Day 8

When Karris finally returned to his cabin not only was he completely drunk he felt better about everything. Nothing seems to register in his mind. When he entered his cabin the fact that his 'wife' was in his bed didn't faze him. Karris just climbed in bed and pulled his 'wife' close to him to cuddle.

By the time the sun had risen Stork was wide awake but too afraid to move. Karris, who stunk of alcohol, was holding him tightly against him. Stork was afraid to wake him for fear of a repeat of last night or worse.

Suddenly Aerrow began to fuss.

"Babe get the baby." Karris muttered never opening his eyes but instead letting go of Stork who gave a sigh of relief but then Karris clamped down on his arms pulling him even closer and whispering in his ear. "Then come right back dear."

Stork gulped but shook his head even though Karris wasn't looking at him. Stork quietly stood to check on Aerrow who turned out only needed a diaper change. Stork was sorta glad for it to take long, he really did not want to crawl back in bed with Karris. By the time he was done Karris had begun to stir so Stork did not return to the bed like he had been told but tried to return to his own bed.

"Stork," growled Karris "I believe I told you to come back here." Who patted the bed next to him.

Stork slinked over quietly and stood at the edge of the bed.

"Come here," growled Karris yanking Stork onto the bed with a yelp.

Stork felt panic rise as Karris leaned over him and said "WE need to talk dear."

Stork tired of being pushed around sat up and growled "Yes, sweetheart?"

"Don't be a smart ass, damn my head hurts."

"How much did you drink?" Stork asked

"Don't remember," Karris muttered.

"serves you right," Stork said pushing away from him slightly.

"Listen dear," Karris growled "its none of your business of how much I drank."

"It is when you come around 'Jack'. What would you have done if you had hurt him?" Stork snapped.

It took a split second before Karris was on top of Stork griping his wrists above his head.

"I know what would happen I would have passed out on the fucking bed, but you had to piss me off. You belong to me!" Karris growled. "And until I say otherwise you are my fucking wife. Got it?"

Stork said nothing.

"I want an answer." growled Karris.

Stork muttered something.

"What was that?" Karris said tightening his grip.

"I said yes sweetheart." Stork growled.

Ignoring the 'sweetheart' Karris let go of Stork and sat back. Yawning and stretching til his back clicked three times.

"We do need to talk."

"About what?" Stork said trying to fix his dress from where it was still messed up from the night before.

"Me, you, and the kid. I don't want to have to lock you up the entire time. But I don't want you wondering the ship aimlessly unless you want to repeat last time."

Stork shivered at that.

"Thought so, so you don't leave this room without me or the Cook, he is the only one you can trust on this ship. Now the kid needs you and me weather we like it or not. So deal with it. I am trying to."

Karris got up off the bed and stretched again.

"Gets some more sleep. Cook will be by later with lunch."

Stork started to argue but changed his mind and let himself fall back asleep.

Karris watched Stork sleep for awhile finding the younger merb not just annoying but a bit fascinating as well.

The next time Stork woke up he was alone in the room with just Aerrow whose fussing had woken him up. Cradling his son he whispered.

"It's okay, momma's here, its okay."

"Pardon my interruption but here's lunch." came the Cook from the door.

Stork said nothing just took the food intended for Aerrow and began to feed him. The Cook never left.

"You should eat too."

"I am not hungry." Stork replied as he spooned a mouthful of food into Aerrow's mouth.

"Would you like to come down to the galley when your done, my lady?" Cook said

Stork sighed he wasn't a female but it seems everyone would treat him like one as long as Karris called him his wife.

"Yes, getting out of this room would be nice." Stork said as he gave Aerrow the last of his meal.

"Cookie?" Aerrow said when he turned to the cook.

"I think, yes here is one." The Cook said whipping a cookie out of his apron and handing it to Aerrow.

"Don't spoil him too much or he might wind up like his father." Stork said making himself feel a bit better.

Cook said nothing just gave a small smile and led both Stork and Aerrow out of the room. No cat call or whistles were made. Several of the crew had seen or heard what happened to the crew men that had messed with the Captain's wife.

"Why won't you eat?" the Cook asked once they had reached the galley.

"Just not hungry." Stork replied sitting on a crate and bouncing Aerrow on his lap.

"Care to talk about last night?" the Cook said casually.

Stork froze instantly feeling his insides go cold. He just wanted to forget last night.

"He didn't mean to do it, you know." the Cook said as he began to start dinner for the crew.

"From my point of view he did." Stork said. "He choose to get drunk, not the other way around."

"Your angry,"

"Yes," Stork admitted. "More so then I should be,"

"why is that,you are his wife,you have every right to be angry" Cook replied.

"No I'm not," Stork whispered softly as he resumed bouncing the baby.

Cook said nothing just continued to cook. Occasionally he opened his mouth to say something but would change his mind and resume what he was doing.

"Cookie?" Aerrow asked the Cook who looked at Stork.

"I suppose one more couldn't hurt." Stork replied so Cook gave Aerrow another cookie.

After more silence Stork finally said.

"He nearly raped me. An he acted like it was nothing."

Cook said nothing just sat down next to Stork and listened.

"It scared me so bad, all I could think was what if Aerrow woke up."

"Aerrow?" said the Cook.

"Jack." Stork replied pulling the baby close to him. "Cook what do I do if he drinks again tonight?"

"I won't let him leave the galley again." Cook replied. "I should have stopped him last night but I thought he had better control but I was wrong. When he left the first time I thought he held his liquor well and that he would just pass out. But I will tell you something. He scared himself last night. The captain isn't use to loosing control but he did last night. When he came back the second time he was cursing himself. I should have hid the bottle but I let him drink more. Being a cyborg myself alcohol doesn't bother me as much."

"Your a cyborg?" Stork said surprised.

"I know I don't look it or sound it but yes I am. I am older then anyone on this ship if fact I am older then this ship and this rust bucket is over 60 years old.." Cook said smiling. "But I promise if he is drunk like that again I will try to sober him up before I let him leave the galley."

Stork smiled and said softly "Thank you Cook."

"Your welcome Stork. Now lets get you back to your room, I think the little one wants a nap." Cook said as he smiled while watching young 'Jack' yawn.

When Cook left them at the cabin he headed for the cockpit again.

"Something wrong?" Karris asked when the cook appeared beside him.

"Your wife,"

"What did she do?" Karris asked turning to face the cook ready to stomp down to his cabin and deal with his rebellious 'wife'.

"She's still not eating, and are you expecting to drink again tonight?" the Cook replied.

"No, I don't need another killer hangover, but I will deal with 'her' eating habits at dinner." Karris said.

"I take it that you will be eating with her then instead of the men?" Cook replied.

"yes," Karris replied.

Late that evening.

Stork was surprised when Cook set up a table for dinner with place settings and one for Aerrow. Stork however said nothing just placed Aerrow in the makeshift high chair and placed some mashed food in front of the baby. Aerrow took to feed himself slowly just as Karris entered the room. Stork headed for his bed.

"Not joining us." Karris said as he approached the table.

"not hungry," Stork said softly.

"You are going to eat." Karris said grabbing one of Stork wrist and escorting him to the table and forcing him to sit down. "An you are not leaving til you have eaten everything. An don't lie about not being hungry Cook told me you haven't eaten in the last two days."

Karris sat down across from Stork. Neither touched their food, only baby Jack seemed interested in his food which was all over his face.

Stork just looked down at his food, not wanting to admit he was hungry nor give in to the feeling.

"Its mostly Merbian food. Cook figured I'd have an easier time getting you to eat if it was stuff you actually like."

Karris said as he took a sip of his wine. A glass of wine sat in front of Stork but he didn't dare touch it or the food.

"You should try the food at least Cook worked hard to make this meal just for you." Karris said as he took a small bite of his own hoping to coax the younger Merb into eating. It was obvious that he was hungry yet he was still resiting. Karris wanted to growl but bit it back.

"at least give me a reason for this fasting of yours?" Karris finally said as he relaxed back in his chair.

Stork remained silent but his hand did reach tentatively for the wine causing Karris to grin. He would win, the younger Merb would eat otherwise neither was leaving this table.

Stork was curious about the wine. He had had some before but it was not the same. Taking a sip he felt a smooth texture as it went down his throat, it had a bittersweet taste.

"Like the wine," Karris grinned. "Its such a light weight drink Cook said I couldn't possibly get drunk on it, so no repeat of last night."

Stork cringed slightly fear creeping into his chest.

Karris saw fear flicker across the younger merb's face and cursed inwardly. The last thing Karris had wanted to remind the younger one of was last night. In fact Karris himself wanted to just forget it.

Stork said nothing just took a big swig of the wine, which suddenly caused him to become light headed. Pushing away from the table Stork tries to stand.

"Sit down," Orders Karris who stands up as well.

"No," Stork said trying to push away from the table but before he could move away from the table Karris had his wrist in his hands and pushed Stork back into his chair. Karris then poured Stork another glass and put it into Stork's hand.

Stork said nothing just took a large drink of his wine. Karris sat back in his seat and drank heavily from his own wine. Both sat in silence the sound came from Aerrow as he banged his spoon on his plate.

"Eat," Karris said trying again.

"No," Stork growled before downing more of the wine.

"Easy on that," Karris said as he downed his own.

"Speak for your self,"

"MOMMA DADDY!" Aerrow shouted both looked at him only to discover that he had dumped what was left of his meal on his head.

"I'll get him you eat." Karris ordered standing and taking Aerrow. "Your not leaving this table til you eat."

Karris left the room with Aerrow while Stork growled but didn't move.

Down in the galley

Karris silently hoped that Stork would eat when he wasn't being watched. However his worry for now was getting his son clean. Running water in the galley sink he stripped the boy and placed him in the water. It would be an hour before Jack would be clean and Karris was thoroughly soaked.

Aerrow laughed and splashed more water shouting "DADDY!"

"Well I am glad your happy," Karris said grinning. It was impossible for him to get mad at his son.

Back in the captain's quarters

Stork had finished all the wine but he still refused to touched the food even if it was all his favorites. Stork couldn't get his mind to stop thinking about Karris and how he pissed him off.

"Aerrow is my son, hiccup, excuse me." Stork said to no one but himself. Slamming his fist down on the table. Pushing the plate away Stork laid his head on the table.

By the time Karris was back Jack had fallen asleep. What surprised him was that Stork had actually listened to him and was still at the table. After putting Jack to bed he reached into one of his cabinets and pulled out a bottle of Jack and downed have the bottle. He knew that would cause a buzz but he wouldn't be drunk enough to repeat last nights antics. When he turned around Stork was only three feet from him.

"You, you. Bastard." Stork growled and charged at Karris drunkenly. Karris caught Stork easily.

"Maybe that wine was a bad idea." Karris muttered as he pulled Stork close to him.

Stork's mind was a jumble, all he could think about was Karris and how this was all his fault and how he wanted to embarrassed and hurt him like he had been hurt.

What happened next either couldn't predict.

Stork pressed his body tight against Karris and pressed their lips together into a sloppy loose kiss.