No Chocolate and No Coffee

Posted on Tuesday, 9 March 2021 - 7:24pm by Commander Soral & Lieutenant Alex Kingsley

Mission: Operation: Trail of Tears
Location: USS Standing Bear | Various
Timeline: 2394 MD 09 Early after return from away team

ON:

Deep breath... Closing her eyes, Lieutenant Kingsley attempted to focus upon her own breathing. On her heartbeat. On her balance.

And not on the hyperactive puppy who had clearly decided it was time to play now that he was awake. First a ball was dropped on the floor, then what may have been the loudest squeaky toy in the history of squeaky toys, before both were nudged closer to her hand. And finally the soft, almost pitiful whining until she opened her eyes and met those sad brown eyes that seemed both confused and also happy to have her attention. "Really?" she sighed, "can't you see I'm upside down here?"

Bones tilted his head to the side, tongue hanging out, tail wagging. Waiting.

Alex sighed, considering her moves carefully as she momentarily shifted her weight onto one arm and used her now free hand to grab the well loved ball and throw it as hard as she could. Which was about the exact same moment the doors to their quarters opened. "You're early," she commented as Bones came scrambling back towards her, ball in mouth and ready for round two.

"I am indeed," Soral said as he entered their quarters. He'd left their Romulan guests in the capable hands of doctor Rose.

"Did you bring chocolate infused with coffee?" she asked hopefully as Bones tried to lick her face. "Bones!"

Before she could lose her balance which was already quite precarious by this point, she kicked away from the wall and flipped, landing on her feet and taking a moment to let the blood rush back to the rest of her body while Bones ran rings around her.

"Interesting exercise...and no. No Coffee and no chocolate. Strict dietary food, yes." He held up a bag. "Eggplant breakfast. Just as good as coffee."

Alex arched an eyebrow as she made a face. "I highly doubt it," she commented as she eyed the bag with suspicion. Haru had gone to great lengths to create an eating plan which made her - heaven help her - actually look forward to eating pineapples. It was all for a reason, of course, but that didn't stop her long for the foods she loved the most. And just a few days in she was doubting her willpower to last an entire month.

"I was too tired for the gym so I figured I'd just do some exercises here. Our gymnastics teacher used to make us do this warm up routine every day, and she used to say it was the perfect way to find your balance and inner strength. My friend Ellie and I used to compete in the same group and every morning we'd challenge each other to see who could do a handstand for the longest. But she usually won because I was too scared to miss the shuttle to school," Alex told him as reached for the bag, "okay, lets get this over with. My mother? She thinks this, getting me to eat all of this? That it is hilarious and said 'good luck' to any man who comes between me and chocolate. She said she'll check up on you every day though."

"Indeed. I will ask Eyelaya to rig up a personal shield...if she can tare herself away from her... love interest."

"She mentioned having a date the other day," Alex commented. "Good for her. You are meddling again, are you?"

"No...she chose Grol herself."

"Grol?!" Alex repeated, surprised. "I did not see that coming."

"Neither did I. Although they are both.... similar so I can see it." He thought a moment. I do have something that will make you feel better about the lack of chocolate."

"Is it ice cream?" she asked brightly.

"No. It is fruit shaped like chocolate..."

“That is kind of cruel,” she pouted. Then she sighed, “I’m sorry. I know you are just trying to help.”

"Alexandra we do not have to do the healing session. We can wait until you heal naturally." He didn't like her going without her favourite food.

“No, we do this,” she said firmly. “We could be waiting who knows how long, if ever? Let’s have breakfast. I thought we could go to the holodeck? I had a programme that I use for running but it can work for a hike. We could take a picnic at the top of the trail and Bones might like the change of scenery too?”

"That sounds good. I have a lot of energy." He looked down at himself. "I will change and we shall go." He handed her a box. "Each fruit is cut like a chocolate." He had been serious about that.

Curious, she peered inside the box. She was intrigued but decided instead to pack the box along with some other food into a backpack, including some treats for a certain four legged friend, along with some bottles of water after checking to make sure her reservation for the holodeck was still in place. Finally she turned and grinned when she found Bones sitting right behind her looking downright hopeful as he stared up at her, his tail wagging. "Ready for a day out?" she asked as she lifted him into her arms, scratching behind his ear before setting him back down.

Soral changed into some denim pants and a checkered shirt. He put on some hiking boots and looked as if he was only missing a cowboy hat. He stepped out of the room causing Bones to give a little whine and lay down covering his eyes with his paws as if to say what are you wearing?

“Give me five minutes and we can go,” Alex grinned, slipping past her husband, “love the shirt.”

She was ready in record time, a pair of simple black leggings paired with a two layer vest top, the lower more fitted layer jet black while the loose fitting outer layer was deep green. With a her Cambridge University hoodie tied around her waist and her trusty hiking boots on her feet she was all set. “Shall we?” She asked brightly. They had largely been on opposite shifts this week and the chance to spend time together outside their quarters buoyed her mood considerably.

Soral was glad that they were having this outing. With all that had gone on he had missed time with her. "I am glad that we are having a moment to ourselves. I am glad that I did not have to implement my plan."

“Your plan?” She asked as she slipped on the backpack and headed for the door, Bones watching them until they both called on him. Excited realisation led to happy barks and the very eager puppy managed to be first out the door.

"He will have a good time." He took her hand. "Yes, my plan to kidnap you and take you to Risa where we can spend two weeks alone."

“In that case, kidnap me now,” she dared, grinning.

"Very well." He lifted her in a fireman's carry. "Shutle bay one or two?"

Her squeal and fits of laughter echoed along the corridor as Bones ran rings around them. “Soral!” She laughed.

"Very well. Shuttle bay two it is." He was warmed by her good mood. "You may come too Bones."

With a dutiful bark as if entirely following the conversation, Bones trailed in his wake. "Traitor," Alex accused, but the puppy was unconcerned. Perhaps because the word was muffled by a fresh kink of laughter as Soral's hand on her side brought on a fit of giggles as she squirmed. She had always tried hard, very hard, never to betray just how ticklish she was but of course, he knew. It was a deliberate torment. Her pleas for mercy followed them all into the turbolift.

Soral put her down finally. "Shuttle bay or holodeck?"

As he set her down she had to grip his arms until the world finished righting itself. "The captain will be furious if his XO kidnaps his favourite second officer, so I guess the holodeck? You can always kidnap me when the mission is over?" she suggested as she stood on her tiptoes to kiss him.

He sighed. "Very well then." He ordered the lift into action. Within minutes they were on the deck and walking into the holodeck.

"I feel I should be worried about the idea of being kidnapped," she teased as she took his hand and led the way inside, "but I'm not."

As the doors closed behind them, the illusion became complete. "Welcome to the isle of Skye," Alex told them as she took in a deep breath. The blue sky overhead was bright blue, adorned with a few fluffy white clouds drifting lazily. They stood in the centre of a small town square, largely deserted but every door lay wide open to welcome in weary travellers or the few locals who called this place home.

Turning Soral so he faced westwards, Alex pointed to a steep climb up a hill awash in deep luscious greens and heathers which dotted the landscape with purple, "beyond that store is the path that takes us to the fairy pools. I came here with my mum one summer. I adjusted the programme a little so that it is a little safer and shorter than the real thing would be, since I figured Bones would want to survive the trip."

Soral stared at the space. "This...place really exists?" He was quite taken with the beauty of it.

“Wait till you see the pools,” Alex enthused, taking his hand and tugging him towards the path. As promised, while it was an invigorating walk and the breeze was pleasantly cool - at least to her, Soral she imagined might be far too cold to appreciate it. Beautiful undoubtedly but even on the warmest day, this was no Vulcan. And their efforts were rewarded. Soon the reached the end of the trail where miles of countryside seemed to stretch out, punctuated by small streams, larger rivers and rock formations which at random sent the water cascading into small natural pools which all seemed aglow with an ethereal light, even during the day.

Bones, as happy as he could be, was running around, barking, sniffing at everything. Soral took it in quietly. The hike was what he needed, while the surrounds were a little cool he was used to the coldness of places. It was beautiful, almost other worldly. He pointed to a place by one of the natural polls. "Shall we sit and eat a while?"

"Yes," she agreed with enthusiasm, stomach rumbling. As they neared she lay her hoody down on top of one of the rocks large enough to seat them both comfortably while also letting them admire the view. Slipping off the backpack she first pulled out a small bowl and filled it with water for Bones. After the walk here she was sure he needed it. As he settled in to drink up, she began unpacking the rest of the supplies, including the box of fruits to look like chocolates. Getting comfortable she sat with the box on her lap and pried it open.

"I'm amazed they survived my kidnapping." she teased as she picked up one to try it. After a thoughtful nod she decided to give her husband this win. "Not bad. Try one?"

He did try one. "Not bad. I must admit though I have developed a fondness for a type of chocolate...I hide them in my desk at the office."

She stared at him, speechless. “Seriously?” she managed. Was he trying to torment her?

"Indeed. I fully blame you. "I ate some pineapple chocolates you had and I found that I loved the taste."

“You blame me? So you decide to talk about them when I can’t eat them?” she scowled as she took another bite of Fruit-Not-Chocolate.

"I brought them up because I have decided to give up coffee and chocolate while you are." He said.

“You have?” She frowned. “You know you don’t have to do that...”

"It is something we will do together." He said taking her hand.

“You are giving up chocolate. And coffee. For me?” she clarified as she stood up and turned to face him, “seriously?”

"Indeed. As long as you cannot have them, neither shall I."

“I don’t know if that is romantic or insanity,” she teased as she kissed him. “For you I will give you the benefit of the doubt.”

He smiled. The sound of a splash brought their attention to Bones who was romping through the water happily barking away.

Alex grinned as they watched him play. “Guess he has a new favourite place,” she commented.

"Indeed. I must say he is like a child at times."

“He is a puppy,” she pointed out.

"Yes."

Bones ran out of the water shaking off the wetness on them.

“Bones!” Alex cried out as they were sprinkled with water. Laughing she reached for him which turned into a playful game as she chased him.

Soral studied them feeling quite content. "We did not bring bathing suits. Careful not to fall in."

His words were not headed and it seemed only a few short minutes later that there was a startled Yelp, a cry of ‘Bones’ and then a splash too loud to be a puppy alone. There was a silence and then a fit of laughter as Alex held Bones safely above the water while getting to her feet, completely soaked to the skin. “Maybe we should change programs and dry off on a beach?”

Soral had stood sharply at her yelp and then his lip twitched as she laughed. "I do have a better idea if you'll permit."

“Oh?”

He called for the arch and imputed a few notes into the computer. The room around them shimmered and shook and then changed to a private Risan beach. with a beautiful small house.

“You kidnapped me after all, huh?” She grinned as she peeled off her boots so she could stand on the warm sand.

"Indeed." He looked around. The beach was filled with white sand, the ocean a sky blue. There was a small forest behind a bungalow cabin that looked modern yet rustic. "Do you like this place." He motioned around them.

“Sun, sea, sand, private... yeah, I like it,” Alex nodded.

"Good. This is ... our cabin on Risa. I will take you there soon."

“I must have water in my ears...” Alex mused, “because I thought you said our cabin on Risa.”

"Indeed. It is a place I go to write..." He rubbed the back of his neck. There were still some things his wife didn't know about him. "In addition to being Starfleet and....V'Shar I am a writer...under a pen name of course...or two."

"Then I," she declared as she sat down in the sand, "am not moving until I've read some of it."

He laughed. "I will provide you with some books when we get back to our quarters. Now let us enjoy Risa."

"In that case," Alex said as she held out her hand, "maybe you should give me the grand tour?"

He took her hand brought it to his lips and kissed it. "Shall we?"

She thought for a moment and there was only the slightest tell tale hint of mischief before she suddenly kicked Soral's legs out from under him so he fell backwards onto the sand. Laughing she moved to sit over him, taking full advantage of his surprise as she kissed him. "Thank you."

Soral was caught off guard by her moves and as he regained his composure a pride filled him that she could catch him by surprise. "Thank you for what?" he asked.

"Putting up with a wife who must have seemed insane," she pointed out. "For giving up coffee and chocolate just to support me. For having unlimited patience with me."

"These are all things you do not owe me thanks for, my wife." He kissed her back.

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