Fun at the Arboretum

Posted on Tue Aug 5th, 2025 @ 11:11pm by Cadet Freshman Grade Cerese Gemini (Kelea-Salik) & Captain Gary Taylor

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Arboretum
Timeline: After Trying to Move Forward
1386 words - 2.8 OF Standard Post Measure

After leaving Gary and LL's quarters the trio headed for the arboretum with LL holding Cereae's hand and just talking away, "Miss Cerese, I am so glad you are here with us. I just know we are going to have a good time." The little girl gushed. "We can feed the ducks and ride the merry go round and get some ice cream and a whole lot more!" She finished happily.

“I certainly hope so!” Cerese smiled. “It all sounds so much fun! To be honest I’ve never been on a…merry go round?” She gave them both a curious look.

Gary smiled at the interaction between LL and Cerese. It was heartwarming to see the closeness and love they had for each other. "Then you will have to ride one, you will be in for a treat. I promise you that."

Cerese offered Gary a warm smile. "I'm enjoying learning about your culture, I'll have to teach you all about mine one day as well."

"That is great. I am glad you are enjoying learning about us and our culture, and I want to learn about your culture as well. I am sure it is quite interesting."

Cerese nodded. “It is, you’d be surprised just how many families are made up of twins or other multiples, it seems to be a genetic trait.”

"I'm sure It is much more than I would expect. I was an only child, but I knew many families who had twins or triplets which I just find amazing."

"So there are multiples born on your world then?" Cerese offered a smile. "There are worlds where nothing like that happens, imagine what they'd make of it."

"Oh yes. Twins are the most likely, then triplets. Larger multiple births do occur but are rare. I would imagine that they would be shocked and amazed by it as it would be the first time they witnessed such an occurrence." Gary replied, enjoying his conversation with Cerese.

“As much as multiples are common on my world, we rarely have more than twins. I couldn’t imagine more than that.” Cerese grinned.

"Twins are the most common on Earth as well." Gary replied. "And I agree anymore than two would be a big undertaking but there a parents that have raised triplets and more quite easily."

Cerese nodded and smiled. “Anyway I think we’ve strayed a little from our fun, shall we get to it?” She gave LL a big smile.

LL nodded excitedly, "Oh yes!" She gushed and grabbed Cerese's hand. "What should we do first Miss Cerese?" She asked as she pulled Cerese along. Shaking his head and chuckling softly Gary followed behind the pair wondering where LL was headed.

“You show me what you’d like to do” Cerese smiled.

"Feed the ducks!" LL shouted excitedly as she pulled/ dragged Cerese toward the pond where the ducks were. As they drew nearer, LL was talking rapidly. "We get some bread crumbs from those machines close to the water but don't throw it all in at once. The ducks are pigs and they will eat it all at once. Give them a little at time."

“In that case we feed them just a little bit at a time” Cerese smiled. “They’ll last longer that way.”

Gary hung back. He loved seeing the interaction between LL and Cerese. They truly liked and cared about each other and right now that is what LL needed.

Cerese offered Gary a smile as she looked in his direction, “Aren’t you coming to join us?”

Gary nodded and smiled in response, "I certainly am. You two aren't going to get rid of me." As he picked up his pace to join the pair.

"Ohh we wouldn't want to do that" Cerese grinned. "Its more fun with you here with us, isn't it Lia?" she looked at Lia offering a smile.

LL turned to look back at Gary, "Hurry up Daddy! We don't want the ducks to swim away!"

“Ohh I doubt they will Lia” Cerese smiled. “They know you have some food for them.”

"You listen to Cerese, she knows what she is talking about and you need not to be in such a hurry young lady." Gary told his daughter.

“They’re still there, see?” Cerese pointed ahead to where the ducks were. “They’re still waiting for you.”

LL breathed a happy sigh of relief. "Good!" She exclaimed as she pulled Cerese forward and closer to the pond.

“Careful now, the holodeck safeties are on but water can still be dangerous” Cerese reminded Little Lia. “Always take care.”

LL nodded, "Yes Miss Cerese." She softly, "I will."

Gary stepped up to the two. "You know Cerese brings up a good point. I think its time to enroll you in swimming classes LL. So you can enjoy the water even more."

“Now there’s a great idea!” Cerese nodded in agreement. “Swimming is a life skill, I love swimming!”

"Can you swim Miss Cerese? Will you come to my swimming classes?" LL asked her nanny hopefully.

“I can, and sure I’d love to!” Cerese nodded. “I love swimming.”

LL looked over to her father. "Did you hear Daddy? Miss Cerese can swim and she loves to swim as well. Isn't that wonderful?"

Cerese couldn't help but grin as Little Lia looked towards her father. "Do you swim Gary?"

Gary nodded and smiled."I do indeed swim, like a fish." He added proudly.

"Oh Daddy! Maybe we can all go swimming together? You and Miss Cerese can teach me to swim. Right? Right? LL asked her eyes big as saucers as she asked, hoping her daddy would agree.

For his part Gary didn't rush an answer, he looked at Cerese to see what she thought of all this.

“I don’t mind, but that is up to your daddy I’m afraid Lia.” Cerese offered a wry smile as she looked towards Gary.

"Of course it is fine LL, Cerese is more than welcome to join us. With the two of us, you'll be swimming like a fish in no time."

Smiling Cerese was glad she had accepted the invitation to be Little Lia’s nanny, she was a lovely child and she would see to it that Lia was well looked after when in her care.

"Now that is settled, let's feed the ducks before they decide to leave. Then if you like we can ride the merry go round." Gary told both Cerese and LL.

“Sounds good to me” Cerese nodded as she gave Little Lia a bright smile. Letting Lia enjoy herself feeding the ducks she turned to Gary. “I hear on the grapevine that you have been seen with a certain woman, I just wanted to say I wish you all the best after everything you’ve been through.”

Gary smiled and nodded at Cerese's question. "The grapevine is quite good and yes it is right. You are speaking about Colonel Azhul Naxea, commanding officer of the Marines." His smile grew at her well wishes, "Thank you Cerese, thank you very much. We seem to hit it off quite well."

“That’s wonderful” Cerese smiled warmly. “Doesn’t Colonel Naxea have a child as well? It would be good for Little Lia to have another child around.”

Gary nodded, "You are correct , she does indeed had a child a daughter and it would be nice for LL so they could get to know each other, bond. Form a friendship."

“That would be good” Cerese nodded. “I wish I knew where my sister was, maybe we’ll find each other again one day.”

"I am confident that you will find your sister and when that day comes for it will be a day of great rejoicing for both you and your sister." Gary replied with firm conviction.

“I certainly hope so Gary, I would so love to see her again” Cerese smiled. “But right now I have my friends here to spend time with.”

"You will." He assured her. "Any never forget you have friends and a family here that care a great deal for you."

“Thank you Gary” Cerese nodded and smiled, glad that she had been rescued by the Elysium, and gained herself a whole new family.