The more things change...

Posted on 23 Feb 2012 @ 1:30am by Tarishiana Barel

768 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Episode 00 - Pre-Deployment
Location: Temporaty Quarters of Tarishiana Barel
Timeline: MD 3 1120 hours

"Lestian...NO!" Tarishiana's words came loudly, despite her cool appearance. "Your mother is going to be the death of me." She looked into the dark eyes of Lestian Tomick. His expression was unchanged as if the pair had been speaking of the weather on Betazed. "Tarishiana, my mother is intent on having a grandchild and as the only son she sees it as my duty to give her one." His tone was calm as he did his best to explain the situation.

Tarishiana looked down before burying his face in her hands. She let out an exasperated sigh before she once again looked up at the screen. "Does she think that by moving our wedding up...then I will give you a child sooner?"

For the first time since the conversation had begun Lestian's demeanor changed. His face softened as he too let out a sigh, "Little dove..." He started in a soft tone. "I understand where you are coming from..."

Tarishiana cut him off before he was able to finish. "You have no idea how I feel...our marriage is a death sentence...I will have to give up the life I have built for myself. Our parents are not going to let me stay in Starfleet...they will expect me to keep your house and bear your children." Her tone was sad and still angry as she spoke, but her voice was not loud. "How do you think it would make me feel, if I had to live on a Starship as a civilian?"

The adoration Lestian held for his fiance was apparent in his face as Tarishiana spoke. "Little dove, Don't worry about what they want...what do you want? Do you even want to marry me?"

Tarishiana allowed a small smile cross her face as he once again said 'Little Dove'. It had been his pet name for her since they were teenagers. She didn't know if she wanted to marry him. She loved him, that was something she would never deny. He made her happy and she could easily see spending the rest of her life with as his wife. "I don't know...it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world...I just hate the idea of making your mother happy..."She said the last part of her sentence as seriously as she could, but the pair couldn't help but laugh. "But I do love you Lestian...I always have." She touched the screen softly. "Can I ask you something?"

Lestian gave Tarishiana a questioning look. "You can ask me anything....you know that."

"Do you want children?...I mean...not because your parents want us to have children, but do you want to be a father?" Tarishiana did her best to keep her dark betazoid eyes on his, but it was harder then she thought it would be. She wasn't sure if she was ready for his answer, whatever it was.

Lestian's face showed no signs of change as he began to speak. "To be honest, I have never had any desire to be a father...always knew I would be...my mother made it clear that it was expected of us." He paused, but before he continued a soft smiled crossed his face. "But, nothing makes me happier then the idea of having a family with you"

Tarishiana has let her eyes move from the screen as Lestian had began to explain his lack of desire for children. She wanted to be a mother but that was only after she had found her love of Starfleet, she didn't know if she was ready to give it up for the ability to have a family. It wasn't until the last work he spoke registered in her head that she looked back up. She smiled and let out a sigh. "Fine...tell your mother I will retire in two more years...the wedding can be then."

Lestian smiled, "I will take this news to her, and see what I can do to buy you some more time...Little Dove, I know you think I don't understand...but I can't imagine giving up this life for the one you describe...I do love you...and I promise I will make you happy." Tarishiana nodded as the transmission ended.

She let out sigh as she leaned back in the chair she had been sitting in. She had spent the last ten years having these arguments with Lestian's mother though Lestian. She hated it. She could only hope that after her wedding, the arguments would end. But she knew she wasn't that lucky.

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