A Quiet Dinner...

Posted on Tue Jan 18th, 2022 @ 9:53am by Captain Mattias Richardson [Reece] & Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson

Mission: Darkness Rising - A Phoenix Lalor Sub Plot
Location: Black Watch II
Timeline: MD43
1574 words - 3.1 OF Standard Post Measure

It was a few days after they had returned Arrianna to her mother, and things had been rather quiet on the ship. It was almost as if the whole crew was trying to recover from the events of the past few weeks.

In their cabin, Phoenix and Mattias were having a light supper together. "So," he began, "With Cragen tied up in the hold, how do we find and eliminate Highlaw now?" There was no judgment in his words or tone. He was honestly curious. "I'm guessing our handler is still trying to figure it all out?"

"Malakai and I have a meeting set up with a friend in the fleet." She replied. "We are going to work on getting us a ship that we can use as a trap."

"I thought that was going to be the Elysium?" He remembered that part of the meeting, after Arrianna flipped out. "Which ship are we going for now?"

"Oh the Elysium." She smirked. "But I have to convince a Commodore to allow it."

Mattias chuckled softly. "I'm still curious how we, a group of ten, are supposed to capture the flagship of the fleet, with over what, two thousand souls aboard? I mean, we're good but, that good?"

"Well about a year or so ago, they made me allow it to be stolen. I intend for the same thing to happen with a twist." Phoenix said with a smile. "I also think there is some irony about it."

He arched an eyebrow as he asked, "Oh? And just how did that work, the first time? And what is ironic about it? That she's being used as bait again?"

"My contact tells me that the Captain who replaced me is dead and Captain Lovejoy is now in charge and he is pretty vocal about my unsuitability to command a starship. He was rabid when she was 'Stolen' under orders. Very vocal about my loosing her. Last time we had people hidden on her as well as another ship shadowing Elysium."

Mattias nodded thoughtfully. "Well, hopefully the snatch and grab will go smoothly enough and then we capture Highlaw, so we can finally go home, get you, us, back to your babies, my love."

"Malakai and I leave tomorrow to organise it" She said softly. "Just the two of us"

Suprised by this bit of news, Mattias almost kept it from his face. Almost. "If you think that's best, Phee." There was a part of him that felt a bit...let down, that she was only taking his brother-in-law.

"The less they see of us before hand, the better" she touched his hand. "Malakai is executive officer of this mission Matt. If we were on the Elysium, It would be me and Gary Taylor."

Mattias was soothed by her touch. A soft, understanding smile crossed his face. "You know I can never stay saying no to you, my love. Just please, be careful."

"We will be, that I can assure you of. Besides, we will be on a federation starbase. Safe as houses"

Pacified by her words, Mattias said no more on the subject. A short while later, after the dishes had been cleared away, the loving couple were sitting together on the small couch, enjoying a few cocktails.

Phoenix sat silently beside him leaning against him, holding her glass gently in her hand. "Wake me when this is over" she muttered.

Mattias gently squeezed Phoenix against him as he turned his head towards her snd softly kissed her forehead. "I know, baby. I'm getting to point now where I'll just want to go and take Highlaw out myself, just to get you home to the babies sooner."

"Soon, Maybe a couple of weeks, no more than two months is my goal. And then we can deal with Josephine and the situation there."

Mattias took a heavy pull of his drink, then sighed. "This mission has certainly gone past its original design, hasn't it, my love?"

"My fault" She said softly. "I let myself get distracted, let Arrianna and Josephine's plight distract me. Which is what Highlaw wanted really. He wanted people distracted, he hoped it would blind the fleet to his plans. Oh I am sure he suspects us but nothing concrete."

"Honey, don't blame yourself. You saw two of your friends, and members of your crew, in a bad situation. If you hadn't done anything and just left them there, I would have been worried about you. But, that isn't who you are, my Queen. You will do everything in your power to protect those under you, and those important to you. I am very proud both of you, and to be with you, because of who you are, at your core. You are an extremely good person. It's one of the reasons why I have always loved, and will always love you."

"Still I should have sent Arri to Starfleet as soon as possible. I should have let them handle it and Cragen."

Mattias shook his head. "You know, if you had done that, our covers would have been blown and the mission deemed a failure. And that kind of failure is the career-ending kind. You, hell, we all, would've been stripped of our ranks and dishonorably discharged from Starfleet. And then, what would happen to you and the twins? I mean, obviously, I would stand by your side and protect you all with my dying breath. But, without Starfleet, and the connections we have both made along the way, how long would it be until Pallas won?"

"I know" She whispered. "Still, it would have solved us a lot of issues." She muttered "I hate being this person, Arri is a friend, Josephine was getting close to being a friend. But I have to admit, not having them here, makes things clearer."

Finishing his drink, Mattias put his glass down and then sat back in the couch, opening his arms wide. "C'mere," he said softly.

She placed her own glass down and slid into his arms curling against him easily content to rest her head on his chest.

Once Phoenix was situated, Mattias lovingly wrapped his arms around her. "Don't be so hard on yourself, sweetheart," he said in a quiet, soothing voice. "Arri is in a better place now, with her people. They know how to help her." He paused a beat before continuing. "As for Josephine, now that we have Cragen, we will find a way to bring her home, both physically and mentally. However, right now, we, the whole group, need to take a few days to collect and recenter ourselves. Then, when we are fresh again, we go after Highlaw, break him in half, save Josephine, and then, go home, to your babies."

"Home. That sounds good" Phoenix said softly. "Be wonderful to be there."

Smiling, he responded. "I know I'm looking forward to it, and to finally seeing your babies in real life." His eyes glistened softly at the thought. Even when talking about her babies like this, his mind always flashed back to his Charlie. Though, usually, he was able to keep his breakdowns under control. "I promise you," he whispered to her. "You will hold them again soon."

She snuggled against him."I know. This is lovely by the way."

He grinned and chuckled softly. "It certainly is, baby." He leaned his face closer to hers and gently kissed her forehead.

Phoenix smiled and closed her eyes for a moment. "I have missed you so much these past few years."

He smiled warmly. And I, you, my love." He kissed her again. "Thank you, by the way, for the flowers you sent me, when I was recovering." He chuckled softly. "I know, it's a lifetime ago but, I never properly thanked you for them." He smiled again, "And your letter. It really made my heart smile, my love."

She smiled up at him. "I am glad you received them. It was a minor thing,"

Arching his eyebrow slightly. "Minor? My love, they were perfect." He chuckled softly, thinking of that day. "It gave me the courage to ask Saundra to have lunch with me. She, of course, worried that you'd kill us both with a knife." He chuckled again, then got quiet. It was the first time he had spoken about Saundra, in that way, to Phoenix. He was suddenly unsure if he should have just kept his mouth shut.

"She sounds like a wonderful woman." Phoenix said. "I am glad you found each other."

Nodding slowly, he replied. "She was. She helped me regain my life after I was nearly killed. And so much more. Please don't take this the wrong way, my love. While you are the one that I have loved longer, and will only love, to the end of my days....a part of me does still love her. I...I know it's a contraduction, to love two women as much as I do. It in no way diminishes my love for you! I hope you know that!"

"shh" she pressed her fingers to his lips. "I know, And it is the same with me and Ken, I loved you even though I was with him."

Mattias quieted down. He was relieved that Phoenix wasn't upset. Nodding silently, he smiled softly at her. "Amen mela Ile, Phoenix."

"Amin mela lle Mattias" She whispered back and kissed him gently.

**Fade to Black**

~OFF~