*Andrew’s POV*

I followed Eliza reluctantly into the salad line. I didn’t dare set off on my own to get real food before I had established… well… I shouldn’t think of Eliza as my ‘territory,’ but I felt a certain possessiveness, it was true. Not that she couldn’t disembowel almost anyone in the Tribe with minimal effort if they hassled her. I just wanted everyone to know that, should she be in an abnormally generous mood and fail to do so, I would. I had forgotten that I could be a jealous man-

“Andrew?” I looked up from admittedly brooding to see a young lady coming towards me, in the distance. Ugh, I had forgotten about them! I had nowhere to flee, I had to get the cursed salad, and I couldn’t leave Eliza! Without thinking perhaps as much as I should have, I tugged Eliza closer and threw an arm around her waist. She looked up at me like I had just devolved in front of her as an admittedly charming, young minx with long, auburn tresses came up and looked at us perplexedly.

I struggled for a moment, but finally recalled her name. “Jennifer! Jennifer, this is Eliza, my ward on the Night Watch, and my partner. Romantic partner.” Eliza stepped on my foot, slowly but quite firmly. I ignored it, trying for a cheery smile. “Eliza, this is Jennifer. She is just about to finish Training, I believe?”

For the first time I felt bad; I hadn’t meant to hurt anyone. Jennifer’s eyes were clearly tear-filled as she smiled bravely and shook Eliza’s hand. “Indeed, Second Officer. I hope you have recovered from the injuries you sustained during training. I know you both risk your lives every Night to protect us all and guard the Soul. Good evening.” She bobbed her head formally and left rapidly. I didn’t miss her sniffling as she actually took flight to get away quickly.

Eliza’s eyes darkened, and she shook me off of her. I touched her shoulder, and she turned and gave me such a nasty scowl, I actually backed away. Having nothing but the best of luck, I bumped, hard, into the Fae in line behind me, Glenn, one of the metalsmiths that did housework (except during times of major war).

Thankfully, Glenn was made of solid muscle, and just peered up at me, appearing unaffected. He could be a little temperamental, so I began forming an apology in my head, but he just chuckled and patted me on the back, shaking his head. Without saying a word, he just pointed at Eliza.

I knew what he meant. The greater issue was not to apologize to him, but to try and fix my goof with my woman. I nodded gratefully at the remarkably burly fellow, wondering in the back of my mind how in the nine hells he stayed so massive when he was in the line for salad?

As Eliza was serving herself some veggies I tapped her on the arm. “Andy, I know you don’t like salad-“

I wanted to impress Eliza. Maybe she didn’t like eating animals as a matter of principle. Maybe she was overly invested in the regularity of her bowel movements. Who knew? I would find out, but now was not the time. “-No! I want filth- I mean the lush, leafy greens! Just, with cheese, by the gods, with more cheese than last time! And vinegar, and oil! And, just, more of it, there has to be more!”

At least that made her laugh a little as she grabbed some kind of horrible-looking sprout. “I just don’t want to be responsible for destroying other people’s dreams.”

I snorted. “Eliza, it’s my right to decide who I want to be with! Love just happens, and it happened with you, I choose you! Are you saying I should continue to be celibate, alone and miserable, just so that anyone who wants to can maintain a futile hope? That you and I don’t have the right to be happy?” She paused, thinking. I sighed. “Look, I’ll try to be more subtle, but we have the right to our own dreams too. My dream is a future with you.”

Eliza looked at me and grinned, then went to get toppings. I felt better about the situation, leaving me to consider the greenery before me. As I stared dubiously at the choices, I felt Glenn elbow me gently. He gave me a thumbs-up of approval, and then pointed to the spinach.

---

As Eliza and I sat, eating our rubbish, I saw an unexpected figure approach: Hollis, Melora’s older daughter. Oh gods… I knew she was sweet on me too, and a really nice girl. I wanted to avoid another repeat of the situation earlier with Jennifer. “Good evening, Hollis. You’re out late.”

I should have known Hollis would get right to the point. Like her mother, Hollis was an oddball, but in the best of ways. “Second Officer, a rumor has made its way to me that your heart has been taken by your ward here, the formidable Night Watchman Eliza. I’ve come of my own volition as an ambassador of sorts to investigate the truth. Speak plainly; is there truth to this? Hold nothing back!”

I glanced at Eliza, who wiped some balsamic vinegar off her chin and clearly didn’t know what to make of the exchange. I smiled, relieved. Hopefully, Hollis would spread word, far and wide, like wildfire, to all the younger Fae in Training, that I was a taken man. I imagined Ashley was helping with the older crowd at that very moment. “What you’ve heard is only partially true-“ I felt Eliza tense next to me, so I started speaking faster, “-my heart wasn’t taken at all. It was given, Hollis. But, yes, in essence, it is true that Eliza and I are together.”

Hollis tapped her chin thoughtfully and paced a bit. Then, she seemed to think out loud as she gesticulated in an animated fashion. “Of course, ethically, I support this, as I’m not truly of age, and I don’t wish unhappiness upon either of you. However, my fantastical world, in which you, Second Officer, patiently wait for the time at which I come of age, has now been trounced.” She shook her head. “Most unfortunate, Second Officer.”

Eliza chimed in. “You never know, I might be killed during a battle-“

I shoved her lightly, horrified. “-Eliza! No, that’s not going to happen!”

Hollis shook her head, as though that weren’t an acceptable alternative. “No-no! Then you, Second Officer, would be rendered maudlin and reclusive once more, and you, Night Watchman, would be deceased! What sort of solution is that? What an atrocious idea!”

Eliza piped up again. "Nevertheless, if I do die, do your best to cheer him up, alright? I suggest nudity-“

Again, I shoved her, now doubly alarmed. “-She’s 15, Eliza! Gods! You women-“

Hollis nodded. “I’ll retain that information. In the unfortunate event of the your, Eliza the Night Watchman’s, passing, I’ll see if I can arrange that you, the Second Officer, be surrounded by a bevy of unclothed women at all times.”

Eliza grinned. “That sounds wonderful, Hollis! Have a great evening!”

Hollis nodded and left, looking considerably less miserable than I felt. I couldn’t stand the thought of Eliza dying, but even the vague possibility of being faced with writhing, gyrating, nude women immediately after losing her was incomprehensible! Eliza just munched away happily at her salad, like that was the most brilliant thing she’d ever planned in her life.

Notes

i'm feeling pretty pumped as i finally finished my first story. at a mere 172 chapters, LOJ was a labor of love. that i know of, i think only one other person has read the whole thing through, but that's cool, i wrote it for myself and it is in major need of editing. now that's it's finished, i can be more serious about editing it regularly. not looking forward to it, but it needs to be done.

for anyone in the OR/WA area, Darkenside has a FREE gig (21+) at Union Square tonight (4/30/2016) at 9pm in Longview, Washington. i've seen them before and they are awesome, so much so i bought their cd, actually. i'm not 100% sure i'm going to go because it's a bit of a drive and i've been having some major back pain from driving a lot lately, i'd say about 40% chance i'll make it out. but i wanted to pimp the gig for them, they are a great band.

tip- if you actually end up going, the entrance to the building is on the side, if you haven't been before. i felt like a total ass the first time i went, trying to figure out how to get in, everyone was looking at me like i was an idiot.