Girls day

Posted on Tuesday, 4 August 2020 - 3:15pm by Lieutenant Alex Kingsley & Commander Soral

Mission: Operation: Jabberwocky
Location: Earth, Australia
Timeline: 2393 - MD09

{ON:}

Severine had slept well. It had been interesting having Laura read to her and the woman seemed to have endless patience with her questions answering each one. She washed her face and changed and headed out finding Laura in the kitchen. "Good Morning," she paused. She had decided last night that she would give herself to her new family. "Grandmother," she added. She had decided that Laura was her grandmother and Alex her mother. It pleased her endlessly to think of the two as such and her Father's pride in her acceptance had cemented the decision.

Filling a pitcher with fresh orange juice, Laura's face lit up, her smile one of pure delight as she turned to face Severine. The young girl had become part of the household so quickly, so easily, that she took no offence. Family meant more than just flesh and blood after all. And she was already so very fond of the girl. "And good morning to you!" she replied brightly, setting down the orange juice on the table where bowls of fruit salad and cereal were gathered. "I hope you had wonderful dreams! Come, sit, you must be hungry. I thought I'd let you try some new foods. The fruit was just delivered this morning by the grocer. Help yourself."

Severine, who'd always preferred a more vegetable and fruit diet was pleased indeed to see the spread. She had been hungry and as for dreams...she still had not remembered her dreams for the last few weeks. She happily sat down picking and choosing what she would eat.

Letting the girl pick out whatever took her eye, allowing her to take a taste and decide for herself what she liked, Laura busied herself making sure the kitchen was neat and tidy. "Your father is just about to leave to take care of some errands so we are going to have a girls day," she confided to Severine with a mischievous grin so very much like her daughters. "We will do our nails, our hair, watch movies. Anything goes as long as we make sure Alex rests like she is supposed to and we make sure she doesn't sneak. It will be a difficult task and I will need a brave assistant. Are you up to the challenge?"

"Indeed." She paused. "May I ask some questions."

Laura smiled, “of course.”

"What will we do to our nails and hair? Will it be painful? What is a movie?" She bit into some apple bits deciding that she loved the crispness of them. She eyed a pineapple and filed her plate with relish. It had been a favourite.

“It will be beautiful, not painful at all, you will see. And a movie is a story, but with actors who bring the characters to life either themselves of using their voices. You will love all of it I am sure,” Laura enthused.

She seemed satisfied with the answer. Soral came out greeted the two and left quickly to take care of a busy day. Severine, by this time, had loaded her plate. She now waited for Alex to join them before starting.

“There you are,” Laura smiled when she caught sight of Alex emerging from the bedroom, pulling out a chair. “Sit yourself down and we shall have breakfast.”

Sitting as ordered, Alex glanced up as a glass was set down in front of her followed by cereal. “Is this chocolate milk?”

“You like chocolate milk “ Laura retorted.

“When I was four...” Alex agreed as she began to eat.

"Good morning Lady Alexandra." Severine said. She was careful to wait for Alex to start as on Vulcan it was always the mother who began the meal. She had studied all she could of Vulcan and was determined to make her father proud of her.

“Alex will do fine,” Alex reminded the girl, “especially when I am wearing pyjamas.”

“You are dressed just right,” Laura grinned. “I have planned on a girls day, just us three. Severine has never seen a movie so we will watch as many as we can, with lots of popcorn!”

Severine raised an eyebrow. "Pop-corn?"

"Indeed," Laura grinned. "It is amazing. And perfect when watching a movie."

Severine gave a nod. She studied Alex. "Are you well? You do no seem...yourself. I can sense...tension, sadness."

"Nothing a day with us wont fix," Laura told Severine with a wink, putting a hand on her daughter's shoulder.

"Absolutely," Alex agreed, offering the girl a reassuring smile. "Finish breakfast and then we can show you the movie choices. I am absolutely getting a shower first."

Severine said nothing more. She ate her breakfast in contemplative silence. When she was finished she helped Laura clear the table. Alex had gone to shower. Severine looked at Laura. "I know it is wrong to say but...I do not believe her. She is sad."

"Sometimes people get sad," Laura said as she set the replicator to begin producing bowls of popcorn, "which is absolutely okay. She is sad but I know you make her feel better. Which is why I knew you would be my perfect helper today. Because the best cure for being sad is chocolate, popcorn, a movie and - most importantly - being with those you love. Now, Alex doesn't really like to be fussed over, so we will have to be clever and make sure that she doesn't do anything other than rest."

Severine gave a nod. "I can do that." She sniffed the popcorn. "It smells very pleasant."

“Wait till you taste it! Let’s set up in the den, we can take in popcorn and then we can sort drinks,” Laura smiled.

"May I ask a question?"

“You just did,” Laura teased, “but of course you can. You don’t need permission from me.”

She paused. "Was I wrong in wanting to meet my father? Is that the cause of Lady Alexandra's sadness?"

“Absolutely not, you mustn’t ever think that,” Laura said firmly as knelt down so that she was eye level with her. “She thinks -“

“I think you were very brave,” Alex finished for her mother. She sat on a chair and gestured sir Severine to come and sit on her lap. “I think you are a remarkable little girl. Clever and curious but also caring and so like your father in so many ways. I’m sad because I was hurt but I will get better. Until then I get to spend some time with you both.”

Severine went to her when she gestured. She turned and she put her arms around Alex' neck. For all the years and all he love that her Aunt Liviana and great aunt had provided she had never allowed herself to picture having a mother. She now did and it was new but also very comforting. She stayed like that hugging Alex for a while. She was glad that she was not the source Alex's sadness. It had been a worry for her. "You will be better, I know you will."

“Absolutely!” Alex smiled, “and I bet lots of hugs and popcorn are just the perfect medicine.”

Laura watched them with maternal pride before heading into the den. Folding out a sofa bed so they could lounge about and moving the tables closer to either side so they could sit food and drink. And lastly a random assortment of blankets, one she had bought when Alex was just a baby and since then Laura had taken it everywhere. It was terribly sentimental.

“All set!” She declared. “I thought we’d start with Aladdin?”

“A personal favourite,” Alex confided to Severine.

“You two get settled and I will bring the snacks,” Laura ordered as she ushered them out.

Severine settled in next to Alex somehow feeling content. She had always been strong and kept herself the perfect Vulcan but now, just this once, she pulled a blanket around her and snuggled up to Alex. "I am glad you will be my mother." She said.

“Me too.”

Returning, Laura laid out the food and drinks before settling in. While not the intention exactly, between Severine on one side and she on the other, Alex was going nowhere without them knowing. Satisfied with her plan she started the movie and dimmed the lights, prepared for lots of questions from their young guest. She was amazed as time went on and it was peacefully quiet save for popcorn being shared and disappearing faster than Laura could believe.

The day had passed in a blur. Several popcorn bowls were consumed and several movies watched.

Soon evening had set in and Severine had gone off to bed. Tomorrow she would leave for Vashti with Liviana. Soral, who had spent most of the day in a healing trance, returned. He was tired but feeling more centered. He entered just as Laura and Alex were sitting in the kitchen having tea.

“...married again. Husband number four,” Laura was saying as she rose to fetch another cup for tea. Seated at the table, her chin resting on her knees as she sat with her feet balanced on the edge of the seat, Alex glanced over her shoulder as she heard the door closing, smiling as she stretched out an arm, reaching for his hand.

Without question he walked to his wife took her hand and kissed her hello. He greeted Laura. Turning his attention to Alex he said, "Have you rested today?"

“Absolutely,” she said with a nod before holding up her other hand to show off the glitter nail polish, “don’t these nails look rested? Severine does great work.”

“She even fell asleep during The Lion King, which hasn’t happened since she was two,” Laura piped up.

“Traitor,” Alex told her mother, sticking out her tongue.

“I could tell of many things you did as a child if you’d like?” Her mother retorted with a grin.

“Love you,” Alex backtracked quickly.

“Love you too,” Laura laughed. “Sit, have some tea Soral. Severine is fast asleep.”

Soral sat down. "Tea would be lovely." He paused. "I have booked us passage on the Firestone. She will do warp 9 and get us to the station quickly. She leaves tomorrow night."

"So soon," Laura said softly, too quietly for her daughter to hear, as she poured the tea.

"Tomorrow," Alex nodded. "We will need to pack all of the wedding gifts up. Although some will be too breakable for the ship. Or Bones."

"I can take care of them for now," Laura offered.

Soral smiled. "Indeed. I have invited your mother to our estate on Vulcan. Perhaps they can be brought at that time?"

Alex glanced at her mother in surprise but recovered quickly. "Sounds like a good plan," she agreed.

Soral tugged on Alex's arm pulling her into his lap. "You seem surprised."

"I guess I missed that discussion is all," Alex confided as she rested her head on his shoulder.

He enjoyed the simple pleasure of holding her. "How are you feeling today?"

Tired, empty, sad... However, none of those words left her lips. "Better," she told him, "of course I had excellent babysitters."

"Indeed." He looked at Laura. "Your daughter has an expressive face so even when she doesn't say something you can see it." He kissed her gently. "I know this is difficult." He said, "I know the adjustment will take time but we shall get through this."

"I know," she conceded. Deciding to move the subject along she frowned, "how was your day?"

"Everything was completed and I managed to enter a meditative healing trance. Doctor Hades has an interesting right hook. Motivation to wake quickly." He said a sparkle of amusement in his eye.

"That sounds... just wrong," Alex told him as she pointed to his cup, "drink your tea before my mother gets you into trouble."

He couldn't hide the smile. He picked up his tea and drank.


{OFF:}