EXETERRPG: (1, 1900) CO, Captain Trip Williams and Dir. R&SE Ash Williams

[Will Banowsky]

Mission: A new day dawns

Day: 1

Stardate: 2446.01.28



(Mars - Williams Family Residence - CO, Captain Trip Williams and Dir. R&SE
Ash Williams - 1900)

Trip yawned as he materialized in front of his front door, it was around
1900 hours. He had spent most of the day doing paperwork and meeting with
the crew, but he was going to do his best to make sure that he didn’t work
for the rest of the week. It was really a good chance for him to get used
to his new familial arrangement. Ronnie was legally his daughter and he was
doing his best to try and separate the Ronnie that was before and the
Ronnie now as two separate people.

The funeral helped and there was a gravestone with the name Veronica Kadaya
Winters placed at the Williams family funeral plot in East Texas were
myriads of members of the Williams clan, Starfleet and non Starfleet alike,
rested. Though there was no body in that grave. Instead, there was two year
old louding playing with her toys in her room on the second floor of the
Williams home on Mars.

“Honey I’m home.” Trip said as he entered the house trying to be dumb.

“In the kitchen sweetie.” Ash called back. “I’ve done you a picnic.” She
pulled her husband into a hug, and kissed him, before passing him a coffee.
“Some stuff for the ducks too.”

“Not that those bastards deserve it.” Trip grumbled under his breath
walking to the kitchen, his disdain for ducks was well known.

“Trip…she’s so happy, she’s been playing happily all afternoon, it’s like
she was always here. Like Ailynn said, her brain will just fill in the
blanks and ignore the things that don’t make sense. Her and Layla get on so
well together.” Ash found herself well up at her happiness.

“Good, I’m glad. Hopefully you’ve been able to keep up. Not sure who has
the  more adorable waddle, you or the ducks.”

 Wafting her hands in front of her face she stuck her tongue out at Trip.
“Oh shut up…Hormones are all over the place. I cried earlier because the
spaghetti in Ronnie’s lunch wasn’t all the same length.”

“That’s why macaroni is better, more uniform.”

Ash dabbed her eyes, and smiled. “I’ll remember that.” She giggled.

“Say the word honey, and I’ll find a posting in the Sol system, and this
can be our life.”

“You know I couldn’t ask that. Besides, I couldn’t do it now, not after
they’ve started cutting holes in the ship to make our cabins bigger. Kiera
would be so upset.”

“Yeah, I know. But...we have more than just us to consider now.”

“I’ll call Ronnie, you drink your coffee. How was today? Get it all done?
What are the newbies like?” Ash took a couple of steps away toward the door
but still faced Trip, still listening. “Ronnie! Come here baby.”

“It was...draining. I’d much rather be here. I umm….I miss Ailynn already.
New chap seems nice, but...well, it’s not her. And they sent me another
Romulan….who proceeded to hand me a dagger, I almost….I almost lost it. Had
to make jokes to keep calm. I’m not...not ready yet I don’t think, from the
emotional scars.”

“It’ll take time, for all of us.”

At that moment Ronnie came into the room. “Dada, Duckies?”

“Yes Baby girl, Duckies.”

“Shoes Ronnie? Where are your red shoes?” Ash asked, unintentionally
turning each everyday event into a learning journey.

“Here dey are.” Ronnie said as she went to get her shoes.

“Well done baby, let's get those on your feet and then we can go.” She said
doing them up, and pulling on her own boots, getting back up with a gentle
lift from Trip. “Ready Skipper? Ready Cadet Williams?”

“Yeah,” Trip said. As he led them out of the house and down the way to the
pond in front of their house.

“OK Ronnie, remember what dada said about Ducks?”

“Ducks are not to be twusted.”

“That is right.”

“Don’t fill her head with fears Dad” Ashlyn said, taking Ronnie’s hand as
they left the house. “One of you in the house with an irrational fear is
quite enough.” She smiled as Ronnie skipped slightly alongside them.

“Did you ever think, that this would be our life?” Trip asked.

Ashlyn smiled, “Never in my wildest dreams. I can’t begin to tell you how
happy I am. Even given recent events, it feels more like what should be,
than you know who clinging to a memory of a dream. That make sense?” She
was, of course, referring to the adult Ronnie, who had carried all her
lifes trauma around with her, with only the vaguest notion of her true
parents.

“Yeah. It feels like, this is right. Like this is the family we were always
meant to be.”

“Careful Ronnie pick up your feet. Watch the path it’s bumpy.”

“Okay mommy.” Ronnie said as she wiggled her way out of her mother’s hand
and began sprinting towards the shoreline.

“Careful. When I say stop you stop like a…stoppy thing.” Ashlyn’s
considerable vocabulary failed her utterly. “It feels so natural, I can’t
explain it. Off you go Layla, go run.” She released the black lab off the
lead too.

Ronnie ran over and saw a bunch of ducks and began chasing them around
laughing.

Holding her husbands hand as they strolled, “You back in tomorrow? Or do we
have you? If you’re about we could entertain? You know…like have some kind
of get together.” It was no secret Ash adored planning that kind of thing.

“Yeah that would be good. But not here, the house is too small.”

“You’re right, bit snug.”

“We haven’t really been to the ranch since mom and dad deeded us par of
their property. Lot’s of space, nice house. Roomy living room, kitchen,
outside seating, and great outdoor lighting for when it gets dark.”

“That would be lovely, lots of space, could have an outside fire and just
kick back with people and well, have a few drinks, some good food, and blow
some steam off. No rank, no nonsense?”

“Something like that, I’ll invite the senior staff.” Trip took out his
personal communications device and sent out a message to his senior staff.
It was sent to Keira, Tyrek, Ire, Janice, Jori, Erin, Heinrich, Jack,
Ailynn, Alex, Victoria, and because Trip saw promise in him, Ensign Matthew
Fuller. It simply gave a list of coordinates to either beam in or shuttle,
gave a time, and said, Dinner at my place, be there or be square. Looking
up he smiled. “Done.”

“That will be lovely. Looking forward to it.” Ash hugged his arm.”

At that moment a big yell was heard and Ronnie came up to them crying.

“Honey, What’s happened?” She crouched down and pulled Ronnie into a hug.

“Mommy, Daddy, the ducky bit me. I patted it on the head and said good
girl, like I do Layla, and then the ducky got mad and bit me. Daddy was
wight. Duckies are evil.”

“You do seem to take after your father regarding seemingly harmless
wildfowl I will admit.” Ashlyn kissed Ronnies hands. “Where did it bite
you?”

“Wight here.” Ronnie replied, showing her finger to her mother.

“Poor finger.” She kissed it once more.


“Thank you mommy.”

“Look though, Trip” She pointed at Layla, who was running in between
Ronnie, where he carefully wagged his tail in concern, and off chasing the
ducks, where he barked crossly at them.

“Yup.” Trip replied with a soft smile. “Layla has accepted Ronnie into her
pack. That dog is protecting her as if it were her solemn duty.”

“That’s so sweet. Why so quickly do you think?” Ash asked.

“Probably the smell. It may not be the same size, but its the same scent.
She knows who her Ronnie is. And, I’m not gonna lie, since, well, since
Ronnie came home, Layla has been less destructive.”

“They’ve been playing together constantly too. Tiring each other out.” She
slipped an arm around her husband’s waist, and leant against his shoulder.
“Be careful Ronnie, have a run around but stay away from the ducks if
they’re being naughty.”

“Yeah, sweetie, and watch out for rocks.”

“I’m so happy Trip. I can’t ask this to stay like this forever, as we’d
both miss the ship and the adventure, but for now, while we can I want to
savour every moment. It won’t be long before our little family grows by one
more.”

“Hell, could be tomorrow.” Trip said with a laugh.

“You ready for it all?” She asked, “You can be honest, I’m not ashamed of
being terrified.” She smiled as Ronnie and Dog ran off together with much
giggling and barking.

“Yeah, you know its different. Like I have 500 lives under my command. But
its one thing to be like hey here is your work schedule, here is how to be
an officer. It’s another thing to say, here ya go sweetie, this is how you
wipe your own ass.”

Ash laughed, but nudged him. “Trip….” she said dissaprovingly.

“Sorry, too crass? At least Ailynn kept enough memory in her head that
Ronnie remembers being potty trained.”

“Only a bit.” She sighed, and they stopped walking, watching dog and child
run about without a care in the world, barking and giggling happily. Ash
felt her body glow as her family swam in happiness around her. The mother
that she was, and was yet to become glowed within and around her. She
pulled Trip toward her, holding him close to her. “I love you Trip
Williams.” she said as she kissed him deeply.

“Gwoss.” Ronnie said as she ran back to her parents.

“I love you Trip Williams,” She bent down and helped Trip lift up Ronnie,
who she kissed until Ronnie giggled at the tickly kisses. “Love Mommy? Love
Daddy?”

“Awawys.” Came the reply from Ronnie as the family turned around and began
to walk back to their house.

(reply none)
(posted by Will and Mark)
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