Posted by Lieutenant Commander Alexis Bonner (Assistant Chief Medical Officer) in Guest Quarters - Family Woes Part II

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Dr. Solomon Kane (Chief Science Officer/Research & Development) in Guest Quarters - Family Woes Part II

(snip)

“Not that you’d care, of course. Because her telling what she had done would just make you more jealous.” Kane said to Allison. “Really… answer me this: When did you decide that you hated living in your daughter’s shadow?”

Kane

Anthony was quite interested in the answer himself. Alexis wasn’t sure she was even curious, but why not. What could be worse than how things were now?

Allison looked at Anthony, and shook her head in disgust. He always to Alexis’ side, even when she was wrong. Oh he would tell Alexis she was wrong but then he would have to spend all that time helping her figure out ‘a better way.’

“When she had to be right and ‘fix’ my brownies.” They even sold better in the shop and soon everyone somehow knew 3 year old Alexis cooked better than her mother.

Alexis was surprised and the shock showed on her face. That was actually one of her best memories with her mother. She got up and walked out of the office. In his ear, Solomon heard her voice. “I’m okay…no I’m not really but I’ll be right back. I need something for my mind to do.”. Then she returned with some little device and a PaDD, sat down and soon had a 3D image of a DNA strand projected from the device and was manipulating it.

Bonner

Kane didn’t bother Alexis, he knew she was processing everything the best way for her mind to do such things. But he glared at Allison and said “Just.. wow. Do you even hear yourself? Brownies. You gave up loving your daughter… for brownies. You know, just when I think you can’t get any worse… you go and set the bar that much higher.” and he shook his head. “You know… where I grew up… we kids were bought and sold like your damn baked goods. But I would trade you for ten of those flesh peddlers. At least they were honest about their lack of soul.”

Kane

“Allison…Allison look at me.” Anthony turned in his seat, but his face was pale and slightly green around the edges. “She was three!”

“Three and in a week she had managed to recreate the recipe I had been trying to do the same with for years. Soon no one came in for anything but whatever item ‘Alexis had fixed’ and that only lasted months before she moved on to the next interest.”

Alexis didn’t even look up from what she was doing. “It must be driving you…oh what was that word, daddy, that she always used?”

“Bonkers.”

“Right, driving you bonkers that Solomon’s biscuits are better than yours, and he wasn’t even trying.” Then she turned the little device upside down, leaned her head back and raised the 3D image over her head to look at it. Yes Alexis was being off on purpose. “So let me get this right…I wanted more cream cheese in each bite, YOU suggested we try to tweak the recipe, You called Daddy in to help, THEN when we all 3 working together got a result we liked, you took it to the store and sold it. It made rave reviews, but YOU did all that, told everyone it was me and it’s some how my fault?” Alexis peeked at her mother but Allison didn’t answer. “Yeah okay even I know that piece of emotional logic is screwy.”

Bonner

“It’s not screwy. It’s just the excuse she needed.” Kane said. He looked at Allison and said “I get it now. I do. In your head, your daughter was an accessory. A final brush stroke on the painting of your ‘perfect’ life. But Alexis didn’t fit that way. She is too unique. Too true to herself. She didn’t reflect your picturesque ideal. And you just can’t stand that.”

Kane

Alexis sighed and stopped messing with the image a moment. “I’m done with this. She is not going to apologize, she doesn’t see it as wrong, I am and always will be a disappointment in her eyes.” She gave her full focus to staring at her mother. “I will not forgive you either. Instead I will forgive myself for letting your opinion matter so much to me. Then I shall forgive myself for holding onto that little girl who so desperately wanted her mother’s approval. But I will not forgive you. You had the care and responsibility of me, your child. And I was a child even if I was smart. You failed miserably. You were the adult and you were the parents. The responsibility was yours and you chose your actions and opinions.” Then she went back to her model, unwinding the strand and looking at it long hand.

Bonner

Kane looked at Anthony. “I know this is hard for you. And I know how hard you have tried to make this work. I can hear it Lex’s voice when she talks about you. She is proud of you… proud to be your daughter. And I will echo her, here… you are always welcome with us. Anytime. For as long as you want. Because you care for her. You respect her. And you are proud of her. Not for what she should be… but for who she is.” He then looked at Allison. “I’m not one to try and manipulate people. I hate those kinda games… almost as much as I hate people that play them. Almost. But I’m not gonna make him choose between his wife and his daughter. So I’m just gonna say this… and I really want you to think about this. Lex and I, we want to have him in our lives. And we will. You, though… you we don’t want. So how you two work that out is between you two. And however Anthony decides is the best way to handle it, we will back him up. You don’t dictate how people feel or what they do anymore. So tread really lightly.”

Kane