<USS Avalon> Flowers and Chocolates
- From: CptKetchum@xxxxxxx
- To: avalon@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 01:08:59 EST
Flowers and Chocolates
by Phillipa Waterson and John Forester
Okay, John thought to himself, just one more glass. He poured himself
another brandy only to stare at it untouched then pour it back in the bottle.
"Or not," he sighed as he slumped to his feet. "Two is more than enough."
"Talking to yourself again, Johnny?" Steven called from the shower-room. A
towel around his waist, he sauntered out and grinned at the pale face of his
roomy. "You look beautiful," he teased. "All spiffy in your pretty silk
shirt."
Rolling his eyes, John grabbed the irises from the dining table and ordered
a box of chocolates from the replicator. "At least the flowers are real..."
"You could always say you'll get her real Belgian chocs when we get home,"
Steven offered, reclining on his bunk. "And who is this lucky lady then?"
"Just... someone," John shrugged, even though the whiteness of his cheeks
and the wideness of his eyes belied his declaration.
"Make sure she knows how special she is," Steven said seriously, watching as
his friend headed for the door. "Make sure to not make too much of a fool
of yourself."
"Too late," John muttered. It took him longer than he liked to get to
Phillipa's cabin since he had to wait for the turbolift, which seemed to take
a
painful length of time. Then it was full, stopping at every deck on the way
to
let people off. Sighing, he trudged up the hall to her home. He stared at
her door, half wanting to run away, half just liking being there, near her.
Taking one last deep breath, he rang the chime.
Sipping her hot cocoa, she heard the chime ring. Finally, she thought,
"Enter." Attempting to stand to greet the visitor.
Okay, breathe, he told himself as he stepped inside. His cheeks instantly
coloured and he found it hard to speak. "H-hi..." he said eventually. "I,
er, brought flowers... and... chocolates..."
Finally standing, "I was worried you weren't coming", as she walked over and
took the flowers, "These are lovely." Taking a deep inhale of the scent
that they put out. "I'll put these in water. Please have a seat. Can I get
you anything?" She walked over to the replicator and ordered up a tall vase
with water. Taking it out she put the irises in it and set them in the middle
of the dining table.
"Um... no, thanks, I, er, had a glass or two of something before I came
out... thanks..." John tried not to panic too much as he perched on the edge
of
the sofa. As he sat, the crystal in his pocket dug into his hip and he
jumped up, routing around for it. Offering it to her, he said, "The
ultrasound
file."
Returning to the sitting area, "Ah, thank you", taking the file back, "I
feel bad earlier springing this whole thing on you so early in your career,
but
you had the right to know." Taking a seat, and picking up her cocoa and
taking another sip, watching him over the rim. "What other treasures have you
brought me?"
"Um..." His eyes went wide again and his colour deepened. "Just... flowers
and chocolates... was I meant to bring more? I can go get more."
"No that is fine." You might not come back. "I just wondered what kind of
chocolates, is all."
"Um... Belgian. At least, what the replicator says is Belgian. I'm gonna
get some real ones when we get back to Earth, these are just like stop-gaps.
They have pralines and truffles and Turkish Delight centres, I think.
There's," he pointed to the box and wiggled his fingers, "a recipe inside.
Tells
you what each one is. Um... I don't like coffee so there's no coffee but if
you do, I'll get for next time... if... you know... there is a next time."
She wanted to laugh, he was trying to be so sweet, but she didn't want to
scare him away. Well, at least she didn't think that was a good idea anyway.
"Thank you", as she opened the box and studied the designs, picking one up,
she put it in her mouth and closed her eyes, savouring the flavor. "Mmmmm.
Perhaps, there just might." If for nothing else, the chocolates.
"Good..." he said nervously. "Good... Um..." His thumbs started to
twiddle, which annoyed him to he stuck his hands firmly in his pockets.
"So... are
you... well? Are the babies, you know, healthy and stuff?"
"Yes, all four of us are doing well. At least that's what Doctor McEntire
told me." She paused, this was kind of awkward. "Have you thought of your
plans for after graduation?"
"Er, yeah," John nodded too, just to be clear. "I want to stay here. The
Captain, that is my father, was interested so I'm gonna apply and see if I
can get a position. You never know." He shrugged.
"I'm sure that with him as the Captain, he can request whatever crew he
needs." At least you made the decision to stay before I told you of our kids.
She reached into the box and pulled out another chocolate, "Have one, if you'd
like, you brought them, after all."
"No, thanks... I'd only end up with sticky fingers," he tried for a chuckle
but it sounded strangled. "Nothing worse than a man with sticky fingers.
Or, you know, someone who has no idea what to say or do."
Oh, this was going to be a truly fun chat. "I was thinking of names for
the children, well, at least the girl. I have always liked the name Katerina.
What do you think of that, and any thoughts on the boys names?"
"Sure," John squeaked. "Anything you like. Seriously. I, erm, don't mind
at all." He let out a long, slow breath before settling his baby blue eyes on
her and giving her a very shy smile. "This isn't quite what you expected is
it? I'm not quite the man you need me to be. More like a kid than a
father."
"Well John, it's not like you were expecting this either. Just this
morning, you were off minding your own business, and then wham, you're hit with
life-changing news that you are going to be a father, not just of one, but of
three. But we're going to take this one day at a time. I'm not going to
hold
you to anything..." One day at a time, but he's already brought you flowers
and chocolates, next will be dinner, and then a ring. Whoa, you're getting
ahead of yourself, Phillipa, "... it's just that I'm not sure what else that
you were expecting to come of this."
"Um... initially? After we... um... first met? To be honest, I thought you
wanted me out so I left." John gulped then steadied his voice as he said,
"Now? I just wanna make sure you've got everything you need, that you and our
children are happy and safe."
"If I had wanted you out, I would have told you to leave, myself. I
thought you ran away from me. But that is in the past, recent, but still the
past.
I appreciate the gesture of making sure that we, the four of us, are safe."
She smiled.
Pretty, he thought as he watched the smile lighten her eyes. "Is there
anything I can do?"
"You could", she snickered, "rub my feet. All this extra weight makes my
feet hurt so much."
His eyes widened even more. "Um... k. You sure you don't want a
professional type person to do that?" Coz, you know, I suck at massage. But
he didn't
say it, instead he blushed brightly.
Are these their kids. "Oh, I'm sure. Don't need anything specific, just a
gentle rub." Boy, he blushes a lot, and bright red at that.
"I, er, have to warn you, I hurt people when I do this," he told her as he
gently took one foot in his hands. With the softest of touches, he rubbed
her, praying that he didn't tickle too much.
She stiffled a giggle, as his fingers ran over that one spot that normally
made her have a fit of laughter. "That feels, perfect. By the way, have you
thought about how you are going to tell your father?"
He stiffened momentarily then kept rubbing. "That's going to be... can I
say never? Is that a possible prospect?"
"You don't think that would want to know about his grandchildren? Afterall,
they will be right under his nose, practically."
"I think he's going to skin me alive then castrate me," John said frankly.
"That's just for starters."
"At least you have the kids out of the way before that happens." She
laughed, her eyes twinkling from the laughter.
John rolled his eyes as he set the first foot down and picked up the other.
"You know, you're in a very vulnerable position..."
"Well. You know, I could just go up and tell him myself, I do see him just
about every day." Blackmail, would it work. "But I think it should come from
you, in your own time, I know. But hopefully, before they are grown. I
thought of a name for one of the boys, how about David."
"Then Phillip for the other," John offered, a smile growing over his still
flushed face.
She nodded. "That works. Thank you for the flowers and the chocolates, and
the foot rub, and I don't mean to kick you out, but I need to get some
rest."
"Of course!" John dashed to his feet then offered her his hand. "Can I...
kiss you goodnight?"
Taking his hand, and using it to stand up, "I believe that is allowable."
As he stepped up to her, he kissed her lips very softly then let her go.
"Thank you," he whispered. "Sleep well."
She smiled at the softness of his kiss, "Thank you. I'm sure we will get
together again."
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