Celina sat at the bar sipping a beer. She had to go slow. In their quarters she would go much faster but they were not civilians right now but senior officers. Reaching down for her glass, she noticed her ring glint off the light from above. It still felt new on her finger. the kind of sensation that you were aware something was attached to you but not long enough to become sense blind to it. Picking up her drink she looked across the room at Jack who was telling a joke to some of his friends. He looked so handsome in his dark blue shirt and slacks. Rarely did he and she get a chance to dress up so when they did, they did it up. Turning slightly in her chair to watch him, Celina smoothed down her skirt as she crossed her legs. The action would catch his attention even if that was not her intention. Jack always kept half an eye on her. He had since the beginning. Taking a sip of her drink she closed her eyes and remembered their first New Year’s Eve.

================================
Orion Warehouse District - 6 years ago
================================

“If I could move my hand I would move my hand,” Celina growled tugging at her wrists which were bound tightly behind her. “And sit still. I am getting rope burn and not in the good kinda way,” she wiggled her wrists trying to slide her hands out.

“Yes there is a good way,” she got a small smile on her face. That was the issue with Maz Jarboni. The man got her into more trouble than she ever intended but he could make her smile no matter what. Such as now: stuck in a concrete basement, with one light flickering above their head, tied back to back, waiting to be shot by the syndicate. “Like last week when we had two of the three things we don’t now.”

“Focus and I want you to stick your hands down my pants,” she said firmly to Maz.

“Because I have a knife in my back pocket but,” she sighed deeply and looked at the ceiling not wanting to admit something so personal and private in a place like this.

“But…my hands are…,” she debated what was worse telling him or dying by the hand of the syndicate.

“They are small. You know that. I have small hands and you know how tiny my thumb is. I haven’t been trying to get the ropes loose but trying to get my hand into my pocket. They just made me sit up so straight and the way they tied me to you…I can’t reach.”

“Just get into my pants pocket, get the knife and get us out of here,” she said trying to sit up straighter so Maz would be able to retrieve it. At first, it seemed it was going to work. That was until Maz decided to be more playful that functional.

Mahhh aaazzzz,” she squirmed breaking out in a laugh. “Stop playing around. It’s in my pocket. You can’t miss it so grab the knife,” she stressed the word knife knowing that was the last thing he wanted to grab.

A few seconds later he had cut the ropes and instantly her wrists were free. Helping her off the ground he asked one question. It made her smile. “Because I have more than one asset and I made sure their attention was not where I didn’t want it to be. Besides I am the weaker sex. You know women are defenseless.” She could not help but smile at him. Moving to the door, Celian took a deep breath as she put her hand on the lever. “On three,” she started to count. “One…Two,” she started but was stopped not by the bad guys approaching but by his lips on hers.

“Happy News Years baby,” he said softly raising his watch to where she could see the time.

“Happy News Years,” she said softly looking back at him. The last 48 hours had been a blur. It was only now that Celina remembered what day it was. As they exited the door, she turned to face him. “Not saying I mind being your new years date but could next year we curl up on the couch with a pizza and a movie,” she winked at him.

==============================
Six years later Manhattan 10 forward
==============================

“Are you ready to fake a headache and head back to our quarters,” she asked as Jack approached her seat at the bar?

“Good because I have two out of the three things we need to spend our classic New Years set up back in our quarters,” she twirled a finger around his tie as she slipped from her seat and headed to the door.

Lt. Celina Rodriguez