Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in The Commander Needs a Hug

Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in The Commander Needs a Hug

Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in The Commander Needs a Hug
Posted by… suppressed (29) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Rand was busy. Well she was always busy and she preferred it that way. She still got more tired than she used to. She was sick of it. She felt like she would never get completely better. Today was a good day though. There was no hint of a headache today, so she went to the lab to see Nibbles until Roman was finished.

Roman wasn’t there though, and no one had seen him in awhile. Rand hadn’t heard about an emergency, so it must just be normal things. She went and grabbed a tray and headed back to their quarters.

Rand

Kovan peeked his head into the labs, searching the room for a familiar head of red hair. Nothing. Kovan called over a scientist and after talking with her for a bit learned that Rand had just left with a tray. Kovan quickly thanked them and darted off after the ship yeoman. He really needed to find her before the commander finished crying in the tubes. Kovan sighed in relief as he spotted Rand at the door to her quarters. “Rand!” He shouted as loud as he could get get her attention and put on a burst of speed, “Listen, we need to talk. It’s about the Commander. . .”

Kovan

Rand’s head jerked up and she half turned to see Kovan headed toward her in a rush. Then he said they had to talk about Roman. Rand knew Kovan never got envolved in people’s personal anything. It wouldn’t do to panic now, even though the last time someone had said si.ilar, Roman was in sickbay after being electrocuted. “Let me put this tray down.” She went and waved Kovan inside with her. She set the tray on the table and then grasped her hands behind her back, concealing her worry. “What’s wrong?”

Rand

He followed after her, glancing about the room as though scared the Commander was hiding behind a potted plant or under a table. God, he would lose all his nerve. “So, uh, yeah, I was having a, uh, chat with your lover boy.” Kovan never talked like this. Nerves with stops and filler words that were otherwise completely absent from his normal speech. “And I think you need to have a talk with him because he might feel like doing something stupid. Not dumb stupid, but, um like, what the hell were you thinking stupid? Maybe also remind him that you love and care for him and that you’re lucky to have him because there’s a small chance that he might really need to hear that from you? Also he can’t know I told you any of this or he might just make me clean all the animal’s cages in retaliation and I hate animals so much.”

Kovan heaved a sigh as he completed that torrent of words. This is why he hated dealing with emotions. Too messy and uncomfortable for everyone involved.

Kovan

Rand stared at him a moment. That was vague but spoke volumes. Rand was smart and she got what Kovan was hinting. Also luckily for her, Kovan even told her exactly what she was supposed to do about it. “Thanks Kovan. I’m sure you didn’t want to say anything.” She looked around the room and then sighed. “I’ll take care of it, promise.” She went to the door, looked out. No one was about and waved him down the corridor.

Rand

That was a bit of an understatement. Kovan felt dirty being here but not as dirty if the commander got hurt and he never said something. “Yeah, so long as we understand each other.” Kovan nodded his head, the only acknowledgement of gratitude he could manage before making a quick and efficient escape. The rest was in Rand’s capable hands now.

Kovan

Oh, she understood alright. Luckily she knew what to do, so there was none of the anxiety over that. The problem was she couldn’t just confront Roman out of the blue. She would have to wait and be patient. And stubborn, she could not forget stubborn.

Rand

Roman showed up at their quarters a few minutes later. He entered the quarters and sat on the bed with a soft sigh. “Oh, you got us dinner. Thank you, Miranda,” he said, and offered a small, forced smile.

~ Roman

It would be the greatest performance of her life. To act like everything was normal when it wasn’t. Without Kovan it was still obvious. She knew when Roman forced a smile. She went and sat down next to him. “I went by the lab, and they told me you hadn’t been in the lab for awhile. I didn’t know if you would have to work late, so I went ahead and got the tray.” She worried her lower lip with her teeth. “I figured if you did you wouldn’t want to go back to the galley?”

Roman shook his head, “No, I don’t. I was just busy somewhere else.” He set an arm around her when she sat by him.

She looked at him shyly before she hugged him. She blushed softly too because she enjoyed their time away from everyone. None of this was unusual though. Once she knew she could be comfortable with Roman and it didn’t bother him, Rand was very affectionate even if she was shy and quiet about it.

Rand

Roman hugged her back, resting his head against her. He loved when she was affectionate. She was quiet and shy and gentle about it. He sighed softly and held onto her for a long moment. “We should eat, huh?” He said softly, also trying to pretend everything was normal.

~ Roman

Rand let out a long sigh. She would rather stay curled up with him, but they needed to eat. “Okay.” Her arms tightened around him before she got up and moved toward the table. She removed the lids and inhaled. “Oh. Gorshin must have gotten a new shipment. Steak, baked potatoes, salad, and chocolate cake.” Rand smiled. It was a nice meal. She didn’t know what it would be, she had just gone to get food and Gorshin had it ready.

Rand

Roman moved to the table. Rand was right, it was a nice meal. It wasn’t often they ate this well. He took his own plate and began to eat, salad and potatoes first. “Chocolate cake too? Gorshin thought we needed a dessert?” He asked.

~ Roman

Rand laughed. “We’re in route to Risa, and we got a new supply shipment. You know he loves to cook and bake. Maybe he got a letter from his daughter. That always makes him happy.” Rand broke open her potato and added butter to it, watching the small square melt in the released steam. Then with very proper table manners and delicate movements she cut her steak into small polite sized pieces before she started eating her salad.

Rand

With similar table manners he began to cut up and eat the steak. He didn’t finish all of it. He wanted to leave space for the cake and he wasn’t feeling that hungry. He waited for Rand to finish before taking his slice of cake.

~ Roman

They ate in relative silence, which suited Rand and both their manners just fine. The steak was far too big for her and she set aside half her salad for Pipkin. She took the cake which was still warm and the aroma reminded her of her grandfather. It was his favorite. Before she could take a bite the chime rang.

Rand

Roman had not taken a bite of his yet, either. He stood and went to the door, pressing the button to allow it to open and see who it was.

~ Roman

It was a young Ensign in a red shirt carrying two crates. “Good evening Cmdr. This arrived for Rand.” He handed the two crates to Alden and then left. Rand came over and grinned. “Oh! I didn’t expect it to get here already.” She blushed softly. “They’re for you.”

Rand

Roman accepted the crates, thanked the Ensign, and let the door close. “For me?” He asked, setting the crates down on the table. “What’s in them? Should I look now?” He asked, looking at Rand.

~ Roman

Rand tugged her lower lip between her teeth. Roman could tell she was excited, but apprehensive (when was she not?) about him liking it. She nodded, “Yes, open them.”

Roman opened each of the crates, removing what was inside and setting it down.

The first was a stasis box that held three pints of maple walnut ice cream- his favorite.

Roman smiled at the ice cream. It was his favorite and he looked forward to having some.

The second was a slightly larger crate. Inside were data disks containing the most recent symphonies from his favorite contemporary composer and their performances by the Delta IV World Orchestra. There were printed copies of the sheet music for violin as well. Then a larger device. It would allow him to record his own compositions and save to a data disk. He could also print it out on music sheets and it would also allow him to electronically add and program in other instruments as well.

Rand

The second was even better. He hadn’t practiced his violin in some time, but this was a great incentive to. He looked at Rand, smiled, and hugged her. “What brought this on? It’s not my birthday yet, or Christmas.”

~ Roman

Rand lifted a shoulder, hard pressed to put into words. “Well… ummm…” she lifted a shoulder again. “You do so much for me. You helped me learn my way around the ship again, you translated for me when I couldn’t remember how to speak English, you hold me when I have nightmares, you sit with me in sickbay even though you hate it,” she turned bright red as she listed everything off. She was rather pitiful wasn’t she?

“You sit with me and help me breathe when I have a panic attack, you stop people from crowding me, you helped me remember how to read lines, you dance with me, you make me laugh, you tell me about your work. You love me.” The last word had a wistful bit of disbelief. It amazed her everyday that someone like Roman could love someone like her.

“I know you don’t expect compensation. This isn’t that,” she hurried to assure him, getting flustered with trying to explain and not knowing if maybe she’d done the wrong thing. “I just… I wanted… to do something nice for you.”

Rand

Roman hugged her tightly. “I love them, Miranda. Thank you.” He said softly. “You did something nice and wonderful.” He sighed against her and held her for a long time. “I love you so much,” he said softly, his voice pinching a bit.

~ Roman

Rand rested her head against his chest, hearing the deep rhythm of his heart. She hugged him tightly. “I love you, Ròmanach. I know the last year hasn’t been easy, and you’ve had to take on a lot by taking care of me. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

Rand

“Your brother would have done it,” Roman said softly, though he squeezed her tightly to him. “I’m just glad you’re okay, you’re getting better.”

~ Roman

Rand shook her head, “I love Randy, but no he wouldn’t. He would try, but it would be like before. He would have taken me home and kept me there sheltered not letting me do anything.” She couldn’t explain it. Randy knew what to do professionally, but he would always be her big brother and try to protect her by doing for her.

She cuddled into his chest. “I’m glad we are both better.” She looked up at him with that same flustered, breathless flush she always got before she kissed him.

Rand

Roman smiled, but there was a pang of frustration and sadness. Was he better? Why couldn’t he keep his body from reacting to stress the way it did now? What was wrong with him? He shoved the thoughts aside and tried to lose himself in that flustered, flushed look he liked so much as he leaned in to kiss her.

~ Roman

If Roman had said something to Rand, she would have explained it to him. Elbbirt would have as well. Now, a year and a half later his body wasn’t responding to stress differently any longer, he just noticed it more because of what happened. His body triggered physical recognition because of the trauma it had suffered. She didn’t know that’s what was wrong though.

Rand stretched up on her toes as he leaned in, wrapping her arms around him and returned the kiss. She loved him beyond comprehension. He was her universe, and she hoped she was at least his world. She couldn’t wait to get married, but it frightened her too. She or Roman could be transfered away. So though she was eager to say her vows, she was willing to wait.

Rand

She was everything to him. Even his lab wasn’t worth it if he didn’t have her there. Roman wanted to marry her, but not at the cost of separating from her. She had to be with him. He didn’t know what he’d do without her. The kiss was long and passionate, and she felt Roman’s body relax while they were still embraced together.

~ Roman

Rand sighed and relaxed against him. Being in his arms was Rand’s favorite place. She could stand there forever and never get tired. Eventually though the moment gently ended. Rand looked up at him, flushed and shy and adoring. “I love you, Roman.”

Rand

Roman hugged her tightly to him. “I love you too, Miranda,” he said, voice soft. He rested his head against her gently with a little sigh. “So, so much.”

~ Roman

“I never thought I would be happy my career ended, but if it hadn’t, I never would have met you. It was all worth it for you.” She rested against him for a long moment then sighed softly. “We should eat before the cake gets cold and the ice cream melts.”

Rand

Roman smiled down at her. “I’m going to put some of the ice cream on the cake.” And he moved to the table to do just that.

~ Roman

Rand’s shoulders came up as she clasped her hands tightly with happiness and grinned. She set the other containers back in the stasis box and locked it. She would take it down and ask Gorshin to store it in a bit. She grabbed a spoon and handed it to him before she sat down. Pipkin came over, sitting up, ears and nose twitching. Rand fed her lettuce and carrots from her salad.

Rand