Posted by Civilian Aedan Teller (Owner/CEO of OMAP Industries) in OMAP Party: Evelyn’s Brewing House Grand Opening - Jessica and Aedan

Posted by Civilian Evelyn “Evie” McGarrett (Co-Owner of Been There Brewed That Brewery) in OMAP Party: Evelyn’s Brewing House Grand Opening - Jessica and Aedan

Jessica stood looking around at all the beverages passing her on trays. This was like pure torture. People happy and laughing as they sipped their drinks. “Aedan,” Jessica whimpered closing her fingers around his tightly as if needing his support to get through the night. “Aedan I can’t do this,” she said shaking his hand free and walking towards a tray full of choice beverages. “I don’t care. One drink. One drink is not going to kill me. I need a coffee Aedan. I need one. Tonight is like bringing a recovering alcoholic to a bar but I haven’t even been able to go to rehab,” she said reaching for one of the steaming mugs. The color of each was slightly different as were the intricately designed images weaving in the white frothy foam topping. In another time, Jessica would have savored the moment and chose her drink carefully. Tonight she was like an addict desperate for a hit.

Lt. Commander Jessica Vaughn, XO

Aedan looked at her cross as he watched her. “Woman, no. I am not going to let you put our child at risk cause you can’t function without 300 mg of caffeine a day. You are just going to have to learn to settle for decaf.” he said as he waved the nearest waiter over. “What is the BEST decaf treat you have for her? It needs to make her forget there is not caffeine at all in her drink.” Aedan said, as he looked at her and winked. He was going to take care of her even in her our of need, as if coffee was such an hour of need.

~Aedan Teller

‘We have a delightful South-American Arabica beans with notes of “caramel” and “nutty” flavors. These beans are freshly-made and grown organically at high altitude. It is one of our most popular brands. I am sure she will like it,” the waiter handed Jessica a cup.

“I am sure I won’t,” Jessica grumbled taking the cup. There was probably no way anyone could ever tell if a cup had caffeine in it or if it was decaf but Jessica was a bit grumpy all the same. Her dress was a bit snugger than it was last month and she and Aedan were still in the early stages. While she knew he was thrilled to be having a baby, she was not thrilled to go from her size 6 to beach ball plus. Taking a sip of the coffee Jessica looked around the room. She had to admit the coffee was not that bad.

“Don’t worry about her, she’s filled with hatred for two now.” Aedan said as he moved the waiter along as she took the cup.

“Well you didn’t help me with my dress, my feet ache, and there is nothing here to eat or drink that I,” Jessica let her pout come out feeling frustrated and on edge. Maybe Aedan and the others were right. Maybe there was something to caffeine addiction.

Leaning in he gently kissed her forehead, a small glimpse of affection he often reserved elsewhere. Aedan had asked Jessica to marry him, and he figured for once he could let past his cold exterior of locking all emotions back and finally show what he truly felt.

The second his lips touched her forehead Jessica stopped complaining. His kiss was not erotic or passion filled. It was a simple reminder that he was hers and he was there for her. It was also far more personal. So many images in the Galactic Inquirer over the years had shown him lip-locked with a buxom beauty but never the tender act he had shown her. That made his kiss so much more personal and one that filled Jessica with a hot rush of love and security. Opening her eyes she wanted to say something sweet and intimate but something had caught her attention.

“Oh Aedan,” Jessica said smiling at him and taking his hand back in hers. “Evie got the pictures up,” she said happily tugging Aedan towards the wall of photos.

“Pictures?” Aedan said, he couldn’t remember approving anything like this. “What pictures did you grab?” he inquired as he moved along with her.

Stopping in front of her selected picture Jessia laughed out loud. She had selected a silly picture of her family at the Grand Canyon. She could not have been more than about ten years old at the time and was wearing a too large cowboy hat on her head standing next to a split log rail fence. On one side of her was her twin Jaina and behind them was a man and woman that one could assume was her father and mother. Both girls in the picture were young enough not to care that they had skinned knees and were wearing silly t-shirts with catchy slogans about surviving the mule ride down the canyon. The only difference between the two identical girls was one had messy braids hanging haphazardly on her head and the other long blonde curls that fell over her shoulders with bangs.

“See the beauty of having a twin is that no one can guess which one I am in the picture,” Jessica said with a smile remembering that day.

Aedan smiled wide as he scanned the picture, it was wonderful to see them all. This was not something Aedan had growing up. For the most part he didn’t regret it, but he couldn’t help but think how much he wanted his own child to never have to suffer as he had. His past had enough skeletons, figuratively and literally that he didn’t dig to far into it.

Scanning the wall, Jessica found the other picture she was dying to see. It was of a little boy about five years old or so standing next to a nun on the steps of a church. He wore the expression all boys of his age wore when told to dress up and pose for an unwanted picture but there was also something in the small boy’s eyes that showed a strength and determination. Next to it was a picture of an old farmhouse. No one was in it but Jessica was sure Aedan would recognize it immediately. “Hmm now who could that be and who lived there,” Jessica said snuggling up on Aedan’s arm as she directed his gaze at the pictures. She knew he would love the surprise of seeing his past on the wall. While Jessica could have taken any image from the PR department of OMAP for the wall, Jessica wanted the picture to have meaning. They were aslo the only pictures that Jessica found in the apartment from his past.

Lt. Commander Jessica Vaughn, XO

Old English farmhouse https://imgur.com/lJbHmHl

Aedan’s eyes flashed, these where of his. His past was meant to be just that. He knew little about where the farmhouse was, only that his mother had been from there. The orphanage though was filled with memories, most of them not good as he looked over at her. “Where did you get these?” he said, his voice cold, a drastic change from how he was just talking to her. He had scoured every ounce of the subspace network traffic by gaggling and banging every piece of information he could to scrub his past. The only traces of his existence was in the locked chest at the corner of his closet.

Still snuggled up on his arm looking at the wall, Jessica replied. “Okay, so last week when I was putting some of my things away in the closet. On the floor in the way back was a box. I figured it was your kid box as my mom calls it. That or your secret box I should have burned now that we are engaged,” she teased. It did not matter that Aedan had a past. They had a future that was all that mattered but she was not so naive to think Aedan had stripped his life of all women but her. Her mom had warned her all men had them and not to ever spend a moment worrying about it. She would not tell him but curiosity had driven her to open it and find out if there was salacious selfies or pairs of baby booties. Secretly Jessica was thrilled not to have found that box but the one containing a few items from his past.

“I sat on the floor and looked through it. You looked like a scamp in that picture,” she laughed. “I also liked the look in your eye. It says to me keep your eye on me because I am always move....,” Jessica said feeling Aedan a bit stiffer next to her as she prattled on. “Aedan....are you okay? Evie was asking for pictures and when I found them I thought you would love the idea?”

“Why would you think this is a good idea?” he countered, tone becoming sharp as he let go of her. Anyone around them could feel the tension rise, it was electric in the air as if you knew something was about to come crashing down.

~Aedan Teller

“Well…I…” Jessica instantly sputtered as she tried to speak. “Aedan they are not the real pictures. I made copies. I would not use your real photos. The originals are safe. I promise,” Jessica took his hand back in hers. The touch was not warm but stiff as if he forcing himself to grab onto something that was not pleasant. “Hey…baby…talk to me,” she said moving in front of him. “You look adorable and I wanted you to feel a part of the wall not like you are the CEO with some distant gaze or those PR ones where I swear the camera catches the glint off your white teeth.” Jessica knew Aedan was upset. It was the why she did not understand. “You don’t have any pictures and Adams was no help when I asked her for a few candid shots of you. She was almost rude,” Jessica let a small frown fill her face remembering the event. “Everyone gave personal family photos and I was not going to let you be left out.”

Lt. Commander Jessica Vaughn., XO

Finding the nearest servant Aedan motioned them over.

“Yes Mr. Teller what can I get for you,” he said politely.

“Remove them, have them destroyed,” he ordered as he removed his hand from Jessica and walked a few paces away.

“Right away sir,” the waiter replied walking up to the wall. Why his boss wanted them removed was none of his business. His only job was to follow orders and not ask questions.

“Wait…what,” Jessica said looking at Aedan slightly confused and slightly annoyed. “Aedan you are being ridiculous. You are the co-owner. Evie and her family are all over the wall. Why don’t you want your picture up,” she called after him as he walked away. “Aedan. Aedan,” Jessica said a bit louder each time but trying not to cause any more of a scene than they had already.

Part of him wanted to scream and yell at her, it is what he normally did. He knew deep down she meant everything out of love for him. That thought stopped him from lashing out, but he had to get away. If he stayed their his anger would boil he knew it. She didn’t deserved to be yelled at for doing something nice and loving for him.

Looking around, Jessica shifted her weight slightly uncomfortably between one leg and then the other. No one seemed to notice what had happened but Aedan was just as good at hiding a scene as he was making one. “Aedan,” Jessica said takin a step to follow him.

“I need a moment.” he said as he left towards the back, a remote sitting area he had set aside for reservations at night.

Jessica let out a small disgusted groan as she debated what to do. As she saw the waiter remove the first picture she reacted. “Put that back please,” she said in a polite but firm tone.

“Uh no,” the waiter said just as firmly back.

“Excuse me? I said,” she turned a hard look at the man.

“Yes, but he said,” the waiter pointed to Aedan’s disappearing back, “take them down. Ma’am, I’m not in Starfleet and your name isn’t Mrs. Teller. He is my boss and I really need this job,” the guy said with a hint of pleading for her to understand. “Don’t make this hard for me.”

Jessica shook her head angry and frustrated. “Fine but do not destroy them. Give them to Evie and tell her to keep them for me. Can you do that?” Her voice told the waiter there was not much room for an answer other than yes. Now that she had handled the picture task, Jessica headed in the direction Aedan had disappeared.

Looking around, Jessica shifted her weight slightly uncomfortably between one leg and then the other. No one seemed to notice what had happened but Aedan was just as good at hiding a scene as he was making one. “Aedan,” Jessica said taking a step to follow him.

This section of the shop wasn’t on display just now and he knew he could focus his mind and begin to think on what he needed to do. Who did she give the pictures to make copies of? Did he have to eliminate them? What would he have to do to everyone who saw them here tonight.

Finding a bench he sat, running his hands through his hair he felt the weight fall on him. He wanted to be a better man, one who didn’t have to resort to his past antics to solve issues. Those antics though were so much easier to pull off when you had wealth and power, and people seldom asked questions if you paid them enough to ignore the facts, or threaten them enough.

~Aedan Teller

This section of the store was very posh. It was clearly meant to be a place Aedan could come and get away from the crowds but still appear social. Walking into the room, Jessica paused at the door not sure what to say. She wanted to yell at him for being such a dork but Aedan acting like he was furious. He was acting more sad upset than furious upset. She, however, was getting madder and madder for some reason.

Walking across the room, Jessica took a seat beside him on the bench. “So you want to tell me why you just freaked out? Is it because I went through a box in a place you say is our home because that is exactly how it came off Aedan.” Jessica tried to keep the frustration out of her voice. “Aedan I don’t know what you want from me. You say you want me to move in. You say it is our house but apparently, I missed the subsection in the renter’s clause that says don’t touch anything that isn’t mine. Heck Aedan even the minimum credit waiter told me I have no authority once the might Aedan Teller makes a pronouncement.” The more she spoke the madder she was getting. Why she wasn’t sure. Maybe it was hormones but the longer she sat next to him the angrier she was getting.

Lt. Commander Jessica Vaughn, XO