Star Date 12309.18- 09:09 Hours- Robin's Root- Ravenswood Estate

Richard banged on the Robin Roost's door. It takes a few minutes, but Alan answers the door without his glasses. "What do you want, Skyler?" Then walks away. "You do realize what time it is?"

"It's 9 AM, Batboy."

"In Illinois, I'm still on San Francisco Time. I didn't get home until four hours ago." Alan turns his back on Richard as he gets a glass of warm milk from the replicator.

"I'm sorry, but I need to talk to you. It's crucial, Alan. " Richard shut the door behind him.

"If you are lucky. Robin beamed up to Fleming three hours ago. Otherwise, you would be facing her wrath, not mine." Alan leaned on the wooden kitchen island, looking over Richard's left shoulder with slightly unnerving cloudy grey eyes."

"Can you put your eyes on?" Richard asked.

"After twenty years, still not used to these?" Alan chuckled, his laughter showing in the wrinkles around his eyes.

"Freak out your grad students later. I need you to look at something important." Skyler tosses a pad onto the bar in front of Alan. "I think it would be easier with them on."

Concern and hearing Richard's tone, worry appeared across Alan's brow as his body tensed. Alan reached into his robe's pocket, pulled out his glasses, and slipped them on. "You have me worried, Skyler." He let his fingertips flutter over the written translation on the pad as he read. "It's a contract. You aren't leaving your training position, are you?" Alan continued to read the document.

"No, I'm not giving up on my students," Richard assured him. "It is a marriage contract," Richard said, burying his face into his hands.

"Skyler, what are you doing with a marriage contract?" Alan tried to process what he was reading.

"Keep reading." Richard changed his hands so they were clasped and looked to his friend for reassurance.

Alan began to read aloud the document, "Doctor Nikolas Owen Holtz offers his son and heir, Jacob Kendric Holtz, to Admiral Richard Clyde Skyler in the betrothal of marriage to his heir, Janice Christine Skyler on this day 12309.18, to bind the two families to strengthen our alliance in business and knowledge." Alan's eyes narrowed, appalled at what he had just read; Alan looked at his friend as if he had lost his mind. He set the pad down and looked at Richard, his voice firm and tinged with concern. "Richard, what the hell is this?" Alan demanded. "A marriage contract? Are you seriously considering this?"

Richard sighed deeply, his shoulders slumping, "Before Christine, Brielle, and Jacob head back to the station, Jacob wanted to have it in place."

"But WHY Richard?" Alan looked down at the pad, trying to understand what Richard was doing to his daughter. "Christine isn't pregnant, is she?"

"What? No!" Richard snapped at his friend, "But now Jacob has a son he has to care for as well."

"Wait… Jacob has a son?" Alan shook his head, disbelief evident in his expression.

"Yeah," Richard looked up at his friend and scratched the back of his neck, "A lot has happened in the past 24 hours."

Alan tried to speak, but nothing came out. Holding up a finger, Alan walked to a cabinet and picked up two glasses and a bottle of brown liquid. Returning to Richard, Alan poured each of them one finger of the scotch. "Before we go further, drink that."

Once they had each swallowed their drink, Alan began again, his expression softening slightly, but his resolve remained., "Start at the beginning, and I will pour us another if I feel we need another by the time you are done."

Setting his glass down, Richard began again slowly, "Jacob arrived a couple of days ago with Christine and Brielle."

"I got that," Alan took a seat across from Richard. "Sam called Robin to recommend a new doctor to review Jacob's medical file."

"Recommendation?" Richard gave his friend a knowing look.

"Christine is her goddaughter; can you blame Robin for wanting to get a closer look at the boy?" Alan leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on Richard.

"I can't fault her. I did a background check on the boy, so I have no room to talk." Richard sighed again. "As you know, Robin has him scheduled to get his leg repaired tomorrow on the Flemming."

"That I am aware of, but what is this about a son?" Alan poured them another drink, shaking his head.

Richard wrapped his fingers around his glass. "Seven years ago, while Jacob was in training, he had a one-night stand with a girl, Ms. Watson. He didn't know she was pregnant when he left for his mission."

Alan raised his eyebrow and sipped his drink, "Sounds familiar."

"The issue is that the mother didn't TELL Jacob about the boy until the boy was nearly two years old out of pure spite for Jacob." Richard ran his finger around the top of his glass, not looking at Alan.

"Oh, she sounds lovely," Alan sighed, "And let me guess, mamma bear has been keeping Jacob away from his son."

"Christine and Jacob are in court to get visitation while Jacob is on Earth. And from the disgust coming off Lynn after she read the records, mama bear likes to play dirty." Richard shook his head, disbelief evident in his expression.

"This court battle for custody is relevant to the marriage contract between Jacob and Christine; how?"

Richard took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts. "The court battle is relevant because Jacob's legal team feels that the contract shows that Jacob has a stable relationship and would strengthen the case for full custody. It shows a united front that Jacob is willing to provide his son with a stable and supportive environment."

Alan frowned, still not entirely convinced. "So, this marriage contract is more about winning a custody battle than the actual relationship between Jacob and Christine?"

"Partly," Richard admitted. "But it's also about protecting Christine's reputation on the Star Base and in Star Fleet." Richard lifted his glass to his lips to sip his drink, "Christine has been facing pushback from various sources since she took custody of Brielle."

"So, the contract also shows that Christine is in a stable relationship with a future ahead of her." Alan shook his head, still processing the information. "Does she even want this marriage, or is she being pressured into it by Jacob?"

Richard nodded, feeling the weight of Alan's words, "Watch the two of them together, and you can tell that Christine wants him in her life for a long time." Richard smirked, "I'm not sure if you got to that part of the contract, but Christine has primacy in it. In other words, SHE can call off the marriage contract anytime. If Christine doesn't formally accept Jacob's marriage proposal in six months, it is void with no penalty."

"It helps both of them out regarding their custody issues, and Christine has all the power in the arrangement. I'm finding it hard to find why you are so concerned?" Alan handed the pad back to Richard.

Richard scrolled down the contract until he came to a particular clause, which he highlighted, "Look over that clause, and tell me your thoughts. It is that clause which has me worried."

Skeptical, Alan took the pad back and began reading the clause: "During the duration of this contract, should Jacob Kendric Holtz become deceased or unable to care for the well-being of his child, Joshua Mathew Holtz, Mr. Holt's parental rights will immediately transfer to Janice Christine Skyler in perpetuity."

Alan looked up at Richard to make sure he had read that correctly. "Keep reading."

Alan went back to the document. "Further, should Jacob Kendric Holtz become deceased or unable to care for his wellbeing, Janice Christine Skyler is to be considered Mr. Holtz's legal spouse in all lawful courts. This includes all familiar assets, titles, and personal assets." Alan looked back to Richard, his jaw slack. "This states that if something happens to Jacob, his son Josh is legally Christine's."

"It also means that when Jacob moves into Christine's quarters when they return to SB71, she is essentially his wife, and none of the busybodies that have been giving her trouble have a leg to stand on." Richard raised his glass, "The boy loves her so much he is willing to give her everything and protect her if anything happens to him."

Alan took a deep breath to gather his thoughts, "Why? I mean, why now?"

"He has his surgery tomorrow, and as a father, could you go into an experimental procedure without taking care of your family should something happen."

Alan nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I see. Jacob wants to ensure that Christine and his son are cared for, no matter what happens."

Richard leaned forward, his voice lowering. "Exactly. And it's not just about the surgery. Jacob has been through a lot and knows the risks involved in his line of work. This contract is his way of ensuring Christine, Brielle, and Josh are protected."

Alan took another sip of his drink, contemplating the information. "And Christine, she's fully on board with this?"

Richard smiled slightly. "She is. Christine is fiercely protective of Brielle, and she's grown to care deeply for Josh as well. She wants to be there for him and understands this arrangement's importance."

Alan nodded, finally seeing the bigger picture. "Alright, I get it now. It's not just about the custody battle or the marriage contract. It's about ensuring everyone is cared for, no matter what happens."

"Given this, why bang on my door and wake me up ?" Alan gave his friend a pained expression.

Richard chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I know, I know. But this is important, Alan. Jacob's surgery is tomorrow, and we must ensure everything is in place. Plus, I needed someone to discuss this with, and you're the best person."

Alan sighed, rubbing his eyes. "Alright, I get it. But next time, maybe you could call me to let me know you are on your way over so I can have a cup of coffee first, please?"

Richard grinned. "Noted. But you know me, I need my best friend next to me when I jump feet-first into matters this serious."

Alan couldn't help but smile back. "Alright, let's get this sorted out. What's the next step?"

Scrolling to the appropriate section, Richard applied his thumbprint to the document before handing it to Alan to witness it. Smiling, Richard raised his glass in a toast: "To family, and to doing whatever it takes to protect them."

Alan clinked his glass against Richard's. "To family." Each sipped their drink. "Now that is settled. Get the hell out of my house, Skyler. I need to sleep, and you have a lot to explain to that pretty wife of yours."

Patting his friend's shoulder, "Thanks. I'll let you get back to your beauty sleep. You need it!" Richard scampered out the door before Alan could retaliate.