The best surprises

Posted on Sun May 16th, 2021 @ 4:17am by Senior Chief Petty Officer Emily Charles {Kelea-Salik} & Staff Sergeant Leilani Charles {Kelea-Salik} & Captain George Charles [Reece]

Mission: Season 5: Episode 2: Operation Save Humanity
Location: Charles Quarters
Timeline: MD3 1800 hrs
1521 words - 3 OF Standard Post Measure

{ON}

- USS Resolution, Quarters -

Emily sat in front of the computer screen waiting for communications with the USS Elysium to connect her with her brother. She hadn’t seen much of George in the last few years, just brief calls and letters via subspace. She missed him oh so much!

-USS Elysium, The Charles' quarters-

George had just finished showering, after a long day of working on his starfighter. As he was toweling off, he heard the call come in. Moving over to the desk terminal, he said, "Computer, accept incoming communication."

Emily’s smiling face appeared on screen, “Surprise!! It’s so good to see you George!!” She was grinning like the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland.

George’s heart soared and he smiled broadly. "Em! Hi!! How are you?!"

“I’m fine!” Emily’s heart was soaring too, she’d missed her twin brother. “Keeping busy as always, Sickbay can be a real hub of excitement at times and Ohh sooo boring other times! How are you?”

George smiled as he listened to his twin sister. She was one of the two women in his life that he truly cared for. "Well," he started, his smile growing broader as he nonchalantly ran his left hand over his face, showing the bright gold wedding ring that sat on the third finger.

“Is that...” Emily stares at the screen, “A wedding ring!!?”

George practically giggled as he replied. "Yes! You'd love her, Em! She's exactly the woman that I've been looking for to spend my life with!" His expression turned a bit more subdued as he added, "She's experienced a similar past as ours. We take care of each other, and are helping each other continue healing." His eyes misted over. "I love her, Em. So very much. I hope you like her."

“If you love her so much, she must be a very special woman” Emily smiled warmly. “I can’t wait to meet her!” She looked at George curiously. “So does this mean I’ll one day have nieces or nephews?”

A huge grin spread across George’s face. "In about nine months, you'll find out." He absolutely looked like the cat who had eaten the canary.

“You’re kidding me!!” Emily nearly jumped for joy. “George that’s fantastic! You certainly don’t waste any time.” Her smile was genuine but there was some sadness behind it too.

George shrugged and chuckled. Be was about to comment when he saw the change in Emily's eyes. Turning serious, he sat forward, closer to the screen. "Em, what's wrong?"

“Nothing...” Emily paused knowing she couldn’t fool her brother, she never could. “You’re so lucky George, being able to have children.” She paused again. “My latest medical confirmed what I always feared might have happened, I can’t have children, George. Ar least. not biological ones anyway.”

Heartbreak filled George’s face, followed by anger. "I'm sorry, Em. I should've been stronger. I should've protected you from him." His rage started to build as he spoke.

Emily looked at her brother. “Stop that! I can feel the anger coming off you in waves just looking at you! This was not your fault, you saved me George. You nursed me back to health, and I don’t want you to blame yourself for what our foster father did to me. I’m happy for you, that’s what makes me happy!”

Though he was still upset, Emily's soothing tone quickly started to calm him. Giving her a raw grin, he said, "When did you start looking after me, Em? Usually it's the other way around."

Emily smiled. “Since I grew up. I’ve been learning to use my abilities, the officer whose helping me is surprised just how strong my abilities are. She says I’m oddly powerful even for a full Betazoid.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Next time I see you I’m going to teach you, I want to show you how amazing it is. Your fiancée, is she a Betazoid?”

At first George seemed intrigued, but before he could ask, Emily had asked about Leilani, which brought a hige grin to his face. "Yes, yes she is but only half. Her name is Leilani, and she is the most beautiful, caring, sexy, intelligent, sexy woman that I have ever met."

Emily grinned, “it’s nice to see the effect she has on you, if she’s only a half blood then what is her other half?”

"She's an unjoined Trill," George said while flexing a sudden ache out of his foot. "She really is perfect, Em. We should get together one day so you two can meet in person."

Emily nodded. "I'd like that, any woman who makes you this happy is a very special one indeed." Little did George know that Emily was hatching a plan of her own to visit him.

"What about you, Em?" George asked his sister tenderly. "Have you found...I mean...is there anyone..." he suddenly felt oddly flustered asking his sister if she had been with anyone.

Emily shook her head. "No I..." She paused. "I haven't found my way past what happened to me yet, I can't stand being touched." She hung her head knowing George would be disappointed in her for not moving on with her life.

"Emmy," George replied softly. His heart heavy with regret for pushing the issue. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked. I know it puts pressure on you." He took in a ragged breath, getting upset at making his sister feel bad. "I just...I just want you to find someone, anyone, that makes you feel whole, loved and safe. Like Leilani does for me! I'm sorry, Em." Flashes of their shared, painful, past started pulsing in his mind.

"It's okay" Emily offered a smile trying to make her big brother feel better. "I just haven't gotten to a point where I've found a guy I've trusted. Maybe that's just me not being willing to trust."

Looking up, seeing the look in his sister's eyes, George started to calm. "I hate that we're so far apart, Em. I wish we served on the same ship."

"I know" Emily nodded in agreement. "Perhaps one day we will, who knows! Besides there's nothing stopping us from meeting up during shoreleave."

Frowning slighty, George replied. "Yeah, but the Elysium just had one on Earth. And it was cut short by the new captain. Who knows when and where we will have another."

“Well when you know, let me know!” Emily smiled. “I miss you George, never forget how much I love you big brother.”

George's face brightened. "I will, I promise! I miss you too, Em. I love you too!" George then looked off to the side and smiled even bigger. "Hi honey! Em! Leilani's home! You guys should talk now!"

“I have to go soon but I’ve got time to say a quick hello!” Emily smiled.

Leilani wondered just what George was grinning about before she saw the face onscreen. “I take it this is Emily?” She smiled warmly as she leaned over George's shoulder, “Hello Emily.”

“Hello Leilani! George has been telling me all about you!” Emily smiled. “It’s lovely to meet you.”

“Likewise!” Leilani grinned.

George smiled warmly and turned his head up to give Leilani a kiss hello. He was feeling happy and calm now. Looking back at the screen, he said, "Em, call whenever you want to talk. I miss you, Emmy. I love you! Be safe!"

“You too George! All of you be safe, I love you” She gave a brief wave and blew a kiss before the screen finally went blank.

After the transmission ended, George sat, still looking at the dark screen. He sighed a heavy sigh and communicated to Leilani. I miss her, Imzadi! It's been nearly two years since weve been able to be in the same room together!

Leilani walked across to George giving him a hug. “We’ll get to see her sometime soon, if not shoreleave we could arrange to use some holiday time but for now it’ll have to wait until everything with the baby is sorted.”

Hearing her talk about the baby, their baby made George light up. Standing he wrapped his arms around Leilani and held her close. “How is the baby? What did the Doctor say?”

“Nothing more since I told you before, he took an internal skin sample as you know. Now I have to wait. We need to decide George...” she took a seat on the sofa. “Once these four weeks are up do we have our baby moved to a surrogate or to an artificial womb?”

George’s answer was immediate. “Whichever is safest for both you and the baby, Imzadi. That’s what’s important to me.”

Leilani nodded. I love you Imzadi so very, very much!

Holding her a little tighter, George transmitted to Leilani. I love the both of you, our baby, and you, My beautiful Imzadi!

{OFF}