12304.05 - 07:00 Hours – Star Base 71- Family Quarters UTC-2053
"Come on, Brielle! If you want your Mom and Dad to walk you to school, you must be dressed and eat breakfast." Bennu stood in the hallway and called into the kid's room.
"I can't find my shoes!" Brielle called back.
"If you cleaned the floor, you might find things better little girl," Jacob said as he slid past Bennu toward the kitchen.
"Josh has to clean too!" Brielle called back.
Jacob walked into the kitchen with a chuckle and kissed Christine's cheek. "Morning, beautiful."
"Beautiful? I haven't had my coffee yet." Christine teased as she sipped her coffee and looked over the pad in front of her.
"Dad, do I have to clean the room now?" Josh whined as he surveyed his quickly cooling waffles.
"No, but you are going to tidy your part when you get home from school. You are on trash duty this week." Jacob went to the replicator and got a mug of coffee for himself.
Josh made a face but went back to his waffles.
"Found them!" Bennu called from the hallway.
"Where were they?" Christine looked up from the pad she was studying.
"Dress up box. When someone did a 'stash and dash' the other day, they got mixed in." Bennu walked out with a grumpy Brielle.
"What have we told you, Breezer?" Jacob chided but hid his grin behind his mug.
"Put things where they belong." She grumbled, sat next to Josh, and got herself some pancakes from the platter.
"What are you working on, Love?" Jacob gestured at the pad in Christine's hand.
"Oh, the conference and preparation meetings schedule when we get to Earth." Christine briefly looked up at him, then back to the pad.
"Chrissy, you will burn yourself out if you keep fretting over that." Bennu reminded her as she helped Brielle with her shoes.
"I can't screw this up." Christine stayed focused on the pad. Bennu gave Jacob a knowing look.
"You won't," Jacob went over and took the pad from a very annoyed Christine, "Now put that down, or I'll release the hound." Jacob gestured to Ember, excited to go for her walk with the family.
"Fine," Christine playfully glared at Jacob and put the pad away, "Besides, we need to ensure we are packed to see the grandmas and grandpas."
"I can't wait to see Grandpa Owen. He promised to take me to his school to see all the cool things there." Josh cheered as he finished his waffles.
"Everyone, relax," Bennu reassured them. "The gifts for the family are already packed. All that is left is the personal items you want to take with you. That can be packed tonight. Your ship doesn't leave until early tomorrow morning. So now, everyone, out the door before I throw you out." Bennu motioned for the family to get a move on.
Drinking the last of his coffee, Jacob picked up Ember's leash and took his new cane from the coat stand. Jacob didn't need it most of the time, but on bad days he was glad that he had it on hand. Alan had helped him create the new one. He had upgraded it a bit, but how Jacob wasn't sure he wanted to know. However, the way Alan encouraged him to use his cane as the bar in his Salmon ladder training did cause Jacob to raise an eyebrow about what it was made of. "Christine, you must put up with that jerk for one more day stalling with not make the day go faster." Jacob teased.
"You are not helping." Christine glared at Jacob as she shooed the kids toward the door. "Give Bennu bye-bye kisses. She will be picking you up after school." The children happily complied and added hugs for good measure. Then the family made their way out the door.
"One more day, one more day," Brielle bounced as they walked to the school.
"I think she is excited about returning to Earth." Jacob stage whispered to Christine.
"You think," Christine slipped her hand into Jacob's. "I'm somewhere between excited and wanting to vomit in terror."
"Everything will be all right, Love," Jacob brought her hand to his lips to kiss it.
"Too much is riding on this trip," Christine said worriedly.
"Telling you to stay out of your head will do no good, but I will say this." Jacob leaned over to speak in her ear, "Whatever happens, I'm not going anywhere."
With a sigh, Christine let herself believe in Jacob's confidence. They walked hand in hand until they got to the school. Then, giving the kids hugs and kisses, they sent them to class. They stayed there watching until both children were in their classrooms.
"Come on," Jacob tugged on Christine's hand, "Need to drop you off at sickbay before I meet with Alan and the station commander to go over my reports."
Christine reluctantly let him tug her away, "You are probably right. Moshe is already peeved that I'm presenting at Star Fleet Medical. No sense giving him another reason to single me out for his wrath."
"At least he is peeved for something you have rightfully earned this time." Jacob tried lightening the mood for her. "Besides, by the time we get back from Earth, he will be neck deep in his final exit exams and preparing for his new posting that he will have no time to harass you."
"One can hope," Christine sighed.
"Have you told anyone about that yet?" Jacob reached over and lifted the necklace chain she was wearing. She had not been wearing her engagement ring while on duty and had kept it on her necklace chain under her uniform shirt.
Christine pushed it back down. "I was going to tell Dorja and the others this afternoon before I go off shift. So, they can stew on it while we are gone." Christine blushed.
"That is vicious, Milady." Jacob teased and stopped at the sick bay door. "Alas, I must leave you here before the said evil dungeon."
Christine rolled her eyes. "Have fun playing with paperwork." Christine kissed his cheek and headed into sickbay, leaving a smiling Jacob behind.
12304.11 Respite Farm- Earth- 17:42 hours.
"Would you calm down?" Bea teased Sam as he paced back and forth across the porch.
"Calm down? Jacob vowed to get his revenge the last time they were here." Sam turned back and glared at his girlfriend.
"I'm not the one who decided to hose them down."
"You didn't stop me!"
"Oh, I saw that train wreck coming and got the kids and me away from it." Bea chuckled and dropped her feet down from the banister.
"Traitor," He walked over and kissed her sweetly.
"Realist," She smiled back. "Besides, you can't wait to see them."
"A little," Sam made a small gap in his fingers.
"And you haven't spent every waking moment you can redoing Christopher's bedroom into a miniature bunk house to accommodate all the kids." Bea teased, "When you could have spent it entertaining me."
Sam rolled his eyes, "When you didn't have your nose in a book for school, I gave you my full attention."
"You did, but in my opinion, it was never enough." Bea batted her eyelashes at him.
"Well, maybe I will…" Sam started to say a comeback when the sound of a transporter shattered the moment. The couple's heads snapped to the space just outside their front gate.
"Bea!" "Uncle Sam!" Two tornados came barreling up the path toward them.
The couple quickly descended the steps to wrap the children in big hugs.
"Bea, Bea, can we see the animals please … please," Brielle begged.
"I put a bucket of carrots outside the goat's pen. You can feed them their treats while we talk to your parents." Sam ruffled Josh's hair.
"Thank you!" they called as the children took off for the pens.
The laughing continued as Christine, Jacob, and Ember walked up to them. Jacob and Christine, hand and hand, and Ember trotting alongside happily.
Sam looked them up and down, "I see star base life hasn't made you go completely soft."
"Soft? You are one to talk." Bea stepped forward to hug Christine.
"How are you doing, you cheeky bastard?" Jacob reached up and hugged Sam.
"Wondering if you are going to run me through, loDnl'" Sam clapped Jacob hard on the back.
"That is after dinner," Jacob returned the favor and stepped back.
"Well, I'm F'…oof." Sam started to say before Christine jumped into his arms.
"Sammy!"
"And I see you added a new crewmate." Bea bent down and petted the smiling Ember.
"This is Ember, my partner in crime," Jacob smiled down at the dog, then back to Bea, "And how is the always lovely Lady Beatrice?" Jacob smiled and kissed Bea's knuckles.
"She is a hugger." Bea laughed, pulled him into a hug, and then stepped over to take Sam's hand. "It is good to see you two."
"Mom said that you claimed us for the night." Christine smiled and wrapped an arm around Jacob's waist.
"We did, and I have a slow roasted beef dinner waiting for us in the house, and we can't wait to hear all about your adventures." Bea gestured back to the house.
"We brought a bottle of wine to share. I hope you have the proper glasses." Christine showed Bea and Sam the handmade bottle of wine they had brought as a gift.
"We do." Bea turned to the men, "Think you two can round up the two munchkins while we set the table."
"Might take a minute if I'm extracting Breezer from cute animals." Jacob laughed.
"At least she hasn't gotten to the ponies and foals yet." Sam shook his head and led the way out to the pens.
"Yet?" Jacob laughed, kissed Christine's cheek, and followed Sam to the back of the house.
"I can't wait to show you what we have done to the house since you were here." Bea giggled as she led Christine into the warm farmhouse.
Jacob leaned back in his chair. "I must say, Lady Beatrice, that was a fine meal. Even Ember agrees." He gestured to Ember, happily chewing on a sizeable bovine thigh bone.
"Especially when she cheats and uses the family replicator recipes." Sam stage whispered to the couple, earning a laugh from everyone.
"Can we go play now?" Brielle asked.
"There is a toy bin in the living room. We will call you when it is bedtime." Sam gestured toward the living room door.
"And I put some new picture books on the shelves if you want to read," Bea called after the two children as they made a beeline for the toys in the other room.
The couples chuckled at the children's antics. "You are going with them, Ember?" She looked at him as if to say, 'You have to ask?' before returning to her bone. With a sigh, Jacob swirled the last wine in his glass. "Seriously, Thank you for dinner tonight. It felt like we were coming home."
"You are home," Bea smirked.
"One of them." Christine saluted Bea.
"So, Jacob, what is going to happen tomorrow?" Sam asked seriously.
Jacob sighed and dropped his eyes to his wine, "I have a 0900 assessment with my doctors, and depending on their findings, I may or may not be in Star Fleet when I return home."
"You aren't going alone, you know." Christine nudged his side and squeezed his hand.
"Mom said she submitted a report to the committee on your behalf." Sam tried to comfort his friend.
"I appreciate it, but I'm concerned that the committee will find her view biased," Jacob said dejectedly.
"True, but as Dr. Wells and Admiral Scott, her honest opinion has weight in Star Fleet." Sam shook his friend's shoulder.
"We have been so happy this past year that the thought of leaving Star Fleet didn't hit me until we boarded the ship to return here," Jacob admitted.
"Me too," Christine leaned over and kissed his cheek.
"Do you have plans either way?" Bea asked, optimistic.
Jacob wrapped his arm around Christine and looked into her eyes, "Leaving Star Fleet isn't as scary as it once was; I've got Christine and the kids. While I may not be able to be full-time active, I'm hoping they will at least keep me on active reserve."
"And if not?" Sam asked, earning him a kick to the shin from Bea. "Ow!"
Jacob smirked slightly at Sam and Bea's antics, "If not, I'll go back to teaching full-time at the school until Christine finishes her training; then, we will go where her career takes us." Jacob shrugged and smiled at the kiss Christine placed on his cheek.
"We will face things as they come," Jacob turned to look Christine in the eyes, "As we have since we met."
"We will." Christine leaned forward and kissed him again gently.
"Ewww…." A voice came from the doorway.
"What are you Ewwwing at, munchkin?" Sam made a face at Josh and Brielle, who were standing in the doorway.
"Kisses are yucky!" Brielle made a face.
"Kisses are yucky, huh?" Bea smirked and stood up. "Then you two don't need the 'chocolate kiss' ice cream I got for dessert."
"We like those kisses," Josh's eyes got wide.
"Can we please have some ice cream, Bea?" Brielle turned on her cute eyes.
Bea looked to the other adults, who were trying not to laugh. "Oh, fine; take a seat in the living room, and we will bring you some."
Cheering, the kids ran back to the living room.
With a sigh, the adults pushed themselves to their feet. "Since Bea and Christine handled dinner, Sam and I will take care of the dishes." Jacob picked up the stacked plates on the table.
"And Christine and I will dish up the ice cream." Bea stretched and went to the replicator.
"Don't forget the extra fudge and whipped cream, Love." Jacob smiled as he walked past Christine toward the recycler.
"I thought the way to a pirate's heart is through his liver," Bea smirked.
"I don't know about that, but the way to a Scott's is through a good single malt." Sam leaned over and kissed Bea as he went by.
"Ok, I'm calling Eww on that one!" Jacob laughed, "That was bad, Bràthair."
"Hurry up! Where is the ice cream!" Brielle called from the other room, causing the adults to laugh.
12304.11 Respite Farm- Earth- 21:43 hours.
With a groan, Jacob sat down on the bed. "The kiddos are loving the new bunkroom Sam made for them. I think Sam wanted to melt into the floor when Brielle asked when he and Bea where going to have a kid so they could share the room with them."
Christine sat up and began massaging his shoulders, enlisting more aching cries. "I think Sam and Bea are happy just playing spoiling Aunt and Uncle at the moment."
Jacob leaned over and removed the brace from his boot and set it aside.
"I didn't think you were using that much." Christine gestured to the brace.
"I'm not, but the trek up Sam and Bea's steep stairs after the long day we've had required a little help." He smiled back at her sadly.
"You are going to do fine." Christine leaned over and kissed the base of his neck.
"I know, but that is not stopping my mind from spinning."
"I can always find other things to take your mind off tomorrow." Christine gave him a coy smile.
"I know you could." Jacob picked his feet up and turned to lay back on the headboard. "But not tonight."
"You just don't want to scare Sam." Christine teased as she laid down with her head on his chest.
"I don't want to use you as a distraction." Jacob tightened his arm around Christine and ran his fingers up and down her back.
"Is it using me when I want it to?" Christine looked up at him.
"You know what I mean, Love." He tipped his head and kissed the top of her head.
"I do," She sighed, "I'm just worried about tomorrow."
"Hey," Jacob nudged her to sit up and face him, "No matter what happens, this isn't going to change." He picked up her left hand and rubbed the engagement ring there.
Christine smiled, "Could you handle being married to a Star Fleet officer when you are not?"
"As long as I'm married to you, that is what matters, not some uniform." He reached up and caressed her cheek.
"Then let's get married."
"What?" Jacob looked at her in surprise.
"No matter what happens tomorrow, we get married here on Earth."
Jacob's jaw dropped, "Are you sure?"
"My family is here; your family is here.
"What about Gracie, Jack, and Katie? You would want them there."
"I do," Christine admitted and sighed, "but the point is to marry the one I love."
"Christine, you deserve the big fancy wedding of your dreams."
"But I want a simple ceremony with our parents and children where I pledge to love you and be by your side as long as I live. What more do I need?"
"A dress fit for a princess," he teased her.
"Growing up, I imagined getting married in my mom's dress. No reason couldn't happen now."
"Who would be your maid of honor? You were Grace's; I think you would want her there."
"True," Christine conceded, "but she would understand. The question should be, who will be your Best Man? Whom would you choose to prevent other suitors or family members from stealing me away, and defend your family if you could not be there?"
"Sam," Jacob said quickly.
"Sam?" Christine said, surprised, "I would have thought one of your old star fleet buddies."
"No," Jacob shook his head, "If it came down to it, Sam would be the one who would stand before the hordes if I couldn't be there."
"You are serious."
"Completely." Jacob gave her a sad smile, "In the past few months, I've become closer to Sam and Katie's beau Daniel than I ever did with my old teammates, and that says something. Both would stand on the brink if I couldn't, and I would like to think they know I would do the same for them."
Christine was speechless; she leaned forward back into his arms, finding the peace she needed.
"We could do this, but I have two conditions," Jacob smirked.
Christine glared at him with an eyebrow raised, "Which are?"
"I want Admiral Scott to officiate."
"I don't see that being a problem. And the other?"
"Our wedding is designated a no-prank zone. But, as much as I love Sam, I know he would try to pull something, no matter how small."
"Agreed, with one caveat." Christine gave him a mischievous grin.
"Which is?"
"I get to aim for Bea to catch the bouquet."