Posted by Lieutenant Alexandra Garfield (Xenobiologist) in First Date..Or Not —8 Years Ago —

Posted by Lieutenant Christopher Robins (Stellar Cartographer) in First Date..Or Not —8 Years Ago —

Posted by Lieutenant Alexandra Garfield (Xenobiologist) in First Date..Or Not —8 Years Ago —
*** Two Hours Later - Robins Apartment ***

A room had never been packed so fast as he heard the door behind him, Ian came in eyes wide at the sight before him. “Did you get an early deployment? I thought we had three months till we both went to the Starbase.” Ian said looking at his roommate with a sense of confusion as he looked around at all the bags of Christopher.

“Change of plan, I asked to go to Memory Alpha, research and… it’s… ” Chris choked back a bit as he held back the smallest of stinging moisture from his eyes. “She didn’t pick me … ” he blurted out as as he choked back as his eyes darted, feeling a sense of vulnerability in this moment. They may have been bros but next to Lexi, Ian was the one person he shared everything with.

“What… what do you mean she didn’t pick you… how could she not pick you? She’s been just as in love with you for years as you have been with her.” Ian replied, feeling like something was missing as he stood looking at Chris with a sense of bewilderment in what his friend was telling him.

“I had the Cafe’ ready… Northstar Cafe’… I …” he paused before telling the story, every moment he felt his heart drop as he retold it it. Somehow telling it didn’t make it any easier.

“Dude… no no no… she… she must not… that’s not our Lexi she would never do that to you.”

“Well… she did… and I am not going to stay here to see her again… I can’t… I won’t.” he said as he looked around the room, explaining the bags in the room. “I got the transfer request approved as quickly as I could, that Captain Calin you so bad mouthed seemed to like me, got me an approval to take me tomorrow from the USS Odin as the drop by supplies. ” Chris paused as he bit his lower lip, he loved Ian like he was one of his brothers. Hell his brothers and Ian has meet several times, they had seen each other in both Louisiana and Australia, the same was true of Lexi and her family. All three became one big happy family over the last four years.

“I’m sorry we are not going to meet up at Starbase 13, I know that was what we wanted… but that… I can’t be here for three months with her as she gets back together with Noah, I can’t get crushed over and over now that I opened those flood gates.” he said, hoping Ian would understand as he waited.

“I… I’m gonna miss you man.” Ian said, that was all he could say. He told Chris to go for it, he got his best friends heart broken tonight. Putting his arms around Chris he gave him a hug and pat on the back before looking around, the apartment was looking much smaller now that all his items had been packed.

“You need help? How are you taking all of this in one go?” Ian asked looking at the four boxes and three bags he had.

“Crewmen from the Odin will load the shuttle up for me, the’ll be by in an hour, I am heading now though… if Lexi comes by… I… just… tell her I’m sorry for misunderstanding.” Chris said as he the solitary tear fall as he tried his best to choke back the emotions as he grabbed the bag and put it around his body. Moving past Ian he patted him one last time on his shoulder, knowing very well this maybe the last time her ever sees any of the two.

Cadet Christopher Robins

*** Ffteen Minutes Later - Robins Apartment ***

“Chris,” Lexi yelled out his name as she entered his quarters. Her volume was loud but her tone cracked as she called out for Robins producing an almost staccato version of his name. It was hard to think right now let alone try to voice what was churning about in her mind. The strained use of his name was the physical manifestation of the turmoil she felt. The past thirty minutes had been an odd mix of regret, happiness, and anger. Three hours ago she, Ian, and Chris had been sitting at a cocktail party thrown by a graduating colleague. Chris had said he would make things right. He said he would get Noah there. He had kissed the side of her head and then left. Lexi then walked into what could easily have been a dinner someone put in enough effort for to propose marriage. Chris however wasn’t there. Noah left her sitting alone and no one was answering a comm call. The only thing she could do was physically search for Chris. Arriving at his quarters, Lexi was dealt a blow she did not need a road map to arrive at. Standing in the middle of his quarters, wearing the dark red dress Chris had picked out last year, her high heels slung over two fingers, Lexi was surrounded by boxes. The site stopped her dead in her tracks as she looked around.

“Chris,” she called out his name again. The boxes and bags stacked neatly against the wall meant only one thing: Chris Robins was shipping out. Walking up to the boxes she ran her fingertips slowly over the top feeling dizzy and sick at the same moment. She knew this moment was coming but Chris told her they had three months. The boxes told a different story. This was going to go down in history as the story of how in one night Alexandra Garfield lost the only two men in the world that made her feel special and loved. Her chest ached as if she had been physically punched hearing no reply or seeing Chris pop out from the bedroom. The physical manifestations of her emotions was getting hard to suppress. Breathing caused her lungs to burn as Lexi fought back the emotions welling up in her. For all his good intentions, Chris had caused her more pain than Lexi ever thought she could feel. Lexi could get over things ending with Noah. What she couldn’t get over was being left like any one of the multitudes of women who entered his life then unceremoniously dropped as if they meant nothing. How could he just run out on her like this? Chris had given her no inclination of what he had thought the night would be and yet now seemed to be ghosting her. Anger was fighting with sadness as she thought about the evening. Why was he not here to talk to explain? When she needed him most, Chris was doing what he always did the second someone admitted they needed him. Chris was cutting and running without a hi, bye, or kiss my arse. The thought that he could run out on her after tonight changed her emotions from sad to furious.

“Christopher David Robins,” Lexi snapped channeling every emotion she felt into a single one as she walked to the only place he could be hiding. Pure anger fueled her as Lexi palmed the door open.

Cadet Lexi Garfield

From the bathroom a small shuffle could be heard as muffled voices seemed to emanate from there. Lexi may have noticed the door shut and the lights on as footsteps seemed to approach as the door swung open. The odds were good she was going to find Chris or Ian step out, but much to her surprise a bath robe laden Kylie exited the room.

“Chri,” Lexi stopped in mid word seeing her friend exit the bathroom. “Kylie,” Lexi looked at her confused.

“Lexi…” Kylie said, it wasn’t uncommon to have her in this apartment as it often was a stomping ground for the five of them, six if Chris had found a flavor of the week. “Chris isn’t here hon…” she said feeling a bit awkward in that moment. Kylie herself was a very close to looks compared to Lexi, dark hair with a smart wit. She was a bit more curvaceous, almost enough to be seen as one of the ‘busty’ bimbos that Lexi often called the women Chris dated yet Kylie was never one to prey on Ian or Chris. She was here to just have fun.

“And you are here why,” Lexi snapped seeing her friend sit down on the couch like she owned the place. To be fair Lexi had occupied the same spot Kylie was in wearing the same thing a hundred different times over the years. Tonight, however, was not a normal night. “You know what never mind. Where is Chris,” she immediately asked her friend.

Moving to the couch Kylie moved her bra and panties that seemed to be litering the living space and quietly put them away. It wasn’t that she was so embarrassed, her and Ian had been much like Lexi and Noah in their on again off again dating. With the couch cleaned, or at least able to be sat on, Kylie sat down with her legs tucked under her feet as to not give too much of a show to Lexi.

“I asked you a question,” Lexi stared at Kylie with a look in her eyes that said depending on the answer she would rip her friend apart or grab a box of kleenex and sob her heart out. Watching her so casually move about her intimates with a relaxed, calm, confidence sent Lexi over the edge. “Don’t just sit there. Answer me!” Lexi’s hurt and anger was clearly evident in her voice. Her breath was labored making her chest heave as she stood in the middle of the room. Chris might have jettisoned Lexi from his life but that didn’t mean Ian and Kylie had to toss her out without a word otherwise.

“Lex, I think,” Kylie started to speak before Lexi shut her down.

“Don’t think. Just answer me. I need to talk to him. He isn’t answering his comm. Where is he? Who is he out with? Ian? Sierra? I don’t care I just need to talk to him,” Lexi could feel her voice getting louder as she went from speaking to almost yelling at her long-time friend.

“Calm down doll.” came the next voice as the other voice from the bathroom emerged, Ian took held a matching bathrobe as he looked over at Lexi. His dark brown hair wet with his unkempt bearded look as he took a deep breath as he looked his friend up and down. He knew this dress, it was a special one, Chris picked it out. He had to wonder if she wore this how on Earth it seemed to end so badly.

Lexi’s head snapped around seeing Ian. Her heart sank realizing that her secret hope was that Ian and Chris were holed up in some dive bar. At least in that scenario someone was with Chris that she trusted.

“Would you like something to drink? Scotch? Rum? Vodka… we still have some right?” he said looking over at Kylie as she shook her head.

“You did shots off of my… uhmmm you did shots” Kylie said with a small blush as she adverted her gaze from them. but the rum and scotch is still here, and some beer… always have beer.” Kylie said as she pointed to the liquor cabinet and fridge area, which seemed an oddity in this day and age but the boys seemed to love throw back technology.

“Stop it. It’s not funny,” Lexi yelled ending the playful banter between Kylie and Ian. “This isn’t joke time. Where is Chris? I can’t find him and he won’t respond to me.” Through all the anger and sadness, anxiety was beginning to creep in also after seeing the boxes. No one had to tell her but Lexi was starting to feel the weight of time bearing down on her. Seeing Ian’s pants on the floor, Lexi picked them up searching the pockets. It only took her a second to find what she was looking for. “Call him,” Lexi walked over to Ian holding out his personal communicator. “Call him on your personal communicator because he is not answering me. Just get him on the line or tell me where he is because I need to talk to him.” Lexi’s tone was firm and on the verge of snapping into hysterics. She needed Ian to do this for her to hold it together. “If you don’t I will spend all night looking for him. You can make it a hell of a lot easier on me so call him,” Lexi shook the phone for emphasis. “Please.”

“Come on get a drink and just give us two minutes to get dressed okay? You know this is still your place always.” Ian said as he offered a hand for Kylie to help her off the couch as he walked her back to his room, grabbing clothes and undergarments along the way.

“I don’t know if I can,” Lexi admitted putting on her shoes. “I need to find him. If you aren’t going to help me fine but I am not going to just sit out here Ian.” Lexi fumbled with the straps until she spied Kylie’s boots on the floor. Dropping her heels, she bent over and began to pull them on. Walking in heels was not something one did for long distances. Kylie was only going home or staying here all night. Lexi would return the boots in the morning.

Moments passed as Kylie exited fully clothed as she stood at the door. Seeing Lexi she smiled that akward smile you did when you knew all things were falling apart for someone. “It’ll be okay, just… I don’t really have an answer.” she confessed as she heard steps behind her as Ian began to walk out. Pants on he still had no shirt, his always seem to have that perfect abs and pecs as he was in mid shirt pull over his head as he flattened the t shirt down.

“I’ll call you later.” he said as he came over to Kylie as he kissed her cheek before she left from the room, leaving just the two musketeers.

“So… Chris isn’t here, I am sure you pieced all that together by now.” Ian began as he walked over to the liquor grabbing the bottle of rum and two glasses. “One of your favorites if I am not mistaken?” he said as he looked back at her as he came around the table. He couldn’t help but wonder to himself just how he got in this situation, stuck between two of his best friends being some mediator of love. If he knew Aedan Teller he would pitch that as a show idea to OMAP, but right now perhaps it didn’t come off as such an appealing concept to him.

Ian Bordeaux

“Where is he,” Lexi’s voice carried the thick weight of desperation. “I have wasted enough time dorking around with you Bordeaux. I don’t want a drink. I don’t want to calm down. I want Chris,” she said feeling all the tension of the night break her. “I just want Chris.” Lexi’s voice broke as she felt the first tears start to fill her eyes. Tonight had been a disaster from the moment it started and she had nowhere to go to find shelter.

Cadet Lexi Garfield

“I said sit down Garfield.” Ian said, his tone had suddenly come a bit cold. It was the tone of a parent ready to discipline their kids. Right now two of his closest friends had placed him a place he never felt he would need to be in. He already saw Chris walk out, with what seemed might be for the rest of their lives. He didn’t need to see another friend running around chasing ghosts of what might have been.

Pouring the drinks he slide one over to her chair as he pointed for her to sit, it was clear Ian was not going to take no for an answer. He had to admit he wasn’t feeling a lot of brotherly love towards his friend Chris for forcing this upon him. He should have been here, he owed her that much. She may have picked Noah over him, but she didn’t deserve this right now.

Lexi always trusted Ian. She listened to him usually without question only tonight every instinct told her to walk out the door and ignore him. Glancing at the door, she weighed the pro’s and con’s of obeying Ian’s order. The pro’s flashed like a spinning wheel in her mind: she could find out where Chris was, Ian was going to explain what his best friend had been thinking, and Lexi would have an unbiased sounding board for the first time tonight. The cons were more like a billboard advertisement with a single message that read you have no idea where to go so you will have no direction to head for answers. Reluctantly, Lexi moved across the room and pulled back a chair to the small dining table. Even this very act was breaking her in ways she never imagined. So many nights had been spent over this table playing cards or struggling with math concepts. The once happy and vibrant apartment now felt like a mausoleum of old memories that would never live again. “Okay, I am sitting. Where is he, Ian,” she blinked back tears that were burning her eyes. She worked hard not to let them fall. Crying never solved anything. Crying was only what one did when there was no hope. As long as Ian was here there was hope so she hyperfocused on the dark-haired man across from her.

“You look beautiful, he loved that dress…” was all Ian said at first as he took a slow swig of the rum before breathing in deeply.

“Apparently not enough to see it,” she cleared her throat after speaking. Talking was hard almost too hard. Until this moment Alexandra Garfield hadn’t had a moment where she could not confide in Ian. Looking at the slow way he was nursing his drink told Lexi, Ian might not have all the answers she would need. The Ian sitting with her was not the gregarious friend who had an answer for anything. In a way, Bordeaux was a reflection of herself. Ian was angry. Ian was frustrated. Ian seemed lost.

“You know he isn’t here… and you’re not gonna catch him anytime soon I feel. So… how about we start from the beginning… you tell me your story. There is always two halves to each tale, and somewhere in the middle the truth… I am here to help you find that truth doll.” he said reaching over as he placed his hand on top of hers as he gave her a small squeeze to try and calm and reassure her.

Ian Bordeaux

His touch caused all her barriers to collapse. The tears she had been holding back spilled over her lashes running down her cheeks. It was not a hysterical sobbing that would have matched her demeanor a few minutes before. This was the slow cry of a person who had given up and was processing the consequences of the actions that led them to this moment. Reaching up to her nose, Lexi rubbed it with the back of her hand catching a tear and preventing her nose from running. “Why did he do this to me,” she managed to eventually say followed up with a deep ah sound to fill the silence after her question as she wiped the next series of tears from her eyes. “He took me to dinner a million times but not like tonight,” she looked up still blinking rapidly. Sniffing back her nose she cleared her throat again. “Tonight he went all out. The food, the music, hell the name of the god darned name of the restaurant was the Northstar Cafe,” she used the base of her palms to push the tears both back into her eyes and off her face. Lexi was not going to get answers from Chris. That was obvious. Ian was the only hope she had. Lexi had to keep things together until she had her answers.

“I have spent the past two hours going over every....single....detail,” Lexi confessed. “I have replayed every word we spoke between deciding to go out for dinner and me leaving the party, Ian. Yes, hindsight is twenty-twenty but Chris threw me a pop fly into deep centerfield and I had no idea I was in the game.” Taking a moment, Lexi rested her elbows on the table and her face on her hands. Her palms were instantly slick with tears as Lexi worked to regain control of her emotions. She could not lose control of them now. If she opened the emotional floodgates, Lexi would shut down. Nothing Ian would say would get past the soul-crushing sadness that wracked her body so Lexi swiped her eyes with her fingertips hard as she lifted her face. Her nose was running like she had a cold. Reaching out to her right, Lexi pulled the coat that was draped on the chair next to her and wiped her nose with the sleeve.

“Hey! Kylie bought that for me, get your own you have a shirt.” Ian retorted as he pulled the coat away from her and threw it behind them on the couch.

“Shut up you can wash it,” she let out a warbly laugh grateful for the split second of levity Ian’s jacket provided to the situation. Using the sleeve, Alexandra blotted the sides of her nose. Giving Ian a watery smile Lexi sighed as she leaned back in the chair. This was not the first time Lexi had to wear a smile when she felt broken. Taking a sip of her drink, Lexi continued telling Ian about the events of the evening. “Chris told me we were going out to dinner. He also said that Noah was going to come to his senses, that Noah would realize how amazing I am and take me back. Turns out Chris took care of all the details alright.” Throwing back the drink Ian gave her, Lexi winced and shook her head forcng the swallow down. “Chris let Noah use a restaurant full of everything that I loved about Chris and me to visually point out why he could never be with me.” Lexi snatched Ian’s drink and polished it off in one large gulp before she started speaking again. She needed more to drink to quell the emotions returning along with a lump in her throat as she began to speak. Spying the bottle she forwent the glass and pressed it to her lips. Gulping down a huge swallow, Lexi focused on the burning of her mouth and throat so that she could continue to explain the night.

“Chris let Noah? Hon… I mean… what? Chris was asking you out. I told him to ask you out for Christ sake. You two deserve the happiness I see you give each other.” Ian said, confused as to what on Earth she could mean about making the restaurant for Noah to use.

“Ian, I know what was supposed to happen at that restaurant but god as my witness I never saw it coming. He said it was going to be our first official date but what guy doesn’t pick you up for your first date. Chris sent me directions and expected me to show up by myself, ” she could feel anger starting to surface again. Someone had to take the blame. If Chris was going to hide from her then Lexi would assign part of the blame for the failed evening on him. “That is fine a month in but hell he picked up every Bambi, Candy, and Wendy on this campus for four years when he took them on a date. He only ever told me where to meet him for pizza or pasta or lunch. The only time we went together to a resturant was if we were together at the time. Chris was always a gentleman to every faceless stranger. Even when he picked them up at last call from a bar he made sure they got where they needed after but he couldn’t pick me up?” Lexi’s look demanded an answer from Ian if she could not get one from Chris. “If tonight was so special why didn’t he pick me up or even wait outside.” Fresh tears exploded from her eyes. Lexi no longer cared if Ian saw phyically how she felt inside.

“Hon, did you never hear of theatrics doll? That name… Northstar… it alone should have rung some bell for you. Besides he was there, he picked out every detail of that place it was not cheap.” Ian said as he poured himself a drink as he let it slide down as it burned ever so slightly.

Tilting the bottle she gulped several large sips of the rum. The only thing that was going to fix tonight was one heck of a hangover tomorrow morning. It would help explain why she looked the way she did come dawn so Lexi gulped the drink like it was water desperate to find the amount of booze that would numb the sensations she felt.

“There was no one there Ian. I was standing on some street corner outside the place for about three minutes before Noah showed.” Pulling the jacket to her face, Lexi rubbed her eyes hard trying to stop the onslaught of tears that were now streaming down her face. “Noah showed and that was always Chris’ job,” she half yelled stabbing the table with a finger. “What was I supposed to think? I had no idea until I walked in and even then Chris never showed so was this some sick joke? Why would he go to so much effort and not pick me up or speak to me about the night? Why would be let me stand outside and let another man walk me into the dinner that he planned every detail for? You know the worst part,” she let the question hang in the air.

“See this is what I don’t get… why did Noah show up? Chris just wanted to make your first date magical beyond belief and you came with Noah?” this was a part Ian didn’t understand, she seemed just as in love with Chris as he was with her. Yet despite him saying it was a date, come alone, Northstar Cafe’, she still asked Noah to come.

“Well, I,” Lexi stuttered trying to find the words to give Ian his answer. She swallowed hard attempting to remove the lump forming in her throat. “I didn’t come with Noah,” Lexi emphasized the word that mattered the most in the sentence. “He… met....me there,” she looked away from Ian as she spoke raking her bottom lip with her top teeth. Staring at a spot on the wall, Lexi zoned out. Once action had resulted in a chain of events that set the night down the path it took. Starfleet taught its officers to look for the point of failure in any situation. This was so that they knew where to backtrack to set things on the right course. Tonight’s point of failure was Lexi making the call to Noah. She could run a thousand what-if scenarios but if she hadn’t made that call none of this would have happened.

“Because I didn’t want to look like an idiot. I didn’t want to show up in his favorite dress after being left by my boyfriend of four years and watch him dote on the girl of the hour to cheer me up. Yes he said it was a date but he also said he would get Noah there. I didn’t want to be in the position,” she stopped speaking immediately. The rest of the sentence was too damning.

“That you put him in,” Ian asked.

Lexi nodded and shrugged at the same time not wanting to fully commit to an answer. It had never been her intention to make Chris feel less as she did but it was also paramount that she didn’t get hurt again. Alexandra Garfield might not have been in love with Noah Stein but that didn’t mean she didn’t love him. Losing him was hard. She couldn’t take the chance of losing Chris also if things did not work out in the dating zone as it had in the friend zone. The silence filled the room creating an uneasy vibe between her and Bordeaux. Lexi could not take the silence any longer. Clearing her throat she started again.

“I have no idea if I should be mad or apologizing to him. I have no proof besides all the stuff Noah filled my head with about tonight. I could have asked Chris all these things but he took off. What if I am reading into all this? Is he going to strut into the room with some girl on his arm and I look like a jackarse sitting at his table,” her voice was full of venom as she gestured to the door, “crying over him? If I am so important why won’t he pick up the comm?” As the next round of tears sprung from her eyes, Lexi’s tone became pleading. “Why won’t he pick up the comm Ian?” Whether Ian had an answer or not didn’t make a lick of difference. Chris wasn’t here and wasn’t going to be. Putting her head down on her arms, Alexandra Garfield began to sob not caring who was there.

Cadet Lexi Garfeild

“Proof… sweet summer child how dumb are you. Ever since you got trapped in that mountain… he told me you know… I think that was the first time he could ever put to words what he felt for you.” Ian said as he thought about this all. For four years everyone could see the pair fawn over each other. It maybe have been two years ago Chris finally figured out what his heart was telling him for Lexi but it wasn’t like the pair hadn’t tiptoed around the pool for their entire collegiate career.

“But why is it all on me now,” she blurted out to Ian. Her eyes were red-rimmed and starting to take on that swollen aspect. Only an hour in and not even in that good cry stage meant Lexi was going to look like someone had died in three hours as the sun came up.

Looking at her he couldn’t help but shake his head, he knew she wasn’t dumb but he couldn’t fathom how these pieces didn’t click. Yes he may not have done it all right and proper but they were all there to put together. “That man has loved you since the day he meet you, and that almost kiss in that cave… with you two freezing your asses off thinking life was gonna end till they barged in to rescue you, that started his self-awareness. Trust me though he was in love far before that cave, he too was dumb but he caught on quicker.”

Ian’s words offered Lexi no comfort. She also learned another important lesson tonight. Three was a perfect number when things were going well but the minute things went south three changed from a musketeer to a wheel. Right now Ian was definitely siding with his best friend.

“Look, he loves you more than anything. He thought you came to a date with Noah and left, broken-hearted cause you couldn’t read the signs. He couldn’t stay here, not any longer. Three months of what he thought was going to be you and Noah back together after he put himself out there. This is the very thing he feared so much in admitting he loved you was losing you as a friend and now… well looks like that happened.” Ian wasn’t going easy on her right now, and frankly, she needed to hear the harsh truths. He couldn’t fathom how someone could be as smart as she was and miss every single sign.

“And my life is not in shambles,” Lexi spat out the words as if they were a bad taste in her mouth. “He’s broken-hearted? I lost Noah because of him. Noah would have given me the world. I could have settled into a happy life but now I don’t even have that. I don’t care if he was scared. Do you know how hard it was for me to sit back and watch the parade of women waltz in and out of his life not giving two shots about what he needed? Chris is as hot as hell. He is charming and witty and makes everyone feel good when they are around him. How easy do you think it was to sit there Ian and let him talk up his flavor of the week when I knew those women were not in it for even a chance at the long haul. Do you have any idea how many times I was willing to toss Noah aside just for one night with Chris.” Lexi knew how her words sounded and how it made her look but she was at rock bottom and didn’t care. “That night in the cave I gave him every signal I was willing except ripping my clothes off in front of him. Maybe if the people were five minutes later finding us you and I would not be having this conversation right now but they did.” Lexi let her regret consume her. Her body shook as wave after wave of tears streamed down her cheeks. There was so much history between Lexi and Chris for a couple that had never dated.

“I gave him everything for four years. Maybe not the bumping uglies kinda everything but he had my heart, soul, and attention yet it wasn’t enough. Chris may have wanted the carnal basics from them but they also just wanted him to fill a need? Some wanted to say they were his girlfriend. Other were looking for no more than a roll in the sheets but not one of those women cared to ask what he needed. I did. I asked every day and got the same response. It didn’t matter because he was not looking for anything long term. Chris is a big boy. He had a million chances to act on what he was feeling. I hate that he is putting this all on me. I don’t care that he was scared. I care that he just walked out,” Lexi wiped the tears from her eyes.

“He never left just you doll, we were going to go to the same posting keep the bromance going. I have had a few friends back at the ranch like Chris but we clicked in an odd way. I can’t really explain it, but I can tell you I understand that hurt. He didn’t just leave you. I can’t predict what Chris is going to do… lord I knew what was in his mind.” Ian said as he paused a second, he remembered when Chris and him first meet. It wasn’t perfect sailing right off the bat. Chris had a cavalier nature, as did Ian but Chris didn’t seem to care when to display it. His filter seemed to be broken, insulting professors and Klingons and whoever he felt need to be taking down a peg.

In many ways this made for a perfect mixture between the two, Ian was a diplomat with command track training. He knew how to talk anyone into anything. Chris had a knack for this as well, but most often it lead to women sleeping with him or drunken escapades with an Orion and Tellarite on Risa. Still Ian learned to loosen up over the years, Chris had a way of making things not seem so serious.

“He did want me to tell you something, he was sorry for the misunderstanding. I am not sure where he is getting deployed at, the USS Odin is picking him up but… he did leave you something.” Ian said as he got up and moved into his bedroom where he has stored the item. As he came back there was a large rectangular item in brown paper wrapped up with an aquamarine bow on top.

“I will be in my bedroom doll, let you mull over whatever he left you. If you want to talk about whatever is when it’s over, just come in.” he said as he pulled his arms around her from the back of her chair as he gave her a tight embrace before kissing her cheek as he made his way to his room, leaving the door open and the light on bright so she could see it from the corner of her eye. In many ways it was a beacon for her, if she needed him after whatever Chris left her he would most certainly be by her side

As Lexi would open the package that lay before her, she would find it was an oak framed painting of blue hues across a star-filled night sky over a lake. The brightest star seemed to shimmer above the lake which held two people in a boat as the paddled across. At the bottom a small placard would be find that read ‘Northstar Nights - Christopher Robins’. Lexi would recall the extra curriculum classes Chris and Ian had taking one semester for painting last year. It was a silly course they had done to fill their quota for that semester. Chris had always been very secretive of his final project, not once letting Lexi see it.

When Lexi turned the picture on it’s back she would find a small note written and pinned behind, it’s hand written unmistakably Chris’s as it simply said Lexi on the envelope. As she would tear open the letter the ink would shine back dark and blue to her, he knew she hated black ink. Chris also told Lexi if you need to tell someone something, always write it out, it’ll mean more.

Dear Lexi,

As you read this you may feel confused or angry even. I am sorry first and foremost for leaving like this, I wasn’t sure how else to do this. I am happy beyond words you and Noah could make things work out, and I hope my mistake didn’t cause any further harm between you two. I don’t know why I didn’t say these words to you sooner, maybe it is cowardice, or fear of rejection. Either way it is clear to me that you don’t feel the same way I do. I haven’t known I loved you forever, but I do indeed love you. I wish I could have said that directly to you, and you back to me but it is clear that sense of romantic love is one sided. I left tonight early for my deployment cause I simply couldn’t watch the one person I can see myself living forever with planning her life with someone else. Just remember, I will always love you and while I take this time to heal I will always be your Northstar. Sadly for myself, I am not it seems guiding you two me as I hoped, but as long as you are happy in your life I can be happy and satisfied that I lead you to your happiness. Be safe, and be loved my beautiful Lexi, and know that I will never forget the times we shared or the memories we made.

~Christopher David Robins

Ian quietly got from his desk as he crept to his doorway, he made it so he could lean against the archway and see Lexi but tried to keep his pretense to a minimum. He wasn’t about to let his eyes off her, not with her having as much as she had to drink. He couldn’t deny he was feeling a bit tipsy himself.

Ian Bordeaux