Posted by Lieutenant Commander Bethany Kovra Gadi (Chief of Security) in Rest and Relaxation?

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Aasrel Izei (Chief Medical Officer) in Rest and Relaxation?

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Bethany Kovra Gadi (Chief of Security) in Rest and Relaxation?
Posted by… suppressed (15) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
“I’m very glad I am getting to share this with him and meet you all.” It was the only thing Bethany could allow herself to feel right now. The rest was too complicated and connected to things she couldn’t deal with yet.

The older Betazoid woman smiled. “He said he was going to take you sightseeing. I’m sure you’re looking forward to it. Betazed is beautiful.”

Betazed was a beautiful planet with wild weather. Bethany would go with him, but there was nothing she wanted to see. There were no memories here that she wanted to breathe life back into. She was saved from having to reply by Luna.

Bethany looked down as she felt little paws scrabbling at her shoe. She picked Luna up, who started sniffing and stretching towards the food on the counter. “Alright, come on.” She looked at the women, “Excuse me, I’m going to show her where her food is.” Bethany took Luna back down the hall to Aasrel’s room where they had set up her crate.

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

The other women nodded. Soon they were taking food from the kitchen and putting it in the dining room. “Dinner’s done everyone!”

~ Izei, CMO

Bethany gave Luna a small pat on the head and closed the door on the crate. Luna was usually very behaved, but the house was big. She washed up and went back toward the kitchen and dinning room and joined everyone at the table.

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

Everyone gathered around the table and took their seats. Mr and Mrs Izei sat next to each other, then Masas and Vexi, with Aazod sitting by Vexi. Across from them, Bethany, Aasrel, and Keyana. There was a lot of food on the table, mostly Betazoid, but also, Bethany’s favourite earth dish, Aasrel had sent the recipe.

~ Izei, CMO

Bethany’s brows went up at the distinctive Appalacian dish sitting on the table. It was an old dish that was rarely seen anymore. Except for families that had lived there for generations. She was surprised to see it. She had only mentioned it once in passing to Aasrel., “Cornbread salad?” She would have to remember not to mention it to Lachlan. He was very proud of his cornbread salad. The idea sent a bubble of amusement through her. “Thank you, Mrs Izei.”

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

“Aasrel said it was your favourite. I hope you like it, I did my best. The ingredients weren’t easy to import.” Mrs Izei replied. She smiled, “I wanted to make something you’d like, but I encourage you to try what else is here, too. Aasrel has loved that,” she pointed to a dish Aasrel had made Bethany replicate before, “since he was very little.”

~ Izei, CMO

“Oh, I intend to. Aasrel has raved about your cooking. I’m not going to miss out on trying any of it.” And she did. Bethany tried everything. Even if she didn’t like it, she ate what she took. Things she had never had before, she truly enjoyed. One dish triggered memories she didn’t want to deal with, but she praised it all giving an honest and polite opinion if asked. The cornbread salad was nothing like Uncle Lachlan’s, but it was still good, and she gave truthful and honest compliments to Mrs. Izei about it.

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

“Has he? I’m glad to hear it.” She seemed happy about the praise as Bethany tried everything. Aasrel ate plenty, and so did everyone else. There were still some leftovers that Mrs Izei and Keyana started putting away at the end of the meal. Aasrel leaned on Bethany and took her hand. “I’m glad you liked most of it.”

~ Izei, CMO

Bethany laced her fingers with his. “I did. Your mother is an excellent cook. You’ll have to settle for something less spectacular if you hang out with me, Doc,” she teased. She looked at him while he leaned against her. It had been a long day, and they had been in the shuttle for most of it. He hadn’t done any of his exercises yet.

Aasrel looked tired. He smiled though, “I think you’re worth less than stellar cooking.”

Bethany put on her best southern accent, “Why, Mr. Izei, what a delightful thing to say. People might start to tall if they hear you say such things.”

“Co-aur (Uncle)! We have to finish. We might beat Bezi this time,” Aazod said running up to get his attention.

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

Her thoughts that he hadn’t done his exercises reminded him and he scowled. He looked down at his nephew, “Let’s finish quickly, and then I have to do something else.”

~ Izei, CMO

Bethany nudged him, “Take your time. The other thing can wait, hmm.” Aazod didn’t notice the qualification, he just grabbed Aasrel’s hand and dragged him back to the living room.

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

The game took another half hour or so. When it was over, Aasrel returned to Bethany. “That kid has way too much energy.”

~ Izei, CMO

Bethany laughed suddenly. “All children have energy.” Aasrel’s mother came in with Vexi and Keyana. “That they do. I had the three of you at one time. I could never keep up and was always tired.” She grinned, “But I wouldn’t change a moment of it.”

“Come on Aazod. Bath, teeth, pajamas.” Aazod got up and threw his arms around Aasrel. Then his grand parents, aunt, and father before disappearing with his mother.

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

Aasrel gave Bethany a look. “No kids.” He said and grinned. Then he sighed softly, “Alright, let’s do the stretches.”

~ Izei, CMO

Bethany’s eyes went up and down him and she gave him a wicked grin. “Too bad. But if that is how you feel, you’re the doctor. I would think you know how to prevent that.”

Aasrel grinned and elbowed her. “I do what’s necessary to prevent it. But I’m not going to say never in the future, in all seriousness.”

Bethany fanned herself with her hand, as if she was suddenly hot,m but refrained from any further outrageous teasing. She couldn’t hear what Mrs. Izei and Keyana were saying to each other, but their posture and facial expressions said it all.

Bethany set her hands to her thighs and stood up. “Alright, I’ll follow you.”

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

Aasrel led her back to his room and then he sat on the floor.

~ Izei, CMO

Bethany sat down on the floor across from him, stretched to the side and opened Luna’s crate. Then as she reached for his hands to help him stretch she shook her head and teasingly chided him. “Do you see what you’ve done with that comment, Rel. I bet they are in there thinking we’re getting married. Tsk tsk.”

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

Aasrel gave her a playfully serious look, “What, we’re not?” He asked. He took her hands and lay his leg out straight as he started doing his stretches.

~ Izei, CMO

Bethany didn’t say a word. She was shocked speechless. He could tell she was stunned. It was like her brain and her heart couldn’t process and sync up what he said with what she felt but hadn’t admitted. She wasn’t put off, and it wasn’t that Bethany wasn’t completely serious about him. It was that Bethany had learned to never take anything for more than a day, to never even allow herself to want something like that for herself.

She grew up knowing she wasn’t wanted, and being here seemed to make that reality all the more stark. Her life on Betazed had been a fairytale. She was Bezi’s little princess. She was safe and protected and loved. It had all been a lie though. Who would want the broken useless little girl that even a father didn’t want?

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

Aasrel took her hand. “Bethany, I know we’re not ready to have that conversation seriously, but there’s no reason to doubt it’ll happen. I want to be with you. You. Forever.”

~ Izei, CMO

Bethany grinned at him. It was a cover. Aasrel knew her too well, and Bethany knew that he did. “Forever is a long time, Doc. Eventually, you’ll realize how boring I am. But until then I’m all yours.” She winked, but the love and longing was palpable. “Come on, let’s finish. Then you can soak. If there isn’t a tub, I’ll get out the heating pad.”

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

“Boring?” Aasrel smiled at her. “I could think of no less fitting word.” He worked on his stretches as he spoke, “There’s no tub. Hot pad it is.”

~ Izei, CMO