<USS Avalon> "Spending Time Together" Skyler, Melanie Redgrave and Georgia Lewis

    
 
"Spending Time Together" 
Skyler, Melanie Redgrave and Georgia Lewis 
Her quarters felt odd now, empty without his things. It didn't help that she  
couldn't bear being alone. Vevay, bless her, was helping a lot. She came by  
nearly everyday to spend time with Melanie. They had a meal or two together 
and  Vevay had even gone to her last check up with her, but Vevay had her own 
life  and it wasn't fair of Melanie to use up so much of the other womanâs 
time 
no  matter how much she enjoyed and wanted to be with her.  
Sighing she waddled down the hall towards Georgiaâs quarters. Sheâd tried 
to 
 stay in her own, but sheâd found one of Eliâs socks under one of the couch 
 
pillows and it was either sit there and cry, which would have raised her 
blood  pressure again, or she could ask Georgia if she could sit with her 
awhile.  
Georgiaâs company over high blood pressure won out hands down. Stopping in 
front  of the door Melanie thought she smelled pie. âPecan pie.â She licked 
her 
lips  and smiled as she ran the chime.  
Sitting on the couch Georgia and Skyler were eating their pie, drinking their 
 milk and laughing. With her mouth to full to say anything she motioned to  
Skyler, who in turn managed to utter the word, "Enter." 
Stepping inside once the doors slid open, Melanie wondered for a moment if  
sheâd be able to fit through them in another month. Spotting Georgia and 
Skyler 
 on the couch she blushed. âIâm sorry, I didnât meant to intrude.â  
"You're not intruding. Have a seat before your feet swell up anymore than  
they already are." Getting up Skyler found some pillows for Melanie's feet and  
motioned for her to sit down. "Would you like some pie and milk?" 
âAre they swollen?â Melanie asked as she sat down. âI havenât actually 
seen 
 them since sometime last month.â She smiled, suddenly feeling better with 
both  Georgia and Skyler there. âPie and milk would be nice, thank you.â 
"Yes'm, they be swollen. Is surprised yous kin fit in yous boots. That baby  
be poppin soon!" Skyler returned with the pie and milk, handed it to Mel and 
sat  on the floor. "So what brings you here?" 
Melanie blushed. âActually they donât. V replicated me a new pair 
yesterday.â
  Taking the plate and glass from her sister she smiled. Thanks. Setting  the 
glass aside she picked up her folk. âWanted to come see Georgia.â 
"Ah, well then in that case I will let the two of you visit for a while. If  
the pie's no good it's not my fault. Ain't that right Ole woman?" Georgia just 
 laughed and nodded in agreement. 
Melanie looked up at her sister. âYou donât have to leave on my account.â 
She  said softly, and then added. âPlease?â 
"What, did I say something wrong? You said you came to see Georgia did you  
not? I don't want to intrude, seeing how you have her wrapped around her little 
 finger."  
Georgia looked up, "Ms. Skyler. Yous behave yourself."  
"Yes'm." 
âI just didnât know you were here is all.â Melanie told her. âIâd 
like to  
spend time with both of you if youâll stay.â 
"I can stay for a while, still have a few hours before I have to go prepare  
for the new mission. So, how was your shore leave?" 
Melanie poked at a pecan as she looked down at her plate and shrugged. 
âIâve 
 had better.â Though the parts of it shared with Vevay were nice, she 
thought.  âWhat about yours?â  
Thinking back to her time spent on the Promenade, Skyler just nodded. "I have 
 also had better."  
"I dunt knows whys yous didn't have a good time, Is knows I did." She looked  
at Skyler and gave her an evil grin.  
"GEORGIA!" 
Melanie looked between the two woman and blinked. âWhat? What I miss?â 
With her arms crossed Skyler looked at Georgia. "You didn't? After all this  
time, you didn't....did you?"  
"Nows Ms. Skyler, yous knows its not proper to tell stories. Asides, what ifn 
 I did?"  
Realization, she thought, was slowly dawning on Melanie. âYeah what if she  
did? Sheâs still a lovely, vibrant woman.â 
"Ifn you did, I'd say it's about damn time. You have to quit worrying about  
me or Melanie. We'll be fine, you deserve a life as well. So, is he like Henry 
 or what?"  
Georgia just had a coy look on her face. "Yous knows that no one can replace  
my Henry, but.....he was awfully close."  
Skyler swore she could see Georgia blushing.  
âHave you known him long?â Melanie asked, smiling, but wanting to meet this 
 
man. Georgia was family, though she still couldnât come up with a proper term 
 for her, and she wanted to check this man out.  
Georgia looked at both women and just grinned. "Is only sees him on occasion. 
 He knows alls bout yous both. Ms. Skyler, Is in shock. Is actually kept a 
secret  froms yous. Yous will both meet him someday." I hope he treats you as 
nice as  Henry did? No one can replace Henry... 
Melanie beamed. âWe still have a couple hours before we leave.â She hinted. 
 
âAnd thereâs plenty of pie.â 
"Sorry chilin, yous gonna has to wait until next time. Hes already gone. So  
whys were your leaves so bad?"  
Old woman he better treat you right. Skyler thought for a moment and  softly 
spoke, "no one can replace Henry Georgia."  
"Dunt yous worry Ms. Skyler he aint gonna replace Henry. Henry was my first  
and onliest true love. Yous knows that." 
Melanie sighed. âI wish Iâd have known him.â 
Skyler looked at Melanie. "When you was little you fit right in his arm, from 
 his long fingers to his elbow. He grinned from ear to ear as if you was one 
of  his own. He spoiled you rotten just like this Ole woman. I still have his 
old  medical stuff. Someday if you want you can look through it."  
âIâd like that.â Melanie smiled and then rubbed her ever expanding belly. 
 â
Maybe sheâll be a doctor like Henry and Mother and you.â 
"The only time I saw Henry cry was when he lost a patient and when we thought 
 you were dead." A tear flowed down Skyler's cheek as she thought of Henry. 
"Did  you know that he and Georgia were your godparent's?" 
Melanie shook her head. âThey are?â 
Georgia looked at Melanie, "Yes'm, we was. I reckon I still am, but I reckon  
Ms. Redgrave picked out different ones for yous. But, that be fine. Yous been 
 wit them longer than yous was wit me or Henry." 
Melanie shook her head. âMy Uncle Spencer, my Mumâs brother and my Aunt  
Gabrielle, my Daddyâs sister.â She admitted. âIâm sure they wouldnât 
mind  
sharing me since you and Henry had me first.â 
"Wells thats nots so fair to them. Is dunt really mind. I knows hows I feel  
and how Henry felt and thats nough." Skyler just sat back sitting in her chair 
 thinking and trying to keep her mind on the conversation.  
Getting up out of her chair Melanie moved over to the couch and sat next to  
Georgia and snuggled into her. âIt wasnât fair to you and Henry or Sky to 
lose  me and Mother either.â 
Holding Melanie Georgia simply commented, "Chile, nos one ever said life was  
fair. What matters is yous is here nows.â 
Melanie smiled and closed her eyes as she relaxed. âYou know that I love you  
donât you Georgia?â 
"Yes, Ms. Melanie, Is knows you do, and Is loves yous as well, and Ms.  
Skyler. Yous my family now." Georgia looked over at Skyler who was still lost 
in  
thought. 
âIâd tell Sky I love her too but sheâs left us for la-la land.â Melanie 
 
teased with a giggle. 
With her eyes still closed Skyler replied, "I'm not in la la land and I can  
hear every word you are saying and I love you brat." 
âGeorgia Skyâs calling me a brat.â Melanie sing songed. 
"Oh knows you dunt, yous ain't gettin me in the middle of thisn. Yous got to  
works it outs yourselfs." Skyler turned to look at Melanie, opened one eye 
and  stuck out her tongue. 
Open her own eyes Melanie blew Skyler a raspberry. âHmm whereâs that bear  
when I need it.â 
"I spaced it." 
âYou did not.â Melanie laughed. âItâs sitting in my quarters next to my 
other  bear. Iâm giving them to Gracie.â  
Skyler suddenly got a very strange look on her face. "So, how are things with 
 the baby?" 
âSheâs doing great.â Melanie beamed. It was the truth, the baby was  
developing just fine, it was her own health that was a little outta whack.  
"That's good. Still planning on having the christening and such at the  
Redgraves?" 
âYes.â Melanie answered. âStill being daft about not being welcomed or  
fitting in?â 
"Huh...what? No, I'll be there."  
"Wells yous best be there Ms.Skyler or Is gonna has to whoop you good."  
Skyler just stared at the older woman. 
Melanie laughed. âHow does one whoop someone else?â 
"Don't even ask, don't even ask. Let's just say you don't want Georgia to  
whoop you." 
Turning her head to look up at Georgia she asked, âWhat does she mean?â 
"Ms. Melanie you really don't want anyone to whoop yous."  
Skyler absentmindedly started rubbing her rear end.  
"It has to do wit a hickory stick, my hand and a bare butt."  
Skyler just glared at Georgia.  
Melanie blinked. 
"What you never had your butt whooped by Mrs. Redgrave?" Skyler asked.  
Melanie blushed. âYes, but.. never with a.. hickory stick? I had a Head  
Mistress threaten to cane me once, but Mum went down and threatened to drown 
the  
woman in the Channel.â  
"Well, I wasn't quite so lucky. I even had to pick out my own hickory stick.  
Tried to pick out one that would break at the first whack but 
someone"...glaring  at Georgia..."would always go get a thicker one." 
For some reason she couldnât explain, Melanie giggled. âYour really caned  
her? I bet I could have gotten outta of it.â Though her attempts to avoid her 
 
motherâs hand or that horrid hairbrush never worked. âDid Mother ever... 
what 
 was she like? was she very strict?â 
Skyler looked at Georgia for a moment, trying to decide what to say. "Momma  
was.....more easy going than strict, but she didn't let you pull anything. Of  
course with this Ole' woman standing right behind her you didn't have much of 
a  chance." 
âI could barely walk what kinda trouble could I get into? Musta been all  you.
â Melanie teased.  
"Now, now Ms. Melanie. Yous gots in your fair 'mount of trouble. Always  
picking on Ms. Skyler, makin it looks like it was her fault. Yous jest lucky  
yous 
was a small one." 
Melanie laughed. âAww but I was too cute to whoop.â 
"No, you were just to small, that's all. Now look at you? When's that man  
gonna make an honest woman outta you anyway?" 
Her light mood quickly sobered as Melanie looked over at her sister. âI donâ
t  know now that he's gone.â 
Skyler and Georgia both looked at Melanie. Skyler was the first to speak,  
"What do you mean he is gone? Where did he go?" 
Melanie blinked again. âYou donât know? Your the bloody XO and you donât  
know? he transferred to another ship, they gave him a promotion and a CSec  
spot.
â 
"I may be the bloody XO as you so kindly stated, but that does not mean I  
know everything about what is going on." That sure was evident on this  
mission... 
âWeâre not even sure if heâll be able to come back in time for the birth 
let 
 alone a wedding.â Melanie told them.  
Georgia still had her arm around Melanie and pulled her closer. "Dun't yous  
worry Ms. Melanie, everythins gonna work outs jest fine. Yous got Dr. Anna and 
 everyones on your side. Yous got nuttin to fear." 
âI guess not. I have the both of you and Mum.â And Vevay. âBut Gracie  
isnâ
t going to have her father when sheâs born.â 
Skyler stood and walked over to kitchen area and fiddled around with the  
replicator. She had to keep busy before she said something stupid or did  
something stupid.  
âSay whatâs on your mind, Sky.â Melanie told her as she watched her 
sister  
try to busy herself.  
"There is nothing on my mind, at least nothing for you to worry about." She  
made sure to put up her shields. Her sister may not have a complete  
understanding of her abilities but Skyler did and so she kept the blocks up.  
Looking up at Georgia she asked, âSheâs lying isnât she?â 
"Whats yous think she be lyin 'bout? Is dunt understand?" 
Melanie sighed. âNevermind.â 
Turning around Skyler looked at her sister. "What do you think I'm lying  
about? Tell me." 
âYou got antsy after I talked about Eli.â  
"If I did, I'm sorry. I know you are upset by his leaving and you don't need  
me adding to it. Georgia, don't you have something for Melanie?"  
"Matter fact Is do, jest let me go and git it." Georgia got up and made her  
way toward her bedroom leaving the sisters alone. 
Melanie looked down at her engagement right and sighed. âYou hate him donât 
 
you.â 
"I don't hate him. I don't like the way he is treating you but I am staying  
out of it like you told me to." Skyler sighed, fixed herself a stiff drink and 
 went back to the empty chair she had been sitting on.  
âI told you to stay out of my head, not stay out of my life. Itâs ok for 
you 
 to talk to me about stuff, just donât try and run things.â Melanie told 
her 
 before sighing and sitting back against the pillows.  
"Melanie, sometimes it's not always easy to separate the two. Staying out of  
your head and talking to you I mean. I'm not trying to run things which is 
why  I'm not saying anything about Eli. That is between you and him. As long as 
you  are happy that is all that matters to me."  
Melanie sighed. âThatâs the problem. Iâm not.â Unless Vâs around.  
"Why aren't you happy? Talk to me. That's what sister's are for. I know I'm  
not that great at being a sister but I am willing to listen." If only Mia  
would listen to me and realize I am not pushing but.... 
âEverything changed so fast.â Melanie told her. âOne minute 
everythingâs  
great the next Iâm pregnant, which is the best thing to happen, and then  
suddenly the floor is pulled out from under me.â  
Getting up Skyler moved over and sat down next to her sister. "What can I do? 
 Besides listen. You know I love you and Georgia loves you." 
Melanie smiled a little. âI know.â She said softly. âAnd just letting me 
hang  around when Iâm lonely is a big help.â 
She put her arm around her sister not sure how she would take it, "you are  
always welcome here or in my quarter's. Mia has instruction's that you are to  
have unlimited access, no matter what." She pulled her sister close and 
started  to massage her shoulders. 
"Okays heres Is come." Skyler shook her head. "I am not responsible for this  
even though it is from both of us." Georgia walked in carrying a big box and  
laid it on Melanieâs lap.  
"Go ahead and open it, just remember she picked it out."  
Melanie smiled as she pulled the ribbon form the box and then removed the  
lid. Plunging her hand through the tissue paper she took hold of another ribbon 
 
and pulled up on the object it was attached too. She gasped when she finished 
 pulling out the mobile. âItâs brilliant!â  
Georgia smiled, "Is glad yous likes it. I looked high and low to finds jest  
the perfect one. Of course this here one," pointing to Skyler, "was no help."  
"Hey, I paid for it, that counts for something." 
âI love it, thank you.â Melanie said as she put the mobile in itâs box so 
she  could hug them both.  
"I'm glad you like it and remember anytime you want to talk about anything I  
am willing to listen. All you have to do is call or drop by. Mia will let you 
in  and put your call through immediately."  
Georgia looked at Skyler and Melanie, "Ifn yous want to stay here tonight,  
there's plenty of room. I kin makes breakfast in the morning, unless you have  
other plans?"  
Skyler looked at Georgia and then at Melanie and thought before speaking, "I  
have no other plans, at least until the captain calls." 
I should let Vevay have her life back. She does have one, and Ffej... âI  
think Iâd like that.â

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