"Permission to be happy, Captain?"

Her hand on his is warm and soft, comforting and feeling like home, but unlike the atmosphere that surrounds them and what is yet to come. *Captain. He closed his eyes and repeated that word again and again in his mind, trying to engrave the endearing nickname in his memory as this might be the last time he will hear that word in her voice. Tears started to well up in his eyes as memories of them together come back to him like a tidal wave. A pause, followed by a deep breath, then he opened his eyes and smiled at her.

"Permission granted."

With that, he let go of her hand for someone else to hold.