Twist of Fate

Posted on Thu Oct 31st, 2024 @ 6:46pm by Lieutenant JG Elysian "Elly" Clarke & Lieutenant Commander Andrew "Drew" Chandler & Ashley Chandler

0 words; about a 1 minute read

Mission: To Boldly Go...
Location: Chandler's Quarters
Timeline: TBD

Ashley was sitting at her father's computer desk in his quarters working on her biology homework. Elly was sitting next to her in a spare chair from the dining table by the replicator. She listened to Elly's explanation on photosynthesis. "So the plants take in light, convert the light into chemical energy which converts carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates and then release oxygen as a byproduct for the whole process."

Elly sat next to Ashley, in a really uncomfortable chair, helping the kid with her homework, as she'd promised. "Yes, exactly," she said. "You got it!!" She said. She glanced at the chronometer. Her father was due in anytime; Elly herself had the day off today but would work one weekend day. The Science department ran on rotating shifts with Maz, something she disliked but couldn't help. "Ok, what's next? Oh, the Krebs cycle," she said. "Ew." She made a face. "Ok, so it is a series of seven biochemical reactions," she said, "that helps a human-and some humanoid-bodies process citric acid," she said. She read a series of sentences to Ashley. "What I like to do is make a chart," she said, sketching it out for the teenager. "I hope that your teacher doesn't mind," she said. "Say, is your father due in soon?" She asked. She wanted to be gone by then. Not that she didn't like him-quite the opposite, and she didn't really know how to deal with it.

Ashley nodded, a smile playing across her face. "Yes. He should be getting here right about..." The door to Drew's quarters opened and he stepped in. Ashley giggled as she finished her sentences, "...now." Ashley got up from her seat and ran to her dad and gave him a hug. "Hi Dad. How was watch?"

Drew hugged Ashley back. "Good. Thank you for asking." He spotted the beautiful, young scientist he had met several days ago. "Lieutenant Clarke, pleasure to see you again." He stepped forward and offered his right hand to Elly. "Thank you for giving up your free time to tutor Ashley." She looked good in uniform, but this was the first time he had seen her in civilian attire and with her hair down. She looked amazing.

Elly smiled. "Oh..." she said, as the door opened. Damn it. Still, she smiled. "Hello! You're welcome; it's no problem. I didn't have anything else to do..." she hadn't yet made many friends, though she'd met a lot of people. It was just a matter of time, of course, but she was still the new girl on the block. A lot of the crew were returning from leave, and had been with the Deliverance from the outset. "Ashley is doing well!" She said. She looked him over, blushing lightly when she realized he was looking at her, too. She hoped she wasn't dressed too suggestively for the teenager-the blouse was a bit low cut but you couldn't see anything important. Her jeans were regular jeans, too. "Thanks for having me. I should...go," she said. "You'll probably want to do family stuff." She stood up to gather her things.

Ashley spoke up quickly before her dad could speak. "Um, actually. I am having dinner with my aunt. Dad's going to be on his own for dinner tonight. You know, you should stay for dinner or maybe have dad take you to the ship's lounge. I mean you both have to eat still. Right?"

Drew looked curiously at Ashley before turning to Elly. "It's true. Ashley already had dinner plans with Rachel. I wouldn't mind the company if you wanted to stay for dinner or go to the lounge for a drink and a meal. I don't want to impose on your though if you already have other plans."

Elly considered for a moment. It was true that she needed to eat, and she might as well have company. "Ok," she said. She glanced suspiciously at the teenager. Had this been planned?! Nah, if Elly was going to handpick a date for her bachelor father, it wound't be HER, that was for sure. It would be someone with some grace and charm, and less rough and someone who understood the social hint to shut up occasionally. "I suppose you're right," she said. "Either is fine with me, just so long as I don't have to cook. Trust me, that is not something you'll ever want to see," she said. Elly's idea of cooking was burning stuff until the sprinkler system came on. She was glad they had replicators; if she were forced to make food for herself from scratch, she'd have died by now. "Send your aunt my best, it was nice to meet her the other day!" Elly said, looking questioningly to Drew. "So what says you, Commander?" She asked. "Dinner in or the lounge?" The lounge would be less...personal but some people were weird about it.

Ashley grinned wide. She'd actually expected some resistance on her father's part. Over the last year she had tried to get her dad to socialize more without success. It wasn't due to her desire for a new mother figure, Rachel had been an ever present figure in help raising her, but her father wasn't quite the same since her mother had died. "I overheard there's a karaoke contest tonight in the lounge." She looked at the boxes in the corner of the room. "Dad still needs to set up his kitchen."

Drew looked at the boxes and nodded. "Ashley is right. I do prefer to cook, but I am not set up yet to do so and I hear that chef volunteers to make to order meals for the lounge on Friday nights. So, up to you Miss Clarke." He looked down at his uniform. "Do you mind if I get a shower and change though?"

Elly looked from child to father. "I don't do karaoke; trust me, you DO NOT want to hear me sing," she laughed. "And of course, feel free to freshen up," she said. "Dinner in it is, I guess," she said, panicking slightly. "When will you leave, Ashley?" She asked. She hoped not yet...on the other hand, she could send a quick message to Andy-her twin brother always knew how to soothe her. "Maybe I should run and put on a jacket or something..." she suddenly felt underdressed and a little...plain.

Drew glanced at the antique wall clock. "It's 1810 hours now. Say we meet in the lounge in twenty minutes. That is plenty of time for me to shower and change." He glanced at Elly. "You look great the way you are by the way. I was planning on getting into something comfortable myself."

Ashley's grin widened for a moment. Seeing her dad actually interact with a woman outside the family made her happy. She began shooing Drew towards the bedroom. "You go get ready and I will entertain our guest until Aunt Rachel gets here."

Drew glanced curiously at Ashley for a second time before disappearing into the bedroom. He pulled out a pair of blue slacks, a blue button up under clothes, socks and shoes. He disappeared into the bathroom.

Ashley got control of her grin and turned to Elly. "Thanks for doing this. Dad doesn't get out much."

Elly nodded. "That works for me," she said to Drew. Then, she turned to Ashley. "What am I doing, exactly?" She asked the girl. "What are you up to?" She raised an eyebrow. "Anyway. It's not a date, so don't get any ideas in your pretty little head," she said. "But same. I have trouble making friends sometimes, actually. People say I talk too much and it can be overwhelming," she shrugged. "Your father didn't seem to mind, though," she said. "When is your aunt supposed to be here?" She asked. "Should I wear a dress? Is that too...much?" She asked the kid.

Ashley nodded. She wasn't sure, but thought that her dad's lack of resistance to spending time with Elly was due in no small part to the woman's bubbly personality and chattiness. "I know it's not a formal date. My dad would have arrived at your quarters with flowers and dressed in a suit or something he would think appropriate for some sort of special activity. As for going to change, that's up to you. I'd say wear what ever makes you most comfortable." Ashley might have been young, but she was her father's daughter and had learned a thing or two about reading nonverbal ques, especially when it came to her dad. She knew he felt an attraction for Elly and that didn't bother her at all. Her dad had been alone for way too long.

"Well, that's good," she said. Referring to the fact that Ashley understood that it's not a date. She smiled. "OK, well. I better go at least use the restroom and put on not-dirty shoes" she said. Elly had been wearing her gym sneakers-she was mostly a casual person, and had actually come to see Ashley directly from her workout. "I'll see you later, dear," she said, stepping out of the room and into the corridor. She took a moment to panic, and then hurried quickly to her own quarters, took the fastest refresher shower of her life, slipped back into her jeans and a nice blouse, and fixed her makeup just a little bit. She slipped into some flats, and hurried to the ship's lounge. If this wasn't a date, why was she so nervous?!

Drew walked into the lounge precisely on time and spotted Elly at a table in the far corner of the lounge. He took a seat across from her and couldn't help but think how beautiful and fresh she looked. He gave a shy smile before speaking. "I hope you haven't been waiting long. I had to talk with Rachel for a moment before coming to meet you. Ashley had told her we were meeting for dinner and a drink and I was trying to convince both of them it wasn't a date." Looking at Elly now, he felt a regret that it wasn't really a date.

She laughed. "I've only been here a minute; thought I was going to be late. Yeah, I told Andy. We usually talk a bit on Tuesdays because that's his day off," she said. "He was teasing me, too," she said. "Thanks for inviting me out," she said. "I really do need to make the effort to get out of the Labs more," she said. "Did you notice the specials?" She asked. "The drinks were not sounding very good, so maybe just a lemonade for me," she said. "How are you settling in?" She asked, trying to fill the silence. "Rachel means well, I am sure...." She said, finally. "I am sure she just wants you to be happy." Elly nodded. "I'd probably do the same for Andy." She just might have to soon. He was dating a girl, and it was getting serious, but he hadn't told their folks yet.

Drew found Elly refreshing and easy to be with. "I apologize for Ashley trying to play Cupid. She is at the age where she thinks she's doing me a favor by trying to set me up. I know she means well. She is just at that age where she...you know...I don't think I have a clue. I was never a fourteen year old girl."

Elly laughed. "Well. I have been a fourteen year old girl. I think Ashley is truly from a loving place. She loves you and doesn't want you to be lonely," she said. "Not that I know if you are or aren't, but that's the mindset, I think. I think I'd have probably done the same for my dad," she said. "But my parents are both still alive and still married." She looked around. She realized the PADDs on the table were how to order. "Are you ready to order some dinner?" She asked. She checked the PADD; the dinner specials were fish, a chicken dish, and a burger. The regular fares, as well. "Hmm, maybe the chicken," she said.

Drew nodded. "Sounds good actually." He picked up the ordering PADD and keyed in two orders of the chicken specials, a lemonade for Elly and a peach tea for himself. He pressed his thumb on the PADD to pay for the order and set the PADD. "Mind if I ask what you like to do outside work. Do you like to paint, draw, dance?"

Elly smiled. "I like to read. I love hiking. But not running," she said, making a face. "Of course, doing things with my hands," she said. She blushed a little at the unintended double entendre. "I mean, since I am the botanist, I like planting, or even like, drawing or putting together puzzles and such," she said, quickly. "I DO like dancing but I am not very good at it," she said, "And I LOVE a good party." She nodded. "What about you?" She asked. "Besides cornering girls in the Astrometrics lab?" She joked.

Drew took in a deep breath and released it slowly as he thought about Elly's question. "I like to exercise daily which does include running. I love the theater. Ashley and I love camping, Rachel however hates roughing it and only goes when we rent a luxury recreational vehicle. I'm actually a pretty good dancer or was a long time ago."

Elly nodded. "It's good that you're getting her into outdoorsy kind of things," Elly said. "My parents never really emphasized the importance of exercise or nature for one's overall health, and I wish they had," she said. "My grandparents were both gardeners, though. That's how I got into botany. PLUS it's interesting," she said. "I could see that about her. I definitely prefer glamping myself," she said. "BUT I know what is outside, so that probably colors my view," she said, shivering at the thought of the viruses and bacteria that lived in a cubic inch of soil, let alone an entire forests' worth. "I just don't like running because it's boring," she said, "And if I am going to sweat, I would rather it be for an interesting or fun time," she said.

Drew smiled and did his best to not conjure images that would be inappropriate from her last statement. "I started out in security and went into the Starfleet Special Warfare Command just before outbreak of the Dominion War. Being in peak physical condition was a necessity so, I am no stranger to sweat in my fitness training."

Elly nodded. "I see!" She said. "Luckily, I've managed to avoid most of the Dominion War; both of my previous postings were on science outposts," she said. "Which is cool, but also not, because I miss the action. And I do recognize that. I sometimes feel like I don't pull my full weight, even though Maz says I am fine," she said. "Because my work is so specialized." She smiled when the waiter appeared with their food. "Thank you!" She said. "What's your favorite kind of workout?" She asked, dipping into the food. Elly wasn't one of those girls who only ordered salad and ate half of it. She was HUNGRY!

Drew watched Elly dig in to her dinner as he took a moment to ponder the question. He took a bite and chewed thoughtfully. "Running is perhaps my favorite. I just pick a pace depending on the distance I plan to run and then sort of do a zen exercise where I focus on my breathing. I do 5 kilometers a day at least, 10Ks at least twice a week and a half marathon at least once every ten days."

Elly nodded thoughtfully. "I see," she said. "You must be really buff," she said. She wanted to SEE. Wait, where did THAT come from?! Oh no. She broke up some of her food. "So uh...you do security and tactical things. I imagine your training helps a lot. What's your opinion on Fleet Marines?"

Drew felt his cheeks flush as he self-consciously shrugged. "I suppose. Though it is getting harder to maintain as I get older." He was thankful for her question about the Fleet Marine Force. It gave him an opportunity to change the subject about himself. "The Marines are some of the finest individuals it's been my honor and privilege to serve with. Fearless, professional and dedicated to accomplishing the mission."

Elly nodded. Her own opinions on the Fleet Marines weren't as generous as his. "I see," she said. "I imagine it works well for you," she said. "My own opinion is that they're unnecessary and in my work, more of a hindrance than a help," she said. "But, I am glad at least for the extra hand, I guess," she said. She was finished with her food and tea, and then smiled. "Want to walk me back? I am close to you guys," she said. Maybe she'd let him kiss her. If he wanted to, and she was starting to sense that he did.

Drew had finished his drink and dinner as well. Since he had already input his thumb print and paid, he rose from his chair and pulled Elly's out. He gestured for her to lead the way. It had not only been a pleasant dinner, but comfortable as well. He enjoyed Elly's chattiness and forthright nature. "After you. By the way, please, call me Drew when we're not on duty."

"Thank you for dinner," she said, leading them out of the room. "Ok, I will," she said. "Thank you, Drew," she said. She headed for the Turbolift, and for once in awhile, she'd run out of things to say.

Drew didn't mind the quiet, but he saw the look on Elly's face as they took the turbolift to officers' country. She was lost in thought or appeared to be. He walked Elly to her door. "Well, thank you for the wonderful company at dinner. Good night."

Elly smiled, and nodded. "You're welcome..." she closed her eyes. Why did she always say such dumb things?! Still, she figured now was as good of a time as any to make her move. She leaned up slightly, and bent forward to kiss his cheek in a friendly gesture.

Drew had just started to turn away after saying goodbye. The kiss intended for his cheek landed squarely on his lips and caught him by surprise. He froze for a heartbeat, reacting instinctively he pressed his lips to hers for the span of another heartbeat, reality setting in by the third heartbeat. He pulled back a step and saw the same expression of surprise on Elly's face that mirrored the one on his.

She felt her breath catch in her throat when he kissed her for a longer amount of time than she expected. When he pulled back, she smiled, but looked surprised. "Oh, um..." she blushed, and was about to apologize. Then she realized that she wasn't really sorry. "Well. I guess I'll see you later," she said. Was it too soon to invite him in?! Yeah, it was.

Drew nodded. It was the only reaction he could make. The kiss had been unexpected and he had been unprepared for it. Color flooded his cheeks and he was thankful for a full beard that hid the majority of the blush. He watched in silence as Elly disappeared into her quarters.

Elly hurried inside, and as soon as the doors shut, she leaned against them. Well. Now what?!

 

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