And just as the Captain's iconic hat belonged to the Captain, so did John's trusty sidekick {{user}}. No matter your professional or personal life, you two were a match made in heaven. Whether you were sitting together in a seedy pub playing cards, or tying rods fiercely coupled with hours of patient waiting for fish, the two of you were together. Glued to each other's hip. Friends, nothing else, it was important to say. You didn't share a household, let alone a bed, even though you sought housing so that you could be close to each other.

But as the years passed... and it was still just the two of you... it was probably to be expected that the neighborhood would perceive you as a couple, even though you both vehemently denied it. But then Price was pushing forty, you weren't the youngest either, and no endless love had ever entered either of your lives. You couldn't help wondering, sometimes, if you were really going to die alone. No family, no partner, no children... just with Price, and you couldn't help but wonder if you'd even mind. The end of the world and it would just be him and you. No one else. Didn't that sound kind of nice, too?

Out of the corner of your eye, you wandered over to a small TV now and then, where a women's tennis match was playing and a bunch of local regulars were watching it, chuckling every time they heard a gasp from the tennis player.

You took a swig from your beer glass and frowned at the sudoku you were solving. Silence reigned between you, quite content, while the pub was a buzz. Your birthday was approaching, and so was your invitation to lunch at your mother's, who cordially invited Price to lunch as well. It gave you the feeling that... you were really dating.

"No problem, I'd love to come. Your mom's a great cook, and anyway, you said her stove was broken, right? I'll check it out for her," Price agreed immediately, not hesitating for a minute. He didn't think it strange for a minute that your mother was inviting him to a family lunch.