Posted by Lieutenant Sharah Fayth (Chief Star Fleet Medical Officer) in Three Isn’t A Crowd If You Don’t Want It To Be

Posted by Major General Charles Tenkiller (Vice-Commander, Colonial Customs and Defense Agency) in Three Isn’t A Crowd If You Don’t Want It To Be

Posted by Civilian Yavia Crockett (Nurse - Sacred Heart Hospital) in Three Isn’t A Crowd If You Don’t Want It To Be
Posted by… suppressed (22) by the Post Ghost! 👻
<snip>

Sharah picked up a shell, sitting close to his side, and offered it to him, tipping the shell up and letting it slide into his mouth. Yavia leaned into his other side, “Hmmm aren’t scallops supposed to be an aphrodisiac?”

Sharah

Tenkiller almost choked on the scallop and then chewed and took a drink. “Hun, I think ya mean oysters.” and he chuckled. “ ‘Sides… you two are all the aphrodisiac this guy needs.” He leaned in and kissed Sharah, opening himself as much as someone untrained could, and let all his desire, longing,passion, and love cascade into her. Then he did the same to Yavia.

Tenkiller

Sharah’s arms slid around him. His kiss left her wanting a lifetime of more before it ever ended. It was a delightful feeling the way he so freely offered that contact and acceptance of it. He knew she could feel it no matter what, but he chose to give it to her. For that long blissful moment Sharah felt normal and cherished and desired. Carefully, gently, she gave him back her own love, desire, passion, and the way he made her feel safe from herself. When it ended it left her to try to catch her breath and she reached for the glass of chilled water.

Sharah

Yavia’s fingertips traced over his temple, along his jaw and down his neck. She let her touch convey her feelings to him lightly, a promise of more. Then her palm rested flat over his heart and there was the brilliant connection of uniqueness and love and belonging that told him she loved him completely. There was passion and desire as well. She lingered for as long as he wanted. “You are an amazing man TK.” She kissed him briefly, “Sharah and I are very lucky to have you and each other.” She kissed him quickly again, she took his hand and Sharah’s completing their wonderful little circle.

Yavia

There it is again. he thought to himself, knowing full well that Sharah would probably catch the inner voice in his head. For all of his unique gifts, Charles was both very self-aware and keenly observant. The circle. It just makes everything… and he looked at Sharah as if asking her if she felt it and to complete the thought.

Tenkiller

Sharah lifted her eyes to his gaze. Oh yes she could feel it. From him and from Yavia. The way they slipped so easily into it, their simple acceptance of their place within it. The joy, the sense of belonging, and the completeness. They were a bright beacon that anchored her in the darkness. For a blink of a moment she felt the storms and darkness rip at her, and she didn’t feel she belonged there at all. The small but determined core of her held desperately to that circle. She lived them deeply and completely without reservation. It flowed off of her, past her control, to fill them. Oh yes she felt it. The way they drew her into her place, held her there, and filled all the broken chipped pieces of her.

Did she dare answer his mind? Did she trust her control? No she didn’t. He would tell her that was okay because he did, and she trusted him. She felt confused again, uncertain, but there was no room for fear. The circle didn’t allow it inside. ‘…complete. It makes us complete.‘

Sharah

Charles smiled at her and then leaned in and kissed her, his lips still carrying the saltiness of the scallops far away home. He then looked at V and said “Ya know, I think she might be gettin’ the hang of this whole ‘she’s allowed to be happy’ thing after all.” He looked back at Sharah and winked with grin on his face and then he turned and kissed Yavia. “Just makin’ sure you remember, too.”

Tenkiller

Yavia’s smile was warm when she squeezed Sharah’s hand watching the woman’s cheeks turn pink. Love, acceptance, desire, happiness, comfort, and contentment rushed up Sharah’s arm from their joined hands. Yavia was not afraid to share her mind with Sharah, she wasn’t afraid of being hurt, or having her secrets found out. She would keep no secrets from either of them.

She kissed TK back, sharing all the same feelings. “Oh I do. I can’t be anything but happy with both of you.” Then he was kissed on both corners of his mouth by both of them, “So you remember too.”

Yavia sat up and grabbed two shells handing one to each of them. Then took one for herself. “These are far too delightful to leave any on the plate.”

Yavia

“I agree.” Tenkiller said and held up his shell. “Cheers!” and when all the shells clicked he ate his last scallop. “O really hope the chef didn’t peak too soon. Although I won’t be upset even if that was the best thing we eat tonight.”

Sharah sighed a delighted sound coming from the back of her throat. “This is the best thing I have ever eaten, but I’m nor here for the food. It’s just a bonus.”

“If the Chef peeks with the appetizer this place doesn’t deserve the reputation.”

He sat and put his arm around both women and smiled. “Best double-date ever.” and then he paused. “Wait… triple date?” he asked with comical puzzled expression on his face. “I’m on a date with her-” and he pointed at V, “- and her…”and he pointed at Sharah. “And she is on a date with her… so yeah, triple date!” and he laughed and then smiled at both of the women he was in love with.

Tenkiller

Sharah watched him count out the pairings and laughed, a slight confused tone to it, but no less happy for it. It was weirdly comfortable and she was perfectly okay with that. There was a hint of happy laughter to her voice “I love you,” and she kisses him. Then she tugged Yavia closer, “I love you too,” and she kissed her as well.

Sharah

“I love you too, Sweetheart.” Then she chuckled. “I don’t usually share well, but I like this.” Yavia settled in against his side and pressed a kiss to his neck. “I don’t know why this happened so fast but I can’t imagine things being any differently.”

Yavia

“Fast?” Tenkiller said with a grin. “Who says? I think it happened just like it was supposed to. An’ ‘sides… ‘fast’ is for other folks to say. We do us how we want to.” and he looked at Sharah and then back at V. “Deal?”

Tenkiller

Sharah grinned, “What’s fast? You either know, you feel it, or you don’t.” Sharah had a bit of a revelation, much bigger and more in general than what was going on between the three of them. Nothing about her life had ever been measured by normal standards, so why did she keep trying to make her life fit other’s standards? She picked up her glass after kissing his cheek, “Deal,” and took a drink.

She raised her brows at Yavia who chuckled, “Of course, Deal.” She grabbed her glass and sipped at it. As much as she might want to drink the whole thing it was too good to rush.

Sharah

Charles looked at in mock-shock and put his hand on his heart. “What? Did my ears just hear what I think they heard?” and grinned and leaned in close to her, his eyes locking into hers. “Did you, Dr. Sharah Fayth, just decide that your happiness is more important than what other people decide is important?” He leaned closer, his gaze flitting to her lips for a long moment and a cascade of primal want flowing off of him like a sudden, brief rain shower. “That’s a good look on you, my love… you caring for you. I guess I should formally welcome you to the Sharah fan club. V and I have been members for a while now-” and he kissed her suddenly, his lips conveying that same fleeting drive from a moment before.

Tenkiller

His teasing made her smile and flush, and she stared back into his gaze forgetting for a moment anything existed but the three of them. She went to tell him of course she did, he and V wouldn’t let her get away with not agreeing. His primal want washed over her, having a noticeable effect on her respiration, pulse, and the way her eyes widened. Members for awhile…? Oh she supposed she knew that....then he was kissing her, and it was obvious how his feelings affected her in the way she wrapped her arms around him, slid as close as the booth would allow, the way she seemed to devour him in turn. But mostly it was the way she let herself trust him and her mind gently connected to his sharing how he made her feel and how she felt about him.

Sharah

Yavia grinned. The utter confusion and delighted overwhelm coming off Sharah as TK teased her was wonderful to feel. To see him draw her further and further into his circle. The way she craved it and wanted it. The way Sharah reached for her to share all those things. The way little by little Sharah let herself connect with them. Yavia was so in live with those two.

She sat back and watched the fireworks. The chime rang softly, “5 minutes please, Heigr.” Yavia lifted her drink and sipped it with a grin.

Yavia

Tenkiller smiled at Yavia’s words and proceed to tell Sharah just how much he wanted her by kissing her with even more gusto. After a moment, he pulled back and looked at V and said “Um… I might have been wrong about that while ‘scallops-oyster’ thing.” and then he yanked her to him and showed her that his feelings for her were of the same intensity he had for Sharah.

Tenkiller

Yavia felt a thrill chase down her spine as he pulled her closer. She kissed him with the same deep feelings and intense connection, no special Deltan gifts required. Yavia lost herself in his arms. His intensity and feelings were all encompassing, and she had every desire to stay there, the way she kissed him told him so.

When they finally parted, Yavia grinned giving him a hot glance, “Or I might have been right.” Glancing at Sharah, she smiled knowingly. Sharah looked dazed and breathless. Yavia reached over, her hand slipping into Sharah’s hair and pulled her closer. Yavia kissed her, pouring desire and intense love into it. She slowly pulled away, kissing her lightly a few times. “Mmmm, yeah I think I was right.”

Yavia

A few minutes, and kisses, later the chime rang again. “It’s safe to enter!” Tenkiller said with a chuckle. Heigr opened the drapes and then cleared the table without a word. He refilled drinks and then said “You next course. Salad de Minokiten. Note that the Minokitens are a avian species only recently a part of the Federation.” He sat three plates on the table, one before each diner. “The salad is made up of native grasses and herbs, then lightly dressed in a vinegar, oil, and egg-based dressing incorporating yet more of the abundant variety of herbs of the planet. Bon appetite.” and he backed out and closed the drapes.

The salad was bright blue with a silvery dressing. Tenkiller eyed it suspiciously and said “Uh… anyone else catch that? Avian species… and an egg based dressing?”

Tenkiller

Yavia eyed the salad, “Yep, I caught that. Surely…it’s not their eggs. Isn’t that some sort of blackmark to joining the Federation....?”

Sharah eyed the salad as well. “Avian only means they fly, it doesn’t mean they procreate through laying eggs.” It smelled good, the herbs reminded her of the scent of the wind after a storm on Betazed.

“That is very true and egg might not even be an accurate translation,” Yavia nodded slowly still eyeing the silvery dressing. “It could just be the closest Standard term to their language. It may not be remotely close to how we think about it.”

Sharah picked up her fork and moved it around on the plate looking at everything. “Even if it is, it doesn’t mean it’s their eggs. Besides we all ate eggs for breakfast yesterday. If we are that bothered by it, then we should all be vegan.”

Yavia raised a brow, “Okay then, you try it first.” Sharah shrugged and with as much optimism as she could muster she gathered a variety of the grasses on her fork and tried it. Her face was neutrally thoughtful as she tasted, chewed, and then chased it with the water. “Oh that is…try it, really. It’s like....the scallops were…sultry, but this is fresh, brisk, it wakes you up.”

Yavia wondered if Sharah was pulling her leg, but she took a bite anyway, “Oh, wow.”

Yavia

Tenkiller wasn’t convinced, but since the ladies had done it, he wouldn’t leave them hanging. He stabbed the mass with his fork like it had said something derogatory about his mother, lifted the bite and- without hesitation- plunged the bite into his mouth. He chewed for a moment and then eyes Sharah sideways.

“Oh, you suck.” he said around the bite and then held the napkin to his mouth as he tried not to laugh. It was herbal, all right. It was as if someone had taken the most amazing Ceasar salad from Earth, multiplied the favor by a factor of ten, and then doused the entire thing in every bit of black pepper they could find. Charles’ eyes watered, but whether it was from the salad or the repressed laughter was anybody guess.

Tenkiller

She bit the enside of her cheek to stop from laughing and then took another sip of her water. “Water, the water definitely helps.” Sharah pointed to the refilled ice water on the table barely containing a smirk. “You should see your faces.” She moved things around tring to find a portion not doused in the dressing.

Sharah

Yavia coughed several times around the overpowering pepper taste. She took a long drink of the water and shook an elegant finger at Sharah. “Wakes you up? You devious girl.” She looked at TK, looking like she might laugh. “Didn’t I tell you, in the car earlier, she had a knack for being truthful but not telling the truth?”

Yavia

At that moment the chime rang and a moment later the drapes pulled back slightly. It was Heigr, and he looked like he had just stared Death in the eye. “I am so… so… SO sorry. I brought you the entirely wrong salads. These are meant for an Antican group. Please forgive me. I-” and Tenkiller held up a hand. “Hey hey hey… easy, my man. Mistakes happen. And its not like it was the worst thing that could have happened, right? So let’s just say it never happened, you get the Anticans their salads and we’ll wait till ya catch your breath. Seriously… its no problem.” Heigr nodded and cleared the plates and soon the drapes fell closed again.

His discomfort and nervousness was thick and like a stone in Sharah’s stomach. For Yavia as well, but she had the option of turning it off. Sharah gave him a reassuring smile, as he cleared the table and left in a hurry.

Tenkiller looked between the two women and said “Well, that’s one for the books.” and he chuckled.

Tenkiller

Yavia began to laugh, “Oh I am really glad that was the wrong dish.” She drank another good portion of the water. “It did not stand up to the scallops.”

“Well, Yavia this is one for you to share. You are always bragging about all crazy foods you have tried. And this one should Jal’na up. I don’t think even she has eaten something an Antican would like.”

Yavia

“I dig their meats and such, but that was like the culinary equivalent of a dare.” Charles said as he finished his glass of water. His face grew slightly thoughtful and he said “Ya know… I can’t remember a time a time when I have enjoyed a meal as much as I have eating with the two of you. I dunno… it just seems comfortable… like its always been this way. Or at least… always shoulda been this way.”

Tenkiller

Sharah looked at him thoughtfully. She felt a sense of comfort, of…of…almost tradition. A sense that this was how it had always been done, and not the creating of a new tradition. “Do you believe that such things exist, like fate? We have somewhere we are supposed to be, something we are supposed to do? That out of millions of light-years, planets, and countless life forms we were supposed to be here, on Oed, here like we are?” There was a deep well of feeling behind her question that she refused to touch.

Sharah

Tenkiller thought for a koment and then shrugged slightly. “I dunno. But I have seen a lot of strangeness in the universe. Things that make me think that maybe the whole celestial mechanics thing plays out on a much smaller scale, too. I mean, sometimes you can’t discount things as random chance. Hell, I rescued the same guy from an escape pod twice. Two different quadrants, two different ships. And even weirder was he had been in the escape pod the exact same amount of times both times; AND he was rescued on the same date and same time three years apart.”

Tenkiller

Yavia blew out a breath, “That man needs to go home before his luck runs out.” Yavia thought about Sharah’s question and could feel the mixed emotions swirling around her over it. “I don’t know about predestination, but I like to think that I have been where I am most needed. That each job or position I have taken, that I have been available to take it because I was needed. I am not so vain as to say I am the only nurse that could have done the job, but that for whatever reason, they needed me, and I needed them.” She reached over for Sharah’s hand. “And if we can be where others need us. Me for my patients, TK for that poor man, you for the lives you saved.” She squeezed Sharah’s hand, “You know you have. Why not for ourselves too, that those we would most want to be with, being to, complete us, are more than coincidence? We are complete here, together, and no one else could do that.”

Yavia

“The how and the why really doesn’t matter, does it?” Tenkiller said with a warm smile to both women as he took their hands. “All that matters is that we are together. The rest is just semantics.”

The chime sounded and Heigr said “I have the correct salads now. Again, my apologies.” The drapes drew back and he set a bowl in front of the three. Cooled grilled lettuce with small bits of Terran tomatoes and purple onions with an oil and vinegar dressing. Tenkiller smiled at Heigr and said “Well done, my man. Thank you.” He bowed and smiled thanks as the drapes closed. Tenkiller looked at the dish and said “Much better, I hope.” and chuckled as he took a bite. He then smiled and said “Good to go, ladies.”

Tenkiller

Sharah shook her head. No it didn’t really matter. She wasn’t teally thrilled about the idea of fate anyway. That would mean she had no control over herself of this curse. That it didn’t matter how hard she tried, she would lose control or not. That didn’t sit well with her, but was saved from answering by Heigr’s arrival. This salad looked much better, and when he left she exchanged a look with Yavia over the salad as Charles took a bite. With a chuckle they both let out a little sigh as he declared it good. Sharah took a bite and nodded, “Much better.” The salad must have been good because no said much for a few moments. That or it was such a relief to the taste buds.

Sharah ate about half before she sat back and closed her eyes. There was a tightening at the corner of her eyes and mouth. She didn’t say anything, but her hand reached quietly across the seat for him. Really she was surprised it had taken this long for it to hit her again.

Sharah

Charles set his fork down and took her hand. “Coming back at ya, ain’t it?” he asked softly. He looked at Yavia and took her hand, setting it on Sharah’s while his hamd lay underneath it; sandwiching it between the two palms.

Tenkiller