The Hunters were awoken by the cry of their newest member. He was adamant for attention.
"I'll take care of him," Lisa offered, knowing that it was feeding time.
"I'll go get Clarisse," Rick offered and got up anyway.
"Daddy," Clarisse greeted him when he entered her room, eager arms outstretched for him to lift her out of her crib.
"Good morning," Rick said and picked her up. "Are you ready to brush your teeth?"
"Where's mommy?" the little girl asked expecting the usual pampering from both of them.
"She's taking care of Roy."
"Is he going to brush his teeth, too?"
"He doesn't have teeth yet," he reminded her. "But when he does, will you show him how?"
Clarisse nodded her head definitively.
"That's my girl."
"Hi mommy," Clarisse greeted her when she joined them in the kitchen. She was eating her cereal beside her dad.
Lisa watched the two huddled over their bowls eating in similar manner. They looked so cute together.
"Want some?" Rick offered.
"Thanks," Lisa said gratefully. She sat across from them and was about to eat when the doorbell rang.
"Who could that be?" Rick wondered a bit annoyed. He wasn't expecting anyone that early.
"I'll get it," Clarisse offered.
"No, finish your breakfast first," Rick said and went to see who it was.
"Good morning, Admiral Hunter," the cheery voice of Cindy came through to the kitchen.
Lisa heard Rick gruffly complain about the early visit.
"Sorry sir, but we just had to come see the baby," Brian explained.
"Cindy, Brian, come on in," Lisa greeted in a more inviting tone.
"Good morning, Admiral," Cindy greeted formally.
"Please, just call me Lisa," she insisted. She knew Cindy still felt uncomfortable calling her by her first name.
"Yes ma'am," Cindy replied and gave Clarisse a warm hug.
"We would've gone to the hospital but we found out you've already gone home," Brian explained.
"And you couldn't wait until much later?" Rick huffed.
"Roy is asleep right now," Lisa said and gave Rick's arm a soft squeeze.
"We can come back later," Cindy said, gently pushing Brian out of the kitchen.
"You can see him, just be very quiet," Lisa suggested. "He's just as cranky as Rick in the morning." She winked at Rick as she led the two to see Roy.
On Christmas Eve, Clarisse was more interested in finding the presents under the tree than going to bed.
"I can't sleep daddy," she insisted as Rick tucked her in.
"You have to go to sleep or Santa won't come to deliver your presents," he gently reminded her.
"What if Roy's crying scares him away?" she wondered.
"Santa knows about Roy and he won't be scared," he assured her. "He probably even has a present for him."
After a few more childish questions answered, Rick managed to get his little girl to close her eyes and go to sleep. He quietly left the room and joined Lisa in the living room.
"Is she asleep?" Lisa asked softly.
"She's trying," he assured her, sitting next to her on the floor by the tree. He knew that feeling of anticipation Clarisse was feeling because he felt the same way as a little boy. He casually picked up a wrapped present and shook it to determine what was inside.
"Rick," she scolded him gently and took the gift away from him.
"What?" he inquired with a boyish grin. He remembered the same stern look from his father when he and Roy would sneak a peek at their presents.
"If you're naughty, Santa isn't giving you your present," she warned him.
"I already have my present," he said mischievously and kissed her. "I can't ask for anything more."
"So are you saying I didn't have to buy you a present?" she teased him. "You could have told me that before I stood in line to get it."
"What did you get me?" he asked with boyish excitement.
"You'll just have to wait," she said. "Now let's go to bed or Santa isn't coming."
Rick took one last look around the tree and followed her to their room.
"Mommy, daddy," Clarisse called out as loud as she could on Christmas day early morning.
"It's your turn," Lisa said, giving Rick a nudge.
Rick got up quickly and went to collect his little girl. He was as excited about opening presents as she was.
"Mommy, look at all the presents," Clarisse declared with glee as she joined them with Roy in her arms.
"Guess who this one is for," Rick asked, holding out a very big box. He watched contentedly as Clarisse tore into it to get to the teddy bear inside. He hugged the little girl who hugged the bear tightly.
"This is for Roy," Rick said, passing another box to Lisa. He watched her open the box while he read the card.
"Let me guess," Lisa said with a knowing smile. "This is from Max."
"Yeah, it says hope these are enough," he read the note and looked at the huge pack of diapers.
"You've gotten better at it," she teased and kissed him.
"Well, I can tell him that I hadn't and get a continuous supply of diapers until Roy is potty trained," he said, getting the joke and plotting a joke back.
"You two will never grow up will you?" Lisa said, getting up to get her present for him.
Rick tore through the wrapping with as much enthusiasm as Clarisse did with all her presents. He was completed speechless when he saw a replica of the vintage biplane he flew years ago.
"It's remote controlled," she explained. "That way you can fly it around sometime."
"Thanks a lot," he said sincerely and kissed her. He then got up and got his present for her.
Lisa looked at the small rectangular box with a big red bow on it. The bow was so big it almost covered the whole box. She set it aside and looked inside the box. She was teary eyed at what she saw.
"Someone said pearls are a woman's best friend," he said, pulling the strand of sea green pearls and putting it around her neck.
Lisa ran her fingers over them and wondered how he managed to get them.
"Got them from the last planet we surveyed and got resources from," he explained. "I thought of you the minute we found them."
"They're beautiful," she said. "I love the color."
"Thought you would," he said, quite pleased with himself.
Like her parents, Clarisse was doting on her brother. She was trying to be the best big sister she could possibly be. Both Rick and Lisa were very proud and so she was being rewarded with a big serving of ice cream.
"Can I have another cherry?" Clarisse requested.
"Sure you can have another," Lisa replied and gave her cherry to Clarisse.
Not to be outdone, Rick also gave his cherry to his daughter. And he gave her a quick tickle that elicited the familiar squeal from her.
"Come on you two, finish up so we can get to the park," Lisa reminded them.
After their ice cream treat, the Hunters headed to their favorite spot at the park to enjoy some family time. Clarisse always enjoyed it because she could run and explore around the artificial pond. This time she was preoccupied with feeding the ducks.
"She's growing up so fast," Rick noted as he watched her try to chase the ducks.
"I know," Lisa agreed, trying to soothe Roy who was fussing.
"Here, let me," Rick offered. He took the baby and quickly got the baby calmed.
"Wow, that's impressive."
"It's the practice I got from Clarisse."
Lisa started to tear up which concerned Rick.
"Did I do something wrong?"
"No, it's just that you're exactly the father I …" she trailed off. She loved her father but wished he was more involved when she was growing up.
Rick drew Lisa into his arm while cradling Roy on his other arm. He gave her a kiss on her forehead to show her that he understood how she felt.
"I think your father did what he could," he finally said to break the silence. "And I must say that I like the way you turned out; an amazing, brave and committed woman who has led us this far and beyond on this mission. It also doesn't hurt that you're so beautiful."
Lisa blushed. She had to agree that her father did what he could in his own way. And she loved him for it. After a few minutes, she stood up which surprised Rick.
"Where are you going?"
"I think I'll go help Clarisse feed the ducks," she replied and flashed him her sweetest smile. "Every moment counts."
Rick smiled back and knew what she meant.
Rick finally caught up with Lisa when she reached the end of the running path they were on. They had decided to go back to their jogging routine after she recovered but he hadn't expected her to be that fit after recently giving birth. He suspected she was but still thought she would take it slower.
"You're out of shape," Lisa teased. "Maybe next time I should give you a head start."
"I don't need a head start," he reasoned. "I actually like the view from behind."
"Are you saying that you don't like the view from the front?" she asked, picking up on his thoughts.
"Well, it would be difficult running backwards to do that," he explained with a wide grin on his face. "But I really love the view from here." He moved in closer to her.
"Admiral Hunter, are you flirting with me?" she wrapped her arms around his neck but kept a safe distance.
"Well, are you offended, Admiral Hayes-Hunter?" he asked, leaning forward to give her a kiss. "Will I be in trouble?"
"We will be if we stay out here," she told him, pulling away slightly. "Let me give Cindy a quick call and check my schedule."
Rick moved behind Lisa and pulled her into his embrace. He heard her tell Cindy to move her appointments later. He was sure that his morning was quite open and couldn't wait for her to finish her call.
"Race you back home," she said, breaking away from him and starting to jog back the path.
"I've missed you," Rick said after they showered.
"I didn't go anywhere," she teased, preparing to head to work. She slipped into her skirt.
"You know what I mean." He moved in to zip her skirt.
Lisa turned around to face him with a seductive smile.
"Hmm, you better be careful," he warned. "I may not let you go back to work."
"I don't think you have a choice," she reminded him. She picked up her jacket and started to button the front.
"Spoilsport," he pouted.
"Someone has to be or nothing will get done around here," she tried to avoid his advances.
Lisa was glad to be back at work but also missed attending to Roy full-time. That was the sacrifice she had to make especially now that the SDF-4 was close to operational. She was trying to decide who to assign on-board without undue inconvenience to either ship. Rick, who was making the final inspection, was the obvious choice but it meant being separated from him which she knew she and their children couldn't bear. She opened the door to her office and went in.
"He's so adorable," Cindy said as she returned to the office.
"Well, does that mean you're planning on having a baby of your own soon?" Lisa teased. She was glad that Cindy was around to help when she was away for a meeting or two. She went over Roy's crib to quickly check up on him and saw that he was oblivious to the world as he napped.
"Do you think I'm ready?" Cindy wondered out loud.
Lisa was about to respond but Roy stirred and started to cry. She picked him up to soothe him and he quickly calmed down.
"I don't think I can ever learn to do that," Cindy noted.
"It comes with practice," Lisa assured her and gently handed her the baby.
Roy gurgled a little but seemed content to be in Cindy's arms.
"Hey there," Rick greeted from behind Lisa.
"You're back," Lisa said happily and turned to hug him.
"Yeah, can't stand being away from you," he replied and gave her a kiss.
"Well, I guess that's our cue to go for a stroll," Cindy said to Roy.
"Thanks Cindy," Rick said as Cindy walked past them.
"We'll be back before you go home," Cindy said as a parting shot.
"How was the inspection?" Lisa asked, getting back to business.
"I think the SDF-4 is ship-shape and ready," Rick said briefly then drew Lisa into his arms.
"Well, now the question is who's going to command it," she said quietly. She knew she had to be professional about it but couldn't help letting her personal feelings cloud her decision.
Rick knew the anguish she might be going through in making that decision. He wished he could think of an alternative solution.
"Excuse me," Vince spoke urgently by the door. "May I have a word Admiral?"
"Come in Vince," Lisa invited and stepped out of Rick's embrace. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
Rick started to head out the door to give them privacy but Vince stopped him.
"I actually wanted to talk with both of you."
"What's up?" Rick prompted and walked back to Lisa's side.
"Have you made a decision on who would take command of the SDF-4?" Vince inquired directly.
"Not really," Lisa replied and stole a glance at Rick.
"Good, good," Vince said quite relieved. "In that case I was hoping you'd consider me for the position."
Both Lisa and Rick looked at Vince in disbelief.
"I don't mean to overreach," Vince apologized, thinking that he had offended them both. "I know there are more senior officers better suited for the post."
"It's not that," Lisa assured him. "I'm certain that Admiral Edwards is quite content with his current ship and flying ahead of the main fleet."
"And I don't think we're ready to place such a powerful ship in his command," Rick reminded her.
"Rick," Lisa gave him a gentle warning look. "I think it would be better if I speak with Vince alone."
Rick acquiesced and left them.
"I have to agree with him," Vince said before Rick closed the door. "Admiral Edwards may use it to shoot first and ask questions later. You know how hot-headed he can be."
"I know, but he is better handled with kid gloves," she stated. "We can't fight among ourselves when there's much at stake."