Moving in?

Posted on Thu Nov 3rd, 2022 @ 10:18am by Lieutenant Cassia Cavendish & Lieutenant Samaire MacBride-Reece [Lalor] & Skylah McBride [Lalor] & Commander Kyle Reece & Lieutenant Nicholas Reece [Reece] & Staff Sergeant Liam "Swede" Reece [Reece]

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: USS Elysium, Lieutenant Cavendish's Quarters
Timeline: after Nico finishes all of his reporting in meetings
4306 words - 8.6 OF Standard Post Measure

Nicholas had a mixture of feelings rolling through him. He was safely back with Cassy, he was back on the Elysium with his brothers, Sthilg had begun the numerous treatments he was going to need to recover from his injuries, he was still thinking of the unborn child that had been stolen from Cassy and him.

And now, he felt happiness from the fact that he was moving in with Cassy. Happiness and nervousness. He really wanted things to work better this time.

Cassia was waiting for him when he entered the cabin with his things. "Hey" she said softly.

His face lit up considerably when he saw Cassia. "Hey.." he replied, feeling even more nervous now. "I..uh..I brought a housewarming gift.."

She raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" she asked as she finished putting her favorite mug in the small kitchenette cupboard.

Nodding, he moved closer, placing the small crate he was carrying on the table. He then opened the top and started to reach inside for something. "This box has been in storage since...well...since." He didn't need to say since I disappeared on that missionI, because he knew that Cassia could pick up on the thoughts in his head.

"Aha! Here it is!" He pulled out a small holoemitter and set it on the counter between Cassia and himself. After activating it, a holoimage of the two of them, smiling and holding each other, with a huge fireplace behind them. "Our first holodeck date to Aspin," he said with a happy smile.

She smiled and picked it up. "I remember." she said softly. She studied the image. "Nice memories Nico."

"I thought it could be a focal point that we could use to build our new memories upon." He gave her a soft smile, though his eyes held sadness in them.

Cassia nodded and placed it back down on the table. "We were strong back then Nico."

He reached out at took a hold of her hand in his. Giving them a gentle squeeze, he looked down into her deep, dark eyes. "We will be strong again, Imzadi."

Cassia squeezed his hand back with her's "Yes I believe we will be." She smiled. "I left you... some space in the wardrobe" she teased.

At first, his eyes grew wide, then they narrowed as he got the joke. "Very funny you." He moved over and, after wrapping his arms around her, started to tickle her.

She squealed and tried to evade but not very hard and she soon was on the floor being tickled.

For a few heartwarming beats, Nicholas and Cassia stayed there, he tickling her, she squirming, them both laughing and smiling. Then, he slowly stopped and, still positioned over her, he smiled down at her. "I love you, Cassy," he said quietly as more emotions of love and devotion flooded out of his mind.

She smiled up at him. "I know" she quipped. "I love you Nico." and she pressed her lips to his gently. "Now, shall we continue unpacking?"

Nicholas inhaled a soft breath as their lips met again. His heart warmed happily for this woman. "Yeah, probably a good idea." He smiled at her as he slowly climbed back up to his feet, then offered her his hands to help her stand.

She took his hand, her eyes sparkling but she didn't pull any funny business and let him help her up. "oh have you contacted your brothers?"

"Well, Kyle knows I'm here already. I don't think he's told Liam yet." Nicholas grinned slightly. "If he had, Li would have hunted me down and either hugged me, punched me, or both."

"Well keep the blood from the carpet." She said with a smirk. "Your mother said he married, so maybe he is a lot calmer than you remember?"

"Perhaps," Nicholas replied, then chuckled and shook his head. "I still can't believe it that Li was the first one to get married!"

"Why?" Cassia asked as she moved a bag into the bedroom.

"Well.." he started to reply, then paused as if trying to think of the right words to use. "He...he was always so...like an excited puppy. He never seemed to stay focused on any one thing for long." He thought about it and grunted softly. "I guess the Corps calmed him down."

"Or maybe his wife did" Cassia smiled and moved back to his side. "Nico? Are you ok?"

He had grown silent as images of his torture and...the rest...flashed through his mind. "I..." he just stood there, his fists clenched so tightly, he was starting to vibrate.

Cassia shifted so she was in front of him, and placed her hands on his head. ~Nico, Imazadi~ she sent as she pressed close. ~Talk to me Nico love~

He closed his eyes in pain. ~I...can't say the words, Imzadi. Look at my thoughts, my memories. You'll see then what...what I'm reliving.~

Cassia was silent as she saw his memories. She pressed her mouth to his, pouring her feelings into the kiss. Somehow they both ended up kneeling on the floor still kissing as she struggled to witness what they had done to him.

Nicholas opened his mind fully to Cassia. He would never hide anything from her. Never from her. Without realizing it, he even allowed her to see the location of the mission and the name of the people he was among. She even saw why he had kept it secret from Starfleet. If word had gotten out, too many innocent lives would be lost.

Casia sagged against him as they knelt there together and she clung to him as she went through his memories. Slowly she disengaged from his mind and stroked his face gently. ~oh Nico love~

Tears were flowing down his cheeks as the old wounds had been reopened. However, in her arms, he felt completely safe, protected, and loved. ~Imzadi...I'm...I'm not the same man you used to know and love.~

~I am not the same woman either~ Cassia returned. ~We will work it out together~ She gently pushed him and soon she was curled up against him as they lay on the floor.

As they lay there, he held onto her tightly, as if he was afraid they would be ripped apart again. After several moment of silence, he asked softly, "Do...do you want to see what they did to my body?"

"Only when you are ready to show me, love." Cassia replied, resting her head on his shoulder.

He took in a steadying breath, then said, "I...I want you to see."

Cassia nodded. "Okay, if it is what you want."

Nicholas nodded to her. He then climbed back to his feet and reached down to help her stand as well.

She let him haul her up and smiled faintly "hmm that brings back memories."

He smiled a faint smile as well, though his eyes were full of sadness. Without saying a word, he started to remove his uniform top, revealing the long sleeve undershirt beneath. Standing this close to her, Cassia would be able to make out imperfections under his shirt.

He reached down and untucked the shirt, then slowly peeled it off, revealing his heavily damaged torso and arms.

Gently she reached up and touched his face. "You are still you Nico. Still the man I fell in love with on the Rok. Still you."

His mind was a raging storm of mixed emotions. Anger that they had been ripped apart from each other, joy that they had been reunited. Rage over what was done to them both, compassion for what she had been forced to endure. But most of all, he felt a bright, powerful love for this woman.

He opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted by her door chime being rung.

Cassia sighed. "Someone has bad timing. " she said softly as she moved to answer the door. "You better get dressed."

Nicholas nodded, then pulled his undershirt back on. He then nodded to her.

Cassia opened the door. "Yes?" She asked the man standing there.

Liam Reece was standing there, a jumble of emotions clearly visible on his face. "Hello, Lieutenant," he said respectfully as he had never met Cassia in person before. "I just found out that my older brother, Nicholas, is on board and currently in your cabin. May I speak to him, please?"

She made a show of glancing at her chrono. "Wow I should put money on things. Come in Sergeant. " she looked into the cabin. "Nico! Your brother is here!

Nicholas stepped around the corner, and gave Liam a sad grin. "Hey, baby brother..."

Liam stepped inside after Cassia invited him too. Then, when his eyes locked on his older brother, a mix of emotions washed over his face. Anger, relief, sadness, excitement, all battling for dominance as his brain tried to make a decision.

Finally, he moved closer, standing toe to toe with Nicholas as he looked up at his taller and older sibling. "You bastard," he whispered, as his hands curled into tight fists. "Do you have any idea how worried we all have been??"

Nicholas looked down into his younger brother's eyes, keeping his body loose. He knew the last three years had been very hard on his family, regardless of what he went through.

He was about to reply, when Liam suprised him by throughing imhis arms around him and holding him in an emotional bear hug. "I missed you, Nichy...!" Liam said through choked tears.

Nicholas reply immediately by returning the embrace. "I missed you too, Li," he whispered back, a few tears of his own falling free.

Cassia merely left them to it. She headed off to start unpacking other things, and as she did, she wondered how long until Kyle came by.

As if conjured from the ether, her door chime rang again.

Cassia sighed and went past Liam and Nicholas to the door and opened it. She glanced at Kyle and waved him in. "Reeces, so bloody predictable" she grumbled and headed off saying "Nico, your better looking twin brother is here"

Kyle smiled politely at Cassia, then his eyes moved to his brothers. "Guess I'm late for the love in. Did you punch him yet, Li?" The elder brother chuckled as he entered the quarters.

Nicholas gave Cassia a look as she walked past. "Funny, very funny." He then grinned and gave her a wink, before releasing Liam and moving over to embrace his twin.

The two men hugged each other strongly. Finally Kyle said, "I thought we lost you Nick." He held his brother tightly, as he slowly let his worries start to ebb. While he had seen Nicholas earlier, they hadn't had a chance to speak before Cassia went after her pound of flesh.

"You almost did, Kyle," Nicholas replied, his own emotions running free as he had not felt safer in the last three years, than he did at this moment, surrounded by these three very important people in his life.

Liam looked to his older brothers, he felt like a hole that had been in his heart was finally filled. While Kyle and Nicholas continued to hug, he moved over to Cassia and asked quietly, "Do you mind if I have Sam and Sky come over? I'm dying for them to meet Nichy."

She sighed. "Sure I will just clear off the couch" She said to him. "Anyone else?" she asked giving Kyle a look.

Kyle smiled and shook his head. "Not today, but thank you for asking. Today, is just about family."

Liam grinned and nodded his head. "And, as I know Mama already told you, I'm married and Samaire and I adopted her niece, so, you now have a sister-in-law and a little niece to spoil!'

Nicholas smiled broadly and happily. "That's awesome, Li. It makes me very happy to know that you found someone to spend your life with and have a family." He then looked over at Kyle. "And I hear you have a new someone as well?"

Kyle nodded and grinned. "I do, but those introductions will come later. And they will," he smirked slightly. 'We just had dinner with Mom and Dad the other night, back home."

This news caused Nicholas's eyebrows to rise. "She's that important to ya, huh? Well then, I can't wait to meet her!'

As the twins spoke, Liam sent a message to Samaire, telling her what had happened and asked her to get Sky cleaned up and dressed, then the both of them meet him at Lieutenant Cavendish's quarters.

Sam messaged back the receipt of the message and said they would be there soon.

Cassia, considering that their move in time was being cut down, cleaned off the couches and coffee table and went to make up a tea tray.

The Reece boys saw what Cassia was doing for them and they all decided to help out. Nicholas work along side of her while Kyle and Liam got the table set for a light dinner for them all.

As they got the tea ready, Nicholas leaned in and whispered to Cassia, "Thank you for this, Imzadi. I promise, after tonight, I will be all yours. My brother's and I are just super excited to see each other again.' He hoped the change of direction for their evening didn't annoy her.

"Are you going to tell them the truth Nico?" She asked softly as she finished putting some small cakes on the tray.

Nicholas considered her question, then nodded. "But not tonight. Especially with my new sister-in-law and niece coming over. But, when I do, would you be there with me?"

"Of Course" Cassia said softly.

The door chimed.

Cassia looked at Liam "I believe that is for you."

Liam looked over at Cassia as he was putting the final dishes on the table and grinned. "Nichy, you are just going to love them both!" He gushed a bit as he moved towards the door.

"I'm sure I am, Li. Anyone who makes this happy, I definitely want to meet!"

Grinning to his older brother, Liam pressed the door controls, and they slid open, revealing his family. "Hey!" He moved in giving Samaire a tender kiss, before leaning down to pick up Skylah. "You two look so beautiful," he whispered to them.

Sam laughed softly and kissed him back, before following him into the cabin.

Skylah snuggled against him and grinned when she saw Kyle.

Sam moved to greet Kyle with a kiss on the cheek. "Kyle" she said.

Kyle returned the gesture with a smile of his own. "Sam," he then looked over at Skylah and winked at her. "And how is our little lady tonight? That is a very pretty dress you're wearing tonight."

Skylah grinned at him. "Thanks!" she said brightly. She looked around. "Where is Vanessa?" she asked curiously. The child had a way of driving Vanessa batty, which made the rest of them laugh.

Sam however looked past Kyle to the man and woman. "Hello, I am Samaire," she said holding out her hand. She could see that the man was Kyle's twin, but she chose to let him introduce himself.

As the interaction played out, Nicholas stayed by Cassia's side, holding her hand nervously. His heart was split between soaring from happiness at seeing this beautiful scene with his family, and breaking that he had missed so much.

Cassia squeezed his hand gently

When Samaire stepped forward, Nicholas reached out and gently shook her hand. "Nicholas..Nicholas James Reece. Kyle's younger twin brother." He then sighed and shook his head, annoyed by his own stupidity. "I mean..." he started to stumble over his words, panic starting to set in in his mind.

Cassia smiled and held out her hand. "Forgive him, he has issues with socializing at times. I am Cassia."

Samaire grinned. "Ah thats ok." She shook hands with Cassia. "Sorry to descend on you both. Liam was so happy to hear that Nicholas was on board."

"That's right," Liam stated as he stepped closer, Skylah still in his arms. "Sweety, I'd like you to meet my other big brother. This is Uncle Kyle's twin brother, Uncle Nicholas. He is just a few minutes younger than Kyle." He explained to you young girl who held a huge part of his heart. "Nichy, this is our daughter, Skylah."

Nicholas smiled warmly at the beautiful young girl in his brother's arms. He extended his right hand to her and spoke softly. "It's a wonderful pleasure to meet you, young lady."

Skylah grinned. More family to her meant more people to talk to. "Hi!" she chirped.

"Careful" Samaire warned as she watched. "She gets possessive of people. She drives Vanessa bonkers."

'Naha!" Replied Skylah. "She is fun!"

Cassia smiled. The child had a way.

Kyke chuckled from behind Liam and Skylah. "Young Miss just knows who belongs to her is all, isn't that right, short stuff?" He grinned to his favorite (well, only) niece as he spoke.

"uh huh" she grinned at him. She held out her arms to Kyle easily.

The elder Reece brother reached out and easily lifted her out of Liam's hold, spinning her around like she enjoyed, before carefully bringing her down into his left side placing his left arm under her as he easily held her against his chest. "So, now you have another uncle! Who's luckier than you?!"

"Hmm no one" She grinned at him.

Liam put his arm around Samaire's waist and smiled warmly, watching his big brother and daughter entertain themselves. Looking back over at Nicholas, he said quietly, "When you're ready, big brother, you know Kyle and I will listen."

Nicholas smiled at his little brother, his nervousness slowly fading, and replied. "Sure. Just, not tonight. Tonight is too perfect. What I'll have tell you will be very difficult to hear. Hell, it's going to be difficult to say."

"But as you say, not tonight. Come sit," Cassia said softly. "We will eat and catch up"

Nicholas let Cassia lead him to the couch and sat down next to her. Liam and Samaire sat down in the facing love seat, leaving Kyle to sit in the single, overstuffed chair, balancing young Skylah on his knee.

"So," Kyle, as the oldest, began. "Are you here on an assignment, or have you been stationed to Ely?"

Nicholas looked at his brother and replied. "Well, Captain," he smirked slightly, "If I was on an assignment I couldn't tell anyone now, could I?" The smirk changed to a soft grin as he shook his head. "But no, I'm not. My time going out on dangerous undercover assignments is over. I'm a full-fledged member of the Intel department here, on Ely."

"Oh Lieutenant Rin will be happy" Samaire said brightly "She has a great team there."

Skylah sat back on Kyle's lap comfortable to study the newest members of the family.

Cassia served tee, coffee as the others talked and she made sure to give Skylah a cake.

As they all spoke, Liam smiled happily, his arm around Samaire's shoulders. "I think it's awesome that the three of us are back together, here on the Elysium of all ships. Only think that's missing is Uncle K'Tox and Grampy, then the whole group would be here."

Kyke chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, though I'm not sure the Ely could take another round of us all being aboard her."

Nicholas smiled and nodded, then looked over at Liam and Samaire. "Congratulations, by the way, on your marriage. I'm sorry that I missed it. What was the ceremony like?"

Liam looked at Samaire and nodded, indicating that he wanted her to reply for them.

"Ah everyone missed it. We eloped to Gretna Green" Sam said with a smile. "Seemed quicker and easier."

Nicholas chuckled softly at that news. "Mom and Dad were cool with that?"

Liam nodded and replied. "Yes they are. We called them before hand and they understood about life in Starfleet. So long as we are happy, they are." He grinned a bit more, looking over at Skylah. "Of course, it didn't hurt that they now have a grandchild to spoil."

Skylah was happily eating the small cake Cassia had given her, content to stay where she was on Kyle's lap.

Over the next several hours, until late into the evening, the group talked and laughed. The bond between the three brothers was renewed and new connections were made with and among Cassia, Samaire and Skylah. Family ties among them all began to cement.

Around 0100, with Skylah snuggled against Liam's chest, sleeping peacefully, while he sat on the loveseat with Samaire, Liam quietly said to the group, "I really hate to end this wonderful night, but, we need to get Sky to bed. She has school in the morning and she's been up a bit too late tonight."

"Of course, we should have been more aware," Cassia smiled.

Samaire stood. "And Kyle should get back to Vanessa before she thinks he has thrown her over." She smirked at Kyle.

Nicholas stood and offered his hand to Liam, to help his little brother stand while stillnholding Skylah against his chest.

Kyle chuckled at Samaire's comment. "Oh, there's no worry there. Alindari are very...dedicated to their partners. If I were to do something stupid, like cheat on her, when she found out, she'd feed me my spleen, while smiling brightly." He chuckled again and stood. "Thank you, Cassia, for allowing us to descend upon your quarters like this. Next time, we will plan out a family gathering more carefully." He gave her a soft grin as he spoke.

"Now that would be fun to watch" Sam quipped.

Cassia smiled. "Its no problem, I am glad Nicholas has gotten the chance to spend time with you all again."

Once Liam was on his feet, he carefully adjusted his hold on Skylah, as she shifted in her sleep when he moved. Looking over at Samaire, he said softly. "Ready, sweetheart?"

"Yes." She hugged Kyle, Nicholas and Cassia goodbye and with him headed out the door.

After they left, Kyle sighed. "Leave it to little brother, to show us both up by getting a family of his own first." He smiled happily at the thought, then moved over to embrace his twin brother. "I'm glad you're home, Nick. I know I'm the older twin, but, I don't make sense without you in my life."

Nicholas hugged his brother tightly. "And I love you too, Kyle."

A few beats later, the brothers released each other and Kyle turned to Cassia. He leaned in and gently kissed her left cheek. "Thank you again, Cassia. Look after this lunkhead, will ya?"

"I will do my best to," She replied with a smile.

Kyle nodded and smiled at her, then turned and left the two of them alone.

Once the doors closed, Nicholas let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He then moved to sit back down, this time in the closer overstuffed chair. He felt exhausted by the evening.

Cassia sat beside him on the arm of the chair. "Come on, bed time Nico."

He looked up at Cassia and nodded. "It was so great to see them all," he started to say, before twisting up his face in regret. "Please don't think less of me for this... It was...overpowering at times. I love my brother's, don't get me wrong...I just..." he was having a hard time to make his thoughts clear.

"Need your own space" she finished with a smile. "Come on, as I said, bed."

He deflated slightly, though from relief and not regret. He smiled at her. "Imzadi, you are a wonderful woman. Much too good for the likes of me." He stood and gently pulled her into his arms. "If it takes me the rest of my life, I am going to earn everything that you give me. I love you, Cassia Cavendish, until my last day and beyond."

She rested her head on his shoulder and snuggled in "Love you Nicholas, now lets get some sleep. I have cadets in the morning."

He nodded and let her pull him into her, now their, bedroom. As he started to undress, he paused and looked at her. "I'll keep my shirt on..if..if you want. My...my chest isn't as comfortable to lay on as it used to be..."

She pressed a finger to his lips. "I do not care about that." she said softly. "It's you I care about. And we are just going to sleep."

He took in a ragged breath and nodded, again amazed by this woman. In the end, he stripped down to his navy blue briefs. He then climbed into bed and waited for her to join him.

Cassia stripped off to her tank top and panties and then climbed in beside him. "Computer, lock door and lights off" she said softly. And they heard the click and the lights went out.

Nicholas wrapped his left arm around her. Then said, "Computer, raise subdued lighting five percent."

Soft, indirect lighting came on in the corners of the quarters, dispelling the pitch darkness.

"I'm sorry..I..the dark..." he apologized, feeling so weak in that moment.

~i am sorry~ She thought via their link, ~forgot~

He nodded as he sent her an image of love and forgiveness. Then, he tried to calm his racing heart and quiet his jumbled mind.

Cassia snuggled down beside him and closed her eyes. Sleep came rather quickly as she relaxed beside him.

Even with the comforting warmth and pressure of her body, it still took Nicholas a while before he finally passed out.

~OFF~