Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in Festivities and Family

Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in Festivities and Family

Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in Festivities and Family
Posted by… suppressed (23) by the Post Ghost! 👻
It had been a long year for Rand and Roman and Randy. Randy freely admitted that his year had not been nearly as theirs had been. Rand wasn’t feeling up to do much of anything, and he doubted that Roman rarely celebrated the holidays unless Jay had made him. Well this would be good for Rand and Roman too. Now that they both had been on their new meds for awhile, and Rand, though not back to full duty, was active and engaged with the crew, Randy decided this was something he wanted to do and so they were.

He went to Gorshin and helped make a feast, which was shared with the crew, but Randy brought their servings back to his quarters. Roast turkey served with turkey stuffing, made with haggis, brussels sprouts, carrots, pigs in a blanket and Yorkshire puddings, gravy, tatties and neeps, cranberry sauce, and soda bread. For dessert, Scottish Iced Christmas cake.

Randy decked his quarters out with all kinds of tartan colored decorations, and even borrowed some kind of large palm plant (native to Earth) from Tracy and decorated it like a Christmas tree. She was coming by later for their own celebration. He stopped Roman in the corridor earlier that day and told him, in no uncertain terms, to have Rand at his quarters by 1700 that day.

Randy

Randy was correct in thinking Roman did not generally celebrate the holidays unless Jay made him do it. In fact, he rather disliked the holiday season. The new med regimen was doing well for him, and obviously so. Since the meds took full effect, he was often in a better mood. Even the crew had noticed the difference, it was that stark of a change. He was well rested and, it turned out much to the crew’s surprise, he did have a smile. He’d just forgotten how to use it.

With Rand his playful side came out more frequently, he was more focused on her, and hadn’t overworked himself even once in nearly two weeks. He was still serious as ever, but more often that anyone had ever seen, he resembled the Roman on the disks rather than the Roman they were familiar with. Even in his sessions with Randy, he was more difficult to set off or anger and though he still hedged around topics and events it was easier to get him talking.

When Randy had stopped him to tell him to bring Rand at 1700, he had given Randy a confused look and asked if something was wrong. When Randy had said nothing was wrong, he had shrugged and agreed. Now he was standing outside the door with Rand and rang the chime at exactly 1700.

~ Roman

Rand was doing a lot more than she had. Elbbirt had worked it out for her to spend extra hours each day helping in sickbay. That way she could work and be ‘useful’ but they could monitor her to make sure she didn’t over do it. He also worked it out for her to help Gorshin and Helpful with the supply orders and inventory checks. It turned out that had been really good for her. Rand was not nearly as fast as she used to be, but she was getting there. Roman kept making her read lines, and it always made her cry after. She hated not remembering, but with the medication she no longer cried all day nor locked herself away in her room. Being around people still made her nervous, but a wonderful side affect of the medication was it helped with anxiety as well. Rand still got nervous and avoided people, but when she did have a panic attack it was much more manageable. Rand even managed to talk to people in the lab. Always about the animals and the work, but she talked to them and participated.

Roman loved watching her talk with and interact with the crew. It was always about the animals and the work, but then, that was the way Roman was too. He liked reading lines with her, too, and he always comforted her while she cried. He was still sure it would come back to her. He was worried though. Several months ago, when it had been around this much time since his incident in the lab, Randy had said he might never remember that day. He still didn’t. He hoped Rand’s memory loss was different, because it was memories from her past, not from the day of the trauma.

Roman’s playful side sent her into fits of nervousness and embarrassment and she simply didn’t know what to do when he was like that. Rand was thriving because of it though. Randy thought it was amazing. He could often be found standing around a corner, leaning against a bulkhead, arms crossed over his chest grinning like a school boy watching the two of them. Randy was doing better as well. Elbbirt had taken over Rand’s mental health as well. Leaving Randy time to focus on being her brother rather than just her care taker, and to see her as a capable officer and grown woman.

Roman would tease Rand all the time, just until she was flustered, he never went too far. He was having fun, and he looked happy. Not like he used to. In session once, he’d told Randy it was a bit like seeing in black and white and finally getting color vision back. And then, he’d immediately slapped his forehead and called himself the cheesiest man alive. He was glad some had been taken off Randy’s plate as well, though he still felt bad to be taking up so much of Randy’s time.

Randy and Roman still had their sessions, and with the assistance of the medication, Roman was making solid progress. There were things that would never be easy, but they didn’t set him back anymore. Randy continued to take lessons from Roman and Roman even made Rand practice, as much as she was allowed. Rand had no idea what Randy was up to. In fact she had forgotten the holiday all together. Simply putting one foot in front of the other had been all she could focus on lately. So it was with a shug that she went with Roman next door to Randy’s quarters.

Making progress with the sessions and the meds meant he was enjoying his usual martial arts practice much more than he used to. He really liked practicing with both of them, and he’d starting having them do short matches against each other as well.

Randy hated those sessions. Rand wasn’t up for any real sparing, like what he did with Roman. It was mostly simple grabs and holds and Rand learning to break them. And Randy getting the worse end of the deal. Randy complained loudly every time that he had endured enough beatings from his baby sister growing up. Roman should not teach her how to be more efficient at it. It made Rand laugh, and for that alone Randy would even let her break his wrist if it came to that.

Randy opened the door and it was immediately apparent it was Christmas. Randy had decorated to the nines and it was all very festive and hte smell of the meal wafted to them from the door. Randy grinned broadly and waved them in. Rand felt horrible, she had no gift for Randy. She hadn’t even thought about it. As if he could read her mind he gave her a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Na gabh dragh Rand. Tha thu agam fhathast. Sin a h-uile rud a tha mi ag iarraidh. (No worries Rand. I still have you. That’s all I want.)” He grinned at Roman, “Happy Christmas!” The door shut behind them as they entered. “Nothing fancy, just a meal, with family.”

Randy

Roman paused when he saw all the Christmas decorations. He didn’t like Christmas, he didn’t usually celebrate it. He usually avoided it, only acknowledging it if he had to, to be polite. Then he’d spend the day in his quarters where he could pretend the holiday didn’t exist. He should’ve expected something like this from Randy, but he’d forgotten what day it was.

But before he could turn and leave, he was being dragged in by Rand and the door shut behind him. He smiled politely, if a bit forced, at Randy. “Happy Christmas.” Then he gawked. “Nothing fancy? Nothing fancy? Your quarters look like the bleeding Scottish North Pole!” It was said with a smile, he was teasing Randy more than anything. He was, as Randy knew, still having trouble with belonging with people that weren’t Jay, a result of his childhood rather than his trauma regarding the ship. So the family comment made him feel really awkward as he remained near the door.

~ Roman

Rand laughed., “Well of course. Santa has to be Scottish. An English Santa wouldn’t even give away coal to naughty children.” Roman’s British accent had leaked out as he spoke, teasing Randy, which meant that Rand’s lilt snuck out as she giggled. Randy smiled as he heard her laugh. It had been far too rare recently and that was the best gift he could have gotten.

Roman grinned and looked down at her, slipping his arm around her. “Why wouldn’t an English Santa give out coal? We were given coal as kids, once.”

“Come on, sit. Gorshin really out did himself.” He could tell Rand wasn’t sure, and Roman hated the idea. Rand wouldn’t stay without him though. “Come on. It’s just dinner and family.” He grabbed Rand’s arm and walked her over to the table and helped her sit. Of course he was a gentleman and the host so he wouldn’t sit until Roman did.

Roman looked doubly uncomfortable when Rand was pulled away from him. He sat next to Rand and took her hand. He knew Randy was trying to help with the way he kept saying it was just ‘dinner and family’.

Rand squeezed his hand and gave him one of those ‘I can’t believe how lucky I am’ looks.

He lifted the cover off the food with a flourish. Rand inhaled, “Did you ask him for this?” Randy shook his head. “Nope he did this all himself.”

“What about Tracy?” Rand asked. “Is she coming?” Randy shook his head no, “She is eating with her patrol group in the mess and then she and I will do something later. Make family where you can, type of thing. Made me realize how lucky we are.”

Rand

“She would be welcome.” Roman commented. “You two have been together for… Nine months?” He wasn’t sure if her presence would make this more or less awkward for him. He took Rand’s hand under the table and smiled again. “Gorshin just loves cooking feasts.”

~ Roman

“Randy, go get her. Roman’s right. We can wait. We’d like her to be here.” Plus Rand could tease the micky out of her brother.

Randy shrugged, “She knows and I tried. It’s something she has always done. And yes, Rand, I offered to go with her. She said no. She told me to spend it with you. She also informed me that just because I get my arse handed to me by the Cmdr twice a week does not make me a security officer.” Randy laughed, at himself and started passing food around. “I am a smart man, and agreed with her completely.”

Rand giggled at him, “And by your baby sister too.” Randy gave a long suffering sigh and pointed a serving spoon at Roman. “You just had to teach her didn’t you?”

Rand

Roman grinned, “Think about how safe she’ll be! You two are both getting better.” They still had a long way to go before they’d be a challenge for Roman, though. He took what he thought he could eat as food was passed around. Since going on the meds his appetite was much better than before, and he was regularly eating full meals and not skipping them. “Then tell her happy Christmas from us, later when you see her.”

~ Roman

“HEY! He needs it more than me! I don’t go looking for trouble.” She laughed, but there was worry there. Randy would take that to another massive break down. “Well we all know I’m a bit reckless when it comes to you. Besides gotta make sure my soon-to-be brother-in-law knows what will happen if he makes you cry.”

“You’ll go mock me in the lounge in the attempt to get your arse publicly handed to you by me?” Roman said, teasing him about what he’d done with the assassin.

Rand laughed more, “What insulted in Gaelic and called ‘a d@mned English?’ Come on Randy. You are the cliche ‘love not a fighter’ and you know it. That’s why you have Tracy!” Randy gave a long suffering sigh. “Eat your food or I’ll tell Gorshin you didn’t like it.” Rand gasped, “Don’t you dare.” Randy shrugged, “Then eat up.”

“Besides, there’s only one way I’d ever make her cry, and then there wouldn’t be anyone for you to insult.” Roman was already starting to eat as he spoke.

Rand smiled happily around the bite of food. Awww Roman was so sweet....wait…what?? Well Rand didn’t like that implication at all. She grabbed his hand and tugged it looking at him with a haunted look in her eye. She almost had lost him. “Don’t say that,” she said very softly.

Roman looked at her when she tugged his hand and then put both his hands around hers, looking at her adoringly. “I don’t intend on going anywhere.” Then he pulled her into a hug, pressing her up against his chest, “I promise.” She’d almost lost him, and he’d failed to protect her because of his condition at the time. He wouldn’t let that happen again.

Rand leaned against him happy and content. She hugged him tightly and didn’t move for long moments. She was only slightly glad that Roman wasn’t kissing her, so that Randy would tease them about snogging.

Roman hugged her tight. He only wasn’t kissing her for Randy’s benefit. But for him, hugging her with his head rested against hers was enough for now. He was happy there.

Randy didn’t grin because he understood where Rand’s thoughts were going, but man did his sister have it bad.

Randy passed over a small round container to Roman. “Gorshin sent this for Pipkin. Promises it’s all safe for her.”

Randy

Roman took the container and set it aside. “I’ll have to thank him for that. She loves these.”

~ Roman

Rand looked puzzled. “I never told him about Pipkin though. Just asked for the scraps.”

“No, but he did ask you if you were feeding the lab animals. You said no, and based on the scraps you sent back for disposal he knew it had to be some kind of Earth animal. And don’t forget you did sneak Pipkin into sickbay for Roman. You are not nearly as sneaky as you think you are. And it’s Gorshin he knows everything.” Randy tucked into his meal after passing around hot tea for everyone.

Randy

Roman grinned. “That was necessary for my healing. And Gorshin does know everything. There have been a few times since I returned to duty that I find a light breakfast in my office with a note on my lab desk.” He drank from his tea and ate more of his food. He was nearly half done.

~ Roman

Rand grinned. “He reminds me of Seanair.” Randy paused, fork half way to his mouth, head tipped to the side and looked into the middle distance before looking at her again. “He really does doesn’t he? I’d never thought about that.” No wonder Rand liked him so much. “He likes taking care of the crew. He takes it very seriously.” Rand wasn’t eating quite as well as she had before, but she was doing a lot better. Randy suspected that it was simply her body was used to smaller meals now and felt full faster. Tonight she seemed to be doing better, and finished almost her entire plate.

Roman glanced between them, unsure whether that was a good thing or not. Wasn’t Seanair their grandfather? The one Rand had lost when she was young? Or was he getting their family members confused again?

When he glanced a him, Randy nodded, confirming Roman’s suspicion. That was the grandfather they had lost. Randy wasn’t sure if it was good or not, but Rand did like helping Gorshin, so maybe more bittersweet than bad?

Roman nodded back quietly. He recalled the picture he’d seen of the family member in question. He supposed he could imagine him that way.

When they were finished, Randy got up and returned with a medium sized white box with a bow. “Randy, I didn’t get you anything,” Rand muttered as he set it in her lap. Randy shrugged, “I have you, that is enough. And this isn’t from me.”

Randy sat back down. “You have not written to mom and dad in awhile and so that prompted them to ask me what was going on. Mom sent you some of your things from home, hoping it would help.” Rand’s hands paused before lifting the lid, suddenly apprehensive. What if it was filled with things her parents thought would help her remember, and then she didn’t. Randy reached over and squeezed her hand, “You can look later, okay? Right now, a Farquharson twin tradition - movie time!”

Roman squeezed her other hand. “We’ll look together, if you like. Later.”

Rand squeezed his hand with a nod of agreement, “Later.” She set the box to the side and then stood, and started stacking everything back on the tray.

Rand groaned, “Awww Randy, no. I’m not in the mood for Scrooge and his ghosts.” Nor for knowing she wouldn’t remember the lines, even though it had been a small part.

“Oh no, I thought something lighthearted, that you hadn’t seen before. A romantic comedy, staring Ivan Simon Cary Elwes.” He looked at Roman and grinned, “The original actor of Wesley in The Princess Bride.”

Randy

Roman smiled and looked at Rand. “One of your favorites, then.” He sat down and stretched out. “Isn’t everyone’s Christmas tradition movies?”

“C’mon, Roman. You know how it works. You’ve got to watch at least one.” Jay grinned at him and pointed, on a PaDD screen, to his chosen movie: The early 21st century move Elf. “No, Jay, not that movie,” Roman complained. “Watch it with me and it’s the only one I’ll make you watch this year.” Jay said, sticking out a hand like for a handshake. “Deal?” Roman groaned, “Fiiiine,” and shook his hand.

Half an hour and ⅓ the way through the movie, Jay spoke up. “We’re taking leave next year, you and me. At Christmas.” Roman turned to look at him. “Everybody tries that. Likelihood is we wouldn’t get it.” Jay shrugged. “So? We’ll try then. Go back home and see my folks.” Roman shrugged, “I don’t know.” Jay elbowed him. “You have to. They’d love seeing you.”

The memory was sudden for Roman. He’d managed to avoid every Christmas since then, because that was the year before everything happened. When it had become available to do so, they had indeed put in for that leave time, and Roman hadn’t heard back until the second week of November that year - it had been granted. He hadn’t gone. He felt like it would be odd to go, or that he wouldn’t be welcome without Jay, so despite his doctor telling him two weeks back home would be good for him, he had simply not left at all.

It was typically easier for him to break away from these things with the meds, but this one still initially hit him hard and tears quietly made their way down his face. He did his best to hide it, not wanting to dampen the holiday for them, and waited for Randy to start the movie.

~ Roman

Randy opened his mouth to tell him, no not movies. Their family had spent the season attending Rand’s productions. She had performed in various holiday productions all over the entire season. But Randy didn’t, giving Roman room for his memories. He busied himself with setting up the movie.

Rand settled down on her old bed with Roman. It was a single and so not nearly as much room as their bed, but she liked it. It meant they had to sit really close. She looked up at him smiling. It faded quickly and she turned fully and kissed his cheek and then his lips. She settled down next to him and took his hand. Her thumb rubbing back and forth over the back of his hand and his ring. The holidays could be hard and that was okay.

Roman didn’t mind the size of the bed. It meant he could sit closer to Rand. He kissed her back and then wrapped his arms around her, letting her take his hand. Then he snuggled up against her and rested his head on her.

The chime on the door sounded and Randy opened it. Tracy, dressed in jeans and a horrible ugly Christmas sweater, stood there. “We got done early.” Randy grinned and tugged her hand, pulling her inside. “That sweater is awful.” Tracy laughed, “I know. I won the contest.”

Randy chuckled, “I bet you did.” Then he kissed her. Rand nudged Roman playfully and in her strongest Scottish lilt, “Ach! Quit the snoggin’! Start the movie.” Tracy laughed warmly but Randy muttered loudly about annoying baby sisters.

Rand

Roman hurriedly dried the tears on his face (on Rand’s shoulder no less), and smiled to greet Morgan. When Rand nudged him he chuckled. Finally she could give him some payback for harassing them about kissing all the time. Then an idea popped into his head. “Hey, if they can do it, so can we.” And then he kissed her, a long and gentle one.

~ Roman

Rand looked at him confused for half a second trying to figure out what he was up to and then he was kissing her. Rand forgot for a moment there was anyone else in the room. That was until Tracy laughed slightly, there was a pause, and Randy gave an ‘oof’ sound. “Randy,” she laughed, “we are not repeating the Valentine’s dance. You almost dropped me.”

Roman had to chuckle. All those dancing lessons had paid off after all. But Roman was more interested in kissing Rand than laughing at Randy.

Tracy’s words were slow to sink in. Rand took her time before she pulled back and settled in next to him. Then she realized what Tracy meant and she laughed softly. Randy smirked, started the movie and settled in with Tracy on the other bed.

The movie started with a narration by the female main character (who was an author) talking about her books. She ends up taking a trip to Scotland because her fans are angry with her about her latest book. The media is everywhere and causing her quite a bit of trouble. Rand could totally identify with that, and it brought back hard memories, making her press closer to Roman, but otherwise she was okay.

Rand

Roman snuggled back up to her and set his head on her again as the movie started. When she pressed closer to him he squeezed her, his arms still around her, and let out a soft sigh as he watched the movie.

~ Roman

The scenery made Rand homesick, but she was cute, pointing at things and going, “Randy, look!” or nudging Roman and telling him something about what she saw. Rand loved the dog. She laughed, “Randy, why does everyone name their dog Hamish?” Randy chuckled and shrugged. He was too busy having his own private conversation with Tracy.

Every so often when she pointed something out he’d say “You’ve got to take me there sometime.” Or “I’d like to see that.” When she seemed to really like the dog, Roman laughed and said, “Is our next pet going to have to be a dog?”

Rand looked up at him and she looked so incredibly excited about the idea, “Oh could we?” Then she got a little serious. “A dog would be miserable on a star ship. We will have to keep thinking.”

Then there was this scene. The main character (Sophie) thought the lord of the castle was just a handy man, until she decides to buy the castle. She goes to meet the owner and it’s him - the handy man. Sophie makes a sarcastic apology to “his highness” and Rand and Randy snort because it’s “your grace” which is quickly corrected on screen. A very short and nasty exchange later Sophie makes the comment “I thought dukes were gentleman.” The Duke calmly informs her, “Those are English dukes. Scottish ones are royal pains in the arse.”

Rand

Roman grinned, snorted, and shot a pointed look at Randy. “The movie is quite accurate, then. I think it’s in your genetics.” A doubly funny statement, Roman knew, because there were many times Scottish and English nobility had married and they probably had similar genetics on an ancestral level.

~ Roman

Rand laughed so hard she was crying. Then Randy tried to get Tracy to defend him and she refused. She actually suggested Randy take a glove and hit Cmdr Alden with it like gentlemen of old and take their dispute to the gym. She looked over at Rand and winked. “Buuuut we already know how that will end.” Rand almost fell off the bed then.

Roman laughed the moment it was suggested. Everyone knew how that would end. “If we’re going traditionally, that makes me unexceptionally correct.” Save for maybe the COS, he wasn’t sure anyone on the ship could win against him.

Then they settled into the movie and the hilarity. The Duke was determined to run her off, and Sophie was determined to stay. Then he took her on a tour of the lands. And Elwes’ character told her to ‘mind her step’ and lifts a branch of a tree out of her way. His accent dropped and it sounded and looked sooo familiar....

“But how is that possible, since he’s been marauding twenty years and you only left me five years ago?” Rand uttered the line quietly, only Roman would hear her, but even the inflection, strain, and confusion of Buttercup was perfect as the movie scene triggered a memory.

Rand

Roman looked down at her. She’d remembered another line. It was a project he’d been working on with her since he first got her reading lines again. He’d memorized all her plays so he was always ready, and so he knew the next line immediately and spoke it quietly in her ear, in his best Wesley impression (it came off uniquely Roman, though): “I myself am often surprised at life’s little quirks.”

~ Roman

That line started a monolog for Wesley and so Rand didn’t have a line, but in the scene Wesley picks Buttercup up and moves her out if the way of a flame spurt. So, Rand turned into him, her hands resting on his shoulders as if he had picked her up for a twirl in a waltz. To Randy and Tracy it just looked like she was hugging him. Rand wasn’t really thinking about it, and even for her she was just cuddling closer.

The movie continued, the main characters opting to throw a Chritsmas party at the castle. The antics and relationships grew. There was even a scene where they practiced dancing and Rand smiled up at him.

Resting his head against her shoulder, he whispered into her ear again, “Perhaps we should practice dancing later tonight, too?”

Rand thought that would be lovely, and at that very moment she wasn’t thinking about that fact she was afraid she wouldn’t remember. She was just thinking about how much she liked dancing with Roman. “Tha.”

Roman smiled and squeezed her gently, “Okay. When we go back to our quarters.”

The icing in the cake that Randy was waiting for was when Myles (the Duke) shows up on horse back, in full formal Scottish dress - tuxedo coat and full kilt. He glanced over at Rand and chuckled. “Whada ya think, Rand. Your crush look good in a kilt?” He chuckled as Rand turned beet red.

“That’s your celebrity crush? Come on Miranda, we both know I’m hotter than Cary Elwes, you’re going to have to pick a better crush.” Roman was grinning, absolutely teasing her.

Rand turned bright red and covered her face in both hands. “I was 8.” Randy laughed, “Oh that’s right. Who was it after that?”

Morgan shook her head, “Randy leave your sister alone.” He laughed and whispered, “Never. Give her time and she’ll tell you all the things I don’t want anyone to know.” He winked at Tracy who shook her head. “Oh yeah,” Randy started up, “Matthew Macfadyen.......” there was a heavy pause, “Mr. Darcy.”

Roman chuckled, “Mr. Darcy! What a surprise I must be, then.” He knew from her journal that she saw him that way, and he hoped she didn’t think it was because of the journal he was teasing her. It wasn’t, he’d have said it if he hadn’t read it.

Rand rolled her eyes behind her hands. Everyone knew she liked Mr Darcy, but Randy’s teasing was bothering her. She turned her face into his chest and muttered quietly, “You are so much better than Darcy.”

He didn’t see it, though. Darcy was put together in a way he had never been, and charming. And even though he’d read it in her journal he couldn’t bring himself to believe it. So hearing her say it made him look down at her and smile, and then he hugged her tight. If Lieutenant Morgan hadn’t been there, he’d have kissed her again.

The fact Roman had read her journal and what she had written about him and Mr Darcy didn’t occur to Rand. Roman was always put together even on his worst days, and Rand knew that Roman was devastatingly charming. He was compassionate and took the care and safety of those he was responsible for extremely seriously. If he could help he did. And another similarity that probably only Rand had paid attention to. Darcy’s family, just like Roman’s, was really stuck up and far too self-important, and like Roman, Darcy had gone against his family. And Roman was so much better than Darcy. Roman was real.

If Roman had decided to kiss her, Lt Mogan would not have noticed. It was odd to be spending such a relaxed evening with her XO, stretched out, cuddled with her boyfriend. The elder Farquharson twin however ensured she was too distracted to worry about it.

Tracy punched him and told him he was a dobber. Which made Rand and Randy laugh because in the movie Myles has to explain to Sophie what a dobber is and at that particular cinematic moment Sophie had just called Myles a dobber.

Rand

Roman laughed as well. He knew without the explanation what the word “dobber” meant, and though he would not call Randy that seriously, it was hilarious for Morgan to call him one in jest.

~ Roman

The castle was gorgeous all lit up and decorated for Christmas. The inside looked a bit like the way Randy had decorated his quarters. The dress that Sophie was wearing looked just like dress Rand’s other and grandmother and so on had worn when they got married. The colors were different of course, but the style was the same. There was music and dancing, “Hey Randy, look he avoids being flashy all together and still makes it look fun. Maybe you should take some pointers.” That was Tracy. Rand grinned, she gave as good as Randy dished it out. The movie ended very soon after that.

Rand

“If you’re going to look that nice on our wedding day, I won’t be able to resist kissing you before the ceremony.” Roman whispered the words into her ear, his head still rested on her shoulder. “And if you’re going to wear a dress like that, you’re definitely going to look prettier than her.” He’d seen the photo albums, everybody in her family wore a dress like that in the photos. And with them using the heirloom rings, was it even a question that’s what Rand would be wearing?

~ Roman

Rand blushed and smiled prettily. The idea that she could make Roman fail to behave himself made her feel giddy. She rested her head against his as she watched the screen. Oh she did, so much, want to wear that dress. “Only if we make it back to Earth,” she said hopeful that it would happen, but disappointed because there was no telling when or if that would happen.

Rand