stay outta my way.

If there's one thing James doesn't do much, it's drink. He good at cocktail hour, sipping through a couple of bourbons or whiskey to carry him through the mindless chatter, or he'll have a glass of wine with dinner. He isn't someone that ever got wasted in college or snuck out with a pack of beer when he was a teenager. When he was still on the police force, he would join Grant and Alex and the other guys at the bars to wash away the harsh days work, but even then he was usually a couple drinks then calling it a night. 

He can't even remember the last time he was what someone would call drunk. Maybe years, maybe some thoughtless time he was angry with William or stuck in a cabin with Demetri or Daniel on a camping trip, which was always just an excuse to defy their father in every way possible. 

Tonight, though, he is camped out in a booth at Coombs Tavern, a place he hardly ever goes, but tonight it seems like the right place to be. It's the last place he's expected, and the last place most people he'd know that would care, would be to find him. He has a lot on his mind. Too much. Bad relationships. Bad business deals. Bad people trying to attack him in his own house. He orders a beer and something to eat, and he doesn't plan to leave here until his mind stops focusing on everything falling apart. 

Despite his reservations about taking an extended vacation from the police station, never actually taking up the quiet and the emptiness vacation very easily, preferring instead to be busy with his casework and his investigations---by day three, even James discovers that he is enjoying himself, dare say even relaxing if his flip-flops and t-shirts are anything to judge. He's found himself plenty to do aboard the ship, though just the sheer magnitude of the food choices is enough to keep one busy. Still, there were shows and performances and even parties to attend every day, almost every hour; everything a constant flurry of activity and schedules. Mainly he just likes sitting on the deck, watching the water. He's even taken up rising at his usual time and heading down to the gym for a short jog on the treadmill and sometimes a dip in the pool. Surely he hasn't been this relaxed in forever. His brain usually too wrapped up in his family and everything else that went along with that. 

But the best part was having the opportunity to spend this much time with Moira without interruption. Between work and other things, namely their careful interaction around town, they never just relaxed this much together. Something about the cruise had caused them to give up most of the rouse, not caring who saw what. So it was nice. More than nice. The more time he spends with Moira, the more he realizes how serious he is about her. It's even more than just the pregnancy...he's never been so certain of someone. So certain that he's happy with her. Calmer and less grumpy, maybe June would say. 

That's the reason he's in a definite chipper mood this morning. He takes his short run in the gym around five am. He had left Moira still asleep when he had snuck out of their suite. She's having a rough go of things with the morning sickness, so he didn't want to disturb her. James takes the short route onto the third deck where the small cafe is. He thinks he'll take back coffee and pastries to the room for breakfast. When he arrives, it's good to find there's not much of a line since it's so early.