"Flower'a Goodbyes'

Posted on Wed Nov 4th, 2020 @ 3:38am by Lieutenant Flowerpetal Sheme

1,799 words; about a 9 minute read

“Flower’s Goodbyes”
A personal joint log between Lt. Flower Sheme and Lt. Jg B’Raitha

The sun came streaming through the quarters Lt.j.g. B'Raitha had been assigned in SanFrancisco, near the Starfleet Headquarters. The Caitian stretched and then lightly touched Lt. Flower Sheme, who lay sleeping beside him. He nuzzled her. "Good morning , Dear-heart," he said softly.

Lt. Flower woke up slowly, “The sun has risen Love.”

"Yes it has," B’Raitha agreed as he gently licked the fur of her neck.

Flower stretched and nuzzled Rait. “I have to report to my ship.”

"I know," he asid to her, "and I have to report to S.I. as well. I truly hope they give me something tough and totally mind-encompassing for my first assignment."

“Perhaps before we part ways, we should see my father off?” She asked

His tail, now out of sight, drooped ever-so-slightly, for she had not given the response he had left open to her. He conceded to himself that there would be things he and she would never think alike about, and he was definitely okay with that. She was still the one he wanted to be with.

"If that is what you wish to do, then that is what we shall do," he told her, then he brought his tail up and tapped her nose with the tip of it. "We cannot languish in bed then. Considering the time difference between here and Paris, your father will be leaving in less than two hours."

"Okay Love. I love you very much, and look forward to being able to stand in front the sacred tree back home, and meow my vow to you from the heart." Flower purred and sat up, and playfully swiped at his paw.

"You can shower first," he said, playfully swatting back at her. "I would suggest we shower together, but that would definitely set us back in regards to time. What would you like to do for breakfast? It is your turn to choose."

"What if we tried to replicate the meal we shared, when the second assassin was after me? That was so purr-fect," she suggested and stood up, heading for the refresher.

"I can do that," B'Raitha told her. He slid out of bed and walked out to the kitchen.

Flower purred, anticipating the meal that she was about to have. She started the sonic shower, and stepped inside. The water cascaded down her back as she showered.

B'Raitha replicated some of the ingredients he needed for the breakfast. Others he took out of the refrigeration unit. He "hummed" a tune as he started preparing the breakfast. Soon the pleasant fragrance of the food was wafting through the apartment.

Flower exited the fresher and gets into her duty uniform, as she would be heading back to her ship today. She wasn’t ready to return to duty, but she knew she had to, and she also knew that she would have shore leave again, just doesn’t know when. She sniffed the air, and soon emerged from the bedroom, licking her face, "Now that tastes wonderful!"

"Things are simmering," B'Raitha told her. "Just keep an eye on them to make certain they don't burn. The coffee is on the stove as well and ready. I'm going to go take a quick sonic." He gave her a nuzzle and a lick then dashed back toward the fresher.

Flower purred as he nuzzled her, she felt so lucky to have some a loving boyfriend, and she went over to the replicator, and ordered some chai tea, because she really didn’t like coffee. She then kept her eye on the food, making sure nothing burned.

After a quick sonic shower, and donning his own duty uniform, B'Raitha returned to the kitchen. He could tell, by the smell of things, that he had calculated just the right amount of time to let things simmer. Breakfast smelled great. He just hoped it would taste as good as it smelled.

Moving through the small kitchen area, the Caitian quickly set the table and placed the food in serving dishes, setting them all on a warmer plate in the center of the small table. He dished out servings for Flower and himself, then sat down.

"My tastebuds are going crazy here," he commented.

Flower purred, as she sat down, "Yours and mine my sweet love," she teased as she started to eat.

In B'Raitha's opinion, the breakfast had turned out better than he had anticipated. He guessed it was because of the Caitian spices he had lightly added to it. They finished off the meal and made their way to the transport center.

They two Starfleet officers beamed directly to the Paris Interstellar Spaceport. They made their way to the gate they knew Casius would be departing from. THe Catonian leader was in the process of just finishing up a small press conference, talking about his trip to Earth.

Flower waited patiently to see her father off. She was ver proud that he actually went off planet and came to earth.

B'Raitha stood beside Flower, half-listening to the Catonian leader's words and half looking around the room, instinctively scanning the room for any signs of trouble.

"I wish to, once again, thank President Hornsby for her graciousness while I was visiting the Federation's capitol city," Casius said, finishing up his speech. His eyes caught the sight of his daughter in the crowd the moment they had entered the space. His tail looped lightly. Again, addressing the press, he said, "While I do, now, have to travel back to Catonia, I do look forward to a return visit at the President's invitation. I will now entertain a few questions."

The press all automatically started speaking at once. Reporters from all over the Federation started asking questions. Casius graciously answered a few of them, then removed himself from the podium and retreated to the staging room.

Flower padded over to where the staging room to meow with her father. The moment she entered, she nuzzled Casius lovingly, "I am very proud that you came to earth." she said.

"I am glad I can still make my daughters proud of me," Casius joked, nuzzling his daughter in return. "And know that I am quite proud of you."

"You are?" she asked, looking directly at her father now.

"Of course I am," Casius confirmed. "You are a lieutenant in Starfleet and chief of your department aboard a starship. What father wouldn't be proud of that?"

Flower felt her nose brighten up a little, "Okay father. I wanted to see you off, before you left."

"And here you are," Casius said to her. "Thank you for coming. It gives me one more opportunity to wish you the best, and to wish you take all the necessary cautions aboard your ship, in your travels."

"Now that you have been off planet, can you now see why my sister and I had to leave planet, to explore ourselves?" she asked.

"No,Flowerpetal," Casius answered honestly. "To me, Catonia has always been, and always *will* be, the most beautiful place in the known galaxy. But, you and your sister, are two different felinoids. That I have come to accept."

Flower purred, "Okay, that is fair. You should get to your ship, its almost time for it to depart father,"

The Catonian leader pulled his daughter close and nuzzled her. "I will so miss you, Flowerpetal," he said softly, and more like a parent than the leader of a world. "You take care and come home soon."

"I will try to, but as you know, i cant just leave my ship to visit home. My captain would have my fur and my rank pips." Flower purred as she nuzzled her father close.

Casius nodded his understanding of her words, then pulled away. He looked to B'Raitha. "Lieutenant," he said, now sounding more like the leader of a planet. "Once again, I congratulate you on your promotion and also urge you to take care in the performance of your duties. Always bear in mind that you have one very special Catonian who would be more than heart-broken if something happened to you."

"Thank you, Sir," B'Raitha acknowledged, standing more at attention, "and,..." His eyes went to Flower. "...I always will have that in my mind."

"You better," Casius cautioned. He then nuzzled his daughter once more, then turned to board his imperial cruiser.

Flower looked up to Rait, "You have his approval!" she purred.

B'Raitha looked at her skeptically. "I will believe you because you know your father better than I do."

They remained until the actual lift-off of the Catonian cruiser. B'Raitha watched it disappear into the blue sky. He then turned to Flower and sighed. "I suppose we should get you back to HQ. You have a shuttle to catch."

"Will we have any extra time before I have to?" she asked as they walked off together

"Unfortunately, no," he told her.

Her tail dropped sadly, "I have enjoyed my shore leave with you, I cant wait until my next one."

B'Raitha agreed with her, and they talked about the different things that had occurred over the time they had spent together. They beamed back to SanFrancisco and went to the shuttle pad where the shuttle leaving for the *Aldrin* waited.

"B’Raitha pulled Flower into his arms. His tail gently stroked her and he looked into her eyes. "Earlier I said how I hoped my new assignment would keep be very busy. That is because I cannot imagine how I will spend any idle time without you around. I am very much in love with you, Flowerpetal, and will miss you more than you can ever know. I have really cherished this time together."

Flower purred, "And I love you just as much. The time we are away, is definitely a test of our love for each other, and we have passed each test. I love you more than you know B'Raitha of Cait." she nuzzled again tightly, not wanting to let go.

They held on to each other for a long time, their tails entwining. Finally, with a heavy sigh, they both parted. B'Raitha wanted, once more to tell Flower to be careful out there, in space, but he knew the dangers of starship life. All he could do was pray to the Caitian deities that they would keep her safe. He remained at the launch pad until Flower boarded and the shuttle departed.

Flower boarded the shuttle, sadly as she had to leave his side, looking back one last time, she looked directly at her boyfriend with a tail salute, then disappeared to find a spot to sit, near a window, looking out to Rait.

 

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