Girls Lunch
Posted on Thu Nov 5th, 2020 @ 7:53pm by Commodore Mardel Shayron-Connor & Lieutenant Commander Teayana Starr
Edited on on Thu Nov 5th, 2020 @ 7:53pm
2,582 words; about a 13 minute read
Mission: Refit and Restock
Girls Lunch
Teaya had just finished locking down her apartment outside of base. She turned and gave one last look before closing the door for knew who how long. She had not really seen Mardel at all since they parted ways for leave and there was Teaya’s favorite bistro she knew Mardel would love. She called Mardel on the comms. “Mardel, do you have room in your schedule for an impromptu girls luncheon?”
Mardel got the call and answered it. “Teaya, that sounds like a wonderful idea. Send me the coordinates and I’ll beam over.” It would be nice to have a girls only lunch with Teaya.
“Perfect. cords coming your way now.” Teaya sent the cords for Bistro Boudin. Teaya was a half a block away when she called. Her nerves were somewhat getting the better of her but she needed her friend to talk to. Glimpsing at the store fronts as she walked she saw a fantastic baby boutique. Popping in quickly Teaya snatched up a few items. A super lush soft blanket, a unisex bracelet made of platinum for teething, a sweet stuffed rabbit and other items. The sales girl quickly folded and twisted the blanket to make into a blasket and then added the sleepers and other items. She then popped them into a nondescript bag per Teayas request and much to the dismay of the sales girl.
Mardel left Daniel sleeping in a hammock with a note saying she was going to lunch with a girlfriend and would be back in plenty of time for their last night together on Earth. Then she went to the transport center and gave the coordinates and stepped on the pad and was beamed to just outside the bistro. She looked around and smiled. This was nice. Then she saw Teaya walking down the street toward her. “Teaya, this is a wonderful idea. Thank you for thinking of me.” She gave her friend a quick, light, hug.
“What would a trip to Earth be without at least one lunch together. I have a table reserved on the back patio.” The two women entered the restaurant and were shown to their table. The smell of the salt air and sound of the waves was perfect. It was what her soul needed.
Smiling, Mardel took her seat and looked around. She took a deep breath of the briny air and sighed happily. “This reminds me of home and the great current, only it’s wilderness and we have to beware of hunters when we go there. But I always loved swimming the great current and catching the japlin fish for the clans.” She picked up the menu and looked at it. “Too bad they cook with so much wine, some of these sound really good except for that. Oh wait, here are a few things I can eat.”
“Oh Mardel, I’m so sorry. I wasn’t thinking when I decided to come here.” Teaya cringed a little. How could she have been so thoughtless especially when she couldn't have wine. Teaya had already known what she wanted for lunch. Mint tea was definitely her drink of choice as she could have watermelon infused into it. And for her meal, an order of fried clams and the Char ceviche’.
“It’s okay, Teaya. Most people don’t realize that wines and such are poison to Orions. I think I’ll start with the clam chowder, then have the cioppino and seafood paella. I’ll take a lemonade to drink and then finish up with the chocolate lava cake.” She smiled as the order was taken and the wide eyes of the server. But she waited until they were alone and she sighed and looked at Teaya. “Now, what is wrong? I can feel you buzzing inside your own skin.”
“That obvious huh? You’re about the only one I could never hide from.” she gave a small sigh then looked back at her friend. “So are you going to tell me or are you going to make me beg? How is the pregnancy? Tell me that then I will spill, I promise.”
The waitress returned with their drinks and appetizers.
Mardel picked up the spoon and took a bite of the clam chowder. “This is good. Not quite as good as whatever it is that Cookie does in the Salty Whistle, but this is worth it.” She looked at Teaya. “I am almost five months along, and we were keeping it secret until this point because I lost my first pregnancy when I was four months along. We wanted to be sure this time. And so far, with the exceptions of some hormonal issues that I’ve taken care of and a few emotional issues which I didn’t handle so well but I’m getting better at it, things are going well. I’m not going to be able to hide it for much longer.” She finished and then took another bite of her chowder.
Teaya gave a big smile. She was thankful Mardel was able to keep this one. She knew how much she and Daniel wanted a baby. Teaya reached for the bag she set in the chair next to her and slid it to Mardel. “Here you go. I had a feeling you would have use for this.” Teaya took a drink of her tea. “I’m not sure at times about Dean and I.” She blurted it out. “It has all happened so fast. I love him with all my heart but sometimes I feel like he doesn’t see ME. He’s attentive and very sweet but Mardel I swear sometimes that man is as thick as they come or he pretends to be. I had mentioned about coming back to the ship at one point and our living arrangement and without even consulting me he said he had already made the upgrades to his quarters for me to move in with him.” Teaya took another drink. “I like a man who knows what he wants but he should have asked me first. He just assumed since we had set up house together for the past month that we should on the ship as well. I don’t mind, but Mardel we have been friends for a while and you know I like my alone time on occasion. Even Matt respected that.” she gave a heavy sigh. “Am I missing something? You know him far better than I but I have gotten to know him pretty well the past month.” Teaya took a deep breath as she spilled with emotion rather than thoughtful words, but she could do this with Mardel so right now she didn’t care.
Smiling at the bag, Mardel tucked it under her feet for now and listened to her friend pouring her heart out. She finished the clam chowder as Teaya searched for the words to give vent to the emotions. She took a sip of her lemonade and then reached across the table to hold Teaya’s hands for a moment. “Believe me, Teaya, I do understand. You remember how I was death on ever having a permanent relationship because of my racial tradition and that time I attempted it with Solvek and he broke my heart. So I was all kinds of nervous and afraid when Daniel and I started dating and then decided to marry.”
She thought about it for a minute and then smiled. “The thing is, Dean does have a say on who gets what quarters and such, but I also have a say in it. And I happen to know that you have counselor’s quarters attached to the counseling center. Those quarters are the same as for senior staff, and they are all yours, even if you do move in with Dean, you still have those as back up and your own private space. Don’t think this is special just to you, but all the department heads have private quarters attached to their main area of duty, as well as senior officer quarters on one of the other decks. So you can relax about that, you still have your own space. As for Dean and his personality quirks, he can be rather intuitive at times, but sometimes his heart disengages his head and he loses that ability to intuit about the person he cares the most for. Give him a little time and he will understand that you have to be a full partner and not just a play thing or a passing romance. If you need help, I have a two by four you can apply to his forehead until he understands that.” She grinned at Teaya and then took another sip of her lemonade.
Teaya giggled “I may need it sooner rather than later”. she finished her ceviche’. “There’s one other small problem… I… We…” She swallowed hard. She could tell Mardel anything but even this was hard for her. Teaya was having a hard time…. “Well dammit…” Taking a drink. “I’m late Mardel.” looking down at her hands. There could be a million and one reasons, then again there could be only one. The timing right now was not right… Then again it would be the fates to decide that, not her, science or Dean unless they just abstained.
“I can check for you, if you’d like. And no, not in the standard way of going to a doctor and getting a scan. You know I’m an intuitive healer, which is why I was smuggled off of Orion and sent to Starfleet for protection and formal training. It will only take me a moment.” Mardel offered. She leaned back as the server removed the empty dishes and put down the main courses and refilled the glasses. Then she leaned forward in her seat again and kept looking at Teaya.
Teaya nodded. “I had hoped you would offer. The timing is wrong. With or without him I want a child within the next year or two, but I think he would not be pleased if it happened right now. I know he wants children, we did talk about it. Even I don’t want a child right now. We are too new it would possibly change everything between us and I don’t want this to be rushed. I mean my goodness I jumped straight… or I should say my heart jumped straight into the fire with him. For now I know we are to be together.” She continued between bites. “When the moment is right I want to give him this.” Teaya pulled the dagger from her boot and laid it on the table. “He had his friend Veld craft it with my design and the stone. He just doesn’t know it's for him.”
Mardel nodded. “That is beautiful work, Teaya and the blade is perfect for Dean. You will have to tell him the story of the bloodstone when you give it to him.” She picked up the glass of water next to her plate and handed it to Teaya. “I know it sounds gross, but it’s okay, I’m used to it. Spit in the water and I will see what’s going on inside of you.”
Not that Teaya was worried about spitting in the glass but they were in a public restaurant. She took the glass and turned her head away from the other patrons and quietly spit in the glass then set it back on the table before Mardel. Closing her eyes and saying a small silent prayer that she was not. If she was, how would she ever tell Dean without some fear of blowback or repercussions to their relationship.
Mardel picked up the glass and quickly drank the entire contents of the glass and then waved the server over to get her more water. She then closed her eyes and concentrated for a minute. “You are not pregnant, Teaya. However, you do have a growth, which isn’t malignant but needs to be taken care of, growing inside of you. Take care of that, and then your cycles will resume and you can plan a pregnancy.” She then took a sip of her lemonade and took a large bite of the cioppino and moaned. “Oh, this is so good.”
Nodding and a look of relief washing over her face. “Thank you. Now before you dive into your paella, I would love if you would look in your bag.”
Chuckling, Mardel nodded. “Okay, I will take a look. I would hate for you to die from curiosity about my reaction to your gifts.” She moved the bag to her lap and started to look through it. She pulled out the blanket and sleepers and smiled. “These are so sweet.” Since there really wasn’t room on the table, she put them back into the bag and then took out the other items and cooed over them and put them back. “That teething ring is inspired. I don’t know about Betezoid infants, but Orion infants have teeth that can break bones. Thank you, Teaya. These are all wonderful.”
Clapping her hands together she was happy Mardel liked her gifts. “Oh one more thing I have for you.” Teaya dug into her day pack and pulled out a small box sliding it across the table to her.
“You really didn’t have to, Teaya. But thank you.” She opened the box and paused. “Oh, Teaya.” Her eyes watered a moment. “This is….beyond words.” She got up and moved over to give Teaya a full on hug. “Thank you.”
Teaya gladly accepted her friend's hug. “When I saw that in a shop by Dean’s home, I knew I had to have it for you. It just about jumped into my hands.” Giving a small chuckle. The rest of their lunch was easy banter and moments of comfortable silence as the water soothed both of their souls.
“I’m so glad we had this time together, Teaya. I hope I settled your mind. When we get back to the ship, you should have Nightwing take a look at that growth and remove it. I think when we are back on the ship, we should continue this and have a girl’s lunch once a week and I can introduce you to the Salty Whistles’ clam chowder.” Mardel said as she finished the last of her lava cake and sighed, content.
Nodding “I think so as well. We definitely need more self care, you more than I and if even a fourth of the upgrades I asked for were done, the counseling center will be just the place to do that once in a while.” Teaya gave her friend a quick wink. She then placed her thumb on the marker the waitress had left on the table to settle up. “This was completely on me.” She stood as Mardel had picked up her bag. “I have not talked to Dean today. I guess i should see if he wants to do anything as this is our last night on Earth.”
“Alright, Teaya. And if you need that two by four, just ask.” She gave Teaya another long hug. “Until I see you again on the ship. Have a good last night on Earth.” Then she left to return to Daniel and from there, to Mars and then the ship.
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