Posted by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Counselor’s Quarters - Picnic and Stars

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Zef Rollo (Counselor) in Counselor’s Quarters - Picnic and Stars

Posted by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Counselor’s Quarters - Picnic and Stars
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻
It had been a long couple of weeks. Between work and unexpected situations and the random alert here and there, Alex realized that he hadn’t actually been able to spend time with Zef in a while. Not that hadn’t seen each other, but it was either in passing or when one arrived at night and they were both just exhausted and simply fell asleep with little really meaningful interaction.

So, in order to make up for time lost, he had come up with an idea. First, he checked their respective calendars. They were both free that night and she was, according to the computer, in her quarters. Alex went to his, changed into a nice pair of faded gray jeans and a dark blue shirt with a v-neck, combed his hair, put on a touch of cologne, and picked up the picnic basket he replicated that afternoon. Chef Harv had provided some food and Alex the wine… and off he went.

It wasn’t more than a few minutes before he stood at Zef’s door, basket in hand, and pressed the chime.

Alex

She’d been home long enough to get a shower, wash her hair and change into a sky blue Komak with silver beads sewn onto it. A matching belt cinched in her waist, but her feet were bare.

Headed toward her desk to see if maybe she and Alex were both free, the chime sounded and caused her to change directions. “Please don’t be an emergency…” Zef whispered as she sidled up to the door.

When it slid open, Alex was standing there and she couldn’t stop herself from melting into him and planting a lengthy kiss on his lips. “You’re just the person I was hoping to see tonight!” Voice a little breathy from an immediate rush of desire, Zef took a step backward and pulled him inside with her.

—Zef

Alex smiled as she kissed him and kissed her back, wrapping an arm around her as they half-stepped, half-stumbled into her quarters. “Same here. It seems like it’s been ages. But tonight! Tonight is you and I… some finger foods… some wine… and a special treat.” and he patted the basket. “And if you ask very nicely, maybe I will stay the night.” and he winked at her and then smiled. “Or maybe if I beg just right you will let me…” and he pulled her to him and kissed her long and deep.

Alex

Zef laughed with pleasure. “You know, I was just headed to my console to see if you were free when the chime sounded. Great minds think alike, don’t they?” Cradling Alex’s face between her hands, “As much as I love to watch you sleep, it’s nice to see you awake for a change.” They moved further into the room where Zef began tossing pillows into a large pile up against the couch where they could lounge. “Do I need to get anything to help with what’s in the basket?”

—Zef

“Just make some room on the floor, my dear… this basket comes fully stocked.” and he opened the container and pulled out a beautiful blue and white checkered blanket. He threw it open and let it slowly settle to the floor, and then said “You get us comfortable, and I’ll get our picnic set up.” and he gave her a wink and turned back to the basket; from which the sounds of glass tinkling could be heard.

Alex

Moving around on her knees, Zef straightened the blankets and spread the edges beneath the ring of pillows she’d arranged. By the time she was through, there was a flat circle in the center, surrounded by a donut of cushions all around. She made herself comfortable a little distance from where Alex was doing the unpacking, making the appropriate noises, ‘mmms and ooohs’ as he revealed each component from the container. When she could, she reached out and let a hand caress his backside or a thigh, not to distract him, but to comfort herself. It had been a while since they’d spent any cozy time together. “This all looks delicious—the basket ingredients look good too.”

===Zef

Alex smiled and as her hand touched him, he pressed gently into it.

“So… we have a charcuterie plate with some various meats and cheeses. Dark bread and butter. Chef made fresh berry jam from those plants we sampled last stop… don’t worry, already cleared by Science and Medical as safe for consumption.” and he winked at her. “Then salmon mousse and cream cheese. Fresh vegetables from the mad greenhouse garden we have going, and finally… knowing your proclivities in such things… steak tartare. I swear, I think Harv has some kind of worm hole in his kitchen. How he makes this stuff is beyond me. Oh, and of course…” and he reached in and at last pulled out two bottles. “Wine. Selected by yours truly. Unless you hate it, in which case Harv picked it.” and he laughed as they sat and got comfortable together on the cushions.

Alex

She was impressed with the fare he’d produced from the basket. What a treasure trove of edible wonders. “It all looks exceptionally well thought out and tasty, but let me just soak up a little of you first.” Zef snuggled close, tucking her body in close to his, wrapping one bare leg around his and working her face into the crook of his neck. “I know you think its silly, but I just need a minute to absorb some of your essence. It’s been a tough week and I draw emotional strength from being this close to you.”

Alex pulled her close and made sure as much of her contacted him as was possible. “Not silly at all, love. I get the same recharge from you.”

There hadn’t been many people in her life who gave her a similar comfort, but there were a few. Her mother was one. Even as a grown woman, when she’d put her head on her mother’s knee and the woman had stroked her daughters hair, Zef felt comforted in a special way. It was like being empty—drained, and the focus of her mother had filled her up once again. It was the same with Alex, but Zef didn’t want to think too deeply about what that meant.

—Zef

“I knew I had, but I didn’t realize how much I have been missing you.” He looked down at her head and smiled. “You really watch me sleep?”

Alex

Tilting her head back enough to catch his gaze, Zef winked. “Sometimes. It’s special…everything is quiet and there’s no one else around. It’s just the two of us and you’re totally relaxed. I don’t see you like that very often. You’re always in command on the bridge or in charge of a meeting…leading an away team. You don’t have the luxury of letting your guard down while on duty. But here? I love to see you so at peace.”

Stealing another quick kiss, Zef sat up and curled her legs beneath her, the Komak parting to to reveal a smooth, pale thigh.

—Zef

Eyes roaming the exposed skin, Alex smiled and sighed softly. “You know… I think I have slept better with you next to me than I have in… hell, years. And I know that the nights we haven’t been together… I don’t wake with the same… peacefulness. So I guess I owe you a thank you for that.”

Alex

It made her heart feel good when he admitted he slept better with her in his bed, but Zef didn’t allow herself to read anything more into it. “Well, I have to admit that I’m very happy sleeping next to you. I have bad dreams sometimes when I’m alone, but it doesn’t happen when you’re there.” It was true. Occasionally, by the time she got to bed, Zef had worked herself into a state about some part of her life and bad dreams appeared once she slipped off to dreamland.

Picking up a chunk of cheese from the plate near them, she held it close to his mouth, offering it up. “Are you going to pour some of that wine anytime soon?”

—Zef

He took the offered bite and said “I would, but you keep distracting me with cheese and thighs.” and he winked at her and leaned forward and poured two glasses, handing one to her. Leaning back, he scooped up some of the tartar on a piece of flat bread and held it out to her, taking another for himself. “I’m glad I help you feel at peace, I really do. You know… at some point I would like to travel with you. Not like here -” and he waved at the general ship they lived on, “- but for fun and relaxation. I think you can really get to know someone when you travel somewhere neither of you have ever been.”

Alex

Zef leaned forward and took the bite from his fingers, nipping the tip of one on purpose, then helped herself to one of the glasses and ‘mmmed’ as she swallowed the beverage. “You always have the best alcohol. I haven’t figured out how you keep your wine cellar stocked, but I’m very appreciative of it nonetheless.” Experimentally, the counselor dabbed the tip of a finger into the jam and lifted it to her lips. The tip of her tongue peeked out and tasted the sweet concoction resulting in a smile. “Oh, that’s lovely! Harv is some kind of wizard isn’t he, from a magical planet you won’t tell anyone about?”

Alex laughed and almost choked on the food in his mouth, but drank some wine and just shook his head. “Someday I’ll tell you about him. It’s… quite the story. But until then… let’s go with wizard from Magic Planet.” and he laughed again.

“So, if we did go on a trip together you’ve already told me you like the snow. Would that kind of setting be important for you?”

—Zef

Alex looked at her, his head tilted slightly to the side, and his ice-blue eyes staring into hers. “As long as I was with you Zef, nothing would be more important.” and he reached out and took her hand and pulled it to his chest; his eyes never leaving hers.

Alex

She leaned in and kissed him deeply. “Don’t you ever get tired of giving me the perfect answer?” Her smile was a little shy. It had been quite the declaration from Alex and in truth, surprised her with the depth of feeling. As far as she knew, they were still in the relationship for the comfort and company they could give each other. Neither one had stated they wanted something deep and meaningful, but it might be headed that way—which was something she’d need to think about later on.

Zef adjusted her position so she could get to the food again and tore off a hunk of the dark bread, buttering it and loading a thick coating of jam on it. Taking the first bite, she held it out to Alex to see if he wanted to try it while she chased her bite with the rest of wine in her glass. “I love it when we actually have time alone together. I feel…
seen.” Her head tipped to the side. “Does that make sense?”

—Zef

Alex declined the bread and picked up some more of the tartare, but he nodded and said “It does. I think most of the time, with your job, you are more of a reflective surface for the crew. A way for them to see themselves. Like a mirror. Most people don’t think of the mirror as an entity… they just think of what they see in it. But here, you aren’t a mirror. You are you… and I see you, Zef. And I like what I see more and more.” and he took a bite and made a silly face at her while he chewed.

Alex

She held her empty glass up and wiggled it for a refill. “You know, I think that’s the best description I’ve ever heard about what it’s like to be a counselor. Even I hadn’t likened it to being a reflection in a mirror, so kudos to you for understanding me so well.”

Alex smiled and poured the wine, then ate the rest of his bite.

Another bite of the bread and jam led to a thought filled question. “Do you ever wonder what your life would be like if you’d chosen a different path? Where do you think you’d be if Starfleet hadn’t enticed you to join?”

—Zef

Alex chewed slowly and thought for a moment. “Well… if my mother had her way I would have been an athlete. Figure skating to be exact. And while I enjoyed it as a way to relax, I hated training in it for real. My father just wants us kids to be happy, so no pressure there. But if it was solely up to me and I could do something other than this? Music. I would play in the symphony, I think. Or maybe a band. But definitely music. That being said… this has always been my passion, what I wanted to do. Even as a little boy I would stare at the stars for hours and wonder what was out there. But if this wasn’t an option, I would play music.” and he leaned back and sipped his wine.

“What about you? What would you do if you weren’t a Counselor?”

Cochrane, CO

She could see him being a professional musician. The array of musical instruments in his quarters attested to how much he loved playing, and picturing him in a tuxedo, seated at a grand piano on stage and giving a concert, was enough to make her breath come a little faster.

Zef got into a lounging position propped up on one elbow and looked thoughtful for a moment. “An artist and a mom. I’d like to have my own gallery and three or four children running around.”

—Zef

Alex smiled at the thought of Zef having a show and having to wrangle some pale-skinned hellions from touching the art. “What kind of gallery? For your own sculpting, or to showcase others? Oh, and keep talking. I forgot something.” and he moved to the basket and rustled around in it.

“Probably both. If I had an actual studio, I’d probably work on some larger pieces although I haven’t made anything over a couple of inches in at least ten years. But its fun to think about.”

Soon he leaned back and turned and went back to his position on the cushions. Leaning forward, he sat a small black device with a domed top on the floor in front of them. He said =/\= Computer, lights off. =/\= and the room went dark, the only light form the streaks of the stars as they warped through space. He pressed a button and the device began to glow softly…

“What’s this…?” She wondered if it was going to add the warmth of candlelight to their picnic.

And then it activated fully.

Suddenly, they were sitting amongst the stars; floating in space. Before them were two planets, easily recognizable to the two of them. Earth on one side, Baj on the other, slowly rotating around each other in a sea of stars.

“It may not be home… but you can see from it here.”Alex said softly and put his arm around her.

Alex

Zef leaned forward and wrapped one arm around her knees, the other hand fell to his thigh in a caress. “Alex, its beautiful! Our worlds together—just like us.”

—Zef

Alex smiled in the darkness. “Zef… you have had an impact on me I didn’t expect. But I am very glad you did. I feel more… no… less… adrift when you are around. Like I have been given back something I lost without realizing it. I spent so long being an officer… I forgot what it felt like to just be a man… to just be me. And I credit you for that, and that means more to me than you know. So… thank you. I may not get the chance often to say that, but know that I feel it every moment we get together.” and he leaned forward and kissed her.

Alex

His declaration threw her off guard a little. What a wonderfully intimate thought to share with her. And to give her the credit for making him feel like a man instead of an officer? Well, it was pretty heady stuff. Zef responded to the kiss with unspoken emotions of her own, turning her body towards his and sliding a bare leg up over Alex’s lap. The thought flitted through her mind that one of the reasons they were always so ready to make love was because it allowed them to be physically joined without making any declarations that alluded to a promised future together.

Giving herself a mental shake to dispel the whisper of self analysis, Zef focused on the memory of Alex’s naked body, stretched over the sheets of her bed the last time he was over, and began working to make it happen again.

—Zef

Alex responded with a soft groan and pulled her fully to him, his hands sliding over her exposed skin and then finding purchase on the back of her upper thighs. He leaned forward and moved to his feet, wrapping her legs around him and moving her to the bedroom as he tried to both hold her up and shed the clothes he wore. As they moved through the door, he elbowed the control panel to slide the door closed.

-----‐---------------------------------------------------

A few hours later, Alex lay with Zef’s leg and arm draped over him and he smiled in the darkness. “You know, if I didn’t know better, I’d say you like me Counselor.” and he chuckled.

Alex

Zef’s head moved on his shoulder as she spoke. “I’m sure this won’t come as a big surprise, Captain, but I DO like you. In fact, I like you very much.” Reaching up, she gathered her hair and tossed it above her head where it draped over Alex’s shoulder and pooled on the pillow. The cool air of the room was now able to caress the perspiration on her neck and shoulders.

A sudden thought made her change the subject. “Why do we always try to eat first?” There was humor in her voice. “We never seem to make it through the meal…”

—Zef