STF

Twas the Night Before Christmas and the Outpostians on 42 were in for a surprise

Posted Dec. 12, 2018, 6:32 a.m. by Civilian Aedan Teller (Owner/CEO of OMAP Industries) (Steven Sigle)

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Jessica Vaughn (XO) in Twas the Night Before Christmas and the Outpostians on 42 were in for a surprise

Posted by Civilian Aedan Teller (Owner/CEO of OMAP Industries) in Twas the Night Before Christmas and the Outpostians on 42 were in for a surprise

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Jessica Vaughn (XO) in Twas the Night Before Christmas and the Outpostians on 42 were in for a surprise
SNIP
“Oh my god you are perfect,” Jessica said stroking Cera’s cheek with her finger. She had fought Aedan initially about maternity leave. With all his money, Jessica knew Aedan questioned why she was still in Starfleet. To his credit however, Aedan never pressured her to leave. He just commented often that she didn’t need to deal with her crazy like he did with OMAP. All she had to do was say the word and he would take care of her forever, give her a stipend, a couch to crash, and she could live the bum life. It was a silly joke between that always made her laugh. The only time he had ever put his foot down so to speak was on the question of maternity leave and a nanny. Jessica thought she needed neither. Aedan insisted on both. With no family around, Jessica did come to realize quickly that while Aedan was a doting and hands-on father someone did have to pay the bills. It was nice to have someone there to watch the baby for a quick shower or a hot meal once a day with her fiancee. Jessica would be crazy staying at home but the time with Cera was nice.

Reaching up Jessica activated her personal comm. She did this half a dozen times a day since the baby was born. A quick call to Aedan telling him what the baby was up to. She knew he missed Crea like mad but OMAP was his first baby and babies always needed attention. =/\=Aedan did you know you have a perfect daughter,=/\= Jessica said softly as she connected his office.

=/\=Oh yes he does. Girl if he shows me one picture he shows me a thousand. Yesterday it was fifteen of Cera sleeping. Even I finally asked if she did anything but sleep =/\= replied a happy voice that was not Aedan or Adams but Nicole Brown his newest personal assistant on Aedan’s personal line to his desk. This was not something out of the realm of possibilities but not a frequent occurrence either. Nicole typically ever answered when Aedan was in a meeting.

=/\=Oh is Aedan busy,=/\= Jessica said getting a smile on her face as Nicole droned on with an answer. In truth, Jessica zoned out a bit as she shifted Cera on her lap while Nicole spoke. She was not sure how Nicole got the job but the woman was good for Aedan even if at times Aedan threatened to set her up for life and then fire her.

=/\=Oh…oh and you did not hear about Aedan’s plan,=/\= Nicole’s voice was far too gossipy for Jessica not to sit up a bit straighter. At times Jessica panicked knowing she could not control Aedan when he was in one of his moods. These moods ran from upbeat ecstatic to heels dug in and it was his way or the highway. Both made Aedan a force of nature that was about as easy to control as a Texas tornado.

=/\=Lt. Commander Vaughn, I hate to bother you but there is an incident in the Promenade. It needs your attention, =/\=the officer who was covering for Jessica while she was on maternity leave came in loud and clear on her Starfleet comm badge overtop of Nicole relaying information about Aedan to Jessica.

=/\=An incident? What kind of incident,=/\= Jessica repeated slightly upset her night was about to get ruined with Aedan. The Outpost was a 24/7 job at th best of times.
Even if she was on maternity leave, that didn’t mean Jessica would let the station fall apart in the next six weeks. She had no idea how she was going to tell Aedan that she could not make dinner because some numbskull was doing crazy things on her outpost. =/\=Did you contact the Captain.=/\=

=/\=And the Norwegians have been a handful since they arrived,=/\= Nicole chuckled. =/\=They are a happy bunch but they are shorter than I expected. And Oh lord they are a hoot and holler to sit and talk to. You know they invented hot chocolate or was that the Dutch. Either way,=/\= Nicole rambled on as the Lieutenant’s voice on the work comm blended with hers creating an almost white noise effect.

=/\=I have said twice you cant not structurally change the second story,=/\= the officer continued to talk at the same time as Nicole making it hard for Jessica to understand either conversation fully.

=/\=Wait, structurally change the Outpost. What about a group of Norwegians,=/\= Jessica replied. None of this was making sense but both women seemed to take what they needed from her answer and continue talking on the two separate topics as Jessica tried to process the tow simultaneous conversations. When she realized it was a lost cause there was only one thing for Jessica to do. “Molly,” Jessica called out to the nanny knowing this was going to take all her focus to deal with. Aedan had promised a surprise to knock her socks off. Jessica just didn’t think she would be working on an apology for why they could not spend the evening together before lunch. He had been almost giddy at breakfast over their evening together. Aedan was walking with a literal spring in his step as he left. Her tummy twisted thinking about how she was going to disappoint him.

=/\=At least snow indoors is an original concept=/\= Nicole continued. =/\= So many people have never ever really seen snow.=/\

=/\=We have concerns about rabies,=/\= the officer countered not missing a beat while Jessica knew she was missing a lot of details.

=/\=Did you contact medical=/\= Jessica replied to the Lt.

=/\=No they passed the health screens. I said they were Norwegian not the exotic animals=/\= Nicole shot back as if Jessica was crazy.

“Molly,” Jessica yelled a bit louder knowing both situations were getting out of control. Luckily Aedan was a civilian and knew at times she had to deal with Starfleet before her personal life. Jessica would just have to find a way to reschedule with Aedan while she dealt with another construction issue on the promenade. It had to be that pet shop the Ferengi traders wanted to open. This was not the first time she had heard of it but it was the first time she had ever heard rabies be involved.

=/\=So how do you think you are going to deal with it,=/\= both women said almost in unison.

“Mol,”

“Yes, Ms Jessica,” Molly said coming out as if on cue from seemingly nowhere. Jessica may not have wanted a nanny but at times like this, she was happy to have one.

“I need you to take the baby,” Jessica said handing over the sleeping bundle. She kissed her daughter and sighed looking at Molly not wanting to go into word. “Look don’t tell Aedan I am heading out for work. I know you don’t want to lie so just....don’t…be around where you are going to run into him before I do,” Jessica suggested.

=/\=Jessica. Lt. Commander,=/\= again both women called out looking for Jessica to give them a reply.

As the Nanny walked up to the nursery with a sleepy Cera, Jessica stood up walking to get her shoes. =/\= Nicole find Aedan for me. Lt. I am on route to the promenade=/\= Jessica said making her way to the door as she spoke. Luckily the OMAP offices were on the promenade so after Jessica dealt with what was probably a cantankerous construction chief, she could swing by Aedan’s office

Lt. Commander Jessica Vaugh, XO

Meanwhile, on the promenade Aedan could be found in a pristine red and white suit, it seemed to hug him perfectly yet felt as festive as the decor around him. “Yes I need more, all over. Lights all over snow… how many reindeer do you have? I need as many as you can get, I told them send them all to me…” he said, looking like a mad business Santa going about trying to rally his worker elves.

~Aedan Teller

As Jessica left the penthouse she reached up to activate her comm badge. =/\=Sophia meet me on the promenade=/\= Jessica said as she entered the turbo. =/\= We appear to have a situation involving rabies? I know I should contact medical but we may need to detain someone also.=/\=

Lt.Commander Jessica Vaughn XO

=^=Acknowledged, I’m on my way,=^= Sofia replied, =^=Do I need back up?=^=

~Sofia Demakis~

Jessica exited the turbo as Sophia replied. Never had an image in Jessica’s mind been so far off from the reality of what she was seeing.
=/\=I....am…not....shhhhhhhhheeeeeeer,=/\= Jessica let the last word roll off her mouth. The once gray steel and plastic area was now being coated in hues of white, light blues, greens, reds: heck pretty much a cornucopia of colors with a single man in a bright red suit standing amidst the chaos. =/\=Sophie…maybe start with a Tylenol for me and then we can discuss back up, =/\= Jessica said before clicking off.

Weaving between all the people meandering in and around each other as if there was may pole, Jessica made her way to the man in the red suit. The trip to him could easily have been an academy obstacle course. Jessica had to limbo under white columns wrapped in greenery, jump over light cords, and duck under swags of garland.
After several I’m sorrys and a plethora of excuse me’s Jessica had made her way next to Aedan.

“Aedan, baby, whatcha doing,” Jessica said in a sing-song voice. There was so much going on it was hard to process it all. She couldn’t tell if the people were coming or going.

Lt. Commander Jessica Vaughn. XO

“Mrs. Teller…” Aedan said as he pulled Jessica close, “Did you come to see my madness? Can you tell security they need to let me bring in the all of the reindeer, they said I can only have two.. Santa has nine not two.” Aedan said with a gleam in his eyes.

“Nigh…nigh…nine,” Jessica stammered. “You…you want nine reindeer. Here. On the Outpost,” she spoke slowly as if she and Aedan were using a different language to communicate between them. “Baby…I know you want to make this holiday special but maybe we go a bit more traditional. You know like Christmas goose, a fake tree with bad ornaments, and a slew of gifts under the tree that take us all morning to open?” Jessica needed to get Aedan off the topic of reindeer for a minute until she wrapped her head around it.

“We can do all that too at the penthouse, now that I got you awake with that false rabies claim I can have my team begin decorating there too.” Aedan said with a wide smile before kissing her on the cheek. “Also, there is nine reindeer here, and elves… there just Tellarites I hired to wear elf costumes, if I am honest they act more dwarf like than elf but you try hiring 100 short bearded men on short notice. The elves and deer are just in cargo hold, woulds you be a dear and help smooth that over?”

As if inspiration had suddenly hit him Aedan let the pair separate for a brief second. “What do you say to… an early Christmas gift? I have been hiding this for you for so long but in this chaos I swear this is the most perfect time to give this to you.” he asked as he smiled with a kid like joy. This was not the Aedan most knew, yes he was trying to get away with all he could but his motives where to bring pure joy to all.

“Early gift,” she repeated as she took off. “Does Adams know you are doing this?” It was not as if Jessica Adams could stop Aedan but so far Adams as the only woman that seemed able to at least slow him down. As she watched Aedan converse with someone dressed in a particularly icon outfit only one thought went through her head as she saw him walking back to her. Oh God please don’t let my gift be a cleaning staff of dwarfs through the month of December, she thought.

“Okay… okay!” he said as he put down the ribbons he held and gave them to the aide beside him rushing off. It was a few moments and he came back with a large red box that had a huge green and blue frosted bow that seemed to have streamers for days. “Okay, come over here…” he said as he nodded his head to come have her follow him to a table that was nearby as he placed the box with gentle and easy care down.

Jessica’s eyes were wide and she held an expression of disbelief. Aedan was one of the few people that could keep her off balance and not even mean for it to happen.

“I… I hope you love this… I can’t really return it so… you better.” he said as he waited with bated breath as he looked at her.

After the box lid slid open she would find within something small, furry and looking up with suck tender love. She wore a small red coat that seemed to match Aedan’s with a little santa hat as she pawed at the top to be held and let out.

https://imgur.com/a/YCunQFN

“Her name is Ollie… and, I know it’s much but I had been wanting one for so long as a child. I put away the thought as childish as an adult, but now things are different. We are married, we have a child… all that transpired in just a few weeks… how could I not want to share the love?” he said, desperate to gauge her feelings as he waited. This was a huge thing to throw on her. He felt she would be thrilled but he could have made a blunder he didn’t see coming just as easy.

~Aedan Teller

Jessica stared at the face inside the box. I was almost entirely shadowed by the floppy red silk and fuzzy hat that it wore. Ollie’s eyes held an expression of deep, contemplative wisdom. It was as if Ollie could see into Jessica’s heart and read her mind. They had only met for a few brief seconds in the universe but the connection felt deep. The hustle and bustle of the merry mayhem around her were drowned out as Jessica reached into the box lifting the puppy out. Turning to face Aedan, Jessica couldn’t speak. She had no idea what to say to him. As happy as she was about the puppy Jessica knew there was a deeper meaning behind this breed of dog. Pit bulls were confident and keenly aware of their surroundings. Nothing slipped past them unless they wanted it to. They were watchdog whose courage was unmatched and they would defend their family with their lives. Aedan was always going to be in her life. He would take care of her and every need she had but for those singular moments when he was not, Ollie would be there for Jessica to turn to. Jessica would spend the next countless years telling Ollie things she shared with no one and Ollie would stand watch protecting her silently at her side.

“Aedan,” Jessica said rising on her tiptoes and wrapping one arm around his neck. “Thank you,” she said softly. “Your white carpet and table legs may not survive our new baby years but you did make us complete. Thank you,” she gave him a soft kiss.

Lt. Commander Jessica Vaughn, XO

“I’m glad you like her, to be fair her real name the person told me is Olivia. I figured she needed a nickname and Ollie fit perfectly. I figured my puppy though…” he said as he kissed her cheek before petting Ollie behind the head as the little puppy closed her eyes in simple pleasure, “Needed a puppy too.” he said as he heard a giant crash as several penguins came troddling by knocking over workers.

“Oh crap! I hope the polar bear isn’t chasing them!” Aedan said as he turned to look to see what else might be causing this commotion.

~Aedan Teller


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