Familiar faces

Posted on Fri Oct 23rd, 2020 @ 4:25am by Liam O'Connor & Lieutenant Commander Ariana Monroe-Wayne

1,118 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 107 – Recovery
Location: Promenade
Timeline: MD4, 1300 hours

As the day wore on, excitement about the upcoming party seemed to be growing exponentially. The promenade was alive with talk and laughter and everywhere you turned the owners of each business had embraced the chance to decorate and entice in more customers. It was quite a sight, to be sure.

Thanking two customers who were leaving the bar, Liam cleared the plates from the table but paused on his way to the kitchen to take in the spectacle. He hadn’t unpacked his belongings yet, just left the bag on his bunk so he could unpack Joshua’s things. Which accounted for ninety-nine percent of everything they had brought with them for the trip.

Who knew a baby needed a cargo hold of stuff to themselves?

For now his son was asleep, a monitor attached to his hip primed to warn him if the infant woke. In the meantime he was determined to earn his keep and help out his aunt.

As he began turning away he saw a familiar face. He smiled as he offered a small smile, a wave and ducked into the kitchen.

Ariana was surprised to see Liam back on the Station, heading over to the kitchen she peered inside to see if she could see him. “Liam? Are you here?”

“Be right out,” he called back, his thick Irish accent clearly evident. Cleaning the plates he threw a clean dishcloth over his shoulder as he emerged, “hey. How are-”

He broke off as he got his first proper look at Carolyn’s friend, “I’m risking a slap but, congratulations? And promotion too huh, Lieutenant Commander. Didn’t feel like I was away that long.”

“Ahh but you were!” Ariana grinned. “Almost four months and counting” She motioned to her small bump. “You think I’m noticeable wait until you see Carolyn!”

“What now?” Liam asked, clearly surprised.

“Sorry! Me and my big mouth. Carolyn is pregnant, just around the same amount of time as me. Unfortunately she lost her husband, he was killed. I would say more but I think that’s up to Carolyn to tell you, if she wants you to know.” Ariana offered a smile. “After everything that’s happened she could use a friend.”

“Pregnant... husband?!” As he spoke Liam reached under the bar, grabbed a glass and a bottle of whisky. Downing it quickly he frowned, “guess this is what Kitty wants to talk about later.”

Ariana nodded. “Most likely, but right now Carolyn could do with a friend. She’s been through a lot and is still grieving. I’m sure she’d love to see you.”

"You sure about that? Cos it seems a bit like she all but shoved me on that ship back to Earth and then ended up married to someone else," Liam pointed out. "Doesn't seem like my leaving bothered her too much. Maybe... maybe she would be happy not seeing me."

“No Liam, Carolyn let you go so you could go and be a father. She didn’t plan what happened to her, it just worked out that way.” Ariana offered a smile. “Give her a chance okay?”

He gave a nod, "I'll try. I'd like to know what you aren't telling me though,"

“It’s not my place to tell you what’s personal to Carolyn.” She offered an apologetic smile. “I think it’s best that she tell you that herself.”

Liam arched an eyebrow, "you know how much I know about her? She's stubborn, private, secretive, addicted to chocolate and has more scars than I do. I'm not holding my breath on getting a whole lot of anything but you are right, she'd hate anybody saying her business."

“Exactly” Ariana nodded. “So are you here long?”

“As long as Kitty puts up with us,” Liam shrugged. “I came back when my uncle was heading back. We weren’t sure if the place would be in one piece or not.”

“Are you not together with your child’s mother anymore?” She looked at Liam curiously.

“We were never together together,” Liam told her. “I mean we tried but there was just nothing there, you know? And after about a week she says that she found some guy who didn’t want kids around and she took off with him for - and I quote - a while. Never heard from her since.”

“She just up and left her child?!” Ariana shook her head. “Disgusting!! Some mother’s jusr don’t deserve to have children. Well I’m sure Carolyn will be glad to see you.”

“Perhaps. I just need to think of how to go about that part...” Liam admitted. “It’s not like we just pick up where we left off. Doesn’t feel right to just appear at her door either...”

“How’s about I arrange for the two of you to meet in my office? That way you don’t have to worry about appearing at Carolyn’s door. You can also blame me for putting you both in the same room.”

Liam smiled as he shook his head, “I couldn’t do that to you, especially not in your condition. We both know she’d hate that.”

Ariana nodded. “Fair enough, maybe kitty can come up with a better idea.”

“Probably already has,” Liam confided, “nothing goes by her.”

Ariana smiled warmly. “Well if you need my help you know where to find me.”

Liam nodded, silent for a long moment before adding, “I knew coming back would be awkward. For us both... I don’t want to make things worse for her. I’ve never wanted to hurt her.”

“I know Liam” Ariana nodded. “But right now you may be just what Carolyn needs. She needs someone she can be close to as a friend and perhaps more in time, don’t give up on Carolyn.”

"I never did," Liam reminded her. "She told me to go. As for perhaps more... I like not being tossed out airlocks."

Which was exactly what Hades had threatened, many many times.

Ariana grinned. “Trust me if you make Carolyn happy, you’ll make Hades happy.”

"How'd you know I meant Hades?" Liam grinned as the monitor on his hip came to life and a faint rustling could be heard before indistinct babbling and laughing. "Ah, duty calls."

“Indeed it does, don’t forget to introduce me sometime!” She grinned as she motioned to the monitor. “I’ll see you around Liam.”

He waved as he headed to tend to his son, grateful that at least one of Carolyn's friends was pleased to see him. The question was, would she be?

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