Wakizashi, What's it to Ya?"

Posted on Thu Sep 1st, 2022 @ 9:51pm by Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor & Captain Gary Taylor

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Gary and Lia's Quarters
Timeline: After Something for Lia/The hand that holds the answer
3639 words - 7.3 OF Standard Post Measure

OOC: Taylor's quarters.


Gary had secreted away the box containing Lia's wakizashi this time he placed the elegantly wrapped box atop their bed. Lia would see it when she came in to change. Hower she would get it after dinner. Right now, he was in the kitchen working on tonight's meal which was Tempera. A Japanese dish
consisting of deep-frying seafood, vegetables, or prawns in vegetable oil after applying a coating of egg, water, and wheat flour. He took a sniff. "Ohhhh! Lia is going to love this.!' He said as he did a little happy dance at how well the meal at least smelled. he had Sake cooling in the fridge now all that was needed was for Lia to make her appearance.

In the background The Carpenters were singing We've Only Just Begun and Gary was singing softly right along with them.

We've only just begun to live
White lace and promises
A kiss for luck and we're on our way
(We've only begun)
Before the risin' sun, we fly
So many roads to choose
We'll start out walkin' and learn to run
(And yes, we've just begun)
Sharing horizons that are new to us
Watchin the signs along the way
Talkin' it over, just the two of us
Workin' together day to day
Together
And when the evening comes, we smile
So much of life ahead
We'll find a place where there's room to grow
(And yes, we've just begun)
Sharing horizons that are new to us
Watchin' the signs along the way
Talkin' it over, just the two of us
Workin' together day to day
Together
Together
And when the evening comes, we smile
So much of life ahead
We'll find a place where there's room to grow
And yes, we've just begun

As she entered, she heard a song. The aroma of food made her turn to see Gary once again cooking in the kitchen, "A girl might think she was being wined and dined for some sort of news, are we expecting some news?" She smiled at her husband as she headed for the bedroom, sliding the picture wall across she entered the room. "Just getting out of the monkey suit, be right with you shortly!"

"Hiya sweetie." Gary greeted his wife. "But you are being wined and dined Lia. not because of any news but because I love you and I really enjoy cooking these Japanese meals. "Take your time." Gary yelled after her, "Dinner isn't quite done yet." As he turned his attention back to the meal he was in the mist of preparing for Lia and himself. He took another deep breath and smiled. Lia was going to love this!

She quickly removed her uniform and then grabbed her Yukata, not bothering to put anything else on she wrapped it around her and tied the soft Obi round her waist. Lia now splashed her face with water and dried herself off, then moved back to the main room of their cabin. "This is going to get people talking you know, I mean the XO is cooking for the Security Chief. They'll say, it should be the other way around." She prepared the Horigotatsu with the small tatami mats to sit on and placed the Saki in the centre. Then put her chopsticks above her placemat, "Gary! Are you using chopsticks or normal fighting irons (Knife and Fork)?"

"Who is going to talk Lia? Besides what we do is our business. You don't hear me complaining. I like cooking especially the Japanese meals as they are new to me, and I know how much you enjoy them. What others say doesn't concern me. What you say and think does." He picked up a shrimp and bit it. "Yum. so good. I think you are going to like this, Lia. As for the fighting irons, I think I'll give the chopsticks another go." He smiled at Lia, "Not going to let them lick me. Besides if worse comes to worse, then I'll use the fighting irons."

Lia simply smiled back at Gary, "People don't need a reason to talk, they just do it because normally those they gossip about have something they themselves don't." She placed Gary's chopsticks above his placemat, but put a knife and fork along side the mat. Then Lia went and got the glasses for the Sake, she placed them down on the Horigotatsu and then joined Gary in the kitchen. "Your becoming very house trained, but do you want any help?"

Gary nodded, "You are probably right about the people who gossip. I just don't pay it any mind. I can't help if they don't have what we have and I am certainly not going to apologize for it." He smiled at Lia, "I can always use help Lia." He shook his head, "No, not house trained. There isn't man's work or woman's work. There is housework, chores to be done. Cooking falls in that. Someone has to cook. It just so happens I get off a little earlier than you do, so I start the cooking."

"Ok then I'll leave you to it, but just a heads up. I have some news I need to tell you." She made her way back to the table and sat down to wait for the feast Gary had created.

Lia's wait was short for a few minutes later, Gary brought in two plates, heaped with food. He placed one in front of Lia and the other at where he was sitting. Getting himself situated, he looked across at Lia. "Okay what news do you have to tell me?" He asked as he poured a glass of Sake for them both.

"Do I eat this or climb it?" Lia asked pointing to the mountain of food before her, then she took a deep breath. "I've spoken to the CMO, and its not good news." She waited to see Gary's reaction, after so much hard work Lia felt she had dampened the mood some what.

"You eat it." Gary replied then placed his chop sticks to the side and looked across the small table. "I see. Well, what exactly did he say Lia? Details please." Gary asked his voice level.

Lia looked up, "Things haven't mended as well as they should have, so its going to take at least another year before we can try for children. I'm sorry."

Gary nodded, silent for a moment before he replied. "Nothing to be sorry for Lia." He said honestly and asked another question, "Did the Doc say you couldn't conceive or that you couldn't carry to full term?"

She moved in her seat and looked to the floor, "He said to wait possibly three months, but advised it would be better to wait another year. My father really did a number on me, guess kids might not be on my horizon after all."

"I think you are getting ahead of yourself Lia. We'll wait the three months and see where we are. Besides if you conceive, we can get someone to be a surrogate if we need one." Gary suggested.

"Nice idea, but who do you suggest? I can't think of anyone right off the bat, plus the CMO would do the deed in a test tube. How do you feel about that?" Lia picked at her food, "Not going to waste this, even though I've brought the mood down."

"I don't know but we can look around if that's how we want to go. As for the test tube. It's not the preferred way but it would still be our child Lia. How do you feel about it?" Gary asked turning the question back on Lia.

Lia now looked at Gary fully her eye's edged with tears, "I don't want it to happen that way, I'm sorry but I wanted it to be you and me. Nobody else, I know that's selfish but it's how I feel." She took another bite out of her food then attempted to change the subject, "Oh a quick question, what's the box on the bed?"

"Lia sweetheart, don't cry. We'll wait and don't apologize. It's fine and it isn't selfish, not at all." Gary replied hoping to make Lia feel better. Gary looked at her, "Finish eating and go find out, it's for you."

Picking up some food, Lia took a bite. She sat and thought about what a surrogate would really mean to her, could she honestly say the child would be hers? "Gary, how do you feel about having a surrogate?" Perhaps if Gary told her if he was ok with it, she might feel different.

Gary put down his chopsticks, he was having limited success with them anyways. He looked over at Lia, her tear streaked face and his love swelled for this remarkable woman. "It's not my preferred means to have a child." He said honestly. "However, it would allow us to have a child, our child. It would be ours as it would have our DNA. The difference, the only difference is you would not be carrying it and I know you want to do that, feel the baby growing inside you. The delivery system would be different but you, I would raise it, teach it, love it for its entire life. Nine months doesn't seem like too much to give up when you look at the return we get."

She took a breath and then looked back Gary, "But it's those nine months that bind a mother and child together, you feel it grow and develop as you the mother nurture it." She placed her chopsticks down on her plate, "Yeah we have a child, and yeah we get to raise it. But.........Oh I don't know, somehow I feel like a failure. This was my last chance to win over my Father, to prove I was better than him."

"You don't want to use a surrogate? Fine, we will wait Lia." Gary replied before he continued on. "You aren't a failure Lia, not by a longshot. Look at where you are. A Commander and Chief of Security on a starship. You have many friends and their respect and admiration. However most importantly, you have my love and respect. You are so much better than your father. I just wish you would believe me and accept it."

"I never said I don't want to use a surrogate, I just said how I would feel IF we used a surrogate. Plus who ever it was, would need to be a close friend. Someone who knows us, and understands the situation." Lia picked her chopsticks back up, "He took away the one thing that makes me whole, I wanted to beat him by showing the universe I could get pregnant. Angel made it even more important, guess we don't always get what we want." She went back to eating her meal, her mind working out where to go next.

"Lia, you have beaten him. Don't you see? You got pregnant once and you will again. Forgive me but I don't think you can't see the forest for the trees. You are obsessing over beating your father and showing the universe you could get pregnant. Why? You don't owe anything to any of them. The only person you have something to prove to is yourself. You are putting an inordinate amount of pressure on yourself over getting pregnant and having a child and there is so much more to being a woman a successful woman I might add.

Lia smiled at Gary, "Successful? Me? I was just lucky, first meeting Ayuki then with the Captain of the Endeavour. Seven years at Star Fleet Intelligence, and then more luck when Lalor picked me. The final piece of luck took five years to fall into place, that was you." She looked round at the Tea House, "WE did this, we chose each other. And I feel I need to give something back, I know what you want the most." She looked back at Gary and continued, "I do see the trees, and the forest. Maybe I am putting pressure on myself who knows, maybe this one thing isn't meant to be. But I'm going to give it my best, until all avenues are explored and nothing is left. This is who I am, and I wouldn't be that person without you and your support."

Gary shook his head. "We make our own luck Lia. It was through your hard work that you were at Starfleet Intel. It was your dedication that got you noticed by Ayuki and then by Phoenix." He looked around their quarters that they had transformed into a tea house. "Yes , we did this because we're a team. But it was your passion and your love for the Japanese culture that got the ball rolling." He shook his head, "I do want a child but it isn't what I want most. What i want most is a woman I can love and who loves me. Who I can support and she me. I want a partner for life's journey. That's you Lia. You are what I want and need the most." He smiled, "We'll take this one day at a time and deal with what comes. Now, finish your meal and open your gift."

Picking up the parcel from behind her, Lia placed it on the table. "Did you think I'd leave it behind on the bed?" She set down her chopsticks and reached for Gary's hand, "I've told you before Gary, you got me. You got me the day we set foot on Risa, you just made sure of it when we got married." She now stood up and went to the kitchen, and returned with three small cups. Putting them on the table, she filled each one with Sake. "This cup is for the past, in gratitude for our time to learn and grow together". She then took three sips from the cup before passing it over to Gary.

Gary took the cup, his eyes on Lia and took three sips before placing the cup down. "I wouldn't change the past for anything Lia as we did learn and grow together." He agreed quietly.

"This second cup is for the present, to bind us for a long and happy life". Again she took three sips and then passed it to Gary.

Gary took three more sips and looking at Lia he spoke, "I think we're well on the way for a long and happy life together Lia as we go down life's long and winding road."

"This third cup is for the future, to give us protection and tranquility as one household". Three more sips were taken and then the cup passed to Gary, "I made those statements the day we got married. I meant them then, and I mean them now. I'll support you every day and every way possible, I promise."

Gary took three more sips. His eyes fixed on Lia. "We are one household, we have the same hopes and dreams, the doubts and fears. However, we are united together as we strive to meet our goals. I love you Lia, now and forever. I promise you."

Moving the cups, Lia now began to open the parcel Gary had left on the bed for her and she had brought to the table. "Things may not work out as we might want them to, but I made my choice in you. But lets make sure what we can do, we fully enjoy." She opened the box and instantly knew what it was, "Mr. Taylor, one day I'll understand you. But for now, stay just as you are." She moved round and kissed Gary fully on the lips, "Thank you, for the Wakizashi. But more important, thank you for being you."

Gary smiled broadly as Lia opened the box and saw the Wakizashi. Seeing her happy made him happy. He returned her kiss and when it broke he spoke. "I fully agree that we fully enjoy whatever we do. As for the other, we take it as it comes. For like you. I made my choice and that is you Lia." He smiled again. "I am glad you like the Wakizashi Lia. As for staying as I am, no worries. I am a man very much in love with a very special and wonderful lady.'

Removing the Wakizashi, Lia checked the blade and then returned it to the scabbard. She nodded as she saw it matched her Katana perfectly, Gary had taken the time to ensure the match. "So now we've eaten a Galaxy of food, is there pudding? Not that I'm expecting pudding, but........" Lia now made puppy eye's and pouted, then unable to keep it up collapsed in fits of laughter.

Gary smiled at the love of his life. As Lia checked her Wakizashi. He then answered her question even as she collapsed in a fit of laughter. "Do we have pudding ? She asks. My dear Lia, We, have chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and butterscotch. Which would you like?"

"Oh a choice, yet another choice. As if I don't already have enough to choose from, the pain, the difficulty!!" Lia placed her head on the Horigotatsu and groaned, then just as quick she sat bolt upright with a wide grim on her face. "Chocolate, got to be chocolate!", she blew Gary a kiss as she waited for her pudding almost child like in her manner.

Gary chuckled at Lia's theatrics as he got up and went into the kitchen to get the pudding. A few moments passed before he returned with two bowls. One with chocolate pudding for Lia and one with vanilla pudding for himself. Setting the chocolate pudding in front of her, he announced, "Plenty more if you want more Lia." As he sat back down across from her. "Eat up." He told her as he took a spoonful of vanilla pudding into his mouth. "Ummmm, this is good if I do say so myself."

Taking a spoonful, Lia put the pudding in her mouth. "Not bad, fair to middling. Quite nice, really good. Now let me see, oh no another choice. POOP!" She looked over to Gary, "After this I'm having a nice cold Sake, then I'm clearing this all away before I invite my husband to join me in that room." She pointed towards the bedroom, "We may not be able to produce a child just yet, but I think a little practice in how to start the process never hurts." She gave Gary a beaming smile and blew him a kiss, "That's one choice I have not problem making, do you feel like joining me?"

"Well, you know what they say Lia, practice makes perfect, so I will definitely be joining you in that room." He pointed to the bedroom as well. "A cold Sake sounds nice as well. "Oh, I have no problem making that choice, none whatsoever." He looked at his bowl of pudding, "I liked it, and I am not a big pudding fan by any stretch of the imagination." He looked at the plates and chopsticks, "Throw it all in the recycler Lia. Quick and easy and then we can get to practicing."

Picking up the dishes, Lia placed them on the replicator. "Computer, recycle dishes." As the dishes disappeared, she picked up the next load and headed back towards the replicator. Placing them on the pad, she repeated her command. Her final and third load was being picked up as the replicator recycled the dishes, "Ok husband of mine, your final dinner duty. Grab the Sake and pour two glasses, once this lot has gone I'm heading for the bedroom." Lia untied her Yukata and let it slip from her shoulders, "Oh dear, looks like even my clothes are tired."

Gary watched as Lia recycled the dishes and thought just how lucky and fortunate to have met, fallen in love and married such a wonderfully kind, compassionate and loving woman as Lia. She had saved him, got him to live again. To reengage life and become a participant instead of a spectator. Gary moved to pour two glasses of Sake.. "I can do that." He answered as he poured the Sake. A huge grin came to his face as Lia undid her Yukata and it fell to the floor. "Oh dear, my darling we need to get you to bed as quickly as possible. You need bedrest, long, long bedrest followed by some good old fashion TLC."

Picking up her Sake, Lia drunk it in one. Then with a deft foot she scooped up her Yukata, "Now is the hour of our practice, put the lights out darling I'll be waiting." She entered the bedroom and climbed into bed, the sliding door was ajar and she could see Gary standing in the living room. "I'm getting lonely in here, don't just stand there sweetheart."

Gary scooped up his cup of Sake and in one gulp downed the contents. He heard Lia call to him, and he smiled broadly. Oh, how he loved her! "Coming darling!" He answered as he turned out the lights and headed to the bedroom and Lia and her loving arms. He pulled the sliding door shut and got into bed, sliding up next to her and kissing her softly. "There not lonely anymore." He whispered. "Now, it's time for some of that TLC, I promised you."

"TLC sounds nice, I'll just let my hands do the walking and see what comes up." A smile formed on Lia's lips and she slipped beneath the covers, her actions brought forth the reaction she wanted. Now the fun could begin........

Commander Lia Taylor
Chief Security Officer
USS Elysium

Commander Gary Taylor
Executive Officer
USS Elysium.

 

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