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Alindor Quarters Happy Father's Day Jarred Alindor

Posted July 12, 2019, 10:19 a.m. by Lieutenant Commander Jarred Alindor (Chief Engineer) (Steven Sigle)

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Jarred Alindor (Chief Engineer) in Alindor Quarters Happy Father’s Day Jarred Alindor

Posted by Ensign Kalani Kāne (Science Officer) in Alindor Quarters Happy Father’s Day Jarred Alindor

Posted by Ensign Kalani Kāne (Science Officer) in Alindor Quarters Happy Father’s Day Jarred Alindor
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Lizzie poked at her dinner. She wasn’t sure exactly that she liked dinner tonight and her mind was also very busy. Jarred was working late on some project again so it was only Kalani and Lizzie at the dinner table.

“When is daddy coming home,” Lizzie stabbed at the chunk of meat on her plate with little enthusiasm.

“Soon baby. He has work things that kept him later,” Kalani reminded her for the tenth time tonight. It was not that she minded taking care of the little girl but nights like this Kalani missed Jarred too. Not for his company but more to manage dinner. They had been a family for about four months and a few growing pains had resulted in this time but nothing that wasn’t expected or typical. However, dinners without Jarred were Kalani’s downfall. Mainly because Kalani wasn’t fussy. She ate just about anything. Lizzie however, when she was alone with Kalani, tended to want to change her mind fifteen times and only pick at each selection. “Can you eat just two bites for me,” Kalani asked which was her first mistake. You never give a child an open-ended question.

“No, I don’t like it. When is Daddy coming home,” Lizzie asked again to get the topic on something other than broccoli? The deep sigh by Kalani showed the same question over and over wearing Kalani down.

“After he gets done with his work things,” Kalani repeated getting up to clear the table off.

“So he is going out with his friends,” Lizzie said remembering one time where Jarred went out with a few friends and Kalani had turned that night into a girl party for them.

“No that is adult things. He is doing work things,” Kalani tried not to scream. At times kids were like a broken record. They didn’t mean to make you nutty but they just got stuck in a scratch so they repeated the same line over and over.

Lizzie wasn’t sure exactly what that meant except that it usually used to mean her daddy and Kalani were going to do things that did not include her. Tonight, Lizzie decided to get a real answer to what adult things were.

“So he is doing things with other people that he does with you that I can’t be a part of,” Lizzie asked innocently. “What sort of things do adults do that kids can’t?”

Kalani’s eyes got wide and she wore that expression that said ‘um oh sheet what do I say now.’ A few seconds later Kalani answered with “adult things are when your daddy is up all night fixing my vivarium.” Lizzie knew her daddy spent a lot of time working on the answer made sense.

Two hours later when her Nana called and asked where her daddy was, Lizzie, said “doing adult things with Kalani’s vivarium.” Her Nana’s response was to say she loved her but had to go right now. Ten seconds she heard her Daddy’s personal communicator ring.

“What do I owe the pleasure mom?” Jarred asked as he sat on the couch. He had felt a bit rough and ragged as he yawned a bit as he wanted to see what she was going to ask.

Alindor, CE

“Her vivarium,” Samantha Alidor said. The tone of her voice indicated Samantha probably had her hands on her hips and was looking at him like he was a small child. “Is that what the kids are calling it these days.”

“Her what? Kalani? Did she tell you about that? I imagine she would she has been telling everyone. She is trying to cram as much in there as she can. I keep telling her I can only work my magic for so long and something is gonna escape. Plus when she wants the wet stuff it becomes even harder. Honestly mom it’s insane what expectations she has but I promised her before I even began dating I would give it to her however she asked me to… can’t break that promise.”

“Well no more,” Samantha said in a sharp tone, “unless you want your daughter to keep telling everyone that her Dad is plugging holes in Kalani’s drain pipes. I am serious Jarred. This is not the first time when we have called that Elizabeth has said she can’t give the communicator to you because you are tending to your girlfriend’s aquatic needs. Do you know how bad that sounds? Lucy and Peter spent two hours telling me how bad it sounds. What if she tells that to anyone on the ship Jarred. You need to watch what you say and do all the time,” Samantha sighed a bit frustrated.

“I am not sure why anyone would care”

“Why would they care,” Samatha half squeaked feeling her temper rising.

“I mean half the engineering staff has helped me at some point work out the kinks and get things running right. Even the Captain has to sign off in giving us two decks for us to have enough room in case she wants to expand. I mean is it really so odd that a biologist has a vivarium? I think you are being a little short sighted if you think she shouldn’t be allowed to study on ship like that.” Jarred said, a bit surprised his mom was so shocked about something so simple.

“Wait you mean like animal tank vivarium,” Samantha posed the question with a hint of confusion to her voice.

“Of course, what else do you think I would be talking about? That think has taking most of my time up outside of work cause I just wanna be done with it.” Jarred said, unsure why this would ever have been a bad thing for them to do for Kalani.

“Because Elizabeth is always saying that you are working on Kalani’s vivarium as the reason you are busy as a catch-all. That or dealing with adult things. Please tell me that adult things are picking out the nights dinner,” Samantha said frustrated. It was hard giving her granddaughter back to her son. Yes, it was the right thing to do but that didn’t mean she didn’t miss her granddaughter every hour of every day.

“I mean yes I spend time with Kalani in certain ways… not sure what that would be your concern. I am not sitting around trying to flaunt anything I know how to take care of Lizzie. Well I know most of the ways, I certainly know what not to do!” Jarred said his tone sounding exasperated as he couldn’t believe his mom thought he would do something like that with his daughter in the quarters.

“Daddy,” Lizzie tugged at his shirt.

“One sec little one…” Jarred said softly as he kissed the top of her head.

“Maybe moving in Kalani the same Elizabeth moved in wasn’t the smartest move,” Jonathan yelled in the background.

“Oh don’t you start too, you never liked anything I did but I got by… and I do know what I shouldn’t be doing.” Jarred said miffed at his dads butting in.

“Are you sure,” his dad’s simple statement spoke volumes. It was rhetorical and Jonathan didn’t expect an answer yet he knew it would force his son to reply.

“Daddy I brushed my teeth and I am ready for bed,” she said pulling at this shirt again not caring if he was talking. She couldn’t hear what they were saying but she did hear her PaPa. A few times she had heard her daddy and PaPa talk like this and the best thing to do was stop it.

“Okay sweet pea… go sit on your bed and I will be there in five minutes… pick the book you want out and I will come get you.” He said, his voice soothing but he still couldn’t quite hide the on edge feeling he has just then.

“Come with me now,” she said tugging at this shirt again.

“What you should be doing is spending time with Elizabeth and not fiddling with where you need to point your welding torch,” Jonathan said gruffly. His wife had their son on speaker whether Jarred knew it or not. Part of Jonathan felt sick at saying these things to Jarred. The boy was a good father. There was no denying it. Jonathan just knew how bad he had been as a father at times with Jarred growing up. Age and illness tended to make people focus on what they could have done better in life. Jonathan had both against him. Elizabeth was Jonathan Alindor’s way to make up for so many things. He could be a better father, or in this case grandfather, to her than he had been to any of his three children. Elizabeth could also mend the tears and cracks in Jonathan’s relationship with his oldest child. Jonathan had no business being a father when Samantha got pregnant with their first born. He was only concerned about his career and while he loved his family, Captain Jonathan Alindor at that time thought being the best marine possible was how he showed he was a good father and husband. Retired Colonel Alindor knew that showing up made you a good father and the rest would fall into place around that. While the conversation was going south quick, Jonathan only cared that his son learn a lesson far earlier than he did.

“I got the book,” Elizabeth said running in front of her daddy as he seemed to be pacing the room. She darted right in front of him as Jarred was making an about-face putting her squarely underfoot. “I got the book,” she held it up as high as she could so that Jarred was not able to miss it.

“And why is she still up when it is 2000 hours on a school night,” Jonathan said gruffly before feeling a coughing fit come on.

“Dad, she isn’t your daughter and she isn’t your responsibility anymore. I got this.” Jarred said abruptly sighing deeply as he looked back over at his little girl.

“I actually have two,” she said showing Jarred the second one that was hidden behind the first.

“You know what I will hang up and help you figure out what you should be doing right now and that’s focusing on my granddaughter,” Jonathan barked out clicking the call off.

“That you do pumpkin, come…” he said with small huff as he picked his daughter up and began carrying her , “… on let’s find out what wonderful story you picked baby girl.” He said softly as he kissed her cheek as he got to the bed.

Stopping right in front he grabbed the book from her hand as he placed it on her nightstand, he knew Lizzie knew what to do next as he made it so her position in his arms moved as he grabbed her by her legs.

“And here comes Elizabeth for a landing she is clearing the runway” he said as Lizzie would grab the covers and push them back one by one before Jarred flipped her right side up as he caught her to land safely on her mattress.

Elizabeth giggled so much her body shook. She loved when he tucked her into bed.

Carefully he began to pull each blanket back and tucked her in carefully before laying next to her bed. Grabbing the book he gave it to her as he smiled down looking at her.

“So what did you pick today buttercup?” He asked, he could see a bit of the cover but he knew she loved to tell him before he began to read it to her.

Alindor, CE

Lizzie got up early the next morning and was insanely excited. Since her normal time to wake up was 0600 early meant zero dark thirty. She had set her Galexa to wake up this early. Normally her daddy woke her up for school. It was her favorite part of the day. Nana and PaPa typically called out her name from the door. Kalani typically patted her gently and called out her name. Her daddy however made it special. He always sat on the edge of her bed. He would rub her back and call her everything but Lizzie. Babydoll, butter bean, squirt, half pint: the names varied but they were always something special. Well except the few times they ran late and he would yell ‘Elizabeth put some muscle in that hustle’ in her morning wake up call.

Her daddy did so many wonderful things every day for her and today she wanted to make this day wonderful for him. It was Father’s Day and Lizzie Alindor was a girl with a goal. Tiptoeing she walked to the kitchen and pulled a chair over to the replicator. It made a scraping sound which caused her to look at her daddy’s and Kalani’s bedroom. She held her breath waiting to see if they came out. Luckily a few seconds passed and no one exited her parent’s bedroom. Gripping the chair she pulled it farther causing more scrapes and rattles but still no sign of her daddy. Who it did bring however into the kitchen was Ralph and Maxine.

“What is she doing,” Maxine asked Ralph flying down from the hook Jarred installed in the corner of the room. Maxine loved Lizzie but rarely got as much time with her as Ralph. It was Jarred’s fault. He was obsessed with dominating the few hours she had to share with the little girl requiring mundane things like bathing, doing school work, and reading for 30 minutes a day. The reading wasn’t the fun reading either. She didn’t mind the reading with Jarred at night in Lizzie’s bed. That reading had voices and the occasional talking puppet. Jarred let Maxine sit on the headboard and look down as he read the entire story. Secretly when he clicked off the light and told Lizzie it was time for bed, Maxine often tucked herself into a tiny cranny in the room. This was to avoid the one hand scoop, Ralph as Jarred cleared out the room so his daughter could go to bed. Since she was not as noisy as Ralph with his yips and barks, Maxine was often forgotten my Jarred. This allowed her to curl up on Lizzie’s pillow and whisper secrets until the little girl could not keep her eyes open. “Why is she moving that chair,” Maxine demanded with a perplexed look on her face.

“Beats me but it always fuuuh nnnnnna,” Ralph replied stretching his back out followed by one leg and then another. Jarred had gotten Ralph a bed but his mom’s and Jarred’s was far softer which is why he trained the two humans to let him use their bed every night. Some nights they were easier roommates than others. Last night was just one of those nights neither is mom nor Jarred seemed to ever get comfortable or decide if the blankets should be on or off them.

Seeing the fox and bat enter the kitchen, Lizzie grinned happily. “I’m so glad you’re here,” Lizzie scooped up Ralph under her arm. “Help me with daddy’s special day,” she kissed Ralph on the head making his ears go flat. “It’s so much more fun when you have a friend right?”

Lizzie knew what she wanted to do for Jarred on father’s day. She wanted to make him breakfast in bed. Using the replicator was something big kids did and she was almost five. Well in another 270 days she would be five but it would be fine. Whispering out some commands the replicator began to pump out everything she requested. Setting Ralph down, Lizzie placed the first dish on the table. It was simple: scrambled eggs and bacon. The smell filled the room making Ralph’s tummy rumble. Without his mom or Jarred around, the breakfast score was going to be a lot more simple.

Kane

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At the same time in Jarred’s bedroom
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Morning had come as Jarred felt the hints of breakfast wafting into his quarters as he felt himself stir. The smells began to cause his stomach to rumble as signs of his early morning hunger. He knew what today was, Fathers day had arrived. He never had much celebrating on this day since Lizzie had not been living with them for a long time. Now though four months in both for her arrival and Kalani moving in with him life had begun to feel both new and exciting and old and familiar.

Mmmm… bacon. Jarred thought to himself, no one could resist that smell. Feeling more and more awake he began to open his eyes just slightly Lani… how lucky am I to get you my love. he thought as he smiled. She was making breakfast it seemed, and from the sounds of it she had help. There was more than one person shuffling in the main living area, some of the sounds even came off as quiet and small.

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Kitchen
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“Whelp I am gonna go monitor the food,” Ralph stretched his legs up and attempted to jump into the chair. The problem was his legs were far too short to make it from the floor to the seat without help. His attempt resulted in his front paws raking the cushions as his hindquarters flailed about like a man dangling from a cliff.

“From the floor,” Maxine said landing on the back of the chair next to the one Ralph trying to occupy.

“No…frah…dah....able,” Ralph hated when his batty sister got such a superiority complex. His words came out in choppy bursts. Ralph refused to give up the little ground he had gained with his claws which meant his arse end was flapping about madly as his feet cartwheeled about looking for something to help boost him up.

Making a show of craning her head to look down she allowed her face to get an expression of deep thought. “If you just swing your…no…no not like that. Hook it. Ralph hook that foot. Not that one the other foot,” Maxine gave what most people in Ralph’s situation would call unhelpful advice. She tried to contain her glee in being able to preen she was where he wanted to be; however, she was a sibling and that meant you always pointed out when you had the high ground to your brother or sister.

“You… are not hell…ping,” he grunted flattening his ears to show his disapproval of his sister. This look was well known in the Kane household and often earned him a bip on the nose if it went on too long. His mom wasn’t here so Ralph didn’t have to mind his manners.

“No, but god you should see all the food. This pineapple is amazing,” Maxine offered as false encouragement nibbling at a hunk of the fruit Lizzie replicated. She let out a soft cooing sound which was her version of a laugh seeing Ralph’s nose and head peek over the table yet not be high enough to try anything she was eating.

“Hey don’t do that. Licking people’s food is gross. You know mom says that all the time,” Ralph scowled at Maxine as he could see her licking the fresh fruit in the bowl.

“Do what? Do this,” she taunted Ralph flicking her tongue back and forth over the sweet fruit knowing it was irritating her struggling brother.

“Stop it,” Ralph let out an angry bark. His anger was not that Maxine was doing something wrong but more that he could not be doing the same thing.

Lizzie let out a giggle seeing Maxine and Ralph at the table. “Put some muscle in that hustle,” Lizzie quoted what her PaPa often said when she was trying something hard and he wanted to be playful or encouraging. Setting down a short stack of pancakes and a Belgian waffle, she surveyed the table. It was filled with more than ten people could eat but there were a few more things she planned. Before moving away, however, Lizzie hoisted Ralph’s south forty to the chair.

Ralph took a long moment and savored the site before him. It was a cornucopia of tasty treats. Jarred always gave Ralph bits of his leftover food but no one ever gave him a plate that was untouched by human hands. Now he was going to get the thing he had dreamt of for as long as he could remember. Sticking his tongue out, Ralph licked the first piece of bacon he found. The savory grease gave him an expression of a man in nirvana.

“Really Ralph really,” Maxine said nibbling the edge of a mango. “Are you going to lick every piece,” she asked rolling her eyes.

“Nope. I’m gonna eat ‘em,” Ralph grinned from ear to ear stepping on the now warm bacon and tearing off a small piece.

“Okay,” Lizzie said proudly looking at the tray ladden with food. Reaching over she pulled off a piece of bacon from where Ralph hadn’t licked or stepped and took a bite herself. “So ready to go wake Daddy up!”

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Jarred’s bedroom
=================

Sitting up Jarred smirked, the smaller sounds had to be Ralph and Max. He was for all intents and purposes dating a Disney princess. He could almost see Kalani right now frolicking in the room with birds chirping and a deer sitting the table as she cooked in a long flowing blue dress. Sitting up he looked to his side, the blanket was lumpy and hard next to him as his eyes narrowed as he looked closely at the shape.

“Lani?” he said aloud as he pulled back the covers. Her eyes focusing on him as she looked up as he began to piece together just who was in their place.

“God what time is it,” Kalani flopped an arm over her eyes. “You know it is Sunday,” she mumbled seeing the time on the clock. Even on workdays when Jarred was an earlier riser, no one got up before 7 am. Lying in the bed she started to process what Jarred was saying. Bacon. He said something about Bacon she thought and took a deep breath. Instantly she smelled it just like Jarred said. Only the smell off coffee was better in the morning. Stretching to wake up, Kalani began to think about how she was going to convince Jarred to get out of their nice warm bed and bring her back coffee. As she played out several ideas in her head something began to be clear. If he was in bed with her who was making breakfast.

“If… if you are in here then who the devil is making the bacon?” he said with an exasperated tone as he cocked his head toward their door.

Alindor, CE

Taking a deep breath, Kalani thought of all the ways to say what was on her mind. Eventually, she decided it would be polite enough to just say, “Jarred I can’t take it. Your parents are amazing, wonderful, spectacular, but why is your mom in our kitchen again before we brush our teeth and she is not staying in your quarters. I can see if she was living with us but she is three floors down and six corridors over,” she said almost in a whine. “I mean I don’t mind her help. I know Lizzie is their world. I don’t care if they spend every waking moment on the ship for the next six months visiting her but I just want enough time in the morning to put pants on before the breakfast brigade comes.”

“My mom doesn’t come by that often, once a week at best and she always sends me a comm message before we go to bed… which I know recall I never told you and maybe I should have.” he said with a grimace on his face knowing he most likely shared more than he should.

As if on cue, the bedroom door opened and in came Jarred’s brood. Ralph jumping happily at Lizzie’s feet as she lugged a tray weighing far more than she could easily manage. Maxine swooped in the room and found a spot on the bed frame so she would watch the entire presentation they had worked so hard on. Life was good with her mom. It got better when they met Jarred but it was now perfect with Lizzie in it.

“Happy Father’s Day Daddy. I made breakfast,” Lizzie announced loudly as she entered the room and carried the tray. The tray’s contents slide slightly back and forth on the plates with each step. Jarred could easily see the bacon sliding off the small plate from which it was being served. The round, colorful circles of Fruit Loops floated in the milk like a lost fleet at sea during a hurricane. Each step causing a single cereal ring or two to be sloshed over the side of the container. Other items were traveling better for the time being.

“I did it all by myself,” Lizzie said proudly at the edge of the bed. Her smile was big and bold showing how proud she was of her accomplishment. Setting it partially on the bed, Lizzie tried to balance it enough that it could rest there as she climbed up too. It was just she wasn’t tall enough to set the tray on the bed and then climb up.

Lizzie

Jarred beamed as he grabbed the platter before it could fall helping his little girl up on the bed with him. “You… make breakfast?” Jarred said with an almost shocked tone. She was a smart little girl, but this seemed like something for an older child. It wasn’t as if the replicator was hard to use but it was a bit high for her and she would need to know all the right commands. He had to admit as he beamed at her just how impressed he was with his daughter.

Alindor, CE

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