Making Memories - Part Three

Posted on 07 Apr 2016 @ 5:22am by Senior Chief Petty Officer Mila Rasputin & Ensign Aidan Crehan

2,231 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Outbreak
Location: New Risa
Timeline: MD 5

It had been an interesting and rewarding day of getting to know Mila. Aidan had enjoyed teaching her how to shuttle surf in spite of their falls. And then there were the kisses and his hands-on approach to instructing her in proper balance on the board. Now they were back at the hotel room and he was looking forward to the Knish. Well, that and exploring the most recent star they had come across.

“I think I’ll change into something a little dryer,” said Aidan.

"That is a good idea," Mila said as she finished toweling her hair dry. "You may use the bedroom first to change."

“Why thank you, Mila.” Aidan headed down the hall to change. He stopped partway down and then shook his head. A few minutes later, he returned wearing a dark blue t-shirt and a pair of maroon colored shorts. This time he went barefoot, feeling the soft carpet between his toes. “Your turn,” he said.

She smiled and headed into the bedroom after a moment. When she returned, she wore a sleeveless gray hoodie with the Starfleet emblem on the back of it and a matching pair of gray shorts which showed off her tanned legs. "Ah, I am feeling much better," she said. "I will start on Knish soon, but want to take a break first." She headed over to the couch and flopped down on it, then pulled her legs up under her.

“Of course,” said Aidan. “After an adventure like we have had today, one needs a break.” He followed her over to the couch and sat down beside her, stretching his legs out. “So tell me, how did you like your first time shuttle surfing?”

"It was wonderful," Mila said. "Do you want to know what my favorite part of it was?"

Aidan grinned a bit, wondering what in the world she was about to say. "Do tell."

"When we kissed for the first time," she said. "That was the best part."

He looked at her and smiled. His mind raced back to that moment. "I agree entirely. It was the best part and it is something I will never forget,” he said. “I will admit, it was unexpected, but it was not unwelcome.” He put his hand on her knee and gave a gentle pat.

Mila put one of her hands on his and gave a gentle squeeze. "It seemed like a very reasonable thing to do at the time," she said, then smiled at him. "And I was right. I enjoyed it very much, Aidan."

“I, too, enjoyed it very much, Mila. So much in fact…,” He leaned in and gingerly kissed her. “Yes, very much enjoyable.” He sighed. “I like this new star we have found.”

She returned the kiss. "As do I," she told him. "It is shining very bright and the gravity of it is very strong."

“Oh, I don’t know about the star, but you are shining brightly and I am certainly drawn to you,” he said. “Do you know what else I have noticed that I like about you? You are cute when you blush.” He smiled and rubbed her knee.

Mila blushed as in on cue and smiled. "You make me blush so much though," she said. "I cannot help that you are so charming."

“If you wish, I shall try to keep from making you blush so much. But it will be very difficult on my part,” said Aidan. He removed his hand from her knee and put his left arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer. He rubbed her cheek, where she had just been blushing, with backs of his right-hand fingers. Aidan then leaned in for another somewhat longer, somewhat sweeter kiss.

"Mmm," she murmured after returning the kiss and smiled up at him. "If you keep that up, I think that I may forget my name and everything else."

“Well now, I can’t have you forgetting everything else. I fall in there somewhere,” he grinned at Mila. “But if you want to forget your name, I will gladly oblige.” He looked down at Mila, searching for something cute.

Mila laughed. "You are the one making me forget everything, Aidan," she said. At the very collar of her hoodie was a tiny purple flower pin that could easily be overlooked if one didn't have a sharp eye.

He chuckled and rubbed her shoulder as his eyes fell on something cute. It was very small, and almost hidden by the folds of her hoodie, but he saw it. Peeking out at her collar was a purple flower, tiny, delicate, and almost snowflake-like. He smiled. “I like it,” said Aidan. “It befits you.”

She looked down and smiled. "It was gift from my Father the day I walked into Starfleet Recruitment office," she said. "I have never been without it in eleven years."

“Your Father is a thoughtful man,” replied Aidan. “And you are a thoughtful daughter for always having it with you.” And that was something else he could add to his list about her, she was thoughtful. He sat there for a moment in silence, simply enjoying being with her, being cuddled next to her. “I have a few things that I hold dear. A couple of them are back on the ship. One I brought with me from El-Auria, the other was given to me by my parents when I left our home on Earth to begin traveling.”

"It must be very precious," Mila said. "I imagine that you have never shown it to anyone."

“You are right, no one has seen it. I usually keep it locked away,” he replied. He hugged her with the arm he had around her shoulder. “You will be the first.”

"May I ask what it is?" she asked as she snuggled against him.

He felt her snuggle up against him and liked it. He pulled her in as she did so. “Of course you may,” said Aidan. The memento I brought from El-Auria, the only thing that I could grab as I ran out of my room, is a small, hand-chiseled statue of the pet I had growing up. It’s not an exact likeness, but it is a likeness of the animal in general. The other, from my parents, was a signet ring that belonged to my grandfather.”

"I am surprised that you do not wear the ring," Mila said as she enjoyed his warmth. "What kind of pet did you have?"

“The thought has never crossed my mind,” he said. “Though, it is something I will consider. Thank you. As for my pet, he was, well, he was something similar to an Earth koala bear, but without the pouch and not quite the temper."

"He sounds cute," she said. "What was his name?"

Aidan chuckled and somewhat dropped his head. “His name was...Koko.” He shifted on the couch and pulled her in tighter. "Those are two of the things that I hold dear. The other, I'm holding right now." Aidan leaned in kissed Mila on the forehead. "You are very special."

"I am?" Mila asked.

“Of course,” he replied. “You are special because you have not been without your Father’s gift for these eleven years. You treasure things given to you by those who are close to you. You are special because you inquire about a pet I had many years ago on El-Auria. You wish to know more about the little things of me, of my life, and who I am. I could go on, but I think those will suffice for now.”

"Everything and every moment is a treasure, Aidan," she said softly. "You are a treasure, and I will cherish each moment which we are allowed to spend together. You are more than I could have hoped for and I am grateful that you have shared so much with me. I can only hope to share as much with you."

“You already have…Mila.” He didn’t intend to pause, but something other than ‘Mila’ was about to come out of his mouth. “You have shared Chow with me in that he provided a listening ear. You are willing to share your love of cooking Russian food with me. And you have shared your voice with me in song. I would say that’s a great start.”

As if on cue, Chow popped up from behind the couch and scampered over to hop up on Mila's shoulder, hooting and making other noises. Mila reached up to give the little Capuchin a scritch behind his ears with her free hand. "Of course, Chow. You are part of this grand adventure. I could not forget you." She looked at Aidan with a warm smile. "He is good for such, and I will provide the rest. Everything else...it is a road which we may travel together..if that is something you would like."

“I look forward to that,” he said. “And I would like that very much, traveling the road together towards everything else.” He gave her shoulder a slight squeeze. “So, you know the newest nickname assigned to me. Has anyone ever called you anything but Mila?”

She smiled. "My father called me Kotyonok when I was very little," she said. "It means kitten. I was so full of energy and curiosity, he felt it was appropriate."

“Ko...ty…o...nok.” Aidan tried sounding it out just as Mila had said it. Each time got a little easier. “Kotyonok,” he said, finally able to get it out as one word. He smiled. “It is a good one with a nice background. But how about recently?”

"No," Mila said. "I often feel as if I am invisible until I am needed." Chow gave an indignant hoot and looked at her, then patted her head. "I know I am not invisible to you, Chow, and that you will never see me that way."

Aidan sighed. No one should feel like that, especially…. He looked up at Chow and grinned, then turned his attention back to Mila. “He is no longer the only one.” Aidan reached over touched her cheek again. Though, this time, he cradled it in the palm of his hand. “You need not feel invisible ever again, for you will always be needed.”

She smiled and leaned against his hand. "I know I won't, Aidan," she said. "And I appreciate each and every moment with you."

“I look forward to all of those moments.” He rubbed her cheek with his thumb and then removed his hand. “Then we must find a name appropriate for you now. What is Russian for ‘songbird?’ That seems appropriate.”

"That would be pevchaya ptitsa," Mila told him. "Russian is often a difficult language for finding affectionate names."

Aidan chuckled a bit. “Yes, I can see. How about we stick with something simple in Standard and hope it works in Russian. Let’s say…princess? Yes, Princess Rasputin.”

She smiled. "That was be Printsessa," she said as she leaned in and gave him a kiss. "I hope you are prepared to handle such a princess."

“I’ll never get over your kisses,” he said, as she finished. “Such a princess? Well, I cannot wait to see what all of that entails…Printsessa. Unless you would like to expound on it right now.” Then he thought back to the banter they had enjoyed yesterday. "Though I think I may have seen a glimpse of it yesterday. Purple indeed."

Mila turned her nose up, but her eyes glinted with humor. "Hmph! I think that calls for a proper snubbing, Sir Knight. You speak of things which you may never lay your eyes upon now."

Aidan grinned at Mila. He liked the Sir Knight moniker. “Oh is that so?” asked Aidan, a roguish humor in his voice. He looked down at her, nose turned up and neck exposed. “Then I shall have to settle for this.” He quickly leaned in kissed her neck.

She squirmed when he kissed her neck and Chow jumped to the back of the couch and covered his eyes. "Aidan!" she squealed, but didn't try to push him away. "Unhand me you knaive! You cad! Oh, you brute!"

Aidan laughed and said, “Call me what you will, but it will not deter me!” He went back to her neck and began kissing it. Then he moved up to her jaw, then her cheek, then her lips. And he stayed there for a couple of minutes. Leaning back, he said, “Printsessa.”

"Da?" Mila asked and looked at him after they finished kissing. "I am at your service, Sir Knight."

“Sir Knight…I like that,” he said in a quiet tone. “If that is the case, then, kiss me, Printsessa.”

"Your wish is my command," she said and leaned in to give him a log, soft kiss which lingered before she finally pulled back. "Did I grant your wish properly?"

“Ohhh yeahhh,” he said. He just sat there, staring at her. “I cannot take my eyes off of you when you kiss me like that.”

"You will not have to, either," Mila said. "For I am going nowhere. I am very comfortable here with you, but I am thinking we will both soon need food. Are you hungry?"

TBC

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