they had somehow managed to succeed in their ludicrous endeavor.

Amelia had instructed Lightoller to plot a course back to Montressor, and after engaging the autopilot, the first officer made his way to the back cabin where Doppler and Amelia sat, the Constitution carefully placed upon the table between them.

They were all silent for a moment as they studied the ancient document that lay before them. It was Lightoller who finally broke the silence.

"All of that fuss for a piece of paper," he quipped.

Amelia laughed sharply. "I daresay we wouldn't have gone to all of this trouble were it merely a piece a paper, Mr. Lightoller." But she nodded, nonetheless. "Although it's quite easy to understand the importance of a document such as this, I can't help wondering how anyone can feel such strong affection for a mere slip of parchment. I shudder to think what would have happened had we not been able to retrieve it."

"It would have been difficult to explain, and heads would've rolled," Lightoller agreed. "I'm with you, Captain. It's the civilization that paper created that is most important."

Delbert glanced back and forth between the two spacers for a moment before clearing his throat. "Yes, well, while both of you do present valid viewpoints, I can personally understand how someone might hold such a document in high esteem."

Amelia gave her husband a skeptical look. "Pray tell, Doctor, what document holds such a dear place in your heart?"

Delbert felt a blush creep up along his neck as his wife and her first officer stared at him, waiting for his reply.

Amelia smirked. "Doctor?"

Delbert tugged at his collar before turning his head and training his gaze on the far corner of the ceiling. "Well, if you must know, I have a particular affinity for our marriage certificate." He spoke the words softly, but in the quiet confines of the cabin, he might as well have shouted them.

He heard Amelia's sudden intake of breath, but didn't turn around. A moment later, his wife's crisp tones floated through the room.

"Mr. Lightoller, if you don't mind, I'd like a word with the good doctor."

"Certainly, m'am." The first officer shot Delbert an amused look and left.

Delbert watched Lightoller disappear through the door and wondered if the man was amused because he was able to escape or if his amusement stemmed from Delbert's romantic viewpoint. He opened his mouth to defend his comment, but Amelia wagged a single finger at him, shushing him before he could begin. She walked to the door and secured the lock, then turned back to him and arched an eyebrow as she folded her arms across her chest.

"You were saying, Doctor?" Her gaze was trained on him, and he couldn't tell whether his wife was toying with him or genuinely irritated by his previous observation.

He cleared his throat and plunged forward. "I apologize if my comment was ill suited with Lightoller present, Amelia, but the sentiment was genuine, and I won't apologize for feeling that way."

His half-apology carried a small note of defiance – something that would not have been present a mere year ago. A flicker of amusement tugged at the corners of his wife's mouth, causing Delbert to question how she could find anything worthy of hilarity in his statement.

"You look quite silly, standing your ground, whilst black paint is smeared all over your face," she informed him.

The observation caught him off guard. He certainly couldn't argue with her assessment as he'd thought something similar that morning when they'd arrived at Denobai and his wife had meticulously applied the camouflage to his features before they disembarked.

Considering he hadn't had a chance to clean up since they boarded the vessel, and taking into account the physical exertion of their adventure, he rather imagined he looked like a pup after a romp through the Cessarian mudpits.

He sighed and stood. "I should probably clean up. We can continue this discussion when I return."

Amelia chuckled and gently shoved her husband back on the couch. "Stay put. I'll return momentarily."

Delbert's eyes followed her as she disappeared into the head and then reappeared again carrying a small, damp washcloth. She said nothing as she made her way to him, and her silence continued when she knelt before him and began gently wiping the black paint from his features.

The cool, clean cloth felt wonderful against his fur, and as the grime slowly disappeared, a smile spread across Amelia's visage.

"There now, that's much better, isn't it?"

Delbert sighed and nodded. "Yes. Yes, it is." He leaned forward and gently brushed his lips against hers. "Thank you, my dear."

"You're quite welcome, darling. Now come here," she instructed, pulling him to stand before her. "I believe we were in the middle of a discussion."

Delbert shook his head. "I'm too content to argue with you anymore," he informed her with a fond smile. "I'd much rather spend some time together, just the two of us."

"Why, Doctor! What a delightful idea!" Amelia flashed him a wicked grin and stepped closer.

Delbert's eyes widened when he felt her fingers brush against the buttons of his waist coast then watched in disbelief as she pushed it off his shoulders and down his arms. Although it happened to be one of his favorite coats and had cost him a handsome sum, Delbert didn't protest when it carelessly fluttered to the floor. He was too busy concentrating on his wife's warm hands and the way her fingers nimbly unbuttoned his shirt.

When he finally found his voice, it was hoarse and more than a little shaky. "Amelia, forgive me if I'm misinterpreting your intentions, but are you, ah, seducing me?"

Amelia let out a low chuckle. "I believe that is exactly what I'm doing," she acknowledged as her hands settled on the large silver buckle of his belt. "Didn't you just say you wanted to spend time together?"

"Well yes," Delbert sputtered. "But I was thinking more along the lines of reading together or playing a hand of Denobian rummy."

"Cards absolutely bore me, darling. You know that. Besides, this will be far more enjoyable. Don't you think?"

"Of course!" Delbert quickly agreed, "but… here?"

"Would you rather we moved to the front of the cabin with Lightoller?"

"No!"

Amelia laughed at his panicked response. "Then, I would say here is the best choice."

Delbert frowned, but he knew Amelia could see desire warring with decorum within his eyes. She placed a soft kiss against his lips. "After all, darling, it is our anniversary," she reminded him when the kiss ended.

"But Lightoller…" Delbert feebly argued.

"Heard the door lock behind him," she informed him before kissing his temple.

"Well yes, he did, but…"

"Is an able First Officer." Another kiss, this time to his other temple.

"Of course, but I don't see how…"

"Is aware it's our anniversary." Amelia's lips settled against his throat while her hands divested him of his belt.

Delbert stopped protesting and stood there, speechless, his wife having deftly deflected all of his arguments.

"And he'll keep his mouth shut if he knows what's best for him," Amelia informed him, smiling in triumph.

Delbert's eyes slid shut, and he groaned. "You're going to be the death of me, Amelia Doppler."

Amelia gave a throaty laugh and laced her fingers through his as she tugged him to a nearby bunk and sat down. "You're made of stronger stuff than that, Doctor Doppler."

"I'm not so sure," Delbert disagreed.

Chuckling, Amelia pulled him down to lie next to her and wrapped a leg around his. "You do realize there are far worse ways to spend one's anniversary?"

Delbert immediately slid a hand along his wife's hip. "I'm well aware of that," he agreed. "We'll definitely have a story to tell our children someday about this one, won't we?" he murmured.

Amelia smiled fondly and brought a gentle hand to her husband's face. "Ah, we're back to that again, are we? You're awfully determined to see me padding about our home, a litter of screaming children hanging from my apron strings, aren't you?" she teased.

Delbert chuckled. "You rarely wear aprons."

Amelia's eyes twinkled. "There was that one time. Remember? The apron… and nothing else?"

Delbert's eyes darkened, and he tightened his hand possessively around her hip. He did remember. That had been a particularly invigorating evening that had left them sated and spent, wrapped in a warm comforter in front of a flickering fire.

Leaning down, he captured his wife's lips in a heated kiss, his pulse quickening when she moaned into his mouth shortly after his hands found their way beneath her clothing and began caressing her in earnest.

"I see you do remember," she whispered when their kiss eventually ended.

"Indeed I do." He brushed a lock of hair away from his wife's eyes and grinned. "Captain, there's something I think you should know."

"Yes, Doctor?"

"I am awfully determined."

Amelia's lips curved into a sultry smile. "Are you?"

"Do you mind?"

"What did you have in mind?"

"Perhaps I should show you."

"Perhaps you should."

Delbert's last rational thought as he rolled his wife beneath him was that they might want to omit a few tidbits regarding the conclusion to their anniversary tale. After all, their children wouldn't need to know everything.