EXETERRPG: ( 3 - 1400) Cmdr Ailynn Bracken and Ronnie Williams

[Mark Howard]

Mission: A new day dawns

Day: 4

Stardate: 2446.01.30



(Earth, Tuscany - Bracken family villa, Nr San Gimignano - Cmdr Ailynn
Bracken and Ronnie Williams. - 1400)

Ailynn looked along the table with the purest glow in her heart. This was
the place in the entire universe that she was most happy. This long,
antique, almost ancient, dark English Oak table, in this rustic Villa, the
family had been together for lunch, for the first time in a long age, now
though, chores called, Aimee and Dale called back to HQ, Ash simply having
some time to herself, and Ailynn’s great grandparents, together with Caity,
off into town for some spurious errand or other had left Ailynn looking
after Ronnie.

She helped her young cousin out of her booster chair and found herself
slightly at a loss. She remembered Ash muttering something about a nap, but
Ailynn would admit that in her avarice, she wasn’t precisely listening. “I
don’t suppose you were listening to mommy about naptime?”

"No. No nap. No nap."

“No, me either. Tell me that mommy left your toys? Do you need a wee?”

"Umm" ronnie paused. "no"

“That a ‘No’ no or a ‘yes’ no?” Ailynn found herself saying.

"Umm… I don't know, umm. no."

“OKay, but I’ll ask again in a bit.” Ailynn was aware that she could take
Command of a ship of 500 souls without batting an eyelid, but right now she
was so far our of her comfort zone. Not for the first time she found
herself saluting Ashlyn for her ability to simply just be as amazing as she
was. “So…blocks? Story?”

"Umm tell me a story. One with Unicorns and princesses."

“Okay…so lets sit on the couch yeah?” She helped Ronnie up, who settled on
her lap. “Once upon a time there was a princess, and her very best friend
was a beautiful pink unic…”

"no. no the Unicorn is purple."

“...purple unicorn, and her name was Glitter Sparkles.”

"no, her name is poppy farts." Ronnie protested.

“Her name was poppy f…you hear mommy use that word?”

"No, daddy says so when I pull his finger."

“I had a feeling he did. He used to say the same to me. A long time ago.”

"Cause you're old." she giggled.

“Old?” Ailynn mocked horror, and wiggled her fingers, and found her way to
Ronnie’s underarms, years of medical school reduced to tickling a two year
old.

"Stop. Stop. Stop." Ronnie laughed.

Ailynn smiled, and helped Ronnie up, still giggling herself. Part of her
wanted her cousin back, her heart felt heavy, but on the flip side, she was
happier now than she had been for a long while. “So the unicorn was called
Poppy Farts, and one day…”

"A giant Booger attacked them."

“A giant booger? I did not see that coming, talk about plot twist.” Ailynn
chuckled. “A GIANT BOOGER ATTACKED, and it left booger juice all over
Poppy’s stable.” Ailynn was all too aware that she was winging it, but she
was having fun.

"Auntie Ailsy?"

“Yes honey?”

"im sweepy."

“Me too kiddo. Can you remember the way to the spare room? Have you been
here before?” There was still so much about Ronnie that troubled Ailynn,
tiny questions here and there tested her work with Ronnie Winters’ memory.

"Umm, is it in daddy's butt?" Ronnie giggled.


“Bad words Ronnie. Not nice.”

"Sowwy."

“Down here.” She opened the door. “I’m going to stay with you as I could do
with a nap myself.”

Ronnie entered the room and went to the bed. "uppie?"

Ailynn lifted Ronnie up and after a kiss on the head, laid her down,
sitting down herself, and kicking off her shoes before curling up. “Comfy?”

"vewy,"

Ailynn held her arm out and let Ronnie make herself comfortable.

"Auntie Ailsy?"

“Yes honey?”

"Why do you look so sad?"

Ailynn felt the dagger to her heart and her eyes well up, she knew that she
had to swallow it though. “Well, even big people like Aunty Ailsy or Mommy
or Daddy get sad. The important thing is that you’re always loved and have
lots of people to hug.”

"don't be sad Auntie Ailsy,  I wuv you."

Ailynn smiled gently, and pulled Ronnie closer to her, “I love you too
sweetest girl.” Ailynn said, her heart finally settling, allowing her mind
to adjust to Ronnie as she was now. “Sleep about unicorns honey.” She
managed as her own drowsiness took hold, Ronnie’s warmth calming her as
Ailynn held her cousin.

In short time Ronnie drifted off to sleep.

Ashlyn followed the snoring down the corridor, and peeping round the door,
felt her heart jump as she saw Ronnie snuggled up to Ailynn, her cousin. It
had been a big step for both of them, but she knew that genes win out, that
family will always remember. She smiled and closed the door gently, and
stepped carefully down the corridor, and accepted a coffee from her mum,
with a nod, and a gentle smile.

(Reply none)

(Posted by Mark)
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