<USS Avalon> I Wish You Peace

"I Wish You Peace"
Captain Skyler, Lt. Commander Moreya and Ensign Sera Teryn
 
 
Skyler held onto Moreya as long as she could before she stood to face her.  
"I think my friend it is time that we...or rather I dealt with Tery. If your  
offer to be there still stands I would gratefully take you up on it. I don't  
know that I can do this on my own." It was the truth. She loved Moreya and was  
in love with her, yet understood the circumstances in which that love was to 
be.  She would take whatever Moreya could give her, whenever she could or 
would. 
 
They shared a bond that couldn't be broken, yet to keep it she would have  to 
let it go. She understood it yet at the same time she didn't. The one thing  
she knew for sure was that there was nothing she wouldn't do for Moreya. She 
had  given this woman her heart, soul, body and most importantly her love. 
Something  she did not give easily.
 
"Of course I will be there.  Where should we all meet?"
 
 
 
"Thank you my friend. I still don't know what I am going to do or say but  
having you there will help. How about my quarter's? I will call Tery and let 
her 
 know." Skyler was more nervous than she realized at the thought of having 
the  two women in her life in one room. "If you want we can leave from here and 
have  her join us."
 
"That's fine," Moreya said.  "I need to get some searches started, so  I will 
stop off at my bridge station, then follow you in a few minutes."
 
"I will call her now and have her meet us there. Again thank you Moreya."  
Skyler moved over to her desk and opened her comm unit. "Ensign Teryn, this is  
Captain Skyler, could you please meet me in my quarters as soon as possible. I 
 would appreciate it." After signing off she stood and taking a deep breath 
she  followed Moreya out. The science officer went to the bridge for a moment, 
Skyler  made her way to her quarters wondering what was going to happen.
 
***** ***** *****
After they'd parted ways, Tery had gone to her quarters.  She'd tried  to 
meditate, to find her calm center as her father had taught her - no, as her  
father had taught her, she corrected herself.  She was not the original,  but 
sometimes she tended to think of herself as such, lose herself to a degree  in 
the 
identity she'd taken on.  She could never lose herself completely in  it, or 
she would lose who she really was, what she really was.  But at  times like 
this, she found it hard to separate Sera Teryn from  
Shelyrra-who-had-become-Sera-Teryn.  Did it even matter if she lost  Skyler?
 
Of course it matters, Young One.  The kind voice she had come to trust  over 
the years whispered in her thoughts.

She closed her eyes, a tear sliding down her cheek.  I know it  happened so 
quickly, Theida, but I love her.  I...  Her breath caught  in her throat, 
turned into a strangled sob. I can't lose her.
 
The older being who called herself Theida brushed Tery's mind with  warmth.  
Then don't give up.  Show her that your love is true.   She counseled gently.
 
How?!  Tery's thought was a plaintive plea for help.  They forced  me to hurt 
her.  They took me away from her.  How can I make up for  that?  More tears 
slid down her cheeks, but she was heedless of them.   The pain she'd caused 
Skyler was stronger.  It cut through her like a  Ginsu.  She knew it was not 
her 
fault, but she understood why Skyler felt  the way she did.  She only wished 
she could fix this, mend the rift.
 
The soft brush of warmth came again.  That is the past, Young  One.  You 
cannot change it.  You can only go forward, as can  she.  But actions are much 
more convincing than any words.  Tell her  your heart, then show it to her.
 
Tery knew the truth of those words. She nodded even though Theida was not  in 
the room with her, only touching her mind from far away.  I want to,  Theida. 
 I only hope she gives me that chance.
 
The comm interrupted anything else she might have said, making her open her  
eyes and wince.  The time had come to face what had been done, and she was  
scared, truly scared, of what Skyler might say.  What if she called her  there 
only to tell her it was over?  Well, she'd be well within her right  given what 
had happened.
 
Don't borrow trouble.  Go to her.
 
Tery nodded, stood and cleaned up, then tried to prepare herself for what  
was coming.  All the way to Skyler's quarters, she rehearsed and threw out  
several things to say.  None of them seemed good enough.  All of the  words she 
could conjure seemed... small and unimportant.  And all too soon,  she was 
standing before the quarters door, hand hovering over the  announcer.
 
You can do this.  Calm and steady.  The comforting voice  whispered, and Tery 
pushed the announcer before she could lose her nerve.
 
Skyler had been pacing, unsure of what to do with herself. Tery would be  
arriving soon and hopefully Moreya would be here when she did. She wasn't sure  
how she would handle things if that wasn't the case. As she was contemplating  
what she was going to say or do she heard her door chime go off. Tery was 
here,  and Moreya wasn't.
 
Taking a deep breath she moved behind her couch and uttered the word,  
"Open." As she stood there the door opened to reveal Tery, as beautiful as 
ever,  
standing there. "Hello Tery, come in and have a seat." Skyler was more nervous  
than she had ever been in her life. Well, not quite. She had been more nervous 
 that first time with Moreya.
 
When the door opened, Tery felt her breath catch in her throat.   Before her 
stood the most beautiful woman in the galaxy, to her way of thinking  anyway.  
Again, she felt the panic rise in her.  What if...?
 
No, don't think that way.  She told herself as she forced her body to  move, 
to cross the room and take the offered seat.  She could sense  Skyler's 
tension, and that only served to further unnerve her.  But she  held it all in, 
boxed it up and cleared her mind... or tried to.
 
"Hello, Skyler."  She responded in kind to Skyler's greeting.   There was so 
much more she wanted to say, but it all refused to emerge...  yet.  First, she 
had to hear what Skyler had to say.
 
Before either of them could say anything else, the announcer went off  again. 
 When the door opened, Moreya entered, smiling.  "Tery," she  said, offering 
her a hand and a further reassuring smile, "It's very good to see  you."  She 
sat down on the floor near her.  Looking from her to  Skyler, she added, "I'm 
here to help, if I'm needed."
 
Looking at both Moreya and Tery Skyler didn't know where to begin. Her  
insides were a jumbled mess and she was surprised that she didn't look that way 
 on 
the outside. Going over to the replicator she produced three cups of tea. She 
 returned handing one to Tery and one to Moreya, trying not to let their 
touch  linger. Taking her cup of tea she sat on the floor as well.
 
"You are looking well Tery. The time away must have done you some good. You  
look....rested." ~This is ridiculous, I haven't the first clue as to what to 
say  or how to act. Maybe this was a mistake. I just don't know anymore.~
 
"Have you checked in with Lt. K'etrall? I know she will be needing all the  
help she can get with this upcoming mission." She looked at Moreya as if to 
say,  "what am I doing here?"
 
"I don't know how much you know about our mission, Tery," Moreya  said.  "But 
as I have told Skyler, I think it is of such a nature that we  all need to be 
focused in our minds, and that any unfinished business between  any of us 
could be a deadly mistake.  Literally."  She looked from one  to the other of 
them.  "I'm aware of how close the two of you were; that  you had to part 
without 
a proper leave-taking; and that has created this  rift.  You need to 
communicate with each other and understand  yourselves.  I would like to think 
I'm a 
friend to both of you, and I hope  I can help."
 
Tery sighed. Moreya was right, of course. Her eyes went to Skyler first  then 
back to Moreya. "One can never have too many friends." she offered quietly.  
"And I know that Skyler treasures you. I... like you." She didn't know the 
woman  as well as Skyler did, so she could not share the depth of feeling.  But 
 
she did like Moreya and think that friendship was definitely something she 
would  like to have with the woman.
 
But now her eyes and thoughts shifted to Skyler. They always did given  
enough time. But now they were troubled. How did one even begin to apologize 
for  
leaving the way she'd done?  She looked down into her tea and sighed again,  
heavily.
 
"I'm not sure I know where to start." She finally murmured, looking up then  
to look into Skyler's eyes. So much hurt shimmered there that she felt as 
though  it might tear her heart out. She swallowed and pushed forward. "I'm 
sorry. 
I  wasn't given time to do anything. I..." She shook her head. This was 
insane;  what could she do? The apology was not nearly enough, she felt. But it 
was 
all  she had to give. That and her love. And that shone in her eyes as she 
spoke.  "I'm sorry..." More-so than she could even begin to express. But she 
tried to  convey it in those words and the look in her storm grey eyes.
 
Skyler was finding it hard to say the least to look at Tery. Especially  
after the time she had spent with Moreya. Moreya had been there when she needed 
 
her and would continue to be there. That was the one constant in her  
life...outside of Georgia. And even Georgia had left for awhile.
 
"Believe it or not, this is as awkward for me as it is for you.  
I.....thought when I met you that we were destined to be together. Yet, one  
minute you 
were here and the next you were gone. No reason. No note. Nothing."  She looked 
at Moreya before continuing. "I thought I had done something wrong or  that I 
wasn't good enough for you. I didn't want to feel anything again because  it 
hurt too much. My self confidence plummeted like never before. I don't  
understand why you left. I just don't get it. You said you loved me. Was that a 
 lie? 
I don't know anymore."
 
She had never felt so alone as she did at that particular moment. She  
shouldn't have, not with Moreya there. Perhaps Moreya was right and that they  
needed to  clear the air. Remove any baggage that might hinder their  mission. 
A 
mission she still wasn't sure she understood other than it was  upsetting to 
Moreya and that it was quite serious.
 
Before Tery could answer Skyler's question, Moreya said, "Tery, you just  
said you weren't given time to do anything -- which presumably includes being  
able to explain why you had to leave."  She kept her voice and manner calm  and 
gentle.  "Is it possible for you to explain now?  I'm guessing  that it was 
someone other than our masters in Starfleet Command who called you  away."
 
Tery saw it as much as heard it and felt it, the hurt and emptiness in  
Skyler's eyes and voice.  It tore at her like the savage claws of some  great 
beast.  But Moreya was right; she could explain now.  Her eyes  flicked to the 
Deltan, and she took a deep, steadying breath.
 
"You're right.  It wasn't Starfleet."  She whispered.  "It  was Betazed.  
They insisted I come immediately, without hesitation."   She looked back to 
Skyler as she continued.  "They said it was  urgent.  When I arrived, I..." she 
swallowed hard.  Even now, the  vision of her father, dying, hung heavily in 
her 
mind.  "It was my  father.  He..."  She closed her eyes, forcing herself to 
finish  that.  "I arrived in time to watch him die."  she whispered.  And  that 
revelation took all the spark out of her.  Her shoulders slumped, and  the tea 
was placed back on the coffee table.
 
She only hesitated a moment before she forced herself to open her eyes and  
face Skyler's once more.  "I'm sorry that this all hurt you, that you were  so 
lost and harmed.  I'd never harm you wittingly, willingly."  She  shook her 
head a bit to clear it.  "And I can't ask you to just forget all  of that and 
pick up where we left off; that isn't fair to you anymore than the  initial 
leaving was.  All I can ask is that you try to forgive me.   Try to understand. 
 
And believe that... that I do love you."
 
She understood Skyler's doubt and fear.  She'd likely have felt the  same had 
the roles been reversed.  And she would never push the other  lady.  But she 
had to say it, that she loved her still, even if the other  no longer believed 
it.  It was the Truth of Feeling.
 
Standing Skyler made her way back to the replicator and ordered another  
drink for herself. Her throat was beyond parched. She wanted to believe what  
Tery 
was saying. She supposed that part of her did yet at the same time it  
didn't. "How do I forgive something I don't understand? You couldn't leave a  
note, 
a quick message on the computer? Instead you just up and leave. I am sorry  on 
your loss of that you can be sure. If I had known perhaps I could've helped  
in some way. Been there for you, beside you. Instead I was cast aside." Taking 
a  long deep pull of her drink she replaced it and ordered another one.
 
Cast aside?  Was that what she truly thought?  Of course it was;  why else 
would she say it.  But it was not what Tery had done, not what  she'd meant to 
do.  Maybe it would be saner for both of them if she left  now, quit while they 
were behind, gave Skyler the freedom to move on.  But,  somehow, she couldn't 
do that, just abandon her.  She wanted to reach out  to her, to hold her and 
assure her that it would all be all right.  But she  could see that would 
be... unwelcome?... at the moment.
 
"I'm sorry."  She said softly, looking up at Skyler.  "That  wasn't what I 
wanted to do, what I wanted to make you feel."  What could  she say or do now 
though?  The deed was done, and there was no undoing  it.  And she'd given her 
reassurances, but they would not be believed for a  while yet, until she proved 
their veracity.  She understood that, even  respected it.  So the apology, as 
small and inadequate as it was, was all  she had to give... and her love, for 
as long as Skyler would accept  it. 
 
Moreya regarded both women, taking them in with sight and smell, sensing as  
well the emotions swirling in the air like dust devils.  "You love each  
other," she said quietly, "that much would be plain to anyone.  But there  is 
hurt 
between you.  I don't usually do this, but I will offer my  advice.  Give 
yourselves a bit of time to rest, and think on the love, not  the hurt.  I will 
listen to either or both of you, if you need it.   And when you are ready, if 
you wish, there is a ritual my people often use when  an estranged couple is 
ready to reconcile.  I would gladly help bind you  back to one another."
 
Skyler looked from Moreya to Tery and back again. She truly did love both  
women and wanted both women in her life. The question was, was it possible to  
have both. "I think that is a good idea Moreya. I think some rest would do  
everyone some good. I know there is a lot for me to think about."
 
 Tery nodded quietly.  She was grateful for Moreya's offer,  especially given 
that the woman really didn't know her.  There was  something warm and, dare 
she say, safe about the Deltan.  Perhaps it was  the excess pheromones they 
emitted, but Tery found herself willing to talk to  the woman.  Besides, maybe 
being able to hear both sides, Moreya, as an  outsider, could offer her some 
tidbit of understanding she would not have come  to on her own.
 
"Thank you, Moreya, for the offer.  And I would be very grateful if I  could 
talk with you sometime."  She shook her head a bit as if to shake  some 
clarity back into it.  It didn't work, of course.  "But right  now, you're 
likely 
right.  I can't, and don't, expect Skyler to just take  up where we left off as 
if nothing happened; I'm not a fool.  I just..."  her eyes panned to Skyler 
"hope we can reconcile."  She sincerely meant  those words.  She wanted to be 
with Skyler.  And if she had to share  her with Moreya - yes, she'd noted the 
looks Skyler favored Moreya with  throughout the conversation, subtle and 
likely 
subconscious as they were - then  so be it.  Under all the Bajoran and 
Betazoid was a Maltosian, the most  flowing and adaptable creatures yet known.  
She 
would adapt to whatever she  needed to in order to be with and make Skyler 
happy.
 



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