12309.04 - 13:16 hours – Ravenswood- Earth
The computer announced to the room, "Incoming call from Ensign Christine Skyler to Vice-Admiral Richard Skyler and Captain Lynn Skyler. Marked Personal." Richard sat on the couch before the giant monitor above the fireplace.
"Lynn! They are calling!" Richard called as he hit the answer button. His face broke into a big smile when he saw Christine's smile on the screen. "Hey, sweetheart, how does it feel to be a new mom?"
"Terrifying?" Christine chuckled.
"Sounds about right." Richard smiled at his daughter, "Your mom is just finishing up making cookies and will be right here in a second." He gestured behind him to the kitchen.
Lynn appeared on the screen momentarily, "Hey, baby girl!" Lynn placed the cookies on the coffee table and sat next to Richard.
"Hi, Mom, are you ready to meet Brielle?" Christine replied, a bit hesitant.
"We can't start spoiling her until we meet her." Richard teased.
The couple waited as Brielle ran into Christine's arms. "Mom, Dad... I'd like you to meet Brielle O'Conner, my daughter."
Lynn put her hand to her mouth, amazed at how adorable the little girl was, "Hello, Brielle. You can call me Lynn if you like."
"Hello, Miss Lynn." Brielle's thumb made its way to her mouth as she waved a little with her free hand.
"My name is Richard, but most people call me Skyler." Richard introduced himself to her and waved back to the little girl.
"Hello, Kyler." Brielle turned her head shyly onto Christine's shoulder.
"It looks like someone had enough excitement for today." Lynn chuckled, overjoyed with the little girl.
Christine shooed Brielle off to play. "Brielle, why don't you check out the toys we got you."
Once she was gone, Lynn spoke up to her daughter. "Christine, she is adorable."
"See why I fell in love with her?" Christine beamed.
"I can't wait to meet her in person." Richard chuckled.
"We will be there in a few days." Christine blew her parents a kiss.
"Wait, what? Why didn't you tell me?" a male voice came off-screen.
Lynn looked to Richard and then to Christine "Christine, who is that?" She asked, confused.
"That is Jacob, my friend." Christine addressed her parents and then turned to where 'Jacob' was off-screen.
Oblivious to Lynn and Richard being on screen, the couple argued. The argument did give Richard and Lynn a chance to get a good look at Jacob.
"I don't like him. He is stopping her from doing what she wants." Richard murmured to Lynn.
"Give him a break. Plans change." Lynn elbowed Richard gently in the side. He frowned.
"I'm glad to hear they are giving Christine two-bedroom quarters," Lynn commented as she listened to them argue.
"Christine and Brielle will be here at least in a few days." Richard shrugged.
"That was the original plan, but their families wanted them buried in the family cemetery, hence escorting them back to earth!"
"When were you going to tell me that!"
"I have had other things on my mind for the past few days, Jacob, if you haven't noticed." Christine glared.
"When do you leave?"
"For goodness' sake," Richard couldn't believe the two of them. "May I make a suggestion?" Richard raised his voice and came over the com.
Christine's face blanched and then slowly went red in embarrassment. "Sorry, Dad."
"My apologies, Admiral, Captain." Jacob apologized sheepishly.
"First, given the distance and the reason for Christine and Brielle's travel, you could accompany them, Commander," Richard noted. He didn't like the idea, but it would give Richard a reason to meet the young man his daughter was interested in. "That is if you don't mind being their security escort."
"Admiral, I would gladly be their security escort if possible." Jacob showed him his cane.
"You are able, Commander." Lynn's eyes narrowed. He might be injured, but Lynn couldn't believe he wouldn't protect Brielle and Christine. "If anyone looked at those two girls wrong, you would take their head off. Am I wrong?"
Lynn watched Jacob grow beet red, "Yes, Captain, that is a safe assumption."
"Then it is settled. Commander, you will escort Ensign Christine Skyler and her daughter to Earth as their security detail." Watching Jacob squirm a little gave Richard a tiny bit of pleasure.
"As ordered, Admiral." Jacob sighed and saluted him.
Richard was about to make another comment, but Lynn interrupted him, "Oh, and Commander Holtz." Lynn smiled at Jacob. "I'm glad you are as cute as I thought. Skyler's out." Lynn closed the connection before any response could be given.
"Hey… I had more to say to Jacob." Richard grumbled as he stood up.
Lynn stood beside him, wrapped her arms around his waist, and faced him. "You will have plenty of chances when they arrive in a couple of days," Lynn playfully looked up at him.
"Something just feels… off about him." Richard looked away at the pictures of the family around the room.
"Possibly," Lynn conceded, "He has been through a lot, and I like to think that Christine is helping him as much as he is helping her."
"I just… I don't think Jacob is right for Christine," Richard said, looking back into his wife's eyes.
Lynn got a wry smile, "You sound like someone else I know."
"Oh really?" Richard raised an eyebrow at her. "And just who is that?"
Lynn snickered, "Lilly…My Mother."
"Oh, heck no!" Richard let go and started to walk off toward the kitchen. Lynn grabbed his hand.
"Oh, come on." Lynn playfully got him to look at her, "That boy won't treat her right. He is pulling her into his life mess. My baby girl is too good for him." Lynn mimicked her mother's voice.
Richard playfully glared down at her. "That is not funny."
"Maybe not, but it is the truth." Lynn grinned and leaned up and kissed him. She patted his leg. "Come on, we have arrangements to make.
Sighing, Richard followed her, "Christine can sleep in her room, and Brielle can sleep in Katie's. Christine's room is big enough to have one more person."
Richard choked slightly, "Is that the best idea?"
Lynn shrugged mischievously, "I was thinking of Brielle. She has nightmares. She could crawl in bed with Christine, and there would still be room."
"And the Lieutenant Commander out in the barn."
"Richard! Give the boy a break. He is here as her security escort. The least we could do is give him a proper bed to sleep in."
"The Forge has a cot. Sam used it many times."
"I was thinking more like Jack's old room."
"I don't know. They would still use the same bathroom."
"Or he could be in Lilly's Mother-in-Law suite. That way, he won't even be on the same floor as Christine."
"Better."
