<USS Avalon> You Get What You Need

You Get What You Need
Skyler,  Moreya
2008:03:05 

After both Moreya and Tery left her quarters,  Skyler checked in on Tavi. She 
hadn't spent as much time lately with the girl as  she would've liked. 
Quietly she opened the door to find Tavi asleep. Tucking the  covers in around 
her, 
Skyler gave her a soft kiss on her head. Looking at the  girl she never 
realized that anyone could affect her as much as this young girl  had. She 
couldn't 
imagine her life without Tavi in it.  

Closing the  door she quietly made her way to the table in the kitchen area, 
rested her head  in her hands and silently started to cry. She didn't know 
why. She was very  confused. She loved Moreya more than she had ever loved 
anyone. She also knew  she was in love with Tery. She knew Moreya couldn't give 
her 
a monagomous  relationship and she understood why. That didn't change the fact 
that she knew  Moreya was the woman for her in any capacity possible. She 
also wondered how  Tery would feel about sharing her with Moreya. She needed to 
talk to Moreya. But  did she have the right to intrude upon her?


Back in her own quarters,  Moreya consulted the library computer terminal for 
the latest results in the  search for information she had launched before 
leaving the bridge to talk with  Skyler and Tery.  The galaxy was a big place, 
yet in her experience, there  was little that happened in one part of it that 
had not happened somewhere else  already.  The humans had a phrase for it:  
"Nothing new under the  sun."  She'd based her search on the guess that 
somewhere 
in Federation  records, there would be at least one incident of mass insanity 
and murder  similar to what had happened at the Institute.

And as she consulted the  list of citations the computer displayed for her, 
she realized she'd been  right.  Something much like this had happened before, 
and not so long ago,  either.

To the Enterprise-D, no less.

Before she could pull up the  details, Moreya's comm chirped.  Her eyes 
widened for just a moment as she  saw who was calling.

"Yes, Captain?" she answered.  "What's the  matter?"

"I am sorry to disturb you so soon." Skyler tried to hide the  fact that she 
had been crying. "I was wondering if you had discovered any more  information 
regarding this mission? Also, why do you insist on calling me  Captain after 
all we have been through?"

"Please don't take offense,"  Moreya said.  "When we are discussing ship's 
business and our mission, I  prefer to call you by your title.  When we are 
speaking to each other  personally, I will call you by your name.  If I am not 
sure which it will  be -- as was the case just now -- I assume it is a matter 
of 
ship's business  until I know otherwise.  I do this in order to focus my mind 
on what is  important for that moment -- and for physiological reasons which I 
don't think  we need to go into right now.

"And yes, I have found a little more  information.  I'm reading now a report 
on an encounter the Enterprise-D had  once, which sounds very similar to what 
happened at the Institute.  I  should be able to finish it shortly.  But -- " 
and here her voice took on a  softer tone -- "is there something else you 
wanted to talk about?"

"You  said earlier if we wanted to talk you were available. Is that offer 
still on the  table or have I taken enough of your time?" Skyler thought that 
the 
latter was  most likely. 

"Of course the offer is still there."

"I don't want  to take up anymore of your valuable time than I already have. 
Yet....I find I  need to talk to you. To find out your thoughts and feelings 
about this  situation. If now is not a good time I understand."

"I think this is a  very good time.  If I can help ease your mind, that 
benefits all of  us.  Will you come to my quarters?"

"Yes, Tavi is asleep. I will be  there shortly. Thank you again my friend." 
Closing the comm unit Skyler walked  to the bath and washed the tears from her 
face. She ran her hand through her  short hair and took a deep breath. She 
didn't know why she was so nervous but  then again perhaps she did. She had 
changed into more casual clothing and  wondered if it was appropriate. She was 
going to just talk after all....was she  not?

Moreya looked at the comm for a moment, then turned away, taking a  deep 
breath, then several more in rapid succession.  "Computer, lights at  fifty 
percent."  The room instantly dimmed.  She rose and lit several  candles which 
were 
set on a tray near her door.  While they had no scent of  their own, their 
invisible vapors would clear much of her Deltan pheremones from  the air.  
Closing her eyes and turning her mental focus inward, she  re-established 
control 
over the pheremone release, which she had relaxed while  alone.  Crossing the 
room, she lit another lightly scented candle and two  sticks of sandalwood 
incense, swirling them around a little before setting them  in a tray of sand 
to 
finish burning.  She pulled a pitcher and two glasses  of cold water from the 
replicator, set them on her work table, and sat back down  to wait for Skyler.

Having checked on Tavi one last time, Skyler slowly  made her way to Moreya's 
quarters, doubting herself the entire time. Was she  making a mistake 
intruding upon her friend so soon after she had left her  quarters? Was she 
taking 
advantage of this friendship? She was so confused she  didn't know what to do 
or 
what to think. Upon reaching Moreya's quarters she  stood outside the door. 
She didn't know why she was hesitating so. The worst  that could happen was 
that Moreya would tell her to get her act together and  leave her alone. She 
highly doubted that was going to happen. The fact of the  matter was she had no 
idea what was going to happen. After taking several deep  breaths she managed 
to 
push the chime. 

The door opened to reveal Moreya,  dressed in one of the long robes she 
favored when not on duty.  She gave  Skyler a quick hug and ushered her inside, 
then sat back down next to the work  table.  "What is troubling you so, dear 
Skyler?"

"I think you know  Moreya, which if I am not mistaken is why you have candles 
and incense burning.  You are trying to keep your pheremones under control so 
as not to distract me. I  don't want you to feel that you have to do that 
every time we are alone."  Sitting on the floor in front of the couch Skyler 
leaned her head back and  sighed.

"I'm trying to minimize your distractions right now because I  thought it 
might make things easier on you," Moreya said, "but I most certainly  do not 
feel 
obligated to do that every time we're alone.  Quite the  opposite.  And it 
just so happens, I like sandalwood incense.  Now  then.  Yes, I have a good 
guess as to why you're here.  But I'm not  going to do your thinking for you."

"You made an offer to talk to either  Tery or I. I suppose I am here to take 
you up on that offer. I truly don't know  what to do." Skyler pulled her knees 
up to her chest and wrapped her arms around  them.

"Don't know what to do about what?"

Frustrated, Skyler spoke  abrubptly without meaning to. "You, Tery, me. I 
don't know what to do about this  entire situation. I want you in my life....as 
more than just a friend. Yet, I  think I want Tery to be in my life as well. I 
just don't know if the two are  compatible. I guess that is where you come 
in." She looked at her friend, not  sure what she was thinking. "I need to know 
how you feel about this whole  situation. Can we continue with what we have had 
or must it return to simple  friendship?"


Moreya looked at Skyler, quelling an impulse to laugh  aloud and allowing 
instead a long, slow smile to spread across her face.   "You're afraid that you 
will be forced to choose between us, which lover you can  keep?  You've been 
afraid that I'm going to tell you, 'it's her or me?'  Nine Gods, beloved, such 
a 
degree of hypocrisy from me would surely rip  spacetime apart faster than a 
warp nacelle on overload.  

"I hoped  you'd say that.  But with all the candles and incense you have 
burning, I  guess I got scared. Being around you is not a distraction, if 
anything 
it helps  me to think clearer." She looked up at Moreya and smiled, "You make 
me think  things I would never dream about. Talk about things I wouldn't talk 
about. You  don't need to consider yourself a distraction around me. You can 
be yourself  even when burning sandalwood incense."

The Deltan smiled.  "Thank  you.  Now, I suppose that whether Tery is willing 
to accept a menage a  trois is still an open question.  But there is no 
question at all that she  still loves and wants you, and is willing to go a 
considerable way to prove  it."

"How do you know that? Have you spoken with her about this?" Leaning  her 
head back Skyler took a deep breath and closed her eyes.


"I  haven't spoken with her since we left your quarters.  But I can't help 
but  believe, based on the way she carried herself while we were all there, 
that 
she  does love you, and does want to prove it.  Her reactions to your 
reactions,  in particular.  It is a subtle thing, perhaps, but  still."

"Reactions? Reactions to what?" Had she been so obvious about her  feelings 
that Tery had picked up on them? 

"Think back a few minutes,"  Moreya said.  "You told Tery how hurt you were, 
how what she had done had  affected you.  She explained what had happened, 
told you she was sorry,  asked for your forgiveness, and reasserted her love 
for 
you.  Your reaction  was to repeat what you had said a moment before, that you 
didn't understand why  she left, why she didn't leave word.  You told her 
that she had cast you  aside. 

"And what did Tery do then?  She accepted that.   Accepted the fact that she 
would have to win you back.  Accepted your  resentment.  If she didn't love 
you and want your love in return, she  wouldn't have done that."

Looking at Moreya, Skyler asked quietly, "How  do you feel about being 
involved with me while, or if I was to be involved with  Tery? I don't want to 
have 
to  choose between the two of you. IF I had to  choose I already know who it 
would be."

A sigh escaped Moreya's lips  before she could catch it.  She leaned forward, 
cupping Skyler's head  between her hands and looking directly into her eyes.  
"My comment a moment  ago about hypocrisy was not clear enough?  Then let me 
spell it out for you  in words of one syllable.  I would be delighted to 
continue to be involved  with you, whether you resume your intimacy with Tery 
or 
not.  You do not  have to choose."  She took a deep breath, releasing her hold 
on Skyler's  head, but not her gaze.  "Do you understand me?  You do not have 
to  choose."

Looking into Moreya's eyes, Skyler knew at that moment that she  indeed 
didn't need to choose. Holding Moreya's gaze she quietly responded, "Yes,  I do 
understand. No matter the outcome I am not going to lose you or have to  choose 
between you or anyone else."

Still feeling the touch of her  friends hands on her face, Skyler did the 
only thing she could think of, leaning  forward she softly kissed Moreya. As 
they 
seperated she again spoke softly, "May  I stay the night? The couch will do 
just fine and I promise not to be a bother.  You can fill me in on what you 
have found about this dimension we must deal  with." She wasn't going to deny 
her 
thoughts were on what could but, most likely  wouldn't happen. However she 
just needed to be close to Moreya. She didn't want  to be alone. Not tonight.

"Of course.  You can get some rest while I  finish reading and digesting all 
the information the library computer has turned  up for me."  Moreya smiled, 
leaning in to kiss Skyler lightly before  standing up.  "I will be a while, but 
you are welcome to my bed if you  wish."

"I think I would prefer to just lay here and watch you work. If I  am going 
to be in your bed I much rather you be in it with me. I know that  sounds brash 
but I cannot lie. Not to you or to myself. So, you go about your  reading and 
digesting and I will just lie here and wait until you are  done."

"As you wish, my dear."  

Skyler flipped off her shoes  and made herself comfortable on the couch. She 
watched as Moreya ran her  graceful and exquisite fingers over her console. 
She could lay there all day and  watch her friend and never grow weary. 
Unfortunately the stress of the day  appeared to have gotten the better of her 
and 
soon she was asleep.  The  last thing she heard was Moreya's voice, murmuring  
instructions.




**************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & 
Finance.      (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf00030000000001)

Other related posts: