What is Love? (1/2)

Posted on 22 Feb 2016 @ 12:33am by Petty Officer 1st Class Rebecca Williams & Lieutenant Wilhelm Von Haeften
Edited on on 27 Feb 2016 @ 3:57pm

2,630 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: USS Galileo: Holodeck One
Timeline: MD90 2000hours

[ON]

Wilhelm Von Haeften had had this holodeck, one of the few aboard the Galileo, reserved for some time. He had an entire three hour slot blocked off for himself and Rebecca tonight. The Skipper had given them permission to actively pursue a relationship, and Wilhelm felt like celebrating with his lady.

The German giggled to himself giddily; he enjoyed calling Rebecca ‘his’ gal. Maybe it was mildly possessive of him to do so, but the reverse also made him smile. He rather enjoyed the fact that Rebecca could consider him ‘her’ guy. If they went out, he relished the thought of Rebecca holding him close as a subtle signal to other women: ‘this one is taken, find your own.’

He had planned a romantic night to celebrate. The holodeck was programmed to display the sights, sounds, and smells of a lovely hamlet in Morocco, a town called Casablanca, circa 1942. Outside, the moon was full and bright, reflecting off the glass tabletop of the ‘reserved’ table set up on a high balcony. Down below, one could hear the hustle and bustle of Moroccan shopkeepers packing up their wares for the night, and ordinary citizens coming and going about their business.

Wil had decided to update his wardrobe since he started dating Rebecca; he had purchased a new suit from the tailors on Jupiter Station, a charcoal number with white shirt and grey tie. Wil thought he looked rather cavalier, but hoped that Rebecca would like it as well.

Currently, however, said suit was off of the CSO. The teutonic scientist was busily cooking their dinner, some lobster he had found on the station’s food store. None of the food tonight would be replicated; Wil was going to spoil his girlfriend rotten if he could. Tonight’s ensemble was Lobster Thermidor with garlic butter sauce, sweet potatoes, and roasted asparagus. At times like this, Wil was glad his parents had insisted he learn to really cook rather than rely on a replicator.

Von Haeften asked the computer for the time. When it responded, Wil noted that he had about 30 more minutes to go, and that his lobster would be finished in about 25. He had already finished the asparagus, and the potatoes were coming along beside the lobster right on time. He’d even have enough time to put some cologne on so he wouldn’t smell so much of flames and smoke and cooking food.

::53 minutes later::

As Rebecca pulled down on her hoodie, she couldn't help but noticed her knuckles. The woman had done what she could to repair the damage done one handed but she wasn't afraid to admit that she'd made a hames of it. She'd be lucky if the skin didn't scar once the regeneration finished.

The woman knew that she was running late, late enough that she was surprised that she hadn't heard from Wilhelm yet. Between the need to change her clothes and repair the damage, time had escaped her. Rebecca didn't need the questions that would accompany the blood covered dress nor the mess of her knuckle. She could have always passed it off as getting into a scrap while doing hand to hand training but she wouldn't have been able to pass off why she was doing her training in a mini dress.

Letting out the breath that she held, the woman stopped outside of the holodeck doors as she tried to find the willpower to propel herself inside. Her replacement clothes were simple...a pair of leggings accompanied by a hoodie with her hair pulled back into a messy ponytail and a pair of runners fitted to her feet. The ensemble would have been right at home in her quarters or during a run on Earth but here it seemed very out of place...especially given what she knew awaited her behind the doors.

Rebecca was here for a reason and the reason didn't match what she knew Wilhelm to think was her reason for being here...this had gone too far and for both of their sakes this needed to end...it needed to end now before it went beyond a point of which neither could come back from.

Wilhelm heard the holodeck doors open with their distinct audio tone. He got to his feet and smiled at his lady. When he noticed that Williams had on casual attire, he raised his eyebrow.

"Everything alright dear? I had started to get worried." the German said.

Rebecca felt the breath catch in her throat as soon as she saw her lover. Everything about the time they'd spent together came flooding back. His jet black hair was contrasted against the white shirt, blending in with his jacket; the silky strands only stood to bring back memories of when the woman had sat on his hips, pounding out a rhythm as she watched his head move back and forward against the bed sheets, his vocal and hoarse screams echoing in the room as his body raced with hers towards their mutual release.

Closing her eyes, the woman ran a hand across her face as if the simple gesture could erase it all and make the memories go away. "Wilhelm..." Even the vibration of his name against his lips set other memories flooding through her mind before she opened her eyes and forced herself to look back across at the man. "...I'm sorry."

Wilhelm simply smiled a confused smile at Rebecca.

"It's alright love...you are here now, and that's what matters. You are beautiful even if you wore a potato sack. In fact, I wouldn't mind seeing that." the German said with a laugh.

Hearing Wilhelm's laugh was an almost knife in the heart. The man had a way about him where he didn't take life seriously. He seemed to understand that at times humor was more important than harsh words or tears and when he did laugh it warmed her body all of the way through to her soul.

"No...Wilhelm I'm sorry...I can't do this."

"Do what liebchen*?" Wil asked, his voice losing the humor from its staccato.

"This...us..." Rebecca stumbled backwards as if the physical force of having finally spat out the words out loud was trying to knock her from her feet. Her eyes moving to look at the floor, unable to look at him directly as she feared what she’d see. The woman’s trembling hand moved to push through her hair, loosening the tie holding it back at strands fell loose over her face. "I'm sorry...this was a mistake."

Wil took off his jacket and tossed it on the back of his chair.

"Darling, please sit down, talk to me. Let's discuss what's troubling you. I'd like to help if I can." he said.

Rebecca stumbled back another step, trying to keep the distance as she knew if he tried to touch her she'd fall apart. The woman couldn’t even take in their surroundings as all that existed for her right now was herself and her lover.

Earlier in her room everything had seemed so clear. To stop falling in love Rebecca just needed to end this. To cut their ties. Dissolve what they had and bring it right back to being what it should have always been, a professional relationship and nothing more.

Rebecca then made the biggest mistake of the night...looking up she could see the outline of his lean body through the shirt material. The same body she could still feel beneath her hands, the heat of his skin as her hand rested against his fast paced heart. A heart which she knew bet a beat just for her and because of her. "No...there's nothing to discuss. This shouldn't have happened....I'm sorry."

Wilhelm got up and slowly walked towards Rebecca. He reached out to touch her hands, but when she pulled away, he stopped.

"What shouldn't have happened? That I would've gone to the same bar as you, meet an amazing gal, one who has lovely curves, soft, warm skin, and can move on the dance floor like an Orion girl? A lady who can match me blow for blow no matter what we talk about. A gal who is smart, and beautiful, and charming?"

He stepped closer to her.

"A lady who makes me watch the clock every day to know when is the next time I can see her?"

Another step.

"The gal who I risked the wrath of the skipper so that I could openly see her, without hiding, without shame, without guilt?"

Yet another.

"The woman I l...."

Wil stopped, concerned that saying the word would send her further away than she already was.

"...like...so much?"

He reached out to touch her face. She recoiled once more.

"I care for you Rebecca. I promise I do. I don't want to ever care about another woman ever again. Please allow me just one touch. If you can tell me that you don't feel what I feel for you, and feel it back towards me, I will let you go, and you will never have to worry about me again."

Rebecca's hand moved as he came too close, making contact with his upper chest as she flinched from the pain that vibrated across the damaged knuckles.

The woman knew what he'd been about to say, he could hide the word but she fully knew what he'd been about to say. Having looked up when he hesitated, Rebecca had seen it in his eyes...the blue tones she had come to recognise as they shifted and changed no matter the situation he found himself in.They said that a person’s eyes where the gateway to their soul...this was never more true then it was with Wilhelm. He'd never been able to hide anything, pleasure or pain, lust or pure happiness; as long as she saw his eyes.

Rebecca's arm braced itself as if to block him coming any further but her hand fisted in his shirt, the pain again flashing as she tried to ignore it and focus solely on him. The pain worked in her favor though, it gave her something to grip onto as with the pain came anger..anger she could feed upon as the woman pushed Wilhelm back. She was here to do one thing...it was for the best.

"How do you want to touch me..do you want to trace your hands on my heated skin, to feel what you lust after? Do you want to rake your nails across my flesh as you leave your warning, that nobody had better trespass on your property? Do you want to touch my core, to leave your seed inside of me and ruin me for any man who may even look in my direction?" Her words were tinged heavily with anger as the fire in her eyes flared.

Rebecca's hand tightened even further as she remembered Malcolm and what had happened yesterday. Her anger again stroked by the further pain in her fist. "Haven't you done enough damage? I can't look at another man...talk to another man without thinking and comparing him to you. I can't flirt. I can't touch. I can't do anything because of you, even when you're not there you always manage to still be there. My every waking moment...You. Are. There!"

Wilhelm saw the anger in her eyes, and felt the same emotion welling within himself, reflexively.

"You know what, Rebecca?" Wil said, "I...feel...the..same..way."

Wil went forward, until his hand made contact with Rebecca's cheek. The touch of her skin made Wil's eyes start to water, as the emotions came.

Rebecca flinched as her lover’s hand touched her skin, wanting to pull away but finding herself unable to make the simple movement. It was as if the anger just drained from her body, that Wilhelm's hand acted as a conduit for release as her cheek pressed against his warm skin.

"Ever since I met you, I long to feel the press of those lips on my own, to feel your hand entwine with my own, to feel the warmth of your body next to mine in my bed. When those things are absent, its like a piece of my soul is not there anymore."

Wil's eyes could no longer hold onto the tears welling in them. A single one escaped, to roll down his cheek.

"You speak of my 'owning you' like property, but the fact is that you claimed property over my heart and soul ever since I met you. I...want you. I need you. I care about you. I can't stop thinking about you. I don't want to stop thinking of you. Maybe you think I'm a good man, but being with you...you make me want to be a better man. You once asked me to never stop kissing you. I gave my word that I would never stop, regulations and rules be damned! I would fight the entire Borg collective with nothing but a pointed stick for you, and you'd better believe I'd win. I'd win, because I believe in us. I want you to believe in us. Believe in me; believe that I will always support you, care about you, comfort you."

The tears now flowed freely from the German's face.

"You said that I want to claim you, from all other men. I don't want to steal you, I want to be worthy of you. I want to prove to you that I am a man worth claiming as your own my sweet."

Wil's words drowned themselves in a sea of his own sorrow, the verbage intermingling with his tears until Von Haeften decided to not speak anymore, but only to desperately hold onto her, as if it was the last time.

Rebecca eyes closed as she felt Wilhelm's arm move around her. She wasn't even aware of the pain anymore as he crushed her hand in against her chest. She didn't need to see his tears, she could feel each and everyone as they trickled down his cheek to fall against the skin of her neck.

She made him cry...that fact hurt more than any pain she had ever experienced in her life....She had made Wilhelm cry, and deep in her heart she knew that she wasn't worthy of his tears. She never could be...how could a woman like her ever be worthy of a man like him.

Closing her eyes, Rebecca pressed her face in against the side of his neck as her hold on his shirt loosened. One hand remained trapped between their bodies but her free arm moved to wrap it around his back as she held him close. Unbeknownst to the woman, her own tears had begun to mingle with his.

They stayed like that...for moments, for minutes, even for hours but in reality was mere seconds...the two lovers just held each other in the other's embrace as they tried to gather together both their emotions and thoughts and tried to piece them all back together.

Rebecca was the first to break the silence between them both.

Her head turned ever so slightly so Wilhelm could hear the words that she needed to say...wanted to whisper. Tears still traced paths along her cheeks as the woman’s eyes remained closed. Her forehead rested against the side of his head as her arm still held him close.

"I can't stop this...I can't stop falling in love with you."


*sweetheart


[TBC]




&

Petty Officer 2nd Class Rebecca Williams
Yeoman to Captain Jonathan Holiday
USS Galileo

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