Spending Every Moment

Posted on Thu May 10, 2018 @ 4:28pm by Commodore Michael Aravan & Spencer Aravan

Mission: Falling Star
Location: Captain's Quarters
Timeline: MD 33 || 1900 Hours

It had been a long day and Michael was dragging ass as he entered his personal quarters. Still, he held his posture erect and put a smile on his face when he saw his daughter and son playing with holographic blocks in the living room. "Hey, kiddos," he said as the door closed and he went over to kneel down by them. "Did you miss me?"

Ava was the first one to her Dad, throwing her arms around his neck and planting a kiss to his cheek. Her baby brother couldn't let her have all the attention, though. Little Mikey toddler his way over, gave a squeal and launched himself at him.

Spencer made her way out of the bedroom and leaned against the wall with a smile as she watched the three of them. That was one thing she'd never get tired of seeing... her husband and their children together. And to think, they'd be adding two more to the family in time. "Rough day?" she found herself asking.

He hugged his daughter and son to him and gave each of them a kiss on the forehead as he settled down on the floor. "Long and rough," he said. "I'm really hoping that things will get easier once we get to the planet. That should happen in a matter of hours and then I'll get called to the bridge again. How have you and the kids been?"

"Lonely, but it's understandable," she answered honestly. "Piper can't come see us like she used to because she stays pretty busy these days, and roaming the ship gets pretty boring when you've seen every inch you have access to a thousand times a day."

"You could take the kids to any of the holodecks or suites, you know," Michael said. "Not to mention start up crafts with Ava. There's a nice craft store on the promenade."

"I know, and we frequent a lot of those shops multiple times a week. Ava and I have been working on a lot of different things lately to pass some of the time," his wife said, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. Spencer didn't want to admit she was getting bored, but she was. That wasn't his problem, though, and the former Commander needed to be thankful she still had the chance to move about the ship since that would be going away sooner rather than later. "She appreciates it, though, and that's what matters."

"I wish I could be there with you." He felt like he had missed out so much on the lives of his wife and children, but the demands placed on him by Starfleet had him up and moving constantly. He gave a mental shake of his head, then remembered something. "Do you remember attending a music academy on Earth for a young woman named Miki Matsutaki when we were first dating?"

Spencer shook her head. So many things had taken place since they first started dating, and it was a wonder she could even recall where there first official date had taken place. "I can't say that I do, why do you ask?" she questioned, grateful that he'd changed the subject. The last thing she wanted was for her husband to feel back about something he had no control over.

"She's our new Counselor straight out of the Academy and she claims to know me," Michael said. "She was honestly shocked when she entered the ready room and showed me a picture of her kissing Gage's cheek from when they were younger. She claimed that I'm the one that took the image. I don't remember her at all, though."

"Ask Gage if he remembers her, then," she suggested, reaching down to pick her son up when he toddled over to her. Spencer pressed a kiss to his cheek and moved over to the couch to settle down. "It makes me wonder... was she assigned here, or did she purposely seek to be stationed here? If I had to guess, it would be the latter."

"As far as I know, she isn't aware that Gage is on the ship," he said. "And, I'll never admit this to her, but with the current mission and her mysterious link to my past...I'm slightly inclined to believe that she may be a Romulan plant. My past isn't exactly classified."

This was all too much, and definitely far too sudden for her liking, but what could she do? She didn't hold any kind of pull on the ship like she once did. "I don't know what to tell you, Michael. Talk to Maddy and see what she thinks about the situation. Ask Gage if he remembers her. You've got a few options at your disposal, but only you can follow through with any of them," she told him, snuggling up to her son when he laid his head on her chest. "No one's past is classified. Not unless they've pulled a lot of strings, or owe a ton of favors, to make it that way."

"I know," he said. He knew that his wife couldn't do anything, but it felt good to tell her details that he was worried about or concerns that he had even if she was no longer his Executive Officer. "Enough about that. I'm hungry enough to eat a giant Romulan Mollusk. Care to go out to dinner?"

"Honestly, I don't," his wife admitted with a frown. "You never get to spend any time with the kids, so why don't you take them down to The Black Hole and grab something?"

Michael thought about it, but that would mean he wouldn't get to spend as much time with his wife. "No," he said. "I'll just grab something from the replicator. What are you in the mood for?"

"Or, you can order something," Spencer suggested with a grin.

"Sorry. I forgot about that," he said as he rubbed his eyes. "These days are getting longer and longer. Did I leave my hypospray in the bedroom when I left today?"

"I don't remember seeing it, but that doesn't mean it isn't in there. Do you want me to go see if I can find it for you?"

"I'll check," Michael said as he came to his feet after gently prying his daughter loose. "I probably left it in my ready room. Can you order dinner for us while I do that, please?"

Ava didn't seem too pleased that her father pried her loose and left her, and like her little brother, she made her way over mother and climbed onto her lap. Spencer slipped her free arm around her little girl and snuggled her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head before she looked to her husband. "It might take me a few minutes. The kids seem to want to snuggle."

"Take your time. Daddy will be back, honey," he promised his daughter before he headed into the bedroom and searched through his dresser and nightstand before he found his hypo. He put a new ampule in it, measured the dosage and injected it into his neck with a hiss. He closed his eyes and let the medicine do its work and felt a wave of relief come over him.

Feeling slightly refreshed, he changed into a set of black lounging sweats and went into the bathroom to freshen up a bit.

Spencer was used to having to juggle two children and handle things around their quarters at the same time, and now wasn't any different. She rose to her feet, settling each child on a hip, then made her way toward the terminal to order something for dinner. It wasn't an easy task to accomplish, but if it meant keeping her little ones happy, she'd endure the impossible.

Michael walked out of the bathroom with a fresh scrubbed face and a droplet of water that fell off his nose. He stopped and looked around as if wondering where all the furniture came from and why he always ended up sitting on the floor. He pushed the weird thought out of his mind and headed to where his wife one. "I'm good to go now," he said. "Who wants Daddy first?"

As if holding a grudge, Ava snuggled against her Mom and poked her little lip out when he approached them. Her baby brother didn't seem to have any problems with any of it and quickly lifted his arms in the air so his Daddy would pick him up.

Spencer held onto her son until she knew her husband had a good grip on him and wouldn't fall. She felt sympathetic toward her husband. "Don't be upset by Ava, honey," she said, hoping he wouldn't be. "She hasn't had a nap today, and I won't let her go to sleep until it's time for her to go to bed."

"I'm not." He took his son and held him to his chest before he headed to sit on the couch, surprised at how comfortable it was and he leaned back against it. "Has Mister Man been good for you?" he asked her.

"Yes. He took a nap today," she answered.

"How about you and Princess?" Michael asked. "I hope it was relaxing despite our earlier red alert."

"It got a little rough after the red alert. In fact, that's one of the reasons why Ava didn't take a nap today. We had to go to the bunker for safety's sake," Spencer answered.

"I'm just glad we didn't take more damage than we did," he said. "It seems that everyone now has an bon...er, a beef for us."

Spencer shifted Ava around a bit when she showed signs of getting to be too comfortable and started to doze off, which earned some whining from the little female version of her father. Mommy obviously felt like total crap for doing so, but her daughter still needed to have dinner and take a bath before she went to sleep for the night. "I've got a feeling it isn't going to get any better, either. Worse, in fact. It may not have been a bad idea for the kids and I to have stayed behind while you and the rest of the crew moved forward to handle this."

In hindsight, Michael knew she was right. "You're right," he acknowledged. "But if we took that view on every mission, you wouldn't be on the ship at all and I'd be living on the bridge and ready room."

"We have two more children on the way. Maybe it's time to consider setting up a home back on Earth," she said softly.

"The thought of not being with you every evening would make me give up command and take a position somewhere back home," he said after a moment.

"Your place is here... in command of this amazing ship... guiding the crew," Spencer told him as she rose to her feet so she could settle down next to him. "Let's face it, honey. Things are getting more and more dangerous, and it's making me really nervous. Having the kids in the middle of that... we really can't be that selfish. Trust me, I want to be by your side all day every day, but when we decided to start our family, we both needed to make some serious sacrifices, and we still do to this day. It's just time to start thinking about what's best for them."

"Which is why I'd actually give it thought, Spencer," Michael told her. "I get headaches all the time to the point where I have to carry around a hypospray and I miss out on all the good things that happen with you, Ava and Mikey."

"Then keeping them safe somewhere stationary shouldn't matter," she said, realizing that was a bit below the belt, but it was true. Her husband was either on the bridge or in his ready room, and the fact that there was someone on board the ship claiming to know him when neither of them remembered who she was... that bothered the hell out of her in ways she couldn't even vocalize.

He sighed and looked at his son sleeping in his arms, then over to their daughter. "It shouldn't," he said finally. "I think after this mission, I'll turn her over to someone else."

"And you would be making a huge mistake in doing so. You, Maddy and the crew have made this ship into what it is now," she said.

"I'm tired all the time, Spencer," Michael admitted. "Now I'm in charge of this ship and a task group. It just gets harder every day and the weight of the boxed in pip on my channel means that Starfleet Command is watching me closer than ever. Now I know why Picard never wanted a promotion."

Spencer frowned. "I don't know what to say to that. Maybe you should give Maddy more to do."

"I could, but I'd still have to handle the task group work and sign off on everything. In essence, I'd be behind a flying desk in space," he said. "And every time a major decision was needed on the ship, I'd be puled back to the bridge."

There was nothing quite like feeling completely helpless, and that's exactly how his wife was feeling now. She didn't like the feeling, and it was beginning to make her angry. Rather than take it out on her husband, who didn't deserve it, she deposited their daughter on the couch next to him and rose to her feet. "I need to get out of here for a little bit, but don't worry. I'll be back before you have to go back to the bridge," she said, making her way toward the door. It was a good thing she hadn't changed into her ratty sweats yet, or she'd be making one hell of a horrible fashion statement.

"Please don't go," Michael said and his voice had to be as plaintive as she had ever heard it.

Damnit... he just knew how to pull at her heart strings. Spencer turned to look at him with tears in her eyes. "Michael... don't do this to me, please," she begged softly. "Do you have any idea what it's like to sit here every single day of my life... to know what you go through... and not be able to do a damn thing about it? I love you. I love our kids. I would do anything for the three of you, but I feel like I'm the one who is always sacrificing... the one who always has to compromise. Why can't I just take twenty minutes to take a walk to feel better?" she asked, realizing just how horribly selfish she sounded. "No, you're right. Dinner should be here soon. I'll get the table set." With that, she made her way into the little kitchen area to begin collecting the things she knew she'd need.

He got up carefully and laid their son beside of his sleeping sister and followed her. "That's why I should go back to Earth with you and them," he said quietly. "You do sacrifice and you sacrificed more when you wore the uniform. Things change. People change. I would be closer to you and them if I took a position back home and you would know that we'd all be safe."

"What am I supposed to say, Michael?" Spencer asked, turning to look at him. She looked lost... haunted.

"It's time for me to sacrifice for you and our children, Spencer," Michael said quietly. "I can easily get a position back on Earth."

"Could you? Could you honestly take a position back on Earth and be happy? You always wanted to be out here among the stars," she said softly. "Don't mind me. I'm just being stupid and selfish."

"Being a Captain is everything I thought it would be, but it's a lot more," he said. "Being responsible for so many lives and having the pressure handed down from Starfleet Command to do even more." He shook his head. "I think it would be easier to sit at a desk."

Spencer nodded her head and moved to start setting the table. He'd have to head back to the bridge soon, and that meant he needed to eat beforehand, which had her hoping the food would arrive soon. "All I can do is be supportive, and that's what I'm going to do. You don't need to listen to me and my insane ramblings," she said. "I'm just used to being an officer, and now I don't have that anymore."

"Why not go teach at the Academy?" Michael suggested. "After the twins are born and thing settle down again."

"What could I possibly teach?"

"Flight and Command are the two I'd suggest," Michael told her.

"I have zero interest in teaching anyone other than our kids," his wife said when they chime alerted them that someone was at the door. She made her way toward it and opened it, smiling when she saw a young man standing on the other side holding their food in his hand. "Thank you. I added a tip to our payment, but I know my sister will make sure you get that. Have a good evening." After moving away from the door, she moved back over to the table to start unpacking the food. Fried chicken, cole slaw, fries, biscuits, mac and cheese and chocolate cake. "Dinner's here. Can you get the kids. Little Mikey needs to wake up."

"Will do," he said as he went to get Ava and his son up with much grumbling until he tells them that chocolate cake is dessert and there's mac and cheese. He gets them washed up, then heads back to the table. "Ready, willing and able," he told her after getting the kids seated.

Spencer sat down after seeing to it the kids have their plates, then starts to make her own. "I think I might start teaching some little ones here on the ship. They'll keep me on my toes," she said, looking a bit thoughtful. "As long as I'm able to, anyway."

"You definitely could," Michael agreed as he fixed a plate for himself. "You'd be a great teacher, too. I know everyone already looks up to you."

"I'm just not sure how long I'll be allowed to do it before I can't anymore," she sighed. "Hopefully, everything goes so great I won't need to be put on bed rest."

He pointed at the extra large wall display in the living room. "You could easily teach from here in comfort, too."

"We'll see what happens. I just need to get over myself and enjoy the life I have, because it really is a great one," his wife told him before taking a sip of her drink. Spencer glanced toward the kids who were both eating, but each looked exhausted.

After taking a bite of his food, chewing and swallowing, Michael took a drink and looked at her. "It's not about getting over yourself or anything," he said. "It's about making the best with what we have."

Spencer nodded her head. "I know, and honestly, as long as I have you and our babies, I'm happy. Forgive me for being so all over the place. I bounce around more than a yo-yo, and that's not fair. This has definitely got to be my hormones talking."

"You should see Doctor...." he paused. "Who is our Chief Medical Officer now? Starfleet is screwing me on them like they were engineers for a while. I'm going to request specific officers from now on."

"I'm not even sure anymore, to be perfectly honest," she answered with a frown. "I haven't met our new CMO yet."

"Computer," Michael asked as he unconsciously looked up at the hidden pickups in the ceiling. "Who is the current Chief Medical Officer of this ship?"

"The Chief Medical Officer is Lieutenant Antonio Giovanni, MD," the computer responded.

"Giovanni?' he looked at Spencer. "I thought we had a Trill Chief or was it a Vulcan? I lost count."

"I'll meet whoever it is soon enough," she assured him. "And he might decide I need to see him more than once a month given my last pregnancy. I'll talk to him soon."

"They updated everything when we were at the space dock," Michael told her. "You can probably get a holographic image of the babies now."

"I still have some time to go before I can have that done. I'm not even at the six week mark yet," she told him, taking another sip of her drink before going back to eating. "Besides... when the time comes for that to happen, you have to be there. You didn't miss out with anything for Ava or Little Mikey, and I don't want you to miss out now."

"It's only been six weeks?" he asked, surprised. "With how everything has been going, it feels like six months have passed since we learned you were pregnant again."

Spencer shook her head. "Not quite six weeks, but we're getting there," she said, leaning back to take a break from stuffing her face. "Did you ever think you would be the father of four?"

"No, I didn't," Michael admitted. "I had my eyes set on the center chair the entire time, but you became the center of my universe."

A smile formed. Her husband definitely knew how to make her heart skip a beat even after all the time that had passed. "Just as you and the kids have become mine. I'm grateful for all of you, and couldn't imagine life without you all."

"I wouldn't want to imagine life without you or them," he said. "Now then, beautiful, shall we eat and spend the evening with our wonderful children and each other?"

"Aren't you going to have to go back to the bridge soon? I remember you saying we're going to be at our next destination within the next few hours."

"Maddy can handle it until I'm needed," Michael said. "In the meantime, I plan on spending every moment I can with you."

"She's going to bludgeon you with your own arm, you know, but that's definitely okay with me," Spencer said. "I'd like to have you here with us for as long as we can. Now... let's eat and enjoy whatever time we might have until you absolutely can't put off being on the bridge any longer."

"She may think it, but she'll never do it." He smiled and leaned back to gaze adoringly at his wife and kids and knew that everything was going to be alright.