It's Just the Beginning

Posted on 12 Dec 2019 @ 11:26am by Ensign Aidan Crehan & Master Chief Petty Officer Mila Rasputin

3,157 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: Epilogue
Location: Holodeck Two
Timeline: July 2389

“You know our love was meant to be
The kind of love to last forever
And I want you here with me
From tonight until the end of time
You should know, everywhere I go
Always on my mind, in my heart, in my soul” - Chicago

Aidan had been thinking as of late about where his and Mila's relationship was going. It had been one year since they had shared that first shuttle ride. He had spent most of his time with her since then, had become boyfriend and girlfriend, had even moved in together and had talked. A lot. He had also met her parents on shore leave, which he used as an opportunity to ask Grigor’s blessing to marry Mila. She had also met his parents during that shore leave as well. To cap it all off, Aidan had learned how to paint for the purpose of painting a portrait of her. Mila was truly his inspiration and he was getting to know her very well. The more he did so, the more he held on to her and didn’t want to let go.

That’s why he was in the holodeck at the moment putting the finishing touches on a surprise picnic. A large, purple blanket was spread out on the soft grass of a terraformed park on Luna, near that crater where they watched the Earthrise. Aidan had learned that it was Mila’s favorite venue and he determined to not forget it. Ever. On the blanket was a 1.75 liter bottle of Tovaritch! Premium Russian Vodka with two glasses. In a small warming container was some bacon wrapped lobster and crab. He also had some garlic cheese biscuits in there, too. In a small cold container, he had orzo pasta with roasted tomatoes, kalamata olives, bell peppers, red onion and lemon. There was also a folded purple napkin on one side of the blanket. The same exact one that he had found while unpacking his things after New Risa all that time ago. That was phase one.

Phase two was after the picnic. A song, one that he had once sang for her in El-Aurian. The one that he told her she would know when he began singing the translation. And the date, July twenty-three eighty-nine, one year since that shuttle ride that brought them together. He wanted this to be special; her favorite everything, including him. Once he’d gotten everything set up, he called up the arch and brought up the panel to send her a message to join him in Holodeck Two.

After he sent it, Aidan requested the lighting dimmed in the area he’d created and then saved that particular part of the program. The introduction that Mila would find when she entered would be different. He then called up the program and watched as a hill appeared in the distance with a sapling at the top amidst the other trees. The one that he and Mila had planted. Aidan then lay down on his back in the grass, taking in all of the sounds and smells and watching the birds fly over. Now all he had to do was wait for her. His inspiration. His love.

Mila had been spending almost every spare moment she could sneak without Aidan's notice in an attempt to get something together for their one year. With the date rapidly approaching, she finally succeeded in her goals and had traded off more than one favor to accomplish it. Her work had paid off and that was all that mattered and now all she had to do was get it to the man who was more like a Knight to her than any man had ever been.

When the console announced a message, she checked it and smiled when she saw who it was from, then read it. "Holodeck? Hmm. I am wondering what he is doing this time?" she asked Chow who was sleeping in his nest bed. The little monkey didn't respond but she gave his ears a rub before she covered the object she had been working on for some time and left their quarters.

At the entrance to the holodeck, the Russian checked her outfit: she wore a sleeveless purple top which was cropped at mid torso, a pair of relaxed black jogging pants that flared around the legs and a pair of purple Converse that she had found replicator codes for and decided to try out. Seeing that the program was running, she pressed the Enter button and headed in. She stopped when she saw the hill and sapling, memories of shore leave and Risa coming back to her. She headed towards it when she spotted his figure in the grass and approached him with a broad smile.

"Is being a good man who is bringing entire planet of memories across space and time," she said.

Aidan opened his eyes and looked up. Mila's shadow fell over his face as the sun behind her created a glow. Angelic. "I am glad that you remember," he added with a smile. "Those were special times, for certain. We shall have to see the real sapling the next time we're back on Risa." He pushed himself up on his elbows. "And it is a wonderful woman who appreciates the small things such as this."

Mila lowered herself to the grass beside of him when he sat up and leaned over to kiss him. "Sometimes, is simple things which are meaning the most, Sir Knight," she said with a soft smile.

He returned her kiss and stared into her eyes for a moment. "You make a very good point. Simple things like underground gardens or planting a tree. And sometimes the simplest thing, such as a shuttle ride, can yield a planet's worth of memories, Printsessa."

"You are being too sweet," she said as she settled down. "I am loving all the small things you are doing, even if you are not realizing it. It takes up very much room in my heart."

He chuckled a little. "I imagine that there are more of those unrealized things than I think. Even right after we first met. I'm certain that you remember that day very well. I know I shall never forget stepping off that shuttle and watching your hair flow as it caught the breeze."

"As I am remembering the water droplets shining in sun on your face when you are jumping in to save me when I am falling off of board," Mila said. "Is where we are having first kiss."

He smiled and sighed. "I remember that moment. And I would do it again. That first kiss began a whole new journey for us. One which I have enjoyed very much." He turned to face her. "Do you realize that we have been on this journey together for one year now?"

She thought for a moment, then nodded. "We are being three hours off from exact moment we are meeting in shuttle bay for the first time if I am remembering correctly. I was not paying much close attention to chrono after I am seeing you."

Aidan chuckled. "Three hours is close enough for me." He reached over and ran his hand through her hair. "Even more beautiful than that day." He moved his arm back and sat completely up. "I hope I can continue to make time relative for you, my dear." At that moment, his stomach growled a bit and he laughed. "Apologies. I skipped my last meal because I had gotten involved in a task. Would you mind joining me for a bite to eat?"

"Da, let us eat," Mila readily agreed. If her man was hungry, that meant it was time to get something in him. She got up and reached for his hand. "As for making time relative, if you are being in it, then I am being happy."

Aidan took her hand and stood. But before she could call for the exit, he said, "A moment, dearest. Computer, begin program Aidan-eight-two-Phase One at my location and increase lighting to normal." The hill disappeared, only to be replaced by a terraformed park at the Earthrise crater on Luna that he'd prepared earlier. At their toes was the edge of a purple blanket and the picnic he'd put together. Aidan turned and said, "Another planet of memories. Happy one year, Mila." He leaned down and kissed the corner of her mouth.

She looked around and a huge smile split her face. "Aidan, you are remembering everything more than I am," she said. "Is like being home and I am appreciating it." She looked down at the purple blanket and picnic, then started laughing when she saw the purple napkin. "You are going from knight to rogue in sneaky ways, but this one is being on me. I am seeing what you did here."

He started laughing and continued on for a few seconds. "I have no idea of what you speak," he said as he smiled. "Though it thrills me to see you so happy. I'm glad you like it. Now sit. I have prepared a wonderful little meal for you. And the Earth will begin rising soon."

"You are thinking of everything," Mila said with a bright smile that was just for him. "Earthrise, my favorite place, a memento from our first dinner, Risa...is there something else you are planning, Sir Knight? Perhaps music by Russian Opera?" She teased the last bit.

"Well now there's something that had not crossed my mind. Russian Opera," he said. "Though now, the seed is planted." He smiled at Mila as he knelt down next to her. "It is our first anniversary of being together. I wanted it to be all of your favorites and our firsts." He reached for a plate and set it next to Mila before picking up the warming container. He opened it and removed a piece of bacon wrapped lobster and crab and a garlic cheese biscuit. He then opened the cold one and spooned out some orzo pasta with roasted tomatoes, kalamata olives, bell peppers, red onion and lemon. After setting up his plate with some of the same and putting the utensils on them, he took out the bottle. He smiled at Mila as he poured a glass for both of them. "Not quite the opera, but still very Russian for my Russian beauty."

"You are forgetting dessert, but I am giving it to you first," she said after looking at the impressive and delicious smelling food. She gave him a soft look that had nothing but love in it and leaned in to give him a soft kiss. "There is being dessert, My Shining Star."

Aidan didn't blush often. But the look on her face and the matching kiss and the new nickname caused a slight warmth to rise to his cheeks. "You make me feel wonderful, my dear Mila. That is the best dessert I've ever had." He put a hand on her knee and slid her plate over. "This really is a beautiful setting. I can see why it is at the top of your list." The program was running a little slower than real time so that they could enjoy their meal along with the Earthrise.

"And you are always knowing right thing to be saying and doing," Mila said with a smile. "And in such detail at that. I am thinking you are having part diplomat in your blood," she joked as she reached for her utensils.

"Well, we do listen and then talk," said Aidan. "And many times we can either persuade others to see things or lead them to finding it themselves. Such is the life of an El-Aurian." He put his fork in one of the bacon wrapped crab pieces and put that in his mouth. A slight moan of delight sounded from his throat as the flavors mixed on his tongue.

Mila's stomach rumbled at his moan and she dug into her own meat, making similar sounds as she ate. She chewed and swallowed, then took a sip of her drink. "Da. You are very good listener....and you are being very persuasive when you are wishing to be. I am liking that about you. Is a good challenge."

"Me being persuasive is a good challenge?" he said after taking a drink of the vodka. "How so?"

"Because," she said as she tossed back a shot of vodka like it was water. "Would be boring if you were not persuasive and simply agreed to anything."

Aidan chuckled. "Ah yes, I see now. That would most certainly make a relationship uninteresting. I have seen it make organizational structures difficult as well."

"How so?" MIla asked as she ate another bite of her food.

"In twenty-three sixty-four, I was on a cultural anthropology team on Delta IV. We were studying the evolution of the Deltans for, well, anthropological reasons. The team had several yes-men, I believe is the right term, on it who would agree with whatever the lead archaeologist said. They had their own opinions but did not voice them. Nor were they at all persuasive. It made matters difficult for the lead as he had to be absolutely certain of things before he put them in a report."

"Ohhh. I am seeing what you are saying now," the Russian said. "Da. Is when someone is being stupid in a nutsack? Nutshell? Which is being right?"

"Indeed," said Aidan. "And I believe that the correct term is nutshell, stupid in a nutshell." He took another drink of the vodka and put the glass down. "It is really beautiful, Mila. The earthrise. Thank you for sharing the real one with me."

"I would not of dreamed of sharing it with anyone else, my heart," Mila said b efore she leaned over to give him a kiss. "I would move Earth, sun and moon for you."

Aidan hadn't met anyone with such devotion to another person before; further proof that he was making the right decision. "I love you and every aspect of you, sweetheart. I would build a ship myself and fly to the Galactic Core to if it meant seeing you for only a few minutes."

He continued to watch the Earth rise above the horizon as he enjoyed more of their anniversary meal and the special time with Mila. "Computer, freeze program." He turned to her, "Have you ever wished that you could do that with the actual event? Pause time and enjoy the breathtaking moment a few seconds longer?"

"Just as I am loving you, my shining star,"Mila said as she looked to him when he froze the program. "I would save moments like this forever," she said softly.

He stared into her eyes as he put his glass down. "Then stand with me. Let us enjoy this moment as if it were forever." He got up and held out his hand for her to take it.

She took his hand and came to her feet. "Maybe if we are being lucky enough to be having another shore leave on Earth, we can be taking holovid at the crater, da?"

He stepped close to her and put his hands around her waist. "I think that would be a wonderful idea," he said quietly. He stared into her eyes for a moment before continuing. "I'm certain you remember that I once sang a song for you in El-Aurian while on shore leave. And I promised that I would one day sing for you the translation. Computer, begin Crehan one-one-alpha." The computer began playing an instrumental ensemble and Aidan began singing quietly, this time in Standard. He never took his eyes off Mila's as he began to sway with her.

Mila was torn between dancing with him, which her body didn't have a problem with, and trying to wipe the tears from her eyes when she listened to the lyrics. She pressed her head against his chest and listened to him sing and the feel of his heartbeat next to her ear. She held onto him and let him lead, the tears still sliding down her cheeks but none of that mattered. All that mattered in this moment was Aidan.

The music stopped and so did Aidan's singing. He put one of his hands on Mila's head and kept the other around her waist. He could feel her tears dampening his shirt as he continued swaying. He waited a few moments before saying anything, allowing the moment to continue. He then moved his hand from her head and let hang by his side, subtly slipping it into his pocket for a brief moment and then pulling it out. With his other hand, he wiped away some of the tears that remained and then looked into her beautiful brown eyes. "From tonight until the end of time." Aidan then knelt to one knee and, pronouncing her name in her native Russian, said, "Mila Anastasia Rasputin, would you honor me by becoming my wife?" He then held up a ring with an inscription on the inside of the band, My love, my life, my Mila.

Now her tears really flowed and she felt like she was shaking and going to pass out. The shaking part was real in the form of her hands shaking and her chest moving from a sob that came out of her. "Da! Yes! Yes!" she exclaimed and burst into more tears while she wrapped her hands around his that held the ring and leaned in to kiss him. "A thousand times, yes! Is moment I have dreamed of since being little girl, my Knight! I am loving you so much!"

Aidan returned her kiss and then placed the ring on her finger. He stood and wrapped his arms around her, hugging tightly. "And I love you very much, my Printsessa. You have made my dreams come true and I'm honored that I can be a part of yours as well." He wiped a few tears from her face. He would always wipe tears from her face.

Mila wrapped her arms around him and kissed him again. "You are being my everything, Aidan and I will happily walk beside of you in this life through all that is tossed our way."

He returned her hug and kiss. "Then we will face it all together." He pulled her close and held her tightly. "We shall have plenty of time to talk of plans and such. For now, why don't we bask in the joy. And in each other."

She gave him a warm smile and looked at the ring on her finger, then at him. "Da," she agreed softly. "Now and forever."

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