Facing the Ex In-laws

Posted on Tue Aug 2nd, 2011 @ 5:35pm by Commodore Alexandra Harrison

1,387 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Mission 76 - Home comings
Location: San Francisco CA
Timeline: After the meeting

The meeting was brutal. If they had removed Mike from SB400, she wasn't sure if she could stay in Starfleet. He was always there for his crew and she had a very high respect for him.

The day had already been ruined so she figured that she minus well end the day with her ex's family from hell. They never really liked her in the first place so it was not a surprise how they treated her after they were divorced. Ruben was their on so it was a no brainer that they took his side. They were ecstatic when she lost the divorce case. It meant that they could see their grandson whenever they wanted and try to brain wash the child. Fortunately, it didn't work.

Alex took a deep breath before ringing the chime. She stood there hoping that they were gone but no such luck. His father wasn't so bad but his mother was the mother-in-law from hell. The way she looked down upon her, well, it was very tiresome day in and day out.

The door opened and this woman who looked like she aged 20 years since the last time she saw her. "Oh, Alexandra, it's you."

"I had a meeting at Starfleet and thought that I'd stop by and pay my respects to Ruben."

"I'm surprised." She looked around, "What? Paul isn't with you?"

Alex thought to herself, ~Here we go again.~ She felt her insides tighten up, "He's safe and on his way to Starbase 400 as we speak. By the time I get there, he'll be there. Look, all I'm here for is to pay my respects then get back home to be with my son."

"I suppose now that you have your son that we will never get to see him."

She wanted to choke this woman, "Patricia, unlike you, I don't hold grudges. If you want to see Paul, you can either come to the base or I can send him to you. You're also more than welcome to talk to him anytime you want. The same for him. Even though Ruben is gone, you're still his grandparents.

Before she could reply, there was a voice behind her, "Pat, who is at the door?" He moved next to his wife, Oh, Alex, what are you doing here. I thought that you and Paul would be together."

"My apologies. I wasn't aware that I was going to be back on Earth. If I had, I would have picked him up myself."

He kind of pushed his wife over to the left, "Where's our manners. Come on in." Pat threw a dismayed glance at her husband. "Mark, I thought you said that we are expected at the Hardings."

He looked back at her, "What are you talking about? That's tomorrow."

They walked in. Mark and Alex sat down while Pat tinkered around the room. Mark seemed a little too friendly than she was used to. There was an awkward silence which was finally broken by Mark, "Alex, I know that things haven't been exactly good between us and you. I wish that things hadn't gone the way it did. I sat back and kept my mouth shut through this whole fiasco. I want you to know that I had nothing against you. I'm not one for confrontation and I was afraid that if I sided with you, that I'd lose my family. I feel badly right now. What Mark did wasn't right. He should have given you shared custody."

Alex didn't know what to say, "Um, oh boy, I had no idea."

Patricia chimed in, "Mark! What the hell? Why are you now taking her side? You know darn well that if she had allowed her son on a ship, that the boy might have been in danger. We only wanted him to be safe and there was no way that she could guarantee that."

Alex couldn't believe this woman, "Ruben didn't want me to get a job. That's what it was all about. He wanted to control me and when I defied him, he used my son to try to gain control of me. When I wouldn't budge, he filed for divorce, paid off some judge and got full custody of Paul. He basically punished me for wanting to work instead of being a stay home Mom. Many ships had kids on it including the Enterprise. No one ever took away their kids.

Mark was shocked, "Paid the judge off? Are you sure?"

"I'm very sure but I can't prove it. It doesn't matter, he's dead now."

Mark looked at his wife but she couldn't seem to look him in the eyes, "Pat, you knew this and you didn't say anything?"

"I found out a couple of weeks after the court's ruling. He was talking to someone and I overheard him. If I had to di it all over again, I would. The boy needed a dad who would always be there for him. Not running about the stars. He wouldn't have had a normal life. With his dad, he did."

"You should have said something. It wasn't fair to Alex here."

Alex didn't want to start stirring up trouble between them, "You know, it's water under the bridge. Tearing out each other throats isn't going change what happened. I have him now and I'm going to enjoy the time I have left with him. And if he wants to join Starfleet or not, I will let him make that decision. I don't want you or anyone else trying to influence his decision either way. If you can honor that decision, I'd appreciate it. Like I told Pat here, I don't want to keep you away from him. You can talk to him anytime and maybe even visit him on the base."

"I'd like that. You are being too kind."

"You are Paul's family and it wouldn't be right to keep you both away from him. All that would do is punish Paul. He shouldn't have to suffer because his father was being a jerk at the time." She looked at Pat and added, "And his grandmother."

Pat wasn't happy with what she said. "I just happened to agree with my son. I don't care what anyone says, he isn't going to be safe with you."

"Pat, that's enough. Besides, she's on a Starbase. Isn't that right Alex?"

"Yes and if it makes you feel any better, I won't allow him to be on the ships, just the base. Will that suffice you?"

"Well I don't know. I just don't know."

Alex just shook her head. Ruben was just like his mother, exactly like her. Alex stood up, "I really should go. I need to be back on the ship soon and I still haven't visited the grave site yet."

"I understand. Pat, do you have anything to say before she leaves?"

Pat just walked away in a huff. Mark felt embarrassed about this and everything that happened in the past. He couldn't change the past, only the future. "She's already past the crying stage. Now she's in that angry stage that I've been told to expect. I know that you'll do your best to keep Paul safe."

"Yes, I will do everything possible to keep him safe. Tell Pat good-bye and you take care. Thank you for what you said earlier."

He smiled and hugged her, "It was the truth. I should have stepped in no matter what. My son was in the wrong. My wife was in the wrong. You take care and tell Paul that he can talk to me anytime."

"I will." She turned and left.

Alex found the grave site and stood there. She started to talk to him, which turned into her yelling at him. After saying what she needed to say, she left. It was a long walk back but she needed the walk to clear her mind.

As she continued to walk, a feeling of freedom engulfed her. She was no longer tied to her past. It was time to move on with her life and enjoy the few years that she had left with her son before he becomes a man and leaves to make his own future.

Alex found the Starfleet courtyard and sat on a bench with a smile.

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