Long time, no see.

Posted on Sun Nov 18th, 2018 @ 7:17pm by Lieutenant Commander Ariana Monroe-Wayne & Cadet Senior Grade Marcus Mattson

3,842 words; about a 19 minute read

Mission: Episode 96 - A Visitor From the Past
Location: Marcus Mattson’s Quarters
Timeline: Current

With events with the U.S.S. Enterprise sorted, Ariana had made her way back to Marcus’ Quarters. She was hoping he’d be back from his meeting but it all depended on what it had been about and whether he’d been assigned off station for any reason.

Walking inside she was disappointed to see he wasn’t home, her fears about losing him, like she lost her husband, we’re all too real in her mind. Walking over to the replicator she ordered herself a tray of food, Marcus’ speciality with everything she needed for a nutritional balance for her and her baby. Taking it to the coffee table she placed it down, picking up the glass of milk and sitting back to drink it. It didn’t take her long to get through the entire tray, she didn’t rush but she was hungry, exceedingly so she just hoped she wasn’t going to need to diet once she had her baby.

Food finished she walked into the bedroom pulled back the bed covers and fluffed up a couple of pillows before lying down on her side for a rest, she’d read that lying on her back for too long during pregnancy wasn’t considered good so she made the decision not to lie that way. It didn’t take her long to drift off, she’d had a long day and even though she only had a small bump it felt a whole lot bigger plus the pregnancy itself sapped her energy. She only hoped that Marcus would be home soon.

The cadet sighed, it had been a long day and he wanted to find some sleep. But first he needed a quick shower and a snack. He truly enjoyed the shower when he finally got under the stream of hot water, he had eaten a light bowl of fruit just moments before. The shower took only ten minutes, he dried himself off and put on some deodorant before slipping out of the bathroom in just a towel. When he arrived in his bedroom he noticed the covers where not flat but bulging. This told him that it was occupied, smiling he slipped on a pair of boxers, dried off the last of the wetness on his body before slipping in to the bed, he easily spooned her and his arm rested over the side of her stomach, his palm actually on her stomach.

Ariana stirred as she felt Marcus’ body next to hers and his hand on her stomach. She smiled as she gently placed her hand on his. “Hey... I’ve missed you.”

"Oh really? well, imagine my surprise when someone stole my bed." he teased. "I do love that surprise."

Ariana shifted slightly so she could turn her head a little to see him. “Is there anything else you love?” She smiled as she gently squeezed his hand.

"Oh plenty of things."

Ariana smiled. “Would one of those be this...” She gently turned around and gave him a loving kiss, resting her hand on his face as she did so.

He took her hand and pulled his face away. "Yes, but we shouldn't do this. Not for a while." he hoped he didn't offend her.

Ariana wasn’t sure how to feel. She suddenly felt out of place, like she shouldn’t be there. “No you’re...you’re right.” She gently moved to the bottom of the bunk and slid off the end. “I err...I was just waiting to see you when you got back. I...I’ll go and leave you to get some rest.”

"You can stay if you want. I do enjoy cuddling."

“Marcus I...” She stood unsure what to do. She knew how she felt about him, she knew how he felt about her. At least she thought she did, was she misunderstanding? “I’m not sure I should. I thought....” She gave him a confused look.

Marcus got out of the bed, took her hand. "I do feel deeply for you, but you have just suffered a tragedy and I want you to recover from it before we try anything. I do this out of respect for you, for him and your kids."

Ariana stepped forward, cuddling him and laying her head on his shoulder. She couldn’t help but cry as she came down off her emotional high, her pregnancy was causing havoc with her hormones. “I’m sorry....I misunderstood.”

He smiled as he embraced her, "Computer, play 'That's the way it is - Daniel Lanois'." he ordered, the computer complied and the song started to play, he hoped it would help her cleanse her feelings and get it all out.

Ariana spent a few minutes getting her feelings out of her system before finally drying her eyes. “I’m sorry, I feel so stupid.” She offered the best smile she could. “Can we....go back to cuddling?”

"Your not silly. Bottling up your stress and worry won't help you." he lifted her up in his arms. "Yes we can. I want you to cry as much as you feel you need. I am not going anywhere for many hours." he placed her in the bed.

"Can I ask you something?" She looked at Marcus as she waited for him to cuddle up. "I thought we were....together, a couple. Are we not anymore? Couples kiss as well as cuddle, it doesn't mean we have to make love." She looked at him trying to get a full understanding of just where they were in their relationship.

"It's... complicated. I don't want to come in and take the father of your children's place so soon. I tell you what, when it is time for them to be born, we will cement our relationship with me buying you a ring, mind you just an engagement until we have been together for a longer wile. Rushing in to marriage is foolish if you ask me. That is of course if you want to. I won't be hurt or offended if you say no."

"Say no! Say no!!" She couldn't help but smile. "I wasn't expecting you to ask me to marry you even that early! There's no way I'm going to refuse you!" She slid off the bed & gave him a big cuddle. "Am I allowed to kiss you?"

"Keep it to a minimum alright?"

"Agreed" She smiled as she leaned forward and gave him a brief romantic kiss. She sat back on the bunk and looked at him. "I understand what you're saying now Marcus. When my husband was...waiting for his time to come, we talked a lot about mine & my children's...child's...future." She paused for a moment. "I didn't like it then but he wanted me to find someone, to be happy. To find a man who would raise my child as his own." She wiped away the tears that came to her eyes. "I know I've found that man Marcus. I just want to do things right, like you said."

He accepted the kiss and smiled. "I understand and I will respect it." He said as he sat down next to her.

“Would you prefer I return to my own Quarters to sleep from now on? You did originally have me to stay after I lost....” She didn’t finish the sentence, the loss of her other baby was still very painful and it would be for a long time to come. “Now I’m fit again I can always sleep in my own quarters and let you have your space again.”

"No. You may sleep here if you like. We just have to be careful."

Ariana nodded. "I know you're doing this to help my grieve, I appreciate that. Just don't forget that I need to feel loved too." She smiled as she looked at him. "I don't want to be forever having to avoid kissing you or feeling your body next to mine in bed." She bit her lip. "I have needs too. It's difficult to explain...but you found out how my....urges are, aboard the ship."

"I understand. But it just have to wait until the little one is born."

"That's fair enough, as long as I still get to cuddle up with you." She smiled. "It makes me feel... secure knowing you're there, especially if anything else was to go wrong. Not that I'm expecting it to."

"Sure. We just need to make keep a lid on the... you know." he was hoping she didn't think he was avoiding her. They had made love once and he was not regretting it, just thinking it might have been to soon.

"Making love..." She looked at him curiously. "I don't regret any of what happened on the Falcon Marcus, I enjoyed it very much." She smiled. "However....I want to make sure I don't do anything that might upset this pregnancy. I know making love usually doesn't but I don't want to chance it. I guess that fulfils your wishes. I will ask you one thing though....if when the time comes, the baby is overdue, will you make love with me? From what I've read it's supposed to be a good way of inducing labour naturally."

"I have read that that kind of relief will reduce pain, all kinds. From labor pains to period pains."

Ariana grinned. “Then I know who to come to if I get any pain don’t I?”

Marcus chuckled nervously. "Well, the lady can, at least I hope she does. Help her self if it gets to bad." he hoped that she didn't take it like he was simply telling her to do it herself because he doesn't want to help her in that manner. But he had to be very disciplined about how much of it he would do, it would be better in the long run. Though it wasn't easy. "And do not say or feel sorry for saying you want to do it, I do too. But since you are... compromised with hormones and the like, I feel I need to act the break."

Ariana grinned. “You are a wise man Marcus. So... how did your meeting go? Will you be off Station?”

Marcus smiled back. "Well, looks like I will be assigned to the stations fighter wing on a permanent basis, of course I might be temporarily assigned to another ship like last time to 'fill out the ranks' for a specific mission.

Ariana nodded. “It sounds silly, I willingly fell for you knowing you’re a fighter pilot and now I’m worrying about you being out in your fighter. I was the same when Jonathon was alive, every time he went out with his marine detachment I worried myself silly.” She sighed and shook her head. “Now here I am falling for another marine but this time a pilot!”

"Maybe you are weak towards men in green?" he teased, trying to ease her tension.

“Maybe!” She grinned. “Maybe it’s the Marine uniforms, I do love a man in uniform.”

"Then why not go with a navy man?" he asked.

“I don’t want a navy man, I know who I want” She smiled warmly as she looked at him. “Would you like to cuddle up in bed again? I’m tired & I’d like to get some rest.”

"No? Are you sure?" he teased. "But we can cuddle, have you eaten?"

“Yes” She nodded. “I was hungry when I got back so I had one of the trays of food you programmed in for me.” She smiled warmly.

"Good, do you like the selections?"

"Definitely" She nodded. "Perhaps you could cook me up a tray of dessert choices too. That would go down a treat."

"I think I can make you a smoothy with some of the items."

"A smoothy sounds lovely!" She smiled. "How's about we spend some time with you learning me the best combinations for a smoothy and desserts?" She grinned. "I'm going to need to practice nutritional food making for when we have a little mouth to feed."

"Sure. We will use some of the items of the food list I have made and add a bit of ice cream to make things more interesting."

"Okay let's have a go and see what works best!" She smiled enthusiastically.

He walked up to the replicator, soon he was back with a blender, several fruits and a bowl of ice cream. "Alright, here we are. Pick three pieces of fruit, one sweet, one sour and one more of each. With luck we can make you a nice balanced smoothy."

"Okay...." She chose as requested and handed them to Lucas, hoping the combination would go alright together. "I can't wait until it's done so I can try it."

Marcus placed a scoop of ice cream into the blender then inspected the fruit for anything that would be bitter, like the green leaves. But this was replicated things so it wasn't going to be there. "Make sure you always inspect the fruit, they could be bad or have greenery on them." he added the fruit. "Will you get me a large glass and a thick straw from the replicator for me?" he asked before he started the blender. The content mixed and became a very pink-reddish colour.

Nodding Ariana got a large glass and two thick straws from the replicator, bringing them back and handing them to Marcus. "That looks interesting. Can't wait to taste it."

"This one is for you. I bet you are dying for something sweet."

"You're not kidding!" Her eyes rolled with delight as she sipped the smoothy. "Oh that is....good!!" She grinned. "I'm going to have to have more of these! Aren't you having one?"

"Of course not. This was to make a desert for you. You go ahead and enjoy that while I clean up." he started to pick up the things to place them back in the replicator.

"Marcus....thank you" Ariana smiled as she sat down to to enjoy the rest of her smoothy. "When you're done, come and sit down with me for a while, I've missed you."

"Your smile is all I need." he smiled back and he was soon done with the dishes. He did take a seat, but just opposite of her.

Ariana couldn't help but feel as though their relationship had taken a step backwards, especially as Marcus was now even avoiding sitting by her. It felt like they were friends more than people in love who planned on getting engaged in several months time. "Maybe I....should be going back to my own quarters to sleep tonight." She finished off her smoothly. "I need to get some rest anyway."

He looked surprised at her. "What? Why? You are free to sleep here."

"I...feel awkward that's all." She shrugged her shoulders, "I would love you getting me that ring once the baby is born, and I understand you're giving me time to grieve but, we're not even acting like a dating couple. You're sitting opposite me now instead of beside me...it's confusing!" She sighed. "I just need to know where we are with our relationship, are we starting from scratch?"

He sighed. "I am very confused as well. I feel if I sit to long next to you, I might lose the control. It's not you, it's me... I mean..." he was starting to panic. "I am making a mess of it aren't I?"

“No you’re not” Ariana shook her head. “Pethaps it is safer for me to sleep in my own Quarters, especially if you’re worried about losing control around me. We are a couple though aren’t we?”

"How about we do this; I belong to you." he smiled.

Ariana smiled. "I belong to you too Marcus. I want to have you to come home to, for my baby to have a father to come home to. I know that's what Jonathon would want."

He smiled, "then move in with me. I think we have a request about merging our quarters in the pipeline anyway."

"Seriously? You want me here all the time?" She looked at him in surprise. "Does that mean more sitting together and more cuddles?"

"Yes of course. But we need to do it sparingly. I hope you understand that there is only so much I can do to keep myself in check and I have to leave to walk it off."

"I understand" She nodded. "I also know that I don't mind what happens...happens." She offered a smile.

"I know. That is why I have to be the disciplined one. Not because I do not want it, but I want our lives to have the best foundation."

She nodded. "I know....but right now would you please cuddle me?" She smiled. "I just want some romantic cuddle time while I'm still a size where it's possible to easily cuddle!" She grinned. "Besides...having your arms around me, or having your hand resting on me makes me feel safe and secure."

"You don't feel safe and secure?" he stood up, walking over to the sofa and sitting on the side.

“I... haven’t really felt comfortable being alone since I lost my other baby.” She sighed. “I know it’s silly and that I shouldn’t worry but I do. I’d be lost if anything happened to my baby!”

He looked at her in shock, he couldn't believe that he had been this insensitive. "I'm sorry."

“It’s not your fault” She offered a smile. “It’s just....I’ve lost so much, I’m afraid of losing what I have left. I need my baby and I need you!”

"I understand. I was very insensitive."

"No you weren't" Ariana shook her head. "I should have said something earlier. Anyway I need some rest would you mind if I went to lie down to rest for a little while?"

"Why would I mind that?" he started to prepare the bed for her. "That is unless you were planing on sleeping in your quarters..."

"Not anymore since these are my quarters from now on." She smiled warmly as she looked at him. "I'll grab a quick shower first to help me relax."

"Good, you should maybe empty the bladder as well, that way you won't be bothered by it if the need arises." he folded the cover so all she had to do is slip her feet under and he could tuck her in. He cleared the bedside table so that he could place a tall glass of juice there and after that some water if she wanted it during the night.

Ariana smiled to herself as she headed into the bathroom and slipped into the shower. She had no doubt Jonathon would approve of her choice of man, Marcus was caring and took good care of her. She had no doubt he'd make a good father too.

A few minutes later she was out of the shower and drying her hair ready for bed.
"Marcus.... Are you any good at plaiting hair? I like to have some curl in it and a plait would do that for me." She offered him her brush and hair bands.

He actually went pale. "A braid... That would be to much..." he took the brush and hairbands. "I... know the general concept. I haven't exactly done them before. Give me ten minutes and I can learn." he pulled a chair in front of the spot where he would sit on the bed and gestured for her to sit.

"It's not a problem if you can't do it" She smiled. "I can demonstrate on a front piece of hair I just can't do one in the back of my hair." She grinned. "It's pretty easy." She sat down on the bed and wrapped herself up in the bathrobe she had on. "I find having my hair combed quite relaxing oddly enough."

"I think that has to do with your maternal memories, I bet your mother used to do it. Have a seat on the chair, I can brush your hair as I sit on the bed."

She moved to the chair as requested, smiling as she looked at him. "This is a nice way to bond."

"I fully agree." he took a seat behind her, he took a part of her hair and gently brushed it, when he hit a snag, he gripped the hair just above the bush and tugged in order to straighten it without causing her any pain.

Ariana was enjoying the sensation of someone doing her hair, it was relaxing so much so it was sending tingles down her spine. "Don't be surprised if I fall straight into bed after this, it's so relaxing." She grinned.

"If you do. I will finish with your hair and then put you to bed. There is some juice there for you, the water is for when you wake up." he continued to brush her hair. He had managed to get the knots out. "There, now all I need to know is how to do this."

"Like this..." She demonstrated by seperating a small bunched section of hair into three parts and plaiting it. Showing him just how to interweave each piece of hair. "See its that easy!"

He had looked intently at how she braided the hair, it was fascinating as he made a mental note to see if there were other more advanced ways to braid hair. Who knows how he could make her look. He took her hair and started to carefully braid the hair, making sure that each part was exactly the same and the braid was tight and symmetric. Soon he was almost like a machine and all her hair was finished. "Done."

"Thank you" she smiled as she slid back across to the bed. Taking off the bathrobe she slid underneath the covers and lay down. "You will come and cuddle up tonight won't you?" She looked at him wearily.

He had seen what she was wearing under that bathrobe through his peripheral vision. "only if you put something on..."

Ariana smiled. "Would you pass me my nightdress please." She pointed to her nightdress which was hanging on a nearby chair.

Standing up, he walked over and retrieved her nightdress. He placed the dress on the bed and turned his back towards her.

Slipping into her nightdress Ariana looked to Marcus. "It's okay now Marcus." She yawned as she made herself comfortable again, pulling the covers up over her. "Come and join me?"

The cadet removed all his cloths with the exception of his boxers, folded them and placed them in a corner. then put on some soft pants before slipping in to bed.

Ariana smiled as she rolled over and cuddled up on Marcus' chest. She felt safe with him which helped her drift off to a peaceful sleep.

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