Marriage, Kids, and other Things

Posted on Tue Nov 3rd, 2020 @ 8:04am by Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor & Captain Gary Taylor

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Pacifica
Timeline: After Family Connection
2971 words - 5.9 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

Lia had finished cleaning up their room, she moved towards the chair to sit down. *I wonder how Gary and Alicia got on?*, she thought. Gary hadn't quite understood her reaction to Connor, it wasn't that she didn't like the kid just he wasn't her kid. A small but important fact as far as she was concerned, but somehow Gary didn't see it that way. No matter how Lia looked at it, Gary loved kids. And that one fact now made her worried about their up coming wedding, her Father had abused her and then when she got pregnant kicked and stamped on her until she miscarried. She hadn't received any medical treatment for the damage her Father inflicted, the result was the very painful fact that Lia now couldn't carry a baby full term. Angel had paid the price for that condition, Lia hadn't known until it was to late and so Angel died.

Sitting down she sniffed back the tears which always came when she thought of this subject, why her? The door opened and Gary stepped through, he stood looking at her. She couldn't tell how he felt, his face showed no emotion.

After saying goodbye to Alicia and giving Connor one last hug, Gary made the slow trek back to his and Lia's quarters. He didn't understand her reaction to Connor, he was an infant, for goodness sake. What he did know was he loved her, that wouldn't change. He resolved to have a talk with her so he could understand what was going on. he was lost in his thoughts until he realized he was standing outside their door. Taking a deep breath he opened the door and stepped inside, where he found Lia sitting in a chair and by the look on her face she had been crying. All thoughts of questioning her vanished from his mind as he moved to her without hesitation. "Have I been an insensitive lout? again?" He asked as he knelt beside the chair and took her hand in his, giving it a soft squeeze.

His words made her sit up, "What? No, yes. I mean yes and no, oh let me start again. No you haven't been insensitive, but you might have been thoughtless. If that makes any sense, about Connor I mean the thoughtless bit". She knew what she was trying to say, but for some reason the words just wouldn't come out her thoughts seemed jumbled and confused.

Lia stood up and walked to the replicator, "Coffee, white, sweet". She turned to Gary, "Want a drink while I'm here? I think we both need to sort out our thoughts, and a hot drink might help".

Gary tried to follow her conversation, he thought he knew what she meant and when she mentioned Connor he was sure of it...kids. He sat in one of the chairs as Lia walked to the replicator. Shaking his head he replied, "No thanks maybe later when we've finished talking. As for sorting out our thoughts, I'd say you were spot on with that. Though I think I know some of your thoughts. Seeing Connor made you think of Angel. Yes, I know our daughter's name and I miss her too. I just don't say anything."

Picking up her coffee she turned back to her chair, placing the coffee on the table she looked straight at Gary. "Seeing Connor made me more than think about Angel, he made me want another child. But I can't have another child can I? Not yet maybe never, and that's my problem. I know you want a kid, hell you seem to pick them up all over the place. Everybody say's how good a Father you'd make, even Alicia said it". There was a slight catch in her throat as she finished, and she took a deep breath and sipped her coffee before continuing. "But nobody say's Lia would make a good mother, and who knows maybe I won't. But I may never know the answer, and marrying you with that hanging over our heads seems cruel beyond belief". A small tear flowed from her eye, she quickly wiped it away, "Don't you understand, I don't want a 5 o'clock kid. I don't want to have to hand OUR kid back to anyone, but if you marry me you might end up with not having our kid at all".

She took another sip of coffee and looked around the room, "There's other women out there who can give you an heir, be it girl or boy. And it would probably be a healthy kid and well loved, especially by you. I can't promise you that, and I may never be able to give you that when all is said and done. So I'm thinking of asking for a transfer, not because I don't love you but because I do. But you love kids and that makes me not the kind of girl you deserve, kinda sounds dramatic but it's not". Lia sipped her coffee and again looked at Gary, "We've been together for three years, the first year we fought like cat and dog. The second year we slowly learned about each other, and the third year we came together and arrived here. Along the way I found out you love kids, and I can't have kids. Ironic really since your the first man I honestly trusted". She stopped talking and glanced down at the floor, what would he make of all this?

Gary listened in silence as Lia opened her heart to him. He heard and saw the ache in her voice and on her face as she talked of the possibility of not having children. "Lia, I've said many times what a great mother you would make and you will." He shook his head, "You know what the trouble is? You. Your impatient. You want a child now, come hell or high water even though the doctor told you to wait. Now wait. Listen to the doctor, don't go thinking on what ifs. Wait and we'll see what comes. We're in this together Lia. This isn't your problem it's our problem and we'll get through it together." His voice calm, no anger, no blaming just calm.

He offered a small smile, "I do love kids, I guess it's from being an only child. However that doesn't matter, what matters is you. You've always mattered and you are not transferring. I don't want other women. When are you going to understand and accept that? I love you. I want us to be married and grow old together. In fact, we are getting married. We've come too far and been through too much to call it off now. You helped me tear the walls down that I had put up when Catlin died." He paused, "You showed me how to live again even if I am an old fart as someone once said about me." He said with a smile. "You Lia Holmes are stuck with me because I am not giving you up."

His response made her think, "Stuck with you? If anyone is stuck with someone it's you, your choice of a replacement wife is defective. As for being impatient, your bloody right on that". She finished her coffee and moved over to him, "I guess I'm giving you an escape route, a second chance to think. You know old farts need to re-think things". A smile crossed her face as she spoke, maybe she was wrong in her doubts. "I know you don't want to deal in if's, but I need to know how you would deal with our not being able to have kids of our own. We promised to be honest with each other, well I am being honest. I'm feeling like a failure right now, because of that little if". Lia sat on the arm of the chair and placed her arm around his shoulders, "You can have a relationship with Connor, I wouldn't stop you even if I could. Just don't be surprised if I'm not all sweetness and light when he's around, it hurts me to see something I can't have and lost because of another persons actions".

Glancing out the window she took another deep breath, "If your so determined to stay, then please remember your not the only one who loves kids. But unlike you, when I see another woman with a young kid makes me feel jealous and wanting what I can't have" Lia hugged Gary and kissed his forehead, "Why do we always end up doing the very thing we promised each other we wouldn't do? Why do we not talk or listen to each other?" Then she looked at him and continued, "I mean we talk, but we seem to dance around our feelings. It's like we don't want to hurt the other, but I've hurt you by my actions with Connor. You don't mean it, but you hurt me by collecting kids. Why can't you collect something else?" Lia smiled as she said the last bit, she didn't want him to think she was nit picking or badgering him.

"I've never felt stuck with you Lia. I feel very lucky and fortunate that you did fall in love with me And for the last time, I don't want an escape route.
"You aren't a failure and I'll love you as much as I do now. I don't expect you to be sweetness and light with Connor. Just don't be openly hostile, you know drawing bullseyes on his back, making voodoo dolls, that sort of thing and we'll be fine and you haven't hurt me. I want you to be honest and you are so no complaints." He teased.

He nodded, "I know you love kids and you will love ours like there is no tomorrow and will you please remember that I'm not doing it to hurt you or rub the fact in that you can't have children yet. I love them and they love me. As far as collecting something else, I could try. You know, like nubile twenty something year old females. I'm sure that would be a real fun hobby to start

"Voodoo dolls'? You know that's something I hadn't considered, I'm sure I can find your DNA around here. Because if you start collecting nubile twenty year old's, a certain part of your anatomy just might shrink to nothing". Lia hugged his neck in a joking manner pretending to strangle him, "As for Connor, he's safe. I don't think he's ready for nubile twenty year old's, Alicia just might have something to say about that".

She stood up and moved back to her chair, "So I take it you still want to marry me? Warts and all". Lia sat down and looked back at Gary, "Well don't say I never gave you the chance to change your mind, you've had more chances than a lemming on the edge of a cliff". She pulled her feet up under her, "If your so keen to get the knot tied, lets do it here. I'm sure a party might help lift peoples spirits, and I have been working on our ceremony". A small booklet now appeared in her hand, "See, I've written it all down. And Phoenix could use a diversion, so what do you say?"

Gary chuckled at Lia's comment about shrinking a part of his anatomy. "Guess, I better be good then and now Connor isn't ready yet. He's 12 months old and he's already got Alicia wrapped out his little finger already."

He sighed, "Yes Lia, I want to marry you and I'm not changing my mind." He nodded at her suggestion. "That's an excellent idea. Here is perfect. The resort has the room and the facilities to handle a wedding of this size. In addition, the crew could use a party. it would definitely put them in a festive mood." He smiled at the booklet in Lia's hand, "A hard at work I see and I'm sure it's a beautiful ceremony. As for Phoenix, she absolutely could use the diversion. Give her a good reason to relax and unwind. Let her down if you will to be Phoenix and not Captain Lalor."

"Then you'd better go and get our Captains permission to proceed, and I'll need to find a holodeck". She stood back up and walked into the bedroom, she returned a few moments later. "I'll need to program some helpers, for me that is". Lia now walked back to Gary, "When we get the green light, tell Phoenix it's Mr. & Mrs. Taylor. Don't you dare put Holmes anywhere near our family name, are you receiving me Commander?" She laughed as she spoke, finally Lia Holmes was getting married.

"Will do." He answered then continued, "program helpers? Oh for your hair and kimono. Message received loud and clear, Mrs. Commander Taylor ma'am." He grinned broadly at her, "You know I like the sound of that, I surely do." he grinned again, "I'll let you know what Phoenix says. Though i don't anticipate any problems. "

Picking up a cushion, Lia launched it at Gary. "You'd better learn to duck, my aim is getting better", the cushion bounced off Gary's head. Lia returned to Gary and sat on his lap, "Thank you, I hope I don't disappoint you on the night". She nestled in to him, "Who'd have thought we would get married, or even get together? Wish I'd put Latium on that three years ago, what a pay out I be getting now".

He shook his head from where the cushion bounced off it. Not worried, I'll take my chances." He replied as his arms encircled hers. "You won't, I have no doubt of that." He answered, then decided to have some fun. "So is now a good or bad time to tell you I put down ten bars of Latium on us getting married."

"You what?" Then she stopped herself, "Oh yeah sure you did, and if my aunt had wheels she'd be a wagon". Lia grabbed the cushion from behind Gary and hit him several times over the head, "Looks like I'm gonna get charged with battery, cause I'm gonna knock some sense into ya!" She began to giggle as she hit Gary with the cushion, "Do all prospective newly weds get up to this kind of thing?"

Gary laughed and ducked the best he could before getting his arms around Lia and pushing her back on the chair. "Oh ye of little faith." He teased as he kissed her before answering her question. "Yes, I believe they do." He replied with a grin as he began to tickle her.

Lia squirmed and began to first giggle and then laugh, her legs began move as she attempted to stop Gary tickling her. Her skirt now rode up exposing her lower half, her skirt now sat at her waist and her underwear slipping down as she continued to squirm. She felt a cool breeze somewhere where one shouldn't be reaching, "Unless you intend my knickers to end up on the floor, I would cease and desist as they seem to be sliding down my legs leaving me somewhat exposed". What was also now apparent, she wasn't wearing a bra. A nipple poked out of her blouse as the buttons had come undone, "Are you trying to strip me? Because your doing a very good job of it, her hands now caressed a certain part of Gary's anatomy and she whispered in his ear. "I hope you intend to complete this little job that you started, because I'm feeling very very excited".

Gary continued to tickle her for a few seconds more before stopping and kissing her softly. Her lips, neck and throat all received necessary attention. "I wasn't but now that I see this works so well, I'll make sure to remember it." He grinned at her. "Now I would be a very inattentive husband if I didn't finish what I started...of course I have to see Phoenix first and there's no telling where she may be so it could take awhile." He teased as he kissed her again. "You don't have anything planned do you?" He asked innocently with a twinkle in his eyes.

She fixed her eye's on him and shook her head, "I really don't think that would be a good idea, you see when I say I'm excited I really do mean excited". Lia stopped struggling and opened her legs, her underwear now gone. "If you leave, who knows what might happen".

"Well, I can't have that. Leaving my wife to be in distress." Gary answered as he scooped her into his arms. "However a proper place to continue is the bedroom, where I can personally give you the attention you so definitely require."

Lia simply nodded, "I think that's a very good idea, I feel I need a lot of attention". She put her arms around his neck and held on as he picked her up, a smile graced her lips and she willingly allowed him to take her to the bedroom. "You'd better make sure the door is locked, we don't want to be disturbed".

"Well Dr. Feelgood is here to help medical needs, you poor deprived woman." He teased as they head for the bedroom before reversing course to check the suite door was locked. it was, "There, no one will disturb us." He remarked as they headed for the bedroom where Lia could receive the proper medical attention she needed.

"I hope to feelgood myself, so please don't hold anything back". Lia felt safe and loved, and she never wanted it to stop.

Commander Lia Holmes
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Elysium

Commander Gary Taylor
Executive Officer
USS Elysium