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 Lieutenant Alexandra Garfield (Xenobiologist) in Two Weddings and a Honeymoon
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.

Ugh are we going or what. Riding the glass elevator in this hell contraption as you both talk is not fun. Why Toby thinks this is fun is beyond me? Who wants to go up and down and have someone’s knee shoved in your face, Ruth grunted and squirmed in her seat. Right now Ruth felt awful. Her tummy was talking and that always made her mad.

“Ohhh let’s sit in the courtyard,” Lexi said almost too fast pulling her personal communicator from her purse as she juggled the coffees. “I never get to just sit and enjoy coffee let alone something hot to eat. Job hazard,” she shrugged watching Chris extract a small tan and blue box from 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.

Little girls. I’m little girls, Ruth’s interest was piqued. Craning her head forward as far as she could, Ruth tried to see what Chris and her mom were doing. The sun was so bright and all she could see was the bottom of the box they were inspecting. Feeling the straps from the stroller cutting into her, Ruth pulled at them to no avail. I hate the Devil Chair. It tasks me, she began to let out a small whine. It hurts my wing so bad when I try to get out and I don’t know the secret code to make it let me go, she directed her pudgy fingers as the release button. See....it hates me

“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.

Yes. Yes she wants one, Ruth grunted harder hearing that tone in the adult’s voice. When they oohed and ahhed like this it generally meant it was something yummy or interesting. The smell of what was in the box meant it probably wasn’t a puppy or toy. Help....me, she began a small cry as she pulled at the release clasp to no avail.

“Yeah, she will love them. She has a sweet tooth like her dah..g nahbit Uncle,” Lexi caught herself. Feeling an adrenaline rush course through her body she glanced down at the communicator sending a message. She talked about him so frequently to Ruth it was hard to remember what to mention and what not to say. Lexi had never hid Ruth’s parentage so blatantly except for the past forty-eight hours.

As Chris bent down and tore off a small piece, Ruth scrutinied him. I am not saying we are friends yet. You can’t just buy me, she was rudely interrupted as he shoved the sticky bit into her mouth. As the sugary warmth filled her mouth, Ruth was filled with warmth. Okay ew are addy again, she talked as her few teeth and gums began mashing the morsel around her mouth.

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 courtyard.

Christopher Robins

“Um can you do this,” Lexi swirled her finger around the table indictating she needed him to take over or a bit. If this zoo thing was going happen Lexi had to lay some groundwork.

Finding a table in a shaded area Lexi let Chris set up as she sent out a very important message while she unhooked the arm straps of the stroller.

“Perfect, I went with a variety pack here, sausage and egg quesadilla, the bacon and egg crunchwrap, or steak and egg burrito… hashbrowns in there too the whole works.” Chris said as he took one by one each item out as he settled into the table.

“God I love those things. They do not replicate as well as actually getting it at the store. I saw a Holodoc on it and that wretched woman Everlast claims they just replicate and stick it in a paper. I say bunk. I mean you just can’t replicate grease like that,” Lexi pointed to one of the items on the table. “Trust me I tried. Hashbrowns are the bomb.”

Ruth looked up at Chris spitting the last pieces of the cinnamon bite out of her mouth. It was really good for a really long time. Then it seemed gummy and hard to eat. With the smell of everything on the table, Ruth decided it was time to score some more. Grabbing Chris’ pants, Ruth curled her fingers around the fabric and pulled herself forward as far as she could. Feeling the strap still around her waist she let out a small ugh ugh groan looking up at Chris. He would have to know what she wanted.

Daddy, I am kinda stuck here and I can’t see the tah, she tried to talk but again Chris shoved something into her mouth that stopped her cold. Moving her jaw about, Ruth wrinkled up her forehead trying to figure out what it was.

Looking over at Ruth as she had been gnawing on the cinnamon bite he found one of the hash browns and tore off a bite for her. “Shh it’ll be our secret little one.” he said with a quiet wink as he went and grabbed for her one of the crunch wraps and began to open it up.

Lexi grinned at Chris and shook her head slightly. She was not a fussy mom and Ruth was at the right age to try new things. It was just Chris’ new things were not what Toby thought were the best. It was going to be hard to switch back to cubes of sweet potatoes and squash instead of cinnamon rolls and french fries.

Aubrey Ruth is acting weird so I am not going to pick up the flowers so sleep in she texted her sister.

Okay but you know you need to pick them up before tomorrow unless you plan on doing it the day of your wedding Aubrey texted back and glanced at the man beside her. “Ever hear of Pinochhio,” she asked him as she read the next message coming across her display.

I am well aware of that, Lexi texted giving a small side glance at Chris. Thank god he was managing the situation.

Have you seen Chris today? Are you going to tell him or better yet maybe we should just incorporate it in the wedding toast? “Chris thank you for coming and by the way can you take her for your weekend while I am on my honeymoon?” Aubrey got a small snarky smile on her face.

Lexi didn’t even reply but sent a series of angry faces with various characters covering her mouth to her sister.

Lt. Lexi Garfield.

“What are you doing buttercup? You have been super quiet…” he said as he looked up at her. He had been eating with Ruth, feeding her bites of his food and playing with her as Lexi had texted. “Something you care to share with the whole class?” he said in a stern voice as he looked at her then back at Ruth.

Lexi bit her lip and felt a weird tingly sensation in her spine. Chris seemed to turn the man in charge thing on and off like a light switch. She tried to remember when he had told her about his last promotion. The subtle change of his voice at times was doing things to her. If Lexi had one regret about spending the last few days with him, it would definitely be not seeing him in the uniform, with a clipboard, signing off on things after barking out a quick order. While sciences never had the flash or sex appeal of security or tactical, the right man sporting the body of a yellow shirt but armed with an above average IQ was Lexi’s idea of a pin-up model.

“It’s rude isn’t it little one… if she is going to eat with us she needs to at least talk to us…” he said with a tsk tsk sound at the end as he reached over and grabbed some of the salsa packs.

As Chris’ hand moved towards her guilt or maybe the reflexive action of being with Toby for the past six months took over. “I can put it away,” she said far too rapidly moving the communicator way out of Chris’ reach.

The look on his face instantly required Lexi to start blathering before he could expand a conversation on the topic. “I wasn’t texting Toby,” she blurted out switching the screen from her sister to Toby’s. Brandishing the screen, she showed her last conversation to Chris. “See the last message was sent....ten days ago,” she herself was surprised by this fact. What was more shocking was the conversation involved her asking questions and just yes and no replies from Toby. The surprise quickly changed to shock and then embarrassment as her cheeks grew a bright crimson as she closed her eyes. It didn’t matter if she was or wasn’t texting Toby. What embarrassed her most was her overreaction to Chris’ gesture. This was because in nine cases out of ten, Lexi was talking to Chris with Toby across from her. The reaction was based more on the fact, Lexi loved the safe, semi-secret world she had created with Chris and the silence at times between her and Toby was overwhelming. Only Ruth saved the day as she grew more unhappy with the situation.

“O… kay. That’s fine buttercup.” Chris said as he seemed to narrow his eyes. His gut had been screaming at him for the last 72 hours, a million things he wanted to say. He wasn’t even sure half the time what he was really doing, but he knew that he didn’t want to miss a moment before he lost his Lexi forever. For right now she wasn’t married, her name was the awful Schmidt and he could pretend. Pretending made each night he went to be so much easier, and each morning feeling of dread as he knew how much closer he was to loosing her forever.

Oh oh I will try some of that, Ruth reached out grabbing the burrito Chris has lowered towards her as he and her mother chatted. Her fingers dug into the soft tortilla pulling out a hunk of meat and egg. Unfortunately the catcher mitts for hands that Chris had had brushed all the carefully stolen tidbits of food from her fingers before she could get them in her mouth.

“No no no… you can’t have this little one it’s too spicy, it’ll hurt you baby doll.” he said as he swatted the hand away from his burrito he was pouring the salsa on.

Hey Chris we share in this family, she bounced as much as she could in the seat trying to either get out of the seat or see what was on the table. So give up that thingy in your hand. I know it had eggs. I know eggs. Gimmie those eggs. she started to get whiny.

Smiling he reached in grabbing a part of his egg in the burrito that had not had anything tampered with it as he handed it to her. “Okay just a nibble.” he said softly as he handed it to her.

Christopher Robins

Ruth opened her mouth reminding Chris of a little bird waiting for his breakfast. As he placed the bit in her mouth, she settled back with her jaws moving a mile a minute. I bet you’re a chef. Mommy said you are a StarLord Cardmaker but I am sure she actually made a mistake and you are a chef. More please, she opened her mouth leaning back.

“So I don’t know what your plans are,” Lexi cleared her throat a bit nervously, “but Ruth has never been to the zoo and I promised her we would go today. We would love for you to come.” Taking a drink of her coffee Lexi let the cup linger on her lips. This was to hide her initial reaction to Chris’ reply. If he said yes, she didn’t want him to see a smile too big. If he said no, she didn’t want to let him see the frown.

lt. Lexi Garfield

“My plans are whatever you need from me, I am here to help you… though… I mean a Zoo sounds great but do you have time? We are less than 24 hours away, are the dresses and tuxedos ready? Flowers in place? I’m sorry I just…” Chris paused as he looked at her, he was trying hard to keep himself from breaking down but this talk was hard. Alone he could weep for the loss of her, but right now he had to force that brave smile and happy face.

“I just want to make sure this is perfect for you buttercup, you have always deserved nothing but the best and all the happiness you can find. So whatever you need from me, Zoo, errands, just someone to talk to… I am yours… for at least 24 hours. Then…” Chris gulped hard as he looked down for a moment before bringing himself eye level with Lexi. “Then you are Toby’s, and he is beyond lucky… more lucky than he may know.”

Christopher Robins

The reality of what Chris said hit her like a sledgehammer. She would be Toby’s. The sentence actually made her feel sick and the guilt that she had led him on this long knowing it was never going to be the happy ever after made her angry. She had made a mess of her life and was compiling one mistake on over another one. Gripping the cup tightly, Lexi felt like it was hard to breathe as her eyes met his. Chris I have no idea what I am doing but the biggest mistake of my life is going to happen tomorrow at 10 am. We rushed into this after only dating for six weeks. I barely know the guy. Not like I know you. I don’t know that he hates candy corn unless it is mixed with something crunchy or that he took up surfing to impress a girl only to find he really enjoys it. I don’t know if he is able to grill everything edible to make a meal or has already bought hearing aides because he likes to be as close to the stage as possible at rock concerts. I don’t know if Toby even loves your daughter, she stopped her inner monologue letting her eyes dart over Chris’ face almost begging him to slap the table and demand … something.

Now that she was on a roll, Lexi couldn’t stop. I know I love you. I know you love Ruth. I am using coercion to get what I want by holding out the fact she is your child. I know the second I set the record straight with us you will turn around and never look back at me but not her. Not after the way I have seen you with Ruth. I am a terrible person Chris. I am holding your daughter hostage because I can’t bare to not have a reason to have you in my life. Next time you run I can call you and tell you she is yours. You will be mad but we will be forced to talk. You will never walk away from her but you can from me. I am just selfish enough that I can’t stand the thought that I will lose you one day so I need you to right now do.. something. As if to punctuate her words, Lexi’s grip had slowly increased to the point that the lid of her cup popped off and the plastic cracked.

“Ugh,” she groaned shaking the splatters of coffee off her hand. Not knowing how long she had contemplated his question made Lexi anxious. Sweeping the leftover wrappers and boxes from the table as a distraction Lexi responded. “Of course we have time. It’s one day Chris. The details don’t matter that much. No one will remember them six months from now.” Carrying the trash to the outdoor replicator, she deposited it brushing off her hands. “So do you want to go to the zoo or not?” Her grumpiness was easily explained away by the spilled coffee. The rationale as to why she was so upset to crush the cup was not.

The San Diego Zoo and Safari Park

“Wait, how much,” Lexi asked the woman behind the glass window. “That is for all of us right?89.60 credits total,” she asked for clarification. There was no way Lexi could have heard the woman correctly. They were in San Diego on Earth in the Federation not some backwater planet run by Ferengi.

“No, ma’am. It is 89.60 credits for each adult, 79.60 for children 3 to 11 and 69.60 for kids younger than three for the two-day experience because you are not going to be able to see all the animals in one day,” the woman went over the cost once again. “So for 248.8‬0 credits, you can go to the Safari one day and the zoo the next. We want this to be an immersion experience.”

“I want it to be an I see a damn elephant and penguin experience in one day,” Lexi said a bit huffily. Why were things always so complicated. If they had just gone to the public zoo in San Franscico it would have been free but the San Diego Zoo was privately owned by OMAP. The experience was rivaled as second to none.
depending on what you choose. You only get one or the other.”

“Then it’s 56 credits each for an adult, 46 credits for children, and 36 credits for children under three but you only get a choice of one park so you need to choose between the zoo or the safari park,” the woman explained for the second time.

“How is that even fair,” Lexi groaned. “I mean look at the map. You have an aerial ride between the parks. Are you saying we can’t use the aerial ride because we didn’t get the park at the end of the ride?”

“No,” the clerk said slowly as if Lexi had a brain injury, “I am telling you that for 250 credits you get a choice of one visit to the San Diego Zoo and one visit to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. You don’t have to actually do only one park each day but you will miss stuff. Now if you upgrade to the annual pass you not only save money because that is 112 credits per adult or 174 credits total because you are married and brought your spouse,” she gestured to Chris, “but you can take your time. We have almost 5000 animals. The annual pass is a better value because for 263.6‬o you can come back anytime you want for a year,” the woman sighed hating why customers made this so difficult.

“But we only have today to go to the zoo,” Lexi wrinkled up her nose. Her head was starting to ache. This little excursion was going to be close to 400 credits by the time they were all said and done factoring in snacks and the gift shop. Money wasn’t tight but Lexi was on an income of one. Toby and she did not mix accounts and agreed not to in the future for the first year or so of marriage. Why she had suggested the zoo was starting to piss her off.

Lt. Lexi Garfield

“Hey, I got this buttercup, don’t fret.” Chris said as he stepped in front handing over his credit chip. “I’ll take the annual pass.” Chris said as he looked back at Lexi and smiled softly. “What? I mean I come to Earth all the time and it’ll give me something to do with Ruth. Maybe I can teach her all the animals, she can be like that really weird woman I meet at this conference once… Kalani Kane. That woman is like coo coo for animals, I here her boyfriend even made her a vivarium on their ship. Who knows maybe Ruth grows up and wants to name every animal in the known universe.” Chris said as the lady finished the transaction giving Chris the badges for the group and paperwork that went with his purchase as he took his credit chip back.

“I’m gonna push Ruth if that’s okay, I wanna take her to the wallaby exhibit. They are my favorite back home, all the cuteness of a Kangaroo but they won’t mug you for food when you go for a jog in the outback.” Chris said as he got behind the stroller as he took the reigns to steer Ruth as the group entered the Zoo.

Time went by in the day as exhibit after exhibit, with each items galore piling up on the stroller which began to look like a roving exhibit of stuffed animals that they had gotten for Ruth at each location. Finding a nice quiet shady place the pair settled down as Chris had left to get them some snacks. His arms seemed to be filled with treasure troves of food as slushies, giant pretzels, cotton candy, nachos, beer and more could be seen. The balancing act of all the food was something of a feat as he sat down at the table they had gotten as he settled in next to Lexi and Ruth.

“Okay, so what are we missing?” Chris said as he grabbed a piece of the giant pretzel and broke it off as he placed it in his mouth like a cigar as he pulled out the map and placed it across the table. “This feels like our geolocation adventure, reading a map to find out where the heck we should head to next… let me tell you Ruth your mom is really bad at directions.” Chris said as he swallowed his pretzel before grabbing one of the cotton candies as he opened it and pulled a bit out and handed her a piece.

“She will tell you she knows how to navigate but she doesn’t, it’s why I think I decided to major in Stellar Cartography… cause she can literally not find a hole in the ground let alone a star system.” he said with a light and playful tone as he seemed to have a smile that would never fade from him in this moment.

Christopher Robins