Pains of the Past.

Posted on Mon Dec 9th, 2019 @ 6:39pm by Brigadier General Kaden Ross

1,544 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 101 - Peace During War
Location: Ross Quarters
Timeline: MD03 1300 hrs

Kaden and Freya's private computer monitor beeped indicating a incoming transmission on civilian channels. It was mainly used for keeping in touch with family back home on Earth and Betazed. "Incoming transmission on civilian network." The computer said on the monitor.

Freya was lying on the sofa, her head on a pillow and a blanket over her, she was trying to rest like she was supposed to, but she was feeling sick to her stomach thanks to having morning sickness. Fortunately Kaden was taking good care of her. When the monitor went off, she had no choice but to answer the call.

Kaden's father Gerard appeared on the screen. "Ah, there she is my wonderful daughter-in-law how are you?" He asked.

"Not too bad" Freya offered a smile. "A little off colour, but that's to be expected when you're pregnant." She hoped Kaden wouldn't mind her telling his father about her pregnancy.

Gerard's smile faded as his pleasant tone changed to one of sadness. "I see..." He leaned forward interlacing his fingers on his desk. "That is why I was calling to speak to you, Freya, about the baby."

Freya sighed. "So Kaden has already told you." Her smile faded. "I've heard a million reasons to worry from Kaden."

"Freya, is this about his fear of the child winding up like him?" Gerard asked even though he had called for that very reason.

Freya nodded. "I'd rather not discuss this behind Kaden's back. He has his fears and as his previous counsellor and his wife I understand them."

Gerard nodded pondering over what she said. "it wasn't easy on us you know...having two boys with conditions. Vincent well he may of been born with dwarfism but that boy had his genius intellect to fall back on." He smiled recalling a memory. "He actually set up a snare for a kid picking on him using the flagpole at the school. Trust me after having been hanging around 35 feet in the air for three hours till fire department got you down certainly makes you reconsider your life choices."

"Then there was Kaden" Freya looked at Gerard. "He was your problem, your embarrassment...he wasn't bright like Vincent so he wasn't your favourite." She paused. "He was left feeling second best and abnormal. Hence his fear that our baby will be abnormal."

Gerard bit his lower lip. "Ellen, loved him just as much as the others she accepted him...I didn't. But you're right, I didn't accept him I did see him as embarrassment for a time. I still have problems coping about it, Freya, that day he almost died a small part of me wanted him to die not because I didn't love him. But because I felt it was best his suffering ended and he could finally be at rest."

"All he needed was your love and understanding!" Freya looked at Gerard and shook her head. "I love Kaden with all my heart and without him I'd be lost! If our baby has his condition then I will lose him because he won't be able to cope with it and that will be YOUR fault!!" She looked at Gerard with tears in her eyes.

Gerard slammed his hand on his desk. "Yes, Freya, I get it I am horrible Human being that didn't love Kaden like I should of but I am trying to repair the bridges I burned with him. I didn't ask to get Multi-infarct dementia but I was stupid messing around with old 22nd Century Transporters as a kid. Yes I had a easier time accepting Vincent and was blessed with Melanie. But I been spending the last 20 years trying fix things with me and Kaden!"

"You have a funny way of showing it" Freya frowned. "If you want my help in fixing things up, as you put it, then no more talk of my baby like he or she is some kind of monster! Even if this baby does have Kaden's condition, I will be raising him or her. Get used to that here and now!"

Gerard leaned back in his seat pondering what Freya said. "Even if, Kaden, is not around?" He asked.

Freya nodded. "As much as it would break my heart and cost me my soul, yes I would. It would tear me in two to give up my baby and I'd never forgive myself, or Kaden, if I had to do that."

Gerard sighed shaking his head unsure how to respond to that. "Freya, listen, I know you don't think too highly of me but trust me when I say this. I really don't want it to come down to that you both are meant for one another. So, I hope in the end the baby will be fine and that all this is just nothing." He said candidly.

Freya nodded. "I hope that too, I'm not sure how much more stress I can take because of this." She massaged her temples. "So, how do you wish to proceed in making things up to Kaden?"

Gerard shrugged his shoulders. "I have no idea I am just happy the man still talks to me and invited me to the wedding you both had.”

Freya nodded. “We couldn’t really not invite you, you're his father after all.”

Gerard offered Freya a quick smile. "Kaden, is lucky to have you just...sorry I wasn't good to him." He waved his hand taking a moment to gather himself. "Sorry, look I feel I took up enough of your time."

"Perhaps it's not me you should be talking to" Freya looked at her father-in-law.

Gerard offered Freya a quick nod and ended the transmission just as Kaden returned from the promanade with dinner. "Hey, sorry it took so long seems the cook at that Betazoid restaurant got carried away on how he misses seeing you at his table. I had no idea you was regular patron at his restaurant guess you miss the taste of home, huh?" He asked taking a seat next to Freya setting the food on the table in front of them.

Freya nodded. "Yeah I do." She looked at Kaden. "I just had a...illuminating talk with your father. It seems he wants to make things up with you, plus he tried talking me into giving up our baby!"

Kaden paused feeling his happiness suddenly just leave the room. "Do we have to talk about it?" He sat up feeling sad as he walked over to the table where their hard liquor sat pouring himself a glass of Saurian Brandy. "Dad and I are trying, okay."

“I know Kaden” She looked at her husband. “What about our baby? Do you agree with your father, that I should give up our baby?”

Kaden took a drink of his brandy. "Freya, please let's not discuss it." He didn't want to think about the baby it was already bad enough he was having regrets about it. Kaden then broke down crying he hated that what was supposed to be a joyful moment in his life had become instead nightmare for him. He despised feeling this way but the fear of his child winding like him was too much.

Freya sighed and nodded. “Fine!” She walked over to the liquor table and poured another half glass before downing it herself. Wiping her mouth she considered getting another, simply because that was how she was feeling.

Kaden walked over to the table taking away Freya's glass and setting his down. "Hey, stop that! You shouldn't be drinking you know better than that." Despite his regrets Kaden did care about the baby's health it was his child too.

"I only had half a glass!" Freya looked at Kaden. "I wasnt intending on getting drunk or anything." She moved back across to the sofa to lie down. "I've had enough of this arguing Kaden! I just wanted us to be happy, if I'd known this was going to cause such pain and heartache I wouldn't have bothered."

"You think I enjoy this? I wanted us to be happy too but there are some fears out there I can't overcome such as horrors of my childhood and how things were with my father." Kaden told her.

"I know Kaden, I'm not trying to make you feel bad I'm just... Stressed that's all." She lay back down on the sofa. "Can you replicate me something to eat please before that drink goes to my head."

Kaden walked over to the dinner he brought home happy to oblige. He handed Freya a box containing her favorite dish back home inside. "Here, the chef prepared this just way you liked it." Kaden smiled as he grabbed his dinner hoping Freya would let him sit with her and use his lap as a headrest.

Freya moved out of his way as she sat up to eat her food. “I just hope I don’t end up regretting this. I’ve been off colour all day thanks to my morning sickness!” She delved into her food but ate it in small portions so as not to overdo it all at once. “Mmmm delicious!” She offered a smile. “Thank you Kaden.”

Kaden smiled and stroked Freya's hair. "My pleasure."

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