Castle on a cloud

Posted on 18 Jan 2013 @ 11:49pm by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeroen Adlar & Commander Scarlet Blake

1,554 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 02 - Resupply
Location: Vega, Surface, Park
Timeline: MD 06

ON:

Jeroen sighed softly as he sat outside in the park, taking in the sun. He had a drink too, and an old fashioned book. He needed shoreleave. Needed it like a bad drug some would say. In civilian garb, he looked like any other Federation citizen. And he felt like it too. It was a lot easier at times than the uniform, where he would catch a glimpse of himself and wonder about his own past and future. This was more neutral.

"Uncle Jeroen!" the child's voice was filled with excitement as the girl caught sight of him from across the park.

He looked at Lily with a smile, waving at her as he laughed. "My little angel!"

Lily ran for him, flinging her arms around him and kissing his cheek. "You look different!"

"He's not wearing a uniform," Scarlet smiled warmly as she caught her up, out of her own uniform also.

He picked her up, kissing her hair before looking at Scarlet. "And your Mummy looks absolutely stunning both in and out of uniform."

Scarlet laughed warmly, watching him with shining eyes as she moved to sit with him. "As do you. Enjoying the sun?"

Jeroen nodded as he sat down, holding Lily in his lap as he watched her. "Yes...nice to get a break from the ship. What have you two been doing anyway?"

"We just went for a look around the flowers," Scarlet shook her head with a small smile, threading her arm through his.

"We found some Lilies! Like me!" Lily laughed warmly, sitting in his lap and settling easily.

He smiled warmly as he looked at Lily, his eyes warm. "I adore lillies...but you are my favourite, Lily," he said and winked, glancing at Scarlet. "Let us have lunch together."

"That sounds like a perfect idea," Scarlet admitted with a warm smile, searching his features. "If we're not intruding. You look happy out here with your book."

Jeroen smiled as he shook his head, holding her eyes. "I would welcome your company," he said softly. "I want to spend time with my two favourite girls."

"Oh well in that case, we simply must," she laughed warmly, nudging him gently. "What do you fancy?"

"Whatever you two wish," he said and smiled, his eyes warm. "There is a nice restaurant down the street too, if you'd be interested?"

"Would they mind Lily?" Scarlet asked softly, meeting his eyes, not wanting to cramp people's style with bringing a child along.

"I doubt it," he said and smiled warmly, standing with Lily. "After all, Lily is a lady in her own right...aren't you, princess?"

"I'll be very very good," Lily said with a serious nod, looking especially like her mother with her serious eyes.

Jeroen watched her for a long moment before nodding. "Then I will be very good too," he promised. "And afterwards, we can go for ice cream and then run around a bit."

"Yeah!" Lily punched her arms in the air as if cheering, dancing round in a circle.

"Oh dear goodness, she hasn't even had sugar yet," Scarlet laughed softly, shaking her head.

Jeroen laughed warmly as he looked at Scarlet, his eyes shining. "She reminds me so much of you."

"Really?" Scarlet laughed softly, looking to him as she arched an eyebrow doubtfully.

He nodded as he touched her back, walking with them. "She has your spirit, as well as your good looks."

She smiled warmly at that, shaking her head as she nudged him playfully with her elbow. "You always were too good for me."

"Someone needed to be. Someone needed to watch over you," Jeroen whispered and leant to kiss her hair.

Scarlet smiled softly, leaning into it as she took a deep breath. "I was lucky to have you back then."

He smiled at that, shaking his head. "Scarlet...you deserved better. You deserve what Lily has."

Scarlet glanced to him, letting out a soft breath. "I try to keep that in mind, for Lily," she admitted quietly. "To keep determined that she has a better start."

Jeroen nodded and took her hand to hold. "She has you as her mother. That is already a great start."

She watched him with surprise at the warmth in the words, holding her breath. "I missed you," she whispered, shaking her head as she rubbed his arm. "So much."

Jeroen nodded as he watched her, with pain. "I worried so much for you," he whispered, searching her eyes. "I mourned you."

"And I you," Scarlet admitted quietly, looking down with a frown, taking a shaking breath. "I didn't want to leave, when the base was attacked by the Cardassians. But he just...half threw me on the shuttle, locked it on course."

"Good," he said and touched her cheek. "I am glad he did that. I am grateful."

"Who'd have thought it, of a Cardassian," she chuckled weakly, shaking her head against his shoulder.

Jeroen nodded and wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they walked. "They have souls too. Took me a long time to realise that."

"It taught me not to judge an entire group of people," she admitted quietly, shaking her head with a frown.

"It's a good skill...it's good," he whispered and touched her chin. "Always a smart girl."

"It doesn't always succeed though," she admitted, chuckling weakly as she shook her head.

Jeroen smiled as he shrugged, holding her eyes. "Part of being human..." he said as he led them into the restaurant. "Table for three, please."

The waiter smiled and nodded. "Of course...perhaps by the window towards the fountain? It will be romantic for you and your wife, and I am sure your daughter will enjoy it too."

Scarlet looked with surprise, laughing warmly at the waiter mistaking them for a married couple as she looked to Jeroen. She smiled warmly to him, her eyes sparkling playfully. "I think that's a great idea."

Jeroen laughed as well, nodding as he arched an eyebrow. "Come along, dear..." he winked and smiled as they walked to the table. He pulled out the chair for Scarlet and then for Lily, smiling.

"Wow, I'm sorry, I didn't mean for him to assume that," Scarlet said quietly to him, shaking her head with a soft laugh and a blush.

"I don't mind," he said and smiled as he took a seat as well. "I think it's rather nice..." he winked.

"True," she chuckled softly, shaking her head with a warm smile. "I guess that gives me privileges," she teased.

He nodded as he watched them both with warmth. "That...and this meal is all on me. So pick what you want. And Lily? Pick what you think will be nice, don't worry about the children menu. You eat what you want and how much of it you want. And if you don't like it, we get you something else. Deal?"

Lily watched him with surprise, and something close to awe. She nodded eagerly before biting her lip. "Help me read ?"

Jeroen nodded as he watched her, smiling warmly. "Sure, Lily," he said and leant close. "Now...tell me what you like? Lots of veggies, or baked things, or fried? Or even boiled?"

"Cheesy," Lily whispered to him behind her hand, as if it were a secret. "And tomatoey," she giggled softly.

Jeroen nodded as he watched her for a long moment. "Hm...okay," he smiled as he ran his finger down the menu. "There is a spagetti in a tomato and basil sauce with mozzarella pearls...it's like tiny bits of mild, stringy cheese..."

"That one," she pointed to it with a warm smile, watching with shining, pleading eyes. "Please?"

He chuckled softly, looking at Scarlet before nodding. It was a treat. And so what if it was an adult's meal? The girl needed to learn to try new things. "I think that's okay...right, Scarlet?" he winked.

"A very good choice," Scarlet said firmly with a smile, sipping the water that was on the table. She looked between them, laughing softly. "You two together are going to be trouble."

Jeroen chuckled as he watched her, with shining eyes. "What about you, Scarlet?"

She looked over the menu, considering it for a long moment, literally hming and hahing. "I think I'm going to have tartlet."

He nodded as he looked down, smiling as he read it as well. "And I will have the pasta and meatballs in the red wine and tomato sauce..."

"You haven't changed," Scarlet laughed warmly, shaking her head with a smile. "Want to join me in a glass of wine?"

"I would love to," he said and smiled warmly, nodding gently. "Best thing is to enjoy a good meal with those you love."

"With family," Scarlet added, firmly, meeting his eyes with a warm smile.

Jeroen smiled at that, nodding as he reached out to touch her hand. "Yes...family."

"And you're welcome to join us whenever you wish," Scarlet added with a warm smile, meaning it, squeezing his hand.

"Thank you...it means a lot to me," Jeroen admitted, his eyes warm as he squeezed her hand in return. He smiled when the waiter came, taking a breath. "Right...let's order."

OFF:

PO2 Jeroen Adlar
Science
USS Galileo

Ensign Scarlet Blake
Counsellor
USS Galileo

RSS Feed