From: Erik (felldoh_at_voyager.net)
Date: Mon Mar 19 2007 - 23:46:09 PDT
"Scratching at the Old Paint, Part I" continued from "Discussions & Receptions" Location: Earth, San Francisco Scene: Admiral Harper Ranta's House Stardate: 2.70320.0244 _____________________________________ He looked in the mirror nervously. Turning from one side to the other, he worried about anything showing as "Abnormal" and questions being asked. The Admiral looked fine, though. His rank and age made it easy for people to have somewhat lower expectations of him regarding his physical fitness. No one would dare to scold him for the fact that he'd gained roughly 5-10 pounds. Hoping the vacation he'd ordered Maddie to take would bring her and her family home nicely recovered from their ordeal on ANDALUSIA, Harper found himself actually starting to look forward to telling her about how their accident in the lab had left him carrying his "little passenger". It made him laugh at himself....the fact that he was getting forward to telling a woman. "I'm carrying your child." Like someone famous once said, though.... "We're starfleet officers. 'Wierd' is part of the job." Daily scans showed the embryo was thriving. The little heart was beating strong. Tiny fingers and toes were forming on schedule. He had a collection of images ready and waiting so she could see there was no need to worry. Though it wasn't exactly something either of them had planned, he was managing to do a good job handling it. "Where are you going, Father?" asked four year old Maddox. Just stepping out of his room, the little boy was with his Nanny. "I am going to meet Commander Davidson for breakfast. She's getting out of the hospital this morning. Then, she and I have to go do some boring grown-up stuff, son." smiled Harper. "You're getting fat, father." Maddox laughed. "Don't eat so much." Harper blinked and then quickly covered his dismay with a smile and gave Maddox a gentle "noogie" on the top of his head. "Go with Nanny Jubal and get ready for school, you rugrat!" Before the Ferengi nanny could take the boy away, though....Harper asked with a level of insecurity very much like stereotypical pregnant woman. "Wait, is he right, Jubal? Do I look fat?" The Ferengi paused, her eyes widening slightly. "Are you feeling alright, sir? You look fine, of course." Blushing slightly, the pregnant man stammered. "Oh, I'm fine...." Jubal and Maddox left together, the Ferengi nanny gently chiding the boy he shouldn't say things like that to his father. ________________________________________________ Location: France, Paris Scene: Starfleet medical, Daisy's hospital room _________________________________________________ "Darling, you look fabulous!" Peter beamed as he walked in and saw Daisy standing there in uniform. "Getting the tummy tuck - but keeping the post-partum boobs?" Very smart choice!!" His voice carried both his usual british accent with anadded effeminate lilt and Daisy teased. "Oh, look - it's the Queen of England. To what do I owe this honor? Are you actually here to discuss my boobs?" Pretending to be wounded, Peter scoffed. "Bitch." Then, he laughed and stood there just watching as she finished putting her hair up in a tasteful Chignon. It was the more 'serious' look Daisy ' often chose for when she was on duty. . "Are you sure you're up to doing your deposition today?" he asked with a more serious tone. "You're only just getting out of the hospital. You've hardly spent any time with the babies at all." She scoffed teasingly. "I carried them and that's not enough for you. Greedy bastard. You're going to try and hit me up for changing diapers, as well, aren't you?" He laughed again, then his face softened and he spoke more seriously. "Alright, alright, luv....but you promise you're ok? Matthew said we should worry about post-partum blues and such..." "Three kids not enough worry for you?" Daisy chuckled...dabbling some blush on her cheeks. "I just...." Peter sighed, coming up behind her and hugging her tightly. "You gave us a great gift and I want to make sure ' you're ok..." "All I need is a little space to get used to not being pregnant. Let me keep busy and I'll be fine..." Daisy sighed patiently as Peter's strong arms fight around her now flat stomach. She tilted her head and kissed his cheek. "Go spend time with your babies. Nibble their toes and give them lots of kisses. I have a transport to catch." He sighed, feeling strangely guilty, as Daisy grabbed her shoulder bag and began to walk out the door. _____________________________________________ Location: San Francisco Scene: Restaurant near Starfleet academy Time index: 10 minutes later ______________________________________________ Daisy materialized and saw Admiral Ranta sitting on a bench near a large tree. He stood up quickly and came towards her, smiling. They shook hands and walked into the restaurant together, talking calmly about their upcoming depositions.Knowing about his pregnancy, they'd ended up becoming friends. As they stood for a few minutes, waiting to be seated....they each began glancing around the restaurant. "You prefer a booth or a table?" Harper asked politely. Before she could reply, she saw a blast from her past and this smile spread across her face. Ben was sitting at a booth with Arthur. She recognized him immediately, the same strong handsome face and the broad shoulders. "I'd like a booth, sir...now that I can fit in one." Admiral Ranta chuckled softly and spoke to the hostess. The Bajoran hostess guided them right past her former lover, Ben Kenta, and his six year old son. Daisy looked right at Ben and smiled. She gave him a polite nod. Ben smiled back, but it was a smile for an admiring stranger, not her. He didn't seem to recognize her. Of course, it had been almost 2 years since they'd last seen each other, and what with her hair worn up in an almost matronly chignon, she never would have worn in those days, not to mention the red uniform she'd so often scorned, she realized to her amusement that she wasn't really surprised. Saying nothing, she slid into the booth behind Ben and Arthur, and waited patiently. The hostess asked what she'd like to drink and she made a point of offering the same coffee she used to drink with Ben during the many lazy mornings they spent together in bed. "I'll take a French Vanilla Cappuccino." A sly little grin spread over her face as she heard Ben inhale sharply from behind her. She felt a surprising amount of satisfaction that the vague hint was enough to get his attention. She sat with her back to him and waited, but noticed the Admiral glancing over her shoulder. Amused, the Admiral asked, "Do you know the young man at the booth in front of us?" Daisy grinned. "Did he finally recognize me?" She answered, hoping Ben wouldn't hear. Harper leaned in conspiratorially, “Well, if I'm not mistaken he’s trying to discreetly get another look at your face.” His description made Daisy put her hand over her mouth to keep herself from chuckling. Suddenly, Harper felt like a third wheel, but he took it in stride. With a good-natured smile, he said, "I'm going to grab something to go and walk to the meeting since my son scolded me I'm starting to look fat..." Daisy stammered apologetically, "Sir, it's ok." "I don't mind, Commander." the Admiral smiled. "We'll do a lunch later and compare notes on how the inquiry's going." She smiled. "Very well, sir." The Admiral calmly stood up as the waitress came with Daisy's coffee. He asked her politely to put his juice in a to-go container and followed her back to the counter. Calmly stirring her coffee, Daisy spoke over her shoulder without looking - knowing Ben could hear her. "So, what do we do now?" Ben grinned, her voice finally confirming his suspicion, and looked back at her. "Care to join us, Commander?" She glanced at him briefly then turned away as if avoiding him. "Oh, I don't know..." she teased softly, pretending to be offended, "You didn't even recognize me." Her voice was almost, but not quite, a pout. “After all we've been through.” Ben just smiled. "I never expected to see you here, and you *have* changed a bit." He answered in a tone that said he didn't mind how she'd changed - not at all. She smiled weakly, suddenly embarrassed for some reason she couldn't fathom. Then, stood up, turned back towards him and looked politely to his son. "You must be Arthur; your dad told me all about you." Arthur looked across the table at his father for support before speaking. “Who are you?” he said shyly, looking as if he was trying to hide under his own eyebrows. “My name is Daisy.” She said, extending her hand. Arthur looked at Ben again and then took her hand and shook it. Then, gaining some confidence, he blurted. “You don't look like your picture.” “Oh.” She replied giving Ben a sideways glance. “You've seen pictures of me?” Daisy’s relationship with Ben had already been over when Arthur finally became a regular part of his life. She didn't expect he'd even have heard of her. Arthur nodded the way excited children do. “Daddy has one in his bedroom on the PATRIOT.” “Oh Really?” Daisy said, giving Ben a look that said she'd caught him, and fully intended to make him squirm for it. Ben cleared his throat, embarrassed, but he could see in her eyes she was flattered. “It’s of both of us actually. You know, the one where you’re wearing that blue shirt you used to like so much.” “And you have that handsome smile.” She knew the picture well, it was one of their favorites, and she kept one too. It had been taken only a few months after they'd first started dating. That seemed like decades ago. Ben smiled, but still looked embarrassed. “I try to keep things around that remind me of good times. I think it helps.” “Softie.” She said with a laugh that told him she understood. He scooted down and Daisy took a seat next to him in a smooth, graceful motion. Her mug of coffee lightly touched the table in front of her. She raised her left hand to lightly touch the cream on the top of her cup. She was aware that the gesture made her naked ring finger very noticeable, but told herself that wasn't her reason. It was simple idleness, and nothing more. She wondered if he'd noticed. "So...." she asked calmly. "How are you?" "You know how it is. Same old, same old..." he shrugged discreetly with a smile. Then, he asked, "You?" “Yeah,” She replied, struggling to keep a straight face despite the obvious fallacy of her words. “Same old, same old." Ben laughed. "So I see." He teased, gesturing towards her red collar. "I thought you'd sooner be shot than wear one of those." "Well, you made it look so easy I decided I could give it a try." Daisy smiled, then looked at the door. “I should go.” She said, an apology plain on her face. Though she'd been quiet hungry when she left the hospital, the surprise of finding herself face to face with Ben had left all thoughts of food forgotten. The cloud of the ANDALUSIAN INQUIRY was still looming over her, though. "I have a meeting...." she explained sheepishly. "Then, a working lunch with the Admiral for discussing how the meeting went." Ben nodded understandingly. Then, there was an awkward silence as they just sat there and looked at each other - neither of them moving. Finally, she coughed and gave a short laugh as she rose to her feet. “It was good to see you again.” “Are you free this evening?” Ben asked, standing up with her. “I'm spending the day with Arthur, but he goes to bed at 8. We could meet after that…to catch up.” She smiled. “I'd like that.” ____________________________________________ A joint post by Kim Toussaint - AKA Commander Daisy Byrne Davidson, M.D. USS PROPHECY FRPG website archivist http://www.youth.net/frpg/ KimTvideos at http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=KimTvideos & Erik Walz Commander Benjamin Kenta Executive Officer USS PATRIOT 5781-A & Lt. Seloron Junior ACT Instructor Starfleet Academy, Earth From HyperNews_at_youth.net
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