A Troubled Heart

Posted on 09 Jul 2016 @ 8:42am by Senior Chief Petty Officer Mila Rasputin & Ensign Aidan Crehan
Edited on on 11 Jul 2016 @ 2:18am

8,104 words; about a 41 minute read

Mission: Risky Business
Location: Mila's Quarters
Timeline: MD 2 || 2100 Hours

When Joey and Rico had left her quarters, Mila sat down on her couch and was deeply saddened. She had hoped that Chow would have gotten along with Joey's K-9 companion and fellow officer. She got up and paced her quarters, then went to her terminal and sat down, wishing for things to be better as she activated it. When it came up, she looked at it, then decided to send a message to Aidan, her Sir Medovik. Perhaps he would have some advice for her.

Aidan

I am wondering if you are having free time this evening and would like to come to my quarters? If you are to be busy, I am understanding.

Love,

Mila.

Aidan had set down on his bed in his comfortable grey tee-shirt and red knee length shorts and put his half gone cup of Chamomile tea on the bedside table. He had a few things to study, but wasn't quite ready. Instead, he leaned back against the wall and pulled his feet up on the bed. A few seconds later, his terminal beeped an incoming message. The El Aurian got up to read it...and smiled. It was from Mila, his love. He sat down and prepared a reply.

Mila,

I am never too busy for you. I will see you momentarily.

Love,
Aidan

He sent the message, put on some socks and shoes, and left his quarters.

Mila wore the same pair of black jeans and purple blouse she had worn when Joey had came to see her and had Chow in her lap, feeding him grapes dipping in pistachio yogurt. "Is okay, Chow," she told him in Russian after she had finally coaxed him out of her bedroom after his fright with Rico. "He would not have hurt you. He is good boy."

Aidan walked up to the door and paused, reaching for the panel. He pressed his thumb to the chime and waited to see what his Printsessa needed.

"Come in," Mila called out as she continued to pet and feed Chow. She hoped it was Aidan, but she was also hoping it was Joey who came back to let her know that Harvey had let her leave Rico with him.

Aidan walked in, letting the doors close behind him. "Good evening, Mila," he said. He then walked over to where she and Chow were sitting on the couch. "And good evening to you, too, my friend," he said to Chow. Even though the color combination looked good on her, he waited to say anything. Instead, he sat down next her. "What did you need?"

She started to say something while Chow moved from her lap to his, then she burst into tears and laid her head against him while putting a hand on his chest. "J..Joey is to be going on...on...s-suicide mission and I am not wanting her to die!" she said between sobs.

Aidan had not yet met Joey and he didn't know just exactly who Joey was. But it didn't matter right now. His Mila was hurting. He put one arm around her and took her hand with his other one. "Mila," he said, simply letting her cry, "I'm here. Take a moment, and when you're ready, tell me what Joey's job is and what this suicide mission is all about." He sat there, holding her hand and rubbing her shoulder.

It took a few minutes for Mila to get her crying under control and sniffles to stop while Chow brought her tissues and crawled back between the two. "She is being my new sister," she said quietly. "We are playing prank on Harvey and he is playing back with us. She is Security and is going on mission to take down Chimera by herself. I know we are just meeting not long ago, but she is wonderful woman. I am afraid she will not be coming back, Aidan."

"I am glad that you have found someone to consider a sister. Someone on this ship that you can have fun with. But Mila, if she is Security, then she knows the risks. She knows what she's getting into," he said. "And if she is bold enough to prank the Captain, then I'm sure that she can handle herself. Think about those things, the things that make her strong and bold. The things that make her wonderful. Those are her strengths, those are what she will be trusting in. And those are what you can trust in, too."

She looked up at him when his words sunk in deep enough for her to appreciate them. "You are knowing just what to say," she said. "Joey was Close Protection Officer before she came to ship and has been in much worse situation. I am not knowing what is coming over me, but she is wonderful person and Harvey is needing her, too. She is teaching him to surf and Hula dance and more and he is coming out of the shell he has had himself in. If something were to happen to her, I am thinking he would retreat behind them again."

He looked down at Mila, her hazel eyes moist with tears, and smiled. "See, there is another thing, she was a Close Protection Officer. So she knows how to fight in close quarters," he added. "But what has come over you, my dear, is your heart. Or, so I believe. It has gotten a little bigger to house a new friend. And the feelings for that friend. Hearing that she is going into a hostile situation hurts that part where you keep her, in here," he said, tapping her chest where her heart was. "That and your concern for what would happen to the Captain. It sounds as if she is helping him very much."

"You are incredibly man, Aidan Crehan," Mila said as she wiped her eyes. "You are deeper than oceans of Pacifica and filled with vast knowledge, but is your empathy and understanding that has made me fall in love with you. You are right, too. She is well trained to handle such things and I am knowing that she is having plan upon plan. I went to see her before I contacted her and she was asking me if I would watch her K-9, Rico, but Chow was flipping out, so she went to see if Harvey could watch him. I was feeling horrible over that."

Aidan smiled at her comments and the reason she gave for falling in love with him. She was terrific. "I am certain that Harvey will take good care of him. In the meantime," he turned to Chow, "were you afraid, little one?"

Chow looked up and gave a little hoot and nested deeper between them, taking comfort from his earlier fright.

"I am thinking that in time, he and Rico will be good friends," she said. "We are just having to wait, but all good things were built with time and patience." She leaned over and gave him a kiss. "Like us."

Aidan took his hand that had once been on her shoulder and ran it through her hair. He stopped at the back of her neck and returned her kiss. "Yes, time and patience builds an extraordinary castle wherein resides the royalty. Like us." He then patted Chow on the head. "And I agree that all you need is time and patience."

"Nyet, not royalty," Mila disagreed. "They are standing on the shoulders of people. We are lifting people up." Chow looked up at Aidan and have a little creel, then settled down with his paws on his head and his belly exposed.

Aidan looked at Chow and grinned. He thought about what Mila had just said. "You make a very good point. We do, and should, hold the people up." He continued to run his hand through her hair.

"I am having funny story to tell you," she said. "If only to get away from gloomy mood. Joey came to me last night and asked to set up prank on Harvey and I agreed. We filled his quarters with three hundred balloons at lunch time today and hid in quarters next to his when duty ended. He was surrounded by balloons when we came out and then Joey made water guns and began to spray him down. I made one, too, and she gave one to him. We were all wet mess before we began popping balloons and throwing them at each other. He was very good sport about it."

Aidan started laughing as he pictured the whole thing while Mila was describing it. "That sounds like it was a lot of fun," he said after catching his breath. "I am glad that you've found a friend in Joey. And I didn't know that you were that much of a prankster. Here I was picturing small pranks, but you...you go all out, as Quinn puts it. I suppose I must now watch my back with you two around."

Mila laughed. "It was Joey's idea, but Harvey was not one for surrendering," she told him. "He was giving as good as he was getting and he threw popped balloons in my hair and at Joey. It was great time and I am not seeing him laugh so hard since I have served him. You are safe, Sir Knight, from me at least. You have my heart."

"That's good," he said. "The Captain of a starship should have times that he laughs hard. It is just as needful, if not more so, for him as it is everyone." He stopped running his hand through her hair and let his arm rest on her shoulders. "But I am glad to hear that I am safe, Printsessa, from you. You know that my heart belongs to you, as well. But as for you and your heart, I will always treasure them both. Oh, this color combination of purple and black looks terrific on you."

"Da," she said in agreement. "He was needing it very much, and has now had it. If I am correct, will not be long in future before he is having something else he is needing." She looked at her outfit. "Thank you, for the compliment and to be trusting me with your heart. Forever will I treasure it, Sir Medovik."

He looked at her and chuckled. "Oh is that right? Well, good luck to him, I suppose." Aidan laughed a bit more. "So other than pranking the Captain with Joey, what else have you been up to lately, my treasure?"

"Organizing administrative stuff for departments, mostly," Mila said. "That and missing you. You know you are welcome to come to my quarters at any time, Aidan. I would not be sending you away if you showed up."

"It sounds as though you have been kept rather busy, then. And I have been missing you as well, dear Mila," he said. "I am glad to know that you would not send me away. Perhaps I shall surprise you some evening, then and simply stop by."

"I am like surprise, especially when it is you," she said as she leaned in to give him a kiss. "Oh! I am forgetting something else. Chow is being izvrashchenets...a pervert. Joey was here to ask me to help with prank and he put his hand down her shirt."

Oh, those kisses...those lips...sweet as candy. "Chow did what?!" Aidan exclaimed, coming to himself. He looked down at the simian lounging between them. "Down her shirt?" He shook his head at Chow and then looked back to Mila. "I trust that she was rather good natured about it? As much as one could be."

"She was good sport, but has threatened to bring small pair of handcuffs next time," Mila said with a laugh. "He also was leering at her while cupping hands to his chest, then hugged her...front with his head between them."

Aidan rubbed his cheek with his hand and laughed. "Oh my, I just pictured Chow being led away in those tiny handcuffs by two brawny security officers!" He laughed some more. "Poor Chow, we would come visit you in the Brig, I promise." After taking almost a minute to calm down, Aidan continued. "His head between them? I take it then that Joey is...statuesque?"

"Da," she said and brought her hands about six inches in front of her own chest. "I am thinking she is having to have custom uniforms made. Regular ones would not accommodate the size."

Aidan watched as Mila placed her hands out there. "Oh," was all he could manage to say at that moment. The custom uniforms comment caused him to chuckle. "No, I would imagine they would not fit well," said Aidan. "Perhaps I shall have the opportunity to meet her sometime. She sounds like she would be lots of fun."

When Mila moved her hands in front of her chest, Chow popped up between them and gave a happy hoot and started to look around, his hands imitating his mistresses. "No, Chow, Joey is not here and you are not to be doing that next time. She will take you away from me and you will not see pistachio or yogurt until you are old." She patted him on the head and looked at Aidan. "She is much fun to be with, and is my new Russian sister."

"Oh, I do hope he doesn't start doing that in public," said Aidan, chuckling. "It could be rather embarrassing. Imagine walking down the corridor with him perched on your shoulder and looking for Joey."

She laughed again. "I can just see Chow looking for him on her own," she said. "A little simian approaching each crewman and holding his hands in front of his chest while looking hopeful." She started laughing even harder as she pictured it.

"Looking hopeful..." Aidan joined Mila in laughing as he could just see Chow running around the ship. "Oh no...can you see him finding her? And you're not around to reprimand him? That poor, poor woman." Aidan laughed even harder now.

"She is going to think that I am pulling prank on her when in truth, it is all part of twisted monkey thoughts," Mila laughed. "He is to be obsessed with her. I have never seen him like this before. Perhaps I will see if I am able to get him female companion when next we are at starbase."

"Twisted monkey thoughts..." he laughed again. "Ohh, I do believe you are correct in his obsession and in trying to find him a female companion. They can make all the difference in a male," he said with a wink and look. "After all, you make all the difference in me, Mila."

"You are not monkey, though and have never acted like monkey with twisted thoughts," she pointed out. "You are and have been gentleman with just a touch of rogue which I am finding very appealing, Sir Medovik. You are making all difference in my life, too."

Aidan leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. "I love you," he whispered, as he pulled away and sat back. He slightly dropped his head and smiled. "I'm glad that you find the touch of rogue appealing. I'm glad that you find me appealing, for that matter. But the rogue is a part that only you know about. I have never had a chance in the past to let him slip through."

"Never?" Mila asked after she returned the kiss which she let linger for a moment before she pulled back. "I am only one in your life who has seen Sir Rogue?"

"Yes, you are Mila," he said, taking note that the only thing she returned was his kiss. I do hope her heart heals, soon, he thought to himself. "In my years, I have dated many women. Some leave as soon as they learn I'm El Aurian. Some of them stayed, but were never...right, if you will...for Sir Rogue. They didn't have the ability to draw him out as you do. You are special, Printsessa."

"Just as you are, Aidan and I love you for it," she told him. "You are only one to ever treat me this way and it would be breaking my heart if I am ever causing you pain. I would not be able to forgive myself if I was the cause of it. As for other women...there will never been other women as long as I am alive and by your side."

He smiled. "Why would I treat you any other way? You deserve it all and more," he said. "As long as you are alive, I would always have you by my side, Mila. No one else." He scooted over as close as he could with Chow still between them and hugged her. "Neither do I wish to cause you pain of any kind. If that ever happens, I want you to tell me so that can right it."

Mila smiled and hugged him, minding Chow who was happy as a bug in a rug between them. "I will, but nothing is ever to be happening like that, Sir Knight," she said. "We are perfect for each other and nothing will ever be coming between us. I am eternally grateful to have met you and I am not wishing to change a thing."

He breathed deeply and smiled at her. "We are perfect for each other, aren't we?" He put his arm around her shoulders once more and began rubbing her shoulder. "Then let us not change anything, Printsessa. Well, only one thing perhaps...our time spent together. If I could change anything, it would that I get to spend more than a few hours with you every evening. But I realize that we are both busy in our respective jobs. It is part of life, and I accept it."

"Speaking of jobs and time, how is cadet studies going while you are here?" she asked him as she leaned into his shoulder rub. Chow came out from between them and headed to where his bowls of pistachios, yogurt and grapes were and settled down to eat.

Aidan watched Chow run across the room and settle down, freeing up the space between them. "I will tell you if you turn around so that I can properly massage out the stresses of your day," he said.

Mila obligingly turned and let her arms rest at her sides. "I am thanking you eternally, Sir Knight," she said. "There are times when job is easy, and there are times when job is hard. I am thinking that radio silence is much harder than normal hustle and bustle of daily routine. Captain has no messages, but he gathered much information at Unity before we are leaving and I am having to sort it all out when there is no real priority to it other than what he is wanting to review."

"It sounds as if you are analyzing and prioritizing information," he said. "I imagine that communications would make it a bit easier." Aidan began the massage by placing his ring, middle, and index fingertips at the base of Mila's head, where it met her neck. He applied a light but firm pressure as he slid his fingers down the sides of her neck and over to her shoulders. His plan was to warm up the muscles before working out the tension. He repeated this several times as he continued talking. "As for my cadet studies, they are going well. However, I have found recently that it is difficult to find the time I once had. The Science Chief has many of us researching information for him. And not being able to communicate makes it more...interesting...in getting the information to him."

She shivered when he ran the three finger down the side of her neck, her head falling forward in relaxation and she forced herself to relax her shoulder muscles more. "Da," she said, her accent thicker. "I am doing it for him, but could be handled by other people in administration. What type of information is Science Chief looking for?"

He noticed her Russian accent had become thicker and smiled. "Different people have been researching different things," he replied. "I have been assigned to research sensor boosting capabilities. Everyone else talks among themselves, though, about what the other is doing. I think they're trying to put together a picture of what's going on. We were only given so much information. Ah, correction, I was only given so much information. A cadet's clearance only allows so much."

Aidan finished the warm-up and moved to the next stage, kneading his thumbs into the tense muscles and any knots he had found. He began to massage Mila's shoulders with his thumbs, using a circular motion. He then moved his hands to her neck, placing a thumb on either side and letting his other fingers rest on the sides. He then began gliding his hands up and down the length of her neck, applying gentle pressure to her neck muscles. "Mila, dear, I know I have said it before, but I will always say it, I love your Russian accent, especially when it gets thicker."

"You are not just cadet, Aidan," Mila said with a groan of pleasure as he massaged her neck. "I am certain that you are more than capable of teaching Academy as well as being Chief of Science in your own right." She looked over her shoulder at him with a smile. "I am unable to help accent when you are making me feel so good. Is like melting and I am liking it very much."

"I may very well be able to, Mila. But there are certain protocols that the Chief must follow," said Aidan. "And as far as Starfleet is concerned, I am a cadet with cadet clearance and cadet rank. I can, however, suggest and recommend, which is what I do. My two hundred years of experiences will help in the long run. But until then, I must follow protocol." He paused a second with the massage and leaned in to her ear. "Don't you try to stop the accent, either. Ever." He then continued, but moved down to her shoulder blades and trapezius muscles.

"You are correct," she said. "Just as I am enlisted, but I am having clearance higher than most due to fact that I am Captain's Yeoman. It gives me more access to what I am needing for Harvey, when and how he needs it." She smiled when he whispered in her ear and leaned back against him. "Nyet, I am to be never losing that," she murmured. "Is part of me."

When she leaned back against him, he moved his hands to her upper arms. He started rubbing them up and down with a gentle but firm pressure. "That is good to hear then, that is part of you." He noticed that, as she was against him, he was close to her head. He smiled and leaned down to smell her hair. Ahhh...lavender, he thought, and smiled. Then he noticed a small piece of a balloon entwined in her hair. He chuckled and removed it, holding it down to Mila. "You missed one."

Mila laughed as she took it. "He was throwing pieces in my hair when I was trying to pop other balloons and hair was wet. Sonic shower must have missed it, but I am thanking you. Now I can add it to the rest of my collection." She pointed at a small pile of blue balloon pieces by her poker trophy. "You are doing very good job on massage, Sir Knight. I am thinking I may have to be stealing you from Starfleet and making you personal masseur."

"Printsessa, I can be your personal masseur and still work for Starfleet," he replied with a smile. "In fact, any time you need me, I'm just a combadge away." He paused and grinned. "Or I could just come here every night and give you a massage. Period." He slowed his hands and wrapped his arms around her as she was still leaning against him.

She lifted one of his hands and kissed the back of it. "It is just as well," she said. "I could not have you in Administration. I would never get anything done, and then Captain would put me back in pool and replace me with someone else and then I would be just another person."

He was sure she could feel his chest rise and fall with the breath he took as she kissed the back of his hand. "He can do whatever he wants with you as far as your job. But you will never be just another person. Never, Mila Rasputin." He hugged her tightly and kissed the top her head. "As long as I am here, you will always be a Printsessa...my Printsessa."

"Is that so, Sir Medovik?" Mila asked him with a smile. "Is that to be meaning you are forever mine as well?" The solid feel of his body against hers was very relaxing and after his massage and the stress of the day, she was very comfortable where she was.

"Yes, that is exactly what it means. I am forever yours, Mila." He settled in a bit and hugged her closer. This felt good, sitting here and relaxing with her in his arms. It reminded him a bit of the last shore leave on New Risa. "As long as we are together, there will never be a time when you are not mine and I am not yours."

Mila released his hand and turned to wrap her arms around his neck to give him a long soft kiss, her body molding itself against his as she relaxed fully. "Never in a lifetime did I ever think that I would be meeting someone as wonderful as you, Aidan Crehan and never would I want to meet another like you. You are to be unique and no one and nothing can ever compare to you."

Aidan wrapped his arms around her waist and held on to her lips as long as she would allow. Then he felt her relax into him. He looked deep into her hazel eyes, "I have lived over two hundred years and I have never met anyone like you. You are wonderful, sweet, thoughtful, and caring. And do not worry, you will never meet another like me, for I will never give you the chance." He pulled her close, returning her soft kiss.

She sighed at his words and she knew she would be with him until the day she was no more, but she knew i her heart that when that day came, he would carry her in his heart until his final day. She pushed the morbid thoughts aside and curled up on his lap. "I love you so much, Aidan," she whispered. "I never want to let you out of my sight, even for a moment."

He smiled as she curled up on his lap. He put an arm around her and lowered his head to sniff her hair again. "I love you with all of my heart, Mila. You, and your hazel eyes and lavender smelling hair." He put his hand at her chin, drawing her face to face with him. "Then don't."

"I am wondering something," Mila mused after a moment, her mind working. "Of course, you would have to be agreeable as well as quartermaster and Second Officer...."

"Okay," said Aidan. "I'm listening." He wondered what she had in mind that would require the quartermaster and the Second Officer to agree.

"If it is permissible, would you consider moving in here with me?" she asked him softly.

He looked over to her. "If it is permissible...I would do more than consider it, Mila. I would do it; yes, I would move in here with you."

Then when opportunity presents itself, I will be bringing it up to Captain," Mila said as if it were settled already. "For I am getting lonely at night despite Chow being good companion. Quarters are too quiet and you know how I am feeling about the sound of silence."

"That sounds good to me, then," he replied. "Once again, you have pleasantly surprised me, Mila. And I am allowed to move in here, I look forward to many more surprises." He paused and caressed her hair. "There is no more need for you to be lonely, my dear. Just as there will be no more silence in these quarters. Will you wait to tell Chow after you have learned if it is permissible?"

At the sound of his name, Chow perked up and came back to see what was being said, even if he only understood a few words. He looked up at Aidan and then to Mila and hopped up in her lap where he gave a series of tiny hoots and noises.

She laughed at Chow's interrogatory noises and shook her head. "No, Chow, not yet," she said as she scritched between his ears while he settled down. She looked at Aidan and smiled. "I think he would be very happy if you were to move in."

"Oh, he already knew about it? If I take all of that to mean that he was asking if I was moving in yet," replied Aidan. "But somehow I think that he would not be the only one who would be happy about me moving in." He smiled at his Printsessa, excited about his future prospects.

"Nyet," Mila said. "He understands his name and thought we had something for him. He is liking you, Aidan. You took care of him while I was in Sickbay and he remembers you for that. Capuchins are being very smart and learn quickly. When Harvey came for dinner, he shook his hand and was very good boy. As for you, you are also very good boy and I am hoping I am able to move you in with me."

"Thank you. Though I think Sir Rogue might have something to say about that." He raised an eyebrow and grinned widely. And I hope that we can live together here, as well." He paused a second as a thought hit him. "Oh, Mila, I don't believe that you ever told me the translation of that song you sang for me in the hotel. Or the meaning of it, for that matter. Have we reached the point that you can enlighten me?"

"Da," she said as she instructed the computer to play Weter S Morja Dul before she lifted her voice to sing the lyrics in Standard for him.

"The wind was blowing from the sea, the wind was blowing from the sea
It came up with trouble, it came up with trouble
And you said to me, and you said to me
"I won't come again, I won't come again"

Looks like it's not our fate, looks like it's not our fate
Looks like there's no love, looks like there's no love
Looks like at me, looks like at me
You laughed, you laughed..means: Looks like you laughed at me

I love you, I love you
Speaking honestly, speaking honestly,
But you know it yourself, but you know it yourself
That I'm waiting for you, that I'm waiting for you

The time will pass, the time will pass
The years will fly by, the years will fly by
The first love, the first love
Can't be returned, can't be returned."

"It is beautiful, Mila," said Aidan. "You sang it just as wonderfully as you did on shore leave. But the meaning behind the words escapes me. Do you know, or have any idea, what they could mean?"

Mila smiled and thought for a moment. "I am not certain," she said. "I am think it is meaning that you are only getting one chance at love and you cannot go back to get what was lost. It is a very old song when sailors rode the waves instead of sailing among the stars."

"I see," he said. "Well, I am here now, Mila. And I am here to stay. Neither of us even have a need to go back to the past." He hugged her tightly, never wanting to let go. "Still, it is a beautiful song, sung by a beautiful woman, with a beautiful voice." He loosened his hug. "Thank you for singing it to me again. I look forward to many more, especially if I am allowed to move in."

"Just be watching out for spiked baseball bat," she told him with a smile. "I would not wish you to be sent to penal colony for murder."

Aidan looked at her. "A spiked baseball bat, you say. Well, I shall be on the watch for it. On a penal colony is most certainly not where I would want to be. Because that means I would be away from you."

"You are very smart," Mila told him as she leaned in to kiss him. "And you will not have to watch out for it. It cannot move unless I move it, so it is not to be creeping up on you. It has no legs."

"Oh, well I am glad to know that, then," he said, chuckling. Then he looked down at her legs, housed in her black jeans. "You have legs, and very nice ones I might add." He grinned rather roguishly. "So does that mean I get to watch out for you? Will you be sneaking up on me?"

"Nyet," she said with a giggle. "I am sitting in your lap. Do you not see me here?" She waved a hand past his eyes with a grin. "Aidan...have I become invisible? I am thinking it would not be good thing if I were. Then you could not be seeing my legs and I would not wish to see you sad."

Aidan grinned and leaned down. He pressed his lips to Mila's for what seemed like minutes. When he pulled back, he briefly paused in front of her. "The very last thing you are to me is invisible," he said softly. When he sat back up, he continued. "Your legs are not the only thing I would miss, either, if I remember our walks on Yolvanda II."

Mila returned the kiss until she had to come up for air and looked at him as if he were a being far beyond what he claimed to be. The kiss had been incredible and she looked forward to more. "And I am not wishing you to be invisible to me, either," she said. "Not just walks, but new sites to see and wonders to behold. I would not turn down a walk with you any time, Sir Medovik."

He looked at her and, seeing the look on her face, smiled. "Perhaps we can do that sometime, then...take a walk. But not tonight. I am rather enjoying this," he said, hugging Mila and rubbing her cheek with the tips of his fingers. "Can I get you something to drink, Prinstessa? Maybe something relaxing?"

"Actually," she said. "I think I am hungry, but do not wish to cook anything to play let us make deal with mess hall chef tonight. I am also not wishing to share you with anyone else, so we are to be staying here and eating, if you wish?"

"I wish it," replied Aidan. "What did you have in mind for dinner?" He was glad she opted for staying it. Based on what he had experienced in the Science labs all day, the next several days would very busy and he was unsure if he would get an opportunity to spend more time with her like this.

"I do not even know," Mila said with a sigh. "I am thinking that you should surprise me because if I am having to make decision, I may not like it."

Aidan smiled. "I can do that for you. I need to think about it for a bit." Aidan sat there and pondered the things that he could replicate for a light dinner. Then he remembered something that his mother would make for his father when he came home from those late nights at work. "Would you like to know what I have decided or would you like to be completely surprised?"

"Surprise me, please," she said as she got up off of his lap. "I am not really in mood for Russian, though."

"Then you will be pleasantly surprised," said Aidan. She got up from his lap and he sighed. "I miss you already." He got up and walked to the replicator. It took him a few minutes to manually enter all the ingredients. When the first plate of food appeared, he removed it. The second plate materialized followed by two glasses of liquid. Aidan picked up one of the plates and one of the glasses and carried it back to Mila.

"A light meal for the evening," he said. Aidan held the plate and glass down. "Thinly sliced French baguette, Brie and Gruyere, roasted turkey, and sliced pears and apples, with a glass of Marquis de Cacques. Enjoy." Aidan walked back over to get his plate and glass and then settled next to Mila.

Mila watched him and smiled when he returned with the succulent treats on the two plates. "Oh my," she said as she looked over everything that he had requested before she looked up at him again. "I am thinking that you are hiding master chef somewhere in background, da? It is looking and smelling wonderful!"

Aidan chuckled. "It is only replicator food. There is no master chef in that. But I am glad that you like it's appearance and aroma," he said. "Even though it isn't fresh, per se, I trust that you will enjoy it's flavors as well." He put a slice of Brie on one of the baguette pieces along with some of the roasted turkey.

She laughed. "It may only be from replicator, but you are one putting it together into meal which I am sure will be delight," she said as she took a baguette and added some turkey to it and a slice of pear.

Aidan smiled and laughed. "I shall give you that one, Mila." He took a bite of his creation. It was delicious. He sat there, looking at Mila while he ate. They were enjoying another meal together. He was enjoying just being together. And now the prospect of moving in with her. That made him smile bigger.

Mila took a bite of her food and gave a contented sound as she leaned back in her chair. "I am having to say, this is very good, even if it is replicated, but only because you are the one getting it for me, Aidan. Have I mentioned today that I love you?"

Aidan swallowed his bite and looked at his girlfriend. "Even if you had, Mila, I would say no. Simply because I want to hear you say it again and again and again." He paused and smiled before taking a drink of his wine. "And I would get you whatever you need whenever you need it. Because I love you, Mila. I love you very much."

She leaned over and gave him a long, soft kiss. "Just hearing that is making my heart beat faster, Aidan and I am hoping to never stop hearing it."

He enjoyed her kisses, especially these kind. After a bit, they pulled away from each other. "You know, Mila, your heart might be beating faster, but you take my breath away. I will never stop saying it, if only to never stop getting those kisses."

"Just as I will never get tired of giving them," Mila said as she reached for her glass of wine and took a sip. "Hmm...is not vodka, but is very good." She followed it with another slice of pear and gave an appreciative nod. "Very good together. You are truly man of taste."

Aidan put piece of Gruyere on a slice of bread and an apple wedge on top. "Thank you, I'm glad that you like it. I thought about vodka, but the wine seemed to go better with the rest of the meal. We can have some vodka afterwards, if you would like?"

She laughed as she reached for a piece of Brie and apple slice, then added a piece of turkey on a baguette. "I am remembering last time we had vodka," she said with a wink. "Are you able to handle that?"

"I remember that time very well," he said. Aidan took a long drink of his wine and set the glass down, winking. "Yes. Can you?"

"A shame we are not having vodka, then," Mila said as she daintily ate her baguette. "We will never be knowing."

Aidan grinned sideways at her. "You keep my on my toes, Mila Rasputin. Don't ever stop." He put some turkey and Brie on a slice. "Oh, and I did not say that we weren't having it. I said we could have it afterwards." Then he realized something. "Here we are, having dinner, and I did not replicate anything for Chow." He put the baguette down and stood. "What would he like tonight?"

"I am thinking he would like pistachio pudding with grapes," she said. "As for you, I am thinking that you are challenging me, da? I am accepting the challenge."

Aidan walked back to the replicator and ordered Chow's dinner. A bowl of pistachio pudding with grapes appeared, which he carried over to Chow's normal eating spot. He then walked up behind Mila, leaned over, and kissed her. "Good," he said. "Then when we are finished, I will replicate some vodka. Unless of course a resourceful woman such as yourself has some on hand."

Chow happily hooted at him and dug into the pudding, dipping the grapes into it and licking the pudding off until he ate the grape and repeated the process.

"Am I to be hearing you correctly, Aidan?" Mila said archly, but her eyes twinkled. "You are offering Russian woman replicated vodka. Is that what I am hearing?"

Oh boy, he was in for it now. "Um, I was, but now I am not so sure..." He saw the twinkle in her eyes and smiled. "I don't know what I was thinking. Bad Aidan. Bad, bad Aidan." He playfully, and lightly, slapped the back of his hand. "I shall never do that again."

She turned her nose up and her head to the side, then marched off. "He is coming here and offering heart, fine meal, if from replicator and then...then he is offering to replicate vodka! What is quadrant coming to when a woman has to drink replicated vodka?" She asked as she headed into her bedroom. Chow gave a worried hoot at her tone, then went back to eating.

Aidan stood there, shaking his head. She was something else and he was looking forward to getting to know every little quirk about her. Then she headed into her bedroom. And he stared. And he grinned.

A few minutes later, Mila came back out carrying a bottle of Tovaritch Russian vodka. "This is Tovaritch!," she said. "Is premium Gold Outstanding. Is to be incredibly pure and neutral on the nose and having perfect refinement and subtlety. It is to be soft and on the palate with a perfect balance and long flavor, and is velvety and mouth-filling in style."

As a matter of fact, he was still grinning when she came back out and began describing the clear liquid in the bottle. "You make it sound delicious, Mila. I cannot wait to taste it." He downed the rest of the wine in his glass and set it down.

"I have been saving it for special occasion," she said as she replicated two cold glasses, unscrewed the bottle and then filled the glasses half full. She handed him one and raised hers to his. "bóo-deem zda-ró-vye!" she said, which the universal translator interpreted as 'to our health!' and downed hers in one long, smooth drink.

Aidan nodded. "To our health," he said. He started to take only a drink, when he noticed that Mila had downed hers. He smiled and downed his as well. "Most certainly velvety smooth. It is as delicious as you made it sound. But what is the special occasion?"

"You are," Mila told him as she refilled their glasses. "And to victory in upcoming mission!" She raised her glass to his once more, but this time she only took a sip of hers.

He smiled at her. She is so sweet, he thought. "To victory!" he called out, raising their glasses together. He took a drink this time so as to enjoy the flavor better. "I am glad that I am your special occasion, Mila."

"You are and always will be," she said as she settled down on the couch again after putting the bottle of vodka on the table. "I am happy to share with you, also."

Aidan sat back down next to her. "Thank your for sharing. I'm wondering, though, where did you get such good, non-synthehol vodka out here?"

Mila gave him a little smile. "I am Captain's Yeoman," she said. "I am also in administration and many favors pass hands daily in order to get things done. I am trading holodeck time to Ensign Hernandez who was having favored owed to him by enlisted chef who won case of it in poker game. He is getting bottle to me for holodeck time and I am getting bottle."

"Favors indeed," said Aidan. "Not only are you the most powerful enlisted person on this ship, but you are also the best connected." He took another drink, but a long one this time. "I bet you could out-Ferengi a Ferengi."

She laughed and took another sip of her vodka. "I am not certain about that," she said demurely. "I have not have much dealings with Ferengi and last time I did, it was not to either of our benefit and sour taste was left in mouth."

"I am sorry that it didn't end well," said Aidan. "If you don't mind me asking, what brought about the sour taste that was left?"

"There was no profit made on either side and thirty party walked away with everything," Mila said. "Was bad business deal. Enough talk of business and trade, though. Let us take vodka and go relax. I am having new song for you."

"Agreed," said Aidan, picking up the bottle and preparing to follow Mila. He smiled as he thought about following her to the ends of the galaxy. "I cannot wait to hear it. What is the name?" he asked, though he didn't think he would even recognize it.

Mila laughed as she came to her feet and headed for her bedroom. "It is called E dehun, which is meaning Drunk. Which is what we are about to be very soon. Tovaritch is very potent and we are needing place to lay down before bottle is finished."

"Ah, well, what an appropriate song then," said Aidan. "But I did not know that Tovaritch was that potent. How many glasses have we had, already?" He thought he remembered only two. But he was quickly distracted as he began following his Mila into the bedroom. Distracted by her pretty backside swaying as she walked.

A laugh from the bedroom greeted him followed by a purple blouse. "Talk is to be cheap, Sir Knight," she said from the darkness. "Let us see how you with hide and seek."

Aidan laughed and grinned when he saw the purple blouse fall at this feet. He opened the bottle and took a long drink before putting the lid back on. "Hide and seek it is, then." He laughed and entered the dark bedroom.

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