Daniel looked at himself in the mirror a little upset that he had to wear that suit again. Only ever getting out it seemed for funerals, General Hammonds, Shelley's father and now his grandfather.
They had received a message from P7X-377the first contact they had had almost 10 years. If Daniel had been honest with himself, he had thought that Nick had died a long time ago. But in fact he had only died a few days before they found him on the alter. Looking like he hadn't aged a day.
Daniel smiled, feeling a pair of arms around his waist. He saw Shelley standing behind him, hugging him tightly. Then she stood in front of him, brushing away some stray hairs from his jacket.
"You look very handsome," she said, adjusting his tie. "But you always do in a suit."
Shelley reached up her hand, brushing her fingers through Daniel's hair. For a moment he felt like a kid.
"it's a shame you only wear one for funerals,"
Daniel nodded. Shelley brushed down the rest of his suit, making sure he looked good.
"Is there gonna be anyone else there?" Shelley asked.
"No,"
There was a tinge of sadness in Daniel's voice.
"No, just us. I was his only living relative. Now he's gone there's just me,"
Shelley shook her head. She took Daniel's hand, placing it gently on her growing bump.
"There's us," she said. "You're not alone. You've got me, the girls and the twins,"
Daniel smiled as the babies began to kick.
"See."
Daniel turned around hearing excited chatter coming from down the hallway. He could hear his daughters playing in their room.
"Why don't we take them for ice cream afterwards. Give them a treat,"
"Okay. It has been a while since we've all been out together."
Daniel didn't like the sound of that. He wanted to spend more time with his girls and the twins, when they arrived. But he knew it wasn't easy. His work sometimes got in the way. For a moment he understood his grandfather. How when his parents died, that he didn't adopt him. That his work got in the way.
Shelley took hold of Daniel's hand.
"You ready to go?" she asked.
"Yeah."
Daniel smiled, glad that he had her by his side when he said goodbye to his grandfather.