Posted by Captain Kelly Bordeaux (Commanding Officer) in Two Weddings and a Honeymoon

Posted by Lieutenant Christopher Robins (Stellar Cartographer) in Two Weddings and a Honeymoon

Posted by Captain Kelly Bordeaux (Commanding Officer) in Two Weddings and a Honeymoon
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻

<snip

NEXT MORNING 24 hours before the wedding

“Ruth I am not in the mood,” Lexi said firmly as she tried to press the squirming baby into the curve of the stroller. “We have a lot to do and I don’t have time to fiddle-faddle with you. Now sit back.” Like with all kids, some days were good and some days not so good. Today was one of those days. A week of being off schedule was taking its toll. After yesterday’s tantrum at the police station, Ruth seemed extra grumpy and irritable. Placing one hand on Ruth’s tummy, Lexi finally secured the straps to hold her in and began to walk towards the door.

I wanna watch Rover’s Rangers, she stuck her foot out to the side so that it caught the door frame. With her foot out, Lexi could not maneuver the stroller out the door without bending or twisting ruth’s foot. He was using the fireman’s house to put the fire out in the grumpy bird’s treehouse, she moaned pushing hard so that the stroller was slightly caddy corner to the exit. Groaning, Lexi pulled the stroller back into the hotel room so that she could adjust Ruth’s foot. Okay so it’s on the…wait stop Ruth glared at her mom realizing they were not going back to the bed to watch the show but still out the door. As soon as Ruth was able, she swung her leg out the side again stalling the forward progress. A loud moan by Lexi made Ruth lock her leg so that the stroller did not move any farther forward.

“I swear if you don’t move your foot,” Lexi said firmly deciding to try and reach forward over the top of the stroller instead of going backward to extricate Ruth’s foot. While this did remove the tiny toes from the spot on the jamb, the leaning motion caused Lexi’s purse and diaper bag to slide forward emptying the contents onto the hallway further preventing the stroller from moving forward.

I will move my foot when we watch Rover rescue the bird, Ruth demanded.

“Ugh,” Lexi felt her patience slipping away as Ruth babbled in what could only seem like a pissy baby tone. ” I swear if you don’t move your foot.”

If I knew what swearing was I would until you let me see Penelope Pekinese help Rover Rottwieller get into that tree, she grunted back as she strained against Lexi freeing her.

“Here… lemme help.” came a voice behind her, one that she would know from all the years instantly as Chris pulled up behind the pair, one hand filled with a large bag of greasy looking fast food and the other held a tray of coffee and orange juice.

“Chris,” Lexi said almost as if it were a prayer answered. This was for two reasons. The first was they could double team, Ruth. The second was that he hadn’t left in the middle of the night. A thousand times she had wanted to contact his room and a thousand and one times she stopped herself thinking she would only get a response that Mr. Robbins was no longer a guest at the hotel. Seeing him here not only stunned her but left her without words.

Putting the bag and tray down Chris pulled up aside to the pair as he looked at Ruth as she seemed to be extra fussy at this moment. “Not now little one, your mommy needs to go out and you are coming with,” Chris said, his voice seemed to have both a gentle quality meant just for kids mixed with an almost commanding fatherly tone.

Yes but there is a bird stuck in a treehouse and the treehouse is on fire, she babbled letting her eyes get big. Gesturing with her hand, Ruth was certain Chris would understand her plight and tell her mommy to back the stroller up and sit down until the rest of the show was over. I was right in the middle and she, Ruth babbled casting a pouty glare in her mom’s direction as she waved her hand about arching her back, decided we have to go. As if to punctuate how angry Ruth was, she locked her leg and looked up at Chris waving her finger to clearly express the intent of no. Feeling his hand on her foot caused Ruth’s face to fall some. Daddy Chris I thought we were buddies, she stopped unlocked her knee so her leg was more flexible. Why are you not helping me she asked him.

It wasn’t a suggestion as he helped to pull her foot back into place as he eyed the little girl with a stern look before moving in and kissing the top of her head.

For half a second Ruth toyed with the idea of pushing back as she did with Toby. Toby hated public scenes and always yielded to Ruth’s requests to keep attention off of them. The tossing of a toy here, the pushing of a plate of the surface when she didn’t want it, flailing about always made Toby had her off to her Mommy or give in. The difference was Chris was not showing her the ‘fine we will do what you want as long as you stop’ look. He was also really big. Until now, she had never had to look up at Chris. He had to be the tallest man in the world and probably the strongest. Either way, he wasn’t smiling and Ruth hadn’t ever seen Chris like this. Holding his gaze Ruth slowly took the pressure off her leg so that Chris could move it.

I think we need to talk about this latter Chris, Ruth babbled holding her eyes on him. Right now she understood why he of all people had two names. Uncle Ian, Uncle Saul, Uncle Noah, and Uncle Elijah, always were called the same thing. Chris was different. Mommy called him Chris and Daddy and now she knew why. When he made you happy his name was Daddy. Mommy always called him daddy when she told Ruth happy stories like ‘when your mommy and daddy were at the academy’, ‘you daddy knows’ or ‘you daddy loves you so much.’ When Mommy was mad she always called him Chris because he was doing something wrong or something mommy didn’t like. Right now he was Chris to Ruth and would be until he decided to make up like he did with mommy.

Lexi watched Ruth instantly cave with Chris as she began to pick up the scattered mess in front of her room. It happened with only a few men mainly because she was always surrounded by women. Her eyes never left the two as Chris acted like he had handled this a thousand times a day already. Her hand was on autopilot just groping about as she shoved things in the bag but not lookin at what she was picking up.

“Sorry, I should have asked before I jumped in but”

“Oh god, no don’t apologize. Thank you. She is adorable but has a stubborn streak a mile long. I also think she thinks she is nine months going on nineteen. Ninety-nine percent of the time she is perfect but she has her days,” Lexi quickly assured Chris his help was not only appreciated but happily accepted.

”… well you seemed to need just a little help…which… where is Toby?” Chris said looking around, for someone about to get married the two never seemed to be anywhere near each other.

“He,” Lexi took a deep breath putting on a forced smile. Her jaw was clenched mainly to work out the tension from this morning’s debacle. “Toby plays polo and said it was his last week to play with the guys that came to the wedding. I mean I get he wants to spend time with his friends but not everything is baby-friendly. I am not sure what he expects? Me to tie Ruth down like an old burlap sack on the back of the horse while he plays polo? Oh, and it’s not like he takes the baby,” Lexi waved her hand sharply as she was talking, “so that I can do whatever I need twice as fast or god forbid alone. So he is gone…again…while I am trying to get everything done…alone… but you weren’t looking for that detailed of a response,” Lexi tucked some hair behind her ear. Looking down she shook her head slightly. Complaining to your ex-about your fiance that wasn’t him a day before your wedding was probably the weirdest conversation she had ever had with Chris. “Maybe I could just say thank you for helping me out and leave it as Toby has other things today too,” Lexi offered an abridged version of her reply as she stuffed items into the bag that were littering the floor.

“Oh, well… I came to apologize, and I even brought gifts…” Chris said as nodded to the floor to the bag of food and beverages.

“I see,” Lexi balanced everything on her shoulders and attempted to pick up the bag. “You know I discovered the reason pregnant women are so ungainly. It helps us in out pack mule phase later on,” Lexi let out a laugh trying to keep the bags balanced on her shoulders as she leaned over.

“Here let me take that.” he said, grabbing the baby bag he wrapped it around his shoulders as the bag settled on his side before leaning down to grab the food and drinks. “Where are we headed butter cup?” he asked as he placed the back under his arm in a feat of dexterity as he handed her the cup of coffee meant for her, grabbing his out the tray as well he looked around before peaking into her room to place the cardboard near the trash by her entrance.

The room was a hot mess with clothes tossed into chairs and baby stuff scattered on every surface. It was clear two people shared the room but the people were obviously a woman and baby. Not a single item that belonged to Toby could be seen. The bags stacked neatly by the door were a light aquamarine color yet only enough for one person when you took into account they had to contain all the items for a wedding. Several coats hung on the rack above them yet again all either small or peanut-sized. In short, the room screamed ‘girls weekend’ and not ‘newlywed suite.

“Before you ask, yes it’s a triple shot blonde with cream and sugar… I made sure it was extra strong cause I know how you dislike their coffee. Nothing every beats NebulaBucks but hopefully it works in a pinch, plus the food....” he said as he shook the bad, the smells wafting of eggs, cheese, sausage hitting them made slight beads of drool form from their lips, “…is to die for here, you could never say no to Taco Mart breakfast.”

Christopher Robins

Chris’ question stopped Lexi cold. Her mouth opened slightly as the obvious slapped her in the face. Chris had brought her breakfast and only her. At the academy it was not uncommon he stopped by early after a wild night with vittles and coffee like he was doing now. The difference was Chris always brought enough for three. Chris always assumed Noah was about so there were three coffees, three sandwiches, three of everything. The two paper cups in the drink carrier indicated he planned it to be a duo event and not a trio. Lexi’s heart raced and her mouth dried out some making it hard to swallow. Her tongue felt like sandpaper in her mouth. She tried not to fidget or jump to conclusions. There was no reason for Chris to see her today especially after last night. The city and hotel were full of eligible women. She had no right to think the items were meant for her except that Chris had nailed her coffee. His question of ‘where are we going buttercup now seemed more of an acceptance to an invitation than a general conversational point. He was also wearing the diaper bag slung over his shoulder. this wasn’t some passing in a hall and realizing someone needed help. This was Chris specifically coming to see her.

Taking the offered cup, Lexi raised it to her mouth. The small oval opening funneled hot steam over her lips like a kiss. Closing her eyes, Lexi savored the first sip as it washed over her tongue and down her throat. Even though she was in a hall of a hotel, the mere fact she could drink a hot beverage without having to battle Ruth or take care she did not spill it on Ruth was heaven. Letting out a small ahhh sound Lexi opened her eyes and looked at Chris. Time seemed to stop as she took in a quiet moment with him. “You always knew the way to my heart,” she teased and winked at him, “Taco Mart and blondes. Well, you know what I mean,” she broke out laughing.

Are we going because I am missing my show to just sit here, Ruth babbled loudly kicking her feet against the fabric of the stroller. Something had to get her mom moving.

“Settle,” Lexi said in a far softer tone than she used with Ruth five minutes before. “I told you we are going to the zoo after we do our errands.”

Wait. What? What is a zoo? You did not say we were going to the zoo, Ruth moaned and flopped about. No cartoons and now a mystery errand. Today was not going to be Ruth Garfeild’s day.

Lt Lexi Garfeild

“Well I spent a long time trying to figure out what you needed… so might as well put that years of studying you to good use.” he said with a wink as got in line with her as the pair began to walk off, the elevator was close and they would be in the lobby. “We can eat downstairs if you want, or on the go this is portable junk food, all wrapped up in tortilla with creamy jalapeno cheese sauce and eggs and sausage… and I even brought this…” Chris said pausing as he handed Lexi his coffee to hold for a second as he opened up the bag.

“I figure she can’t have very solid foods, but they do have this very soft cinnamon bites. They are ooey gooey and perfect for small little girls to gnaw on and keep them quiet while we go about our day.” Chris said as he brought out the little paper sack of treats he had gotten for just Ruth and Ruth alone.

“Maybe of course only one at first, there is six but that is a lot of sugar this early.” Chris said, knowing how his niece and nephew behaved if he filled them up on too much candy and not wanting to repeat that mistake with Lexi’s daughter. “Is it okay if she has one?” he asked, knowing well enough you shouldn’t just assert yourself on someone else kid with out their permission even if it was someone as close to you as Lexi. Their life had been so topsy turvey as it was he didn’t wanna cross any boundaries with her.

Handing one of the small treats to Ruth Chris couldn’t help but feel a need to kiss her cheek as he leaned into her stroller to give her the snack. He couldn’t shake the feeling of wanting and longing when he was around the child. Things might have felt weird and Lexi he was sure was lying to him about someone else. Noah he suspected wasn’t the father, not after that display last night. Lexi thought he trusted with all his heart, if she didn’t tell him it was to protect him from who she was seeing. After all the heartaches and break ups and ups and downs maybe it was best she never told him the mystery mans name, and he just life with the fact she seemed happy and content.

“So… lets go eat our food, cause I am starving.” Chris suggested as he took back the coffee from her to free up one of her hands so she could push Ruth in her stroller as they continued the journey to the elevator.

Christopher Robins
Christopher Robins