Poker was a human game, it was more about analyzing your opponent than the cards in your hand. Gunny was : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : uncertain of the skill of the players involved, apparently the counselor, the captain, and now Aidan Teller were playing, gunny made four, so it now remained to see who filled the final chair at the table. Gunny had watched them all enter the backroom, from a vantage point that had left him most likely unobserved by all of the other players. Especially dressed in casual civilian attire instead of uniform, slouched at a table watching over the rim of an untouched drink. Gunny was not much of a drinker in the first place at most occasions he either drank club soda or ginger ale, it looked like what everyone else had so did not stand out on casual inspection. With that in mind gunny lifted his drink and headed to the back. He was wearing dark blue today, a muted often seen color aside from the uniforms that were the most predominant thing on the station. Gunny could have been a member of any one of a dozen crews that were currently docked. Even Mr. Tellar’s : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Gunny glanced at the others as he entered the backroom, “Captain, Counselor, Mr. Tellar” he said as he slipped into a seat settling his drink on the table on the coaster he brought with him. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Gunny : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Gunny, pleasure.” he said as he looked everyone over. He hadn’t meet the Captain of the outpost, this would be interesting indeed. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Looking over at the girls he let them go there own way. They insisted to come but he wasn’t really feeling it. He would have much rather had Jessica by his side. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ~Teller : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ================= : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : XO’s office : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Jessica leaned back in her seat stretching the muscles in her shoulders. While she loved her promotion as XO, she did miss the ‘action’ of being a security officer. As the Executive Officer, her days were often filled with endless meetings and mountains of paperwork. Part of her missed the daily rounds she took on patrol of the station meeting its inhabitants. Now she only saw the same five to ten faces every day. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Drumming her fingers on the desktop, Jessica let her mind wander. Instantly it fell on one man: Mathias McGarrett. How her skipper thought jobs like this were the pinnacle of one’s career amazed her. Jessica would bide her time on the Outpost for a while until the opportunity for a sleek ride presented itself. Getting an ultra modern, fast mythology class ship was more to her liking. Bored with daydreaming about her Captaincy of a large exploration vessel, Jessica focused her attention on a new subject: Aeden Teller. A smile formed on her lips as she remembered the night of his party culminating on a beach side sunrise. Aeden was nothing if not exciting and resourceful. Opening up the internal cameras on the station, Jessica focused them on the new business venture Aeden was developing on the outpost. She did not consider this snooping but more casual interest in what her dashing playboy was up to. After several passes, she realized Aeden was not on site. She swore he had told her he was going to be there today. Suddenly her busy body gene, as her grandmother called it, kicked into high gear. Tapping her comm badge, Jessica said simply =/\= Computer find civilian Teller, Aeden and bring up his location up on the monitor /=. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : =/\= Aeden Teller is located in a back room at Ferengi Jo’s =/\= the computer responded. The image of what saw shocked her. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Ugh…seriously, SERIOUSLY,” Jessica’s voice got louder with each subsequent word as she watched the paparazzi of pampered princesses parade about the room. While there were four seats, four women, and three men, Jessica did not need to be told Aeden brought all of them. Gunny was far too reserved and Mathias....well he was Mathias. Oh yes, the cadre of cackling call girls had to be with one man. “Teller,” Jessica grumbled getting comfortable in her seat. She would let this play out for a bit or until action was required on her part. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Lt. Commander Jessica Vaughn XO : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ======================= : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Gunny,” said the captain with a nod. He then turned to Aeden. “I’m sorry, I should probably introduce myself to you Mister Teller. Mathias McGarrett. Though I’m sure you already knew that much. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you already.” Mathias flashed a friendly smile. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Captain McGarrett, CO : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Oh it’s pleasure Captain, I brought some guests…” he said motioning to the girls. He smiled as he smirked at them then back at Captain. “Who can’t use a little eye candy every once in awhile?” he said as he took a seat, the girls seeming to flock around him. He wasn’t sure who else was going to show, but he was interested to see how this went. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : One of the near girls came and put her hand on Aedan’s chest, he looked up taking her hand in his and kissed it as he looked back at everyone. The other girls smiled and stayed near, they were clearly there to just be pretty and silent. For a moment he wondered what this scene said, they probably all knew he was dating Jessica. Part of him liked her, he loved time but Ms Adams was right, he needed to be loose and free. People expected his charming playboy self and he wasn’t going to fully deny that side either. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Jania might be an issue he thought, she would probably tell on him and that was fine, he could always get back into Jessica’s panties and good graces. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Mathias tilted his head and addressed Aedan, pretending to be mildly surprised. “Oh, is that what they are here for? I figured they were women you enjoyed having quality conversations with. Or maybe they were here to give you advice in the game.” : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “So, aren’t you going to introduce us to your friends, Mr. Teller?” : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Captain McGarrett, CO : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Aedan arched his eyebrow, looking over at the girls then back at Mathias. “I barley know your name, I don’t think I am gonna remember them after this night.” he said, his tone neutral and serious as he said it. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Mathias half chuckled at the comment. Aedan was even more of a piece of work than he was expecting. It was quite remarkable women would put up with his attitude. There had to be some reason why they did, and he supposed it had to do with his wealth and looks, but still....well, it wasn’t worth it to him to give it any more thought for now. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “I’m Amber.” she said the girl with her arm draped over Aedan, she looked back at the rest. “Mandy, Ariana, and Yvonne.” she said pointing at the other girls as they all bowed. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Aedan thought about that for a moment, he didn’t really care when Ms Adams asked them to come, and he didn’t really care right now either. He wondered if Ms Adams told him to not invite Jessica for a reason, this whole charade wasn’t something he really cared for. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Mathias smiled, pleasantly surprised that one of them spoke up. “I’m pleased to meet you, Amber. So, do you live on the Outpost?” A hint of a sly smirk crept into his smile as he imagined actually getting to know something about any of them was the last thing Aedan had an interest in. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Captain McGarrett, CO : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ================= : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : XO’s office : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “No, I live on a tramp freighter and spend my time trolling the quadrant for a rich husband and now my life’s goal is complete,” Jessica replied for the simpering blonde clinging to Aeden like he was a crutch and she had broken her leg. “I like rainy days and puppies and bubbles,” Jessica ad-libbed more in a sickening overly perky tone. Her conscience told her to cut the feed and move on. Nothing good was going to come of this but her ego refused to let that happen. She was going to watch what was happening in the back room of Ferengi Joe’s even if it meant killing Aeden the next time she saw him. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Lt. Commander Jessica Vaughn XO : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ======================= : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Oh now Captain, I didn’t ask them to come here for you to flirt with them now did I?” he said, smiling at McGarret. The girls seemed to pout, clearly Aedan wasn’t letting them have the fun they were used to. The moved back and sat down. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “In fact, the girls can serve us if needed.” he said looking over at Amber. She knew better to question him, as she left of to get orders. The other girls, all exotic and beautiful claimed up even more. They were not going to disobey Aedan. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Mathias locked eyes with Aedan, which took a bit of concentration with the beautiful women on either side of him. “Ah, I see. My mistake, I thought they were people, not your servants. Well, I don’t have a need to be served by them. And don’t worry, I didn’t come here to flirt with anyone. I came here to win at poker.” His tone and facial expressions conveyed that he was rather serious, but then he lightened up a bit after casting a glance in Jaina’s direction. “Or, perhaps, to be pychoanalyzed.” : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Captain McGarrett, CO : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Aedan sighed, Jessica would have made this so much more fun. he thought to himself, but alas Ms Adams thought it was best to keep up PR appearances. Aedan the playboy sold more than Aedan in love. Not that he was in love, Jessica was just a mark but he needed to make her believe, or maybe he needed to make himself believe she was a mark. He couldn’t deny she was becoming more alluring to him. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Gunny looked at Aedan across the table from him. It was pure happenstance that the two were directly across from each other. It was an appraiser’s eye that ran over the girls, and if they were the ones that his assissant had imported he had files already. Gunny was a man of controls, analysis, and actions. Rarely did he display anything beyond what he wanted the universe to see at the moment. As the woman touched his chest, the flash of micro expression and eyes said that Aedan might not need to worry about what the Twin sister thought about his actions of the moment. There might be an objection from a much more violent individual to consider. There was no documented relationship history between Gunny and the Executive Officer. perhaps it was something different than that, maybe just the loyalty of a senior marine Noncom to his crew, or perhaps it was not, it was at least now a known unknown. Or perhaps he just had a distaste for Mr. Teller in general. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Gunny : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Aedan looked over the Captain and Gunny, he found both of the fascinating for different reasons. Mathias seemed a prude unable to have any fun, and Gunny clearly needed to hide his disdain more. He didn’t know why the main seemed to not like him, and frankly he didn’t care. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : The other ladies looked over the others, one seemed to gravitate to Gunny, she was dark and gorgeous as she ran her hands through his hair before leaning in close, her cleavage bursting as she did. Another girl seemed to eye Mathias, but thought twice and just stayed on the chair and watched Aedan. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Amber came back with a drink, a whiskey on the rocks. Amber was wearing a tight red dress, which seemed to hide nothing of her curvaceous figure. As she laid the drink down she sat on Aedan’s lap, straddling his lap as she faced the table. She was clearly just there for his amusement, and he was greatly amused. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “See, it’s always good to bring your own lucky charms… DD.” he said with a large wink an the gentleman and Jania. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ============ : : : : : : : : : : XO Office : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Jessica signed off on the most recent report before her. The live feed of the poker game had reached a lull for a few minutes so she had decided to do a bit more paperwork and keep just half an eye on the screen. The movement of the women immediately snapped Jessica’s attention back to the monitor. “Well what do we have going on here,” Jessica removed her propped up feet from the edge of her desk. Her eyes narrowed as she saw the women try to divide and conquer the men. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : The first women contemplating hitting on the CO brought a smile to Jessica’s face. She was beautiful but she did not know Mathias. The man was all business both on duty and off. Until her promotion, Jessica did not understand why. Now she saw the reason but still did not care as much as Mathias about appearances. “Oh, honey you are barking up the wrong tree with that one. Captain Garret is not going to romance stand in the way of his goal to be an Admiral before 35,” Jessica chuckled letting her eyes drift to the other female in the room. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Whoa whoa whoa whoa. You had better just back that bus up missy,” Jessica felt a twinge of annoyance with the raven-haired beauty showing affection to Gunny. Drumming her nails on the table, Jessica did not care about rationalizing why this annoyed her so. All she knew was she didn’t like it one bit. “Gunny needs a good girl who is going to make sure he eats right and gets 8 hours sleep. You look like the type that only plans room service and has insomnia,” she commented to herself. It wasn’t fair to judge these girls but Jessica knew that they were there for only one purpose. If they actually liked the men they were ogling, maybe Jessica would not be so harsh. Suddenly it hit her like a backhand. Aeden had brought three and she had only been watching numbers one and two. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Half a second later, Jessica felt her mouth drop open in shock. Perched precariously on the patella of Aeden sat a woman that was not her. Cranking the volume up on the room, she heard Aeden speaking. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “See, it’s always good to bring your own lucky charms… DD.” Aeden said. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Ugh,” Jessica grunted wrinkling her nose up in disgust and anger. “Aeden, If you follow that up with anything close to “They’re Magically Delicious!’ I am going to make sure you choke on the hearts, stars, and horseshoes,” she quoted the famous kids cereal, “And I swear to god no one will ever be ‘Always After your Lucky Charms’ again when I get through with you,” Jessica grumbled heading towards the door of her office. This little peep show on the main security feeds had ended. In about three minutes, Aeden was going to learn firsthand how destructive a Texas tornado could be. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Mathias shook his head, finding Aedan and his women a bit ridiculous. “I prefer to bring skill myself. So, are we here to play poker or what?” he asked, not specifically directing the question to anyone. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Captain McGarrett, CO : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Jessica marched through the halls and corridors with a purpose on her way to Ferengi Jo’s all the while devising a plan to deal with the situation at the poker game. Palming the lock to the door, Jessica walked in as if she belonged there. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Jaina, Gunny, Captain,” she greeted every person in the room with a warm smile save one. If there was a thermometer in the room all the occupants could have watched it drop to arctic like temperatures as her gaze turned to Aeden and the brazen brunette bombshell still sitting astride his lap. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Aedan arched an eyebrow, his first instinct was to have the woman on his lap move. In fact he would love to have Jessica in her place, but her gaze told him all he needed to know. His informants told him she had been watching him a little, and this was proof she knew exactly what had been going on. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : She opened her mouth and then closed it as if deciding it was not worth extending him a greeting. Instead, she made her way to the table and the chair next to Gunny. “You’re in my seat, move,” Jessica snapped in a commanding tone to the raven beauty. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : The woman looked at Aedan, she knew to obey him and not Jessica and waited. Aedan smirked lightly, and nodded for her to move so Jessica could take a seat. This was clearly entertaining him, making her fall for him had worked better than he thought. She was clearly very jealous and needed to try and assert herself. He didn’t mind, he had already showed her what he felt on the beach for her. She would learn not to take what he did so to heart. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Taking the seat she moved it closer to Gunny. This move was purely tactical on Jessica’s part for two reasons. Since Gunny had the chair directly across from Aeden, Jessica wanted it to met his gaze head on. No matter what the future held for them, Jessica was going to make it clear that she would never be a simpering accessory with Aeden. Secondly, it was just to torment Aeden. “Deal me in,” she said not referring to anyone in general. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Well then, you think you can handle this?” he said, look at the girl on his lap he moved back to make her move off of him. If Jessica was going to deal in this just got interesting. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Then feigning a fake frown she turned to Gunny. “Gunny I seemed to have forgotten my wallet. I need some credits,” she wiggled her fingers waiting for him to provide what she requested. There was no way she was going to ask her boss and even less than a snowball’s chance she would asked Aeden. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Lt. Commander Jessica Vaughn XO : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Aedan smirked as she spoke to Gunny, it was cute what she was doing but he wouldn’t hold back on her. Granted he did get the impression the entire table was now against him. He survived worse odds. “Can’t be begging like a little puppy for scraps now sweetie… that’s rude to do at the table.” : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Excuse me. I will show you rude,” she glared infuriated with Aeden’s comment. Next Jessica did the most un-officer, un-lady like thing she could do in the situation. Pulling back her foot she kicked out taking her best aim at Aeden’s shin. The action was childish but Jessica could not just sit back and do nothing. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Lt. Commander Jessica Vaughn XO : : : : : : : : : : : : : : As her foot made impact Aedan felt a sharp pain but didn’t flinch, but people could hear the thud of the impact and would know she didn’t miss. “You know if you have something to say you can just say it… don’t let it bottle up like this puppy. We are among friends tell me how you really feel. Don’t be shy now.” as he said this a small smirk formed as he winked at her. He knew this was getting under her skin and the fact that she was showing she wanted him to pay attention to her and her alone made him smile inside. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller : : : : : : : : : : : : Gunny said nothing just laid her buyin on the table in front of her, then shrugged. It wasn’t that he didn’t like Aedan the man was likable enough. It was that Gunny distrusted everyone, and he didn’t like Aedan. : : : : : : : : : : : : Gunny : : : : : : : : : : “Puppy,” she spat out clearly mad at Aeden attempting to be charming instead of complaining about the blow to the shin. The pet name did not bother her as much as Aeden acting like things were just hunky dorey between them right now. “Mr. Teller if you would refer to me as Ms. Vaughn or Lt. Commander I would appreciate it.” Noticing Gunny gave her enough for a buy in into the game, Jessica began to arrange the chips into neat piles. As each chip clinked into place, Jessica became hotter and hotter at the thought of Aeden not noticing how mad she was. He should have at least given her a ‘hey what was that for’, or the polite ‘ouch’ when she kicked him. Instead he seemed to be enjoying the situation immensely. Jessica was about ready to see how far that smirk went. : : : : : : : : “Oh so very fiesty, I like.” he said, the grin on his face clearly enjoying the moment. He wasn’t trying to upset her, he knew she had every right to feel made. Image, that’s what Ms. Adams had told him, keep up your image. The truth was he liked being desired and cared by Jessica. His image didn’t mean nearly as much to him as she did. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Thank you Gunny,” she said moving her hand under the table to pat his knee. She could just have easily left it with a verbal response or kept her hands clearly visible but Jessica wanted Aeden to know he had peeved her. Maybe if he wondered where exactly her hand fell his dander might get up. : : : : : : : : Aedan couldn’t help but smile at her attempts to make him jealous. He knew she wanted him to jump at her for letting her hand wander under the table with Gunny next to her. The issue was he trusted her, as insane as it sounded with all he was doing to seemingly make her angry on purpose, he knew she would never do anything to truly try and hurt him. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : The cards were dealt out and several hands later Jessica had found herself in a predicament. Mathias had taken the first hand, Gunny the second. Jessica’s nose and forehead crinkled up and a frustrated expression as she watched Aeden rake in the pot for the third hand. While it was early in the game, Jessica now realized she was only one hand from being broke and forced to watch the game like one of Aeden’s beautiful baubles. She was not the best poker player and it was going to take a lot of money to keep her in the game. “I need more chips,” she wiggled her fingers at Aeden with the familiarity of years in a relationship, not a little over a month. She did not hide her eyes or have the graciousness to look ashamed for early earlier assault and now needed him. Jessica simply looked at him and waited for Teller to comply with her request. She was his girlfriend and this request was something her boyfriend should do without complaint. : : : : : : : : : : Lt. Commander Jessica Vaughn, XO : : : : : : : : “Oh really now you are gonna ask me, alright I will tell you what… side bet right now.” He said looking at the rest, he wasn’t going even bother asking if it was okay, he wasn’t one to ever ask that. : : : : : : “Side bet,” Jessica squealed indignantly standing up at the table. “I’m sleeping with you and you can’t give me 100 credits!” As soon as the words left her mouth, Jessica’s face went as red as her uniform shirt. Oh my God. Oh my God what did you just do? Don’t move. Just freeze, her inner voice took over in her mind. In no way did Aeden even suggest such a thing and yet somehow Jessica had taken herself and the entire table into the gutter with her comment. Trying to regain some semblance of dignity, she squared her shoulders, tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and sat back down. Okay Jess, just pretend you are dealing with a Ferengi or Klingon and regain control of the situation, she advised herself feeling the hot embarrassment turning into more the ‘you did not just do that’ silly feeling deep in her tummy. : : : : : : “What is the wager,” Jessica said attempting to sound commanding with a half embarrassed smirk on her face. The announcement was only shocking because she let her temper blurt it out at the table. She and Teller were consenting adults and only a fool would have thought they were playing checkers on the nights she bunked over. : : :: : : :: “You play me right here, cards we have, we just reveal it… you win I will give you something so amazing very few people have ever gotten from me, a heartfelt apology. I win, you move into my penthouse.” he said, looking at her with a small smile as he looked down at his cards, showing nothing as he did then back at her. His poker face wouldn’t give anything away, though he was curious if she would agree to his wager. : : : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller : : : : : : The room’s occupants began to disappear from Jessica’s perception. Only her and Teller seemed to fill the room. Without hesitation, she agreed. She was mad at Aeden but not ready to break up with him. They could discuss his behavior in a more private venue later and they would. Regardless of if she won or not, Aeden would apologize for bringing a bit of Vegas to a respectable poker game and tell her who was behind the idea. If given three guesses with the first two not counting Jessica would lay money down that her evil name sake twin Adams had at least a finger if not a hand in the display this evening. : : : : : : First things first, however, Jessica had to win this bet. Curiosity as to what Aeden was planning was far greater than the risk. Besides her hand could not be beaten. “On the count of three,” she said with a mischievous grin fanning her cards out ready to lay them down. : : : : : : Lt. Commander Jessica Vaughn, XO : : : : Aedan looked at his hand laying it down, he didn’t think he would loose… but it would be fun if she tied. “Royal Flush… what are the odds you have one too puppy?” he said, his lips turning into a small smirk as he watched, almost reveling in the idea of he squirming. She could only tie, and he knew it. Aedan didn’t bet if he was gonna loose ever. He waited, his breath slow wondering what she was gonna do next. : : : : “It’s okay to quit, and just say you want to move in. I will never say you lost to me… ever.” he said, almost taunting her as he did so. : : : : ~Aedan Teller : : : Gunny tossed his cards in folding. The play had not caught his attention, in fact it had become tedious. While he was learning quite a bit about Aedan Tellar, the more he learned the less he liked. Being used as a pawn by Jessica however was the final straw. Used as a pawn in an intelligence operation was one thing. It was part and parcel to his job. Being used in a lover’s spat was totally different. As quickly as it landed her hand was removed. : : “Ladies, Gents, enjoy your evening” he stated pushing his chair away from the table. : : Gunny The announcement snapped Jessica’s attention off Teller’s cards and their implication immediately even though her mind was filled with a cacophony of white noise. Her jealousy towards Teller with the women flaunting themselves in the room had caused her to come barging into the game with all the finesse of a fictional grandma wielding a rolling pin at a stubborn grandpa. Did she care that much about Teller or was she letting pride get in the way when she accepted the bet? She knew Teller did not see her as this months blue plate special, yet right now she was unsure if this was another test by him much like the swim suits. Did he expect her to jump up and down knowing she had the honor of living with him? Did he expect her to balk and put up a fight? Did he expect anything in her reaction to knowing his hand? Did he expect her to think this was an actual offer to move in furthering their relationship and not some joke he would explain the punchline to if she arrived with her belongings at his door? The question of where she would be sleeping every night needed a better answer than ace to ten in all of one suit. Looking around the room, Jessica was not embarrassed by her earlier actions. Gunny knew she was a hot head and the Captain knew she was not one to hold her tongue. What she didn’t want was to ruin everyone’s fun over a lovers spat. Looking at Gunny’s face she knew why he was mad. She had used him and it was wrong. Her apology to him was going to take more than a simple “I’m sorry” in a back room at Ferengi Jos. Jessica turned and dropped her cards on the table. Any other time a straight flush would have taken the hand. Tonight luck was not with her. “Stay Gunny,” Jessica said turning towards the door. “I just popped down here on a broom with my black cat in tow to say hi on a break. Maybe the witch in me needs to go make a potion of calm the heck down,” she smiled softly at him.

:

“She’s right, I shouldn’t have made it go this far. Please, stay.” Aedan said, and for a brief moment he seemed very sincere. He didn’t want to make enemies and he knew how close Gunny and Jessica were.

Locking eyes with Teller she nodded with a tight lipped grin. The conversation about her future sleeping arrangements and his choice of personal poker assistants would wait for another time also. She was experiencing too many emotions to think clearly on any rational conversation.

:

Aedan’s eyes arched, but he said nothing, but he felt his heart sink as he sat there. He wanted to comfort her, but he needed to be right. It felt like a battle inside him raging.

“We will talk later,” Jessica said in a neutral but not angry tone to Teller.

Aedan stood, he looked at her intently then his eyes gazed at the three women he brought. “Out.” he said, his tone neutral and the girls instantly got up.

:After nodding to the Captain and her sister, Jessica walked to the door. Lt.Commander Jessica Vaughn, XO

As the girls left he thanked each one briefly. He wasn’t going to make them feel bad for doing their job, this was all him. His behavior caused this and he knew he couldn’t just brush it off.

He looked as Jessica left, he felt a need to leave with her, but he had made a promise to Jania and he needed to make good on it.

Sitting back down he sighed and then smiled briefly. “Well? Where were we?” he asked.

~Aedan Teller

Jaina wasn’t sure what Aedan thought he was doing. “We were fixing to play poker, but I think you need to go make things right with my sister.” She said.

“In a moment, she needs to cool off, then I will.” he said, his voice sincere and his affection could be heard as he spoke.

:

: Jaina took a few steps toward the door and sighed. This wasn’t exactly how she had planned the evening, but when does anything ever go as planned. At that moment the sound of glass shattering caught Jaina off guard, in the neXT room. She rolled her eyes and shook her head as she turned to Gunny, the captain, and Aedan.

:

: Jaina Vaughn, CNS

“I’ll remind you, Mr. Teller. You were being manipulative and self-centered, the XO was severely lacking judgment, and the poker game was more of a debacle than anything else.” Mathias clearly wasn’t pleased at any of it.

:

Aedan smirked, his mood had mellowed till this point. He had begun to question his motives but something the captain said struck a nerve. Aedan wasn’t one to mince words, or try to hide how he felt and whatever calm had come over him. “Oh I am being manipulative and self-centered? Really is that your personal diagnosis? Did you get a degree in some quasi pseudo science in Starfleet I wasn’t aware of? Isn’t that just precious.”

Mathias continued, “I think, perhaps, I underestimated you, Mr. Teller. Don’t expect it to happen again. And I wouldn’t expect the captain of this station to stand idly by and watch his XO, or another of his officers, get treated in such a way by the likes of you.” He rose to his feet and backed away from the table. “Good evening,” he said before heading to exit the room.

Captain McGarrett, CO

“Oh don’t go away mad hon,just go away.” Teller said as he rolled his eyes and got up from the table. He had enough of the night and bowed at Jania.

“I’ll make it up to you later, you aren’t wrong though I do need to talk to your sister…” he said, his tone had since gone to almost a cold but his eyes seemed to betray something behind it.

Exiting the bar he found Jessica, he sighed briefly before rolling his eyes. He wasn’t sure how he wanted to handle this, he wasn’t use to being close to someone and he hated to say he was wrong.

Jessica sat at the bar drumming her nails waiting for the barkeep to make his way down to her. Even though at Bork’s you might die of dehydration, you typically were served faster than at Ferengi Jo’s. Her mind raced analyzing the events of the past thrity minutes. Her grandmother had warned her that men were toruble and old Nana had not been wrong. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Any other parties you’re planning to crash?” : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :I hear there is a bar mitzvah going on for the Sandler kid… I think Ms Adams said he was the son of some crew men, you can go there and steal his presents.” he said his tone of his voice not getting any warmer as he stood there, arms crossed as he looked at her sternly. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : The familiar voice snapped her attention squarely on Teller. Any other time his comment would have broken her down to a fit of laughter; however, tonight proved Aeden didn’t need her the way he should. As funny and charming as Aeden could be, Jessica was not going to let a witty comment clean the slate. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Yeah, you know of one. I figured maybe you could hook me up with a cadre of sexy men. You think you could do that for me....hon,” she spat the last word out challengingly before rising up on her stool to glance down the bar. “Mel, what does it take to get a drink around here,” Jessica belted out raising her hands annoyed. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Hold your horses, Vaughn,” the man waved her off filling a different drink order. “It’s coming.” : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Before I die I hope,” she countered taking her seat again. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Lt. Commander Jessica Vaughn, XO : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Okay, I had that coming… but the he hell do you think you are doing? Belay that drink order… she can’t have any right?” he said as he looked at her, his eyes stern but they seemed to have a very subtle hint behind them, almost of knowing. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Jessica instantly froze hearing the choice of words leaving Aeden’s mouth. Her heart raced and she could feel the air sucked from her lungs. Jessica looked at Aeden opening her mouth slightly yet not finding any combination of words to reply. Her eyes darted over his face searching them to find any hint of the secret she was keeping. Jessica relax. He is fishing. That is all it is. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ‘You know that will kill her,” Mel said sliding a cup of coffee in front of Jessica. The entry of another party into the conversation made Jessica jump some visibly in her seat as she broke from her inner monologuing. “Not going without coffee for ten minutes I mean. your boyfriend is right though. You should cut down,” he winked as Jess with a friendly grin. “And next time,” he pointed a finger at her sternly, “wait your turn. Didn’t you go to kindergarten?” Jessica rolled her eyes and stared deep into her coffee with an expression of being lost in thought. The reality was her mind was a chaotic storm of questions. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Look all men hate pouting girls. Just ignore him. Stare at your coffee and give one of those passive aggressive shoulder shrugs. He will get fed up and move on faster than you think possible. You know this. Stick to the plan Jess. Aeden is not the sticking around type she told herself calmly hoping to strengthen her resolve to get out to this particular conversation. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “So… you going to tell me why you felt the need for this display? It can’t be cause of them. I have done more bonehead stuff than that.” he said as he sat down next to her. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Jessica looked over her shoulder spying the women from the party. “You’re not married. You can do what you want. I mean if you liked it you would have put a ring on it,” she weakly sang the lyrics of a once popular song. She even threw in a lackluster head bob with a forced cheesy grin. One glance at his face and Jessica knew he would not buy it. She had only one recourse left: Convince Teller she was fine by acting like a lady and hiding her crazy. “Here’s the thing Aeden, it was a pretty bone head move. You are with me not them. I mean I think you are with me,” she looked at her cup saying the last sentence. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : After a deep breath, she turned her attention back to Aeden’s face. “And you are not a smooth talking playboy. I hate when you try to act like that. I didn’t fall in love with you for anything you have. I just fell in love with you for the man you are so don’t try to be anyone different okay.” : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : This was not the conversation she expected to have but one she felt Aeden needed to hear. There was no way they could ever make it work if Teller expected to continue with his ‘girl on each arm and ten in every port’ persona. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :”Do you have something to tell me puppy?” he asked her softly, he needed to know for certain. He couldn’t say outright without her knowing, but if she told him he didn’t snoop on her. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “I’m gonna....You are…We need to…” she started the sentence three times and all three times fell short. Jessica licked her lips not sure what to say. This was her issue, not his. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Lt. Commander Jessica Vaughn, XO : : : : : : : : : : : : “We are together and yes, I love you. I do, you are my puppy are the only one I want to focus on” Aedan said, a white lie to an extent. He had no intention of doing anything with anyone, anyone expect perhaps Ms Adams. : : : : : : : : : : : : “Just tell me, your accident. You seemed so startled, scared even as you came back. Baby doll you can tell me anything, so what is it?” : : : : : : : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller : : : : : : : : : : The million ways she rehearsed her words to him disappeared in an instant. Jessica felt the room spinning and her chest tightening like a vice was squeezing the life out of her. It wasn’t the news that was bothering her so much in this moment but the atmosphere. They were at a bar. A loud and obnoxious joint with the scent of beer and burgers hanging thick in the air. : : : : : : : : : : “That you’re right. That we need to talk about something important. Just not here okay,” she hugged the truth with cautious words. What she had to say was amazingly special regardless of how things ended up between them. She wanted to tell him anywhere as long as it was not here. : : : : : : : : : : Lt. Commander Jessica Vaughn, XO : : : : : : : : “Fine, I am gonna go to my penthouse. I am gonna play some music, I am gonna drink… and I will wait for you to come tell me. Then we can talk about the bet too…” he said as he moved over to her, leaning in he kissed her softly before letting her go. : : : : : : Jessica opened her eyes as his lips left hers and processed his words : : : : : : : She needed time, and he felt it was right to give it to her. : : : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller : : : : : : “You weren’t actually serious about me moving in,” Jessica gave him a quizzical smile. “We’re you?” : : : : : : Lt commander Jessica Vaughn. Xo : : : : “I’ll see you at my place and we can talk about it Blue.” he said, smirk crossing his lips. : : : : ~Aedan Teller : : “I am not moving in with you,” Jessica met his smile with one of her own. “I mean who does that. I could be a horrible slob. I could snore like a freight train. I could sit around all day in a pair of worn out sweats with no make, eating a bag Doritos, and leaving crumbs in your couch,” Jessica half joked but was half serious. “Aeden, you have no idea what it would be like to live with me,”Jessica laughed looking at his face. Her brow slowly started to wrinkle in confusion as her tummy began to do flip flops. Was the look on his face teasing amusement or self assured confidence at not accepting no as an answer. : : Lt commander Jessica Vaughn. XO Aedan turned around, clearly hearing her pleas on deaf ears he just waved goodbye as he walked away. ~Aedan Teller

“Teller! Teller! You dont just walk out when I am,” she let her words trail off as he walked out of the bar. “He just walked out,” Jessica turned back to Mel with an astonished look on her face.

“Yes, he did,” Mel grinned at her. “And he is one heck of a tipper. Do me a favor? Don’t break up with him for another month. At this rate,” Mel pockets the 100 credit note for Jessica’s coffee, “I can finally take that vacation.”

Jessica rolled her eyes and exhaled loudly. She would deal with Aeden later. Right now she had somewhere to be. “See you, Mel,” Jessica said exiting Ferengi Joe’s.

Lt. COmmander Jessica Vaughn, XO

Anyone coming by this part of the outpost would have heard a small rumble going on. Men with boxes of items had been coming and going from Aedan’s penthouse, only brief sounds of music reverberating as they opened the door could be heard. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : A couple hours had passed since Aedan let Jessica think back at the bar. He was in his home with people moving around, furniture was being changed and Jessica Adams and a cadre of what seemed interior designers were changing small details of his place. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Computer, play Jessica Mix.” he said, a small smirk on his face as he looked over at Ms Adams. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “What I can’t have some fun?” he said as she shook her head, rolling her eyes as she opened a new box of items. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “She is going to kill you, or me.” she said as she find this box was filled with underwear, female underwear. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ==================== : : : : : : : : : : At the other end of the Outpost : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Jessica arrived back at her apartment feeling far more relaxed than she was when she left it. The time with Duncan had been invigorating. Well, that was the word she would use to describe her first lesson with Duncan. The handsome science officer probably would have a far more extensive litany of adjectives to describe being her flight instructor. Jessica knew she had pressed the patient, mild-mannered Rhodes into almost in a panic several times. She knew the smile she wore remembering him screaming “pull up, pull up, pull up,” would have been met with a stern glare and a disapproving headshake; however, that was just Duncan. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Reaching her room, Jessica palmed the lock of her door and walked in. At first, she didn’t notice anything was missing. That was until she tried to flop down in her favorite easy chair. “What the,” she mumbled. Jessica experienced a feeling of disbelief course through her body as she stared at the vacant room. Nothing was in there. Not a scrap of paper or dirty coffee cup. The room even more, barren than the first time she arrived at the station. At least then she had a duffel bag with her carrying a few of her possessions. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Aeden,” she yelled out feeling her temper start to rise. The man had to have known it was a joke. He had to have known it was just her ego talking when she agreed to accept his bet. Reaching up Jessica activated for comm badge. =/\=Aiden.... honey.... where is my stuff =/\= she said sweetly with a hint of fire behind her words : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Lt. Commander Jessica Vaughn XO : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Aedan heard the call and shook his head. “Computer reject all calls from Lieutenant Commander Jessica Vaughn” he said as he looked over at Ms Adams as she glared at him. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ======== : : : : : : : : XO quarters : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : /=\What,/=\ Jessica yelped stunned that he would issue such a command. /=\ Aeden don’t you dare. You can’t just switch off a comm badge. I order you to.... Aeden… Aeden! /=\ She repeated getting louder and louder as she realized the comm line was dead. “He hung up on me,” she said out loud to the empty room. “He can’t do that,” Jessica stated again out loud. This time however a voice replied back. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Um yes he can toots. He is not Starfleet. He can block or turn off any call he wants to and there is not a darn thing you can do about it, her inner voice reasoned. This subconscious realization created a dumbfounded look on her face. Dating Teller was not going to be like dating a Starfleet officer. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Ugh, I swear to God you had better request the computer to barricade your doors,” Jessica growled as she turned on her heel and exited her quarters. “Because when I get a hold of you I am going to kill you.” : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ============= : : : : : : : : Teller’s Penthouse : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “I am glad you and are never officially dated, if this is what you do to those you love I am perfect with our partnership she said as she glared disapprovingly : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “She should have told me.” He said pointedly as he throw a pillow at her. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : As the pillow hit her she threw one back. “I will not let anyone from OMAP save you if she kills you.” She commented as she took the box in the back. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Jessica exited the turbo still fuming. Not looking where she was going, Jessica ran into the back of a man. “Sorry,” she mumbled stepping around him. She was so angry she did not see or notice at first the corridor was filled will several men wearing the same work clothes. As her pace carried her closer to Teller’s door she noticed that they resembled six-foot brown ants entering and exiting the very quarters she was heading towards. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Excuse me ma’am,” a man said passing her carrying a box. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Wait wait,” Jessica reached out yanking the box back towards her. “You have got to be kidding me,” she groaned loudly pulling the two foot tall ‘West Dallas Overall Champion’ dance trophy form the box. “Give me that,” she yanked the box out of the man’s hand and headed full steam into the penthouse. “Aeden,” she yelled looking around the room with a box on her hip. “What the heck is…is…,” she stopped mid sentence hearing the song playing in the room. “Are you saying I need job? ” Jessica scanned the room locking her eyes on Aeden. Finding him she glared hard. “I have a job and quarters. Give me that,” Jessica grabbed at another box entering the room. The movement dropped the box on her hip. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Lt. Commander Jessica Vaughn XO : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Computer music off,” Jessica snapped, “and give me that,” she yanked the box from the mover’s hand. The man cast a glance around the room searching for his employer. Obviously, this was the woman’s belongings but she had not paid him to complete a job. Until he got the okay from Teller, Bob the mover was going to continue the job he was paid to do. : : : : : : : : : : “He is just doing his job, you are going to give the main grief for honest work?” He asked, his tone was neutral but his smirk spoke volumes. He was enjoying this and didn’t play to stop. : : : : : : : : : : : “I swear to God I will call Starfleet security....iiiiiif....you don’t,” Jessica tugged at the box in his hands, “give it…to....meeee,” she yanked one time harder and the smooth surface of the box slipped from his hands. The force at which Jessica was pulling backward coupled with the forward action of the box, sent Jessica stumbling backward a few steps. : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Computer, skip track,” Aedan said as he looked down at her, smiling softly. His entrance gave an imposing foyer, two stairs lead up on the sides to the top floor where he stood above. : : : : : : : : : : : : : “What do you think you are doing,” Jessica ranted waving her arms furiously as if she was trying to hail a ground vehicle instead of talking to another human being. “This…this is not normal Aeden. Normal people don’t do this!” : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Oh sweetheart I left normal when I become an orphan billionaire. I Bruced the hell of my life. Should have been a Wayne.” He said before the lyrics kicked on. : : : : : : : : : : : “You lie about you, and you lie about me : : : : : : : You lie about your ex’s and the STDs : : : : : : : : : : : : “Ugh really,” she groaned as she got her bearings. Putting her hands on her hips, Jessica looked up at Aeden as the song played. “You are about to be an ex and I’m from Texas you idiot,” Jessica bent down to begin tossing the few items that spilled out from the dropped box. She knew the lyrics of this song also and the next verse that was about to be sung. : : : : : : : : : : : : : You grew up rich in the Florida Keys : : : : : : : : : : : : “Texas! Texas” she yelled just to punctuate the point.” : : : : : : : : : : : : : You lie about everything : : : : : : : : : : : : : “I lied about saying I loved you,” she snapped singing to the tune of the song. Instantly she felt a pang of guilt. Neither of them had said that word. Maybe she had felt it or thought she did but after this Teller had a snowball’s chance in Hell of hearing it. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “I know you did baby.” Aedan said, his voice soft and almost a lovers tone despite sarcastic feeling as he spoke the words. : : : : : : “Well, it is not like you are a fountain of perpetual truth and don’t call me that,” Jessica said feeling an edgy anxiety creep up her spine and spread throughout her body. : : : : “What baby? Oh but you are baby doll.” he said, smirking widely. : : : : : : : : : : : You lie about a BABY being on the way : : : : : : : : : : : : : As the lyrics played Aedan smirked, he was signing softly along as if he had no care in the world as he took the box off the balcony he was sorting above her and walked into the living room. As the verse came to the baby part he seemed to almost shout the line out as he laid on the couch, the fireplace roaring as he did. : : : : : : : : : : : : This lyric froze Jessica in her tracks like a marble statue. She felt the air sucked from her lungs and fought the urge find his eyes. If she looked him in the eyes, Jessica knew leaving him would be even harder. : : : : : : Jessica’s head sang the lyric again and stuck on a single word. Baby. No other word had ever scared her more. Sure she knew that she could take care of it but there were so many unknowns. She was not going to deal with it tonight, however. Tonight Jessica was only going to get her stuff back and then sleep. Just like Scarlet O’Hara the baby issue would be something she thought about tomorrow. : : : : : : : : : : : : : You lie to yourself if you think I’ll stay : : : : : : : It’s just a big game I don’t wanna play : : : : : : : You lie about everything” : : : : : : : : : : : : : As her hands went on slow autopilot as her mind stopped thinking and went blank. A foggy haze filled her mind. So far this song was semi the truth about their relationship. The last lyric she heard, ‘You lie to yourself if you think I’ll stay’, repeated over and over in her mind. Jessica! He only wants to put you in your place. He thinks he knows everything but he has no proof. Get your stuff and get out her inner voice calmly stated giving her something to finally focus on. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “I won, remember?” he shouted out to her, fully expecting her to be following him. : : : : : : : : : : : : Jessica picked up the trophy and debated if bludgeoning him to death could be sold to a judge and jury as the reason for her moment of temporary insanity. Teller was so confidently arrogant that he knew her next move. Jessica would not let events turn out that way the smug buster thought they would. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Ms. Adams watched in horror as the lyrics played off, she looked over at Aedan then back at Jessica. Shaking her head she put the box down and set it at the edge of the balcony area. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “He’s all yours, just make sure he can walk.” she said as he left the quarters, the men who were carrying boxes took the cue and dropped everything where it was and left out with her. : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Now you go,” Jessica yelled at Adams. “Your timing is atrocious.” Seeing the men set down the various boxes and crate made Jessica do a double take. “No no no no no,” she ranted like a furious three-year-old. “Everyone back to work. Get this crap back in the boxes and to my quarters,” she yelled to the men’s backs as they left. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : “Ignore the hot crazy lady if any of you expect a paycheck. She is just a sore loser and can’t respect my superiority.” he told them, not seeming to miss a step as he went on with his work, his back to her as he sat in the couch. : : : : : : “This is not a game Aeden. We are talking about two people’s lives here,” Jessica blurted out not thinking. As soon as the words left her mouth, Jessica knew she had to correct them subtlely with word play. “Yours and mine,” she quickly glossed over the slip. : : : : “Yes, of course… nothing else at all.” Aedan said as he seemed to ignore her pleas. : : : : : : : : : : : : : The song continued to blare as Aedan seemed oblivious to it all. “Where do you want this picture?” he asked, looking in the box of all her mementos. He was still humming to the beat of the song, interjecting a brief you lie about everything here and there, perfectly within ear shot of Jessica. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller : : : : : : : : : : : : “Up your arse for starters,” Jessica walked over to Aeden staring at the painting. Turning to Aeden she faced him with a scowl. “I am not moving in with you. Heck I am trying to figure out how to not share the same air supply in this tin can right now with you so why on Earth would I ever consider living in this....this,” she wanted to use the word hovel but in no way could she. This place was luxury beyond belief. She had to find some way however to insult it. “This this den of decadence.” The word was not right but then again she was not thinking clearly. : : : : : : : : : : : : Lt. Commander Jessica Vaughn XO : : : : : : : : “Honey your DNA is on half the edges of this den of decadence. In fact aren’t those your fingerprints on my marble counter tops?” He asked her as he got up putting the picture on the mantle as he turned to face her. : : “What do you own a forensic team,” Jessica said flustered. This situation was getting way out of control. She had come here to get her stuff and talk. Aeden, however, was not cooperating. “Aeden we,” she started again but was interrupted by Teller admiring the newest addition to his art collection. : : : : : : : : “Seems much better than my arse don’t you think? : : “Aeden, take that down. I painted that in the seventh grade. It looks ridiculous,” Jessica said shaking her head at the painting. “I mean it. Take it down. : If I am going to live here don’t I have a chance to say what I like or not?” “Of course you get a say, but that isn’t the point now is it?” he said as he walked past her. : : :::”Besides puppy you could have had a chance to speak up if you just came back here but someone decided it was better to go gallivanting with Duncan then come home to her boyfriend, whom I might add professes such sweet love to. Forgive me if I hurt your delicate sensibilities.” As he spoke he dug into the box, it seemed to be another trophy of hers. : : Jessica opened her mouth to spit back a retort but instead did not say a word. She looked away trying to get her thoughts in order. Aeden used the word boyfriend and now in her predicament, she guessed it was the right word. Jessica couldn’t just call him some guy she dated but the word boyfriend now made it seem so permanent. : : : : : : : : “Did you just rob the trophy store for these, no one could have won them all.” He said as he looked over at her and she would see for perhaps the first moment the tinge of hurt behind his eyes. : : “Duncan and I are close friends. Like us,” she finally managed to say. : “Oh like us you say puppy? Really? Just like us?” he said as he looked over at her pointedly. He didn’t have to say the words, he was making his point perfectly without saying anything. : ::: He felt like she betrayed him. She has been lying about so much and now she expects him to accept an evening out with Duncan like it was no big deal. : : : : : : : : “Computer play next song.” He commanded. : : : : : : : : “Met a girl, thought she was grand : : : : Fell in love, found out first hand : : : : Went well for a week or two : : : : Then it all came unglued” : : : : : : : : “Haven’t we all” Aedan said as he opened another box finding picture books and keepsakes. He seemed to be non pulsed but his anger was beginning to boil under him : : : : : Jessica could see that Aeden was ready to snap. It wasn’t hard when you knew what signs to look for and she had spent enough time with him to know that his carefully cultivated exterior was not as callous as he wanted people to see. “Aeden,” she started trying a softer tone and taking a seat on the couch. “Look I think we need to talk.” : Aedan said nothing, he wasn’t in the mood and he had a lot of work to do. If she wasn’t going to help he could do this all on his own. : : : : “In a trap trip I can’t grip : : : : Never thought I’d be the one who’d slip : : : : Then I started to realize : : : : I was living one big lie” : : : : : : : : “She certainly does hate me…” Aedan said as he looked over at her, finishing the line in a far more polite manner than the original. : : : : : : : : “So you know any good place for this? Looks like baby pictures. Who doesn’t love a baby?” Aedan said with an icy tone as he glanced over at Jessica. His eyes told her he knew something she wasn’t telling, but it would be a cold day in hell before he said anything. : : : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller : :
“Stop it. Stop with the baby and baby talk and the not so hidden innuendos,” Jessica yelled standing up from the couch. She felt her temper rising and knew this was not the time to lose her cool. “Aeden I’m....I’m,” she felt her chest ache as if she was struggling to breathe as her gaze on Teller still going through the box.
: : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : “I can’t do this,” Jessica said standing up and heading towards the door. She got to the twin staircases before she turned back to face him. Jessica owed him a reason as to why she was ending whatever it was they had for now. Things had happened too fast and she needed time to think.
: : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : Lt. Commander Jessica Vaughn, XO
: : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : Aedan heard her words, and for the first time she had arrived he felt his blood boil to a point he hadn’t expected. “Can’t do what?” he yelled at her, his voice had lost every trace of calm composure, he was angry and she was going to see just how he felt in these moments. He walked over to her his eyes fierce, flashes of anger and hurt shining through them. In his hand he held the trophy she had tightly, almost as if he was brandishing it.
: : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : “Aedan I can’t,” she said in half a whisper and half a pleading tone. His tone was furious but deep down she knew he was just all bluster. He could yell at her until the cows came home as her dad would say and that would be it. While Aeden might think this display of anger would unsettle her, Jessica was well prepared for events like this. She went through the Academy for God’s sake. Being yelled at was a daily occurrence in your freshman year there and compared to a few of the drill sergeants, Aeden was nothing.
: : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : “Can’t what huh? Be we with me?”
: : : : :
: : : : : “Be with you? That’s rich coming from a guy who just flaunted three women like grilled scallops wrapped in Prosciutto hors-d’oeuvres at a poker game with my friend, my boss, and my sister,” Jessica ranted yet Teller continued to talk over her as if her comment was an internal thought and not the reason she was breaking up with him.
: : : : :
: : : : : :::: “Open up? Give me one damn moment of honesty?”
: : : : :
: : : : : “You want honest,” Jessica belted back feeling her body almost shake with rage. “How about this sport. The more I get to know you the more I find you are just a blip on my radar. You are amusing and nothing more,” she spat back in anger. This conversation was quickly turning into a sparring match of who can be the biggest arse and who was the one slighted the most. She wasn’t sure if the barrage of questions he was throwing at her was heartfelt or not. What she did know was that her world had spun violently off course since the moment the Sabre docked at the Outpost. She needed time to get back on track and figure things out; however, living here, with him was not the place to do that. If Aedan would not accept her choice of not moving in with him, Jessica would find a way to make him rescind the invitation.
: : : : :
: : : : : “You are so damn egotistical. You think every woman is just dying to be with you the second you show up somewhere. The truth is your arm candy only wants you for what you can give them.” The words stung leaving lips, yet Jessica could not stop now. While what she was saying was true based on the type of women she observed flocking around Teller, it was not the way she felt. She was already in too deep though to quit now. If Jessica could make Teller hate her then he would not stop her from walking out that door. She could make amends later when her head was clearer. Right now she needed Aedan to let his door hit her in the arse as she walked out.
: : : : :
: : : : : “Give them a smile, buy them a fancy dress, tell them all the things you think they want to hear,” Jessica fired back with a litany of replies she knew would set Aedan off and cause him to walk away. “Well guess what? You have given me nothing but headaches and crap since the moment I laid eyes on you.” Her words felt like a sucker punch to her gut as she spoke them. She felt sick and nauseous but Jessica was not the type of women to break down into hysterics during a fight. She would cry later in the privacy of her quarters or some other secluded location. Right now she was running on pure adrenaline. Jessica’s body showed her anger with him. The tension radiated off her in almost palpable waves. The only tell, to use a poker term, that her words were false was that she could not make eye contact with him. “I can’t do this anymore!”
: : : : :
: : : : : :::: “I have tried to give you every thing and it’s not enough is it? So tell me what you CAN’T DO!” he screamed the last part at her as his teeth bared before he threw the trophy to his side, hitting his glass shelf as books, pictures and mementos came crashing down on the ground in a cacophony of shattered glass.
: : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : The glass shattering made her react instantly by covering her face with her hand and turning away. The yelling she expected. The raw display of anger was something else. Something Jessica was not prepared for. People like Aeden only became unhinged like this when they hit their breaking point and people like Aeden did not break. They hid their true feelings under a thick layer of bravado and sarcasm keeping the world away. Nothing cracked the stony exterior and when something or someone did, Jessica had learned to give them wide berth. As the last of the glass shards settled on the cold marble floor, Jessica dared to look back. Her heart raced not out of fear of him but more from understanding how far she had pushed him. Aeden was not a man used to losing anything. It never dawned on her, the man standing before her, still radiating pure fury, could have been hurt by the way she had begun to break the news to him. Licking her lips to fill the space where words should have been, Jessica’s eyes darted across his face searching for a way to fix this.
: : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : It became quite as he stared at her, he said nothing for a long time before he began to speak again. “Can’t love me? Cause I fell in love with my cowgirl from Texas a long time ago… and you know what if you can’t start being honest and loyal to me, then maybe you’re right maybe you don’t have a place in this home or my life. I can’t be with someone I love who can’t even pretend to care or honest with me.” he said as he turned around pacing for a moment. He seemed to be collecting his before he looked back at her.
: : : : :
: : : : : His statement that ‘you don’t have a place in this home or my life’ echoed in her mind and sent her reeling. What have I done. I made him hate me and now I lost him. Jessica felt her heart sink as she watched Aedan pace. There was so much she didn’t know about the man before her yet she intimately knew the expression on his face. Aedan was thinking and coming up with a decision. Once he had made this decision nothing would change his mind from his course of action. The worst part was Jessica had meant none of what she had said to him during the fight. It was simply her way to make him angry and for her to slink off. Albeit a cowardly way, but a way. Hearing Aedan say what Jessica thought she wanted to hear moments ago threatened to break her. Her legs felt watery as the sound of her heartbeat filled her ears. Jessica might not know for sure what she wanted in her future but she did know what she wanted in her present. Jessica did not want to lose Aedan. She had to fix this. “Baby.... if I could,” she felt her chest tighten as she tried to interject. Aedan ignored her comment and kept talking.
: : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : :”All the time with Duncan and Gunny, the accident you tried to keep so quiet about, what did you learn Jessica? What don’t you wanna tell me? Prove to me I am not some fool who fell in love. I don’t do love often…” the last phrase was almost more to himself as he looked at her, his face softening as he looked deep in her eyes, he was searching himself as much as he was her in this moment.
: : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : ~Aedan Teller
: : : : : : : :
: : : : : Jessica took a deep breath. It was time, to be honest with Aedan regardless of how nervous she was revealing the truth.
: : : : :
: : : : : : : : “Aedan loving you is not the problem,” Jessica said reaching out to take his hand in hers. “Loving you is easy. It is living with you. Making a life with you. And yes, that scares the hell out of me. You have this great life, no responsibilities. You just met me. You don’t need me. Your world is not going to quit spinning if I walked out that door. Yes, we feel something for each other but…but,” Jessica stuttered on the words, “but I don’t want you to settle on me because of some misplaced sense of honor.”
: : : : :
: : : : : It was time to tell him the truth. Six weeks ago their lives intersected and created a new path. Now it was time to find out if this path was one they traveled together or simply followed each other on a parallel course.
: : : : :
: : : : : :::”I need you to love me because of me and not because I am going to have your baby,” Jessica said feeling the words choke in her throat. She felt the world spinning and grabbed the rail lowering herself to a step. She had to sit down. If she didn’t Jessica would pass out. She rehearsed how she was telling him a million different ways. None of them, however, involved moving boxes, three buxom escorts, shattering shelves, or angry words. Turning her feet in and playing with a nail, she pressed on feeling like a teen and not a grown woman. Aedan did deserve an answer to why she hid the truth from him even if it was a lame one.
: : : : : : : :
: : : : : : :
: : : : : : : She told him, finally he had heard the words he had wanted out of her for such a long time. He felt a pang of guilt in some ways, Ms Adams brought him the information cause of his original desire to snoop on every detail Jessica did. It seemed so long ago since he moved to the outpost, in reality it had only been two months. Ever since he had begun to fall in love with Jessica he had questioned everything, the spying, the overall plan to use her like him and Garviz planned out. Whatever plans he had for her had long since gotten thrown to the side and being with her became far more important. Baby or no baby, he was falling in love with her.
: : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : “I wanted to tell you in the bar but I felt it needed to be more special…personal. I mean this is your baby,” her voice grew softer. “This is going to be a pigtailed version of me with your humor or a sexy as heck version of you with my dazzling intellect,” Jessica tried to lighten the tone with a bit of humor. Maybe there was a way to salvage this event between them and have it be a pleasant memory they loved to think about. Jessica glanced around the room looking anywhere but Aedan’s eyes. Absentmindedly, she put a hand on her tummy as if needing to protect this part of her from the world.
: : : : :
: : : : : : : “Why did you think this would have changed how I feel about you? What else can I possibly do to show you how crazy I am about you?” he asked her softly as he looked down as she held his hand he moved hers up so he could kiss them softly as he gazed at her.
: : : : : : :
: : : : : “This is not about me or how much you love me. It is about my baby....I mean our baby,” Jessica replied almost desperately trying to get used to saying it out loud. “Aedan,” she swallowed hard and looked deep into his eyes. All the anger had dissipated but Jessica needed to make sure Aedan clearly understood what she was going to say next. She pulled her hand from his so he would not feel it shake and betray how nervous she was. “You are not looking to settle down nor do you want to raise a family. I am okay with that. You are Aedan Teller,” she let out a nervous bubble of laughter. “Sentient’s Quarterly most eligible Bachelor for the past three years. I understand how much you love your lifestyle. I loved the fun and excitement of it but…I,” her voice trambled a bit, “I am going to be a mommy,” she gave him a small smile. “I won’t have time to keep up with dinners at midnight and spontaneous getaways. So tell me again how I am going to fit in with the life you have?” Her tone was soft but slightly inquisitive. Maybe she wanted to hear Aedan tell her she was crazy; however, Jessica mentally prepared for a different answer.
: : : : : : : :
: : : : : : :
: : : : : : : Aedan watched her softly, her behavior made sense, he knew it and as angry as he had been now he wanted nothing more but to love and cherish her every day. As she turned her head he gently put his hand under her cheek to turn her back, she would see that soft loving looking behind his eyes as he smiled softly.
: : : : : : :
: : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : “Things had happened too fast between us Aeden and I needed time to think. I never planned to not tell you it was just how I was going to tell you because I didn’t want to be the girl that trapped you. I wanted to be the girl that you took into your arms, twirled around, and then told me I made you the happiest man in the world.”
: : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : Letting out a deep sigh, Jessica waited for Aeden’s to respond.
: : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : Lt. Commander Jessica Vaughn, XO
: : : : : : :
: : : : : : : “Oh puppy, you still are… this changed nothing.”
: : : : :
: : : : : Jessica looked at him with an exasperated expression. He had to see how this was going to change their lives or maybe he didn’t. His comment sent her mind reeling. “Aedan haven’t you heard a single thing I’ve said for the past five minutes?”
: : : : :
: : : : : ::”Okay it changed a lot of things, but it didn’t change how I felt love. We have been dating for little over 2 months, that night on the beach was 6 weeks ago, but falling in love with you… that happened that night as well. I assume that is when you got pregnant, unless you found out super early in the pregnancy.” he said smiling softly as he pulled her close, letting her feel safe and secure in his arms.
: : : : : : :
: : : : : Jessica did not resist being brought into his arms. She melted into his body laying her head on his chest. The soft rhythmic thump of his heart settled her. Jessica closed her eyes and stopped speaking. His arms felt good around her.
: : : : :
: : : : : : : “I love you Jessica Vaughn, before I knew what hit me you stole my heart away. Few people have ever done that to me, and none as quickly as you. I know I am not perfect but I am here for you, for us. I will always protect my lover regardless of a baby or no baby.” Aedan said softly as he let her rest her head in his chest as he softly caressed her blonde locks. He needed her to feel safe, secure in this moment.
: : : : : : :
: : : : : Jessica tightened her grip around his body as she felt her eyes begin to blur. It was not tears of happiness or sadness but simply stress. Either way, she would not let him see her like this. Adjusting her grip, Jessica moved her arms from arounds Aedan’s wasit to around his neck. She had to rise up on her toes to nestle her head on his shoulder but it kept Aedan’s gaze off her face. Jessica took several deep breaths getting her emotions under control. The seconds stretched on and as much as she wanted to remain in his arms pretending things were fine, Jessica couldn’t. She released her grip on him and leaned back so that she could look Aedan in the eyes.
: : : : :
: : : : : “I don’t need perfect. I just need you,” she said softly raising up on her toes again ans kissing his lips softly. The gesture felt so natural. Like she had done this for sixty years instead of six weeks. Breaking the kiss she looked up into eyes, “and time to figure things out,” she added. “That is why we can’t rush bunking up together. We need to think more clearly. Weight the options and make rational decisions…right,” Jessica prayed Aedan understood what she was getting at.
: : : : :
: : : : : Lt. Commander Jessica Vaughn XO
: : : :
: : : : “Honey, a wager must be honored. How about this, the penthouse suite is huge, 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 3 offices… not to mention two kitchens and several living spaces. I will give you your own little area, you can have your own bedroom and bath and even an office area. Simple, easy… you will be able to have your own little corner here. We can work out the rest in time take it easy, we love each other and that is not something I have felt for many,” he said, the timber of voice soft as he leaned in kissing her again. What am I doing? came Aedan’s inner voice, he was feeling a but of apprehension as he held her close.
: : :
: : : She let his kiss fill the space for words. Right now she did not have any. Jessica wasn’t sure about Aedan’s plan for her to move in and play house. That was what had gotten them into this predicament. Still, his flippant initial response of a wager having to be honored spoke volumes to her. He made it sound as if this was all some big joke but Jessica knew Aedan far better than anyone else on the Outpost. Jessica was pretty good at reading people from all her years in the intelligence field and Aedan Teller was scared or at least in the initial stage of shock. This might have been the first curveball thrown his way that Aedan could not buy, talk, or scheme his way out of. Aedan wasn’t ready for this any more than she was. Part of her was glad he had not come up with some sappy reply begging her to stay. If he had, she would not have believed it. That was not the Aedan Teller she had fallen in love with.
: : : :
: : : : He loved her, he knew this but a baby was never the plan. Yet part of him felt so at ease in the idea. He didn’t want to loose her, and this just sped things up a bit. Despite this, he couldn’t fathom a scenario where this played out. She wasn’t wrong he was used to lavish trip and parties, you can’t do that with a kid. He knew nothing of being a parent, he never had his own and he learned early to fend for himself. Yet despite all this fear, and apprehension part of him felt a joy overwhelm him.
: : : :
: : : As their kiss broke, Jessica looked into his eyes gently caressing the back of his neck with her fingertips. “Hey....everything is going to be fine,” she said softly. “Don’t worry. I got this and had a few more days to process this than you. It is not like it is the end of the world right? You are just,”
: : :
: : : : “I’m gonna be a daddy.” he said to her, the thought beginning to wash over him, he knew how to handle every scenario but this was not one. Looking at Jessica he felt himself calm further as he kissed her forehead.
: : :
: : : Jessica let out a little laugh as he kissed her.
: : :
: : : :”You’re gonna be a mommy…” he paused and felt the realization coming over him as he thought of this. “We are gonna be one messed up family, god least your sister is a therapist… we are all gonna need it.” he said, laughing as he did. He wasn’t still certain how he felt over this all, but if Jessica was with him he could handle anything.
: : : :
: : : : ~Aedan Teller
: : :
: : : “Are you crazy,” she slapped his arm as if trying to knock some sense into him. “Our kid is going to be perfect. What is going to be crazy is how quickly your lush apartment will go from Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous to Toys R US showroom. I will let you keep one room as sacred so I would start taking inventory now of your must haves.” The smile that filled her face as she teased him was playful, humorous, and genuine. After the fighting and yelling match they had just participated in, she and Aedan needed to have a little bit of good-natured teasing.
: : :
: : : Lt. Commander Jessica Vaughn, XO
:
: “Oh we can discuss logistics later… for now.” he said with a smile as he grabbed her hands, pulling her back into the living area. It had a white curved leather sofa that sat near a fireplace, bear fur blanket draped across the end as he sat down pulling her close. “Why can’t I stay mad at you,” Jessica asked knowing Teller would have a smart alleck comment as his reply. A million questions ran through her mind as she sank into the couch next to him. As she curled up next to him. all of Jessica’s worries disappeared. The rhythm of his heart was a steady, reassuring sound that told Jessica that as long as it was beating Aeden would take care of her: baby or no baby and regardless of whether her name at the moment is Vaughn or Teller. Jessica sighed content in his arms staring at the fire crackling before her. So much of Aedan’s life was glitz and glamour. Jessica freely admitted to enjoying the parties but this is what she had fallen in love with. Spending time with Aedan doing boring couple things. “Computer, lower ambient temperature in room down to 10 Celsius, turn on heated seats and ignite fireplace.” he said as he grabbed the blanket, making the atmosphere easy for the two to cuddle. Letting her rest her head on his chest he kissed the top of her forehead. “So, movie?” he asked her, feeling he would end the night with her in a quiet evening. ~Aedan Teller

“Got any home movies,” she said with a mischevious grin curling on her face giving him a playful half hug with one arm across the chest. Turning more serious Jessica tightened the grip on his chest and turned her gaze back to the fire. “Or you could just hold me like this is our last night together. It’s not that I dont want to watch a movie but I am just so tired,” she said in a sleepy little yawn. “Maybe we could take a quick cat nap. Like ten minutes,” she yawned again mid sentence nuzzeling her head into his chest, “or so.” The past two weeks, Jessica had slept very little worrying about her future. In this moment of time, in his arms, however, she had never felt safer.

Lt. Commander Jesssica Vaughn, XO