Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in When Paparazzi Hide in the Bushes

Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in When Paparazzi Hide in the Bushes

Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in When Paparazzi Hide in the Bushes
Posted by… suppressed (21) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
The next morning, Rand was up before her alarm. She slipped out of bed and changed quietly. She let Roman sleep. He didn’t have to be up as early as she did, and today she would rather him sleep, than join her for a run. Instead she prepped for the captain’s morning and dropped off breakfast for her. Then she took breakfast to their quarters. She set the tray down on the table and sat at the desk, working quietly by the light of the monitor until Roman got up.

Rand

Roman woke with his alarm. He noticed Rand wasn’t next to him, checked the time, and then spotted her sitting at the desk. In a groggy, still waking up voice, he said, “Rand? Did I miss our run?” He sat up and yawned. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

~ Roman

Rand got up and went to sit with him. “Morning,” she leaned in and kissed him. “You needed your sleep, so I got started on my work instead. I have breakfast. Gorshin made that oatmeal you really like and toast.”

Rand

Ronan kissed her back, “Morning.” Then he leaned against her. “He always seems to know when we need something nice.” He said. He sighed softly and looked over at the desk. “Getting your morning reports done?”

~ Roman

Rand nodded, and curled up next to him. “Got an early start. I grabbed our uniforms when I picked up the captain’s. So far it seems to have been a very quiet night.”

Rand

Roman put an arm around her and pulled her close to him. “Good. That means not too much morning work.” He wanted to stay there with her, but he didn’t want to distract her from her work either. “I hope I’m not going to make you late.”

~ Roman

Rand shook her head. “No. I have almost everything done. At least until I get your reports, so I have time. Almost an hour before I have to get started.”

Rand

Roman nodded. “Do you want to finish breakfast?” He asked, looking at her, without having moved yet. He wasn’t hungry, but he knew she’d worry if he didn’t eat. And he didn’t want to waste the chef’s oatmeal anyway.

~ Roman

“I was waiting for you, and the kettle is already on for tea.” Rand wasn’t too much in a rush to move yet. She hadn’t slept great, not because of nightmares but worry. For Roman and despite his assurances, the Calianos. She wasn’t going to tell him that though. Knowing he’d slept undisturbed eased the worry to almost nothing.

Rand

His med regimen was working that well. He was still deeply distressed by the letter and the guilt, but he was still able to sleep. “It is?” He asked. He kissed her, letting it linger, but not too long. “There is no better fiancee in the universe.”

~ Roman

Rand chuckled. “Of course it is. You can’t function without your tea.” She laid her head on his shoulder and hugged him around his stomach tightly. “I hope you always think that.” For Rand it wasn’t just a silly statement but an anxious worry. She was always so worried about doing the correct thing. Not just with Roman, but everything with everyone. She didn’t worry so much with him though.

Rand

Roman hugged her tightly and kissed her forehead. “I will think that so long as we live.” He said softly, smiling down at her. “Ready for tea and breakfast then?” He asked.

~ Roman

Rand smiled back at him, hugged him tightly, and snuggled into him for a long moment. Then she kissed him and got up heading for the counter. “Extra strong today or regular?”

Rand

“Extra strong,” he replied, wishing she didn’t have to get up. At least there was a kiss in it for him before she did. He got up himself and started to get dressed.

~ Roman

One of these days, they weren’t going to have to get up. They would have an actual full day off, together, with no one needing them for anything, or injuries or illness, and they could be lazy and just stay in bed. The thought made Rand grin. She wasn’t sure she and Roman knew how to be lazy. She moved over toward the counter and started making tea to go with breakfast while he got ready. On the desk, was her PaDD with the letter for the Calianos on top. Rand had worked very hard to capture Roman’s voice. She knew he had found it very hard to express any answers to their questions, but she felt the Calianos deserved to hear from him directly.

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Caliano,

I must profusely apologize for my lack of communication. I can offer no excuse for my behavior. Your letters have always been welcome and meant a great deal to me. I have wanted to respond many times, but I have been unable to find a way to express my thoughts. I hope you are both well and know I think of you often.

Rand is the captain’s yeoman, so I had of course had occasion to interact with her. As it so happened I was in need of an extra pair of hands in the lab and discovered that, like myself, she is an early riser. I thought only to make use of an extra pair of hands, but discovered that she loves animals, perhaps even more than I do. The media, to our fortune, does not have access to the ship and our communications officer is quite efficient in filtering out their communications attempts. We are intending to marry when the Sentinel next returns to Earth. I anticipate that will be within the next 9 months, but as you know, orders change. I am delighted to be able to introduce her to you both.

I am doing well. Rand and I were both injured during the incident last June, but we have fully recovered. I will not worry you with the details now. Please be reassured that we are both well. The responsible party was caught and has been convicted of his crimes.

The letter went on to describe the animals Roman has been working with, especially Mushu.

With my deepest regards,

Roman Alden

Mr. and Mrs. Caliano,

I was so very delighted when Roman shared your letter with me. He has shared such fond memories of growing up with you and your son. I am simply elated you enjoyed the performances. If you don’t mind me asking, I am curious which was your favorite?

I am familiar with the media and their trouble; though, I admit that I have never been able to get used to it. I had thought that time of my life was long over, and was quite dismayed to find out that someone on our crew was selling photographs of Roman and I. The culprit has been caught and we are quite relieved for that. I want you to know that Roman is not being stubborn or evasive. The attacks were quite frightening, and we were injured. He has fully recovered and is quite well.

Roman has promised to introduce us when next we are on Earth. We plan to get married in Scotland with my family. Though Roman is far too stubborn to say so outright, it would mean a great deal to us to have you, his family, there to celebrate with us. I am very excited to meet you both and hope that it will be soon.

Best wishes,

Miranda Farquharson

Rand

Roman finished dressing and disappeared into the bathroom for a while. Then he came out and moved over by the counter, hugging Rand from behind. He’d seen the PaDD, left out on the desk. He was just… not ready to look yet. “Tea ready?”

~ Roman

Rand made a soft happy sound as he hugged her. She set the spoon down, rested her hands over his arms and leaned back against him. For a moment she enjoyed the closeness of the moment. Then she turned in his arms so she could hug him. Her cheeks were pink and she looked bashful. “It is, but I want to kiss you first.”

Rand

Roman smiled down at her. It was a pleasantly quiet, close moment. When she said she wanted to kiss him, he leaned down and kissed her. It was a long, lingering one.

~ Roman

Rand had butterflies in her stomach. Nervousness, contentment, and warmth all at once. She hugged him tighter, moving closer. When the kiss slowly ended, she was flushed even more but smiling. “I love you, Roman. I can’t imagine my life without you.”

Rand

“I can’t imagine mine without you,” Roman said back, voice soft. “Can’t imagine where I’d be without you.” He hugged her tightly, resting his head against her. “Thank you for… writing those.” He still hadn’t read them, but he knew she’d done it.

~ Roman

Rand hugged him tightly. “I’d do anything to help you.” She stretched up slightly to kiss his cheek. “I’d much rather be your personal yeoman than the captain’s, but then I couldn’t date you. We’d be miserable.” She said it quite dramatically, hoping to make him smile, just a little. She twisted in his arms and grabbed his tea and held it out to him.

Rand

Roman did smile a little bit. “We would be absolutely inconsolable.” He said, and then he kissed her again. She offered him his tea and he took it and started drinking it. “Are you meeting me for lunch today?”

~ Roman

Rand grinned. She knew he was upset over not making captain, but she was selfishly grateful. “That is my plan. In fact, if everything is like it was yesterday, I should be caught up. I’ll even have time to play… I mean work with Nibbles today.” She sat at the table and started to eat. Her appetite had been returning steadily and fewer and fewer things seemed to upset her stomach. That gain in normalcy was welcome.

Rand

Roman was glad to se her appetite getting better. He sat at the table with her and started eating. “Good. That mouse misses you.” He said between bites. “Things are slowing down for me, too.”

~ Roman

“I miss her too. I have tried to at least feed her this time. She got so depressed before.” Rand still felt incredibly guilty and sad about that. Nibbles seemed to be okay now though. “I am ready for things to get back to routine. I don’t mind the work, but… I hope this Captain stays.”

Rand

Roman nodded. “I’ve already put a note that her species shouldn’t be kept alone. Always at least two.” He was considering asking for another one, to make Nibbles happier when Rand was too busy to interact with her. It would be better for the mouse. “I do too,” he said. “I don’t mind the work, but all these changes in command confuse the crew.”

~ Roman