<USS Avalon> "Remembrances"

Remembrances
By Lieutenant First Class Melanie Redgrave, Junior Lieutenant Georgia Lewis, 
Ensign Elijah Dareth, and special guest Eliza Mae Johnson
 
Georgia and Eliza Mae were sitting on the front porch swing, just listening to 
the breeze through the trees. Georgia was all worn out from talking to Melanie 
and then to Eliza. The peace was a welcome thing, although she knew it wouldn't 
last long. That 'ole woman wasn't one to keep her mouth shut for very long.

 
"So ya ole fuddy duddy whys you bein' so quiet? You know ya ain't got no more 
secrets so start talking."

 
Georgia looked at her friend and just grinned. "Ole woman I doesn't know why I 
put up with you. Sometimes you kin be a real pest, ya know dat? Why don't you 
jest get up and go get us sumthin' to drink?"

Eliza just laughed and walked into the house to get the drinks. She was just 
glad to have her friend back. She just hoped things would work out between 
Skyler, Melanie, and her friend.

The hotel was able to beam Melanie and Elijah close enough to Eliza Mae's that 
when Melanie was solid again she could see Georgia sitting on the front pouch. 
As soon as she saw the older woman, the image of how sad she had looked in her 
last log entry nearly made Melanie cry again. She looked over at Elijah and 
tried to smile a little. She was glad he'd come along with her even though she 
wasn't sure what the reaction would be in regards to her telling a member of 
the crew about who she was to Skyler. "Are you sure you haven't ever meet Nurse 
Lewis?" 

 
"I'm sure.  I've been dodging all medical personnel since the physical order 
came down.  Why are you so nervous, Mel?" he asked, reaching for her hand as 
they started down the road to the house. 
 
"Because once Georgia knows I told you everything it'll end up getting back to 
Skyler," she explained as they turned into the gate that lead the path to the 
pouch. "I told you that Skyler doesn't want anything to do with nor does she 
want people to know I'm linked to her in any way, shape, or form." 

 
"I can play dumb," he offered.  "You can just pretend like I surprised you with 
a visit and kinda, y'know, wink at Georgia when I'm not looking or take her 
into the house and tell her not to say anything. I'm really good at bein' 
oblivious," he grinned, squeezing her hand just a bit tighter.  
 
Melanie smiled warmly at her friend as they approached the house. She paused a 
moment before getting too close so that she could let Georgia know she was 
there. For a moment she thought maybe she should have called first but then 
shrugged it off. Why start having manners now? "Georgia." 

 
Eliza Mae came walking out of house with the two glasses of tea. She stopped 
dead in her tracks when she saw who standing on her walkway. She knew who the 
young woman was but had no idea who the man was. 

 
"Uh, hi there Miss Melanie. What brings you back to this here neck of the 
woods?" When Georgia heard Eliza talking and realized who she was talking to, 
she almost fainted.

"Miss Melanie is dat really you?"

 
In an almost perfect facial recreation of something T'Arah would do, Melanie's 
eye brow shot up. "You were thinking maybe I was Founder or something, 
Georgia?" Then she laughed lightly. "You know I'm really going to start taking 
offense at being so damn forgettable." Almost as soon as she said it, Melanie 
wished she hadn't. Georgia hadn't forgotten about Sunni at all. Melanie 
blushed. "Sorry, that wasn't funny." 

"I am just taken aback. I wasn't ''spectin''  you or anyone else. So what 
brings you to these parts?"

Eliza looked at Georgia, "You 'ole woman should do what you knows you wants to. 
Lordy I swear if'n I have to play go between I's gonna start chargin' for it."

 
"Shut up 'ole woman and mind your own stuff." Georgia got up and walked down 
the stairs and stood in front of Melanie. She stood there with her arms open 
and a tear in her eye.

It didn't take more than a second for Melanie to rush into Georgia's arms. "I 
looked at everything you sent me.. I'm so sorry Georgia. I'm so sorry you had 
to grieve for Sunni alone, that you had to do it at all. It's my fault. I'm 
sorry." 

 
Georgia held onto Melanie as tight as she could. "Ain't nutin your fault child. 
You was just a tiny baby, hows it supposed to be your fault? If'n anyone is 
wrong, its me. I shoulda spoke up sooner. I's the one who is sorry. So very 
sorry. I hope you kin forgive me and please don't blame no one else either. 
T'aint no one to blame but them damnable Romulan's."  As Georgia was talking 
the tears were falling down her wrinkled face.

 
"Would ya'll come out of the sun and get in this here house. I dunt need no one 
making no big ta do in my yard." Eliza stood there holding the door open hoping 
know one would notice the tears in her eyes.

"Eli said the same thing about it not being my fault." Melanie said as she 
moved with Georgia towards the house. "But we wouldn't have been there if I 
hadn't been sick." Melanie took a deep breath and then stopped on the pouch. 
She turned to make sure Elijah was coming with them. 

"Honey, you had no control over being sick. You just were. You just gots to 
quit blamin' yourself. I's dun it 'nough for everyone all these years. I didn't 
give that stuff so yous would blame yourself, if'n I knowd you was gonna do 
dat, I woulda kept it to myself. So I's dun't want to hear anymore of this 
blamin stuff. Ya hear?"

 
Melanie nodded before saying. "Skyler must blame me." 

 
At Melanie's words, Elijah reached out and put his hand on her shoulder, "Mel, 
sweetheart..." he said warningly, not really sure that was where she wanted to 
go with this conversation.  
 
Georgia looked at Melanie and the young man with her. "Nows I told you there is 
no one to blame. Is you listenin to me or does I have to come and slap your 
hands?"

 
Eliza looked at Georgia, "Hey you fussy 'ole woman, there aint gonna be no 
hittin in my house. Now yous all best get in here afore all the flies do."

"I think she means business," Elijah quipped and nodded towards Eliza Mae. 
 
Eliza looked at the young man and remarked, "Finally a man who knows when to 
listen to an 'ole woman."
 
"Yes, ma'am," Eli smiled.  "My momma taught me my manners real good when it 
comes to southern women."  His accent was at it's peak now, fitting right in 
with the two older women.

 
Melanie looked at Georgia oddly, but quickly got the same feeling she got when 
her mother used that tone. She tried hard not to giggle at the sudden maternal 
switch that seemed to be set off, she did how ever manage to smack herself in 
the forehead. "I forgot to introduce you!"

 
"Georgia, Eliza Mae, this is Elijah Dareth. He's an ensign in Security." 
Melanie looked back at Elijah and smiled. "Eli, Nurse Lewis and her friend 
Eliza Mae." Melanie nodded once she'd gotten to everyone's names.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Nurse Lewis and Eliza Mae.  If I had a hat, I'd 
tip it to ya," he added.  
 
Once everyone had made their way into the small house, Georgia watched as 
Melanie and Elijah sat next to each other. She looked at Eliza and then back at 
the two youngin's. 

 
"So, you say you work in Security? Hows come you ain't showed up for your 
physical and just what are your intentions toward Miss Melanie?" 

 
Eliza couldn't believe Georgia. "You fussy woman, would you give the child a 
chance afore you scares him away! Eli would you like some Pecan Pie? I made it 
fresh today."

"Ole woman you know darn well it's my pie. Dunt you be takin credit for sumthin 
that aint yours."

Elijah swallowed hard, not expecting that in the least.  "Well, ma'am, 
I...uh...didn't show up for my exam, yet," and he emphasized the word 'yet', 
"because of working with the Rydyns.  They were quite the handful, like a 
wildcat caught in a brier bush.  As for Melanie, I assure you my intentions are 
honorable.  And, Eliza Mae," he said, brightening, "I would love a piece of 
pecan pie.  I haven't had any homemade in ages!"  
 
Eliza left the three of them alone while she went into the kitchen and got the 
pie. She just knew that Georgia was gonna have a field day with that poor boy.

 
"So Elijah, tells me about yourself." Georgia waited for him to start speaking, 
keeping an eye on both him and Melanie.

 
"What exactly would you like to know, ma'am?" 
 
Georgia looked at Eli. "Well I thinks I asked a simple question, unless yous is 
hidin sumthin' and if'n that is the case then you best beware I ain't gonna let 
know one hurt Miss Melanie."

 
"Of course not, ma'am.  I don't have nothin' to hide.  I wasn't sure which part 
you was askin' is all," he said, copying her speech patterns like he'd done it 
all his life.  "I was born in Tennessee, a little town called Pigeon Forge.  We 
moved to right outside Nashville 'cause my daddy's a song writer.  My momma, 
she teaches at the law university.  I have two younger sisters, Trinity and 
Eliza.  And I'm an Ensign with Starfleet in security.  I think that about 
covers it," he said.  "Oh!  And I hate peas.  Is there anything else?"  He was 
being honest and disarming, hoping to put Georgia at ease.  
 
Melanie looked back and forth between Georgie and Elijah with a bit of a lost 
look on her face. She wasn't use to having her friends grilled, but she smiled 
a little anyway. She was finding it rather sweet and very cute. 

 
"Elijah's been a real comfort to me, Georgia. He's the only one I've had to 
talk to until now." 

In the kitchen Eliza was snoopin' as usual. She was tryin to think of a way to 
save the poor boy. "Georgia Lewis, get your hiney in this here kitchen. You 
can't spect me to carry all this now do you?"

 
Georgia hesitated and then stood up and started toward the kitchen. 

 
"Excuse me, Miss Georgia, ma'am," Elijah said standing up quickly.  "Please, 
allow me to help.  You sit there and catch up with Melanie." 
 
Melanie smiled up at Elijah as he headed off to help Eliza Mae and then turned 
back to look at Georgia. "Thank you for sending me that stuff, Georgia." 

 
"Well, it rightfully was yours. I was just the keeper. I hope it helped some. I 
don't knows what else I can do or say. I still love ya now just as I did when 
you was little. You was so cute. Just like.....Skyler and your ma. I just 
wish....." Georgia stopped talking as she got all choked up and tears were 
falling down her face.

 
In the other room, Elijah helped Eliza Mae load sweet tea and slices of pecan 
pie onto a tray to carry.  He started out the door, but heard part of Georgia 
and Melanie's exchange and backed up.  "I think we best wait a minute," he told 
Eliza softly. 
 
In one swift movement Melanie was off the couch and kneeling next to Georgia. 
She took the older woman's hand in her own and looked up into her eyes. "What 
Georgia?"

 
"I just wish things had been differnt. I woulda raised you as my own flesh and 
blood, just like Skyler. I shoulda done more.....or sumthin. It ain't right 
what happened to ya and I shoulda fixed it."

 
The tears were flowing freely as she tried to talk. "I just shoulda fixed it. 
Then there wouldn't be no mess and Miss Skyler would knows you and.....and I 
just shoulda."

"They didn't tell you they'd found a baby, Georgia, and you had to do what was 
best for Skyler," Melanie said softly as she held tightly to Georgia's hand. "I 
was really lucky, I was adopted by wonderful people, and what matters now is 
that I'm here now. Remember what you told me? There's no blame here. Even if 
Skyler doesn't ever remember I'm still going to be here for you if you want me 
to be. I've come home, Georgia. I'm 30 years late but I've never been one for 
being on time for anything." 

Elijah stood just inside the kitchen door and hearing Melanie's sweet voice 
make such a statement, had him swallowing a lump in his throat.  He hoped Eliza 
Mae didn't notice.  But turning to look at her, the old woman was bawling and 
Elijah smiled.  
 
Georgia looked at Melanie and pushed her hair off her face. "You look just like 
Miss Celeste. I swear I can see her in your eyes. I know that someday Miss 
Skyler will remember, I just knows it. If she don't then I'll just have to tell 
her. She has got to know. She loved you so much." Georgia started to cry again, 
this was an emotional time for her. She had to do something to make it right.

 
"I know she did. I could see it in the holovids." Melanie said softly. It felt 
weird to hurt and miss something she couldn't possibly remember but she did 
anyway. Melanie looked up at Georgia and hurt for her all over again. If only 
Skyler would just come talk to her. "We can't tell her out right. You know 
that. Celeste told you if she blocked it she'd have to find it on her own. 
Maybe I should hit her in the face with a teddy bear?" Melanie smiled as she 
made Georgia look at her. "I'm sure Skyler will come talk to you, Georgia. She 
won't stay mad at you. You're all she has." 

 
Georgia reached behind the chair she was sitting on and pulled out an old beat 
up creature and handed it to Melanie. "If'n you're gonna do that you might want 
this."

Melanie had been doing fairly well holding back her own tears until Georgia 
pulled out an old fuzzy brown teddy bear. She knew it right away, it was the 
one from the holovids. Melanie ran a gentle finger along the  bear's eyes and 
nose and then sprung to her feet and hugged Georgia tight. She couldn't say 
anything, she just cried. 

 
Georgia was out of words as she held onto Melanie. It had been so long since 
she had held this child. Now if only......

Eliza Mae was getting antsy listening to the two of them talk. She hated being 
left out. "'Ole woman you better be ready for some of MY Pecan pie. Come on 
Eli, let's take it in and stop all this here bawlin'."

 
Elijah stepped into the room carrying the tray of goodies and offered Melanie a 
reassuring smile.  
 
"I thought I told you not to ask about the pies?" Melanie said as she wiped her 
eyes with the back of her hand. She then sat on the floor right at Georgia's 
feet, teddy bear in her lap, and reached out to take a plate and glass from the 
tray. 

 
"Hey, now," he grinned.  "I didn't ask!"  
 
"Eliza Mae Johnson!!!! You been in there telling that boy some of your lies. 
You knows this is MY pie!!!"

 
Elijah gave Melanie a look that said, "I didn't do it, you did." And he grinned 
at her, hoping for a laugh.  
 
Melanie watched everyone in the room and just laughed as she ate her pie and 
held her bear. She had that connection she'd been looking so long for and even 
though she had a little further to go to get her sister back, it was ok with 
her. She'd finally found her proper place in the world. 



                
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