Reunion

Posted on Thu Mar 10th, 2022 @ 9:08pm by Captain Xavier Carey & Lieutenant Commander Diane Doctrine

Mission: Free write
Location: Starbase 375 airlocks
Timeline: Current

With their orders given and with a few hours until they departed for the colonies, Xavier had asked Diane to remain on station with him while Commander Stoffels prep for departure. He had received word that they had arrived and awaiting him. Them actually.

"Thank you for staying Commander, there is something that I wanted to help you with, which is here on the station. It just needs to be picked up, and then we can be underway."

Diane had no idea what he was talking about. She didn't remember asking the captain for help with anything. Her body stiffened a bit and she put herself on immediate guard. "Oh?" was all she managed to say.

Xavier walked towards the airlock where he was notified where they would be awaiting them. He figured he would tag along just in case of a scene that was not appropriate.

"Just up ahead Commander."

Diane stopped walking. "Captain, what did you do?" she asked in a suspicious tone.

Just up ahead as they turned the corner, the trio awaited them.

Diane was about to say something to Xavier when Toby broke free of his grandmother's grip and ran to his mother. "Moooom!"

Diane struggled to keep herself together. She went down on one knee and embraced her son holding his head to her bosum while he hugged her tightly. "I've missed you soooo much!" he cried.

"I've missed you too little man," Diane's eyes were starting to tear up.

Toby's grandparents watched. Martha had a small, relieved smile on her face while Emil looked a touch guilty.

Walking up to the older couple. "Thank you for doing this for them." Xavier replied as he extended a hand. "Captain Xavier Carey, Commanding Officer of the USS Resolution."

"It's nice to meet you in person," Martha replied while still watching her grandson and his mother.

Emil offered his hand to shake, "Pleased to meet you, sir. Should I call you sir? I'm afraid to admit, I don't know much about the protocol here."

Meanwhile, Diane and Toby were still hugging each other and quietly catching up.

"You aren't Starfleet, so Xavier will do fine." He replied as he looked at the two. "Shall we go to the ship?"

"Sure," Emil replied glancing at Toby and Diane. The reunited mother and son were now standing, smiling, and wondering what was going to happen next.

"Captain," Diane started, "Did you invite..." her hand motioned towards Emil and Martha. She wasn't sure what to call them. Diane and their son were never officially engaged.

"He did," Martha answered for Xavier. "He invited us to spend some time on his ship. I... suspect there's more going on here than that. Time will tell... and... Diane, it is nice to see you again."

Diane said nothing for a moment and then replied, "It's nice to see you two as well... Thank you for bringing Toby along."

Emil wanted to say a lot more but after seeing how happy Toby and Diane were at the moment, instead he just added, "You're welcome."

"I was doing a favour for a mutual friend." Xavier replied, he wouldn't reveal who that was in front of an audience. Given the circumstances at the moment.

Diane's eyes narrowed at Xavier. It took barely a second for her to realize who had put him up to this. The momentary expression on her face told Xavier 'Yeah, I know what you did and thank you,' all at once. She bent down again and asked Toby, "So little man, which part of our ship do you want to see first?"

"I wanna see where you work mom!" Toby enthusiastically replied.

Diane looked to Martha and Emil, "You're welcome to join us if you want."

Martha and Emil looked at each other, then back to Diane. "It's been quite an ordeal getting her," Martha said, "Perhaps we can get settled into our cabin. Perhaps later on we can talk at length."

"Very well," Diane answered diplomatically. "Captain, would you mind showing... Toby's grandparents to their quarters?"

"Right this way." Xavier nodded in agreement as they came to the airlock.

Emil and Martha followed Captain Carey. Diane turned her full attention to her son. "Mom, do you think granma and granpa will let me live with you?"

"I'm hoping so Toby. I think I'll need to talk to them at length first though." Diane answered honestly.

"Is it gonna take long?"

Diane sighed, "I hope not. All we can do have the discussion and see what granma and granpa wanna do. I will tell you, I really hope we can stay together. I've missed you so much."