Destined From the Start

Chapter Thirty-seven - Early Spring

March 2287

It was slightly warmer, and not so foggy, and pale green leaf buds could be seen on the trees. Some hardy souls began to bare their legs, and change out the heavy sweater under their jackets for the alternate tee-shirt. But most continued to stay bundled up, for the chance of rain was ever present. Grayson did not much like this part of the year, when it couldn't decide from one day to the next whether it was still winter, or whether winter was finally over. Although some were starting to play outdoor sports again, he definitely did not feel that the time to walk on the beach had arrived yet. He much preferred to spend his free time in heated buildings. Shron, however, loved this weather. He and the other three members of his foursome spent much time out-of-doors, enjoying what they called the fine summer weather. When it got warmer, they would be inside, with the temperature in their rooms turned down as far as their roommates would agree. After all, much of Andoria was covered in snow and ice.

It was on a Friday afternoon, after a morning spent in surgery, actually getting to assist, but mainly just holding retractors for hours, that he found himself curled up on his bed with his ka'athyra, playing softly to himself to relax, when the door chime sounded. He stood up and crossed the room to open the door, and there was Jilly. "Can I come in?"

"Of course." He stepped back and allowed her in. She grinned up at him.

"I know it's not Sunday, but Amanda just called me and gave me all the news, and I thought you might like to hear the twins latest antics."

"Oh, no, what did they do now?" He gave her her choice of seating, and was delighted when she plopped down on the foot of his bed, tucking her feet up under her. He took his previous spot at the head of the bed, leaning back against the pillows, and idly plucked at his ka'athyra as she regaled him with the adventures of his brothers. He laughed and grinned at her as she rocked back and forth, her arms waving about, repeating what Amanda had told her. "How did Mama and Baba let them get away with that?"

"Oh, they didn't get away with it. Amanda said they were restricted to their room for a whole week, except when they were in school or the mess hall with the family. And your father disconnected their comlink, too."

"Oh, they must have hated that! Stuck in their room with no outside interaction." He laid his head back against the wall, imagining their faces when Baba had come in and removed the comlink.

"Yes, she said they acted rather pitiful."

"Well, it serves them right. They're old enough to know better. But somehow, I just don't think they're ever going to settle down. I'm so glad I'm not going to be here when they finally get to the Academy. I've heard Mama and Baba and Dr McCoy talking about all the things that Captain Kirk got into when he was here, and I think the twins are going to beat his record all to pieces."

Jilly bent double, giggling. "Oh, I'm sure you're right. They just seem to have been born knowing how to get into trouble."

"It was such a shock to Mama and Baba when they realized just how much those two were acting up when they weren't around. They spent so much time with them, trying to teach them how to behave properly. I don't think they ever really understood just how different those two were and are from Amanda and I - and T'Mara. It's like they got all the misbehavior genes."

Jilly nodded, grinning. "Definitely. But they are getting more sophisticated about it."

"Then the universe is definitely in for it." But he was grinning. "And now what would you like to do?"

"I would like to hear you really play that thing, instead of just strumming and plunking. Play me a song, Grayson."

And so he did, sitting up straighter, and thinking a bit before beginning. She sat there, her elbows on her knees, her chin on her fists, and listened, her eyes sparkling. And when he finished, she sighed and asked him to continue, and so he did, until the door burst open and the room was full of people ready to go and eat supper. So he put his ka'athyra back in its case, and draped his arm over Jilly's shoulders, and they went off with their friends to the mess hall. And then, because it was Friday night, they headed for the Galaxy Pit and danced and drank beer, and staggered home just before curfew. He only had time to hold her close and give her one quick, tiny kiss before she had to turn and go inside. And then he had to run to his own dorm to get in before they locked the door. Some day he was going to find a way to do more than just give her a quick brush of the lips. He was determined about that.