Sta rDate 12310.12
"How was the trip?" Julie Tresken met the small family outside the shuttle's hatch on the docking ring.
"Eventful." Christine sighed as she took Brielle's free hand. Brielle's other was firmly attached to her stuffed dragon toy. She hadn't let it go since they had beamed up to their transport on Earth.
"How did everything with Josh go over?" Tresken turned to a slowly moving Jacob. He was lagging behind the group. His limp was back, but his cane was helping.
"Better than I hoped to be honest." Jacob smiled at Tresken and hugged her. "Thank you for all your help."
"How long did it take before the Skylers fell in love with him?" Tresken teased as they slowly walked down the corridor out of the docking ring.
"I believe the captain was in love with him before she met him." Jacob chuckled. "I could tell where Christine gets her fire from." He leaned over and kissed Christine's cheek, earning him a smile.
"I see Josh isn't the only thing new to this family," Tresken smirked and winked at the couple, who blushed.
"They are Bee-Trovaled," Brielle giggled and ran to take Julie's free hand.
"Oh really." Julie clucked at them.
Christine slipped her arm through Jacob's free one so her head could rest on his shoulder as they walked. "I decided I might like to have this pirate in my life, provided he can learn to behave himself."
Jacob pinked a little, "I gave her my family betrothal ring so that the gossipy Gerties on the station won't think ill of our fine Lady Christine." He leaned over and kissed Christine's cheek.
"Considering word has gotten out that Lt. Commander Holtz would be moving quarters in with the unattached Ensign Skyler, tongues have been wagging," Tresken warned. "Seeing and hearing that the two of you are at least betrothed should scare most of them away."
"I know tongues would wag, considering those who knew my dad is still around, but I don't care right now. I've got Jacob and Brielle, and I'm happy."
"And you have Josh. Don't forget him!" Brielle reminded them as she swung her hand with Tresken.
"No, we can't forget Josh," Jacob said cheerily to her, but soon as she looked away, the smile melted.
"We will get him home soon." Christine tightened her arm around Jacob's.
"So, miss Brielle, ready to see your new home. I've had fun decorating your room. Christine gave me some suggestions." Tresken happily smiled at the excited little girl.
"Yay." Before she stopped, Brielle took several steps and looked up at Tresken. "What should I call you?"
"What do you mean, sweetie?"
"Josh's mom is Julie. You are Julie. She is mean. You are not. What should I call you? You can't both be Julie."
Jacob and Christine gave her a sympathetic smiles.
"How does Auntie Julie sound? I know you have met your Aunt Katie and Bea and Uncle Sam. Can I be one of your Aunties?"
"You are not Christine's sister." Brielle looked up at her, "You can't be my aunt."
"How about Great Auntie?" Christine looked to Tresken and smiled, "Growing up, she was like my mom's sister so that she could be your Great Aunt Julie."
"I love you, Great Auntie Julie." Brielle hugged Julie tighter.
After a moment, 'Auntie' Julie stepped back and wiped her eyes, "Yes, well, now that that is settled." Then, she cleared her throat, "Let's get you three home."
The newly christened 'Aunt Julie' led the new family to a different station deck. "UTC-2053, your new quarters." She indicated the door to the group's left. With a glance at Jacob, Christine tapped in the new access code. "I hope you like it. I attempted to get all your things moved over for your liking."
The family walked in to find larger quarters than they had before. A dinner table, couches, a desk, and a small hallway led to 2 bedrooms and a sanitation station. "The two of you have your station in your room, so you won't have to share with the kids."
"Chrissy, can I go see my new room?" Brielle bounced next to them.
"Go for its, kiddo." Christine smiled and watched the happy little girl enter one of the bedrooms.
"I made sure to upload both of your family's recipes into the replicator. So I can't leave you without a little taste of home." Julie turned to where the replicator was in a small kitchenette and missed Christine's nervous hand gripping Jacob's tighter.
"After getting spoiled on the real thing for the last several weeks, it will be difficult to return to the poor imitations." Then, sensing Christine's nerves, Jacob switched to wrapping his free arm around Christine's shoulders.
"The quarters were ready for your return a week ago, but I had to wait a couple of days to add one last-minute item," Julie smirked.
Before Christine could ask what Julie was up to, Brielle let out a scream of "Chrissy!"
Immediately on alert, Christine started towards the hallway, only to be stopped at the sight of Brielle attempting to carry a very wiggly black Labrador puppy towards them. "There is a puppy! A puppy! She is so cuuuuuuute!"
"What did you do!" Christine looked at Julie, unsure if she should be angry, happy, or surprised.
"And whose idea was this?" Jacob bent down carefully and took the puppy from Brielle. The puppy proceeded to lick his face. "Alright, let's sit down so Brielle can share in those kisses too." Carefully Jacob sat on one of the couches, only to have Brielle sit right next to him, so she could continue giving the puppy attention.
Julie laughed at the child and puppy's antics, "She was supposed to be a surprise for you and Christine, but I forgot the proclivity for children to gravitate towards cute animals."
"As for whose idea this was, Jacob, call it a medical recommendation from the doctors in your life who thought you could use a helping paw." Julie's smile widened, seeing how much Jacob and Brielle were in love with the little dog. When she turned to Christine, her smile melted.
Christine stood beside her, frozen, her eyes on the dog, "What's her name?"
Concerned at how pale Christine had become, Julie stepped closer to Christine, "Her name is Ember. Like the spark of a new fire, a new beginning."
Christine took a few steps back away from the four of them. "Why? Why did you have to bring another reminder into my life?"
"Christine, what is wrong?" Jacob asked. He started to get up, but the dog's weight on his lap prevented him.
Christine's eyes were fixed on the puppy as she continued to take steps backward toward the bedrooms. "I've spent the past few weeks surrounded by reminders that I am the daughter of Captain Lilly Lynn Skyler. And now, not only am I repeating her life by adopting a child and taking in skelly wags, but now I have a dog that is the spitting image of my mother's first dog, Cinder." Finally, Christine got to the open bedroom door and stopped, "Growing up, I wanted to be just like my mother; now that I am, I don't want it." Christine then ducked into the bedroom.
"Is Chrissy going to be, ok? Ember is so cute; why doesn't she like her?" Brielle looked up at Jacob and Julie.
"I better check on her," Jacob managed to push Ember off his lap and into Brielle's arms.
"No, you stay here with Brielle and Ember." Julie rolled her shoulders and started toward the bedroom. "I think Aunt Julie needs to nip this in the bud right now."
Tearfully Christine wiped her face with her hands. Their "homecoming" wasn't going as she planned. Nothing was going to her plan anymore. Not sure what to do, Christine looked around the room. It was her and Jacob's room. There were images of both their families. Christine could tell Julie had to have gotten some from Lynn during the last couple of weeks. They were of Brielle and Josh, all four on the front porch of Ravenswood, all smiling. At the foot of the bed was a large basket with a big red bow. Brielle must have found Ember there. Christine flopped down on the bed, her face in her hands. A moment later, she heard Julie enter the room; Christine didn't look over at her. "I risk sounding ungrateful, but I appreciate the gift."
"Aren't acting like it." Julie scowled
Christine looked up at where Julie was standing in the doorway, "It's just, these past few weeks have been a bit of a wild ride. My parents did their best to help guide us through it, but there were many trips down memory lane while we were away. So to come home to not only a new place to live but a physical reminder of how much I'm following in my mother's footsteps is a bit overwhelming." Christine stood and crossed her arms, holding herself. "Seeing the mirror image of a childhood memory again is just too much." Julie walked up to Christine, a stern expression on her face, "I can picture being in quarters like this one when Katie and I were little. While Jack slept with Winchester, cinder slept at the foot of Katie, and I's a bunk bed. I feel like I can't escape my past. It's not that I don't want Ember; Brielle deserves to have Ember just as I did Cinder; it just brought back a rush of memories that I stored away and didn't know how to deal with."
"I GET TO SLEEP WITH EMBER!?" Brielle shouted from the doorway.
Julie turned long enough to address the little girl, "Yes, Brielle, you get Ember at night. At the same time, Christine is comforting Jacob at night. Ms. Lynn wouldn't let you keep Remy, so Ember would be your nighttime buddy. Speaking of which, why doesn't Jacob get you ready for bed while I finish talking to Chrissy."
"Jacob, could you read both Ember and me a story?" Brielle looked up at Jacob, who was right behind her.
Seeing the look from Julie, he hastily shooed Brielle and Ember towards the other bedroom. "Come, Breezer. I might even read you two stories." With a cheer, Brielle went into her room; Jacob sent Christine a look of good luck, followed the little girl into the bedroom, and shut the door.
With the door now shut, Julie turned her attention back to Christine, "Here are some things that you need to know before you start jumping to conclusions, young lady. If you hadn't freaked out, I would have had a chance to inform you about Ember."
Christine took a step back to the bed. "I just…"
"You just what? Assumed that she was yours because a black lab was in your bedroom?"
Christine gave a "Well…" shrug of her shoulders.
"Ember is a descendant of Winchester and Cinder. Their bloodline has been shown to produce caring, intelligent, loyal dogs. Attributes that are needed for the job Ember was trained to do. She is a therapy companion for those suffering great trauma and lingering anxiety issues like the other person who sleeps in this room, Jacob."
"You weren't kidding when you said, 'recommendation from the medical people in our life,'" Christine said guiltily.
"No, I wasn't." Julie scowled down at Christine, "You think Jacob had that bad of panic attack before his surgery and during his stay that it would go unnoticed?"
"I just thought since I was there…."
"He is a star fleet officer; many of us want to return to active duty. One of the ways to do that is to get him therapy, hence…."
"Ember." Christine tipped her head down, embarrassed.
Sighing, Julie came over and sat beside Christine on the bed. "Chrissy, you have been there for both Jacob and Brielle, but you can't always be there for them." Julie tucked a loose lock of Christine's hair behind her ear, "If that tantrum says anything, you are cracking under pressure. You, Janice Christine Skyler, cannot do everything, despite that annoying thick stubbornness you pick up from your father, may think."
"At least you didn't say, my mother." Christine groused.
"You may have some of your mother's proclivities, but you are very much your father's daughter." Julie nudged Christine's shoulder.
"I'm a pediatric doctor on SB71, with a little girl, a black lab, and a troublemaker of a boyfriend; how am I NOT like my mother?"
"Your mum's specialty was child development, not general pediatric care like yours. You may work in the same building but not the same department." Julie scolded, "Your father was the one who adopted a young child and stumbled into finding love in an unlikely place. So, while you and your mother have similar interests, you have your father's dumb luck." Julie teased.
"Gee, thanks…" Christine rolled her eyes.
"Buck up, kiddo," Julie stood up and headed toward the bedroom door. "At least your father's shadow has moments of him being an ass, so you occasionally being one is understandable."
Playfully Christine lobbed a throw pillow at her.
"Seriously, I forgive you, but you need to talk to someone about all that has happened lately. You are cracking, Christine."
"I'll keep that in mind." Christine sighed and hugged another throw pillow.
With a smile, Julie left. A moment later, Jacob came into the bedroom.
"I only got halfway through the story before Breezer passed out asleep. Having Ember next to her helped, I think."
"That's good." Christine walked over to Jacob and hugged him, "I'm sorry about earlier."
"I've been telling you that you have been pushing yourself too hard." He smiled into her hair.
"Nothing like a good tongue thrashing from Aunt Julie to make you see sense." Christine let him go so he could make his way to the bed.
"At least it wasn't your Aunt Robin?" Jacob smirked as he removed his brace and sat it on the nightstand.
"I'll leave those to you." Christine walked over, put her arms around his neck, and then kissed him. "I didn't get to say this earlier, but, 'Welcome home."
"Welcome home to you too, Love."