Disclaimer: I own nothing and this is not meant to infringe, just me playing with the charters. Also I have an odd obsession with nick naming characters ridiculous nick names.
One year later
Leoben waits at the space dock with his and Kara's bags packed. Kara and the Temptation are picking him up to take them both to Arelon. After a year he has finally convinced her, after many fights, to meet his family. He sighs almost happily that they'd survived those fights. Once she'd even punched him when the fight had turned into Kara's sorted past with her own family.
The Temptation was late, as per usual. Seemed that hauls weren't exactly something that could be rushed. He sighs, sitting down with a magazine. He had taken a half day off to prepare for the trip since he had to pack Kara's things too. She'd moved in with him a few months back since she never saw her place anyways. They'd hung the picture she'd painted in the front foyer of their town house.
About two hours past the rendezvous time, the Temptation pulls into docking bay 4. Copper and Floyd came out first swearing at one another. They spot Leoben and hurriedly wave him over. The dock plate is already closing as they walk onto the ship. He knew the rush wasn't good. It meant that something had gone wrong and now they had to rush to the next haul. He escorts himself to Kara's quarters and settles in, knowing she would come looking for him when she was damn well ready.
This was his fifth time flying as a passenger on the Temptation. They'd taken a few vacations on Picon and Saggitaron. One had been a religious retreat that Kara had convinced him to go on. It had done both of them some good to reconnect with the gods and each other, although it was a celibate campus so most of the reconnecting was done once they were back on the ship. The other two voyages were just so he could spend some time with Kara.
The crew had become accustom to him and he even held sessions with Moose, Hammer and Floyd. They had some experiences in their pasts that were haunting them and Leoben gladly agreed to listen. Kara had tried to ask him to tell her but all she got was an icy glare. He had found out the hard way that he wasn't allowed in certain parts of the ship, like the hold or the engine room. Kara had turned all shades of purple yelling at him about that. And still he smiled at the memory. At the time he'd matched her passion with his own, which always ended in them frakking until neither of them could move.
The crew was always greatly amused that Kara treated her boyfriend just like any other member of the crew. They never could complain that he was given special privileges other than getting to see her naked. It made having Leoben on board for a few days easier.
After a few hours, Kara ventures to her quarters to find her boyfriend sleeping on her bed. She glares at him, knowing she was still angry about finally loosing the battle to meet his family. She would be leaving her crew to fend for themselves for a week. She didn't like it at all. She grumbles to herself and changes into clean clothes before sitting on the rock hard bed. The movement did what she intended and woke Leoben up.
"Hey." He says sitting up.
"Hi." She says tersely.
"Still upset?" He asks.
"Yes." She bit back, pouting. He moves his hand up and catches her bottom lip with his thumb. He draws her lips towards his kissing her softly. "Stop that." She said against his lips.
"Well sweetheart," he said sarcastically, pulling his lips away from hers. "I'm already here and we're on our way to Arelon, so deal with it."
"How did you win this argument again?" She asked.
"We played triad." Damn, she thought sitting on the bed. He had learned how to read her over the past year. She sighs and rolls onto the bed next to him.
"I still say you cheated."
"I never cheat."
"Sure you do, you just call it some sort of observation thing."
"Still not cheating."
"It is at the casino." She huffs. He shifts so he was laying on his side looking down at her.
"Why are you so mad at me?" He sighs trying to touch her stomach. She brushes his hand away.
"Because I don't want to go stay with your perfect family."
"They're not perfect and you've met Janice. I got very lucky to be adopted into a wonderful family and I love you and I want them to meet you and you to meet them."
"That doesn't make me feel any better." She pouts again. He slams a hand down on the mattress.
"Dammit Kara. This is important to me. I'm sick of you bellyaching. You're going. You agreed to go, whether you like it or not and then you lost a bet that binds you to go too. So suck it up." His eyes flash angrily. Her eyes get large, finally understanding that she's pushed him to real anger. He rolls onto his back, shocked that he just lashed out at her like that. She was pushing me, what did she expect? He thinks to himself.
After what seemed like forever Kara moves her hand into his. He moves his head so he can look at her. She looks apologetic but he waits for her to say the words.
"I'm sorry. I'm being a child about this. I promise not to frak this up as much as I am able to promise that."
"Alright." He accepts her last statement. She rolls towards him and smoothes an arm across his stomach while moving her head onto his shoulder. He moves his arm under and around her so her head comes to rest in the crook of his shoulder. His hand comes to rest on her ribs and he pulls her tight against him. Her breath escapes her in a rush and it tickles his neck. His other hand comes up to cup her face and stroke her cheek. She sighs contently and moves against his hand.
"I love you, you know." She whispers against his neck. He tilts her head up and moves his lips down to meet hers.
"I love you too." He says after breaking away from her. He rolls onto his side and presses his forehead to hers. They're not sure how long they stay like that, since both fall asleep for a while. There is a loud bang on the door that starts both of them out of their nap.
"What?" Kara asks opening the hatch to her room.
"Sir. We've arrived at Arelon." Copper reports. Kara's eyes get wide.
"Couldn't wait to get rid of me, eh? Alright. Thanks Copper. We'll be right out." She says turning back to Leoben. "We're here, it would seem."
"Wow that must have been some nap." He comments getting up from the bed. He grabs their bags and heads out the door. Kara follows and tries to take her bag to no avail. He's getting more stubborn each day, Kara thinks to herself. She smiles, knowing it's partially a reaction to her own stubbornness. As they exit Kara catches site of an older couple smiling and holding one another. Great, they're adorable, she thinks to herself.
"Kara?" Leoben interrupts her thoughts.
"Leoben?" He's looking at her seriously.
"Calm down. Those aren't my parents." He watches as she visibly relaxes and shakes his head. She's going to give herself an ulcer, he thinks to himself. He snorts to himself realizing he should tell her that rather than have a conversation in his own head. "You're going to give yourself an ulcer if you keep up that level of panic." He sets the bags down and takes her hands. "Seems my parents are a little late."
They wait in the docking area for about half an hour before Janice, his eldest sister shows up. Kara smiles, she's already met Janice and turns out she likes his eldest sister; lots of embarrassing stories came from Janice. They all smile at one another and load the bags into the car.
"How was the trip in?" Janice asks as Leoben insists that Kara sit in the front seat. She scowls at him but smiles at Janice.
"It was quick actually. Feels like we blinked and we were here." She smiles, since that's exactly what happened.
"Well you'll be happy to know that Carmen and the kids will be here tomorrow for a few days and Chris and his wife will be here later in the week."
"Are they bringing the kids?" He asks.
"Of course. Couldn't make a trip all the way out to Mom and Dad's and not bring the kids."
"It's not that far." He comments.
"So Kara, ready to meet the rest of the family?" Janice says as she pulls into the drive.
"As ready as I'll ever be." She comments, mostly to herself.
Leoben's parents aren't waiting for them like she had expected. His mom is in the kitchen cooking something and it would seem his dad isn't even in the house when they arrive.
"Mom?" Leoben calls out as they enter the kitchen. The elder lady turns and her entire face lights up when she sees her son. They embrace and then Leoben moves to the side to give his mom a view of Kara.
"Mom, this is Kara." He motions Kara over. "Kara, this is my mom Elizabeth." Kara reaches out and offers her hand to Elizabeth. Elizabeth smiles and pulls Kara into a hug.
"Please call me Mama Liz, everyone else does." She pulls back from Kara and looks at her for a moment. "Leoben, you didn't warn us that she was so young and pretty. How did you ever get tangled up with my youngest trouble maker?" Liz asks pulling Kara to sit down at the table. Kara smiles at the warmth Liz is giving her.
"We met at a bar."
"And at that bar Kara was the trouble maker, not me mom." He gets up and helps himself to a glass of water.
"Ah someone to rival your sense of adventure." She comments to her son. "Well I'm sure it's been a long journey getting here. Obie, would you show her to your guys' room? You can catch a nap or get clean or just breathe before we have dinner and the whole group descends." Liz squeezes Kara's hand and looks expectantly at her son. He smiles at the two women and moves to pick up their bags.
"Which guest room?"
"The ocean themed one."
"They're all ocean themed mom." He remarks.
"The one on the south side, facing the ocean. Be particular." She smirks at him and moves around the kitchen.
Leoben leads her down the hall. She notices the house is a huge square with a large courtyard in the middle with a garden. The room they're to share has a deck that goes right out onto the sand of the beach. Kara opens the door and goes to stand with her feet in the sand. He leaves her alone and goes to turn on the shower. After a few moments of listening and watching the ocean, Kara turns and goes back inside. She steps into the large shower and surprises him.
"I thought you would need some time alone." He comments putting his arms around her.
"And I though you said you didn't have any nicknames." She giggles into his chest.
"Only my mother calls me that. Not even my siblings do."
"Ah well then, I best refrain shouldn't I Obie?" She laughs full out as his arms squeeze around her tighter.
"Whatever you say, Kar-bear." He uses the nick name he made up months ago for her and she despises it. She tries to push him away and fails as he has figured out the best way to disarm her is to kiss her, which he does. "See now, was that so bad?" He asks pulling away before their embrace turns to more.
"Not yet." She says grumpily.
They finish getting clean and put clean clothes on before venturing out to see what's going on. It seems that Leoben's father is out surfing. They move to sit out on the back porch.
"Your father surfs?" She asks incredulously.
"Absolutely. That's why they moved here."
"That's not the only reason, but it's some of it." Liz sets down a round of drinks. She hands one to Kara. "Here, I figure its a little nerve wracking to meet the family so we're starting early with the drinks."
"I've never seen you drink whiskey, let alone before dinner." Leoben comments taking a glass.
"It's a special occasion. It's been years since I've seen all of my kids in one place at the same time. I think it calls for some celebratory drinks!" Liz leans forward and clinks glasses with Kara and then her son. Kara smiles and sips her drink.
"So Kara, what do you do?" Liz asks.
"Oh, um, I'm the captain of a shipping vessel."
"At your age? My, you must be talented."
"I was a talented pilot, until I got myself kicked out of the military, which is why I was a little drunk one night at a bar and got a little too rowdy. Luckily for me it was that part of my personality that Dave, the former captain, was looking for in a crewmate. So he signed me up and I got back out into the stars. Granted it's not the same view as I would have had from my viper, but at least it's still flying."
"What happened to Dave?" She asked concerned for a man she'd never met.
"He got drunk and got into a fight by himself and someone shot him. If his XO had been with him, I think he'd still be around."
"Wow, you've led quite a life at your age."
"Mom, just ask if you want to know." Leoben comments over the rim of his glass. Liz glares at him for a moment.
"Fine." She huffs at her son. "Dear how old are you?" She looks at Kara very seriously. Kara laughs.
"Too young." She comments. "I just turned 24."
"Oh my." Liz says. "My son has turned into a cradle robber." She jokes looking over at her son.
"Yes he has. In his defense we didn't discover that part until we were already involved." Kara comments. Leoben looks over at her as if she's gone a little bit nuts. She hadn't thought they were together at that time. "What?" She asks noticing he's looking at her.
"Just admiring you." He covers up his shock that Kara would tell his mom that they had been a couple before they'd figured out the age difference.
"Uh-huh. Sure. Anyways. I've been with that crew for almost two years now. It's amazing how time flies."
"Absolutely. Just wait until you're my age. The days usually just blur together."
"So what do you do around here most days? I mean it's nice as a vacation spot but I'm not sure I could sit in the sun every day." Liz laughs.
"Well I walk into town, I ride my bike, I paint, I read. Just normal hobby type stuff, I just take my time doing it. I love to cook. Although I tend to wander away from it and that makes life interesting sometimes." She laughs at herself. "It's a great place to live."
"It seems to be."
"Are you going to take her out in the kayak?" Liz asks, turning to her son. "It's the best way to see the coast." He takes a sip of his drink before he answers.
"Maybe. I was thinking Kara would prefer surfing. Much more danger. And she lives for danger."
"Do you now?" Liz says earnestly. Kara smiles and tries not to giggle. "What is the craziest thing you've ever done?" She asks her eyes alight.
"Oh, um, lords there are so many. Give me a moment." She sits back in the chair. "Ooh, I've got it. Once I landed my viper on my canopy. It was a simulated combat landing and one of the nuggets had clipped my engine. I could have waited for the SAR bird to get me but I was approved for landing, so I landed."
"Good gods, how does your mother deal with that type of stress?" Liz asks.
"She was in the military too, but she passed away from cancer a few years ago."
"She must have been proud of you becoming an officer." Kara nodded.
"And a little less so of me getting kicked out but I'm actually pretty happy with where I'm at currently."
"It's taken a lot of convincing." Leoben interjected.
"Hey, what happened to the doctor/patient thing you keep reminding me about?" She tries to act upset but a laugh escapes her before she can pull the right face.
"Kara, are you as stubborn as my Obie?" Liz asks. Kara nearly spits her drink out. She smiles and looks at Leoben, realizing all the warnings he'd given her were true.
"I think I'm more so."
"Good. He needs it." She says resolutely. Liz smiles into her glass, thinking of how well this very young woman compliments her son.
Leoben reaches over his chair and grabs Kara's hand. Kara tries to pull away, a little shy still but he squeezes her hand and laces his fingers through hers. She looks into his eyes puzzled by his behavior. It's so rare that he puzzles her that that in itself puzzles her even more.
"If you two will excuse me. I have to go make sure I haven't set dinner on fire quite yet." She sets her drink down and goes inside. Kara looks at Leoben with wide eyes.
"I warned you." He said calmly. "If you thought I would pry, just wait. My mom is gentle compared to Chris and Carmen. Carmen will try to eat you alive if you let her."
"Sounds like a challenge to me." He groans and squeezes her hand again.
"Ah, there's dad." He says trying to distract her. An older man is walking towards the house carrying a very long board. The man beams at them as they sit on the deck with their drinks. "Hey dad." Leoben says letting go of Kara's hand and standing to embrace his father. Kara stands next to Leoben waiting. "Dad, this is Kara. The young lady I've been telling you about." Kara offers her hand.
"Young indeed." He says taking her hand.
"Stop dad, mom already asked. Talk to her. Kara, this is Rob, my father."
"Well, it's nice to have you here. I'd best get cleaned up before dinner or your mom will have my head." He says and moves into the house.
"So I take it our age difference is something to talk about?"
"Well I was twenty something when you were born. Makes me look at myself funny sometimes." She snorts.
"Maybe you should have your head shrunk." She quips at him. She grins and hops off the porch onto the soft sand.
"Where do you think you're going?" He calls after her.
"For a walk. Care to join me?" She asks before she can think better of it.
"Always." He says moving down to join her. The walk is short since dinner should be ready soon. When they arrive back at the beach house, the table outside is set. Janice has joined the group with her husband and kids. Dinner turns out to go smoothly. Kara only says frak once instead of a multitude of times.
Soon the fireflies come out. Kara stares at them in amazement. She'd always heard of them but had never actually seen them. Leoben sits back and observes Kara as his family interacts around them. She's almost continually laughing and answering questions. His parents seem quite taken with her. The thought makes him smile as he joins back in the conversation.
"No Kara was not taken with me the first time she saw me." He chimed in. They had all seen his vacant look and written him off as a participant in the story.
"What? You have no idea what I was thinking." She gives him a glare.
"You barely would tell me your name. I don't think you smiled at me the whole time we spoke." He said leaning towards her.
"So? I was playing hard to get." She says winking at Janice. His sister laughs even harder.
"You were playing impossible to get." He commented.
"Well one of us had to." She said wagging her eyebrows at him.
"Ouch, son. She makes you sound like a flirt." His father says. Leoben ducks his head.
"He was." Janice pipes up.
"I see how it is. Get someone else to gang up on me with, eh sis? I feel how much you love me." He pouts. She fishes an ice cube out of her drink and throws it at him. He catches it and throws it back.
"And here you thought you were going to meet a nice civilized family and be forced to talk about politics." Liz leans over and says to Kara. She laughs and watches Leoben take his abuse from his eldest sibling. Her smile fades a little around the edges as she wonders what it would be like to have someone like that. Her thoughts turn to Helo and her smiles comes back to full force and she realizes she got to pick her brother.
"Well, as much as I'd like to continue torturing you little brother, we'll be back tomorrow for the lobster bake. Do you need help in the morning dad?" Janice says clearing the last of the dishes away.
"Naw. I'll make Leoben help. He'll be here anyways. No need for you to come out here that early tomorrow. But thanks." They all move inside.
Kara helps Leoben finish the dishes in the kitchen. The work silently, poking each other now and again and splashing water just about everywhere. He moves up behind her when she's washing the last dish off and wraps himself around her. She smiles, grabs the towel and turns in his arms. He kisses her briefly seeing his parents coming in.
"Good night, you two." His father calls. Liz comes up and hugs Kara.
"I'm so glad you've come." She says. "Night Obie." Liz pats her son on the back and moves out of the kitchen.
"Shall we my love?"
"Gross." She gags.
"What?"
"My love…ew. I prefer Kar-bear to that. Or babe or hun or anything." He looks at her puzzled.
"Alright 'anything', shall we get to bed? I have to be up at 6 am to help my father with the lobster bake." He says.
"Seriously? That's disgusting." She takes his hand as he leads her to their room. "Oh, can we sleep with the doors open?" Seeing that there is a screen door to keep the bugs out.
"That's the only way to sleep in this room." He says moving to open the doors.
"I'll just be a moment." She says going to the bathroom. She knew this was a special occasion for him so she went and did something completely girly. She bought a matching set of bra and panties. She undressed in the bathroom looking at herself from the front and side. Well he's seen it all now, she thought before opening the door back to the bedroom. The ocean breeze is making the soft curtains flow inwards giving the room an ethereal feel. His back is to her as he stands in the moonlight.
"Leoben?" She says somewhat uncertainly. He half turns to look at her and his jaw drops. He unfolds his arms from across his body and moves towards her. He caresses his hand down her cheek and kisses her forehead.
"Let me love you." He whispers his lips against her forehead. Her arms moves to slowly wrap around his waist and she nods her head. He leads her towards the bed and sits her down on the edge. He takes his shirt off and kneels in front of her, moving between her legs. His hands roam down her naked legs and back up. He kisses her thighs, knees and ankles before moving up her body. He leans down and kisses her, running his fingers through her hair and laying them down in the process. He moves her across the bed and strokes a hand down the tattoo on her arm and down the meet her hand. She moves only fractionally, not wanting to push the moment.
"What's wrong?" He asks noticing her usual passion is subdued.
"Nothing." Her breath comes out raspy.
"Then why are you just laying there?" He looks at her like she's totally lost it.
"I was letting you touch me instead of fighting to see who can race towards the end."
"Oh." He smiles at her. That is the first night Kara lets Leoben make love to her. After she lies awake, smiling as she watches as he falls asleep. Her eyes get heavy and she falls asleep shortly after.
TBC...