0800 HRS
Anabelle Sawyer was sitting alone at a corner table in the lounge on level 3 of McKinley Station, sipping slowly on her drink, a Coco-No-No with a little purple umbrella. Her thoughts kept drifting back to her long conversation with Liam last night. Her own words were still echoing in her mind... "If things were different..." Had she actually said that? In one moment of weakness, had she actually considered to throw away everything she had with Andrew, to revive her love for a man who had chosen the easy way out, twice? A man, who hadn't had enough courage to fight for her in the first place? She was shocked over that realization.
Liam was charming, and she was much too attached to him for her own good. But he was just too unstable, too indecisive in many ways. And she couldn't deal with that, not now... not ever. He had much more maturing to do, and she wasn't ready to sit around and wait for him to finally grow up. Friendship was all she could offer Liam now, if he was willing to take it. And they certainly would have to work hard on that, too.
Andrew, on the other hand, had a maturity well beyond his years and had brought stability to her life. She needed that stability, and she loved him for that... but not only for that. She adored that captivating, refreshing smile of his and those sparkling blue eyes.
As Anabelle took another sip of her drink she felt more centered and certain about what she wanted in her life. She sighed deeply and closed her eyes, smiling while thinking of her husband's expected arrival.
=/\=
"We need to stop meeting like that," Liam's voice roused her from her daydream.
"I just can't get rid of you, can I?" she chuckled with a twinkle in her eyes.
"Mind if I sit down?"
"Be my guest, Lieutenant Commander," she beckoned him.
"Oh, whoa! Why so formal, Lieutenant?" He cocked his eyebrow, as he sat down across from her.
"Just... trying to get some things straight in my mind." She smiled.
"I see. Like... our relationship?"
She nodded and turned her attention back to finishing her drink.
For a moment, there was an uncomfortable silence between them. Then, Liam waved the waitress over and order himself a drink, and they resumed their casual conversation, bringing each other up to date on the last seven years of their lives.
=/\=
"So, how did you meet Commander Sawyer?" Liam asked after a while.
Anabelle deliberated for a moment. "My father died... about two years ago," she said quietly.
"Tyron the 'Titan'?" he exclaimed in surprise, "'The Indestructible'?"
She chuckled sadly. "Yeah... so he thought."
"He was healthier than a Regilian Ox, stronger than a Klingon Sabre Bear..." Liam shook his head in disbelief. "How did that happen? He wasn't even that old. I can't imagine ..."
"Well, even the toughest can be brought down," she remarked seriously. "You know how he was, always looking for lending a hand to anybody, anywhere. He had gone out to some strange, unknown planet to help someone in need. And somehow, he had picked up an alien virus there that proved itself to be his most formidable opponent..." Her voice trailed off in thought.
"Even so," Liam interjected, "with our modern scientific advances, being able to treat basically any disease these days. How could he have died from that?"
"His hardheadedness," Anabelle replied. "You know just as well as I, he was a stubborn mule! And that stubbornness didn't serve him well this time. 'I don't need to see a doctor. I never felt better in my life.' Those were his words when others pointed out to him that he wasn't looking so good. But... did he listen? Oh no! He thought he would life forever." She lowered her eyes. "By the time he actually decided to see a doctor, it was already to late... He didn't survive another day."
"I'm so sorry," he said compassionately.
"That's life, I suppose," she sighed, "It wasn't an easy thing to deal with... "
"Did you ever go looking for your real parents, after that?"
"No. He's the only father I've ever known, and the only father I ever want to know," she answered firmly. "Besides, there were too many other things to deal with after his death. It was a tough time for me. I had trouble healing... inside, you know. His death had been such a shock... I was pretty depressed back then." She smiled halfheartedly at him. "I'm a Counselor, I'm suppose to know how to deal with grief..."
"It's different when death touches you personally. Especially when someone you love dies," he reminded her, "... as we both know."
She nodded thoughtfully. "I had lost my balance, and was struggling to get it back," she continued. "Andrew was there for me. Throughout the whole ordeal. Both his parents had died when he was just fresh out of the Academy, so he knew exactly what I was dealing with. He was the only stable thing in my life back then. I could lean on him when I thought I couldn't bear it any longer. He brought balance back into my life."
"So, that's how you first met?" Liam was still curious.
"No. I knew him for a few months before my father's death. He had come to McKinley Station to take a refresher course on Starship Design and Warp Propulsion, trying to keep up to date with new configurations. And I knew him because, as the station's Auxiliary Counselor, my main function is to talk to the temporary residents that come through here," she smiled, as her mind drifted back in time, "He had come to see me often throughout his first month's stay. Come to find out, it wasn't necessarily because he needed counsel," she chuckled lightly, "It was more because... he enjoyed my company."
"And you enjoyed his," Liam bit back a grimace.
Anabelle blushed lightly. "He's very dynamic and passionate, but... also very thoughtful and tender," she mused.
"Alright, alright," Liam was getting an uncomfortable feeling, hearing her talk about another man like that. He furrowed his brow. Could it be? Was he getting jealous? It took him aback. "So, when did you get married?" he heard himself ask.
"About eight months ago," she answered. "After I had begun to heal from the wounds my father's death had left."
"Ah," was all Liam could say. Eight months... What had he been doing at that time? Where had he been then? Unbeknown to him, he had missed his opportunity... again. 'I deserve that, I guess. It's my own fault. I've never been there when she needed me...'
"His ship, the USS Magnum, is arriving at McKinley Station today." Her words snapped him out of his contemplations. "You could come and meet him."
"Uh... I don't... want to get in the way of... the joyful reunion," he stammered.
"Nonsense," she waved him off, "We've only been apart for a couple of months. I think, he'll have time to say 'Hello' to an old friend of mine. He's not that desperate." She winked at him.
The image that had just popped in his mind silenced Liam, and he shamefully avoided her eyes. There was that feeling again, that uncomfortable feeling...
"This is my last day on this station, anyway," she went on. "I've requested a transfer to the Magnum, so Andrew and I no longer have to be apart. They're here to pick me up. And I'm packed and ready!"
"You're leaving?" Liam gasped softly.
Just then, the speakers blared out the imminent arrival of the USS Magnum at McKinley Station for a brief layover before continuing to Starbase One.
Anabelle stood up and stuck out her hand. "Friends?"
Liam took a deep breath. "Friends," he replied, shaking her hand gently.
She smiled with satisfaction, before she motioned toward the entrance of the lounge. "Come on, Lieutenant Commander," she beamed, "do me the honor and walk with me to the lobby."
He couldn't refuse her cheerful invitation and rose from his chair.
This might get awkward...
/\= - =/\=
0900 HRS
The turbo lift door opened, and Liam held out his hand. "Ladies first," he beckoned.
Anabelle smirked at him and stepped in.
They silently stood next to each other, staring at the floor, as the turbo lift moved down. Just short of their destination, she lifted her head.
"Computer, halt turbo lift, please." Anabelle turned to face him. She took a brief moment to calm her pounding heart before addressing him, "He's a good man, Liam."
He nodded and smiled ruefully.
"And, I love him ... very much."
"I never thought you didn't." Liam kept his voice even, not giving any outward evidence that those words had just pricked him deep in his heart. Jealousy certainly wasn't suiting him, and he wasn't going to make this any more difficult for her than it already was.
"I just wanted to make that clear," she said softly, holding his gaze.
"Aye."
She turned back toward the door. "Computer, resume."
=/\=
A few seconds later, they stepped out into a bustling lobby. The USS Magnum had just docked at McKinley Station and there was a flood of personnel milling about. Anabelle let her eyes sweep over the crowd until she caught sight of her husband, standing by his Captain on the far side of the lobby.
"ANDREW!" She waved at him and started to hurry across the hall, leaving Liam standing alone by the turbo lift.
Andrew Sawyer excused himself and began working his way through the crowd from the opposite direction. When the two of them entered a more open area, they quickened their steps and fell into each others' arms, embracing joyfully. He lifted her slightly off the ground, twirled her around in a full turn, and carefully set her back down.
'At last!' He sighed as he nuzzled into her neck, inhaling the smell of her perfume and caressing her skin with the gentle touch of his lips.
Anabelle pulled herself back a bit and looked up at him, smiling happily. Andrew returned her smile, the affection he felt for her gleaming in his eyes. He gently pushed a strand of hair from her face and softly ran the back of his hand down her cheek and along her jawline, before he drew her close and kissed her, long and passionately.
Liam closed his eyes and sighed deeply. He wasn't able to look at this scene ... yet. The wounds from his ill-timed, reawakened feelings were still too fresh. He quickly turned and stepped back into the turbo lift.
In time, he would get used to his new role as her friend. In time, the pain of his loss would subside ... in time. Time heals all wounds...