Growing Together

Posted on Monday, 25 January 2021 - 5:39pm by Lieutenant JG Adrianna Eberhardt & Crewman Leopold Eberhardt

Mission: Operation: Trail of Tears
Location: USS Standing Bear | Deck 04 | Airponics

Leopold had been working discretely with Lieutenant Kingsley for some time, the past several weeks in fact. It was a covert operation of his own design, and though she gave him the space to conduct it, it was entirely on Leopold whether or not it was going to be successful. He had done everything right or as close to it as was possible on the starship. In his position aboard the starship in waste reclamation of all things, he knew what he could take and tweak it to become the perfect soil. It was damn ambitious for someone who was a bit of a novice, but he had been studying horticulture for the past few months every chance he got even when he was technically on duty, but waste reclamation was a lonely job with a lot of spare time.

It had been a success. Acquiring the seeds was no easy task, and he had to pull the right strings of people who knew people who knew someone that they could not say how they had them, but they had them. Now, they were maturing into fully grown plants though they still had some time until they would be considered 'adults,' and their notes for the most part were feminine, but in time some would develop the range of male vocals providing a nice bass or baritone. Leopold had visited Airponics at least once a week for the past several weeks as soon as their tips began poking out from the soil, where he would spend a few hours playing music for them. Orff and Wagner had a particular impact on their growth and maturity.

He had asked Adrianna to join him on deck four outside of Airponics where he currently stood waiting for her. Arranging some time off so that he would not be on duty when she was off duty took some doing. It was hard-pressed to find someone willing to do waste reclamation, but he had managed to work something out. He was dressed casually, and pushed his pale blonde bangs aside, and looked up as he was resting against a bulkhead, seeing that his girlfriend was coming down the corridor towards him. "Fancy meeting you here," he said with a sweet expression on his face and a mischievous smirk.

Adrianna smiled, she was in a beautiful, casual red dress. Lace appliqué caressed her womanly form. The woman's brown eyes looked around at the various plants climbing the walls. It seemed like a more beautiful version of day of the triffids. "Funny I should turn up to the place you asked me to turn up to, at the right time." She ran a hand through her naturally curly hair, her eyes finally going back to him, "I don't think I've actually been here before, even though I've toured the whole ship a few times."

"It isn't somewhere I frequent," he replied which was a bit of a lie because he had been though normally, no, he would not have. "When there are only nine decks to a starship, you tend to see every bit of it quickly," he added. "When I came aboard Airponics was just a mostly empty room with some containers of dirt and a cabinet of seeds."

He pressed the panel and triggered the door to open, gesturing for her to step in. "Be my guest," he said.

"You did this?" Adrianna asked, her eyes dancing around at the plants. She was finally close enough to him to kiss him. She kissed him softly as a hello then looked around again, "it's amazing."

"Ah but you haven't even seen the best," he added. He motioned to the corner of the room where several blue plants were.

Adrianna followed his gesture. She looked at it, clearly intrigued. The woman carefully walked over and put her hand out, caressing the plants petals," it's beautiful. What is it?"

"Stay quiet for a moment," Leopold encouraged. Soon, the plants began to hum and vibrate with their petals flickering and fluttering about. Leopold smiled. "Talosian singing plants. It was difficult to get the seeds given Talos is off limits."

Adrianna listened to the soft hum. This was something she'd never seen or heard before. It was weird and yet soothing and almost tribally choral. "I have never heard or seen one of these before. How?"

"They are native to planets in the Talos system, and any Federation starship is forbidden to be there, Talos IV especially. It's practically the closest to a death sentence still in Federation law." He smiled. "Don't worry, I'm not going to be out on trial. I acquired the seeds through third parties. I think they ultimately came from a Ferengi "

Adrianna grinned and looked back to Leopold. She put soft hands on both his cheeks and asked, with a glint of mischief in her eyes, "am I a bad influence on you?"

"Not bad enough," he replied leaning in and kissing her, placing his arms around her waist. "I did use some of your skills to get the seeds though. I may have blackmailed a Bolian."

Adrianna had mixed feelings. It was like she'd become her father, training people, but mostly she felt pride. She smiled, "good for you." She relaxed her hold, and put her arms around his neck, leaning back a little, "Don Eberhardt. It has a strange ring to it."

"Glad you like it. How does Adrianna Eberhardt sound to you?" he asked as he got down on one knee and pulled a a small jewelery box from his pocket, popped it open and displayed the ring inside. "What do you say? Make the cougar and I happy?"

"Eberha-" she froze mid clarification, seeing what was happening; seeing what was being asked. Her heart raced. Adrianna was sure he'd be able to hear it. For once, Adrianna had a lot to say, infact, she even needed to give an all important verbal decision. The woman also needed to voice something of other importance.

Adrianna was fluent in around eight languages and knew bit of many more, but none could help her in that moment. For a woman that specialised in talking, she was muted by the romantic gesture. Instead she nodded, her eyes tearing up a little.

The woman ignored the ring a moment and simple bent down, kissing him. Nothing else mattered right that second. He could take the hint that what she meant was 'yes', right?

"So....yes? No? Maybe?" he teased her. "I mean if you don't want to take my name, I will not be offended. I can become a Baciami and help clean the family name that your father and brother have pissed upon."

"Si, si, ja, si, it's a yes," she replied with a little bit of a sniffle, they were definitely joyous tears, "and names--I don't know. I'd have to think. But whatever it is, we all need to be the same."

Leopold stoop up and wrapped his arms around Adrianna, lifting her off her feet a bit. "I do not care what name you use, just that I am to be your husband." He smiled at her. "Your mother will be happy about this."

"Husband," she repeated, liking the title on him. Adrianna's smile faded a little to more of a grin, "well, it may be good timing, actually."

"Why?" inquired Leopold. "Have you been growing impatient? We can have a speedy wedding if you would like, but we must have your mother in attendance."

That suddenly felt like a bit of a punch to the gut. It was clear that none of her family would be able to join in such a joyous occasion, but it hadn't crossed her mind til now. She shook her head and refocused. "What I mean to say is," she replied, nervously though clearly excited, "there may be a chance that we may be in the process of starting a family already."

"A child?" Leopold was caught off guard by that. "How? I mean I know the science and our anatomies are very compatible, but I have been good," he added. "I see the EMH regularly for a hypo to keep the buns out of the oven."

Adrianna wasn't sure what emotion he was projecting. The woman looked him over subtlety, her heart now racing for other reasons. She chose her next words carefully and simply replied, though feeling as if she way tiptoeing on eggshells, "I'm eight days late. I'll go to doctor Rose tomorrow, before shift."

"Okay," replied Leopold trying to offer support. "If you are pregnant, I will help considering it is mine, I'd assume?" he inquired. He was fairly certain it would be his. "I mean you haven't seen any weird orbs entering your body or anything."

Now Adrianna wasn't sure if it was a language barrier or whether she should be offended. She remained silent, in the hopes the silence would render him with something a touch more positive. Perhaps his brain was working faster than his mouth could filter, but how dare he question her loyalty.

"I know that look," he commented. "You gave your brother something similar every so often, and it is not lovingly given." Leopold sighed. "I did not mean to accuse you of anything. I just wanted to make sure we are in this together and it has just been us."

"I'd never do something that stupid," Adrianna protested, "I love you. Why is that even a thought? No, you know what no, this is a beautiful proposal, and dammit, I'm saying yes. I love you."

"You wear your scars externally," he replied. "My body is as flawless as a Germanic God, but inside, I'm full of scars. I love you too. So, forgive my stupidity and become my wife."

"My germanic god, that I want to Zungenkuss for proposing and maybe even 'Ich möchte Liebe mit dir machen'. Hm?"

"I think thats how we got into this predicament," he teased. "But why the hell not. I'm always up for seconds...thirds...I have a healthy appetite."

Adrianna grinned, her lips going to his neck and her hands began to wander, "security is a grey area in this room and I can't wait to get home. Do you object?"

"I do not object," he teased. "Plus you are head of Intel on the ship. You have one of the highest security clearances other than the command and medical personnel. You can easily seal the doors for a bit."

"Computer, seal door, Baciami Romeo Whiskey seven six eight zulu," she barked before allowing her body to take control.