Page 1142 - Enders_Game_Full_Book

"Speaking of which," said Jane, "we have work to do."
"We also have lives to live," said Miro. "I'm not going to be sorry we had this encounter. Even if it took Quara's bitchiness to make it happen."
"Let's do the civilized thing," said Jane. "Let's get married. Let's have babies. I do want to be human, Miro, I want to do everything. I want to be part of human life from edge to edge. And I want to do it all with you."
"Is this a proposal?" asked Miro.
"I died and was reborn only a dozen hours ago," said Jane. "My-- hell, I can call him my father, can't I? --my father died, too. Life is short, I feel how short it is: after three thousand years, all of them intense, it still feels too short. I'm in a hurry. And you, haven't you wasted enough time, too? Aren't you ready?"
"But I don't have a ring."
"We have something much better than a ring," said Jane. She touched her cheek again, where she had put his tear. It was still damp; still damp, too, when she touched the finger now to his cheek. "I've had your tears with mine, and you've had mine with yours. I think that's more intimate even than a kiss."
"Maybe," said Miro. "But not as fun."
"This emotion I'm feeling now, this is love, right?"
"I don't know. Is it a longing? Is it a giddy stupid happiness just because you're with me?"
"Yes," she said.
"That's influenza," said Miro. "Watch for nausea or diarrhea within a few hours."
She shoved him, and in the weightless starship the movement sent him helplessly into midair until he struck another surface. "What?" he said, pretending innocence. "What did I say?"
She pushed herself away from the wall and went to the door. "Come on," she said. "Back to work."
"Let's not announce our engagement," he said softly.
"Why not?" she asked. "Ashamed already?"
"No," he said. "Maybe it's petty of me, but when we announce it, I don't want Quara there." "That's very small of you," said Jane. "You need to be more magnanimous and patient, like me."