Breaking & Entering

Posted on Thu Dec 29th, 2022 @ 8:29am by Lieutenant Commander Ariana Monroe-Wayne & Skye

1,078 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 114 - A Time and Place for Everything
Location: Wayne family quarters

Adjusting the red and white hat that refused to sit properly on her head, the lone figure paused for a moment to admire the neatly arranged stack of presents. All had the festive hand written tag attached, and all bearing the same name which was scrawled one side of the gift tag.

Stacie

Just one more gift to leave... Rummaging through the large bag of presents to be delivered, her hand had just closed around the one she needed when in the next room she heard the door open and footsteps entering the main room. Someone was home!

There was few places to hide and if it was Commander Monroe well, what good would hiding actually do. Indeed, an instant later the door to the child's bedroom opened and the lights activated, shedding light on the intruder within the counsellors home.

"Don't shoot, it's me!" Skye blurted out as she stood, raising her hands to show she was unarmed. Well, kind of.

“Skye!?” Ariana was surprised, but she smiled nonetheless. “Good job Stacie isn’t here to see you dressed like Santa!” She grinned. “I do wish you’d have asked rather than entering in secret though.”

“Oh…” Skye frowned, fearing that Starfleet Security were about to storm in. “I’m sorry. Dad told me the stories and said nobody should see Santa so… I wanted it to be a surprise. And the computer logs showed you had appointments all day… I’m sorry. I’ll leave this last gift on the table and then I’ll disappear I swear.”

“You don’t need to disappear!” Ariana grinned. “It’s so lovely to see you again!” She offered a brief hug. “How are Hades, and Carolyn? I really miss them.”

“Dad is… a little less lost,” Skye confided. “He is where he needs to be. It’s been good for him, going back. I mean it’s a little wierd what with statues of him everywhere but it’s also his home, you know? And mine now too.

Carolyn is doing great. She has a letter for you actually- it is wrapped up with your gift. To be opened on Christmas Day, so no peeking. I shouldn’t say any more of it will ruin the surprise.”

Ariana nodded. “No peeking I promise! No matter how much I’d like to look.” She grinned. “Ohh could you...” she reached for a present of her own handing it to Sky. “I was saving this for when I could get it to Carolyn, it’s only a framed image of our family, but I thought she’d like it. That, and some of her favourite chocolate!”

“Oh she will love those!” Skye enthused, “I will make sure they make it home safe, I promise. Actually… I shouldn’t but I can’t not! So much has happened - sit, just no saying a word to anyone back home until after Christmas, okay?”

Even as she spoke she was pulling Ariana towards the couch. “It’ll all be in the letter anyway but Carolyn will tell it better I’m sure… sit!”

Ariana grinned as she took a seat, she couldn’t wait to hear what it was that Sky had to tell her. “I won’t tell I promise!”

“My dad saved him! Harris, my brother… he’s alive! Well, it was dad and a lot of crazy genius people,” Skye’s smile was brighter than the sun, “that’s what is in with the letter. Pictures of him and Carolyn and Chloe, the day she was born. I swear my dad cried holding her, it was kind of sweet. And… well… Chloe is going to be big sister in about five months time.”

“Seriously!?” Ariana’s face lit up at all the news. “That’s so wonderful!! I’m so happy for Carolyn, for all of you!” Her smile faded just a little. “I wish I could be there with you all, maybe one day I’ll get the chance.”

“Dad meant it when he said you were welcome to visit, you just say the word. And maybe they will visit you? I’m not sure about dad but I’m sure the others would once life has settled. I just came to make deliveries and pick up some things in storage. And Rainbow. I’m not really a puppy person so that will be fun…”

“I’m sure you’ll do fine, and I’m holding Hades to that visit. I’d love to take the kids to see your world, in the short time I was there it felt like home. Hades and his people did a lot for me.”

"Yeah they are amazing. A little... overwhelming at times but they mean well," Skye shrugged.

Ariana nodded. “They do indeed. If it hadn’t been for your father, Carolyn, and those people I’d be sitting in a padded room right now. Anyway, how is life treating you? Besides being the one running errands between the station and your new home.”

“It’s weird, being in one place. Dad gets it, not that he doesn’t have guards watching over me of course. Anyway, I should be going, the ship isn’t staying here long.”

The young woman stood, hoisting the Santa sack over her shoulder. “This Santa guy - have to give him credit. Breaking into someone’s home, been doing that since I was five, but carrying so many presents and he worked fast. What kind of quantum slipstream drive do you think he used? Or maybe some sort of temporal anomaly helped? Anyhow, I need to be back home for my not so secret surprise birthday party.”

Walking towards the door, “you know if you and your family wanted to come visit you can. Ship leaves at 0800 tomorrow. Just think about it.”

“Ohh Sky! You’ve no idea how much I’d love to!” Ariana’s smile faded a little. “We’ve not long had a long holiday from the station, unfortunately I can’t head off again so soon, plus Cameron has his business to run as well. I will get there though, that’s a promise!”

Skye gave a small nod, "in that case, I'll be seeing you..." Heading out the door, Skye glanced over her shoulder as the door began to close, "Merry Christmas! Sorry about breaking in!"

And with that she was gone.

Ariana smiled. “Merry Christmas”

{OFF}

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