JP – Lt. Cmdr Hopper & Lt. Richards: Cosmic Duet (Part 2)
Robin Hopper
((Richards Homestead, Glacier National Park, Montana))
Richards: We didn't spend all of our time in our room.
Blake eyed his brother with a knowing look on his face, then crossed the wood-plank floor to the antique liquor cabinet in the corner, beside the fireplace. Opening it up, he pulled out a bottle of Highwood Rye Malt and two glasses, setting them down on the side table. Uncapping the bottle, he poured a finger of whiskey into each glass, then set the bottle down and offered his brother one of the drinks.
Blake: You two are getting pretty serious, hm?
As Blake poured the whiskey, Nathan looked out the window again. Things really had become pretty serious between them. When they started, they had tried really hard to keep it secret from everyone on Amity. There had been moments when they slipped up a little. The one that came to mind right away was the kiss onstage in Wet Goods.
Richards: Uh…
For a moment, the only sound was the gentle ticking of the old clock on the mantle.
Blake: Wooo… that bad huh? ::Chuckling:: I mean, it’s clear whatever ::gesticulating with his glass:: the ‘hangup’ was before, things have changed now. I mean, she’s here. A trillion billion miles from the Delta Quadrant, just to be with you. And Mom and Dad didn’t even scare her away… That’s big stuff.
Blake raised his eyebrows, and his glass, taking another sip from it.
Richards: There is still a chance. Sam has been glued to her hip since they met. ::Taking a breath through his teeth:: Sam can be a lot to handle.
Nathan lifted his glass to his lips and took a drink. If anyone was going to make or break Robin's sanity on this visit, it was going to be Sam.
Blake: Don’t sweat so much, you’ll stain your tux. ::Taking a sip:: Remember what I told you, about things playing out the way they were meant to…?
((Flashback, One Year Earlier – 240001.23, Pond Near the Richards Homestead))
Nathan hung his head, shaking it.
Richards: It's her. $#&@...
There was another, much longer, pause. Both brothers sat, staring out at the pond, rippling gently as the breeze rolled over it. Finally, Blake broke the silence.
Blake: When I met Mike, I went through the same thing. Uhhh… Well, okay, not the exact same thing. I didn’t have any encounters with Royalty.
Richards: Noble, not Royalty.
Blake: Whatever. My point is… I was hung up on him for months. I told myself all sorts of reasons it wouldn’t work. Law School was crushing both of us. There was no time for socializing. I barely knew him. It was stupid. So I made the responsible choice – or at least, what I figured was the responsible choice at the time – and I didn’t say anything to him.
Richards: You just kept it to yourself?
Blake: Yeah… For like, two years. By then, I wasn’t even in school anymore, I hadn’t even seen him in months. It took me a while, but I had moved on. Honestly. ::Sipping his beer:: Then, he shows up here asking for a tour of the park. Just out of nowhere. I couldn’t hold it in and I just… Told him everything. You know what he said?
Richards: That you're gross and to leave him alone? ::Smirking:: Sorry, serious moment. What did he say?
Blake rolled his eyes, but smiled anyway.
Blake: He said he was glad that nothing had ever happened between us. That I hadn’t said anything back then… Because he wasn’t in the right place for it then either… And we probably would have gone down in flames. ::Holding up his hand, displaying the ring on his finger:: Things change.
Richards: You guys are engaged?! What the @&$# why did you wait so long to tell?! ::A beat:: Wait, that's fair. I didn't say anything about my arm.
Blake: I didn’t want to steal your thunder. ::Patting him on the shoulder again:: The conquering hero, returning home. It’ll be a few years before this pans out anyways. I figured it could wait.
Nathan wrapped his arms around his brother, squeezing tight.
Richards: I'm happy for you guys! But what you're saying is, try to avoid those feelings and everything will work out?
Blake hugged him back, but shook his head.
Blake: I’m not trying to say you shouldn’t feel whatever you’re feeling. I’m just saying… You know, stuff ain’t always as permanent as it seems. If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be. And if it’s not… You’ll be alright.
((End Flashback))
Richards: You said a lot that night, and I think most of it was the beer. ::Chuckling:: But yes, I remember.
Blake: Well, I was definitely talking out of my ass then – but look, it worked out, so whaddaya know? Maybe I’m a genius. ::Indicating Nathan’s glass:: You need another?
Nathan looked down at the now empty glass that he hadn't realized he finished off.
Richards: I think I'm good. You? Steady those nerves?
Blake: ::Shaking his head:: Naahhh, nah. The last thing I want is to be slurring during my vows.
He set the glass down and puffed some air between his lips, like a horse dressed in a heathered grey tuxedo.
Blake: Better get down there, huh?
Nathan set his glass down next to Blake’s with a hollow thunk.
Richards: It's about that time.
Blake: Thanks for coming back for this. For me. I can’t imagine doing this without you here, Cowboy.
Richards: ::Shrugging, smiling:: Not like I had anything better to do.
((Meanwhile, Backyard – Richards Homestead))
Samantha, Nathan’s sister, made for an adorable shadow. Robin puttered around the backyard in an indigo dress, under a zipped sweater to keep out the morning chill, helping family and friends of the grooms with the final preparations for the ceremony; A crooked bouquet that needed straightening, a chair sitting on an uneven patch of earth, a dog wandering around aimlessly – oO Who’s dog is this? Oo During it all, Sam was ever present near her side, talking her ear off, and Robin couldn’t be happier.
It almost seemed like a distant memory now – the nerves she had felt approaching the Richards’ door for the first time. It had bubbled up quickly, with little warning, as it had dawned on her that she was really and truly about to meet his family. His whole family. And that their opinions of her would make or break the future she’d begun to consider with him. Maybe it was the realization that she had been considering some sort of future with him that had really thrown her.
((Flashback – Nine Days Earlier, Font Door, Richards Homestead))
Nathan took a deep breath of the crisp mountain air as he and Robin approached the front porch of the Richards family home. Before ascending the steps onto the front porch, Nathan stopped and turned to Robin with a nervous smile.
Richards: Before we go in…
Robin turned abruptly to face him, resting her index finger on his lips to stop him.
Hopper: Uh-uh, no more. You gave me enough ‘warnings’ on the trip here.
She moved her hand down, patting his chest reassuringly.
Hopper: Besides, you’ve met my family. ::Rolling her eyes, chuckling:: I’m sure you have nothing to worry about.
Nathan ran his hand through his hair, looking back towards the door.
Richards: I know, I know. I just want to make sure you’re prepared for what you are about to walk into.
Hopper: ::Tilting her head:: Stop building it up so much! I’m sure they’ll be nothing but sweet and lovely and very polite, if you’re anything to judge by… ::Smirk:: If anyone should be worried, it’s you. I’m definitely going to ask for the embarrassing baby pictures. Now, come on, let’s go before you change your mind.
Nathan took her hand and gave it a small squeeze before taking the first steps up towards the front door. The solid wood door loomed over them as the point of no return. Once he took Robin through that door, there was no going back. Meeting his family would make or break his and Robin’s future together. And that scared the hell out of him. But, he took a deep breath and reached for the handle and carefully pushed the door open.
Jennifer: Noonie!
Robin blinked and glanced at Nate, amused. oO Noonie? Oo
Nathan let out a sigh. He knew that the nicknames would come out eventually, but he hadn’t expected the worst to come out so quickly.
Patrick: Oh, she’s got you in her sights now, son! Brace for impact!
Unable to hold herself back, Jennifer rushed forward and wrapped up her son in a huge hug, places kisses on the side of his head. But after a few of those, her gaze turned towards the woman that was with him. Her eyes narrowed a little…
Nathan’s father, Patrick, of course noticed his son’s companion as well, although the elder Richards returned a warm smile and nod. He knew meeting the entire Richards clan could be a tad overwhelming. Nathan’s siblings were anything but subtle.
Blake: Cowboy!
Richards: Hey, guys!
Hopper: ::Awkward wave:: Hiii… oO Cowboy? Oo It’s nice to mee–
Robin hadn’t even finished introducing herself when Nathan’s sister, Sam, jumped up from her spot on the couch with what could only be described as an excited squeak before running towards the two new arrivals. Nathan held out his arms in anticipation of the tackle, only to have his little sister completely disregard him and go straight for Robin.
Sam: Robin! ::Wrapping Robin In a tight hug:: I can't believe you are finally here!
Wide-eyed, Robin let out a single note of surprised laughter, then glanced at Nate, giving him an uncertain shrug. He’d warned her that his sister was eager to meet her – but she hadn’t realized just how eager she was. oO Maybe I should have let him warn me again… Oo she thought, in amused uncertainty.
Hopper: Hey… ::Smiling to the others, giving Sam a light hug back:: You must be Sam.
Sam turned towards Nathan, whose arms were still held halfway up after being shirked in favor of his girlfriend.
Jennifer simply watched her Noonie’s new girlfriend… carefully… like a hawk.
Sam: Nathey Poo! ::Finally hugging him:: I guess I'm excited to see you too.
Hopper: ::Mouthing to Nate, silently:: Nathey Poo?
Nathan rolled his eyes and shook his head. There wasn't enough time in the continuum to begin to explain.
Robin did her best to set the nicknames aside for later discussion, turning her attention to his parents and brother, Blake. The youngest Richards boy, Hunter, was conspicuously absent – off in the woods, no doubt, if Nathan’s lengthy explanation of each of his family members’ individual peculiarities was to be believed.
Given the warm welcome she’d already received, Robin decided that hugging was the way to go, and greeted each of the other Richards’ in order, starting with his mom, Jennifer, then his father, Patrick, and finally Blake – who, if he cut his hair, could almost pass for Nate at a distance.
Hopper: ::To Jennifer:: It’s so nice to meet you.
Jennifer: ::Through a forced large smile:: And lovely to meet you, dear. I’d like to know all about you! The woman who is taking a part of my Noonie’s heart…
During the hug, Jennifer’s smile wiped away momentarily, as she whispered very quietly-
Jennifer: ::whispered, serious tone:: … and you’d better look after it.
TBC…
(Blake Richards as simmed by)
Lt. Cmdr Robin Hopper
Chief Science Officer & Second Officer
Amity Outpost
V239806K11
&
Lt. Nathan Richards
Chief of Operations
Amity Outpost
A239905NR1
&
Jennifer Richards
Noonie’s Mom
V239511WU0
&
Patrick Richards
Nathan’s Dad
I238705TZ0
&
Samantha Richards
As simmed by Travis’ wife Beky