Fancy Seeing You

Posted on Thu Mar 1, 2018 @ 8:17pm by Warrant Officer William Fontaine & Lieutenant JG Daniella Blake

Mission: Falling Star
Location: Various
Timeline: MD 31 || 1200 Hours

She'd only been back aboard for a short period of time, but had been granted the opportunity to get settled in. It wasn't an odd feeling being back after nearly a year, in fact, to her it felt like coming home. This was where she belonged. This was where she knew she needed to be, and after multiple requests for a transfer back, it was finally approved.

It wasn't that she didn't like being on Deep Space 10. It was a pretty interesting place, but the petite blonde belonged on a starship. This was the life that suited her, and Dani was thrilled to have it back. She had to wonder, even though she'd tried, and failed through no fault of her own, to keep in touch with everyone, if they'd feel the same way.

Willie had his back turned while he cataloged a bunch of medical instruments that were laying on a biobed near him. With the ship headed on a mission of mercy into Romulan space, he wanted to make double certain that everything was running properly. He had ran diagnostics on each one of them, calibrated them for Romulan physiology and double checked everything.

Still, the young Medical officer meticulously went through the full inventory as other officers handed them off before he sent them on to be stored once more. He picked up another tricorder and glanced at the serial number on it, then checked the PADD in his other hand to see if it had been checked off.

It didn't take her long to spot the very person she was looking for. Taking a calming breath, she straightened her uniform and made her way to him. "I see they have you doing the really fun stuff."

At the sound of the female voice, he snorted. "Oh, honey, if this is fun, I really need to get out more," he said as he turned to see who it was. When his eyes drank in the short, petite blonde with the amazing blue eyes standing there, his fingers went nerveless and the PADD and tricorder fell to the floor. "D...Dani?"

Dani raised her hand in an attempt to wave. "Hi," she said suddenly feeling quite self conscious. So much had changed, and he had been her best friend... among other things... before she left, but people could change. Granted, she still felt the same way about him, it was definitely possible things weren't the same for her.

"Daniella Blake?!" Willie exclaimed while questioning his eyes before he took a long step to her and wrapped his arms around her. "Oh my goodness...is it really you?"

With tears in her eyes, she wrapped her arms around him and gave him a squeeze. "It's really me," she answered softly, holding him to her. "I've been trying to get back here for the last year. They kept denying my request, but now I'm back. I missed you so much."

"Oh my stars....it is you!" he said and felt his throat tighten. "I wrote several times, but they said my subspace packets weren't being received and I didn't know how else to reach you. You're really back?"

"I'm really back. For good this time," she said, choking back a sob. Dani hadn't planned on this reunion to be nearly this emotional. "I tried to write, too, but had the same trouble. You... my sister... my family. I was cut off from everyone, and I don't know why."

Now Willie felt tears moisten his cheeks as he looked down at her. "I thought you were mad at me for some reason, Dani," he said softly.

The petite woman shook her head and pulled back so she could see him. "Never," she said softly. "I... I do have something to tell you."

"You do?" he asked her as he looked down at her.

"I..." Dani said, hesitating for a second. This was one of the hardest things she'd ever had to tell anyone. "I... had a son while I was away. His name... is Alexander William, but I call him Alex. He's four months old."

"A son? That's great news!" Willie says, then stops when his brain does some mental math and nudges him towards the second name. "Alexander William?" he asks while he tries to backtrack and subtract the time since he last saw her and how long pregnancies last.

She swallowed a lump in her throat and nodded. "Yes."

"Dani..." he starts and stops again as things start to register. "Do you mean.....?"

Dani had no idea how this was going to go, and that made her nauseous. "Yes, William... you're his father," she answered softly, trying to keep the room from spinning. Of course, had she been able to get in touch with him, she definitely would have told him sooner, but circumstance had other plans. "My sister is keeping an eye on him until I can get him squared away in daycare."

"A son," Willie whispered, his eyes going wide as he realized what she was saying and his mind tried to wrap around it. "I have a son?" There was more than a hint of awe in his voice and he looked like he either wanted to faint or jump up and down but his body hadn't made the choice yet.

"You do," she confirmed. "He looks a lot like you, too."

"Woooohoooo! I have a son!" He exclaimed, getting more than a few looks and a few calls of congratulations from others in Sickbay.

Fortunately, there wasn't any sleeping patients and only a Tellarite grunted. "Good. Now can I die in peace?" A nearby nurse turned to glare him the porcine being. "Oh, I plan on keeping you alive forever, Porky. You haven't won our argument yet."

Dani couldn't help but blink at that, but turned back to William, a smile forming at his reaction. "When is your shift over? You can come by and meet him officially."

"Four hours.....I have to wait four hours? Wait...it's lunch time. Isn't it?" Willie glanced at a chrono, then looked back at her. "It is. Can I meet him now?"

"I would never say no," Dani replied, finding herself quite happy that he wanted to meet their son. She wasn't as nervous as she was before, but soon father would be meeting son. This was a huge deal for her... and him. "I really hope that your significant other isn't upset by this. I tried to tell you multiple times."

He swallowed. "Shay...had a really bad injury on an away mission and retired from Starfleet," he said softly. "She couldn't move past it and went back home."

The blonde haired woman frowned and reached out to take his hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. "I'm so sorry, Willie. For both of you," she said softly. "I know that must have been incredibly hard on you."

"It was, but it was her decision," Willie said quietly. "I had to respect it. I've been alone ever since because I didn't want to lose anyone else."

"That's understandable, but you can't close yourself off to falling in love because you could possibly lose someone. You'll end up being miserable, and I don't want that for you," Dani said, escorting him out of sickbay by the hand. She didn't want to bring up her own lack of a personal life, but that was mostly due to her son taking up most of her time. Not to mention the fact that no one wanted to give her the time of day. That was their loss as far as she was concerned.

"What about you?" He asked as he clocked out of Medical and walked hand in hand with his BFF. "Has there been anyone since you left?"

“The simple answer is no,” Dani answered, hoping that would be good enough. However, if he wanted more detail, she’d give it. There wasn’t much she wouldn’t tell him. “I had Alex’s birth recorded in case you
ever wanted to see it.”

"I'd love to see it," Willie said with a smile. "After all, I missed the miracle the first time around. I still can't believe that I have a son. How big was he? What color hair and eyes does he have? Has he said his
first words yet? Is he crawling?"

Of course Dani expected a barrage of questions, and with a smile, she started to answer them. “He was six pounds, fourteen ounces at birth, and was nineteen inches long. His hair is dark like yours, but his eyes
are blue like mine. He coos a lot, but hasn’t said his first word yet, and he hasn’t started crawling. I think that will happen in another few months.”

"Wow. He was a big boy. Or at least a long one," he said before he started giggling. "The one that everyone wants but never gets."

Dani couldn’t help but laugh. “You haven’t changed a bit, and I’m glad.”

Willie looked over and down at her, then grinned. "You certainly have," he commented. "How did they find a uniform top for those? I know they weren't that big before."

A blush crept up her cheeks. “Well... nursing a baby does things to a woman’s body, and fitting into my clothes hasn’t been easy. I’ve spent a lot of credits on the two of us over the last year,” she said. “It
was, and has been, totally worth it. I’d do it all over again.”

"I'm going to make it up to both of you," he promised. "Then I'm going to tear Starfleet a new one for not letting our messages go through. They denied us too much and that doesn't sit well with me."

“You don’t have anything to make up for, Willie, you know that,” Dani said, stepping onto a turbolift with him and requesting the deck her sister resided on. It would only be a few short minutes before he’d get to see the little life he helped create.

Willie stepped into the turbolift with her. "It's a matter of principle," he told her. "I could have been there for you both. I would have resigned my commission and paid a Ferengi my weight in latinum to be with you both."

"I know you would have. I started trying really hard to get back when I found out I was pregnant,” the petite woman said softly, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. “We’re here now, and you can be is Alex’s
life. You know I would never keep him from you intentionally. You’ll have all the access to him you want.”

His eyes moistened but he determined that he wouldn't cry at all that he had missed out on. He looked into her eyes and his heart jerked in his chest but it had nothing to do with a medical condition. "I promise
that I'm going to, too."

Dani stepped forward and wrapped her free arm around him, allowing her eyes to drift closed. She didn’t realize just how much she missed him until she saw him again. “He’s already the luckiest little boy alive.

Willie swallowed hard at her closeness and felt a flutter in his stomach. "That's because he has you for a Mommy," he told her softly. "Anyone would be lucky to have you by their side."

She decided it would be best not to touch that last subject, and Dani found herself grateful when the doors to the turbolift opened. “Are you ready?” she asked, looking up to meet his eyes. “Ashley is only a few doors down from here.”

He took a deep breath and met her eyes. "I am, but I'm not ashamed to say I'm scared and nervous. What if he doesn't like me or I upset him?"

“I don’t think that will happen, but just know that if he cries it’s not because of you. Babies cry,” she said, giving his hand another squeeze. “You’re going to be fine, and so will Alex.” With that, she stepped off of the turbolift and into the corridor, taking a moment to collect herself. This was an emotional moment for her just as it was for him, and it took a lot of willpower on her part to keep from crying.

With her hand still in his, she made her way down a few doors until they were standing outside her sister’s quarters. Just on the other aide of that door was their son... a sweet and innocent little boy that
was about to lay eyes upon the very man that helped give him life. Now her throat began to tighten as a wave of emotions swept through her. With a shaky hand, she reached out to press the chime and waited.

Willie held her hand as if it were the only thing to keep him from floating off. His nerves flared up and he forced himself to think of puppies and kittens and other cute things, but he still felt as if he weren't on solid ground. How could he? This was new for him. "Just don't be upset if I act like I don't know what I'm doing...because I don't."

“I won’t,” she said barely above a whisper for fear she’d break down.

The door opened to reveal Ashley standing on the other side with a little pink bundle tucked away in one arm, and a blue one in the other. She smiled when she saw her sister and William standing on the other side.
“I’ve been expecting you two. Come on in,” the younger Blake said, stepping aside.

Dani smiled at her sister and stepped inside, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “Thank you so much for keeping an eye on him. I know it’s not easy with a little one of your own.”

Ashley shook her head as she passed the little boy off to his mother. “It was my pleasure to spend a little bonding time with my nephew, and I can’t wait to do it again in the future. But... right now, you two need
some privacy, so me and this little princess are going to meet her Daddy for lunch. I’ll see you both later.” And after kissing their cheeks, she and little Andi were on their way out the door to meet up with her
husband.

Taking a deep breath, the elder Blake woman turned toward William. “I would like to officially introduce you to Alexander William Blake-Fontaine,” she said, turning the sleeping baby toward him so he could get a better look.

Tucked inside a blue blanket was the sweetest little face ever, with long dark lashes dusting the cutest little cherub cheeks. The baby’s hair was dark, just as she’d said, matching his in color, but the similarities didn’t stop there. The two shared the same lips and nose. He was the perfect little clone of his father.

From the moment the door opened and Willie laid his eyes on the pink and blue bundles under Ashley's arms, his heart went into overtime and he was certain that everyone on the ship could hear it.

He swallowed hard when Dani turned and revealed the little boy's face and he felt his heart melt. An expression of wonder crossed his face and despite himself, a tear slid down his cheek. This was a life that he had helped create but didn't know existed until just a short while ago.

He gazed into his son's blue eyes and drank in his features, a choked sound of joy coming from him as he started to tremble. "Hi, Alexander," he managed, his voice shaking just as much. "I'm...I'm your Daddy."

The baby looked confused for a moment... almost in a daze at being woken up, but at the sight of the unfamiliar face in front of him, all the little boy could do was smile. He gave a stretch in his mother’s
arms and let out a content little sigh before going back to watching the man that was his father.

Dani couldn’t contain it any longer. She blinked as the tears began to flow freely down her cheeks. This was more emotional than she could have ever imagined.

"He's...he's beautiful," Willie managed, his voice choked with emotion as he watched his son meet his eyes. The tear that had been on his cheek was joined by others now and he didn't care. All that mattered to
him at the moment was the little boy in Dani's arms and he knew his life would never be the same.

“Do you want to hold him?” she asked softly.

"I better sit down first," he said, certain that he would drop the baby boy and end up throwing himself out an airlock if he did. He went to the couch and sat, then looked up. "I think I'm ready. How should I hold him?" He asked her.

“Whichever way feels most comfortable to you,” Dani replied, following him over. “But, this way seems to be the best. It gives you more control.” And with that, she placed the little boy in his father’s arms for the first time.

Willie took the little boy as she showed him and he felt like he were going to shake apart like a ship in a gravimetric sheer. He settled back on the couch and gazed at the little bundle of wonder and couldn't believe it. "I have to be dreaming," he said.

Dani felt the same way, and somehow managed to sit down before she fell over. “You’re not dreaming. Fifteen hours of labor and two hours of pushing prove that,” she whispered.

"He didn't want to leave you," he managed as he continued to look at his son. "He knows what's best for him. Don't you, Alexander? Yes, you do. You have the best Mommy in the universe."

The baby continued to look at his father with curious eyes, but he didn’t cry. He wasn’t much of a crier unless he was hungry or needed to be changed.

“I don’t know about that,” she said.

"I do," Willie said with a smile as he looked over at her. "Because I know that you're the best. He's amazing, just like you are, Dani."

Dani found herself blushing again and looked down at her hands. She loved him... was in live with him... but couldn’t tell him so for fear of ruining what they had together. “You’re pretty amazing, too, Willie, but you know that,” she said. “I’m going to pack up his things and give you two a little time together.”

He looked down at their son, then over to her again and he knew. At the same time, he was terrified to be alone with the tiny baby boy. He felt his mouth go dry and started to tremble again. "Don't go," he practically begged her. "Please. Not yet."

“I won’t,” the petite woman said quietly, then gestured to the baby. “I think it’s safe to say he likes you. He’s going back to sleep.”

In his arms, the baby was dozing once again comfortable in his father’s arms. He was content for the moment until he got hungry or needed to be changed.

Willie finally looked up. "Are they all like this?" he asked.

"I don't know," she answered honestly as she watched him with their son. Their son... that felt strangely right to her, but Dani couldn't let those feelings get in the way. Not when there was so much to lose. For her and her little boy. "I just know he's a good baby."

"I was told that when I was a baby, I raised hell every time my parents thought they could get a moment alone together," he told her softly. "They said it was like I had sensors that knew and would wake up screaming."

"I was the same way, so maybe we'll get lucky with him," the tiny blonde said with a genuine smile. "What do you think about having dinner tonight? To catch up. We can introduce Alex to The Black Hole even if he can't eat anything yet."

"I sort of have plans for this evening at twenty hundred," Willie told her. "That was before I knew that you and Alexander was on the ship and I'm not sure I can cancel. It's sort of a cross between a personal and a professional appointment with another family on the ship."

Dani shook her head. "You don't owe me an explanation, Willie, you know that. We can do it another time," she said, offering him a smile. A huge part of her was curious about what it was all about, but it really wasn't her business, and she wasn't going to pry. "Since he's sleeping, would you be okay with me packing up his things?"

"I just didn't want you to get the idea that I wouldn't want to spend every minute here," he said. "And I'll be perfectly fine." As long as he doesn't wake up screaming and pee on me he thought.

"I don't even have to leave the room," she said as she got to her feet and began to pack up Alex's bag. "My quarters are on this deck, too, but I'm on the other side. I didn't need family quarters, but they gave them to me anyway. What am I going to do with three bedrooms? Alex will need his own room one day, but not for another three months or so." And while she was at it, she gave him her room number so he could come by when he wanted.

"Well, you are a family," Willie pointed out. "Besides, family quarters are much nicer than junior officers. You should see my quarters. You can turn around and break your nose on a wall."

She wanted to mention being in his quarters before, but thought better of it. That would only lead to things better left untouched. "Maybe, but I still don't need three rooms. It's just the two of us." Dani finished packing up his bag and set it by the door to grab when they left.

An idea started to form in his mind and his mouth was talking before he could think it through. "Well, wouldn't it make more sense if I were to move in with you so I could help out with Alex?" he asked, shocking himself when he heard what he was saying.

Dani would be lying if she didn't admit the thought crossed her mind. "I considered asking you that, but wouldn't it be rough on your social life? Not that I would have a problem with you bringing anyone home," she clarified. "I would love it if you moved in. You and Alex can get closer."

"What's a social life?" Willie asked her. "I go on duty, I have a quiet meal by myself at The Black Hole and I go back to my quarters."

"That's how it is for me, too," she said unable to keep the frown from forming on her lips. "I was told by a couple guys no one wants to date a woman with a kid... no matter how hot she is. So... I just gave up trying. It isn't worth giving up special time with Alex."

"They said what?" he asked with indignation in his voice that got louder. "They don't know what they're talking about and shouldn't be in Starfleet with an attitude like that. Point them out to me and I'll make them regret it."

Dani shook her head. "They're back on Deep Space 10, but I'm sure there will be some men who feel that way here. It's okay, though. I have Alex to keep me busy, and you to keep me company. Not to mention my sister and Jon, too."

"Those filthy bootlickers," Willie muttered. "I'll never be one of those guys and I'll be right here anytime you and Alex need me."

A part of her felt like it was going to die at those words. Why did he have to be so amazing and perfect? He was everything she could ever want, and yet, she couldn't have him. "I know you wouldn't. You're too awesome for that, and we're lucky to have you."

"I'd do anything for you, Dani," he said as he adjusted Alex in his arms and reached out to lay a hand on her lap. "You made me realize there's more to life, and now you've shown me that there is."

"I'd do anything for you, too, and together there's nothing we can't do," she said as she laid her hand on top of his and gave it a squeeze. The little woman needed to change their current course before she said things she couldn't take back and ruined her life forever. "Do you want to come back to our place and check it out?"

"I'd love to," Willie said. "What kind of schedule does little man have right now?"

She moved over to the bag she put down and picked it up. "He sleeps a bit, but he's more alert and likes to play. He's got the best laugh ever, too. We normally start our day at oh-six hundred, then settle down by twenty-one hundred. He wakes me up once during the night to eat and be changed, then we go back to sleep to start over."

He carefully came to his feet with his...their...son in his arms. "That sounds like an easy schedule to get used to, and gives us enough time to get to know each other all over again, too."

Dani smiled. "It does, and I'm looking forward to it, though I haven't changed much other than physically."

"Boy have you," Willie quipped. "If I were little man, I'd be hungry all the time."

She blushed. "You went there."

"Oh honey, you know I've gone more than there," he said. "You aren't safe from me when my mouth starts talking without telling my brain."

"Oh, don't I know it..." she said, heading out into the corridor with a smile. "I've really missed you."

Willie went out after her. "Woah...it seems to have put a spread on the aft quarters, too," he quipped as he carried their son. "I've missed you just as much, Dani. I really have."

There was another blush and she found herself keeping her face turned away from him. This was just one of the many things she loved about him, and now he was probably going to be living with her. Fate was cruel. "We don't have to miss each other anymore now, because I'm back now, and we have all the time we want to catch up."

He stepped up beside of her, careful not to jostle Alex. "We do and I plan on taking advantage of you. I mean getting caught up with you."

"You meant the first one, admit it," Dani said with a laugh as they moved through the corridor. It wasn't long before they were at her place and heading inside where she turned the lights on. She definitely needed to decorate. Nothing held any of her personality.

"That's what my old roommate told me," Willie quipped. "You need to bring a little life into here, but now that I'm here, girl, we are gonna make this place pop."

"I have to finish getting my things out of cargo," she spoke, setting the bag down. "How's Neil? Is he still on the ship? He once told me you had a thing for me."

"He transferred out a few months back after that crazy alien came from the probe we picked up and tried to kill us all," he said. "He said the Delta Quadrant was safer." He carefully avoided the last bit of it, but he would answer if she asked him directly.

"He grilled me, too, but I wasn't feeding into it. I was a bit surprised when he asked me out, though," the found woman said, gesturing for him to lay the baby down in his bassinet if he wanted to. "He never really showed any interest in me before then."

"He what? Oh hell to the no he did not," Willie said as he went to lay Alexander down and placed a kiss on his forehead before he put the tiny blanket over him.

"About a week after... you know," she said with a blush as she moved over to the replicator to get him a chicken sandwich, fries and something to drink. It was lunch time for him. "He said you weren't going to make a move, so he was. I let him down gently. Three weeks later, I got my transfer and was off to not so greener pastures. I didn't want to tell you about it because you two were roommates."

"I think he got jealous after our argument," he replied as he took a seat. "Thank you for lunch, Dani. I would have forgot about it. Is that why you transferred?"

"You're welcome," she said, sitting down at the table so they could keep talking. "No. Starfleet chose to transfer me. I chose to transfer back." It didn't go unnoticed that he skirted the issue regarding her on more than one occasion, and that was all the confirmation she needed to keep her true feelings locked away forever. If nothing else, she was damn good at putting on a front and pretending. This time would be no different... except he'd likely be living with her. Who did she piss off in a past life?

Willie ate a bite of his sandwich and took a drink, then set it down. He swallowed and looked over at the petite brunette. "Dani, I do have something to tell you, but I don't want it to ruin what we've always had."

Dani shook her head and swallowed back a lump in her throat. It was bound to come up at some point. "You don't have to say anything, William. It's okay. I already know, and I understand. It won't change anything, I promise."

He shook his head. "I did have a thing for you, Dani," he told her, the words tumbling quick. "Then I met Shay and thought she was amazing, but then she left. I've spent a lot of time thinking after that and if my subspace messages had ever gotten to you, you'd know that you were the one that got away."

"Now that you're back, it's like I'm getting a second chance to open my mouth for the first time. Especially since you have brought even more joy to my life."

She blinked. Once... twice... three times. Her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. That's not what she was expecting. "I... really?" she managed to choke out.

"Really," Willie said. "You were my first in that little closet and that night we got really drunk. Me and Neil had a big argument about what happened."

"I didn't want to leave you, Ashley or Jon. You for a very different reason. I was in love with you, William... and today I realized that those feelings have never changed."

"You were.....you are?" he blinked.

"Yes, but I didn't want to say anything because I didn't want anything to change."

"It wouldn't....it won't," Willie told her. "Dani, you're the first woman to look at me as more than someone to go shopping with. You treated me like a friend and more and I could never forget that...just like I couldn't help falling for you."

Now she knew she was dreaming. Dani was sure she was going to wake up on DS10 with Alex, and he wouldn't be anywhere. "You... fell for me?"

"I did," he admitted. "You make it really easy to do, too."

Unable to help herself, Dani rose to her feet and moved over to him to gently take his face into her hands. Without any further hesitation, she lowered her lips until her lips met his, then she kissed him just as she'd dreamt she could for the last year. The only difference... this time it was really happening. He was here, and the young woman didn't want to let him go.

Willie was so stunned for a moment that he didn't know what to do. Part of him wanted to flail and proclaim she had cooties while another part wanted to go AWOL for the rest of his shift and do things to her that would let the entire ship know. He settled for returning the kiss and pulled her onto his lap, his arms around her and kept his lips on hers until both their lungs were screaming for air.

Dani didn't mind being pulled onto his lap, and found herself slipping her arms around his neck. In fact, this was the very reaction she was hoping for. However, after a few minutes, she found herself pulling back to catch her breath. "That was even better than I remembered it being," she said softly... breathlessly. A smile graced her lips as she gazed into his beautiful brown eyes, keeping her voice just above a whisper. "Tell me I'm not going to wake up and discover that this has all been an amazing dream."

"You aren't dreaming," Willie assured her, then reached for his sandwich. "There would be more, but I have to eat and get back on duty. Officers may be able to get away with it, but I'm not an officer."

It took all the self control she had to let him go, but she did, and sat back down on her own chair. "It's okay. We have all the time in the world off duty. Eat and enjoy," she said with a smile. "Do you... really want to move in with us? You wouldn't have to stay in your own room if you didn't want to."

"I do," he replied. "I want to be closer to you and Alexander. I couldn't do that if I lived in my own quarters. I'd never be there, anyway."

"You can start moving your things over whenever you're ready. Or me and Alex can start while you're on duty if you want," Dani offered.

"I can do it after I get off duty," Willie said. "I don't have much because small quarters don't allow for much."

Dani nodded. It made sense, but now he'd be able to accumulate more possessions since he would have the space for it. "We'll be here. I've got a couple things to do, but it won't take long to get done."

He finished his meal and got up to take it to the recycler, then headed over to look at his son. Our son he mentally reminded himself. "I'm looking forward to being with both of you," he said with a smile.

"So am I," she said with a smile. "You better go before I change my mind."

Willie moved over and leaned down to give her a kiss. "Then I'll see you as soon as I get off. Then it'll be your turn."

Dani blushed as she returned the kiss. "We'll see you when you get off duty, then."

With a smile and another glance at his son, he turned and headed off with a pep in his step that hadn't been there before. It was going to be a great day.