Posted by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Wedding Bells- Neutral Territory

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Faye Calloway (Counter-Intelligence Officer) in Wedding Bells- Neutral Territory

Posted by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Wedding Bells- Neutral Territory

(snip)

“You’re sweet to want to protect them,” Shara teased, though she knew all too well that it would be herself that needed the protection. Her expression shifted, becoming uncertain, something Shara rarely showed in public. But if there was one person she knew she had to let in past the guard wall it was her soon-to-be son-in-law.

“I screwed up, Daggum. I know I should have just called Gavin myself, but… I couldn’t do it. Faye called me on it too. I don’t have a great reason other than it’s been so long and I’ve gotten used to not having to answer to anyone. But so much has changed. I’ve changed, and more than that I want to be different. Better.” She looked up at Hammor, regret in her blue-grey eyes. “For Faye, for Nadine, for you and Micah. And I guess I’ve not been sure Gavin could ever be in that list again. He’s got a lot of reasons to hate me, probably some valid ones too. And now I’m going to introduce him to a niece he never knew about.” She blew out a breath and stared at the forcefield that kept them from the cold harshness of space. “Not for the first time and probably not for the last I’ll say this about that woman you’re about to marry: she’s exceptionally brave. Much braver than I, in many different ways. Especially the ways that count.”

~Shara

Daggum moved slightly and stood next to Shara, looking out in the same direction. Her head was even with his upper arm, and he gently moved so she could lean against him if she wanted. “Everybody screws up, Shara. But it’s not our mistakes that define who we are. It’s how we deal with them. Same goes for your brother. Yeah, he has every right to be pissed. But what does that accomplish? Nothing. It’s a waste of energy. But now we get to see what kind of man your brother really is… Is he gonna take the high road and be open to getting his family back? Or is he just gonna take the easy way and be prick? All these answers and more on the next episode of ‘As The Manny Turns’.” His sentence was punctuated by an alarm in the shuttle bay indicating a vessel had dropped out of warp off in the distance and was on approach. “And looks like that episode starts now… that’s their shuttle, I am guessing.”

Daggum

Shara held her ground but closed her eyes, musing over the fact that her not knowing what kind of man Gavin was was the whole point. They hadn’t seen each other in person in forty-nine years! She knew what his personnel file told her and she could make decent deductions, but the rest was an unknown. She wasn’t used to being vulnerable in public like this, even if it was just them in the shuttlebay just now.

The shuttle settled onto the deck and soon powered down and it wasn’t long before the ramp descended. Shara steadied her breathing, drawing on her years of endless patience during mission after mission. Yes her reflexes were excellent, her ability to make decisions quickly under pressure beyond reproach. But her ability to wait things out had been the one learned skill that had kept her alive year after year. Shara played the long game. The problem was that Gavin hadn’t factored into hers. It was a struggle.

Taking solace of her about-to-be-son’s large and calm presence, Shara breathed deeply. Don’t make us regret this, she cast out into the shuttlebay before remembering that his wife was Betazoid and his daughter an empath. Shit. Oh well. She was who she was.

Gavin stepped out and Shara’s mind wanted to see the twelve year-old she last remembered. It was hard to reconcile that Gavin with the weathered man she saw before her. And yet… his eyes. They were all Gav. Beside him was a striking woman with medium-brown skin and cropped black hair, her black eyes unmistakably Betazoid. And their daughter Lahala was gorgeous.

Shara smiled, looking for the right words as the trio approached. “Welcome to the Manhattan. Our bride-to-be is currently off on an adventure arranged by the groom here and we’ll see her at the ceremony.” She looked up at Dag. “Daggum Hammor, I’d like to introduce you to my brother Gavin Conner, his wife Taleel Quinari and their daughter Lahala.”

Gavin stepped forward and offered his hand to Daggum. “It’s so great to meet you. In the brief conversations I’ve had with Faye recently, I’m become quite excited to meet the person she’s become so happy with. It’s good to see her thriving.”

“That is my husband making an understatement. He of course went full Captain-mode and looked you up,” Taleel said, her eyes warmth and full of mirth. “I’ve learned that in the Conner family, energy put towards someone is considered approval. It’s a good sign.”

OOC: Gavin Conner: https://i.imgur.com/L2Tl57s.jpg
Taleel Quinari: https://i.imgur.com/UroJmMB.png
Lahala Quinari Conner: https://i.imgur.com/aCsfUX4.png

~Shara & Co.