<USS Avalon> "Happier"

Happier
Skyler
and 
Elissabeth Marksbury
 
 
Having spent time with Moreya had opened Skyler up to a whole new sense of 
"feeling." She knew she still had some work to do, but she no longer felt like 
she had to go to the holodeck and have herself kicked around to feel anything. 
Moreya had been good for Skyler, hopefully she would continue to move forward 
and work on what she had been taught. 

Back on the Avalon in her quarters, she was sitting on the floor trying to let 
herself "feel" again. She had her eyes closed and was trying to bring back the 
sensations and feelings she had gotten from Moreya and the Deltan homeworld. 
She didn't want to forget those feelings, nor did she want to deal with 
feelings the way she had been. It would take some time, but Skyler felt she had 
made some progress. Now if she could only get others to believe her. 

"Skyler, it's Elissabeth."  
 
The noise of her com-badge going off startled her, and even more so when she 
heard who it was. "Well, now is as good a time as any to see if I have made any 
progress at all."  She tapped her badge, "Elissabeth, what can I do for you?"  

 
"I - I just wanted to see if you were busy.  Thought maybe we could catch-up or 
something."  Now that things were looking up, Elissabeth had it in mind to mend 
any broken fences.  
 
"I would like that. Why don't you come on over?" Hopefully she could patch 
things up with Elissabeth or at least give it a good try. It wouldn't be easy 
but it was a starting point.  

 
"On my way," she promised.  A few minutes later she was standing outside 
Skyler's door and taking a deep breath.  She was a little nervous, but after 
the previous evening and night spent talking in-depth with Bryce, there was 
almost nothing Elissabeth didn't feel as though she couldn't face.  He was so 
incredible.  And the way in which he seemed to know her so well... it left her 
walking on air.  
 
Once Skyler gave permission for her  to enter, she did and smiled brightly.  
"Nice to have you back." 
 
Skyler was still sitting on the floor when Elissabeth walked in. She looked up 
and could see a change in her friend and it had nothing to do with their 
previous attempt at mending fences. "It's nice to be back and what has you so 
chipper this evening?" Skyler got up off the floor and moved to the couch. 
"Have a seat, that is if you can keep your feet on the floor."  

 
Lissi couldn't help but grin as she sat on the sofa and folded her legs indian 
style, facing Skyler.  Grabbing one of the throw pillows, she wrapped her arms 
around it and rested her chin on top, goofy grin still in place.  "Where did 
you go and what did you do?" she asked, excitedly.  
 
Skyler looked around the room to make sure she was in her quarters and not 
somewhere strange. "Uh..I was visiting a friend on Delta IV. Are you sure you 
are okay or did someone do something with the Elissabeth I left?" 

 
"Delta IV?  How did you get there and back in three days?  And I'm very okay."  
Even her voice was a tad louder than the whispery quiet Skyler had gotten so 
used to.  
 
"It was a holograph program that belonged to friend of mine. I was on the 
station, you ninny. Are you sure you are okay, because you certainly are not 
the same person I saw a few days ago?"  

 
Smiling even wider, she said, "Do I not look okay to you?"  
 
"Well, you look like the Elissabeth I left a few days ago, but you certainly 
are not acting like her. You seem... what's the word I am looking for... 
content or even happy."  

 
"You're going to think I've lost my mind, especially considering what this last 
month and a half has been like for me... but," she breathed, "I think I'm 
falling in love."  
 
"No, I don't think you lost your mind, even after the past few weeks or so. I 
am curious why all of the sudden you feel like you can talk to me again, not 
that I am complaining. Do you want to talk about it?" Skyler wasn't sure what 
to expect for an answer but the change was definitely nnoticeable and she was 
happy for her friend.  

 
She shrugged, "I guess I just really wanted to tell someone and I knew... well, 
thought that it should be you." 
 
"I'm glad that you thought you could tell me. Does this mean things are better 
between us now?" Skyler got up and got two glasses of water, returned to her 
spot on the couch and handed one to Lissi. "So, tell me all about this person 
that you are in love with."  
 
Taking a small sip, Elissabeth sat the glass on the end table and spun around 
so that she was lying on the couch looking at Skyler upside down.  "I wouldn't 
even know where to start," she giggled.  
 
Looking down at the upside down version of Elissabeth, Skyler definitely knew 
something was different. "Okay, how about you start at the beginning?" Skyler 
almost felt like throwing a pillow at Lissi but decided not to.  

 
"I met him in the lounge and we argued over that booth in the back... he talked 
me into walking the holodeck with him, talking.  We started kinda showing up at 
night to banter and talk.  I couldn't stay away," she said, eyes shining, "even 
though I told myself it was just 'coincidence'.  And then we went out again and 
he kissed me and..." Elissabeth couldn't seem to stop smiling long enough to 
finish the story.  
 
This time Skyler did take the pillow and toss it at Elissabeth. "Enough with 
the giggling and smiling and start talking. You are acting like a love struck 
school girl."  

 
Instantly sobering, Elissabeth sat up. "I know," she said quietly.  Then she 
burst into laughter again as she smacked Skyler back with the sofa pillow.  
"But I can't help it!"  
 
"Hey, watch the pillow, it's very delicate." It was good to see Lissi happy for 
once and not the serious person she had been. "So, tell me about him. What's 
his name, what's he look like? Start talking or so help me I will have to throw 
this pillow back at you or worse..." Skyler just grinned.  

 
"His name's Bryce and he's completely arrogant and pushy, but he has this 
wonderful other side that just... that I just can't stay away from.  I know, it 
sounds like some puppy-love infatuation, but it's not.  That was how I felt 
about James.  I know the difference, Skyler." She spoke as though she were 
trying to convince Skyler, but perhaps was still trying to convince herself it 
was the real thing.  
 
Skyler was trying to do as Moreya suggested... listen and feel. "Elissabeth, 
does he make you happy? You are a grown woman who knows what she wants and how 
she feels. Do you feel like you are in love with him?"  

 
"If I'm not, then I'm really damn close," she said seriously.  "We've spent 
hours and hours talking, cramming in life histories - or at least what of mine 
I'm able to tell - thoughts, feelings, hopes, dreams... I feel like he knows me 
and loves me just as I am.  Doesn't expect anything or want anything beyond my 
companionship.  That connection... Skyler, it's amazing!  Is that how you felt 
when you met your husband?"  
 
Skyler looked at Elissabeth for a moment, thinking back to her married life. It 
seemed like eons ago. She had to admit there were good times. "Yes, I suppose 
it is just how I felt. Like nothing else in the world mattered and couldn't 
wait until we could be together again. I know exactly how you feel."  

 
"He was already talking about moving in together.  Am I being silly for not 
considering it yet?  Or silly for considering it at all?"  Elissabeth paused, 
then added, "Oh my goodness, I came to check on you and I'm doing all the 
talking.  Tell me about your holodeck trip."  
 
"No, you are not being silly for thinking about it or even considering it. If 
that is what you want and it makes you happy then I say go for it. You already 
know how you feel, you just need to quit analyzing it so much. Listen to what 
you heart is telling you." 

 
"Thank you, Skyler."  Elissabeth picked up her water and sipped again.  "So, 
you going to tell me about your adventure or do I have to guess?"  
 
"What are you thanking me for? I haven't done anything." She looked at 
Elissabeth, debating if she should tell her about her trip or not.  

 
"For listening, for being my friend, for being happy for me and not questioning 
my judgment, when even I've wondered if I should be..."  She leaned forward and 
hugged Skyler tightly, "For not giving up on me when I was cold and distant.  
For loving me... should I go on?  Or can I start making up an adventure of 
Skyler in the Holodeck?"  
 
"I told you before I would always be here for you and that hasn't changed. You 
know you are just like family and that has become important to me now. As for 
my adventure in the holodeck, it was rather amazing." This time Skyler took a 
long sip of her water as she thought back to her trip.  

 
"Hmm... since you're not gonna tell me, I think I'll dream up handsome cabana 
boys for Skyler bringing mixed drinks and giving massages.  Not even close, is 
it?" she grinned.  
 
Skyler threw another pillow at Elissabeth. "I never said I wouldn't tell you, 
at least you got the massage part right. I went to see an old friend who also 
happens to be a rather brilliant doctor. Everyone seemed to think I needed to 
be examined, so I took the suggestion. It just turned out a little different 
than I expected it to."  

 
"God Skyler, getting information out of you is like talking to myself!  Are you 
going to tell me or not?"  She laughed and whacked Skyler with the pillow 
again.  
 
"Enough already. I'll talk, I'll talk, just no more whacking with the pillow. 
You are nuttier than a fruitcake, you know that, Lissi? So what do you want to 
know or do you want to know it all?" 

 
"Tell me all," she smiled.  



                
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