Posted by Lieutenant Commander Richard Marsh (Person Who Keeps The CO In Line (XO)) in Sweet Dreams in Marsh Land

(snip)

She blinked, ‘Sleeping beauty,’ was almost too much. Sitting up and moving, taking the cup, inhaling the aroma. How, how could he remember exactly how she drank it. She held the cup, the heat and aroma waking her up as she sipped it. Locked in? Oh if he only knew she’d left and then come back, breaking into his quarters. Gone through his things, well he knew that didn’t he. His emotions were easy for her to read. And her own in a swirl of exhaustion. She listened to him talk and when he finally leaned back, instinctively she started to lean against him. Richard, for all his craziness and laughter and determination and patience and caring, deserved better than her. Instead she forced herself to put the mug down and stand up. “I’m sorry, I have to go.” Her voice cracked, but she was determined to get out of there before she cried. Exhaustion…right? But the dogs, not prepared for the sudden movement, slowed her down.
Lt Cmdr Atoded, CoP

Richard rose to his feet from the couch, stepped closer to Brenna, and extended his right hand taking her smaller left hand with a comfortable grip. He pulled her in close to his body and then took her right hand softly with his larger left hand. He stood in front of her in a wide stance, made direct eye contact, and lowered both of their hands to waist level comfortably. He was not going to let her walk away this time, he made the same mistake eight years ago and second guessed himself up until that particular moment. He grinned, “What’s the matter? Was the coffee not on par to your liking?” His facial expression went neutral and his voice had a tone that indicated that he was quite serious in what he had to say, “Brenna, please do not go. I want you to stay here with me.”

Brenna stilled as his hand found hers. His touch gentle but his stance implacable. He wasn’t letting her leave…and he pulled her into him, his body heat chasing away the chill that comes from waking up before you’re ready. Her black eyes, shinning from unshed tears, locked to his stunning blue gaze. After all these years her smaller frame still seemed to fit in his embrace perfectly.

She smiled slightly in response to his grin, his was contagious. It was no mistake he asked her about the coffee. He’d asked her the same thing on their first date. He had ordered two bitter black coffees. She didn’t touch hers and he’d asked her the exact same thing. She had proceeded to tell him she didn’t like coffee but drank hot chocolate instead. The small shop only served coffee. Richard had spent the next hour finding something she found tolerable-hazelnut flavored coffee with milk and sugar. Richard didn’t express his feelings with words, it wasn’t the way he was; he expressed himself quite clearly in his actions and his thoughts. The coffee was chosen specifically to remind her, and to remove the sleep and cobwebs. What was wrong was that she desperately wanted him to tell her to stay, but afraid she was ‘feeling’ from him what she wanted, influencing him.

Her eyes never left his; he wanted her to stay. Even though it was what she wanted to hear, she needant worry, he wanted it to. The seriousness of his tone, his body language, the way his gaze captured hers, clearly stated that, and of course his thoughts and emotions were quite clear.

He released her hands and rolled his head for a moment while he sighed, “Listen, I know that you have a lot to process with us reuniting after a long period of time and having to work with me could be overwhelming I know. I understand that it probably stresses you out. I get it completely.” He nodded once indicating that he knew where she was coming from, “However, the truth is, I never really completely let you go. My heart was broken when you left me, but after reflecting on it over the course of time I learned that I should have stopped you from walking out of my life that day. That was my fault and mine alone. I made the bed of rocks and laid in it for far to long at this point.” Richard paused for a moment looking down at the ground clearly thinking about what he would say next.

His blue eyes then darted upwards slightly to meet her gaze once again, “Listen, I saw the compass in your palm when I came into my quarters, you can sense my feelings with your supernatural kickass Betazoid empathic ability, and you already know my desires for our future. Feel free to read me, I can not hide much from you as it is, you are the best damn intelligence officer I have ever met. I am not always an expressive man, but I will say this one time. I want to make us work and see this opportunity as a second chance. However, if you do not feel comfortable with me being on the Constellation, then I will request a transfer.” He sighed again, “Wow, I just said a lot.” He raised his index finger on his left hand, “But I meant every word of it. I would love to hear your honest thoughts Brenna. That is in your DNA as a Betazoid right? Isn’t your race always blunt as all get out? Give me the blunt version please. I felt something in my gut when you kissed me earlier and I am rolling with that feeling now. I believe in us.” Richard had true conviction behind his words and definitely believed in what they stood for as a whole.

• Lieutenant Commander Marsh, XO

By the four Gods when the man finally decided to talk, he really talked. Supernatural kickass Betazoid empathic abilities. Some hold over to those super heroes he was always referencing-she had no idea about any of them. “I didn’t want to break heart. I was hand picked for my first mission. I was told to settle my afairs, to take that seriously, it wasn’t just lip service. The risk was high…” She bit her lower lip, her gaze never leaving his. He would see the haunted expression on her face, feel the shiver go through her body where he’d pulled her close, and ‘feel’ fear from her memories. “I didn’t want you waiting for me if I never came back.” She thumped his chest, hard, “You weren’t supposed to wait for me! You were supposed to hate me and move on. You weren’t supposed to…” Her voice trailed off as the years tracked down her cheeks. She made no effort to hide them. “I always loved you, Mouse heart.” Normally she meant to tease him with the term but it carried a wealth of memory and emotion that Richard could feel. Her mental touch was like sun warmed velvet. ‘We were always a good team. And as far as the ship goes, please don’t give it up. I want you here, you’ve worked hard for it. If nothing else I’ll be the ship’s number two.’ She took his hand placing it over her heart. Her mind, her superpower, connected them easily. ‘I feel it here, I always have. I love you, I always will. I promise I won’t leave unless you tell me too.’ The blunt was that she felt he deserved the second chance but that she didn’t. She would take it anyway-he would feel that clearly along with her promise. ‘But I don’t want to be your number 2.’ She smiled softly but genuinely, the whole time her eyes still locked on his. But she would not kiss him this time; he would have to make that choice if he would trust her promise.
Lt Cmd Atoded

Richard fell into her gorgeous black eyes feeling a connection with Brenna’s soul as his hand was placed on her chest. The feeling of her soft skin was always satisfying to his touch. He could feel her heart beating softly as she continued to unveil her feelings and utilize telepathic communication directly to his mind. After she finished expressing herself fully, he lowered his hands, slid them down her sides, and set them on her hips. He easily pulled her lighter body in against his and leaned downward kissing her lips softly. A few moments went by as his lips remained close to her and then he lifted his head upwards, “I love you as well Brenna.” His expression was without a shadow of a doubt in the universe serious as he said those words. He emulated both meaning and feelings soley from his heart.

The kiss was soft and warm and Brenna fell right into it. People often describe a kiss, when it’s with the right person, as a jolt, a fire, volcanoes exploding. That was nice and all, but this was home. His hands were warm and strong and conveyed a sense of complete safety. For a woman like Brenna, that was impressive. She was trained to work in small pairs or alone, that even with a partner to only rely on herself for safety, security, and a strong will. So someone who made her feel safe was a heady love potion, indeed. It left her muddled and bemused.

He smiled at Brenna, “Now, I want you to stay here with me.” A light bulb went off in his head and his tone of voice indicated his excitement as he sounded like a child in that very moment but in a positive way, “How about we have breakfast for dinner? I will replicate pajamas for you and we can have a sleep over lady. What do you say? I know you like a good slumber party. Just this time you get to have it with a man that you love with all of your heart.” He laughed at himself due to the humor that he placed behind his words.

She blinked once, twice, thrice…huh? Oh man were the cadets and newly graduated ensigns planning another party? They trashed all of decks 17 and 18 last time, took two weeks to repair the damage. There had even been a hull breach! She began to giggle tiredly, it was his problem now! He gave her two days off she could sleep, the whole ship could get sucked out into space but she could sleep. He said so. “Pajamas for breakfast?” He could feel her trying to read his thoughts and make sense of his words. “Richard, honey, I know my species is alien to yours, but we don’t eat textiles. You do remember that right?”

He tilted his head slightly, “Lets enjoy a relaxing evening together. I can tell that you are exhausted, so we can stay in for the night. I have decided due to your hard work and dedicated service to the Constellation that I am going to give you the rest of the week off. You need to rest, reflect, and have a well-earned break. No ifs, ands, or buts it is official. In addition, I will take care of the dogs, give you foot rubs, and participate in any activities that you want to partake in after my shifts. I am sure that I have also missed a laundry list of things that you want me to do for you as well that you will remind me about during your time off. Thank you for performing Admirably my number one.” He winked at her and walked to the replicator to begin preparing dinner, “How about an Earth breakfast this time?” He turned to face her from the kitchen in an open stance.

• Lieutenant Commander Marsh, XO

The dogs? Oh right she needed to feed the dogs, she looked around blinking, she was tired, she was going to have to go over the last week of orders…oh lord and lady what had she told the crew to do? Laundry? What was he talking about? She blinked at him again. “Richard I can’t eat a whole planet.” She stepped over to him and kissed him again, just to get him to stop talking. ‘Honey, stop talking. Your speed talking and I’m too tired to keep up.’ Her kiss lingered until she was finally able to make sense of his thoughts. She pulled away and laughed softly. “Yeah, okay, you make us breakfast food, and I’ll stay, but I can’t promise how long I’ll stay awake.”
Lt Cmdr Atoded, CoP