CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

A WEEK LATER

Flynn took Rosie around the yard of the little apartment. The day was a little warmer, so they decided to wrap Rosie up and sit outside for a little while. Lucy spread out a blanket on the grass and watched Flynn entertain Rosie.

Flynn pointed at a tree, and Rosie said "Twee."

"That's right!" He tossed her into the air a couple of times, making her giggle uncontrollably. He came back toward Lucy and set Rosie on the blanket then sat down next to her, "Who's this?" He picked up her doll.

"Dowy!" She took it and fiercely squeezed the doll to her little chest then held it up to Flynn who gave the doll a kiss on the cheek. "Good, Dolly!" Flynn smiled as he winked at Lucy, who was lying on her side with her head propped up on her hand. He pointed at Lucy.

"Mama."

"Right." He pointed at himself.

"Daddy."

"Right. What's your name?" he asked pointing at her.

"Sweetie!" They both laughed.

"Your name is Rose Amy Flynn," Lucy corrected, rubbing her back.

"Wose Amy Fwynn!"

"Oh, my goodness, what a smart girl you are!" he exclaimed, picking her up in his arms.

And then suddenly Flynn said in a deep, growly, gravelly voice, "Who's gonna be tickled by the tickle monster?" He started tickling Rosie and she squealed loudly and all three of them laughed. Rosie started turning red and could hardly breathe from the delight.

Lucy laughed, "Flynn, you've got to let her up for air." Immediately, Flynn stopped and looked at her. Lucy saw a sparkle appear in his dark-green eyes as he slowly raised his hands. Realizing what he intended to do, she held up her hand, "You… don't even..." He started wiggling his fingers as she began inching away from him, "Gar… Garcia Flynn, you better not!"

"Who's gonna be tickled by the tickle monster?" he growled and attacked. Lucy let out a squeal as his fingers tickled her all over her sides and stomach, making her laugh uncontrollably which made him keep going. "Ah ha," he graveled, "Tickle monster knew you ticklish!"

Laughing over what his hands were doing and what he was saying, Lucy could not catch her breath. Then Rosie joined in, trying to help Flynn tickle her. "My assistant Rosie help tickle monster!"

"Rosie, nooo!" Lucy cried through peals of laughter and Rosie giggled.

In the midst of his unceasing tickling, he graveled, "Tickle monster asks if Lucy need come up for air?"

She could barely squeeze out an answer through tears and laughter, "You're...killing...me...stop."

"You'll have to give tickle monster a kiss, if want tickle monster to stop."

"Okay," she wheezed.

"Tickle monster can't hear yooou!"

"OKAY-OKAY!"

Both were breathing hard and giggling when he finally stopped, grabbed her around her waist and pulled her onto his lap.

"Don't tell the tickle monster what he should and shouldn't do," he said normally as he pulled Rosie in with his other arm. "Right, Rosie?"

"Wight!"

He kissed Rosie on her cheek and gazed at Lucy, who was still trying to catch her breath. "Where tickle monster kiss?" he growled menacingly.

She put her arms around his neck, "You're relentless."

"And, you're ticklish," he quickly tickled her again making her squeak.

They smiled at each other as she pressed her lips to his.

EMBARCADERO

"What I'm trying to say is that it's a little crowded over there at the moment," Rufus informed as he sat back on the sofa. They were all gathered in the common area.

"What have you found?" Bam Bam asked.

"There's still high Rittenhouse activity in that quadrant and it may get sticky trying to get them out," Wyatt answered.

"Of course it is," Jiya interjected, "But we have to try."

"Jiya's right," Jessica agreed, "They wouldn't hesitate to come get us."

"Look, no one's saying anything about not saving them," Wyatt clarified. "The ship is still set for that direction. But we'll need to wait a bit until the activity goes down. Also, we need to be sure we're prepared to fight."

"I think we all are," Noah commented.

"I agree," Karl replied, "what's the plan?"

Rufus cleared his throat, "Jiya mapped out the towers in the R X4 region and their tower is toward the eastern section."

"While there's activity in the quadrant, I'm not getting any other activity from that region, so there may be a good chance that Rittenhouse has already gone through it," Jiya reasoned, "And Flynn and Lucy are still alive."

"However," Wyatt added, "we'll need to avoid Federation but there may come a point when we'll need their help."

"Not sure how that will go over," Rufus said skeptically, "We're Flynn's crew, you're Feds who never bothered to check back in after your ship was attacked and have been helping Flynn's crew."

"One problem at a time," Wyatt declared as he stood. "Let's get all weapons and gear checked, cleaned and loaded." Everyone left as he went over to Jessica. "Please be sure to keep checking for the best place we can approach to get down to the planet."

"Of course," Jessica replied, looking concerned.

"Hey, we're going to get them back," Wyatt reassured.

Jessica gave him a soft kiss on his cheek, surprising him. "I know we are," and she left the room.

After a long day of being out walking and getting exercise, Flynn was now in the kitchen as Lucy and Rosie showered. Opening a can of fruit preserves, he poured it into a pot and put it on the cooker. He placed some stale graham crackers in a bowl and crushed them up with the bottom of a cup. He thought about the last time he had cooked for his family. A pain of sadness touched him.

"Hey, you're cooking?"

He turned around at Lucy's voice. She stepped into the kitchen with damp, wavy hair wearing a long, burgundy cardigan that came to her knees. Her legs were bare and she had thermal socks on her feet. Rosie was in her arms, wrapped in a towel and sucking her fingers. Both were flushed from the warm shower, their bright, beautiful, brown eyes shining. His heart swelled looking at the both of them; he couldn't believe they were actually his.

"I like kissing."

"What?" Her brow creased.

"I said I like cooking," he smiled boyishly, kissing both of them on the cheek. She shook her head as he asked, "How's her hand healing?"

Lucy pried Rosie's fingers out of her mouth and rubbed her thumb over the pinky void on her little hand, "It's healing really well," she replied, looking up at him. He bent down and kissed the little hand she was holding in hers. Lucy felt his lips brush her palm and then he gently touched his lips to Lucy's. "You're beautiful." Lucy blushed harder. "I want you to do that every time."

"What?"

"Blush."

Lucy smiled at his handsome face.

"Daddy?"

"Yes Rosie, I'm making dessert," he winked at her and put some of the crushed graham crackers into three bowls. "Have a seat and we'll eat!"

Lucy giggled as she sat with Rosie in her lap and rubbed the towel over the little girl's damp hair. Flynn poured the cooked fruit over the crushed crackers. Taking Rosie from Lucy, he sat across from her. "The crackers were stale but, hopefully, this won't be too bad."

Lucy took a tentative bite. While the crushed crackers were indeed stale, they mixed into the fruit well enough to be a good sweet dessert. "I've been dying for a sugary treat!" she exclaimed as she looked up from her bowl. "Thank you."

"My pleasure," he replied, feeling pleased as he blew on some for Rosie and fed it to her. She was happy with the taste and immediately opened her mouth for more.

"See, Rosie agrees," Lucy laughed.

Flynn took a bite and made a face, "When we get back, I'll make you a chocolate souffle."

"I love chocolate," Lucy said with all seriousness.

"So do I," he wagged his eyebrows.

They ate for a bit and then Lucy said quietly, "It's been nineteen days."

Flynn looked at her, "It may take a little while for them to get here."

"How long do we wait before we need to plan something else?"

Flynn let out a sigh, "I was thinking we would eventually need to find another place. There's got to be a town somewhere. Maybe there will be people, or at least food left on shelves in homes or a store. They should still be able to find us even if we leave since they can still comm you once they're in the region."

She got up and left the kitchen as Flynn kissed and laid a tired-out Rosie in her little playpen. She blinked sleepily as she held her doll. Lucy came back into the kitchen carrying something in her hands. "When I wasn't sure if you were coming back, I made a little carrier for Rosie in case we had to leave. It fits right on your back and has adjustable straps."

"Your resourcefulness knows no bounds," he marveled as he took it and examined it. He gazed at her face and laid his hand on hers, "Don't give up hope yet. We both have amazing, smart, tough crews. They'll come."

"Okay." They squeezed each other's hand and held each other's eyes. "Want some tea?" she asked.

"I do."

Lucy rested her head on his hairy chest, listening to his heart beat as he softly trailed his fingers through her silky, dark hair. "Hey, want to tell me why you don't like cramped places?" he asked.

She closed her eyes, "I almost drowned in a vehicle accident in high school. My friend and I were freshman. We were going home from shopping with her older sister, who was a senior and driving us. It was night and a drunk driver ran us off a bridge into a river. A man saw it all happen. My friend and sister were able to get out easily, but I was buckled up in the backseat." She shook her head, "As the car slid further into the water... All I could remember was the cold wet darkness pressing in…" Flynn rubbed her arms and she gave him a soft smile, "But the man got me out and gave me CPR. So, small spaces…" Flynn felt her shiver.

He kissed the top of her head, "I'm so grateful for the man that saved you," he kissed her head again, "and that you're here with me," he kissed her forehead, "and that despite your fears, you bravely went through that vent and ultimately found our Rosie."

"I'm happy you and Rosie are here with me. So happy," she smiled, and they kissed and nibbled each other's lips for a bit.

"Tell me about your parents," she whispered.

His arms folded around her, "My mom's name was Maria. Maria Thompkins."

"Oh, Maria and Garcia, how sweet," she giggled.

He smiled at her glee in their names, "My dad, Asher Flynn, met my mom at a conference in New York for aerospace engineers. He flew in from Ireland and she flew in from Texas."

"Where does Croatia come in?"

"My grandmother, Ivana, my father's mother, is from there. My parents were both offered a great career opportunity for their field and one of the company's locations was in Croatia. Dad already had family there so they made the decision, picked up and moved there from Texas before I was born."

"Ah, I see."

"My brother, Gabriel, is a biochemical engineer in France. He lives there with his family."

"I would like to meet him."

"Haven't seen him in a long time, but I'm sure you two will get along well."

"So, science runs in the family?"

"Pretty much. My grandmother taught physics at my high school."

"Oh, that must have been fun!" She laughed.

He laughed, too, "She was stricter than my parents but she's the reason for my love of physics. We would do experiments together, and she would help me with equations for all my ideas."

"She sounds so amazing. I wish I could have met her."

"I wish you could have met her, too. You're a lot like her."

Curious, she asked, "How?"

"Smart, strong, beautiful...and sassy." Lucy let out a laugh as he became serious. "Among many other appealing qualities, that was the biggest one that attracted me to you."

Lucy touched her lips to his, "I am truly honored to be a reminder of her to you."

He placed some loving pecks on her face and then a long kiss on her warm lips. She laid her head back on his chest as he continued. "My parents, after being with the company for a while, left it and went into business for themselves. Both also patented their inventions for airship and spaceship engines and were successful and comfortable."

"That's where all your holdings and etcetera come from?"

"Some. My brother and I sold their business for a very good profit and there's family property in Croatia, Ireland, Texas and California along with investments and savings. I have a patent, too, for an engine."

"Okay. Wow. And why did you want to become Federation?"

"I figured it was a great way for me to do all that I wanted in physics and engineering and…be a pilot. Something that I wanted ever since I was a little boy."

Her eyes sparkled as she brushed his hair off his forehead, "You're phenomenal." She trailed her finger softly down his face, "I can't believe you're mine." Kissing his mouth, she smiled, "I bet you were a handful, but so cute as a boy."

He laughed, "My family would probably say 'handful' is putting it nicely but…I was a good-looking kid."

"You still are, Handsome," she winked. "Hey?"

"Hmm?"

"Where did you learn to ride a racer?"

Flynn chuckled as he folded one arm behind his head and caressed his other hand up and down her soft back, "My brother taught me in high school."

"Your parents were okay with that?"

"They didn't know."

"Oh boy, both of you were handfuls."

He chuckled again, "My brother had come home late one night. It was his friend's fault because he had left him halfway across town. He would have been grounded but I covered for him, saying that he'd come home at ten thirty as always. So, as a thank you, he'd take me to his friend's house on the weekends to teach me how to ride."

"Oh, it was the friend's bike?"

"Yes."

"The one that left him stranded?"

"No, he wasn't friends with that guy anymore after that incident. This was his best friend that had the bike."

"Yikes," Lucy exclaimed, chuckling.

"I have one in storage in California."

"Really?" Lucy asked, folding her hands on his chest and resting her chin on them to gaze into his eyes. "I would love to go for another ride with you."

"I can make that happen," he smiled.

"What are you going to do with Scott's racer?"

"Sell it for parts." He twirled some of her silky hair around his finger, "Did you ride with Scott?"

"Yep. He always had one. You know, it was Amy who told me that he was stuck on himself, a cheater and useless to life. So, I broke it off with him."

"What happened to him on Martol?"

"I shot him."

"You shot him?!"

"I stunned him really hard when the idiot told me what he had done. I called him a son of a bitch, he said 'Take my advice and make the deal' and then I shot him. He had to have been out for at least twenty-four hours because I set it to maximum."

Flynn laughed, "Atta girl! Then what did you do?"

"I took his racer fob and I went to save you. I checked your suite and then ran outside. What did they do to you?"

"Rittenhouse had his goons punch me a couple times."

"Oh, Flynn! I'm sorry!"

"It's nothing I haven't been through before. They tried to get me into their car, but I got away and that's when I ran into you. You are a wonderful markswoman by the way."

"I excelled in marksmanship."

"My kind of girl," Lucy felt his chest rumble as he chuckled. His hand gently rubbed her back, "Thank you for saving me."

"You're welcome," she smiled, kissing him lightly on his chest.

"We make quite the team."

"We do. We'll be okay, Major, as long as you follow my orders," she smiled mischievously.

One of his eyebrows arched as his hand slowly slid from her back, down to her side. He suddenly tickled her, making her squeal with shock and laughter as he whispered loudly, "Lucy, sssh, you'll wake Rosie!"

"Flynn stop," she laughed, while trying to whisper.

"Sssh, you're going to wake her, sssh!" He tickled her up her sides, making her squirm and giggle all the while as he held her. Suddenly he stopped, plunged his hands into her hair and gave her a hot, sucking kiss on her mouth that made Lucy dizzy. His tongue searched for hers, but she pulled back, teasing him and making him growl as flipped her over.

"Sssh," she said seductively, looking up into his dark eyes. "Don't wake Rosie."

He went in close to her ear and Lucy felt his heated breath on her sensitive skin. "I'm going to be saying those exact words to you in a little while."

And he did just that.