Chapter 39: Vacation
A/N: Hi romulanlover, loved your comment about motherhood and other topics related to childbearing not getting enough attention in Star Trek. I do think the trope of mystical pregnancy or miraculous babies is rather prominent. Deanna Troi, for instance. She is impregnated against her will in "The Child". I liked Deanna Troi best when she was disguised as Major Rakal from the Tal Shiar :-D On a funny note, Captain Kathryn Janeway from Voyager ended up becoming a parent when she turned into a salamander-like creature with Tom Paris as her salamander mate and gave birth to three salamander babies – much to poor Chakotay's befuddlement…
Contraception: I recall Benjamin Sisko forgetting his contraception injection, so I guess all genders use injections during the Star Trek timeline.
Ayala Karanglan, thank you for your comments :-D I'm so happy you enjoyed Kihika's wedding and Thorek defending Asha's humanity. And of course, Asha's chemistry with Vreenak :-)
lillalil, thanks for your reviews, and while it's a pity that you can't relate to the heroine, I understand that this fic and Asha cannot be everyone's cup of tea :-) I also appreciate the time you took to read and review the first chapters.
Vocab lesson: there is a (very unpleasant) Romulan named Karina in Deep Space 9, so that name is canon.
The months remaining until the publication of Asha's book flew past: Thorek's birthday, Asha's birthday, their wedding anniversary, the beginning of Asha's third year on Romulus.
Asha was slogging away at the book, but she kept Thorek's words in mind and stopped staying up till late at night. She also realised that she was doing her friends an injustice by prioritising her poetry over them. When Vekal messaged her expressing his concern because of her prolonged silence, she made sure to make time for her loved ones. It did her a world of good, clearing her mind and distracting her. It was also a relief that Karina, their graphic designer, had a cheerful disposition and far more patience dealing with Rhian than Asha did.
Rhian was not the easiest of people to work with, after all, and Asha also owed her for the little job she had correcting Federation Standard written by Romulan children, with Rhian technically acting as her boss. Even in such modern times, universal translators and machine proofreaders couldn't compete with a Human.
Besides Christine and Vekal, there were other Romulans she got on well with. She was invited to the home of a couple who had been present during Vreenak's poetry reading, and she returned the invitation, hosting them with graciousness and generosity as per Romulan protocol and the values her parents had instilled in her. Lilou, however, was forbidden from hiding underneath the furniture and taught to behave properly around guests.
When Christine suggested an outing to Mirek like they had done last year, she agreed over Rhian's protests.
"You can't go on a three-week vacation shortly before the publication date!" she exclaimed.
"Rhian, I appreciate all the hard work you and Karina are putting into the book. I totally do, believe me. But I can either be here and feel like my mind is about to burst, or I can do all of us a favour, go on holiday and keep in touch by PADD. And I can still correct the children's essays. Didn't you go on holiday for two weeks around the beginning of the year? You came back looking so refreshed. What do you think?"
This method usually worked very well. It mollified Rhian and made her feel that her opinion was important.
"It makes sense," she admitted.
"Okay, I'll send you the details about when I'll be available in Mirek. And I owe you an enormous amount of thanks for all the trouble you're taking to get me published. I never would have thought it would be possible," Asha said sincerely.
"You have an outstanding way with words. You just need to be pushed a lot. Didn't your parents push you?"
Asha looked uncomfortable. "Well, they tried to do so, but in a way which made me feel babied. But I'm adult and it's up to me to push myself. It's just difficult to do when…"
"Yes?" Rhian prodded.
"When one doesn't quite believe in myself. At least when it comes to getting my stuff published, because then I'm forced to put my face out there. I am confident in other things, but not in this."
"Poetry, Asha, not stuff," Rhian remarked sternly. "I would never publish stuff. And what we're doing here is not even getting your face out there, as you put it. That will only happen after publication. And that's when you'll be working truly hard. You won't be able to hide in here anymore."
"You're so confident that this is going to be a success," Asha murmured.
"Naturally. I would hardly publish it otherwise," Rhian scoffed. Asha couldn't help smiling at her bluntness. "And another thing."
"Yes?" Asha asked tentatively.
"I expect pristine corrections while you are in Mirek. Please don't get too overenthusiastic with the local spiced wines."
"I won't," Asha grinned, amused that Rhian had not forgotten about her out-of-character consumption of the strong Romulan spiced wine.
"By the way, can Romulans develop a, er, drinking problem?"
"Of course they can. One of my cousins was disgracefully fond of taverns. Why are you asking?"
"One of my friends claimed that Romulans are taught so much discipline at school that the chances of developing a drinking problem is practically nil."
"It is flattering that the Senator holds that opinion, but he is quite mistaken," Rhian commented dryly.
"How did you know that it was the Senator…?"
"I can't imagine anyone else among your friends making such a statement."
During her next meeting with Vreenak, she told him about her plans for her stay in Mirek.
"Three weeks? And correcting children's essays in the evening?" he said rather scornfully.
"Now, Merken, you did say that Romulan children enjoy outstanding education? I consider it an honour to contribute to their mastery of excellent Federation Standard," Asha teased him, but Vreenak was not amused.
"If you have any sense, you will cease such an arduous activity following your book publication."
"What an idea! I will do nothing of the sort!" Asha exclaimed crossly.
"It is a demeaning task."
"Why, thank you for being so snobby. I like doing my job and doing it well!" she said, glaring at him and planting her hands on her hips.
He raised his eyebrows. "Did you just call me snobby?"
"Yes! Besides, who says the book will be a success? It might be the complete opposite."
"Then why are you publishing it?"
"Because I want to at least try. There is simply no guarantee about these things. No amount of market or psychological research can predict how people will react. I don't even know how you will react."
"In just a few sentences, you have thoroughly insulted my character by labelling me as snobby and unreliable," Vreenak said, his mouth crooking into a tiny smile.
"Exactly. Well put," Asha quipped, refusing to back down. He laughed and held out his hand. She took it.
"Very well. I must admit that I admire your sense of duty, but I also have to admit that I will deeply regret the cancellation of our meetings due to your absence."
"I will miss you, too," Asha said, amused at how Vreenak, like Thorek, used lofty language to cover up feelings they felt were inappropriate to display openly. For what she thought could be easily expressed in a few words, Vreenak needed to wrap it up in a bulky stuffy sentence.
"That is very reassuring to hear," he replied. Asha laughed.
During their last rendez-vous before Asha's vacation, Vreenak offered her a glass of spiced wine made from produce of his own garden. She declined.
"My alcohol tolerance is nil. Human and Romulan alcoholic beverages tend to knock me out," she explained.
"So you have tried Romulan liquor?"
She told him about how she had celebrated the title of her poetry, thought without giving the actual title away. It was Vreenak's turn to laugh.
"If you have such large quantities, it is quite natural that you will feel intoxicated. A sip, then."
Asha agreed and took a sip while Vreenak raised his own glass to his lips. The wine was sweet and warm, and she savoured it. Lilou sat down next to Asha, watching her very closely.
When Asha went upstairs to his library to borrow some books, leaving him alone with Lilou, he patted her head, murmuring: "I can see that you don't quite trust me. Believe me, if I wanted to seduce your mistress, I would never employ such disgraceful tactics like trying to get her intoxicated. I prefer a sober woman who will take me into her arms with a willing and loving heart. That is how you treat someone you love, my distrustful set'leth. You let them be."
Lilou flapped her ears as if in agreement and actually rested her head on his knee.
When Asha returned with reading material for her holidays, he placed his hands gently on her shoulders and kissed her on the top of her head.
"I myself will be absent for a week or two as I begin my tours for political campaigns," he said. "You know how to keep in touch with me."
"I do. Take care, Merken, and jolan'tru."
"Jolan'tru, Asha Sen t'Darak."
This time, instead of each couple taking their own flitter, Asha, Thorek, Christine and Vekal booked a big one for themselves, Kihika, Vereth, Galan and, of course, Lilou. While Lilou got on well with most people, she had a special rapport with a chosen few. She was particularly fond of Vekal outside the family.
"It's because you're so chilled out," was Christine's explanation, watching Vekal pet the enormous fluffy ears.
"Yes, you're everyone's haven of tranquility, Vekal," Asha added. Everyone began to laugh, including Kihika who was at the wheel.
"Haven of tranquility! Oh my goodness," Christine gasped, mopping at her eyes.
"I realise that I am calm, especially if you consider that Romulans are universally known for their temperament. But still," Vekal murmured modestly, smiling.
Asha steered the flitter during the last stage of their journey, as she wanted to fly over the beautiful flower fields of Mirek. Thorek was sitting next to her, and in the back, people were playing an exciting game of what could be referred to as a Romulan Nine Men's Morris.
"Do you remember, my ailhun, how we spent our nights in Mirek last year?" Thorek asked her in a low voice.
Asha smiled. "Like it was yesterday, e'lev. I even remember the pattern of the sheets. Or the foam that got into your eyebrows when we splashed around in the pool. Your touch, your kisses…" she took a deep breath. "If I continue, I'm going to have to ask someone else to land the flitter."
Thorek's eyes sparkled. "Once your books gets published, we'll go to a love spa to celebrate."
Asha was so happy that she rotated the flitter around its own axis.
"Hey!" Christine yelled. "What's going on over there in front?"
"Nothing, just a bit of turbulence!" Asha called. "Am correcting the stabilisers."
"Please do!" Christine said bossily.
"All is fine, my ailhun," Vekal murmured.
"Okay, my haven of tranquillity," she quipped.
Everyone around snorted in amusement, and even Lilou sneezed.
