12311.10- Star Base 71- Main Promenade

Richard gently nudged Christine with his arm, "I thought this lunch was a chance for us to talk since we didn't get to do much of it when you were on Earth."

"Hm, Sorry, Dad, I was just in my world for a moment." Christine smiled as she stirred the strawberry milkshake in front of her.

"What were you thinking about, sweet pea?"

Christine sighed, "The award, Josh joining us, figuring out what the next step for Brielle's rehabilitation should be, just everything."

"You know I am proud of your reward or not, right?" Richard tried to get her to smile.

"I know, dad, but I keep thinking how much I'm like mom." Christine sat her milkshake aside and leaned on the table.

"In what way?" Richard popped a fry in his mouth.

"I've got this jerk at work who likes to rub my nose in the fact because both of your names are splashed all over this place." Christine shook her head and sighed.

"You work in the pediatrics department; therefore, it is no surprise that you see your mom's name on several things. When she was assigned here, she did a lot for the star base; we both did." Richard said sympathetically.

"I just feel like people expect me to be a clone of her." Christine looked back up at her dad.

"Trust me, Sweet pea, you aren't a clone of your mum." Richard teased her a little, "I have enough trouble keeping up with just your mum. I couldn't do two of her."

Christine rolled her eyes, "Dad…."

"You and your mom are similar, but you are no clone of your mum. Trust me." He reached over and squeezed her hand.

"I just feel like we are too similar, and I don't like it."

"Why are you fighting it so much? Your mum isn't a bad person to look up to. She has accomplished much in her career and with our family."

"Julie tells me that I'm more of a mix between you and mom, but I'm following mom's career path into the medical sciences, and you went the command path. And sometimes, when everything is on the down-low, some prairie dog sticks its head out of its hole. It reminds me that I am related to 'Starfleet Royalty' in these parts, and some people don't even want to associate with me or feel threatened by my connections and can't be convinced that I'm doing things on my own or my way." She sighed.

"You're going to run into your challenges wherever you go. It's how you gain life experience and grow into your career. Do you think it was easy for any of us to start?"

Christine shook her head.

"You can't compare yourself to your mother all the time. But can I let you in on a little secret?" He motioned for Christine to lean in closer, "When I first met Dr. Lynn Rose, she was competent. And while she was confident in her skills, she was a bit shy and socially awkward when I first met her."

Richard chuckled at his daughter's surprised face, "But, after some time, we were able to pry her out of her shell, and she came into her own. But then, she was hardened by life experience. She became a mother. She had to divide her time between her career and her family, just as you are now. Sure, there are a lot of similarities between the two of you. But there are also a lot of differences too. You need to recognize that, but also embrace that as well."

Christine tipped her head side to side to say maybe. "Then why is it that people call me my mother's daughter everywhere I go."

"They should be calling you more your father's daughter." Richard made a face at her trying to get her to smile.

Christine gave her dad a sideways glare, "Hardly…."

"Alright, tell me how you are clone you are of your mother." Richard challenged his daughter.

"We both are pediatric doctors."

"Your mum's focus was the care and development of children of Star Fleet Officers. It is true Doctor Lynn Rose's medical degree is in pediatrics, but her passion is making sure those children grow up in good homes." Richard gestured with his left hand, "You, on the other hand, have wanted to care for all you love since you were little. Your mum said she left the trauma for Robin; her heart couldn't take seeing those kids in pain. You draw your strength from it, making you work harder to improve them. While you are both doctors, your expertise is very different."

"She and I both adopted a child."

"That is where you are like me," Richard smirked, "I took on being a single parent when I didn't have to. You did the same thing for Brielle. Your mum just stepped in and helped me be the parent I wanted."

"Mom took in you and Jack." Christine tried to defend her point.

"And you think you are the same because you took in Jacob and Josh?"

"Of course"

"You were in love with Jacob before you even met Brielle." Richard smirked and pointed at her with one of his fries, "You just didn't want to admit it to yourself."

Christine started to deny it but knew it would be of no use. "Like mom, I fell in love with a hot-headed troublemaker."

"I will give you that point," Richard chuckled, "But I feel you opened your heart to someone who was broken that helped you become whole and him. It happened that he had a secret named Josh. You didn't fall in love with him because of Josh; you got Josh as a bonus to love."

"Mum and I are so alike in personality and taste; it's scary sometimes."

"Christine, you are far luckier than your mom ever was. She grew up in the shadow of Leaf. Whenever Lilly looked at her, she was reminded of what she had lost. Lilly held so tight that Lynn couldn't be the person she wanted to be until I came into her life. She didn't know what having a life of her own was like. Your mum and I made sure you could make that choice for yourself. You didn't have to become a doctor like your mom, but you have wanted to be one since you were little. We knew you would be helping people whatever you chose in life. You didn't have to go into pediatrics, but you love working with little kids. You don't have to be the sweet, caring person you are; we never stop you from being who you want to be. Trust me; your mom locked horns with your grandma Lilly more than you realize over you two girls."

Christine was surprised, "Over what?"

"Let's see…For one, your horseback riding. Lilly wanted us to stop that and put you back in dance class. But she believed it was no place for a proper lady; your mum knew that is where your heart was and refused to get in your way. So when you followed Grace into Star Fleet Academy …" Richard shook his head.

"She stood between me and Grandma's fury." Christine pulled her milkshake back to her and looked down into it.

"Your mum is a strong, caring woman who lives for her family. Those are attributes that anyone could strive to have. You are lucky to have that in the woman who raised you."

"I just feel like everyone sees me as Janice Christine Skyler, daughter of Lynn Skyler."

"I think people see you as Christine Skyler-Holtz," Richard looked sideways at a now blushing Christine, "The mum of Brielle and Josh and love of Jacob Holtz. She, by the way, is also a rising star in the medical field. And it is completely out of the shadow of her loving parents."

Christine nodded and looked out into the promenade just as Michael Sydney pranced down the promenade with his parents. Two weeks ago, Mikey had taken a bad fall and fractured his humerus in a way that it compacted the radial nerve and threatened to permanently affect the use of his arm. Now, because of her intervention in reducing the swelling and resetting the fracture, he had zero noted deficits and his range of motion and the sensation in his arm had returned to normal when he had his two week checkup yesterday. She was a part of that. It made her both happy and proud.

"Christine?… Lieutenant Skyler?" Richard peered over the top of his Cherry Soda.

"Oh. Sorry. I was just distracted for a moment." Replied Christine.

"Everything okay?" He asked. "Everything is just fine. Thank you for the vote of confidence. I needed the boost." She grinned.

"Any time." He replied.