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Alindor's Quarters - Meeting Elizabeth Alindor

Posted March 1, 2019, 2:49 a.m. by Lieutenant Commander Jarred Alindor (Chief Engineer) (Steven Sigle)

Posted by Ensign Kalani Kāne (Science Officer) in Alindor’s Quarters - Meeting Elizabeth Alindor

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Jarred Alindor (Chief Engineer) in Alindor’s Quarters - Meeting Elizabeth Alindor

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Jarred Alindor (Chief Engineer) in Alindor’s Quarters - Meeting Elizabeth Alindor
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Original post https://www.star-fleet.com/core/stf5/saracen/notes/22573/ https://www.star-fleet.com/core/stf5/saracen/notes/22968/ https://www.star-fleet.com/core/stf5/saracen/notes/23126/ https://www.star-fleet.com/core/stf5/saracen/notes/23269/
https://www.star-fleet.com/core/stf5/saracen/notes/24842/ https://www.star-fleet.com/core/stf5/saracen/notes/26474/ https://www.star-fleet.com/core/stf5/saracen/notes/29118/

SNIP

“You know… she is going to be in bed… won’t pay attention to where you are. I mean… maybe this is time to ask if you wanna be here more full time.” he said hoping she got the hint.

Alindor, CE

“Like permanently,” Kalani said with a half smile. A warm rush filled her. She spent 99% of her time in his quarters but getting her nameplate over his on the door was a huge step. “Stay with you tonight and for the foreseeable future full time?” Jarred would easily be able to see her answer was yes and that Kalani was just loving being in this moment with him.

“Hmmm does that mean I get to bring my kids and my verdant cornucopia of houseplants?” Kalani said rising on her toes and kissing him again. She had not planned this but it was not an unexpected outcome. She and Jarred were close. Moving in was the next step in their relationship. Everything felt right about her decision to say yes.

“Of course, you know this is your home. Maybe give me a few days to get things settled here before moving in everything. But yes, do you want to move in with me.” Jarred said as he leaned in kissing her cheek. It was then he heard the smallest and tiniest of steps behind him. How long had the water been off he wondered as he turned around as his eyes got large.

“But didn’t you say you were gonna be with me,” a small voice said from behind Jarred. The smile faded some and the little girl looked about ready to burst into tears. She had loved tonight so much. Her daddy had played with her and snuggled her and made a room just for her. Now he was also going to be full time with Kalani. Elizabeth didn’t know exactly what it meant but her daddy and Kalani were talking in that quiet voice adults used when trying to hide something from a kid. If they were using that voice this could not be good.

Kalani’s smile turned into a more neutral expression hearing Elizabeth and actually remembering Elizabeth was in the room. It was not that the little girl was bad or a bother. It was just Elizabeth was something new Kalani would have to start taking into account when she wanted to act on something. Jarred was right when he said it would require an adjustment period for all of them.

“Little one, of course I am going to be with you!” Jarred said as he nudged Kalani in the ribs as he looked back over at Elizabeth. He knew life was going to be new for them but he never had seen his daughter cry. He did all he could to give her the world, everything a child could need. In many ways it had insulated Jarred from the truths of what a child needed. They cried, need reassurance, love. You couldn’t just give a present and walk away. You had to be there full time.

“Nana promised me you wouldn’t leave me anymore if I came here. That you would have no place to go after I went to sleep because I would be at your home.” Her eyes might look as if she were a typical five year old ready to cry because she was upset, yet her voice was more steady as if she had prepared for something like this to happen. Her shoulders sagged a bit and the teddy bear she had been holding was no longer tucked up in her arms but hanging down at her side.

“No sweetie, I am not going anywhere…” Jarred looked over at Kalani and back to Elizabeth. He was thinking and nothing was coming to him as he did. He could feel that cold sweat forming on the back of his neck as he kept an eye on her.

Kalani had no idea what to say. She was not prepared for this. Gently she reached out and touched Jarred’s back as a sign of moral support and that she was with him instead of taking Jarred’s hand. Elizabeth did not seem upset that Kalani was part of Jarred’s life; however, with the tone of the little girl’s question, Kalani did not want to make the attention the focus on her.

“Daddy can I go sleep at Nana’s,” Elizabeth said softly. Elizabeth Alindor had a perfect life filled with people that loved her dearly. She also had a life filled with her Daddy leaving most of the times after she had gone to bed. Elizabeth’s Nana always told her that Jarred left after she went to bed because he was so sad to have to return to the ship. Her Nana said that Jarred never wanted Elizabeth to see him cry because he wanted every moment she remembered with him as happy and special. Elizabeth knew her daddy loved her but right now she was scared of waking up alone on a ship where she couldn’t find her Nana and PaPa or her Daddy.

Taking a deep breath Jarred knelt down and pulled Elizabeth in close, “No baby, this is your home now but…” Jarred craned his neck to look at Kalani as a thought came over him. In the past he tried so hard to keep his love life and his personal life seperate. Cori knew nothing, Sharise didn’t, no one really friend or love knew about her. That didn’t give him the best of everything, it made him work harder at being happy

Wrapping his arms around Elizabeth he picked her up as he gave a soft kiss on her cheek before squeezing her tight. “Come here love, I think we need to talk about a few things. Kalani come talk to with us,” he said as he looked over at her nodding to the couch.

Her tummy felt funny. Her daddy was being serious about something and she wasn’t sure what he was going to say. This scared her a little bit. Her daddy was always silly and fun. Jarred always wore a smile when he was with Elizabeth or her Nana. The only time he was like this was when he was alone with PaPa sometimes. Not knowing what to do, Elizabeth did the only thing she could. Elizabeth curled her arms around Jarred’s neck and laid her head on his shoulder as he carried her to the couch.

Sitting down Jarred kept Elizabeth close to his body as he watched Kalani sit next to him. Elizabeth snuggled up close to Jarred. She didn’t want to let go of his neck but her Daddy wanted her to be a big girl right now. Since she couldn’t sit on his lap with her head on his shoulder, Elizabeth settled for siding under his arm and let it drape over her body. She felt safer with her daddy’s arm around her. “Little one, you are never going to not be with me anymore, but there is other parts of my life. You know how Papa and Nana love each other so much?” he said as he saw her nod he couldn’t help but lean in and kiss her forehead.

“Well I love Kalani the same way, I want her to live here with us but I want you to be okay with that. So maybe while you are here, you can get to know her? I know she is full of fun ideas and she really wants to get to know you and learn just why I love you so much. This doesn’t mean though if she moves in you don’t have a room, she would share a bed with Daddy like Nana and Papa do. You would still have your room we just we be a big family, maybe… maybe one day she might even be a mother for you.” he said the last part was something new he was sure as he looked over at Kalani with the faintest of smiles before looking back at Elizabeth.

Kalani froze at the sound of Jarred’s words and got a decidedly deer in the headlights look on her face. Marriage, kids, a house in some suburb one day was always in the plans and hadn’t been something Kalani didn’t dream about with Jarred but hearing the words made her freeze. Yet Jarred had just set it out for the universe which meant the universe had a way of making things happen. A chill ran down her spine. It was the nervous but happy fear of the unknown. Kalani managed a smile back. She reached over and squeezed his hand once before letting it go. This was a lot for her to take in let alone a five-year-old child. Later she would show Jarred how much she loved the idea. She would also check on her birth control. One evening with Elizabeth had shown Kalani that being a parent was hard work. Maybe she would test her maternal instincts on Miss Alindor before she went and created a new little Alindor.

Elizabeth snuggled in tighter to Jarred hearing his words. Having a mom and a dad sounded nice. It was what all her firends had but she hadn’t even thought about that on her way here. Elizabeth always had wanted a mom but she also knew her real mom never wanted her. No one had said that but Mommy’s didn’t just leave thier kids and not come back if they wanted them. She knew her Mommy loved her Daddy but when she found out she was having Elizabeth, Lily must have gotten mad at her and then left them. At least that is why Elizabeth thought her mommy left. She knew that her Daddy often left mad but at least he came back. If Elizabeth was the reason her mommy left than maybe her daddy would leave at some point too.

“But as I said before all of that my love, you are going to get a chance to know her. Okay?” he said softly hoping she understood enough to grasp the hugeness of this bombshell he knew he just laid on both women right now.

Alindor, CE

So many thoughts were going through her head that Elizabeth could only nod and give a soft “okay Daddy,” in response to Jarred’s question. She hoped her daddy didn’t expect an answer because Elizabeth wasn’t sure exactly what Jarred wanted her to say.

Jarred wasn’t certain what he expected, but maybe right now that was all he could expect. “That’s my girl, and you can ask anything of my little one. You are my world, anything you need or want I will be there baby girl I promise.” he said softly to her as he leaned in to kiss the top of her head.

After pondering the situation for a moment, one thought entered Elizabeth’s mind. “So what do you and Daddy do for fun at night,” she asked feeling a second wind coming on.

“Well…” Jarred said pausing as his eyes got wide as he looked over at Kalani.

“Umm…we…camp. Do you want to camp with us tonight,” Kalani said almost too fast. An adult would instantly recognize the thought as stalling but instead it clearly peaked Elizabeth’s interest.

Looking at Kalani Jarred tilted his head as he mouthed the words camping, eyes wide as his eyebrows seemed to narrow in on here. It was a look she would know well, it translated into what the hell are you thinking?

Kalani kept a smile but it was a pained one of I panicked.

“Yesssssss,” Elizabeth replied starting to squirm down from Jarred side ready for whatever this activity was going to require. “Should I get my shoes? My coat? Can we Ralph? Can I comm Nana and tell her?” The questions came so fast Kalani felt like she was on a merry go round spinning faster and faster and slowly spiraling out of control.

“Yes,” Kalani said not really sure what she was agreeing to but happy Elizabeth seemed to like the idea.

“Give me your comm badge Daddy,” Elizabeth said confidently. “I can’t wait to tell Nana and PaPa we are going on a trip!”

Ensign Kalani Kane

“Road trip? Where… we…” Jarred looked back at Kalani, the look was clear like the last one, you started it you fix it. “We camp in the room…” Jarred said with an almost stuff wording as he didn’t take his eyes of Kalani as he looked back at Elizabeth to see what she thought of that idea.

“In the room,’ she looked at Jarred skeptically. “I have never heard of indoor camping. Is this like when I want ice cream and PaPa says he can make a blizzard better than the Dairy Queen but the strawberry is all in chunks and the chocolate ice cream is really just vanilla in a dish with some sauce spread over it that he stirred real fast and said tada,” Elizabeth gave the long and detailed explanation that only a kid could do when calling adults out. “I tell him all the time that is hobo ice cream but he says it is PaPa special.” The tone in her voice indicated she was not buying anything she was telling them.

Looking at Jarred her eyes bore into his soul like only a five-year-old without a filter can do. “Are we hobo camping?”

“Who taught you that word? Did Peter tell you it?” Jarred asked as he looked at her with a discerning eye. “You shouldn’t repeat everything Uncle Peter says love…” he said. It wasn’t an inherently bad word but it sounded like his brother through and through.

Kalani could not stop laughing even though no sound escaped her lips. Her body shook as she processed Elizabeth’s words and took in her body posture. This kid was going to give Jarred a run for his money. She was sweet but also very quick with her wit much like her father.

“It’s like… indoor fun, with… tents… and yes Ralph can come but maybe we just do it us tonight let Nana and Papa rest in their beds, the floor can get stiff at their age but we can handle it right?” he said to her trying to find the best scenario out of the mess that had been made.

Alindor, CE

“Ralph can even sleep next to you,” Kalani finally got herself together enough to try and help Jarred along with the scheme she came up with. “Your daddy can even make the ceiling look like the night sky.”

“Really,” Elizabeth cocked an eyebrow at Jarred.

“Heck yeah. He is the chief engineer and can do anything. How about we go get some pillows and blankets while he sets it up huh,” Kalani held out her hand to Elizabeth.

Kalani Kane science

“Wait… I can what? With what resources?” Jarred said as Kalani walked out with Elizabeth. Leave it to her to set him up to prove he has an engineering degree again.

“Please you have to have something in those boxes you took out of Elizabeth’s room when you were getting it ready for her. I can’t imagine there is not something in your adult box of tinker toys that can’t help us out” Kalani said as she walked into Elizabeth’s room.

“Is this like the time you claimed I could make a terrarium with desert, water, tropical, and ice animals and just keep the temperature with simple forcefields?”

Kalani’s head popped out back out of the room hearing Jarred’s comment. “And you did do that or something equally as great so stop your moaning. You are the chief engineer. You are faster than a speeding photon. More powerful than a shuttle with transwarp drive. Able to leap over slower crew in single bound when the ship’s engine is about to blow during a firefight. Yes, it’s Jarred Alindor - superior engineer from another planet who came to the Saracen with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. I think you can get it done Superman,” she winked at him disappearing back into the room.

“Can he really do that,” Elizabeth asked with awe in her voice though the expression she wore showed a healthy amount of skepticism.

“Honey he is magic. He can make things out of duct tape, spit and thin air,” Kalani said brushing her hair now that the little girl was dressed in her PJ’s.

” I can’t make things out of magic Lani.” he said as he looked at Lizzie’s door and shook his head.

“Babe…not helping,” Kalani said poking her head back out the door to reply to his comment. “Just get it done,” she swirled a finger about the room.

“You owe me… big time.” he said with a defeated sigh as he began churning out ideas.

Alindor, CE

“Is he mad,” Elizabeth asked softly hearing Jarred sigh deeply. Her comment stopped Kalani from brushing Elizabeth’s hair. Turning the little girl around Kalani looked into her eyes a bit confused. “Daddy made that noise a lot when he and PaPa got cross with each other. And then he did this,” Elizabeth ran her fingers through her hair a bit before scratching her head like she was frustrated.

Kalani let out a huge laugh. “That’s not his mad pose silly that is his thinking pose. Everyone has one. Your Daddy does that pose with me all the time especially when I need him to do something and he says no but is coming up with something amazing in his head.” Kalani knew this probably wasn’t one hundred percent correct but she knew the pose Elizabeth was talking about. Kalani liked her interpretation of it better than what Elizabeth thought.

“Really,” Elizabeth said with a big grin.

“Yes indeedy,” Kalani confirmed swinging the little girl’s hands playfully between them. “I know that whatever he is doing in that room is going to be amazing because”

“Because my Daddy is the smartest daddy ever. He bought me a bike for my birthday but it was too big. My feet didn’t reach the pedals but then he took it in the garage and put some blocks on it and then I could ride it. He also made some cool slime once with all my school glue and some soap. He fixed my Nana’s replicator at Thanksgiving and my Aunt Lucy’s rattle trap. It was really her car but Daddy says Aunt Lucy is braver than he thought each time she drives it.” Kalani watched how Elizabeth’s eyes lit up talking about her daddy and only a blind man could miss how much Elizabeth adored her father.

“So should we go see our jungle camp,” Kalani asked taking the little girl’s hand and moving towards the living room.

“Holy snot,” Elizabeth said as they entered the room.

I had a different four-letter s-word in mind but that works Kalani thought looking at the room. To be honest she was as gobstruck as Jarred’s daughter. Being an engineer, Jarred had a lot of spare parts from projects he was working on lying about the apartment. Luckily for them, his latest project had involved holoemitters. He had used these to paint a room scene so real Kalani would have sworn they entered the holodeck. The walls were no longer metal but layers upon layers of thick green foliage. The colors and shapes of the plants told Kalani where he had gotten his inspiration for the interior decorating. It was the area surrounding their camp on Vespa V complete with the waterfall that turned out to look far more romantic that it was. Kalani’s heart raced a bit faster wanting to run over and smother Jarred in kisses however the night was not about her. It was about Elizabeth. Around the small area where Jarred had stacked the couch cushions and threw a blanket over the top to construct a tent, were several real plants Kalani had brought over to give it a more authentic feel. The ceiling was a vast array of stars. Kalani could not place what region of space it was but the response from Elizabeth told her that Jarred’s daughter knew exactly what the constellations were.

Elizabeth pulled her hand from Kalani’s and ran back into the bedroom. The move stunned Kalani who looked at Jarred concerned. “Maybe she is just overwhelmed” she suggested biting her lip. Sounds could be heard from the bedroom indicating Elizabeth was tearing it apart. “Should I go or you,” Kalani let her voice trail off not sure how to finish the sentence. Sure she and Jarred were a couple but that didn’t mean Jarred would want her 100% stepping in on all decisions about the little girl two hours after she had met her.

Ensign Kalani Kane science.

Jarred smiled as he looked at Kalani. “No… I think I know what she is looking for. I was hoping she would bring this. We had a book, I didn’t always get to be there, two or three trips a year, fewer in the last year. Still… I always tried to call. For all my shortcomings and spouts with alcoholism I did try and call, despite everything I never wanted her to think I didn’t love her. Maybe at first I didn’t, angry and fearful when she got thrown in my lap but I spent two weeks alone with her before my parents could come. ” Jarred said as he paused and patted the floor next to him for her to sit next.

Cuddling next to her he kissed her cheek before continuing. He needed this, this sense of normalcy between both of his loves. “I was scared, I told you that much but… there was that two weeks. I knew nothing about how to handle a three month old baby. She was tiny, she cried a lot pooped vomit… and not all of that was hers. Still, I needed toys, things to occupy her. I began to replicate toys for infants, and that’s when I found it… a book. Honestly if you asked me then I don’t know what posses me to read a book to a three month old, she couldn’t sit up yet let alone understand stories.” he said as he looked at the door hearing the scuttling still going on.

“You did bring it didn’t you little one? I told Nana and Papa to make sure to snag it.” he said, hoping he wouldn’t have to ask his parents about it “So… where was I, the book. It was called ‘Constellation Lizzie.’ Now the name, I didn’t have a nickname for her till that moment, it stared at me. Lizzie… Elizabeth. It was then when I began to call her Lizzie as I read the story to her. Don’t ask me why, it made her calm, maybe my voice… but the book came with this toy, a little flashlight type device. You darken a room and shine it on the ceiling and it would make it look like stars… our stars… these stars.” Jarred said as he looked up at the room, the smallest of tear seem to leak from his eye as he wiped it away.

“It was a hard two weeks, no drinking and a crying baby but at night… she was perfect angel as long as I read that book to her. When she left I gave it to my parents, and told her to keep the flashlight… and I kept this.” Jarred said as he reached over pulling out the old tattered book. “See my first ever gift to her was the flashlight, and she still has it, when I call she takes out her flashlight and shines it in her room and I… I read this book.” he said as he held the cover carefully, as if it was some prized valuable from some ancient culture.

“I wasn’t the best father, but this book was… something that spoke to me. It is a story of a daughter, Lizzie and the constellation her Father named after her. When he was sailing the seas they could always see that constellation and know they were never fully apart.” Jarred said those words as he heard the door opening as little footsteps came rushing in.

“Well, did you find it little one?” he said as he smiled widely. His smile told so much, love, care, devotion. But the story told more, it spoke of despite his failings from day one he never gave up on her. He felt a failure, was in many ways but he never let his nature harm her. He did all he could to make her world perfect, to give her the stars.

Drayke, CE


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