STF

Starbase 13 Food Court --- 15 Months Ago ---

Posted Oct. 11, 2019, 8:04 p.m. by Lieutenant Christopher Robins (Stellar Cartographer) (Steven Sigle)

Posted by Captain Kelly Bordeaux (Commanding Officer) in Starbase 13 Food Court — 15 Months Ago —

Ian didn’t want to be here, this was the last trip he needed right now. Jacen was going to make new modifications to Kelly’s coffee dispenser and he had to make sure he didn’t give her too much. If you gave Kelly a cookie she always asked for a glass of milk. Without his hand to guide and protect the crew from her silly demands he expected every one to have glass tables on wheels and a three deck aquarium by the time he got back. Still his duty as a diplomat often brought him away from the ship he was assigned to.

Sitting in the food court right now with the few free hours he had before needing to rendezvous for the shuttle to take him to the Tirgon VII. He wasn’t really sure what he wanted, the food court was part of the promenade leaving all kinds of shops and eateries he could see but found himself gazing in one direction in particular. “Lexi?” he said with a low questioning tone. He could see her behind a half way as she seemed to be shopping. He didn’t know she was going to be on this Starbase, the Aquarius wasn’t listed to be docked here and three days ago they had just spoke. She knew he would be here on the base, had she purposely got a shuttle to meet him here as a surprise?

Lexi ran her fingertips over the soft cloth with the lettering IF YOU THINK I AM CUTE YOU SHOULD SEE MY DADDY bib. The rack was full of them. It was just trying to figure out what color she wanted. The baby was due any time now which was why Lexi had caught a ride to Starbase 13. It gave her an afternoon to do some shopping before bean showed up. The name bean was short for jellybean which was also a nod to Chris and his love of candy. She had tried half a dozen times to tell Chris she was pregnant but each time came up short. They had passed messages back and forth and even attempted a comm call or two but Starfleet always seemed to find a way to interrupt. There was the time she called and there was a power fluctuation on the USS Odin resulting in nothing more than crickets immediately after the hello. Another time they missed each other by two hours on Outpost 42 when the Aquarius was sent on an emergency rescue mission to the other end of space. The result every time was another failed attempt to break the news to Robbins. At this point, Lexi had to focus on the baby and not act like a love-struck teen. One day Chris would find out and only God knew what would be his reaction. Right now she was buying the bib because Bean’s daddy was the cutest Daddy in the world.

Getting up from the table he made his way to her, smiling he called out as he got closer. “Lexi!” he said, waving as he got closer. He had to admit she seemed to be better lately, their calls seemed to have a glow about her and from here she seemed different. He couldn’t see the bottom half of her but the top half seemed… fuller he thought to himself. She was never the classic busty girl Chris always seemed to chase, but right now he couldn’t deny she fit right into the class. Please God, don’t tell me you got a tit job to try and win Chris back. Ian thought to himself.

Lieutenant Ian Bordeaux

“Ian,” Lexi said with a half-second delay in her face lighting up waving the bib in response. It had been almost exactly nine months since she had seen him. If she couldn’t have Chris to chat with at least she had Ian. “Ian Bordeaux,” she grinned happily watching him approach her until she stopped smiling. The closer he got the more Lexi realized she was in trouble. “How…wow wow are you here,” she stumbled over the greeting and threw the bib off to the side. At least she was behind the counter which hid the literal elephant in the room. It was too late to run but there was no way she could stand here for any length of time and not have Ian start asking questions.

Lt. Lexi Garfield

“I told you I was going to be here… just a few days ago… we talked… told you I was married to Kelly… big changes in my life… are you okay?” he asked with a pondering tone as he looked at her, getting closer he began to turn the corner to see her only to find her seeming to back up and go the opposite direction.

“Pffft yaaaa essss,” she drew out the word moving back slowly and casually like Ian was a Nauccissian in a dark alley and not one of her closest friends. “Why wouldn’t I be,” she rounded the corner of the kiosk’s counter. Realizing she was on the wrong side, Lexi tried to play it by leaning on the counter as if she belonged there. “Can get you something? Lollipop,” she said grabbing the first object in her reach. “They are gourmet from Her..sh..e…yah,” she made up a different sounding pronunciation of the intergalactic candy brand. “I think it is found in the Belcordia system.” With each word, Lexi knew she was raising more suspicion than belaying it.

“What are you doing Lexi?” he demanded as he came around the corner fully as he saw her backing into the food kiosk behind her as he stopped, staring in shock at the sight before him.

“That’s… new… that occur in the few days since I was like hey… any new life changes going on?” Ian asked as he seemed to stare fixated on her large stomach.

Knowing there was no way out of this little pickle, Lexi made the snap judgment to call this a dry run of how to tell Chris she was pregnant. “Surprise,” she threw open her arms. “I am…expecting.”

It was clear she had to be nearly full term as he looked down, then back up at her. This explains the rack he thought to himself as he seemed to shake his head in disbelief. “What… what… I …” stammered Ian as he seemed to loose and words as he tried to understand the sight before him.

Lieutenant Ian Bordeaux

“Enough about me. Tell me how married life is,” she deftly changed the topic coming around the corner and linking Ian’s arm in hers. She had no idea where she intended to go but at least moving around made this situation far less awkward. “How are you adjusting?”

“I think you need to take a seat doll…” Ian said as he deftly bypassed the question as he put his hand on her arm and began moving her to the tables. “I think my marriage is the least of what we need to talk about hon.”

Lt. Lexi Garfield

Meanwhile…

“Why couldn’t we have just gotten these at Risa? Why do you always need to stop by these backwater places when we are on vacation? I mean first there was Outpost 42 and that odd couple we ended up having to help… now we are here and… this is Starbase 13… they shouldn’t even name a base 13.” Shaun exclaimed as he raised his hands in the air as he looked back over at Kate as she kept placing shirts over her frame as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.

Kate looked at her reflection in the mirror turning to the left and then right. Kate loved the Simply Celestial t-shirt brands with there catchy slogans and bright colors. She had a drawer full of them but never missed an opportunity to snag a few more. “Mmm hmm,” she murmured not really listening to Shaun complain. He was her boyfriend and that relegated him to bag carrier by default. “If you help me this will be so much quicker hero. Do you like this better in the baby blue or pink,” she turned to face him. Wiggling her shoulders playfully Kate smiled at Shaun. “Besides after a vacation like we just had you definitely need a t-shirt. How many times do you stop a plague, uncover ancient alien tech, and become a captain all in under two weeks? Blue or pink,” she shook the shirt on the hangar making sure Shaun focused where he should be focusing.

“Okay yes becoming a temporary Captain of some billionaire playboys ship was cool but… you pick the oddest places to go shopping. It’s like back at home when we go on trips, you always pick the rest stops. Those places are filled with germs, no healthy food… public showers… we aren’t in the 21st century Katie bug we are in the 24th century with culture and civilization not…” Shaun paused as he looked at the shirt on the rack that read EVERYDAY IS CHEAT DAY WHEN YOU ARE NOT ON A DIET as he shook his head.

“Like this…” he said pointedly as he picked up the shirt, “What does this even mean… it’s just for fat Ferengi wanting to not be shamed to loose some pounds so I don’t have to constantly do bypasses on them cause they eat too many of those bugs they like so much, it’s gorging and it’s not healthy.

Lieutenant Ian Bordeaux / Shaun Grecken

“Do you like *EAT SLEEP BEACH REPEAT better she showed him the back?” Kate was not leaving until Shaun actively chose the shirt he liked the best. She knew he only had an interest in the shirt off her body but he would comply or they would stand here forever. “And you are one to talk Mr. Diet Dr. Pepper. I am pretty sure the crap they put in that is not anything bad or artificial. As to why we come to these places, it is for health reasons. The more germs we take in the healthier we are. At least I am. Super immune system,” Kate flexed her biceps.

Lexi looked at Ian and took a deep breath as she slid into the chair he had pulled out for her. “I am not sure where to start,” she hemmed and hawed. Lexi knew the news was a bombshell. It had rocked her world. This chance encounter with Bordeaux was getting extremely awkward and messy. If she had not kept up with Ian over the years, Lexi might have told him it was none of his business and walked away. It was Ian however so Lexi tried a different approach. Taking a deep breath she began to speak. “Well, there comes a special time in every boy and girl’s life where they start to experience urges. These urges are called,”

“Cut the crap doll, you know that’s not what I am concerned about. We have been talking all the time for the last what I am guessing is nine months here… and nothing? I’m a little hurt here. Come on I have always been here for you… the whole story this time doll.” Ian demanded, his tone not one to seem like he was going to take being jerked around very well from her right now.

“Okay,” she leaned back hating more than anything Ian had become a diplomat. It was something about his tone and the way he controlled a conversation. His tone made Lexi want to tell him everything and anything on her mind about the baby and Chris. “I wasn’t careful,” she started the story. “I let my guard down one night and six weeks later I found out what happens when you let emotions run your life.” Lexi tried to keep her tone aloof as she spoke. This wasn’t as hard as it might seem. Lexi was no longer upset about the baby or the circumstances surrounding the baby’s conception. At this point it was just rehearsed facts she shared a million times with everyone from her family to her shipmates. “It’s not like having a kid is the worst thing that can ever happen to you. I always wanted kids. Since I am not getting any younger I figured why not put the cart in front of the horse. I have the baby now and then settle down with a nice guy somewhere, right?” Lexi’s tone was not confident even though she worked hard at presenting like she believed every word seeping from her mouth.

“I take it Chris doesn’t know?” questioned Ian, this wasn’t a large leap right here. Chris had been a total ass the last time they talked. He wasn’t sure why he kept putting up with all the crap Chris told him. He knew Chris to be a man of morals and principles, and loyal to his friends. To Lexi though he acted like a scared child. Ian had several times told Chris you couldn’t run from your feelings forever, eventually they catch up and they always hurt in the long run when you neglect them.

“The baby is not Chris’. I have been with several guys since I saw him last. Oh God now you sound like a slut. Quick, fix that, ” her inner voice chastised. Anyone that knew Alexandra Garfield knew there could only be one of two fathers to the baby: Chris or Noah. Noah and she had remained close but he had gotten married to the other third wheel of the group Kylie Morrison a few weeks back. Lexi dodged the wedding due to her delicate condition allowing the gossip mill to create a million reasons for her absence. One of which as Noah was marrying someone else and she was left in the cold with his child. Lexi never outwardly stated that Noah was the father. She just never admitted he wasn’t.

“Bullcrap, you are one of the sweetest women I know. You don’t go whoring yourself out like some common lady of the night. You told me all about that night with Chris, and you told me how he was a fool and misunderstood the whole scene with you and Noah, the only person you slept with nine months ago was him, so you wanna try me again?” Ian retorted as he shook his head, this was a hard topic he knew but he wasn’t going to take one of his best friends lying to him.

“Look the baby is my responsibility,” she kept the same topic but put a spin on it. “It doesn’t matter who the father is if I am the one planning on raising it.” Lexi inhaled deeply slouching back in her chair. Everything was true about her statement. Why it was making her feel so bad was the question she needed to answer.

“Ian you know Chris. He is not ready to do the family thing. If I ever told him I was having his baby he....he would,” Lexi’s voice trailed off as she stared at everything and nothing around her.

“I don’t know what he would do, I used to I thought. I love you and Chris like you are my family, and sometimes family can disappoint you. He should have taking the time nine months ago to listen and hear what you had to say. Noah… hell Noah married Kylie and is happy now from what I hear and I know Chris has heard this too and he is still being a little punk not answering your calls. I don’t know what is going to make him wake up and see he is losing everything due to his own insecurities but I hope he learns soon cause this…” Ian said pausing to wave over Lexi’s stomach for effect, “… This is big and no man should ever loose this chance to know their child. In the end though you don’t know what he is going to do either, maybe he surprises us both.”

Lexi pursed her lips So much of what she had been doing was innuendo. Not lies but in a black and white situation of truth on one side and bold faced lies on the other, her presentation of the facts was skewed more to lies. Chris hadn’t exactly refused her calls after the two-month mark of returning from the conference. In fact, things could be termed as cordial between them. Things always did given enough time. Lexi had made sure he only had face shots and saw nothing below her shoulders. It wouldn’t do anything though to correct this fact to Ian. Heck, Ian and Chris talked so he had to know Chris was talking to her, didn’t he? That was the issue with anything surrounding Chris in the past few years. He never seemed to be on the same page with anyone.

“Well no I don’t know what he would do but I know what he does. He bolts,” Lexi pointed out the obvious settling her gaze on one of her oldest and dearest friends. “Ian I can’t take the chance he won’t get bored and leave not only me now but his kid. Bean did not ask for all this baggage between Chris and me yet they are going to get it anyway. All I can do is minimize the effects. It’s not like any of the conversations between Chris and I have been productive in the past year and a half. We haven’t seen each other past some comm calls early in my pregnancy. It’s the way it is supposed to be I guess,” Lexi said in a firm tone. “Chris and I are a…beautiful but adult problem. One day he and I might work it out. When that day comes, I will worry about it then. I trust Chris with my life and my heart. I just can’t trust him with my baby.”

Lt. Lexi Garfield

“Look, what can I do hon? Forget Chris, what do you need from me right now?” Ian asked her, she was one of his oldest friends and right now more than ever he could tell she needed him. He wasn’t going to let this moment slip by.

Ian Bordeaux

“Nothing,” she spread her hands out. “I have everything covered. It’s not like I am the first person to ever have a baby solo. I just need you to never mention I have had a baby,” Lexi said nonchalantly. Since he doesn’t know I am pregnant the topic should never come up.” Lexi rubbed her back feeling the dull persistent ache. Carrying this much weight had caused her to back to ache a lot but the past week it seemed never to go away. Today it had woken her up and stayed getting harder and harder to ignore. When she got back to the ship, she would stop by medical Her due date was not for another week so there shouldn’t be anything to worry about.

Lt. Lexi Garfield

“I am not going anywhere doll, we have been through far too much for me to start abandoning you.” Ian stated as he out his hand over hers. She was in need and while Chris might not be able to show he sure wasn’t going to let her do this alone.

Meanwhile…

“Look I’m just saying you can’t keep going out with every girl on the ship and then never call them the next day. Eventually no one is gonna wanna go out with you.” came the voice from the young Ensign Vontroit sitting across from Christopher Robins as the young kid looked at Chris as if he had a second head as he tried to figure out his senior officer.

“I mean come on that last girl was easily a 10 and you just… ignored her. Who does that?” he questioned as he took a swig from his drink as he tried to figure out just what was going through Chris’s head.

“Look, they first off all ask me. I don’t ask any of them out, and I go… I don’t know why I go. I have to get out of the funk… but every time I sit across a table trying to talk to them all I can see is her…” he stated as he looked past the Ensign’s shoulders looking at the dark abyss as the stars streaked by.

“Look I hear you talk about this Leah…”

“Lexi.” interrupted Chris as he snapped out the daze to look back at the young Ensign. He wasn’t quite sure why he talked to this kid as much as he did. If he had to guess he reminded him of his younger brother in some ways, just far more annoying.

“Okay Lexi… she is cute yes but maybe if you kept her picture off your desk, and from your bed, and not your computer background you might.... and this is just a guess… you might be able to get over her.” Vontrup suggested as he finished off his drink as he got up from his chair as he picked up his PaDd from the table.

“No one is ever gonna live up to her boss, no one… so you gotta just move on.” the Ensign said as he patted Chris on the back as he left the table leaving a quiet and contemplative Chris as he went back to staring out the window as each star that zoomed by reminded him more of just what he had lost.

Christopher Robins

Ground Zero

“Thank but,” Lexi shifted in her seat not breaking her grip on Ian’s hand. “It is going to be another week at least. Babies never come on time and you have a job,” she started to lay out a few excuses. Having him there was not the worst idea. Her family was on route but since it wasn’t an emergency and they were civilians it would take a lot longer to show up. In fact, Lexi had scheduled them to arrive about a week after the baby came instead of before. “What are you going to do? Tell your captain your old friend is knocked up and you are playing surrogate baby daddy,” she let out a long laugh and wiggled more in her seat.

“That’s exactly what I am going to do, she is my wife and Captain now I have double pool… I can build a crib, paint a room, beat up boys that pick on her. You say the word and I will be there doll.”

“I appreciate the gesture but,” she got quiet for a second and looked down at their hands. “I feel like I’m cheating or being deceitful in some way if you are here and he isn’t.” No matter how much Lexi blathered and boasted about being fine she was doing this on her own, a part of her wanted Chris there. Even if he was never going to stay, for once in her life she needed him more than Chris Robbins would ever fathom.

“Don’t be silly, you are not… he would…”

“Ian,” Lexi said interrupting the speech he was giving her.

“Just let me finish doll, he would want me to…”

“Ian, I,” she instantly went ashen white. “I think I peed on your shoes.” Lexi had felt like she had to go potty but she always felt like that. This time, however, the sensation had flipped to action before she knew it. It was then she felt it. Her body seemed to contract so hard her insides were trying to come out of her belly button.

“Honey that isn’t pee… your… your water broke.” Ian exclaimed with a look of shock and horror on his face as he looked at her. This certainly wasn’t what he had expected and right now his mind felt blank as he looked down at the floor then back up to her.

“I need to go,” she grunted trying to breathe through the pain. “If we can sneak out I would appreciate it. I am not sure I can live down that the pregnant,” she slapped the table hard with her palm and leaned back in the seat. Scrunching up her face she looked at him like she had eaten something sour but the nail marks in his hand said it was pain. “God these are strong. Maybe… if you.... get me… some.... water,” she tried to have a conversation with him.

Lt. Lexi Garfield

Bracing her Ian put his arm around his shoulder to brace her as he looked around, “You don’t need water you need a doctor…” he said as he began looking around the place.

Meanwhile…

“Yeah that’s great Katie bug you look good…” Shaun said with a dull tone of a man who had all the fight drained from him from the fifteenth outfit he had looked at as he sat on the chair in the middle of the store. Looking to his left he could see the people passing by, Freedom he thought to himself as he saw a mix of civilian and Starfleet alike going back and forth. It was an active hub for sure and one he would have wished greatly to be anywhere else in the facility than where he was right now.

As he glanced through the sea of bodies, Kate’s tone becoming dull and drowned out a sight caught his attention. It looked like an officer and a pregnant woman seemed to be in distress as she leaned on the man. “Yeah yeah yeah… pink… pink is better puppy…” Shaun said as he stood up, getting a better view of the scene. “One… one moment.” Shaun told Katie as he turned to her, putting her bags in her hand as he began walking out of the store.

Few moments later as Shaun crossed the busy center, bobbing and weaving through all kinds of aliens both Federation and non Federation alike from all kinds of planets as he get a few feet from the pair.

“Do you two need help?” Shaun asked, not evening noticing if Katie was following as he looked down at the puddle bellow the two. No, not another pregnant woman. You are general practitioner, not obgyn, not a pediatrician… you don’t deal with preggos. Shaun said to himself taking a deep breath. “How far are the contractions?” he asked, not even waiting for the answer from the two.

Shaun Grecken


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