After the guests

Posted on Sunday, 5 July 2020 - 4:09pm by Commander Soral & Lieutenant Alex Kingsley

Mission: Operation: Jabberwocky
Location: Laura's Home
Timeline: 2393 - MD 02 - Just after wedding

{ON:}

The party had gone long into the night. Finally everyone was gone. Alex...was a bit tipsy and saying goodbye to the last guest and Laura was somewhere about. He sat down on the sofa to catch a moment of peace.

Having said her fourth goodbye - at least - to her friends from England, Alex had watched from the end of the path as they disappeared into the night. For a moment she stood, leaning against the fence with her eyes closed, listening to the sound of the waves rolling gently to shore. Somewhere music started to play and she grinned, recognising her mother’s favourite band.

Sipping from her glass of champagne she hurried into the house, finding Soral alone in the lounge. She hurried to him, tugging on his hand, “dance with me?” It sounded more of a demand than a question, pouting to try and sway his decision. “Please....”

"Of course." He stood taking her glass and putting it on the table. He took her into his arms knowing she had had a bit too much to drink. He wrapped his arms around her and they gently swayed to the music. "Your mother did a wonderful job."

“She did,” Alex nodded enthusiastically, “and so did you! I love you so much, you know that, right?”

He allowed himself to smile. "Even if it turns out I am half Romulan?"

“Even if you were one half Ferengi,” she grinned as she kissed him. Clearly deciding that settled that she rested her head on his chest, singing along to the song before announcing, “Let’s have lots of kids. And pizza.”

He grinned. "I see. Very well. Yes to both." His heart swelled with love for her. Most of his life had been difficult but Alexandra was his gift. Not matter what was in the past she had been his gift and he'd treasure her. He held onto her as they danced and as she sang enjoyed the moment.

After a few minutes she stopped dancing and looked up at him, “I’m hungry, come on, there is maybe some in the kitchen!” She tugged on his hand again.

He allowed her to pull him along. "Pizza it is." If there was none the replicator would make some. He would ensure Alex ate and went to sleep and then he would help Laura by cleaning up. He briefly wondered where his mother in law was.

Entering the kitchen she began searching the refrigerator, finding everything but pizza. “I found cheese,” she declared, holding it up, “but no pizza. Why is there no pizza? What kind of fridge is this?! There isn’t even chocola - oh, yes there is... hello!”

Finding a bar of chocolate she nudged the door of the fridge closed with her foot and pulled herself up to sit on the edge of the worktop since gifts cluttered the table. Unwrapping the chocolate she snapped off a corner and held it out towards Soral, “want some? Just think of it as chocolate pizza....”

He smiled. "We have a replicator. Would you like me to replicate some pizza." He took the offered treat and ate it.

“Chocolate is fine,” she shrugged as she took a bite. Then she grinned across at him, “you said yes.”

"Yes?" He asked curious.

“To lots of kids,” she clarified as she bit off another small piece of chocolate. “When we did the guided meditation... one part was you on a beach with a picnic blanket and there were two kids nearby. I couldn’t see faces or details. But it was like there was some sort of invisible thread between you and them. And you looked soooo happy. A little like how you looked at me today.”

He smiled softly, "Indeed. Lots of kids. I will always look at you that way." He took her hand and kissed it as he'd done several times before. "Before you I never thought of children, you know. I never saw myself as having any but you...have completed my life. I now see a future."

“You always had a future,” she chided him before grinning, “you just didn’t have a red headed goddess to share it with.”

“Ah, there you are!” Laura announced as she rounded the corner, turning on the kettle before turning to face her daughter and son in law. “Well, you survived! I did promise you a celebration, did I not? And we are home before 3am. As promised! Let me just grab a tea and I will be out of your hair.”

Still seated on the edge of the worktop, Alex rested her head on Soral’s shoulder. She glanced at the clock which showed it was just after three. “You did amazing mum, thank you. But speaking of hair?”

Laura reaches up and patted her hair, which was currently in sections and wrapped around heated rollers. “Oh! This...” she turned her back to finish pouring tea. “Well, I have a date. That lovely Professor Reddington. I do not remember him being quite so handsome! We are having breakfast in the morning at Marco’s. Would either of you like tea or cof -“

Turning back to face them, Laura stopped, a small smile playing on her lips when she realised her daughter was all but asleep. “I guess it has been a busy day,” she observed, “will you be alright getting her to the room?”

“Not asleep,” Alex murmured.

“Uh huh,” Laura laughed softly.

Soral stood slowly and lifted Alex into his arms. "I shall get her settled and then return." He said.

“I’m not tired,” Alex protested as she felt Soral lift her, “just resting my eyes...”

Laura laughed quietly as she sipped her tea and watched Soral retreat with her daughter in his arms. Shaking her head she took a seat at the table, awaiting Soral’s return.

Soral helped his wife change into her sleeping gown, brushed her hair and settled her into bed. She was asleep by the time her head hit the pillow. He turned out the lights and returned to the kitchen finding Laura still there. "She is asleep," he said.

“She’ll wake up in a few hours looking for pizza,” Laura told him knowingly, crossing to the replicator. Extra hot. She flashed her guest a knowing smile, “I know my girl. I don’t imagine she gets drunk on your ship! She takes her career far too seriously. May I get you something to eat?”

He shook his head. "No it is alright. I will help with the clean up." He was exhausted but had much on his mind. "Thank you for arranging this for us."

“Think nothing of it! It was my pleasure,” Laura smiled. “Besides, I can see how happy she is. I want her happiness more than anything- since the day I held her for the first time. And you Soral- are you happy? Earlier today I was worried- something was wrong. Are you alright?”

He sighed. "Alexandra is my happiness." He paused. "My sister decided it would be the ideal time to tell me that I may have a twin sister. A preposterous notion. I asked a friend of mine, Hades, who is here on Vacation to conduct the test so that I can prove this notion ridiculous." He paused again. "I am not good with surprises. For it to be true would mean that my Vulcan heritage is in question."

Laura listened, allowing him to voice his concerns. “Well, whatever the outcome know we will always support you. When can your friend conduct the test?”

"Tomorrow I will go see him...I am afraid if it is true then Alexandra will wish to leave."

“Why would you be ever think that?” Laura asked, confusion evident.

He sighed. "Recently Alexandra learned that there may have been Romulan involvement in the Synth attack on Mars. What if I turn out to part Romulan?" He shrugged.

Laura looked pained but recovered quickly. “Am I to assume you were personally involved in making the Synth’s attack? You somehow rewrote their programme? Did you order them to kill my husband? My friends? Alex’s friends?” she asked the questions in quick succession, with the bluntness which betrayed how little faith she put in his fears. “No, you did not.”

She leaned forward, “she loves you. Not because of where you were born. Or who your parents are. She loves you for you.”

He stayed silent for a long moment. He covered her hand with his. "Thank you. You are as remarkable as Alexandra. I wish I could change what happened and bring him back to you both."

She smiled, “me too. But living in the land of what ifs makes it hard to live your life. I’ve not gone a day without thinking of him but I know he would be proud. And he was the one who was so determined Alex go to Cambridge. I think he told everyone on the planet! He was just bursting with pride. Everyone else was probably sick to the back teeth listening to him!”

She laughed, shaking her head as she drank some more of her tea. “Whoever this woman is, sister or not, I promise you do not need to worry about my daughter running for the hills.”

He allowed a small smile to play on his lips. "I promise you I will take care of her. I ... love her very much."

“I’m pleased to hear it. Because if not, you will have me to answer to,” Laura warned, sounding every inch a protective mother before she smiled and sipped her tea. “So, how do you find living together? I do hope Alex isn’t quite so chaotic. I was always fighting with her to tidy her room!”

"It has been interesting. I have very much enjoyed waking up with her and have developed a fascination with brushing her hair before we sleep. She finds her hair...difficult yet I find it ... well for lack of a better word fascinating. She does tend to leave things everywhere but I do not mind putting things away.”

“Ooh no, you make sure she tidies up too,” Laura chided with an affectionate smile. “As for her hair, we had many arguments when I tried to tame it for competitions! Sometimes she wouldn’t talk to me for days.”

Something in Soral clicked and he filed away the thought. "Indeed it is lovely hair and I hope that all our children have it." He looked around. "I am happy she did not hear me say that. It might earn her ire."

“Oh?” She seemed amused. “How so?”

"The hair issue. She gets frustrated with it." He sipped some of the tea that had been poured down the line. "You and Alex have not spent much time together with her work and yours. Are you available for the next three days?"

“I took time off for a couple of days for you both coming,” Laura told him. “Why?”

He reached in his jacket pocket and pulled out a small PaDD. "I have booked you two at a spa for a few days. I had heard and through research I found that mothers and daughters like Spa time." He handed her the PaDD.

“It’s very kind but... this is your honeymoon! Alex is supposed to be spending time with you! Her husband. Do not waste these opportunities. Take it from someone who knows.”

"I can understand but Alexandra and I will have many days together. She has not seen you in a long time. I know that she misses you and I can tell that you miss her as well. It is only a couple of days."

“Of course I do,” she assured him, “but what about you? What are you going to be doing?”

"Well the day after tomorrow is the Funeral ceremony of a friend's grandmother. I will go to that and if you leave me a list of items that require fixing here I can take care of that as well."

“I didn’t invite you to fix things,” Laura laughed lightly, “besides, I’ve not lived here long enough to break anything... I don’t think. When is the spa booked for?”

"Day after tomorrow." he said.

“And you are certain you don’t want Alex with you at the funeral?” Laura asked as she studied him.

"I am certain. I want her life to be only pleasant things."

“Well in that case thank you for the gift,” she smiled, “it will be nice to have some time with her.”

Soral stood and carried his cup to the replicator recall. "I should go." He paused by the counter. "Laura, may I speak freely?"

“Of course!”

He paused a moment to collect his thoughts. "I have never had a mother. I did not know my own and my stepmother, understandably, was not fond of me as I represented an affair her husband had, something...unforgivable on Vulcan. When they left when I was 13 and I lived in the monastery I would often imagine what a mother would be like." He paused, this time, allowing his thoughts to settle. "I imagine she would have been or I would have wanted her to be a lot like you." He stood. "Well I should go. Alex wakes up at night quite a bit as of late." Ever since they'd discovered her telekinesis.

Laura’s smile at his compliment was replaced by a frown, “oh? In my experience, pizza cravings aside, she would sleep through the apocalypse.”

He wasn't sure if he should say anything. "I am sure it will sort itself out." He said. He wanted Alex to be the one to talk to her mother about her abilities.

“Alright, well, I will let you get some sleep,” Laura nodded as she stood, “I should get some beauty sleep before I charm that handsome professor!”

"Do you require someone to have a talk with him prior to your date. I have heard Vulcans can be intimidating."

“Ha! No thank you, first date in a year, I’ll scare him off just fine on my own!”

"I am sure that is not the case. He will consider himself lucky." He bowed. "Have a good night."

“And you,” Laura smiled as she headed for her room. “I’ll see you in the mor - well, in a few hours.”

Soral entered the room. He quickly washed up and changed for bed. Tomorrow threatened to being many headaches with it for all.

{OFF:}