EXETERRPG: (17, 0400) Mr. and Mrs. Trip and Ashlyn Williams

[Will Banowsky]

NRPG: With this post we are officially moving into day 17. There will also
be a post on day 18. You are now free to explore both those days. Your
characters have been through the ringer. Feel free to spend the next to
days exploring the emotional ramifications of what transpired. You are also
still free to post on day 16 if you so desire.

RPG:

Mission: The flames of purity

Day: 17

Stardate: 2445.09.17

(USS Exeter - Captain's Quarters - Mr. and Mrs. Trip and Ashlyn Williams -
0400)

 Ashlyn woke early, the trauma of the past day or two still rich in her
mind. Desperately trying to return to sleep she turned over and pulled
herself toward her husband's still sleeping form. Smiling happily, she
rested her head against his back, and placed a gentle arm around his waist,
but it was no good.
Fully awake, and hungry, she sighed, and after placing a gentle kiss on
Trips back, rolled over once more, and got out of bed pulling on her
favourite robe. A gift from Ailynn, it was a rich scarlet, made of the
finest silk.

Ash walked through to the lounge area, ordered herself a plate of her
current favourite and as she ate it, mostly with her fingers and a shrug of
indifference; sat down at her favourite seat on the couch, a corner seat
outlooking the window, picking up a PADD, she began writing, the time
weaving past as minutes turned into sentences. She had no idea how long it
was before she felt arms weave around her, making her draw breath with a
start.

“Rough night?” Trip asked as he entered into the living area. He was
wearing NCC-1672-C issued pajama pants with no shirt. His well formed
muscular body littered with scars from stab wounds, a reminder of how the
follies of youth almost got him killed. That and how at the time Ailynn who
patched him up was not the best at removing scars. He kept them as a
reminder that doing things just because he could, could lead to pain and
possible death, and because he was a believer in the old adage that chicks
dig scars. His tattoos were visible, on the top of his arms, on the right
side a black Space, referencing his nickname as the Ace of Spades and on
the left a roman numeral 3. On his left wrist were the initials TL and the
date of the incident in memory of his deceased Imzadi and directly below
that the initials AJ and his wedding date. On his right wrist the latin
phrase, Dum Spiro, Spero. On his left forearm was a Yellow Starfleet arrow
with the command department insignia, representative of that from the
original Enterprise, surrounded in a circle by the text, First Fighter Wing
of Mars, est. 2444. On his right forearm was a a similar tattoo, but
instead read NCC-1672-C USS Exeter, est. 2445. On the left side of his
chest was a red rose, right above the heart, in honor of his eternal rose,
Ashlyn.

“I woke early” She leant up and kissed him, smiling happily. “I’m okay,
just woke up and couldn't get back off. I was hungry anyway.”

“You know if you can’t sleep you can always wake me.”

“You know how I feel about that." She chided gently. "You need your rest.
Especially now that you can actually get it. I worry about you.” She put
her empty plate on the table, and shifted herself, moving her legs as she
patted the seat in front of her, telling him to sit down.

“It’s fine. I will always make time for you. Besides, the next few days are
going to be exploration. Before we crossed the wormhole, I got orders from
Starfleet, when we’re done with the cult, drop in and say hello to old
Gamma Quadrant contacts and allies. Less stress, better sleep. More time to
give you my beautiful bride.”

He leant back against her, and she carried on speaking, hugging her
husband. “You’re my everything.” She whispered. “Besides, I was sort of
writey this morning.”

“What are you writing? Is it for little Drew?”

“Sadly not. I’m two thousand words into ‘Fluffy Rabbit gets kidnapped by
the foxes death cult.’ she picked up the PADD. ‘Not exactly going to retain
my ‘childs author of the year’ with this thing. She sighed. “Seriously, I
write my trauma babe. How much leeway do I get with secrecy and stuff? I’m
going to need a new nomes de plumes.”

“You could always call yourself the Anonymous sexy baby.” Trip said with a
laugh.

She hugged him. “I checked before I went to sleep, Ailynn was still in a
coma, and I’m far too scared to check this morning…” her voice fell off.
“It’d kill Aimee...you know that right? In her job she’s the toughest
person I know, but with Ailynn I don’t know. I’m not even certain that
Ailynn knows how much she means to her family. She can be selfish, for want
of a better word, at times, and I say that because I’d die for her.” Her
Bracken genes, matriarchal and protective, had combined williams ethos, to
have a profound affect on her. Pregnancy aside, she’d become very maternal,
almost adopting the whole ship.

“Yeah, not gonna lie, Ailynn can be a bit of a brat. But she’s my brat.
She’ll be ok. I mean, I’m pretty sure Gabe has probably not left her side.
She’s a fighter, that much has always been true.”

Trip picked Ash up and brought her round on the couch, sitting down in such
away that he was cradling her in his arms and having her sit on his lap.
“At the end of the day. She did good, and we did what we needed to do. And
its going to be ok. Thats not what I’m worried about, shes not what I’m
worried about.”

Ash snuggled into his embrace, “I know, and I know that she’s a big girl. I
know what you’re worried about, and I’m fine, shaky, but fine; your son is
fine, and judging by the cravings, is healthy.”

“But is this really the best place for you? I mean until the baby is born I
mean. What if it had been you on the interceptor and not Ailynn?”

“No!” She half-snapped, she turned round, pulling herself off his lap,
cross suddenly. “Don’t you bloody dare Trip Williams. I get that you’re
worried, I get that you’re protective, but don’t.” she paused, calming
down. “You and ‘Miss Dale’ have had how many conversations, but has she
told you, apart from giving me up, what her other greatest regret was? Has
she?!” Ashlyn was still cross, but her tone was gentle.

“I’m not asking for this to be permanent...or giving up Drew like she gave
up Aimee.”

“Giving up Aimee. When she was 3, going on 4, Dale was FO of the Hades, she
decided that her job wasn’t ‘compatible’ with being a mum. So she sent 4
year old Aimee to live back with Leola, her own mum. Now that isn’t how it
sounds to you, the Leola then was still young, and a free spirit, not the
eighty something you know. Dale only saw her daughter twice I think after
that. So no. I’m here, we’re here as a family unit, and I will bloody not
make the same mistakes.”

“It’s just….I’d rather have you save on mars until the pregnancy is over,
even until the kid is two. I mean sure, this time everything worked out
great...but all it takes is one time. One time to go wrong. And it would
kill me if something happened to you, to Drew, because I was too selfish,
and had to have you with me, when I know its safer back on Mars, back at
the home we got specifically for our family.”

“Baby…” She picked her words carefully. “Did you get all the Cult?”

“Jost is gone honey. Ailynn saw to that.”

“No...the other one...Jost wasn’t the only Cult leader, there was two there
remember. Did you get all of the ones that killed my father? Can you
guarantee that?”

“We have his daughter in custody, and a hole makeshift holding cell filled
with as many as we could. If any are out there, they are leaderless. And at
this point, so twisted, that Ronal Ashalon doesn’t even register anymore.
You are free to be who you are honey.”

“I want to believe you baby, I do.” She leant into him. “I want to be proud
of my father, I want to lift my head up, and be proud. I want Dale to stop
hiding that pain that she thinks no one else sees.”

Trip gently placed his wife beside him and got off the couch walking over a
drawer in the living space and opened it, taking out a small box. He
brought it over to Ash and handed it to her. “I think it’s time. I think
you should feel free to start wearing this. The Cult is neutered. Starfleet
is strong again, and you are free to be you.”

She sat straight, but sank in her heart, happily. “Free?” Her eyes welled
up, “You have no idea what that sounds like. From that first moment that
Dale told us both, to this very second, I have been fighting an internal
war to stop myself just wearing this and bloody daring anyone to come try
it.” Her hand trembled as he took the deeply intricate jewelry from his
hand, and affixed it to her ear.

“I am not afraid. I’m proud to be the Scion of Ashalan, and so will our son
be.” She nudged him with her shoulder, “aside from a hella proud Texan no?”

“Well given that mom and dad are giving us about 10 acres of land on the
Ranch to call are own. I’d say yeah, he’ll be a bit of a country boy to say
the least.”

“So they are gone? All jest aside?”

“I’m not worried about them. Besides, we've tipped off some Allies in the
quadrant, they are on the lookout. The cult is done. It died with Jost.
Hell most of the leadership don’t even remember who your dad was. No, it’s
not the cult I’m worried about. It’s what comes next. Tholians, the Gorn,
Nausicans, the Borg. What have you.”

“Whatever comes next comes next.” Ash sighed. “ I will never….never split
up this family for convenience.” she held her husband's hand, and pulled it
to her forehead, “I’m a Williams here…”

He smiled.

Smiling gently, she pulled his hand to her heart, pulling it into her chest
“and a Bracken here.”

“Can’t I just worry a little bit. I’d never send you away, my dad wouldn’t
let me. I just...I guess worrying would be pointless anyways. You’re a damn
Bracken. I’m lucky if I get my way 25% of the time with one of you strong
willed harpy women.”

Ashlyn laughed. “Worry yes, and baby, you’re right. That isn’t who we are
though, any of us. Honestly. Would you rather you only get your way 25% of
the time, or marry Cerise Blake and...just...I dunno...talk about the 2436
cheerleader finals for the rest of your life.”

“When the only redeeming quality about someone is the fact they have an
impressive rack, they aren’t marriage material. I mean she was hot, but
Cerise 'Everest Tits' Blake was pretty shallow.”

She leant forward. “Thought not.” She kissed him deeply. “And I’ll thank
you not to even think about Cerise Blake’s admittedly considerable rack.”
she patted his cheek amiably.

“Yours are nicer. I mean sure, you were frumpy looking Ashlyn Jones in high
school with the oversized sweaters and bad ponytail. But you had a, what’s
the word… a glow up

Ash smiled. “I'm not the same girl I was back then or maybe I am, and this
me was hidden under all that frump."

Ashlyn was proud of who she was, for the first time in her life she could
relax, and hold her head up high to be her own person, to not hide, or be
ashamed of her background. She sat back on Trips lap, leaning on his
shoulder as his arms wrapped around her.

Sighing happily, she relaxed into the embrace, giggling gently as Layla
started yipping in her sleep.

“Glow-ups reminds me babe. I confirmed the starlight lounge booking for
Ryelles memorial tomorrow. Dress uniform, open bar. Hopefully Ailynn will
be back with us then, I know that she’ll want to say something alongside
yourself.”

"Yeah." Trip said with a sigh. It wasn't the first funeral he presided
over, but they never get easier. Thankfully Ryelle was the only one they
lost. "Unfortunately I didn't know him very well."

Ash nodded. “I know, but a lot of what you say will come from here.” She
gently rested her hand on his chest, roughly where his heart was. “Like I
said, I hope Ailynn is up and around. She’d be so upset if she misses it.”

"I'm having Ravok prepare a torpedo for the ceremony. It just doesn't get
easy, does it."

“No it doesn’t. He was a kind, and gentle soul. I only chatted with him a
few times, but his faith carried him through things that would cripple
lesser people.”

"You can take the man out of the monastery, but you can't take the
monastery out of the man."

She smiled, half laughed sadly. “He taught me more in one sentence about
being a Bajoran and what it meant than an entire year of ‘Comparative
Belief and Religion’ at school. Do you remember those awful lessons?”

"I was exempt. It was 7th period and it conflicted with baseball. Jocks
rule the high school world."

“I hate you.” She said gently, kissing him on the cheek. “ Seriously
though. I love it out here, and couldn’t go back and settle down that
easily now, but this part I know I’ll never get used to or fail to be
grief-stricken by. It makes me sad, but also...people like Ryelle fill our
souls even as our lives touch only in transience. ”

"Loss is hard. We lost a few in the fighter wing. It…" he paused. "It's my
life now. Funerals and promotions. Paperwork and filing."

Ash nodded, “It’s not all sunshine and rainbows babe. Say the word now, and
we go to Texas and raise cattle, we go to Nappa even and make wine. It’s
the itch though, isn’t it.”

"Yeah. It is."

“Mum told you as much, more even than she told me. The itch, the desperate
need to ‘see what's over the next hill. People like you, like Ailynn, like
me even perhaps, come across only rarely, and there’s a reason that we
can’t settle. Mum always just calls it the ‘itch’.” She sighed. “I’ve seen
it in both mum and my sister. Both Admirals, and both of them stuck in
office jobs. They’re shaping the new Federation, but are doomed not to see
it. Be careful what you wish for James Williams the Third. Because one day,
you’ll receive it.”

"I already have."

“Oh?” She lifted her head, a look of concern on her face.

"You and little Drew."

A tingle of warmth ran over her, smiling to the core, she rested her
forehead against his.

“Me too.”

“I could sit here all day; but I need to get moving. I’ve got a load of
stuff to look at. New Rotas, new menus, I want to check on Lynn, and some
pain in the arse big shot just agreed to an open bar. I need a bath.
Coming?” She nodded toward the bathroom, smiling warmly.

"I'm okay hun. I think I'm just gonna sit a moment. Collect my thoughts."

Ashlyn nodded, “Okay. Sure?” She leant forward as she stood up and kissed
her husband again. “If you change your mind.”

"I'll be okay, just need to sit a bit. You go ahead. I'll be thinking of
you."

Ash smiled “Love you.” She whispered as she walked toward the bathroom,
removing her robe at the door and hanging it up, filling the bath up to her
favourite, skin tingling hot temperature, and adding her most favourite
bath oils, slipped into the water, her eyes closing in relaxation.

Trip sat silently, thinking, pondering. What would he say about Ryelle? One
thing for certain was, that Kyros Ryelle believed that life should be
filled with little moments of joy, small deposits to withdraw when sadness
crept in. Ryelle was right.

Trip stood up and headed towards the bathroom. Passing by the replicator he
procured two glasses and a bottle of sparkling apple cider. He then smiled
as he went to join his wife.

(reply none)
(posted by Will and Mark)
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