What a Day Part 2 [Backpost]
Posted on 25 Jan 2017 @ 4:20am by Ensign Aidan Crehan & Master Chief Petty Officer Mila Rasputin
2,396 words; about a 12 minute read
Mission:
Endgame
Location: Mila and Aidan's Quarters
Timeline: MD 11 || 1700 Hours
"Well," he said, as he waited for Mila to settle, "I thought we might have a light dinner first." He wrapped his arms around her and held her on his lap. "Then we could rest for a bit and maybe you could sing another of your Russian songs? It has been a while since I've heard you sing. And then I thought we might go for a swim in the ship's pool."
"That is being excellent idea," she said with a smile. "You are always seeming to know exactly what to be suggesting to make things better, Aidan." She looked up at him and knew that she would always have someone who would both support her and encourage her, be there for her when she was down and lift her up, and would always have a way to make her smile.
He hugged her and just sat there for a minute, enjoying it all. "I am glad you like this evening's plans. And as far as knowing what to suggest, it helps as I get to know you more, Mila. Now, to dinner. I was thinking about having an Avacado Caprese Chicken Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette and some slices of Italian bread. What would you like, Printsessa? I'll replicate or make what ever you wish."
"I am liking how that is sounding," Mila said. "As for song, I am thinking of good one, but many songs in Russian are being very sad. I will have one by time dinner is done. Now, I am having favor to be asking of you before I am letting you up."
"Then dinner is settled, my love," said Aidan. "And I await your song. Now what is this favor you ask of me?"
"I am very much liking to have another kiss from you," she said softly while meeting his eyes.
Aidan stared into her hazel eyes and smiled. It was just him and her. Nothing else. No one else. Just Aidan. Just Mila. He lowered his head and spoke in a whisper, still looking into her eyes, "And I am very much liking to give you one." He brought his arm behind her neck and pressed his lips to hers. It seemed like an eternity to the El-Aurian. And that was okay, for she was... "My Nexus," he whispered as he pulled back. Aidan lingered centimeters from her nose, and simply stared...lost in her.
Mila returned the kiss, her lips moving against his and her fingers slid through his hair and down his back. She made a wish that he would never stop, but knew the moment would end soon enough, and when it did, she wanted to sign but held it back. "My love," she said. "I am not getting enough of you, but I am not greedy type."
"I am," he said. "Kiss me again. And then I'll fix our dinner."
She happily gave him another kiss, lingering a bit before she finally pulled back and reluctantly got up from his lap. "If you are wishing, I will give you a hand," she said. "Is least I can do for such wonderful man."
Aidan smiled and got up from the couch. "That would be great. Just like our last shore leave." He grabbed her hand, "Come on. Let's make some dinner. Do you want to make the salad or the vinaigrette?" he asked. "I can bring the recipe up on the PADD over there." He nodded his head in the direction of the counter.
Mila took his hand and headed over to the counter with him. "I am thinking that vinaigrette is being better for me," she said. "Last time I am making salad, it was with Russian ingredients and not everyone is thinking beets are good thing in their salad."
"I would be willing to try it," Aidan said. "And the vinaigrette it is, then." He walked up to the counter and picked up the PADD. "Now to find where I stored it." It took him a few seconds longer than he expected, but eventually came across it. "Here," he said, handing her the PADD, "gather what you need first and then I will. I like to the flavors of the vinaigrette mix."
She took the PADD and looked at it. "This does not look hard to make at all," she said as she went to replicate the ingredients and a bowl to mix it in. she requested one minced garlic clove, one teaspoon of dry basil, one tablespoon of dijon mustard, one tablespoon of lemon juice, a quarter cup of balsamic vinegar and one third of a cup of olive oil. Finally, she requested a pinch of salt and pepper.
Once Mila had all the ingredients, she mixed the garlic, dry basil, dijon mustard, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper together in a bowl. She slowly added in olive oil while whisking the entire time until there was no more oil and vinegar separation. Once it was complete, she set it aside. "There," she said. "Was easy enough to follow. Now for rest."
"Yes, we can't have a dressing without the salad for it to go on," said Aidan. Aidan walked to replicator and first ordered one boneless, skinless chicken breast seasoned with salt and pepper, grilled, sliced on the bias, and warm. After removing the plate with the chicken, he called up a bowl with one half cup of halved fresh mozzarella balls, another one with one diced avocado, one with six ounces of fresh spring mix salad, another with one half cup of halved cherry tomatoes, and finally one with one quarter cup of fresh dried basil. Once he had it all together on the counter, he divided the spring mix, avocado, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, fresh mozzarella balls, and sliced grilled chicken into two bowls.
Satisfied with the plating, he put the bowls next to the dressing Mila had just made. "Care to drizzle the vinaigrette?"
She smiled and took the bowl of vinaigrette and began to lightly drizzle it over the Avocado Caprese chicken salad carefully while adding a slightly artistic touch in a pattern which looked like an A and M merged on it with lines of dressing criss-crossing it without touching the letters she had made with the dressing. Finally, she stopped and looked at him. "It is looking too good to eat," she said.
"It is most certainly looking good. Though, my stomach would disagree that it looks too good eat," said Aidan. "I see that you have a touch of artistic ability after all. The combining of the A and M and the criss-crossing...very well done." He put his arm around her waist and hugged her a bit. "Shall we enjoy?" he asked, picking up a bowl. Then a thought came to mind. "Uh oh...Chow. No wonder he keeps giving me pistachios that he finds hidden."
Mila looked at him and arched an eyebrow, pleased that he liked her design. "What reason would that be, Aidan?" she asked innocently before she flicked a glance at the little Capuchin who sat on the back of the couch.
He looked at her and smirked. "The same one as last night. I forgot his dinner...again."
Unable to help herself, she started laughing and had to set the bowl of vinaigrette down or risk dropping it and fought to catch her breath. She looked at Chow and waggled a finger at him, which got a curious hoot from the little monkey, then she laughed again and looked back at him. "You are not knowing, are you?" she asked at last when she managed to stop laughing.
Aidan watched Mila start laughing so hard that she had to stop what she was doing. He was glad that she had been able to set the dressing bowl down, though. Then the exchange between his girlfriend and Chow piqued his curiosity. And even more so when she finally calmed down an asked her question. Aidan shook his head, "Um, no, I do not know." He wasn't sure if he was about to laugh as much as Mila just had or if he was about to lose his appetite.
"I have programmed replicator to be making his meals at set intervals through the day in event that I am unable to me here," Mila said with a giggle. "When he is giving you pistachio as if you are forgetting to get him dinner, he is actually conning you into giving him second helping."
Aidan tried not to laugh, but it was futile. He looked and Chow and started to smile. Then it burst into full-fledged laughter. He began shaking his head at Chow as he calmed down. "You little stinker! I will learn all of your tricks eventually."
Chow grinned from ear to furry ear and sat up while nodding his head, then headed for his nest. Mila looked back at Aidan and tried to hold the laughter back but failed. "I should have been warning you that he is full of them," she said as she went to the replicator to get two bowls and forks for them. "What are you wanting to drink?"
He turned to Mila and smiled. "That is okay. Like I said, I will learn them. As far as something to drink, I think I'll have a simple seltzer water. There will always be time after the swim for something more potent."
"Smart," Mila said as she requested a seltzer water and a glass of strawberry kiwi juice. Getting them and the bowls, she headed back to the table and quickly set it. "You are just wishing to see me in bikini again, is that not true?"
He walked over to the table and set the salad bowl down. Pulling out a chair for Mila, he said, "Well of course I am. Are you not wanting to see me in my swim trunks again?"
She sat down and looked him up and down. "Of course I am," she said. "Is always a pleasure to be seeing you like that...and more." She winked at him and took a pair of tongs to begin serving him some salad before taking some for herself.
Before moving over to his chair, Aidan leaned down near her neck. He gently exhaled and allowed his warm breath to roll over her skin. Then he whispered, "The feeling is mutual." He then went over to his chair and took a seat in front of the salad bowl.
Mila shivered when she felt his breath on her neck and goosebumps arose on the area. She watched him take his seat and studied his form and every movement and smiled. "I am truly looking forward to every moment with you, Aidan," she said. "And I am realizing perfect song that I am wishing to sing for you."
"And I you, Mila." He settled and slid the bowl of vinaigrette across the table to Mila. "Do I get a prelude or will have to wait for the entire sonata?" He smiled at her as he looked into her hazel eyes. She was remarkable. No, she was more than remarkable and in so many ways.
"Would you really settle for prelude, Sir Knight?" she asked teasingly after taking a bite of the salad. "If I am being correct, you are having habit of wanting to know more. Is those fantastic listening ears of yours; once you are hearing part of something, you are needing to know the rest, da?"
Aidan smiled after he had swallowed his first bite of salad. But not because it was actually really good, because Mila was getting to know him more. He chuckled and said, "You are very correct, Mila. A prelude would only make me want more. I would want to hear the rest of it." He smiled at thought again. "I like this, all of it. Getting to know one another even more, moving in together.... So, how do you like your salad? It's not one that I have made a lot."
"It is being very good," Mila said after she took a sip of her drink and reached for another bite. "It is almost as good as being in your company. However, almost in the case of salad and you, salad will lose no matter how good it is being or who is making it. Nothing could ever be topping you, Aidan."
"I am glad you like it," he said, taking another bite. Following a drink of his seltzer water, he continued, "I'm happy that you'll always choose me over the salad or its maker. And I will always choose you over any meal, my dear." He paused a moment. "Over most anything, I will always choose you. Always."
She got up from her seat and moved over to wrap an arm around him before she leaned in to kiss him softly. "I love you, Aidan Crehan and nothing in any universe will ever be changing that. I am thinking that my decision to go to New Risa was best thing that I have ever done and I am being eternally grateful to have met such a wonderful man. Never have I met anyone like you and now that I have, I am not wishing to every meet anyone else."
Aidan put his fork down as she put her arm around him. After the gentle kiss and her words, he looked up at her. "I love you, Mila Rasputin. I am very glad that you made the decision to go planet-side that day, as well. I am also happy that you allowed me to be your gentleman-protector during shoreleave and get you out of that area of the city." He stood from his place and pulled his wonderful girlfriend, wrapping his arms around her. "I do not want you to meet anyone else, my dear Mila." He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.
Mila returned the kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck as she looked up into his eyes. "Is it scaring you, Aidan?" she asked softly. "To be dedicating yourself to just one person when you having lifetimes behind you and even more ahead? I could easily be releasing you even it were to be breaking my heart, but you are having eternity and I am but a moment in that history."