A welcome surprise

Posted on Mon Aug 27th, 2018 @ 8:20am by Lieutenant Commander Ariana Monroe-Wayne & Cadet Senior Grade Marcus Mattson

1,630 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 96 - A Visitor From the Past
Location: Marcus' Quarters
Timeline: MD1 1030 hrs

Having been given the all clear & released from sickbay early Ariana had decided to surprise Marcus. Popping by her quarters she grabbed a few things and put them in a bag before heading to Marcus' quarters. Pressing the door chime she waited for Marcus to open the door.

Marcus had been worried about Ariana, so worried that he didn't know what to do. So he spent his time when he had nothing to do, working on his mechanical arm. His more simple arm was attached to the shoulder of the advanced one, giving him literally three arms. The door rang and he went to open it.

"Surprise!" she grinned, "Doctor Hades decided I was fit to leave sickbay & you did say I could stay with you for a little while."

"Hey! Yes I did, please come in." he gestured, not thinking about it so he gestured with his two left arms.

"Feel like you needed an extra hand Marcus?" Ariana grinned as she walked inside Marcus' quarters.

He looked at his double arm side. "Oh. I was just trying to be distracted by working on simple arm maintenance. "You want a shower? I bet being in that sickbay all day want you to get clean." He was sighing internally in relief that she was alright, but she must be in a bad mental state since she lost one of her children. All he could do was to be there for her.

"Distracted? you've been that worried about me?" she smiled warmly as she looked at him. "A shower would be lovely, I could do with it."

He looked at her like she had gone mad. "Of course I am worried. I like you a lot and when you collapsed I was more or less in panic mode. The child you bare is not mine, but I would love to one day be his or her father figure." he hoped he hadn't gone beyond his station.

Ariana couldn't help but feel relieved that he felt that way, "I would like that very much" she stepped towards him and gently kissed him before stepping back, "I'll go and take that shower then we can cuddle up and talk for a while. I've missed your cuddles while I've been in sickbay."

He rubbed his chin. "I was hoping to go shoping and maybe have a nice simple dinner. But if you are not up for it I will settle for cuddling."

"No shopping would be lovely!" she smiled, "it completely slipped my mind, I would like that very much." she headed towards the shower, "I'll be back soon."
Heading into the bathroom she put her clothes to one side before stepping into the shower, she was enjoying herself until the washing motion over her bump brought back the realization of what she'd gone through and lost, she burst into tears & sank down into the corner of the shower sitting under the running water with her head on her knees.

Marcus took the time when she had left the room to remove the extra arm and close up the casing on the other one. He did hear something odd from the bathroom, he couldn't hear it clearly because of the sound of the water. Calmly he walked up to the door and knocked. "You alright in there?"

Ariana lifted her head, she couldn't hear properly but she guessed it was Marcus at the door, she answered a solemn "Yes" hoping he'd hear it even though she wasn't really alright.

He heard that her voice was indeed solemn, "You don't sound alright." he didn't want to invade her privacy.

Ariana stood and turned off the shower, wrapping herself in a towel & her hair in another towel she walked out of the bathroom looking extremely solemn sitting down in the nearest seat. "So I lied...." she grabbed a tissue to wipe her nose.

Marcus sighed, walked over to the replicator and then sat down next to her with a bowl of chocolate ice cream. "Here."

Ariana couldn't help but grin as he handed her the ice-cream, "Thank you" she picked up her spoon and got stuck in. She had to admit it made her feel better. "How's about we go shopping soon?"

"Only if you are up for it. There is always tomorrow."

"I'd still like to go" she lay her head complete with towel on Marcus' shoulder, "it'll be nice to go shopping and get my mind off things for a little while."

He stroked her back. "Alright then. no rush though."

Ariana finished her dish of ice cream she had to admit chocolate always made her feel better. "I've missed you Marcus, you always know what makes me feel better." She finished enjoying him stroking her back before getting up to get dressed. "I'll get dressed and we can go out."

He smiled. "This is our first real date you know. So take your time. I am going to take a shower myself."

"Okay I will" she smiled she wanted to make herself beautiful for him and it would be the perfect opportunity while he was in the shower. "You carry on & I'll get ready while you're in there."

"That's good. I'll take an extra long time so you can make yourself as perfect as you like." he started to undress and was soon in his underwear. After folding his old clothes he entered the bathroom and started to enjoy the shower.

Ariana gave serious thought to joining Marcus in the shower but she thought he'd be nervous about her joining him so soon after losing her baby so she spent her time getting ready instead. She put on a straight dress that slightly hugged her figure and let her hair down instead of keeping it up like she did most of the time when she was working.

Marcus took his time in the shower. He wasn't sure if she wanted time to put makup on or what ever else she would like. But twenty minutes later he came out of the shower, a towel around his waist and rubbing his hair with a smaller one to dry it off. "Sorry I took so long, I wanted to be as clean as possible when going on a date."

"I did give consideration to joining you" she grinned "I thought perhaps it might be a little soon. So how do I look?"

"Well if you did, we probably wouldn't get anywhere." he moved the towel on his head a little so he could see her. He smiled at her. "Like a goddess."

Ariana couldn't help but blush, "Thank you" she took a seat while she waited for him to dress being polite enough to turn away so he could dress in private. "So where shall we start?"

"Well. How about we go to the promenade, pick up some food and things like that. Then we go to the arboretum and have nice picnic?" he suggested as he got dressed. He opted to go a little lighter on the dressing up, dress pants and shirt.

"Sounds lovely" Ariana nodded in agreement, " The arboretum is always nice." She smiled as she turned to look at him, "you look very handsome."

"thank you. I decided to go a little more low key. No need to go all grand on a picnic right?" he smiled and offered her his arm.

"Right" she smiled as she took his arm, this was her first date in a long time and the first time she'd been out on a date since the loss of her husband so it meant a lot to her as did Marcus. "You lead I'll follow and we'll see what we get."

He smiled and guided her out of the quarters and down the corridor. It wasn't long before they were on the promenade. He took her to one of the restaitants and ordered food they could eat as a picnic.

"Do you mind us getting something nice for dessert too?" she was looking at some fruit tarts that were sitting on a display counter. "They do look good."

"Sure, we will make sure it is healthy and tasty."

Ariana smiled she was enjoying herself already and their date had barely started. "Do we have a picnic rug? I saw one in the window of the shop next door if not."

"We could replicate one, but I think it's more romantic to buy one."

"Exactly" Ariana grinned, "once our food is ready we'll go and get one."

"Yes. I hope we will get a spectacular view too."

"I tell you what, you get the food I'll go get the blanket & I'll wait for you outside." she smiled and headed off to the shop next door to get the picnic blanket she'd seen.

Marcus watched her walk off, enjoying how her dress flowed as she did so. After a moment he headed in to the diner and proceeded to get the food and asked if they could put it in a basket.

Walking into the shop next door Ariana picked out the rug she wanted before waiting outside the diner for Marcus to appear with the picnic hamper.

Marcus did return with a heavy basket, filled with food that would be very good for her in her pregnant state. "Alright, I hope you are hungry." he grinned, most women became ferocious when it came to eating when they where expecting. He knew it was because most of their internal energy was dedicated to the miracle of life.

"Actually I'm starving!" She grinned, "lets go & find ourselves a nice spot in the arboretum. I've been looking forward to this the whole time I've been in sickbay."

"Then lets go." he guided her towards the arboretum.

--- To Be Continued ---

RSS Feed