StarDate: 12311.01
The Ryerson and Holtz/Skylers played message tag for the past week. Unfortunately, it seemed as if fate didn't want them to meet. Christine had to pull a split double, but between the two couples, they managed to find the time where they all could chat live with each other. Despite the rest of the family insisting that Christine was fine, Grace and Jack insisted on meeting both Brielle and Jacob face to face, so to speak.
"You take him; his fingers are sticky." Grace Ryerson handed her two-year-old son over to her husband Jack as she managed to hit the insistent incoming message alert from their console. "Ryerson!"
"How is the birthday boy!" Christine appeared with a big smile on the screen.
"We were wondering if you would make the call." Grace managed to say as she handed wipes to Jack.
"Looks like you have your hands full with the birthday boy." Christine wiggled her fingers at Christopher as his father was cleaning him up.
"I'm beginning to understand some of Lynn's comments better than I want to." Jack chuckled as he worked to clean his son up. "These things are supposed to be kid-proof; how is he getting into them?"
"I think the short answer is he is your son." Christine teased.
"Ha, Ha," Jack gave her a dry laugh. "Speaking of which, the family grapevine says you have your little spitfire to keep up with." Jack teased back as he bounced the busy two-year-old on his hip.
"Brielle!" Christine called over her shoulder. Happily, Brielle came over and sat in Christine's lap, waving to Jack and Grace. " Jack, Grace, I want you to meet your niece Brielle."
"Nice to meet you, Brielle." Grace smiled at her and waved.
"The little boy in Jack's arms is Christopher; he is your cousin." Christine gestured to the wiggly little boy. "Jack is Skyler's brother, and Grace is your aunt."
"Like Aunt Katie or Auntie Julie?" Brielle's eye widened.
"Technically," Christine tried to work out the logistics in her head, but Grace beat her to it.
"Just like your aunt Katie." Grace's smile widened, and she winked at Christine. "I love your pretty red hair, Brielle."
"Thank you," Brielle blushed and turned her face into Christine's shoulder.
Grace turned her attention to Christine, "She is adorable." Christine kissed Brielle's temple and smiled even more expansive.
"You have gotten to spoil Christopher for two years now. I finally have a niece I can spoil rotten and hand back to her parents." Jack chuckled.
"Funny, you two." Christine kissed Brielle's temple again. "Brielle, why don't you go get in cozy Pajamas, and I will be in to give you kisses when I get done talking to your aunt and uncle."
Brielle blew Jack and Christine a kiss and then hurried off to her room to get ready for bed.
"She is a cute kid Chrissy." Jack complimented her. "If you will excuse me for a minute, I will put this wiggle worm in his playpen now that Auntie Chrissy has seen how much he has grown." Christine waved at the little boy as Jack took him away.
"You look so happy," Grace commented on Chrissy's smile.
"I am." Chrissy couldn't stop smiling. "Life isn't boring with her, that is for sure."
"Speaking of not boring, I understand Brielle isn't the only one you have added to your life." Grace gave Chrissy a conspiratorial look.
"Oh, was there someone else you wanted to meet?" Chrissy pretended to be innocent.
"Yes!" Grace playfully glared at Chrissy, "Katie couldn't stop going about him. I told you to find a friend, not fall head over heels in love with someone."
"Jacob, I think that is your cue." Christine playfully called over her shoulder.
"One moment, I'm getting Breezer tucked in with her dancing doll," Jacob called down the hall in Brielle's room.
By then, Jack had returned to sit next to Grace, "Christopher is playing happily, but he may klunk soon." He kissed Grace's cheek, "Any interesting piece of news I missed while I was gone?"
Before either woman could say anything, Jacob sat down next to Christine. "I believe I am the latest news to hit the family." Jacob turned on his charming smile.
Grace couldn't help her jaw-dropping. When she had first heard about Jacob, she expected to see someone in their forties with shaggy hair, a five o'clock shadow, dark circles under his eyes, bookish, and nothing like the man that sat with his arm around Christine. But, instead, the Jacob before her had deep sky blue eyes, lashes any woman would dream of having, a short dark hair and beard, and given the cut of his uniform, Grace would bet he rarely missed a day at the gym. "This is the 'frumpy old codger' you have been hanging out with? "
Like his wife, Jack was surprised by Jacob. After Christine's experience with the handsome, charming Roger, the description of the frumpy older music teacher who walked with a cane was what Christine wanted. Finally, someone who didn't stand out and didn't try to charm her out of her knickers. Upon first glance at Jacob, Jack was concerned that Christine was making the same mistake again in men.
"Nobody ever said he was frumpy. YOU just assumed." Chrissy smirked at her friend's gobsmacked face. Jacob had the sense to blush at the two women's antics.
"Maybe I should take up piano lessons again. " Grace playfully licked her lips, causing Jacob to blush further
"Hey! " Jack glared playfully, "I'm right here..."
"None of the piano teachers I ever had looked that good." Grace stage whispered to Chrissy, teasing.
"All right, all right," Jacob moved his hand to brush the comments away. "I am an accomplished pianist, and I teach piano to some younger children. What is important is that I am glad to meet you both." Jacob looked to Jack, "I have heard a lot about you, especially from Jack's brother."
"I hope Skyler and Lynn didn't talk your ears off with embarrassing stories about Chrissy and the rest of us." Grace tried to ease the tension a little. She had noticed her husband's furrowed brow.
"Not that bad." Chrissy chuckled, "Though he discovered what it was like to be under the 'clutches' of Dr. Wells and Skyler." Chrissy nudged Jacob in the arm.
"I refuse to say anything against those two formidable women other than to say don't EVER get on their bad side."
"Did you get on their bad side?" Jack asked a bit quickly.
Jacob felt Christine stiffen next to him; he laid a gentle hand on her arm, "No, I haven't, and I don't plan ever to. But, I know if I don't follow medical orders, Christine will turn me over to their wrath. That wrath will be far worse than any torture or injury I have ever faced."
Jack frowned slightly at Jacob's hand on Christine's arm. In his eyes, Jacob seemed a bit too possessive of Christine.
"As you can guess, we are a bit protective of those we care about in this family," Grace gave Jack a side glance as she continued, "Tell us about yourself, Jacob, where are you from, what you do, how old are you. We want to know the man who stole our Chrissy's heart."
Jacob removed his hand around Christine's arm with a sigh and began introducing himself to them. "My name is Jacob Holtz. I'm a Lieutenant Commander in Star Fleet, specializing in security and command. I'm 28 years old and have been on medical light duty for the past two years, recovering from a leg injury sustained on a mission. Thanks to Admiral Wells-Scott's assistance, I am back on half duty and should be given the all-clear for no restrictive duty in April." Jacob looked over to get a kiss from Christine.
"Any family?" Grace asked. She had heard about Josh through Bea and Katie but wanted to know if everything they said was true.
Jacob turned back to the couple with a hand squeeze from Christine, "My parents are professors, and I am an only child." Then, letting out a deep breath, "However, I have a six-year-old son, who is a little older than Brielle. He has become more of a part of my life."
"My mom said that your parents are lovely people." Grace commented, "She met them when you had your surgery. Mom said they took good care of Chrissy while you were in surgery."
"They enjoyed being with Christine." Jacob squeezed Christine's hand, "When all the medical jargon was thrown at them, they appreciated having someone there who could translate it for them. They have come to consider Christine a daughter and Brielle another grandchild."
"That is good to hear." Grace smiled as she rubbed Jack's arm with her thumb. "I take it that Christine treated you right in your recovery?"
"That she did." He brought Christine's hand to his lips to kiss it.
"That brings me to my question." Jack's eyes moved from Jacob to Chrissy, "How is Jacob treating you, Chrissy? He seems to have made himself at home in your quarters."
Grace facepalmed at Jack's comment.
Jacob kept an even tone as he responded to the question, "The fair Christine opened her home to my son and me when he can visit. As I have fallen for Christine, I couldn't help but come to love her little girl."
"She can speak for herself," Jack responded, annoyed.
"Are you really going to do this, Jack?" Grace asked as she looked at her husband, annoyed.
"Chrissy, given history, is this man treating you right?" Jack gave Jacob a stern look as he spoke to Christine.
Both Jacob and Grace pinched the bridge of their noses, knowing this would not be pretty.
"He is treating me just fine, and before you go, all big brother on him," Christine's hackles were up, "Sam has already given him the 'If you hurt my little sister, I will pound you into dust' speech."
"Good for him, but I haven't." Jack argued, "You were hurt before by a charming man who only wanted you for your knickers. Not to mention, he is six years older than you."
"Jacob is an honorable man, and if you don't trust Sam's judgment of that fact, you need to have your head examined." The door was opened, and Chrissy was not going to hold back. "And before you complain about Jacob being older than me, I'll have you remember that you are three years older than Gracie. So unless you think you are too old for Gracie, I suggest you keep your comments to yourself."
Gracie could feel the burn off that comment. Christine warned Grace about falling for older men when they were younger. Jack replied that it wasn't the age but the experience that would get you; besides, age didn't matter in love. Now with his 'little sister' with an older man, how would Jack react.
"He has a son, Chrissy!" Jack said as if it was apparent what Jacob was trying to do to her.
"And so do you." Jack started to say something, but Chrissy cut across him. "Josh is a wonderful boy, who was not planned, but is no less loved. Yes, Josh was born after Jacob spent a night with a girl and shipped out, not knowing when he would return. Think hard; Jack, doesn't that sound familiar to you?"
Both Jack and Grace blushed and looked away from the screen.
"I think he gets the point, Christine. No need to go for the jugular." Jacob tried to calm Christine down.
Jack didn't look back at Chrissy, "You are my niece and are like a little sister to me. So forgive me that I want you to have the best!"
"Do you doubt my judgment in men..." Chrissy glared at her uncle for daring to question her.
"Well, I..." Jack realized he was on a slippery slope soon as he saw Christine's eyes flash. While he could agree her choice in Roger was poor, Jacob was an upstanding man who had made mistakes and set about making his life and his son's better.
Jacob wrapped an arm around Christine as he stressed to Jack, "Now would be a good time to shut up, Lieutenant."
Jack began to back up, realizing just how close he was to the precipice with Christine. "Are you happy, Chrissy? "
"Yes, very much so." Christine looked up to Jacob, who gave her a soft kiss.
" I don't deserve Christine, but for some reason, she has given me her heart, and I plan to protect it as long as possible." Jacob looked directly at Jack. "If things go as planned in court this week, we will be adding Josh to our family in the next couple of weeks."
Jack carefully chose his words, "As someone looking after Christine's best interest." Christine raised her eyebrow at him. "Is it wise to add another child into the mix with you just learning to be a mom to Brielle and the added stress of a relationship on top of your studies and work?"
Jacob felt Christine's shoulders tighten under his hands, but he trusted Christine to keep her tongue civil as long as Jack did. "Jack, I am well aware of the added stresses of having not just one child in the home but two. However, Brielle and Josh have become best friends; other than the normal sibling squabbles; they get along." Christine let out a breath.
"I think Jack is trying to ask if you will be overwhelmed raising two children instead of just your one." Grace, too, tried to keep things civil. "I think he is worried that Jacob might dump Josh on you to raise while he continues his career." Grace gave Christine a sympathetic look.
"The answer is he is not." Christine's glare pieced into Jack, "Brielle is my daughter, and Josh is his son. So the fact that Brielle has come to see Jacob as a father figure and Josh sees me as another mother figure is irrelevant. Just remember you were once like that lost little boy or did you forget that my mother took you and my father in and raised you as her own."
"You are certainly your mother's daughter in that regard," Grace gave Christine a slight smirk that Christine returned.
Jack felt the knot in his stomach twist. "One I am eternally grateful for every day." Jack wiped his face with his hands, "As someone who loves you, I don't want you to make the same mistakes that others have fallen into."
Christine shrugged, "We learn from the past." Jacob guessed there was more to that statement than was on the surface, but he didn't push it.
"Jack, Grace, I love Christine and want to give her her heart's desire. We may have only been together about six months, but I would die before any harm came to her or Brielle." Jacob looked to the couple, hoping they would understand.
"Chrissy, you are not the girl we hugged goodbye to when we left. And it scares me." Jack said honestly.
"I'm not that girl anymore. I didn't know where my life was taking me then. I've found my direction," She looked to Jacob then back at them, "Some plans changed, others just got much better. I didn't plan on finding this annoying pirate and his mischievous son, but I'm much happier. "
Jack pursed his lips, "Has Jacob ever asked you to give up your dreams for him or so he can further his career?"
"The only person I changed my plans for was Brielle. I can't go on those five-year missions and take my daughter with me. So I put Brielle before that dream. I would rather have that kiddo in my life than all the adventures in the unknown." Christine chuckled, "She has brought all-new adventures into my life."
"They do that." Grace smiled, then asked Jacob, " Would you mind if we had a few moments alone with Christine?"
"Sure," Jacob stood and kissed Christine's cheek, "I will go check on Breezer and call for me if you need me." Then, with another nod to the couple, Jacob left the monitor's view.
"Thank you, Jacob," Grace called to him, then turned serious with Christine and Jack, "Now, will you both pull back the horns now that things have settled down. Neither of you needed to go for the jugular of each other!" Grace glared at both of them. "You love each other, and that was uncalled for."
"He was the one who insinuated that I was cheap and making unwise decisions."
"But you didn't need to throw past mistakes back in his face. Remember, I am the girl that was left behind. Jack didn't mean that, and it is safe to assume that Jacob didn't mean it to happen to him either. Your statement made me feel cheap."
"I am sorry about that, Grace. I just wanted Jack to back off and not judge Jacob." Christine apologized.
"Jack shouldn't have assumed that you had not put thought into your relationship with Jacob and all that entails. Both of you need to remember, Those who live in glass houses..."
"Should not throw stones." Christine agreed.
"I'm just worried about you. You were hurt before, and I don't want you to get hurt again." Jack apologized.
"You had no right to go off like that, but I get why. At least you didn't take a sword to Jacob as Sam did." Chrissy gave him a cheeky grin.
"He what?"
"I told you, Sam, gave him the once over." Her smirk widened.
"What does your dad say about all of this?" Grace asked as she chuckled at Christine's smirk.
"It took a little coaxing and reminders from mom, but he came around." Christine shrugged happily.
"What kind of reminders?" Jack asked.
"Same as you, mostly. Daddy's sweet pea had grown up. He has no room to talk about taking in 'stray' kiddos and that he was also a hot-headed officer until he got a smack of reality in the face."
"How did Lynn take it?" Jack asked.
"What is one more kiddo to spoil?" Christine laughed, "Mom has fallen in love with both Josh and Jacob. She is supportive of us. She has no issue with us being together, and the betrothal contract has shut up most people's concerns."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa…." Jack's jaw dropped. "He proposed already?"
"He proposed a betrothal contract between firstborn of Vice-Admiral Skyler and Doctor Owen Holtz."
"And Richard was ok with this?" Jack squawked.
"It was a means to an end. And it wasn't for that big brother." Christine smirked at them but tried to reassure them.
"Why do you have one?" Grace laid a hand on Jack's arm.
"Jacob was in a bad way with his leg, and we weren't sure if he would have a leg left after his surgery."
"Mom said it was bad." Grace nodded.
"He would need care after the surgery, and you know me. I would be worried about him and feel guilty because I couldn't be with Brielle."
"Take care of the man you have come to care about, and possibly love, who is dealing with one of the worst things of his life, or stay with your adopted daughter who just lost her parents. That is certainly a problem."
"Jacob suggested to keep the nosey nelly's at bay and be there for both of them; I offered my second bedroom to Jacob while he recovered. And that we would become betrothed."
"Isn't that the same as an engagement?" Jack asked, curious.
"Technically, no. It means we will marry someday, but it is up to me when and if that will happen." Christine tried to explain.
"There is no IF," Grace playfully teased. "I guess you two became much closer when you were on Earth?"
"That is the short version of it." Christine blushed.
"Are you happy, Christine?" Jack asked.
" I am thrilled, more than I have ever been. I love Jacob. He was my friend first, and then somewhere along the way; it became more. And I would like to have him there always, marriage or not. "
Grace looked up to Jack, who rolled his eyes, "Then I am happy for you, Chrissy. Just take care of yourself and Brielle."
"I will," Christine smiled, "Just as I know you two will take care of each other and little Christopher."
Grace changed the subject, "When will you be on Earth again?"
Christine shrugged, "Jacob has his final medical clearance exam with his doctor. Depending on how that goes will determine what happens next. Regardless," Christine met Jack's eyes, "I am finishing my schooling here, and we will go from there. Whatever it is, we will do it together."
"You always were your mother's daughter…." Jack smirked. Christine stuck her tongue at him.
"Our tour at the station is up in late May. Would you be up for some visitors on SB71 as we head home?" Grace asked.
"You know we would love to see you."
"And that means your whole family, Brielle, Jacob, and Josh." Jack smiled at Christine, honestly happy for her.
