Enjoying the Glow

Posted on Sun Oct 24th, 2021 @ 3:35am by Lieutenant Baeryn Whavi-Tonelly & Captain David Tonelly [Reece]

Mission: Season 5: Episode 2: Operation Save Humanity
Location: Whavi/Tonelly Joint Quarters
Timeline: MD 12 / 0430 hours
3354 words - 6.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Once it was reported that, both, Baeryn was pregnant, and David would be moving in with her, the Captain had authorized their request for larger quarters, so they could make a nursery ready for their baby.

As they didn't have much in the way of personal possessions, the move was a quick one. They then spent several hours enjoying one another against just about every surface of their new home.

That was two days ago.

Currently, David was sitting at their shared desk, trying to find a gift for Baeryn that expressed just how grateful he felt. His first thought was to propose marriage. However, he had an odd thought that perhaps he should wait for a more appropriate time.

Time, thankfully, was a luxury that he had. So, he continued his search, hunting for just the right...whatever it was.

Baeryn was lounging on the settee in the living area. A romance novel on the PaDD she currently held. Feet up on an ottoman and her hand resting against her stomach, an unconscious act but a comforting one.

The move had been far easier then she expected, there was still plenty to be done but they had time. There was no rush in finding the right placement for their few belongings. She sighed, contentment something she rarely felt but was full of now.

Hearing her sigh, David shut down the computer and turned look at the woman he loved. "Penny for your thoughts?"

Smirking at David she shrugged, "I don't have many thoughts at the moment." She set the PaDD down on the settee next to her and watched him from across the room. "But I'd like to hear yours."

Smiling warmly, David stood and moved closer to her, reaching up and grabbing one of the lower beams that ran through the room. Stretching his entire frame in a flirty way, he returned her smirk with one of his own. "Oh, I'm just thinking about how lucky I am."

"Your stuck with an overly emotional pregnant hybrid who detests talking about her feelings, I wouldn't consider that lucky." She laughed.

"Possibly," he teased. "But she's also wild for me and I for her. There isn't anywhere else in all of creation that I would rather be."

Her eyes widened with surprise when he agreed with her. She grabbed a pillow and tossed it at his head. Her other hand still resting on her lower stomach.

Catching the pillow, David playacted that it had caused a mortal wound. As he made dying sounds, he slowly crumpled to the deck, onto his back.

Rolling her eyes Baeryn slid off the settee and crawled on her hands on knees to where David lay. Curling up to his side she nuzzled her head into the crook of his neck and just enjoyed being with him. "I love you weirdo."

For a few beats, David did not react. Then, he started to moan oddly. Finally turning his eyes towards Baeryn, they looked empty and dead. "Must....eat....braaaainnnsss..." he said in a silly zombie voice, as he reached down and started to tickle her mercilessly.

"DAVID!" she squeaked trying to wiggle her way out of his reach, unable to stop the laughter that followed his tickles. She pushed against him almost out of breath as her sides started to hurt.

Smiling broadly, David ceased his attack and propped himself up on his right elbow, looking over the woman that owned his heart. "I love you too, Baer."

Baeryn rolled her eyes and shoved David's chest as she sat up. "Your a literal pain did you know that?" She teased.

Grinning ear to ear, David responded. "Who, me?? I'm sweet and innocent!"

Standing Baeryn gave him an incredulous look. "Yea, ah huh." Shaking her head she stepped over him to retrieve her pillow and retreat back to the settee.

"Aww," he play begged. "Don't be like that!" Rolling up to his knees, he stood and moved over to sit next to Baeryn, pulling her feet into his lap. "You know it's true, Baer." He gave her the biggest Cheshire cat grin he could, as he started to rub her bare feet.

Shoulders relaxing, Baeryn moaned at how his hands felt on her feet. "What's true again?" Distracted already.

Smiling warmly at how he was making her feel, David tried his luck and replied, "That I am the absolute best that you have ever had."

Baeryn's eyes opened wide, scoffing she pulled her feet from him. Leaning across the couch she came just an inch from him, "And if you aren't?" she taunted a dark smile on her lips.

David gave her an equally dark smile in return. "Then I'll just have to kill the guy who was and try harder." His voice was husky and full of desire.

"Hmm." She teased, "I never knew death could sound so....seductive."

David bared his teeth like a wild animal. Reaching up, he took a handfull of Baeryn's hair and pulled her head to the side. He then placed a sucking bite on the right side of her neck. After a few beats, he pulled his mouth free, licking his lips as he looked up at her. In s dangerously savage voice, he said, "I've marked you. No one will ever have you but me. Anyone tries, and I'll rip their throats out."


Baeryn slapped David’s arm, “David! I think the fact I’m caring your child is claim enough. You didn’t need to give me a damn hickey!” She laughed before adding, “or did you forget?” She tilted her head a bit to the side in question.

David yelped playfully, then smiled warmly. After gently maneuvering Baeryn back down into a sitting position on the settee, he moved down to his knees, in front of her. "Never, my love," he said happily. He then lowered his face to her belly and started to speak quietly.

"Hello, little one! I know you're in there, I can feel you. Now, you and me, we gotta come to an understanding real quick. You see, I love your Mama so very much. So much, that sometimes, I might get a little silly. Now, when you decide to join us out here, you will certainly see me be plenty silly. That's because, your Mama will have protected you for so long that I'll love her more than words will ever describe. So, I might need your help. What's say, we be silly together, give your Mama so much love, okay?"

Baeryn was quiet, smiling down at David as he spoke to their unborn child. She felt silly but the moment warmed her in a way she wasn't used to. She held one hand on the side of her stomach and the other found its way to David's cheek when he finished speaking. Words escaped her. The love she felt for this man was so fierce, so solid it scared her at times, no it scared her constantly. She was still coming down from a state of shock from almost losing him that she second guessed every moment, easily mistaking it for a dream.

She pulled him lightly up towards her until her lips met his in a gentle loving kiss. Not the kind they normally shared that led to heated moments, but a soft, endearing kiss.

David inhaled deeply through his nose as he enjoyed the soft, sweetness of Baeryn's lips. He never got enough of her. He took everything she ever gave him and used it as fuel to keep going. She was his shining star through the void, his world, his everything. Both she and their unborn child were the most important things to him.

"You're going to be an amazing father, you know that right?"

"And you are already being an outstanding mother, my love," he replied softly as he gently kissed Baeryn's forehead.

Baeryn closed her eyes, deeply inhaling David's scent as he kissed her forehead. "I'm nervous." She whispered.

Looking down into her face, David sighed softly. "Me too, Baer. But, from what I've seen over the centuries, it's the ones that are nervous that become the best parents." He gently placed his forehead to hers. "So long as we are together, we can accomplish anything."

"I have no idea how to be a mother, mine wasn't exactly....the best example. What if i'm not everything they want me to be? What if...." She sighed knowing her doubts were only fogging up the happiness in this moment and she didn't want that, she didn't want clouds darkening her joy.

David gently placed the tips of his right hand over Baeryn's mouth. "Shh shh shh," he said softly. "You will be great. All you need to do is follow your heart. It will tell you what to do."

"You make it sound so easy." She whispered against the fingers he held over her lips.

Smiling softly, he removed his hand. "My love, this," he glanced down at her belly then back up to gaze into her beautiful eyes. "From what I've learned from observing friends who were parents, will be the hardest, unforgiving, exhausting, most rewarding job you and I will ever have. Together, as a team, we can do it."

“I can’t do this without you.” She paused then corrected herself, “I mean I can, I would just rather not. So promise me you’ll never leave.” Baeryn knew she was being unfair. David couldn’t keep a promise like that, not knowing what the day would bring.

Giving her his most handsome smile, even having a few teeth show, David replied. "Baer, I am never leaving you or our baby. I will fight Death, himself, to stay with the two of you."

A small playful smile hinted at the corner of Baeryn's lips. "Can I tell you something highly inappropriate of a second officer?"

David's grin grew broader. "Always, my love." A mischievous look started to fill his eyes.

"When you showed up outside the battle bridge the other day, panting and covered in blood...." She hesitated, second guessing if she should say this out loud. She bit her bottom lip, "I was so turned on by you. I wanted to take you right there,"

This actually surprised David. "Oh really? So, aside from having my own injuries, you're saying I should add some savage warfare into our foreplay?" He chuckled softly, then grew a little serious. "I've never gone that far before. When the trooper threatened to have his way with any cute women inside...I instantly thought of you and...and went to a darkness deep inside of me that I didn't know I had."

Baeryn's face fell, "I hope you never have to visit that dark place ever again, David. But, there was also a part of me that felt protected, safe seeing you in that state. It didn't scare me." She said sincerely looking into his ocean eyes for confirmation he understood she accepted all of him.

Feeling the connection between the two of them growing stronger, David leaned in and kissed Baeryn deeply and slowly. When they finally came back up for air, he gently touched his forehead to hers and replied softly and sincerely. "Baer, I would do anything and go anywhere to keep you and our baby safe. Even if it means I have to slaughter any who threaten either of you."

Baeryn smirked, "Do anything huh?"

Answering her smirk with on of his own, David replied. "Anything."

"The baby is requesting ice cream...and french fries." She smiled sheepishly knowing David would do anything she asked. "It's quite demanding."

"Well then," he said softly, a gently smirk still on his face. "The baby's wish is my demand. Be right back, my love." He gently kissed the tip of Baeryn's nose and then stood up. Moving over to the replicator, he ordered her request. Then brought them back to her, sitting down next her and he held both dishes for her to eat as she chose to.

Baeryn took a hot fry and used it to scoop the ice cream. The mix of salty and sweet satisfying. "Can we talk about what your plans will be? I know you've been thinking of taking time to yourself."

David looked over at the woman he loved and smiled. "It'll be a lot of meditation. If it's okay, Id like to do it here, in our home. I may be working on me, but that doesn't mean that I plan on leaving you or our baby alone."

"That's something I wanted to talk to you about..." Baeryn put down the fry she had just picked up suddenly feeling uneasy but knowing there was no backing out now. "I don't want you to think you have to stay here and wait on me hand and foot. We have months before this baby will arrive. Why not go on a retreat? I think I can manage holding down the fort in the mean time..." The conversation wasn't easy but Baeryn knew David was focusing on her and their child, not his own needs. He would always put them first.

David gave Baeryn a sideways look. "Are you trying to get rid of me, Miss Whavi?" He then gave her a sheepish grin.


Baeryn couldn’t find it in herself to return David’s grin, no matter how much she wanted to. It was all too easy to get sidetracked by the ocean eyes and that perfect smile of his. But this conversation was important and she couldn’t live with herself if she felt she was holding David back.

“You know I would never wish you to leave. Even thinking about it now is tearing me to pieces.” Her eyes started to glisten with tears she refused to let fall, Baeryn wiped her eyes and continued, “I just need you to know that it’s okay if you separate yourself from all that’s here for a little while. I won’t hold it against you, nor will I feel abandoned. I want what’s best for you David. Whatever that might be, and forgive me if I’m wrong but I feel like this pregnancy has kept you from focusing on your needs.”

Feeling the intensity of her words, David's smile fell. In its place, a look of loving concern. Aftee putting tge food dishes down on the coffee table, David turned back to Baeryn and said, "Come here," in a voice heavy with love. Carefully, he pulled her up and astride his lap. As he held her with his left hand, his right moved up to cup the left side of her face. "Look at me," he said softly.

Reluctantly Baeryn raised her obsidian eyes to meet ocean blue ones. She was quiet as she waited for David to speak. She was never any good at conversations like this. She reached up to take the hand he held against her cheek and pulled it into her lap where she squeezed it.

David returned the squeeze with a gentle one of his own. "Baeryn," he spoke softly and honestly. "While I love you for considering my needs, please don't tell me what they are. I will let you know what I need, when I need it. And right now, what I need is you," he glanced down at her belly, then back up into those beautiful pools of obsidian. "The both of you. I need to be near my family. You and our baby are the only family I have. You are my rock, my safe place, my home."

"I don't need to go off on some retreat to find out who I am. For most of it, I already know. I am the man that you fell in love with, and grow to love more each day. I'm an honorable man. I'm the man who is going to love you and our baby for rest of his life, above all others. I'm the man that you feel safest with, because you know, I would never hurt you."

"The part of me that I need to figure out, is the professional side of me. And for that, I feel that I just need time and meditation." He paused to consider something, then added, "I have an idea. Especially with what just happened, with the mission, why don't we go away together, we both could stand to unwind after the hell we just went through. I've got about three months leave saved up so far. How about you? Let's take a shuttle and disappear for a little while. What do you say?"

Baeryn released a long sigh. She was still processing David's words when she started speaking. “I can’t.” She unfolded herself from David's lap and stood. “I can’t leave now. With Carrington…. gone I need to be here to support Garrett. The crew needs me.” Baeryn wrapped her arms around herself and started pacing.

Without a word, David stood and wrapped his arms around Baeryn, giving her support. "You're right. As the Second Officer, right now, your place is here." He kissed the top of her head. "Maybe, when things calm down a bit, we could take a few days, hang around, use the holodeck, or just stay in bed, with only a few candles for light. Whichever you'dike more."

The tension in Baeryn's shoulders melted away in David's embrace. "I just..." She started but had to grapple for confidence to finish. "I just feel as if I've caused so much change to your life and none of it simple. I want to be sure that you're taken care of." She turned in his arms to look up at him.

Loosening his hold to allow Baeryn to move, David looked down into her hypnotic black eyes and replied softly. "I am, Baer," he gave her a toothy, lop-sided grin. "And I don't want anything different from you...other than a few more great kisses? I'm happy here with you, in the life that we are building, together. I don't want to miss anything about our life. I love you, Baeryn Whavi."

"And I you." Baeryn responded with a small smile. She felt unsettled and didn't know what she could do or say to make the feeling go away. Instead she laid her chest down on David chest still lost in uncertainty.

Feeling that Baeryn was still feeling uncomfortable, David embraced her warmly. He then adjusted his hold and easily scooped her up into his arms. After requesting the computer to play some soft romantic music, he started to slowly sway and dance, holding the woman he loved, in his arms. His eyes were full of the complete love that he held for her alone.

Baeryn laughed and rolled her eyes, "Your such a romantic you know that Marine?"

Smiling down into her beautiful dark eyes, David replied happily. "For you, Starfleet, until the end of time." He then leaned in and kissed her.

Baeryn had forgotten that nickname. It seemed like a lifetime ago she would visit him at the marine barracks. Oh how far they had come she thought as she returned his kiss.

Slowly, David stopped dancing and carried Baeryn to their bed, laying her gently down upon it. He then stood back up and, as he kept his eyes locked on hers, he started to get undressed. The look of desire clear in his eyes.

From her spot on the bed Baeryn's obsidian eyes started to glittered with a hunger she knew would soon be sated. She moved toward the edge a hand stretched out to the man she loved.

Once he was finished undressing, David took the offered hand and got into bed with the woman that he loved and desired.

Together, in the bed they shared, Baeryn and David spent the rest of the evening enjoying and bringing pleasure to one another. There was no rush, no frenetic energy. There was just two people, completely in love with each other.

-OFF-