<USS Avalon> "Changing Plans"

Changing Plans
Melanie Redgrave
and
Elijah Dareth


"How much longer are you going to put it off, Eli?" The beautiful eyes of his 
sister Trinity stared back at him, earnest with her sympathy. She hurt for his 
predicament and knew it was tearing him apart. 

"I don't know," came the soft reply. 

"You're not being fair to her. You should give her time to prepare." 

"I know. I just -" he ran his hand through his hair in a gesture of 
frustration. "I just put in the request to stay citing the extenuating 
circumstances. I didn't want to worry her if it went through." 

"But it didn't." 

"No, I found out this morning." 

Trinity nodded solemnly. "Go tell her now. Don't wait. She deserves that much. 
Give my love to Melanie and Gracie." 

"It's Grace," he smiled. 

"Mm-hmm." And then she ended the call. 

Elijah stood and moved away from the desk, pacing back and forth. How was he 
going to tell her he'd been transferred? And now? Why now of all times? Looking 
at his chronometer, he considered going to see Mel at work, but didn't want to 
do this there. Instead he grabbed his gym gear and went to beat the hell out of 
a punching bag for the next thirty minutes, knowing by the time he got home, 
Melanie would be there. 

Although not surprised that the cabin was empty when she walked in, it was 
rather disappointing, it always was. "All this work your Daddy does, Gracie, 
and yet they still haven't come to their senses and made him CSec. At least the 
other officers like your Daddy." Sighing, Melanie walked into the bathroom to 
shower and change, maybe if she made dinner early Elijah could come home for a 
little while to eat. 

"Mel, honey?" He asked as he came in. The room always felt different when she 
was home. The shower was running and he was glad he'd showered quickly at the 
gym. Moving to the replicator, he ordered a bottle of chilled fruit juice and 
some appetizers, never knowing what she wanted to eat. But he could almost 
always count on a snack. Elijah's mouth turned up at the corners as he thought 
of that, but quickly returned to its worried frown as he thought of what he had 
to do. The shower ended and he gave her a few minutes to dress. 

Again, he called, "Mel, honey?" 

A large bright smile lit up Melanie's face as she came out into the living 
room. Walking over to Eli she kissed him and then placed his hands on her 
belly. "Feel... She must like the water she's kicked me twice already." 

Elijah beamed as he laid his hand on her stomach, waiting patiently. Sure 
enough, he felt little Grace turn over. "That's amazing!" Tears came unbidden 
to his eyes and he tried to hide them by looking away. 

Taking her soon to be husband's face into her hands, Melanie softly turned his 
head back so that he was facing her. "What is it, love?" 

"I've been transferred, Melanie." He didn't know how to soften the blow any. 
"Effective immediately. I fought it... but... I'm sorry, sweetheart."


Melanie wasn't sure she'd heard him right. "Transferred?" The word echoed 
through her head. "Immediately?" She suddenly felt as if someone had struck 
her. 

He could only nod mutely and reach out to wrap his arms around her. Burying his 
face in her hair, he whispered, "I'm so sorry."

Clinging to him as if he were a life persevere, Melanie tried in vain to keep 
her tears from falling. They were planning a wedding, they were having a baby, 
starting a family and a life together, how were they going to do that now? 
"What are we going to do, love?"

"It's up to you, Mel. I know you didn't want a 'shotgun' wedding, so we can 
keep planning and then take leave to have it. I was promised, because of our 
circumstances, to be granted leave if at all possible..." He kissed her cheek. 
"It's a Chief Security position." 

Despite the sadness, pain, and fear she felt, Melanie beamed with pride. 
"You've worked so hard for that, Love. We're very proud of you." 

Elijah allowed a small smile, but then sobered. "Thank you. I just hate doing 
this to you, Mel. If anyone can take care of herself it's you... but I wanted 
to be the one doing the taking care of, y'know? You're my fiancé and that's our 
baby," he patted her tummy in reinforcement. "I need to be here. I'm going to 
request transfer back as soon as it's possible."

"We need you, Eli." Melanie said softly. "I was afraid something like this 
would happen." Brushing her fingers through his hair she could no longer hide 
her tears.

"I know, sweetheart, I know. And I need you. I wanted to ask you to come along, 
but I knew that would be selfish of me." He spent the next several moments 
kissing away her tears.

"I'm lucky to still be on the Avalon in my condition, Love, no other star ship 
will agree to take a pregnant woman unless it s a Galaxy or Sovereign." Melanie 
rested her head on Eli's shoulder, holding him as she felt the dizziness come 
on. 

He felt her sag and gently moved her over to the sofa, pulling her down onto 
his lap. "I know that too. The only other alternative is one of us resigning 
our commission and staying spouse only, but I don't think that would make 
either of us very happy." He combed his fingers through her hair, trying to 
soothe her the best he knew how. 

Her head was swimming with so many questions that she wasn't sure where to 
start. But her heart knew the most important one. "What do we do when it's time 
for our baby to come, Eli? I want you here with me, I need you here. You have 
to be here when she's born, to hold her, to place her in my arms."

"And I'll do my damndest to be there. I swear to you. I've already requested 
leave for the entire month Grace is due. I was very... adamant. Let's just say 
that my new commanding officer either has a lot of respect for me or has me 
branded as a troublemaker." 

She kissed him. "I don't know what we're going to do without you, Eli."

"The best you can, sweetheart, the best you can." 


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