Posted by Lieutenant Christopher Robins (Stellar Cartographer) in Happily Ever After… - Schmidt/Garfield Wedding
Hotel Rivera — Room 408 —

“So let me get all this right? You come here and stay for the past 72 hours just to knock her fiance’ out yell at her and leave? Are you mental? You can just pack it all up and vanish… again.” Ian said in a harsher than normal tone as he stood in front of the entrance to Chris’s room, looking at him the man he called his best friend with a bruised eye from the two nights before when he went to stop Chris from making an even bigger mistake by assaulting Noah, which failed horribly. Ian always seemed to be stuck in the middle of these two, and the yells he overheard from last night made it clear whatever chance of the two realizing they were both being fools and just embracing each other had long past.

Chris looked behind his shoulder at Ian as he kept packing, putting his clothes back into his suitcase piece by piece before coming to the last item he had brought. It was a book, a yearbook to be exact. Class of 2387 was written on the front in gold lettering with the Starfleet chevron emblazoned upon it.

Sitting on the bed Chris looked at the cover, not answering Ian for a moment as he took in a deep breath before bringing himself to look up. “Yeah, that’s the plan. She had every chance to say pick me, I love you last night… or every night for the last eight years. One might few years ago I thought it was there, but I was wrong as always. I am always wrong when it comes to what I think that woman wants.”

“You coward, you always run. That can’t be your go to reaction all the time… things hurt they get hard but you can’t keep bailing… not on her… not this time.” Ian retorted in an angry huff, this was just like two years ago, and eight years before that. Chris seemed to always seemed to leave Ian to fix Lexi’s broken heart.

“You know what Ian I think I have had it just about up to here with everyone telling me I am a coward, she didn’t pick me. Not everyone can get so lucky to find their love in some kink resort like you did. Some of us have to fight and bleed and sometimes we just keep coming up short, and I am sick and tired of coming up short.” Chris said with a bitter angry tone to his voice as he looked at Ian. His eyes seemed to have that same look right before he struck Noah and Toby as he took a deep breath as he sat on the bed.

“The only person leaving you alone… is you. That woman for some reason loves you a million times over, or at least she did. I don’t have a bloody clue why she does anymore and maybe she doesn’t… maybe you finally got your wish Robins and you pushed everyone away who give a damn about you.” Ian said as he turned leaving the room with every part of him screaming. It took all his calm not to tell Chris more, Ruth and the whole past of everything. He loved Lexi, she was his kid sister he saw in many ways and he couldn’t betray her trust. He knew though he couldn’t be Chris’s friend anymore, sometimes you just couldn’t forgive someone for their actions.

The light breaking through the windows left Chris sitting alone on the bed, his hands still grasping the yearbook as he looked down at the book as he titled his head. This was the last good year for Lexi and Chris, before it all fell apart. If he had known what he knew back then he would have done so many things differently, but that was the wishes of a child. He wasn’t the 18 year old with a broken heart finding the one girl who could repair it hanging from a tree stuck and wanting down.

“Computer, start Garfield/Robins playlist Alpha.” he said as the music back to play as he opened the book.

‘And I’d give up forever to touch you
‘Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You’re the closest to heaven that I’ll ever be
And I don’t want to go home right now’

Chris paused for a moment as the lyrics began to play, this song was something he remembered from his sophomore year. He and Lexi had been drunk in a bar doing Karaoke songs. She wanted to sing something for him, the song wasn’t at all what he expected but he was dumb and naive’ back then. If he had thought harder he might have seen this as an invitation, instead he merely saw it as a friend wanting to be silly and let loose after a tough exam.

*** Sophomore Year - The Lux ***

“I have never… in all my years… seen anyone get booed at Karaoke night love.” Chris said as he couldn’t help but laughing at the whole ordeal. “You are horrible… like… no… don’t do that again.”

Not one to back down, Lexi too a swig of Chris drink as she stood up, as she grabbed his hand pulling him back on stage. “Let them boo, I paid for two songs… come on hero you’re not afraid are you?” she said as she got on stage as she made him sit on a stool. There was no other mic as Chris sat and watched her sing her heart out.

‘And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
And sooner or later it’s over
I just don’t wanna miss you tonight’

*** Present Day - Hotel Rivera Room 408 ***

Chris couldn’t help but smile at the memory as he kept going through the book slowly as he saw all the faces in the front, from academy activities and clubs. He brought the book to help remember some names as Lexi seemed to have invited half their graduating class to this wedding. “You still didn’t bring in Anastasia, can’t say I don’t blame you… she was a right bitch.” he said with a small chuckle to himself. After her peanut allergy expose’ he doubted Lexi would ever forgive that woman.

Coming to one of the pages he could see a picture of Lexi, Ian and himself with a Noah and Kylie seemingly shoved off to the side. The shirts he remembered well that they trio wore, *** Three Musketeers *** in aquamarine. Everyone always wondered why only they had anything written yet Kylie and Noah were on their team. In some ways it was inevitable Kylie and Noah got together. They pushed them aside so often how could they not find some solace with each other.

*** Bowling Tournament - 10 Years ago ***

“I am not losing to those Klingon’s!” Lexi shouted as she looked past Chris broad shoulders, it was a moment of pride to beat them as her competitive streak was never one to let anyone get the best of her.

“Settle down there pint size… I think they could take you if you physical here.” Chris said as he put his hand in front of her to hold her back as he looked over at Ian. “Wanna play get help?”

“No… no no no no… I refuse.” Ian said as he looked past Chris at the group of Klingon’s, they were well built, more than a match for just Chris and Ian and it served no purpose.
“Come on… once more before they ban us from this place, she needs this win.” Chris said as they both looked at Lexi who of course was looking as cute as she could, knowing full well Chris would do anything for her and Ian would always follow his friend into battle.

“Fine… but I get to throw you this time.” Ian said as he looked at Chris taking in his friends sheer size. Ian was tall, but Chris was taller and also had a good 50 more pounds of pure muscle on him.

“Nope, I’m throwing you come on.” he said as he stomped on Ian’s foot which made him haunch over as he put his hand over his shoulder walking towards the Klingon’s

“Help, my friend needs help!” he said as he came close enough to them before tossing Ian into three of the guys knocking them down as Chris threw a bunch at the Klingon as Lexi began to bowl, completely free to put any score she wanted down.

*** Present Day - Hotel Rivera Room 408 ***

Smiling widely at the memory as the song seemed to go on, each lyrics seem to pierce him as he sat there feeling the weight of all his past falling on top of him.

‘And you can’t fight the tears that ain’t coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything feels like the movies
Yeah you bleed just to know you’re alive’

Looking at the photos in the book there seemed to be some writing under the picture from the debate team photo Ian had forced the three of them in. Chris had never seen this, it wasn’t in a location he normally would have looked for as he felt a small sense of wonder at what it said.

‘Dear Chris…’ were the first words he saw as he continued to read only finding the words as he could tell instantly the writing. “Lexi…” he muttered under his breath as he

‘Dear Chris,

Never forget who I am.

I am your wondertwin forever.

Lexi.’

Chris began pushing through the book, finding small passages littered through it all as he kept taking in each puzzle as it felt like years of confusion seemed to be clicking into place.

‘I don’t want to graduate but sooner or later it was bound to happen. I don’t think you understand. Without you I think I will be broken. I just want you to guess who I am? (page 10)’

Every unsure feeling of doubt that he had seemed to find an answer in this book as he heard the next line of the song play, his stomach seeming to fall as he felt goose bumps begin to form on the back of his neck.

‘And I don’t want the world to see me
‘Cause I don’t think that they’d understand’

‘Tomorrow moment of truth arrives. Why isn’t it like the movies? Aren’t I supposed to be happy. I just want you to know who I am? (page 26)’

Chris kept flipping, it was as if he couldn’t stop as each page brought him more of his Lexi, closer to the woman he never knew he had.

‘I’d give up my future to hold you. ‘Cause I know that you feel something for me somehow. You’re the closest to heaven that I’ll reach. And I don’t want to graduate right now. Do you to know who I am? (page 39)’

‘I don’t want the world to see me. ‘Cause I don’t think that they’d understand But with you I don’t feel broken. I just want you to know who I am (page 51)’

Chris felt stunned, the song seemed to keep going perfectly matching the tone of the words as he felt all the air from him leave. It was like drowning and suffocating all at once as every part of him began to feel numb.

‘When everything’s meant to be broken
I just want you to know who I am’

Getting to the end his eyes fell wet as it took every moment to choke back the tears he felt. He had been a fool, for so long he had been the words biggest full.

Chris sat there quietly as the song kept going as he felt everything seem to blur and fade as moments seemed to pass before him. After what felt like an eternity he heard the page at his door as he seemed to snap out and realize he had been utterly still for so long as he looked up, his eyes red and wet. “Enter…” he said, unsure who it was but wanting anything but to feel what he felt right now.

Christopher Robins

“Enter. So formal,” Aubrey’s snarky retort filled the room as she walked in wearing a floor-length turquoise dress carrying a small box. The color seemed too bright for her. It was however a bridesmaid dress and everyone knew bridesmaid dresses never brought out the best in one. Brides claimed the dress was perfect and Bridesmaids agreed yet like most things female related it was all an accepted lie. The chiffon skirt swished softly as Lexi’s youngest sister moved across the room flopping down on the bed. “I can’t believe you made me schlep across town in this thing,” she motioned to the dress. “I am twenty-five years old and just about every old person asked me if I was going to prom. Ughkah,” she made a growling noise of disgust in her throat auditorily expressing her unhappiness with the current situation. “Who goes to prom in October or this weird color,” she picked at the fabric as if it were something wet, dirty, or icky. “Why couldn’t she just go with something normal like black?”

“So you are all packed up,” she asked looking at Chris’ bags. The question was rhetorical. The suitcases were brimming and only needed a pull of the zipper to seal them up for travel.

Nodding at his reply she extended the box to him. “I brought you something,” she stated in her typical less than thrilled tone. The box was just a simple cardboard box that was a soft tan color with a turquoise bow and ribbon holding it close. Shaking it some to entice Chris, she rolled her eyes when he made no move to take or open it.

“It’s wedding cake,” Aubrey filled in the answer to the question of what it is before Chris could ask about the contents. “And before you ask yes it is her official wedding cake but from the top tier. You are supposed to eat the top tier on your first anniversary for good luck but I give the marriage six months tops so why let it go to waste.” Aubrey’s statement could have been funny except for the circumstances. Still, her dry sardonic humor often worked like a punch line in most scenarios.

“I don’t expect you to eat it. I expect you to stick it under your pillow. Legend says you will dream of your future spouse or so says some random myth from like sixteen hundred years ago,” Aubrey spoke with such little conviction Chris would know she didn’t believe any of it.

Lt. Lexi Garfield