Valentines Day Terra Nova Style
"Lieutenant Washington," a voice made her glance back over her shoulder to see who owned the rapidly approaching footsteps. She smiled as Tasha Guzman rushed up with her usual bouncy manner. Not waiting for an invite, Tasha grabbed the stoic lieutenant's arm, "I need advice."
The indomitable Lieutenant arched eyebrow, "I thought I was done with advice when your Dad roped me into a woman to woman talk when you were twelve?"
"Dad can't know about this. That's why I'm asking you. Please say you'll help," the young woman issued a desperate plea.
Washington grinned, "We to that stage now are we. I have to make rounds, healed well enough to keep up?"
"Oh yeah. Don't even have scars. Dr. Shannon did a great job," she fell into step. "You know, the Commander agreed to start a mid-winter gathering for socializing," Washington nodded. "Maddy, Josh's sister who knows everything, said on that day, a custom called Valentine's Day was celebrated."
"I know about that day. In the future, the military had a Grand Ball for officers. It was fun."
"Well, I got asked to the dance by three people. I kind of flirted with them, now I have to choose, don't I?"
"You're only seventeen. It's okay to flirt at your age. You didn't lead them on did you, that you might go with each of them?"
Tasha threw her arms in frustration, "I like them, but, you know, I don't want to get married like Maddy and Mark, just have fun."
"Tell them. Tell them you'll be there to dance with anyone you choose."
"I don't want to make them mad."
Washington thought back, too long since she was a teenager. Besides a dance with too many beaus wasn't on her list of problems back then; food and shelter was. Just thinking about the kids here being able to be kids again, made her smile as they walked.
"Don't laugh at me, Lieutenant. I really don't know what to do."
"I wasn't laughing at you, just enjoying being here, where you can have these types of problems." She looked up at a tower, "Dunham, how's things?"
"Quiet, Ma'am." Dunham leaned over the rail, "Hi Tasha."
"Flesh," she smiled back and hurried to catch the taller woman with her longer strides.
"He one of your problems?"
"No, he's just a regular friend. I don't go for the military types. None are as good as Dad."
"I don't know about that, maybe you should give one of them a chance. What about your roomie, Max?"
"He's a good friend, but never shown any interest in me as a girlfriend."
They locked eyes for just a moment, "Are you interested in him?"
"I could be, he's fun and works hard. I think he sees me as a sister though," Tasha sighed.
"Sometimes a man has to be persuaded. Show him you're interested."
"How? You've probably had tons of men. Oh, I didn't mean it like that," she placed a hand on Wash's arm and quickly let go. "I mean, you're so beautiful. All the men think so. How come you are not like married or something?"
"Well….."
"The lieutenant's in a long term relationship," Commander Taylor fell into step with them.
"What's that mean?" Tasha asked, scared of the Commander, but trying to not show it.
"Yeah, what's that mean?" Washington echoed.
His trademark grin split open, "Wash, everyone knows it's you and me. You're madly in love with me." His open teasing made Tasha laugh.
"Ask Max if he's going with anyone," the Lieutenant totally ignored the still present Commander. "If no, then suggested he take you. I'm sure he's just waiting for a nudge or hint from you that you're interested in him. Oh and drop the other guys. Probably why he treats you like a kid sister. You have to show a guy he can approach you. They're sensitive."
"I can do that. I'm more comfortable with Max. I can tell him anything."
"The best relationship, Tasha, is one where you can share anything and everything without fear of rejection. If a guy dumps you over something you say or wear, he's not the one for you."
Tasha looked at the Commander, looking like he had no better place to be than listening to them talk, "Commander, you only tease Wash about being in love with you. How come?"
"She is only in love with me," he gave her an exaggerated wink. "I ran off all her other boyfriends until she gave up."
"Don't listen to anything he says," Wash cautioned.
"She's right about sharing everything in a relationship and we can do anything for and to each other. Why not too long ago she shot me."
"I heard Maddy saw it." Tasha gaped at Wash, "You shot him because you love him? Wow, It would be great to love someone enough to shoot them."
"I could give you a demonstration of my devotion to our Commander," her smile was pure evil in his direction. "Or better yet, I could wear one of the gowns I used to wear to the Grand Ball."
"Uhhhh, one of the reasons I volunteered to come here, to get away from that stupid ball. You didn't really bring those scraps of cloth with you, did you Wash?" He whined in horror.
"Of course I did. Sometimes in the dead of night, when all is quiet, I put one on and parade through the streets," she couldn't keep laughter from her teasing.
"Wow, I want to hear all about the balls, Lieutenant." Tasha also wanted to see the dresses that could cause the Commander to act that way.
"Ask your father, Tasha," Taylor was sorry he interrupted and may have created a monster.
"You did consent to a dance during Valentine's Day, Commander, and on the day of the Grand Ball. I think I'll wear one of the gowns I did back then." She was enjoying his scared look. "Commander, you have a problem with that?"
"Yes errr no," he mumbled.
"It's settled then, I'm going to enjoy this dance."
Tasha could hardly wait now.
Valentine Day Terra Nova, year eight. Washington laid the gowns taken from a garment bag on her bed. Each brought vibrant memories of that one special day.
2137
Sitting at her desk, the newly appointed Lieutenant held a plexpad in deep concentration. A face thrust next to hers, "What are you looking at, that when I call, Lieutenant Washington, I'm ignored. Don't you know, soldier, you're supposed to come to attention and say Sir. I'm going to demote you and send you back to basic."
"You done ranting, Sir?" She didn't look at him and he grabbed her plexipad
"You're ignoring me for dresses?"
"Ball gowns," she grabbed her plexpad back.
"You always wear your dress uniform to the Grand Ball. I've never seen you in a dress."
"They clash with my boots and side arm, Sir. And besides, I have a date to impress for the first time."
"A date, anyone I know?" He had never met one of her dates. This should be interesting.
"Yes, Sir"
"Who?"
"You'll find out at the ball. I don't want you interfering."
"I would never do that, I'm just curious."
Putting her pad down and looking at him, she all but laughed, "You know him, but I haven't had a date in a couple years or longer, something about combat. We're home this year and I have a real date, and I have a large enough salary on Lieutenant's pay to buy one of these," she waved the pad in front of him.
He grabbed the pad again, "These show too much skin. I'll have Ayani help you," he handed the pad back.
"She did. Where do you think I got this site from." His eyes widened.
"She better not be wearing something like that. Not my wife. Her skin is for me alone, not those half drunken vultures."
"I'm sure the dress she's buying with your money will be beautiful and appropriate for a Commander's wife. I, on the other hand, am hoping to get lucky with one of those vultures," she went back to pulling up gowns into a 3D and watching the model spin off the pad for her and the Commander to look at. He cringed, "Oh relax, Nathaniel, it's not like I can do that to a gown. I'm not model material." She missed his incredulous stare at her.
She showed up at the officer's ball on the arm of Commander Trent Mitchell, a highly decorated veteran of several campaigns and a companion of Nathaniel Taylor's. Their units competed against each other on a regular basis for bragging rights. He was very good looking with his russet brown hair and green eyes. They fought together in combat and like brother's at home. It was a coup for him to show up with the beautiful Alicia Washington on his arm, especially in that gown.
"Alicia, I knew if I ever got you in one of those gowns, you would stop the room, and you have," Ayani pulled her husband to the couple who made a show stopping entrance. "Trent, you rascal. It was you who asked Alicia. She wouldn't tell Nathaniel who it was and it's been bugging him, hasn't it darling?" She looked at her husband.
"We have exercises in a few days. You trying to bribe my second, Mitchell, have her throw the competition?"
"Good to see you too, Nathaniel," he stepped to the side so he could watch Alicia and Ayani look at each other's gowns.
"Alicia told me Ayani helped with the gown. Your wife has excellent tastes, what happened when she picked you?"
"There's going to be trouble with that scrap she's wearing. I expect my officers to set a good example and that's not one," Taylor couldn't stop looking.
With a laugh and a clap to his shoulder Trent offered, "I'll take that scrap out of your sight then," and approached the women. He kissed Ayani's cheek and placed a hand on Alicia's lower back, turning her away. Taylor's mouth dropped open. Her back was totally bare clear down to, Oh God, she couldn't have anything on under it. The shimmering medium blue gown looped around her neck holding the gown up, and opening in the front just covering her bodice, tight to her groin then falling in soft folds to the floor. Her hair was in a twisted bun to the back of her head leaving a few tendrils in front of her ears that had been curled. She was wearing a pearl bracelet on her right wrist. He saw Trent kiss the back of that hand as he escorted her to a table.
"Did you see where his hand was on her back? You picked that for her? What's wrong with her dress uniform? Every man here will undress her with his eyes and they don't have far to go." She pulled him to the dance floor and he never stopped complaining.
"I always knew if I could get her to dress up, she'd be married in no time. Nathaniel, she is young and beautiful. She could have her pick of men and she should."
He finally looked into his wife's eyes and smiled, "I feel responsible for her. She doesn't know she's beautiful. I've had to have more than a few talks with the men to keep them professional around her. She's the best at her job I've ever seen, but I don't want her hurt. He will hurt her, Ayani," he pulled her close for a dance.
"Did you get her a box of chocolates like I asked you to?"
"I did, and once again you know the best things to do to keep my outfit happy. She was delighted that I remembered. I actually ran into Trent, the skunk, yesterday as I was buying the chocolates. He was buying for her also, I'm sure now. I asked if it was for his second. He thought that was pretty funny, and told me Justin wouldn't be upset if he didn't get anything and he didn't even have to utter the words, 'Happy Valentine's Day'. Told me if we switched Lieutenants, he'd be more than happy to remember all those stupid holiday's female officers expect us men to recognize. So much for equality," he was laughing now as he spun her around slowly. "Price I pay for the best Lieutenant in the service, and I have you to thank for it." He leaned in for a kiss.
Wash was closed mouth about how the evening ended and he never got a word out of Trent outside of an officer never kisses and tells, but at the shooting range, Wash beat the pants off the competition, and her and Mitchell seemed to act like the good friends they'd been for years. Back in combat another year passed before he had to do battle with another Grand Ball.
2138
"Do I want to even know what you're wearing?" Taylor sat on the edge of her desk. He had been bombarded for her personal info for twelve months now. He'd ask her if it was okay for so and so to call on her and she'd say no. Every interested soldier, from three star Generals to the lowest rank of Corporal allowed to attend the ball, fifty in all or was it more? He knew the Generals contacted her anyway and comments like hot body, cold heart came his way. He didn't know why, but whenever someone struck out, he was happy. Why her. He was a matchmaker at heart and had helped more than one officer find a wife or husband with the help of his wife. What was so different about this one.
Trent rushed in. They hadn't seen him for months. He was lean, tanned and muscles popped all over as he grabbed Wash up into a hug. Spinning her around, he grinned down at her, allowing her boots to finally touch down. "Glad to see you made it through that mess at Chullah Chaum, Wash." He looked at Taylor, "You too, I guess."
"Pleasure as always, Shithead. What, you come around once a year just to take my Lieutenant to a ball, then dump her the rest of the year. No way. I'm not letting you do that to her this year." They were ignoring him.
"It worked, I hope. No hard feelings Trent, but I want a real date this year."
Taylor looked shocked at both of them and shook his head.
"We're getting married, but I'm sure you already know. You and that dress shook her world, what a stubborn woman."
"What's going on?" Taylor demanded.
They smiled at him and Mitchell explained how Wash and he contrived against his true love, Calista Wellington.
"As in Commander Calista Wellington?" Taylor couldn't believe he'd been left out of that loop and to use his Wash to make another woman jealous.
Said woman walked in, "Wash, Taylor," and took Mitchell's arm, "Wash you have that site Taylor's wife gave you?" Calista was polite to Taylor, but thought his standards too high and he expected un-realistic demands on his soldiers and butted in personal lives he had no business being. She'd heard from others of his high principled morals. No wonder his Lieutenant had to hide the affair with her brother from him.
He would never allow her to step around with anyone without a promise of marriage. Her younger brother had fallen for Washington on the first date. She had spent several off duty days at his domed apartment, but didn't want her Commander to find out.
Pulling it up on her pad, the two women looked at gowns, each choosing one and picking the color. "That way we won't show up wearing the same dress," Calista winked at her and left with a blown kiss to her fiancée and a nod to Taylor. They had moved off to let the women shop and discussed the upcoming war in Somalia. Wash joined them. "You inviting Robert this year as your escort?" Mitchell figured she might, but wanted Taylor to hear she had an actual date.
"I already have. He'll be there or I'll beat the crap out of him."
"Between you and Calista, he's a whipped pup, cowering in the corner when either of you are around."
Looking at her Commander, she explained, "Robert is Calista's brother. We've been dating for several months now."
"And you're just telling me? You let me parade all those offers in front of you for a year and you could have ended it with I'm dating. Why?"
"I was interested in who wanted to date me, best way to find out." It made perfect sense to her. Why was he looking so pissed.
The dress was ruby red, looped over each bare shoulder, deep V cleavage almost to her navel with the back just a low. The skirt straight with a slit to the top of her thigh. She liked it better than the one she wore the previous year. This time she was on the arm of an actual boyfriend, her first of any length. Who would have thought, she would fall for Calista's brother, Robert, a construction engineer who designed domes. With his shaggy blond hair and bright blue eyes, he was the best looking man she'd ever seen, and he seemed to want her. She didn't understand why and all those men asking her Commander if they could date her. Whole bunch of service men need eyes fixed was her answer.
"I had lunch with Calista yesterday," Ayani told her husband. "I wanted to know all about her brother our Wash is dating. I couldn't find anything wrong with him, Nathaniel, except of course, he's not military, but neither am I, so I'm having a hard time faulting him." They were at the Ball waiting for Wash to arrive so they could meet her boyfriend.
Taylor wanted to dislike him. He was warm, funny and obviously infatuated with his second. They made a cute couple. "He shouldn't put his hands on her like that." There he found something wrong with him.
"I hear they've been dating for almost nine months. I'm sure he's put his hands all over her," Ayani was the voice of reason.
"He hasn't asked me for her hand."
"He doesn't have to, he's not military marrying a superior. The only way Calista and Trent got approval was they are in command of different units. Why are you being difficult, Nathaniel? He may be the one for her. Did you notice his beautiful eyes? The same color as yours. I bet they will have beautiful children."
"We just met him and you're talking children? What's with you women? Wash let me field would be callers all year just to find out who was interested in her," he sat pouting.
Robert didn't go away. They got engaged and he went to Somalia on the same transport as Ayani and Lucas. Alicia got shot up and he didn't have anyone to choose him.
Wash ran her hand over the red material, convinced fate made the choice for her.
2139
A knock on her door and she carefully made her way to answer. She was tired after hours of physical therapy. Nathaniel offered her a box of chocolates. He followed her inside and she opened the box, taking one and offering him his choice. "Happy Valentine's Day, Wash," she gave him a sad smile which he didn't return.
2140
They had been named to be the elite unit to explore the past. He was the toast of the world, expected to attend functions. He went to a few un-attached and quickly learned to ask Wash to be his date, in name only of course.
Once again the plexpad was used to try and find the appropriate gown. She knew he was modest by nature so decided to tone her gown down a notch. There, an appropriate gown for Valentine's Day. His eyes ran over her when she opened her door for him. She spun in a slow circle so he knew what he was escorting. Her hair was tied up in a French braid and attached to the back of her head. The gown, a shimmering steel black with metallic beads woven throughout, making it glitter in the changing light. The gown pleated in a circular collar around her neck and fanned out over her front and back, with loose vertical folds like a shirt to her lower abdomen and a straight skirt slit up one side to the top of her thighs. Both sides of the top was held together with metal fasteners on each side from under her arms to below her waist, leaving a thin line of skin exposed down each side. She entered on his arm, like with most functions of the previous year. As usual ,her gown caused men to stop and stare. With her regal bearing, she could wear these gowns like a model or royalty and by the third one, she was the masterpiece of the ball, a fact not lost on Nathaniel, just her.
What started out as a date of convenience morphed into casual flirting as they both consumed the fine alcohol. He ran a hand across her back holding to the casual observer, a girlfriend or very close acquaintance, and kept her plastered to his side. His fingers slipped into the opening on her side and left a trail of fire where they gently touched. He never kept his hand in one place long, but before the evening was over, he had fingered every metal band and slipped his fingers under each one. One time his hand crossed her back higher up and without missing a beat to whom he was talking to, slipped his fingers under her arm and pressed against the side of her breast through the slit. One finger caught in the fold of under her breast. She was sure the General could see how horny she was.
"Excuse me, Sirs," she headed to the ladies room. He watched her walk away. Taking her time, he was waiting outside the door to escort her back.
"Sorry for my inappropriate behavior Lieutenant. It won't happen again." He remained the perfect gentleman for the remainder of the evening, while she burned with desire for him. How dare he feel me up then dump me. She plotted revenge which wouldn't come for another year.
2141
Back to a frenzied pace and personal lives were pushed once again to the back. The countdown for departure began. They figured late 2141 or just after the New Year and the group would be gone for good. But now, one more Valentine's Day Grand Ball. Looking at the plexpad, Wash spent the year wanting this man, only to have his Taylor self-control firmly in place. Well, she made it slip once that this may be her last chance to dress up. A last minute meeting and he called to tell her he would meet her at the ball. He arrived first, looking for her, and lingered near the door wondering what she would grace the ball with this year. He wanted her. The timing just hadn't work in their favor, what with long hours and little time he had off was spent with his son. Nights became his personal demon. Dreams of doing her a hundred different ways woke him every morning. Once he got up the courage to ask if she were ready to move on from Robert. She told him yes, but was he ready to move on. His body said yes, but heart wasn't sure.
Trent and Calista cornered him asking why he was alone. Is explanation was, he wasn't getting involved with anyone this close to leaving, and besides he was escorting Wash so the vultures would have to go through him to get to her. Calista raised an eyebrow at his explanation while Trent mocked him with, "Wash's honor. Yeah, that's why my hands were all over her last year. That's what you said wasn't it Nathaniel?"
"I had too much to drink, but it won't happen again."
"Pitty, Wash deserves someone to make love to her on Valentine's Day. If you won't man up, let one of these other guys give her what every woman really wants on this day," Calista was disgusted with his high toned morals.
Before he could reply, Wash entered and heads whipped to watch. They heard Taylor groan, "Why does she do this to me. She flirts and I have to threaten all evening, and the stupid bastards keep coming, all flippen year," he went to be her companion for the evening. "You look, ahh, you look, ahhh."
"Well you look handsome as usual and I'll take your comment as, you don't like it," she knew he would.
"No, I do," was his hurried reply. "Do you have any idea how beautiful you are, Wash?"
"I'm not beautiful, Nathaniel, passable maybe, if I put enough makeup on. Are we going to stand blocking the doorway all evening, Sir?"
"Normally, we are one among many, but now all eyes are on us, Wash, and you wear that," he ran his eyes down, shaking his head.
"Something wrong, Sir?" She wanted him tonight and if this dress didn't do the trick, he was dead meat down under.
Her gown was winter white and form fitting, cupping her breast, just barely, pushing them up and almost out, leaving arms and shoulders bare. At the tops of her thighs, no less than eight slits clear around the skirt, giving glimpses of her long legs with each movement. Nathaniel fought the urge to slip a finger to the the top of a slit to feel her silky skin. Her choker necklace was real pearls to go with her bracelet and earrings. Hair was once again caught in an intricate bun at the back of her head, leaving a few straight strands and her long bangs hanging free. Once without thinking about it, he wrapped her wayward bangs over an ear. They mingled a short time, letting the Generals they had to greet drool over her until he wanted to punch his superiors. Escaping, he took her to the dance floor. "Do you realize, this is the first time we've ever danced with me, Sir?"
"I don't believe a man should hold a woman not his in his arms like this." He was holding her closer than proper, but the lights were dim and floor crowded. His pretext if questioned.
"Am I your woman now?" She moved even closer.
"If you want to be, Alicia," his hand on her hip slid to the middle of her back and pressed her fully against him.
Feeling his arousal, Alicia settled her cheek against the side of his neck and smiled, "Oh, I want you alright." It wasn't long and she felt fingers under her skirt and glide across the back of one leg. Looking with his eyes, she saw intense desire. Trent and Calista were the only ones who noticed them leave early as they were coming back in. Trent slapped Nathaniel on the shoulder, "Bout time you rejoin the human race, have fun."
Calista couldn't believe it, "The next guy after my brother is him? I'll take him ten years to get up the courage to propose. Wish I had another brother to ship her way."