Commander Lael Rosek-Skyfire & PNPC Lieutenant Commander Chythar Skyfire: More Incoming

[Zeph]

((Terminal A, Upper Terminals, Amity Outpost))

More than a little paranoid about how greeting arriving family had gone the last time, Lael had gone to extensive pains to ensure communication with her family before and during their approach to the station. She was most excited to see her nephew, Liam, who would be bringing along his new girlfriend, Amber. Honestly, she was surprised that Ava, the boy’s mother, would let him out of her sight. Not that he was a boy anymore. He’d grown into a fine young man of 21, more than capable of making his own decisions.

For all that Kellan hadn’t known about Liam until he was much older, Kell was doing his best as a dad and had even admitted to her that he was finding a great deal of purpose in it.


Chythar had no idea who half these people were, and had admittedly only met the mother and brother in-law. He hardly remembered Layton at all, and neither Liam nor Amber rang any bells for him. He was still very much out of his element with the “meet and greet” portion of Lael’s grand schemes, but he didn’t want to say anything to cause any more stress. She didn’t need that at the moment.


C. Skyfire: You can relax, you know. They said they’d be here in ten minutes, right?


Rosek-Skyfire: ::grunts in irritation:: After what happened last time, I’ll relax when I see them come through the doors. ::mutters:: That was such nonsense. Who doesn’t update those boards?


C. Skyfire: Chill, love. The personnel aren’t at fault here.


She bit back an irritated response, forcing herself to focus on other things. The stupid hormones were making her crazy. It didn’t help that she was rapidly approaching the place of “get these babies out of me”. Really, she was only a touch overdue. But her back was reaching its limit, something her previous doctors had warned her about if she decided to continue with the pregnancy (not that there had ever been an ‘if’ in her mind).


C. Skyfire: What was the name of their transport, again?


Rosek-Skyfire: Euphoria. My mother’s private freighter.


C. Skyfire: Funny name for a freighter, methinks.


Despite her earlier irritation, a small smile crossed her lips and she shook her head. It was silly. So classically Chythar. He thought nothing of it and wasn't bothered what anyone else would think of it either.


Rosek-Skyfire: ::murmurs:: Sometimes, love, a name is just a name.


CD nodded slightly. He knew that, and had no further comment.


At last, they reached the gate and Lael found a comfortable seat nearby to wait, checking the PADD she'd brought to watch for updates from her mother.


Chythar stood next to her, watching the updates over her shoulder and occasionally glanced up to scan the crowd. He felt himself tense a bit as he realized he was nervous. Last time he saw the family was … a while ago. Possibly at their wedding.


She unconsciously reached for Chythar's hand, her foot tapping impatiently against the deck. Every so often, her eyes drooped and she had to shake away the fatigue.


After what felt like forever, a voice came over the comm, announcing the arrival of the Euphoria. She rose gingerly to her feet and reached out to Chythar for help.


The doc nodded and helped her stand, shifting his position slightly to anchor himself as she gripped him for support. Once they were both standing, he led the way toward the gate.


She leaned into him, brushing her lips against his cheek, her hand rubbinggently at the center of his back. They both stopped a ways back from the gate.


Several minutes later, her mother came through first, followed by Kellan, Liam, Amber, and Layton.


She grinned, embracing her brother.


K. Rosek: Geez, sis. Can't even fit my arms around you.


Lael pulled back, scowling and socked him in the shoulder, causing him to wince.


Rosek-Skyfire: Rude.


Layton: ::shakes his head:: I'll never understand this need for you two to insult each other.


A. Rosek: ::huffs:: If you both are done, I want to greet my daughter and son in law.


Chythar shrugged cluelessly in response to Layton’s reply. He felt the playful banter cut through tension, but didn’t quite understand the reasoning for it. He did offer a nod to his mother in law, however.


C. Skyfire: I don’t understand it either. I never had any siblings growing up, so…


Lael rolled her eyes and smiled, hugging her mom.


Rosek-Skyfire: Hello to you, too, Mom.


Adelynn returned the embrace, then pulled back and looked her up and down.


A. Rosek: Good Lord, darling. Aren't my grandchildren ready to come out yet?


Rosek-Skyfire: ::grunts:: I'm certainly ready to evict them.


Chythar smiled slightly and gave Adelynn a gentle hug.


C. Skyfire: They should be due any day now.


Rosek-Skyfire: ::huffs:: Not soon enough.


L. Hunter: ::pauses:: I don't know much about babies, but aren't they usually awake a lot at first?


The expecting father shrugged and nodded slightly.


C. Skyfire: Not my department, usually. Though they do have a tendency to wear themselves out crying.


Rosek-Skyfire: ::smiles and shakes her head:: Good point, Liam. But there are pains related to pregnancy that no man, not for a lack of desire or trying, can ever fully understand. ::grins:: Besides, I’m already not sleeping well these days. ::teasingly nudges Chythar:: At least once they’re out, Dad can share in that so it’s not as much on me.


Chythar gave a somewhat clueless half-hearted shrug, unable to come up with words to add to the conversation. After a moment, he blinked again to refocus his vision on the fact that there were more people standing with the pair of them they were talking to.


C. Skyfire: So who did you bring with you, Liam?


Lael froze, realizing that in her self-centeredness, she’d forgotten to properly introduce herself to her nephew’s girlfriend.


Rosek-Skyfire: ::blushes:: Oh! I’m so sorry. How rude of me. I’m Liam’s aunt,  Lael.


C. Skyfire: And I’m Chythar Skyfire, Lael’s husband.


A. Gless: ::smiles:: It’s fine, ma’am, really. I’m Amber.


Rosek-Skyfire: ::huffs:: It most certainly is not. ::smiles:: And it’s a pleasure to finally meet you. Liam’s told me a lot about you. ::holds up a hand:: All good things, of course. ::smiles::


L. Hunter: ::blushes and mutters:: Aunt Lael…


A. Gless: ::teases Liam:: Been talking about me, hmm?


Lael had to restrain a laugh when the flush in Liam’s cheeks intensified, glad the attention was momentarily off her.


Rosek-Skyfire: ::to Amber:: Oh, and none of this “ma’am” stuff. ::grins:: I’m not that old. ~ Hush, Chythar. ~ Lael will do just fine, or if you’re comfortable, Aunt Lael.


CD’s brow arched inquisitively, unable to come up with either a retort or what it was she thought he was about to interject with.After a moment, his face returned to a neutral expression and he smiled at the small ensemble of people


A. Gless: ::grins and nods:: If you insist, Aunt Lael.


Rosek-Skyfire: I do! ::pauses:: I don’t know about you all, but I could do with a quick bite and maybe some tea. Is anyone hungry? Amity has some interesting restaurants. We could stop by one before everyone gets comfortable in their guest quarters.


Chythar glanced over at his wife for a moment as he contemplated the nature of what kind of restaurants she’d probably be in the mood for. There was a lovely little Chinese place he knew of in the International District that probably had the kind of fare she’d be interested in pairing with the tea.


C. Skyfire: Chinese? Our favorite spot in the International District?


Rosek-Skyfire: ::nods:: How does everyone feel about Chinese?

END

----

Commander Lael Rosek-Skyfire
Chief of Operations
Amity Outpost
I238110RH0

&

Lieutenant Commander Chythar Skyfire, MD
Medical Researcher
Amity Outpost
O239002CS0