The Sunshine You Radiate

Posted on Sun May 9th, 2021 @ 9:11am by Captain David Tonelly [Reece] & Lieutenant Baeryn Whavi-Tonelly & Lieutenant JG Heather De La Rosa {Kelea-Salik}

Mission: Season 5: Episode 2: Operation Save Humanity
Location: Crew Lounge
Timeline: MD-2 12h00
2944 words - 5.9 OF Standard Post Measure

There wasn't a moment in any day David wasnt the reason for the smile almost permanently stamped on Baeryn's face. No matter the uproar command was in given the changes, when she was with David she could breathe. They entered the lounge together, hand in hand, her laughing at something silly he said to her just seconds before. They had been spending so much time in marine county she wanted to expose him to more of the Elysium. So given then chance she brought him to the lounge.

Walking into the lounge Heather made her way to choose something to eat, she was just under three months away from the arrival of her son and her appetite definitely reflected eating for two. Choosing her favourites she was headed over to a table when her plate slid on the tray almost causing her to drop the plate, which in turn almost made her run into David. “Whoops, Sorry!” She gave him an apologetic smile.

David was about to point out an empty table that he and Baeryn could sit at, when a attractive woman with flame red hair, who was clearly very pregnant, stumbled and nearly spilled her tray of food all over him. His quick reflexes allowed him to both catch the tray in one hand, then steady the woman with the other. "Easy there," he said softly, his cerulean eyes full of concern. "I'll take that, Ma'am. Did you already have a table?" His eyes quickly scanned the room, seeing if she was with anyone.

“Thank you, actually no I was just heading for one.” Heather smiled warmly at them both. “I’m Heather De La Rosa by the way.”

Offering a sweet smile Baeryn said, "I'm Baeryn Whavi, and this" she gestured towards David, her eyes lighting up even more when they landed on him momentarily before turning back to Heather, "Is David Tonelly. De La Rosa? Any relations to Fernando?" The hybrid thought back to the recent away mission where she met him.

Heather smiled as she noticed the sparkling eyes look Baeryn gave David. “It’s nice to meet you both, and I certainly am Fernando is my husband.”

“Really! His performance was quite impressive on Quellish. Care to sit with us? Unless your meeting someone?” Baeryn’s expression was hopeful as she started to lead the trio towards the closest open table.

“I’d love to” Heather smiled and nodded. “It gets a little monotonous sitting around in our quarters all the time during my off hours. Fernando is busy with work so I thought I’d come out and sit here for a while. Treat the two of us to something nice.” She grinned as she rested her hand on her fair sized bump.

David smiled when he heard who Heather's husband was. "Yeah, he is an honorable warrior. I was one of the snipers that went on that away team mission." His features darkened slightly as he remembered the loss of Private Christian Laknema on that same mission.

As they reached an empty table, David first put Heather's tray on the table, then pulled her chair out for her. He gave her a warm, friendly smile, his eyes drifting to the bump that was her belly.

“Thank you” Heather smiled warmly as she took her seat. “You’re a true gentleman.” She made herself as comfortable as she could possibly get before picking up her glass and sipping her fruit juice.

Once Heather was seated, David moved over to the next chair and pulled it out for Baeryn. He gave her a loving smile and a wink.

Chuckling Baeryn sat down across from Heather. "How far along are you?" She asked Heather. In Baeryn's eyes the pregnant woman was glowing, radiating sunshine if you will. Her hybrid senses relished in the happiness and contentness surrounding Heather.

“Around seven months” Heather grinned as she rested her hand on her bump. “The jury is out as to whether I’ll be nine or ten months, so it’s either two months to go, or three!”

As David sat, he said, "You look wonderful, if I may be so bold. Pregnancy looks to agree with you. May the Goddesses of my people bless and watch over you and yours."

“Thank you” Heather smiled politely. “I’m looking forward to being a mum. The whole eating for two thing is definitely true! I’m seriously going to have to hit the gym after this little one is born!” She grinned before picking up some sliced fruit and eating it.

Suddenlu realizing that they had no food, David turned to Baeryn. "What would you like, Baeryn?"

Baeryn was enjoying Heather’s company and hearing her speak of the pregnancy that it took her a moment to register David was speaking to her. Snapping to she said, “Oh! Ummm something sweet. I’ve been craving ice cream constantly, but” she bit her lip in thought,” I think I want mint chocolate chip though. Ooo! With fries! Please. ” Grinning she leaned over to kiss him quickly before he left to retrieve their food.

David returned the kiss then gave Baeryn a broad smile. "Right away," he said with a wink. He then gave Heather a friendly grin as he headed off to the replicators.

Turning her attention back to Heather she placed her chin in her hand as she leaned forward, clearly fascinated by the current conversation. “Are you part betazoid?!” She had a million questions for Heather but didn’t want to make the poor woman feel like she was under interrogation so she held back the best she could.

Heather nodded politely. “I’m half Betazoid, and half Human. The baby is .. not actually mine, the mother was a woman from the mirror universe we recently encountered. The baby was hers with the mirror version of Fernando. She didn’t want the baby so I volunteered to be the surrogate. This baby is Fernando’s in a way.”

Baeryn's lips parted slightly, "That's extremely virtuous of you...I think that baby is just as much yours as it is Fernando's. At least that's how I would look at to You saved its life, YOU are giving it life." Her voice carried a serious tone. "Do you know the gender? Any names picked out?" She added more lightly.

David returned carrying a tray with a few different dishes on it. After setting the tray down on the table, he slid back into his seat next to Baeryn. "Here you go," he lifted the tall glass filled with four perfectly round scoops of mint chocolate chip ice cream, complete with a single cherry on top, placing it in front of her. He then lifted the plate of crispy fries and handed that over as well. He then handed over a tall spoon and some napkins, before picking up his steak sandwich and taking a bite, listening to the conversation as it continued

“We decided to let the gender be a surprise” Heather smiled. “We have a few names shortlisted but obviously they’ll have to wait until we meet our little one in person.”

Baeryn tried very much to sit still and not allow herself to dance in her seat when David set the food in front of her. Immediately plucking up a still hot fry and dipping it into the ice cream. Once the fry was in her mouth she wrinkled her nose to David as a thank you.

It warmed David's heart to see Baeryn enjoy herself. He gave her a wink in reply to her wrinkled nose. His senses also told him that she was very interested what Heather was talking about. The thought of a new life coming into the universe pleased him. Closing his eyes, he reached out, feeling the energies that surrounded him. With some concentration, he was able to see the child in Heathers womb. It was strong, with tight swirls circling it like armor.

Opening his eyes, he said, smiling, "You child is very strong, Heather. You should be proud." After a few beats, he added, "Apologies, I am El Aurian, and one of my gifts is that I can see the energies that surround us all."

“You can see that?” Heather looked at David curiously. “That’s amazing! I thought my gifts were interesting but yours pips that.” She grinned. “I’m seriously starting to wish I’d chosen a burger instead of healthy snacks now.” She picked up her fork and started politely tucking into her salad. “I promised Fernando I’d behave and eat a healthy diet.”

David chuckled and finshed swallowing the food in his mouth before responding. "Yes, as I told Baeryn , when we met," he glanced at his bondmate and gave her another loving wink. "Members of my species, will being known as listeners, can hear and feel much more than simple verbal communication. Some, like me, can see the energies that flow around and through us. My ability only recently woke up. I've been learn how to fully use it since it activated about fifty years ago."

There are others, of my kind, that can feel the differences in space time. Some can heal with their minds. Our highest elders, what few survived the Borg," he turned dark again at the mention of his species only mortal enemy. Composing himself slightly, he finished his thought. "Sorry, where was I? Oh! The Elders. Some of them have been known to feel the vibrations of the entire galaxy!"

“Wow! That’s amazing. I can’t even imagine how that must feel.” Heather smiled. “It makes my abilities pale in comparison.”

"Don't sell yourself short, Heather," David said after he finished another bite of his sandwich. "The abilities that each of us has, be it reading energy swirls," he pointed to himself, then to Heather. "The ability to communicate telepathically or," he jerked his right thumb at Baeryn and smiled a Cheshire grin. "Possess the ability to tame Marine Corps snipers. All abilities make us special."

Once he finished speaking, David readied himself for the attack that he knew was coming from the woman he loved.

Baeryn's nostrils flared then she snorted, "Wasn't difficult in the least." The jest caused her to smile as she continued dipping her fries in the ice cream. "But to add to what David said, we're all unique, so comparing yourself to a four hundred and sixty three years old smart ass isn't fair to yourself." She smiled innocently at Heather. "Fry?" She offered. "I wont tell Fernando."

Feigning indignation, David looked at Baeryn. "I'm almost four hundred and sixty-four, thank you very much! At that age, we aren't called smart asses, we are called handsome hunks of meat!" He tried to keep the smile from breaking through as he finished speaking.

Heather grinned as she listened to the playful banter, accepting a fry she thanked Baeryn, before letting out a small yelp. “Sorry! Just this little one. He or she has one hell of kick! Combine that with braxton hicks ... false labour pains, and you start to feel pretty uncomfortable from time to time.”

"I bet they were just excited about that fry to!" Baeryn moved the plate of fries closer to Heather should she want another.

Heather grinned as she politely took another couple of fries. “Heavens those are good! Next time I’m treating myself to those!” She noted David had also seemed interested in her pregnancy. “Would either of you like to feel? I don’t mind, just place you hand right here.” She motioned where to to touch on her stomach.

The question stopped David cold. For a second, he couldn’t think of what to say. Then, "Are you sure? It won't..it won't hurt your baby, will?"

“Not at all” Heather smiled warmly. “I love to feel the baby kick, it’s an amazing experience.”

Slowly, a smile started to fill David’s face. Moving in his chair, he leaned over and gently laid his strong left hand on Heather's belly. "Like this?"

Heather nodded. “Just wait ...” It didn’t take long before the weight of David’s hand got a response. A solid kick against his hand. “Did you feel that?”

The impact suprised David into a joyful chuckle. "Wow! The baby is strong!" Turning to look at Baeryn, his cerulean eyes were twinkling with delight. "Baeryn, you gotta feel this!"

Heather couldn’t help but grin at David’s response. She looked at Baeryn, “Would you like to feel? It’s okay if not.”

Baeryn didn’t know what to say. The joy she saw in Davids eyes as well as heard in his voice broke her heart because she knew that she could never give him the joy he was feeling in this moment. And that killed her. It was enough to crumble all the progress she had made emotionally with David. No matter what he told her, she would always know he was settling for her, that he was sacrificing so much. For her.

Stomping down on her guilt, Baeryn braved a sad smile. She hadn’t realized she was clenching her fists until she loosened them when Heather turned to ask her if she would like to feel the baby kick. She opened her mouth to politely deny the invitation but she could feel David watching her. For him, she leaned forward and hesitatingly hovered her palm over Heather’s belly. “Here?”

Heather nodded, she had sensed Baeryn’s emotions but didn’t give away what she had felt. She smiled as Baeryn too got to feel a kick from Heather’s baby.

The kick was stronger then Baeryn had expected, she didn't remove her hand waiting for another. She spoke to the babe inside in a playful whisper "Your welcome for the fries!" Baeryn started laughing. A new shine in her obsidian eyes.

David watched Baeryn's face light up when she felt the baby kick. It was in that moment that he knew, with out a doubt, that he wanted to have children with her. Whatever it took. Just so long as they came from the two of them.

Heather grinned. “It’s a feeling like no other, I’m going to miss it once this little one is born.”

Baeryn smiled, sitting back in her seat. Looking down to the finished food in front of her she addressed to David. "I should get ready to return to ops." In reality Baeryn needed a moment alone, to collect herself before she fell to pieces in a public area. Not the best look for the ships second officer. Standing she said to Heather, "Thank you, maybe if you ever need the company we could do this again?"

Heather nodded. “Sure that’d be nice, maybe a double date I’ll bring Fernando.”

"I love the idea! I've been curious on how he's doing since we've been back."

“I’m sure Fernando will love it to” Heather smiled and finished off her food, she didn’t really fancy the salad that much anyway.

David could feel the change in Baeryn. Though he was careful not to let it show, he felt a little worried.

Heather saw David give Baeryn a look but she couldn’t read the emotion he was conveying, infact she couldn’t read him at all thanks to his El Aurian genetic make-up.

Baeryn kissed David's temple, "I'll see you later." She then collected her trash to return to the replicator. "Heather let us know when you and Fernando are free! It was lovely meeting you today." After giving her a bright smile she left.

Heather looked to David. “Is she alright? I didn’t go too far with the whole baby kick thing did I?”

David almost went after Baeryn but, he knew that would make things look worse than they could be. Turning back to Heather, he gave her a friendly, lop-sided grin. "No, it's not that, she just has alot on her mind right now, what with the whole command shakeup." He made a note to ask her about it later tonight.

Trying to change the subject, he smiled brightly and asked, "So, do we know what will be smiling up at the new mommy and daddy?"

“I have a rough idea but I’m going to wait and see alongside my husband.” Heather smiled warmly.

David smiled warmly. He decided not to tell her that he already knew the sex by the way the energy moved around its tiny form. "A lot of parents like to do that. Or so I've seen, over the past several lifetimes." He chuckled softly at his stupid joke.

“You know don’t you?” Heather looked at David curiously. “Don’t tell me, I’ll wait and see.”

Smiling a cheshire cat grin, David then feigned ignorance, doing a near-perfect impression of a confused Columbo, checking his pockets, seemingly having forgot something.

Heather grinned. “It’s been nice meeting you David.”

"It was nice to meet you too, Heather," David replied honestly. "Pethaps the four of us, well, five, if we count your husband," he chuckled a little before continuing. "Could have dinner some time?"

“Definitely” Heather smiled warmly. “Definitely! I’ll arrange it with Fernando and let you know.”

David nodded and smiled. Then, when he finished his lunch, he excused himself, taking both his and Baeryn's garbage and then offering to take Heather's before he finally left the lounge.


{OFF}

Baeryn Whavi
Chief Operations Officer
USS Elysium

Sergeant Heather De La Rosa
Head Nurse

Corporal David Tonelly
Scout Sniper
Spartans