'Are you able to meet in the holo deck at 1800hrs, please come its important.' That was all the message said, so when Geordie, Deanna and Beverly arrived within a few feet of each other they were surprised to see each other.
"Why is Anya inviting us to the holodeck." Beverly asked as they walked through the door. They entered into an orchard, blooming with spring blossoms and fresh green grass. The blossoms created a sweet and welcoming scent to the air and the sun shone and made the newly formed leaves dance and sparkle. In the clearing of the orchard they found a few chairs and Anya standing with Carina.
"I'm so glad you could come." Anya greeted and encouraged them to sit in the chairs and then stood beside one of the Enterprise's Spiritual Support Team, Ensign Mckenna.
"Thank you coming everyone, I was approached by Anya a few days ago and asked if I would be willing to help facilitate a special event in Carina's life and I agreed as long as she agreed to help me with some of the details, as I've never been asked to assist in a Mennonite Faith Baby Dedication. So, Anya has been very helpful and between the two of us we will muddle through I'm sure in a way that is respectable to Anya's heritage." Mckenna smiled at Anya who smiled warmly back.
"I'm thankful that you have all be able to come today. Spiritual Guide Mckenna had said that we could have this in the ship's sacred space, but I wanted to bring you all here to this special place that's found on Brudordorf, not far from my family's farm and a community place where everyone in the community shares in the harvest every fall. This orchard represents to me a place of new growth, life giving food and peace for those that come. Carina will know this place as she grows I will return back to my family many times and share with her the importance. When she is old enough she will be able to make her choices and travel and go wherever she feels called to go. I will let her go much like my parents have let me go to come and live among all you here on the Enterprise."
"Carina's dedication represents a start on her spiritual journey, baby dedications are not only for the baby but for the adults in the child's life. I realize that you all don't share the same faith that I have but since I haven't really followed the normal path of my own faith, I've changed it around a bit. Baby dedications present to the child a community that will help raise her and show her into the world. My promise to her is that I will provide in her life, people of varying ages that will teach her everything she needs to knows, show her the wonders of the universe, share with her the good and bad of this world while keeping her safe, and will help me raise her with love and a community that she deserves. I know that the people on the Enterprise and any place I choose to go while she is young will have this, as a child cannot be raised only by her parents alone. I am thankful that you have all had a part in her young life. Carina does miss out on having her father present to raise her, but he has not left her completely without." Anya walked over to Geordie and handed Carina over to him, in which the child went most willingly.
"Geordie, we met so soon after coming to the academy. Both of us holding onto secrets and feeling very different than the other cadets. We found each other during a lecture on combat techniques. A girl raised by people who are pacifists and you still trying to figure out the newest visor. We kept our heads down and tried to get through the practical side without gaining any attention from the instructor and show how absolutely hopeless we were in protecting anyone with a phaser or any other weapon. You went with me after the lecture to the Dean and helped me get exempted from the class, and I introduced you to my roommate who happened to be quite adept at the techniques and with some extra help you managed very well. You've proved to me over the years, and specifically these past eight months that you are a fierce protector and guardian and I truly thankful." Anya laid a hand on the head of her child and then onto Geordie's broad chest and smiled. "I know that she will learn to be brave and kind and gentle from you Geordie, I know that you will teach her how to see the world in a different way and I look forward to seeing this as Carina grows." She took Carina back after Geordie gave the child a soft kiss on her head.
She turned Beverly and her eyes filled with tears, not sad tears but those of gratitude and Beverly took the child. "I know that these past few months would be a different journey without your support Beverly, I am grateful that I can turn to you to talk about the challenges of being a single parent, a young widow and a woman who wishes to seek and use the skills that she has to help others." Anya sighed and took hold of one Beverly's hand and placed her hand back to Carina's head. "I know that she will learn how to help people from you Beverly, she will see how you help heal and make people better, she will learn that she can be strong and follow her dreams no matter what stands in her way. She may even learn to dance if she's lucky." Anya added and the small group laughed comfortably together for a moment. "Thank you…" Collecting Carina she went lastly to Deanna and with a small squeal of delight Carina fell quickly into the other woman's waiting hands.
"You have continually returned time and time again to guide me emotionally through my loss of Kyle. You have helped me a dry a river of tears and challenged me to sort out my questions and hurt. Deanna you have shown me a light does continue to walk with me and you have never asked me to question my faith or choices.. You have just been there." Anya took hold of Deanna's hand and held it to her own head, while she put her hand on her daughters. "You sometimes sense more than I'm willing to share yet you don't push me further than I can manage. I know that Carina will learn how to offer council and hope from you Deanna, she will learn that sometimes just sitting in silence without any words will be enough. She will learn that her emotions and feelings matter and she will have this reinforced by you. I will always be indebted to you and your care." Anya's eyes brimmed with tears but sparkled with hope at the same time.
Anya then turned back to the small table and brought forward a holo imaging machine and rested it in her open palm. "I finally opened the gift from Kyle to Carina a few days ago. What I found I wasn't overly surprised, but I will be forever glad that I took the challenges provided by the three of you to open it now, so Carina will have it as she continues to develop." Anya turned on the machine and small holo image of Kyle filled the space above it. He was holding onto a guitar and smiled as he strummed a few chords and then his rich voice filled the space and he sang a haunting hymn that was hundreds of years old. "When Peace Like a River…" Carina sat enchanted by the music as the rest sat in reverence as the man sang and then when it was over Anya stood up again. "Kyle, Carina's father recorded many songs for her on this… He wanted to give it to her when she was little so she could have music in her life always, but also know what songs were important to him and Carina will learn as she is surrounded with music of her history and faith. Kyle didn't know that he wouldn't be here to share all this with her. So it makes the gift all that more meaningful…" Anya then looked back at group and smiled.
"I am so glad that you opened the gift." Deanna hugged Anya when she had a chance to speak with her privately.
"It was so hard!" Anya shared. "It was overdue though, so when I did open it, I felt guilty, but it didn't last long. There really is a lot to be thankful for… Even in my grief, I just need to keep hold of that."
"Absolutely." Deanna reassured and hugged her again.
"You managed to get exempted from Combat Techniques?" Beverly asked smugly as she came and hugged Anya.
"I had to take a secondary course of mediation work, though in lieu of it and be a voluntary Ambassadors Aide for a year at the academy. It was way more work, but so worth it." Anya admitted. "Plus I'm not supposed to go on away missions that may involve any combat."
"I would be ok with that." Beverly admitted. "Thank you for your kind words and including me in Carina's dedication service."
"I wouldn't have had it if you hadn't been able to attend." Anya returned adamantly. With the two women gone and McKenna packing up his things, Geordie and Anya walked slowly through the orchard.
"I thought the words you shared were pretty profound." Geordie shared.
"They were the truth." Anya paused and looked at her friend. "I don't know where things may go with us Geordie, and I can't tell you I'm ready for anything more than what we have currently, but I want you to know that in my eyes, you have all the qualities of a man that I want forever in Carina's life."
"I totally understand what you're saying Anya, and for now I am prepared to wait and see what might come, but I always want you to know that you have a friend in me. I will remain in Carina's life for as long I am able." Geordie then took Carina into his arms and tossed her gently up into the sky in which the child squealed with enjoyment and Anya sighed with content. Life was going to be okay..