Cooking Up a Storm (Part 2 of 3)

Posted on 26 Jan 2019 @ 11:46am by Lieutenant Aria Rice & Lily Blake
Edited on on 27 Jan 2019 @ 2:49pm

3,018 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Episode 17 - Crystal of Life
Location: USS Galileo-A - Blake's Quarters
Timeline: MD -175, 1600

[ON]

"Here they are..." the young girl ran back from her bedroom, fully clad in her sparkly unicorn shirt with puffy princess sleeves, and the shiny black tutu that put the icing on the cake. She clutched a pair of lace-up shoes in her hands that were purple with silver stripes across them. "Mummy got them on Earth....not from the Lady in the Ship."

"They are so beautiful!" Aria said with awe, smiling warmly as she touched them. She loved shoes. And Lily loved shoes. "Ooh...and laces as well, I do love that..." she looked at Lily before she tilted her head. "Do you know how to tie laces?"

Lily hesitated before shaking her head with a weak smile, biting her lip, her hands clasped behind her back. "Usually shoes go 'snap' done!"

"Ah, I know that feeling!" Aria nodded before she smiled gently to her. "Do you want me to teach you?" she asked, taking a shoe to hold up. "We can do it together."

"Okay," Lily smiled, hope gleaming in her eyes. If she learnt how to do it, she could wear them whenever she wanted, without help. She sat down with her, pulling her slippers off with a firm tug, wriggling her toes. "Is it tricky?"

"It takes practice," Aria said and smiled warmly, her eyes warm. She moved to sit behind her, because it was easier for Lily to see it. "Get the shoe on and I will do it slowly, then guide you through doing it." She waited until the girl got the shoe on and took the laces. "So first...criss cross..." she did the cross and nodded. "And then down..." she lay them down so she could see. "And then this one...I loop..." she looped it and took the other lace. "And this one...goes around it, like it's playing a game! And then...pull through..." she did it slowly so Lily could see. "And pull down...and that tightens it. And there it is!"

Lily grinned as she watched, biting on her lip with concentration before clapping once she was done. She carefully pulled the laces back open so she could try. She frowned as she focused, reaching to make the criss cross. She carefully made a loop with one hand and tried to thread the other through...but as she pulled them it got all tangled. She shook her head, covering her face with her hands as she giggled at the silly failure.

Aria smiled warmly, her eyes shining as she touched her arm. "You had a brilliant start though! Okay...again. Criss cross just how you did before..." she watched Lily do it. "And then the loop...." she said and stroked her arm. "Bring the other one around, like you're going around the Christmas tree...and then...pull gently..."

Lily was nodding with each step, trying hard to get it right, and not to get her fingers tangled with her laces. She made the final tug and grinned as the bow remained in tact, looking up to Aria with wide, excited eyes.

Aria clapped, grinning at the words before hugging her. "You did it! Okay, the first one is always the hardest and you got to practice. And don't worry if it takes awhile and if you don't always succeed...I know I don't always do and I have been doing it since...since my Dad showed me how." Which had been a lifetime ago for her. She kissed Lily's hair, closing her eyes. "So proud of you."

Lily smiled warmly at the praise, snuggling back comfortably against her, stroking her arm softly. "Your Daddy showed you how to do it?" she asked softly.

"Mm-huh..." Aria nodded as she smiled gently to her. "He sat me down like we are and taught me. But it took me a lot longer than it took you..." she admitted before she tapped the other shoe. "Do this one now."

Lily slipped the shoe on, leaning in closer to watch carefully. "Criss cross...loopy loop....dance round the Christmas tree....and....tug...." she said each as if it was a question. The result was a tied shoelace...a pretty loose and floppy bow, but tied just about.

"That's brilliant! Just tighten it a little more next time, or else it will undo itself," Aria said and smiled warmly, her eyes gentle as she nodded. "And that is no fun when you are running around!"

"Don't want to fall!" Lily agreed as she settled back into Aria's arm, looking up to her with a gentle smile. "Is he a nice Daddy?"

Aria smiled gently before she let out a breath. She didn't mind talking about it, but she wasn't sure if she should. But she wouldn't lie to Lily about anything important. "He died when I was...a little older than you," she said and met her eyes. "After that it was just me and my mother."

"So...so you don't have a Daddy anymore?" Lily asked softly with a slight frown, biting slightly on her lower lip as she covered Aria's hand with her own.

"I don't," Aria said and took her hand, stroking it gently for a long moment. "And...you know, a lot of people don't have one of their parents. And they always turn out okay as well. Just means the other parent has to love them doubly as much! Lucky for you, your Mummy loves you to the farthest reaches of the universe and back."

Lily smiled softly at that, looking down at their hands together, tapping her fingertips against Aria's brightly painted nails. "I don't have a Daddy. I never had one," she said quietly.

"I know," Aria said before she smiled to herself. "Buuut...you got your Mummy. You got me. You got Verity. And you got your uncle Jeroen and you got Wyatt right? Because even if people aren't right there in front of you, they still love you...and love is like light. It travels quick..."

"Like super sparkly light?" Lily whispered with a brighter smile at that, tilting her head back against her so she could look up at her, lifting a hand to play with Aria's red striped hair.

"Yes! Just like that..." Aria said and smiled as she met her eyes, searching them. "So...you thinking about Daddies? Is that why you asked?"

Lily nodded slowly, thoughtfully, twisting in her arm so she could look at her properly. "When I asked Mummy where my Daddy is, she said I don't have one. But...all the children in stories have them, even if they aren't there anymore."

"Ah..." Aria nodded with understanding before she smiled gently. "That is because your Mummy is a proper queen. You see, a queen is like a dragon queen. They don't need a Daddy to have children. They are so strong and powerful that they just want the child. And...and that is what that is. You don't have one, but you got a queen for a Mummy which is why you are a star princess. So..." she touched the tip of her nose. "Don't worry about it. And like I said...super sparkly light of love from all those that love you."

Lily giggled softly at the ideas Aria painted, enjoying them in the same way she liked hearing her fairy stories. It was what it sounded like...and she liked the sound of this new fairy story too. "Are you going to have a star princess too?"

Aria looked at her before she considered it, tilting her head. "See, I don't think I am. You see, I'm not a queen. I am just a Luna child...so I would need some help. Besides! Why would I want a star princess when no one would ever be as awesome as you are, Lily? I'd just be disappointed!"

"Nooo! That's silly, silly, silly!" Lily laughed warmly, rocking in her arms so she could try and get rid of the giggles. "You'd make a great Mummy."

Aria smiled gently at that before she held her eyes. "Means so much you think so. But...I think I need to become a grown up first..." she admitted before she tickled her. "But that is good! I can be your friend instead first and when I grow up I will consider it."

Lily jumped up to escape the tickling, smiling warmly as she reached for Aria's hands to try and pull her to her feet. "Are the cupcakes cool enough to make pretty now?"

"Oh! Yes..." Aria smiled as she stood, grinning as she watched her. "We will make them pretty, then have one, then play some and wait for your Mummy to come home. I'll make us dinner, but something easy so it can cook while we play. Or we can ask the Lady for dinner if you'd rather have it?"

"What can you make?" Lily asked her with awe, holding her hand as they moved back to the small kitchen area. She loved how clever Aria was, how many things she could make and do. She didn't need anyone's help either.

"Hm..." Aria considered it, more for something that was...well...healthy. "I can try to make anything, just can't promise the result. So have a think of something you and your Mummy would like."

"Pizza," Lily said with a fully serious face and a firm nod...not even needing a single moment of hesitation to settle on the answer to that very important question.

Aria gave a serious nod at that, frowning slightly. "Pizza...pizza...oh yes! Pizza!" she finally laughed and nodded, getting what they needed to decorate the cupcakes. "We can do that. And we will do one for me, one for you and one for your Mummy so that we can have whatever we want on them."

"Marshmallow?" the girl tilted her head up to look at her with an innocent smile, clearly meaning the pizza and not the cupcakes...

Aria looked at her before she narrowed her eyes playfully, leaning to poke her side teasingly. "But that won't go with melty melty cheese!" she declared before she picked her up, grinning as she sat her down so they could start decorating the cupcakes. "See, I am going to do...tomato sauce...loads of cheese...pepperoni and pineapple. But I know it is very strange and not many people like it."

"Pineapple?" Lily giggled just at the idea...of a whole, spiky pineapple on a pizza. She shook her head, reaching to pull the rack of cakes closer to them. "Pineapple is just as silly on a pizza as marshmallow," she accused.

Aria looked at her before she laughed warmly, her eyes shining. "A good argument and if it was just you and me who were eating and Mummy would never ever know, I would totally let you. But nope. She will want vegetables on your pizza..." she grinned and handed the butter icing to her. "Let's decorate."

"Yay!" Lily grinned as she carefully took the piping bag. Without even thinking or hesitating, she tipped her head right back, opening her mouth and lifting the bag, ready to squeeze the icing into her mouth.

"Hey!" Aria reached out and grabbed the bag, pulling it away from her mouth. "No, no, no! On the cupcakes! And then iced cupcakes go into our mouths....mmmmm!" she met Lily's eyes and held them. "Okay, Lily?"

Lily considered it for a moment before nodding with a warm smile, leaning in close to the cupcakes. She held the bag carefully, biting on her bottom lip in concentration as she tried to pipe as neatly as she could. Although...she soon realised it was a lot harder than it looked. "Oh...."

Aria smiled gently, her eyes warm as he moved behind her. "Hold it like this..." she said and placed her hands. "And...gently...swirl..." she guided her hands, wanting Lily to do most of it, but also wanting to encourage her with how to do it.

Lily laughed warmly at seeing how much better it looked that time, her nose wrinkling with the pleased smile it brought to her. "Like red clouds! I hope we find a planet with red clouds..."

"I would love that!" Aria's eyes widened at the idea before she nodded, letting her continue. It was nice. And they looked good. Home made. She didn't want them to look perfect because she would rather have Lily do it and enjoy it. "We could put tiny marshmallows on these you know..." she suddenly said thoughtfully.

"Hm...I s'pose that would be better than on pizza..." the young girl had to agree, sitting back to look at her work with a smile. Most of the icing had made it on the cakes. That was a win in her eyes.

"I think so too. And look at these! So beautiful!" Aria pulled back and replicated some marshmallows, carrying the bowl over. "Put some on each on them...and one for the chef and one for the assistant chef..." she winked, her eyes shining as she opened her mouth for Lily to put one in there.

Lily giggled as she threw the marshmallow into the waiting mouth, only giggling all the more as she tipped her own head back to try and throw one into her own mouth...missing dismally, making her flinch as she closed her eyes, her nose wrinkling as it fell on it.

Aria smiled warmly, taking a new one. "Okay, this is it...look at me..." she said, her voice dramatic. "It is the Marshmallow Olympics...and for the gold...Lily Blake will be catching this one...." she held it up before she took aim. "Steady...steady..." she threw the marshmallow towards Lily's mouth.

Lily managed to catch it, clapping with a warm laugh as she ate it quickly, as if to make sure it didn't escape. She took a handful to scatter on the cupcakes, her legs swinging happily. "This needs one final thing..." she said with serious, wide eyes. "Stardust...." she leant closer to whisper. "...that's glitter..."

"Okay, ask the lady of the ship for edible glitter," Aria said with a positively beaming grin, her eyes shining. "She will be able to give us some. And it has to be edible, or else we will not be having nice tummies..."

"Okay!" Lily jumped down fearlessly, running for the replicator with hope. "Can I have some edd-eble glitter please?" she asked the Lady in the Ship, pleased when it seemed to work. "Thank you," she took it carefully, offering it up to Aria. "It's magic, so we have to be careful..."

"Okay...so we are going to sprinkle them over...well, I say we..." Aria reached to pick the girl up and putting her on the side again. "You are. Just do it high and slow...little sprinkles. If some gets more, that is good as well! It's fun if they are all different because then they have all been made individually with love."

"Lots and lots of love," Lily agreed with a warm smile as she took a pinch of glitter. She lifted her hand as high as she could manage before starting to slowly sprinkle it over the cakes. "It's raining stardust! Make a wish! Make a wish!"

Aria closed her eyes as if she was making a wish before clapping with joy at the result. "Brilliant, Lily! Look at what we made together!" she hugged the girl, watching the cupcakes.

Lily smiled warmly at that, snuggling contently into Aria's arms as she looked at the cakes. "You did the most bit though," she smiled softly with the recognition. "You're so clever. I wish I was grown up already."

"Never say that," Aria smiled as she kissed her hair, closing her eyes. "I wish I was still a kid rather than a grown up. Grown up can be so boring at times and for a lot of people the imagination is forced down...no, you keep your eyes to the sky, Lily. You are perfect growing up at the rate you are. And you are clever! The glitter was your idea, you picked the flavour..."

"Is glitter a clever thing?" Lily asked softly, tilting her head up so she could watch her properly, meeting her eyes. Despite the flippant question, the girl watched her with the same serious eyes her mother often had.

"I think so," Aria said as she held her eyes, wanting to be honest. "It was a creative decision. Those don't happen that often with grownups, so I find it clever. But...I am just me. Not a real..." Clever person... "..well, I am not like the Lady in the Ship!"

Lily giggled softly at that suggestion, covering her mouth with both hands as she shook her head. "What could she look like?" she asked with wide eyes as she tried to imagine her.

Aria considered it thoughtfully before she grinned. "She would be tall, with long, wavy black hair flecked with stardust. Green eyes and a warm smile...always in a flowing dress, that floats around her as she dances among the stars. What do you think, Lily?"

Lily was smiling, her eyes closed so she could imagine her, nodding eagerly at the picture Aria painted. "Yeah...that sounds like the Lady in the Ship...no shoes though. And her skin sparkles silver. She...she has a pet wolf, and when he howls at the bad people, that's when the red lights flash!"

"I love that idea," Aria sighed softly, nodding as she bit her lip for a moment. "Okay! Let us have a cupcake each, then I will make pizza and then we'll eat. And then we get ready for bed...with stories..." she tempted, because she wanted Lily ready for bed by the time Scarlet came home. So that she could have a calm evening.

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

Lt. Jg Aria Rice
Security
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Vansen]

Lily Blake
Civilian Child
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Blake]

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