Christine Chapel Pike (ncc1701rn) wrote in saveatlantisic, @ 2017-04-18 21:11:00 |
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Entry tags: | *jeanna, *kori, christine chapel, christopher pike |
April 5th
characters. Christine Chapel & Christopher Pike
time.Early evening | location. Christine’s Apartment
rating. G | status. Complete
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She had nearly stopped Lauren from picking up the coin as they were walking home from daycare and now she was glad that she hadn’t. She hadn’t entirely processed everything she’d heard yet but after posting on the network, she was aware of only one thing. Chris was alive and he was here. Never in her wildest dreams had she ever thought she’d see him again, that Lauren would have the chance to meet her father, but it seemed that somehow they had been brought here to a place where anything was possible. Lauren was watching as Christine wiped tears from her eyes and solemnly asked “Are you okay, Mommy? Why are you crying?” Turning around, Christine picked up her daughter and kissed her forehead. “I’m fine, Pookie. Sometimes people cry when they’re happy too and I’m happy right now because something very special is about to happen.” She had no idea how to explain interdimensional travel to a three year old but she was going to give it her best shot. “Remember when I told you that your daddy was an angel?” the little girl nodded. “Well this place is magical and here he’s not an angel, he’s a real person and you get to meet him. He doesn’t know about you, he was already gone before you were born so he’s going to be very surprised to see you.” Though he'd been reserved on the network, Christopher was glad Christine was here. It seemed like ages ago that they'd been together in San Francisco, when she had helped him with his rehab and things had developed. And here, well, he hadn't exactly been a monk. Not to mention McCoy was expecting and Kirk was with Uhura… but now Christine was here and hopefully they could pick up where they left off. He stood outside Christine's door with a handful of flowers in his arm, feeling the familiar bundle of nerves as he grinned. Knocking on the door, he smiled hopefully. Christine started when she heard the door even though she was expecting it. “Go in the bedroom for right now and I’ll come and get you, okay?” Lauren nodded and scampered off with Lambie in tow. Christine smiled, thinking once more how much she looked like her father and then she took a deep breath and got up. There was no reason to be nervous but she was, it had been a little over three years since Chris had died and she’d gone off to Sahara III. They had been busy years, she’d help set up the Medical Center there, she’d been learning how to manage being a single parent and while she had dated a few people, there was no one special because she didn’t think she’d ever get over Chris and now she was going to see him again and hopefully have the chance to be what they hadn’t gotten to be before. She went to the door and opened it and when she saw the flowers, she nearly broke down. It was so thoughtful and she took them from him and smiled at him. “You know you didn’t have to bring flowers, you could have just shown up and that would have been just as good.” Christopher remembered that irresistible smile of hers that always managed to light up a room. "What are you talking about? I have a reputation to maintain," he teased before wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into a hug, taking time to leisurely brush his lips against hers. "I missed you." There was no cane anymore, no near constant grimace because of the nerve pain, and even the bullet wound was just a healing scar on his upper arm, currently covered by his shirt. His eyes, however, were the same, eyes that had seen too much yet lit up when Christine was around. "So, we can get anything you want to eat. This place has everything." It felt good to be in his arms again and she finally gave up and let the tears fall. This was a miracle and she said a silent thank you to whoever had arranged this as she held on tightly to him. “I missed you too,” she managed to say when she pulled back. As if she couldn’t believe he was real, she touched his face, staring at him in wonder. She had nearly stopped Lauren from picking up the coin but thank god she hadn’t. Clearly it was meant to be. Taking the flowers, which were now a little bit crushed but she didn’t care, Christine led him into the apartment and shut the door. “Let me put these away first, Have a seat and we can figure out what we’re going to do.” She went checked in the closet hoping to find a vase and found something that would work and put the flowers in it before bringing them back into the living room and putting them on the table. “You don’t have a cane,” she said when she sat down. “I guess whatever magic this place has took care of that?” "Hey now, no need for tears," he said, wiping them from her face with her thumb before taking over to take a seat on the couch. He felt about ten years younger and it showed with the ease in which he carried himself. "When I got here, I was… almost dead. It was after the attack on Headquarters, I mean, I remember Spock trying to ease the pain and my hand closing around a coin and then I woke up here. Completely healed. Apparently some of the folks have the ability to magically heal - which still boggles my mind - but Lissa - the one who did it - healed everything. Not just the wound from the attack, but all the nerve damage from Nero and the Narada as well. It's .. well, physically it's like it never happened." “That’s amazing,” she said, taking his hand and lacing their fingers together. All she wanted to do was touch him, make sure that it was real even though she knew in her heart that she wasn’t dreaming. “You look like it never happened even though that never mattered to me, you know that. I loved you regardless.” she had loved him then and she still loved him, she always would but she was grateful to this Lissa for restoring him because she knew that he had not always found his injuries and their after effects easy to live with. “My surprise for you is a little bit different from healing but I think it’s one that you’ll like. I hope so anyway.” she let go of his hand reluctantly and stood up. “I’ll be right back.” Just as she got to the door, it opened and Lauren was standing there. “Can I come out now, Mommy? It’s been a long time.” It hadn’t been all that long but the child had clearly inherited her patience from both of her parents. “Yes you can,” she said and held her hand out for Lauren to take. Looking up at Chris, she took a deep breath. “Surprise! It’s a girl and if you can’t look at her and know the answer to the first question that’s bound to pop into your head, I will kick you. Because as you can see, she’s you all over again except as a girl” Christine walked over to the couch and sat down with Lauren in her hand. “Meet Lauren Christy Chapel. Lauren for my mother, Christy for you and even though legally her last name is mine, in my heart, it’s Pike.” Whatever Christopher had been expecting, a toddler wasn't it. Any kid of Christine's he love as he did her, regardless of who the father was. But when he got a good look at the little girl, there was little doubt in his mind as to her parentage. It was like looking at a photo of himself as a kid. Christopher moved off the couch in front of the little girl. "Hi Lauren, I'm Christopher and I'm a friend of your mom's. It's very nice to meet you." There were so many questions he wanted to ask, but those would wait till later. After all, medical hadn't been sure if kids would even be an option for him after the Narada. There had been so much damage. "When? How? I… she's.. Incredible.. How long since the attack on HQ for you?" Christine had to add it up in her head before she could answer. “I found out that I was pregnant the day that HQ was attacked,” she said. “I was going to tell you at dinner that night. I was several blocks away when it happened but I saw it…” for a moment she closed her eyes, trying to chase the memory away before she could go on. Once she could speak again, she looked at him. “I know...I don’t know how but I knew that you didn’t make it. The next few days were a nightmare, I was afraid to tell anyone about us because we’d worked so hard to keep it quiet. And,” she looked down at Lauren. “I had someone else to think about. When the Enterprise went after Khan, I didn’t go with them, I couldn’t. Instead I took an assignment at a new place, a base that Starfleet had built on the Outer Rim, Sahara III.Which is exactly what it sounds like. A desert. It wasn’t all bad though. That’s where Lauren was born, she’ll be four in July. Well if they have the same calendar here anyway. July 23.” she smoothed down Lauren’s hair. The little girl was still lookin at Chris and to her mother’s surprise, hadn’t said a word then she turned around and climbed back into Christine’s lap. “Show him your necklace, Mommy,” she said. “Oh...I suppose I should,”Christine replied. She reached inside her shirt and pulled out the pendant she was wearing, “At the memorial, Jim gave me your bars and he told me that he knew. I didn’t ask him how, it didn’t matter but he said he felt that you would want me to have them. I made them into a necklace and when I talk to Lauren about you, she likes to play with it. I promised her she could have it one day when she’s bigger. I wanted her to have something that belonged to you.” Christopher remembered the Admiral's bars. They'd been presented to him while he was still in Medical and his first response had been to throw them across the room. He'd calmed down by the official ceremony, of course, but he'd accepted the promotion. "Jim knew? I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. Kid's too bright for his own good," Christopher said with a fond smile. He watched Lauren as she climbed into Christine's lap, curious about this little girl he knew nothing about. Moving back to the couch, he smiled. "You talk to her about me?" he asked. He wasn't sure what he'd expected to happen after his death, but so many people died in Starfleet, that he considered himself one of many casualties. "July 23, eh? I'll have to remember that. Got a box of stuff from home here earlier this week. Might be something else for her there." “Of course I talked to her about you,” Christine said. “I wanted her to know you, the man you were, I never wanted her to think that she wasn’t born out of love. Although she doesn’t quite get that part yet but eventually she will. I talked to her about the crew, how much I cared about them, I always meant to go back to San Francisco one day so she could meet them all but Miss Curious here picked up a coin and here we are.” She leaned in and kissed him softly. “I’m glad she did.” Lowering her voice, Christine shifted and whispered into his ear “I told her you were an angel by the way so if she asks you about wings, be prepared.” "An angel? I'm afraid I might be a bit of a disappointment then," he teased with a bit of a smile, putting an arm carefully around Christine. He wasn't sure how affectionate to be in front of her daughter, in front of their daughter. "I can't imagine what it was like, raising her alone on a distant starbase. You know the crew would have been supportive if they'd known. Boyce too…" He sighed, pressing a kiss to Christine's head. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you." He smirked. "You know Jim's dating Nyota here? And McCoy's expecting a child with Molly.." “I know. I wanted to tell them all a million times but I was afraid,” she sighed and then her eyes widened at his words. “Wait. What? I talked to Nyota but we didn’t get that far. She’d with Jim? I can’t say that really surprises me because I always thought he kind of had a soft spot for her. I need to get the details on that.” Christine wondered what had happened to end her friend’s relationship with Spock but she was sure she’d find out when they had a chance to talk. “And McCoy didn’t mention anything about a baby or a Molly. I really do have a lot to catch up on!” "Well, you didn't exactly open with the fact that we have a kid," he teased, reaching over and running his fingers over Lauren's hair. "I think we'll have the opportunity to make up for lost time here. Not to mention - there are all sorts of things to do here, including ride a pegasus." The grin on his face was enough to tell Christine that this was something he'd been doing weekly. "What do you think, Lauren? Would you like to learn how to ride a pegasus?" “What’s a pegsus?” asked Lauren with wide eyes. She was completely entranced with her father and it made Christine smile. There had been so many nights when she’d lain awake, wondering what life would have been like had things happened differently. Now they were getting that chance and she couldn’t be happier. “It’s a horse with wings,” Christine told her. “And I have a feeling that Daddy has already tried this out a few times. He taught me how to ride a horse but it didn’t have wings.” She wouldn’t mind giving it a try herself to be honest but that would have to wait. Lauren needed at least one parent on the ground and there was also the fact that Christine couldn’t resist being able to see this happen. "Just like your Momma says. A horse that can fly with giant wings. Back when I was about your size, my Momma taught me how to ride a horse - a regular one without wings. So when I found out they had pegasus here to ride and they gave lessons, well, I had to try. It's like flying a space ship and riding a horse at the same time. 'Cept the horse doesn't go nearly as high as a space ship." Lauren listened, her eyes wide. “Mommy told me about living on a spaceship and showed me pictures,” she said. “I wanna do that one day.” Christine smiled, not the least surprised at her daughter’s words. She had loved her life in Starfleet and it was the only life Lauren had ever known although she as yet hadn’t gone anywhere on a spacecraft.” “Well I can’t wait to see you and your daddy on a pegasus,” Christine said. “But how about we have dinner first and then we can come back here. If you want, maybe Daddy can stay and tuck you in tonight?” she winked at Chis, knowing that he would easily understand that he’d be tucking Christine in as well. "Did she now? What sorts of stories did she tell you?" Christopher asked, eyes focused on Lauren. "Haven't managed to get on a starship here yet, but maybe someday we'll be able to." "But Mommy's right. Let's go out and get some dinner and then we can come back and maybe read a story before bedtime." It was all Christine could do to keep herself from crying. How many times had she wished she could hear Chris say those very words, see him with their daughter? Whatever this place was, whatever had brought them here, she was grateful. It was a miracle. “Why don’t you go potty, sweetheart before we go.” she set Lauren down and the little girl headed for the bathroom. “It’s amazing, she already remembers what is behind what door,” she said and then leaned in to kiss Chris, reluctantly pulling away before Lauren could come in and ask them what they were doing. “There are so many things to tell you but when we come back from dinner and Lauren goes to sleep, I have a few other things I want to do with you, we can talk later.” Christopher brushed his fingers through her hair, brushing his lips against Christine's again. "Later then, I don't plan on going anywhere." He raised an eyebrow at her with a bit of a smirk. "This isn't another one of your ploys to give me a medical exam is it, Nurse Chapel?" “Oh I’m going to examine you all right but there will be nothing medical about it,” she teased with a raised eyebrow. “It will be the most fun physical you’ve had in awhile, I can guarantee that.” Christine paused for a moment and just looked at him. She still couldn’t believe it but this was real and wasn’t about to take even one minute for granted. “I love you so much,” she said. “I never stopped. I never will stop. I’m so glad we have this chance to be together and that you get to know your own little mini-me.” Christine laughed. “I swear she is as stubborn as you but I can be pretty stubborn myself so she didn’t have a prayer.” "Good. Because I don't care if it's science or magic, still not a huge fan of physicals." He reached out, tucking her hair behind her ear. "I.. I'm still in shock." "I love you.. and .. you've lived so much without me, I'd understand if you moved on rather than be saddled with an old man like me. And Lauren.. She's perfect, I…" He didn't really have words to explain what it meant to him to see that little girl here. He pulled Christine in for another kiss, taking his time as if he wanted to memorize every inch of her again. When they broke apart, she reached out and laid her hand over his lips. “Stop. You are not an old man and while I did go out with a few people, there was no moving on. I had Lauren to think about, anyone that I got seriously involved with would have to understand that she was my first priority always. That’s a lot to ask of someone.” she smiled. “But now I don’t have to worry about that because you’re here and we can all be together. Whatever happened while we were apart isn’t important because you’ve obviously been here for a good bit. You could have chosen not to come over here today but you didn’t and I’m glad.” "You're sure, Christine? I wasn't exactly a monk here so I'd understand if you wanted to move slow." He gave her a look. "As if I would stay away. I just wasn't sure if you remembered everything.. Or if you'd want to see me again. I know how rough it can be to lose someone. With you and Lauren here… what would you think of me possibly moving in. So we can figure all this out again?" She gave him a look. “I didn’t expect you to be a monk although now that I’m here, obviously you are spoken for..” Christine smiled when he mentioned moving in. “I would love that. If you hadn’t brought it up, I would have asked you. Not only because I don’t want to be away from you and more than I have to be but also because it’ll be good for you and Lauren. You can get to know her and she can finally get to know the person she’s heard so much about. Speaking of…..” she looked toward the bedroom. “I should go check on her. She’s got the potty thing down pretty well but sometimes she gets distracted and tries to see how much toilet paper she can drop in before it stops up. Which might not be a big deal here but in the desert? Not cool.” She got up and leaned over to kiss him. “I love you and I’ll be right back and we can head out.” |