Home of a Stranger

Posted on Sun Nov 29th, 2020 @ 8:49pm by Ensign Evelyn Moro & Lieutenant Aemilia "Millie" Stepanova

Mission: To The Rescue
Location: Counselor's Quarters

Millie wasn't sure how long she'd been standing in the entryway to her quarters. Everything was still there, exactly as she'd left it. Nothing had moved, nothing had changed...but somehow it all seemed so foreign. Like she was walking into a stranger's house.

"Ahem", a voice sounded behind her. "In or out, lady. You're letting all the perfectly attuned climate control air out." Evelyn held a medium sized container in her hands as she stood there.

The voice startled her slightly, but Millie took a breath to calm her nerves. "It's just--" She flushed. "I'm sorry. I must seem like I'm crazy."

"You've had a long couple of weeks." Evelyn grinned. "Go ahead in, this dinner is heavier than it looks."

Millie nodded, stepping inside her quarters. She set the two bottles of capsules on the table before trying to rub some warmth into her arms.

Evelyn set the container on the table. "Go sit down and get comfy. I'm in charge tonight." She gave a slight grin and went about setting the table and preparing dinner.

Millie nodded, giving the waistband a tug on her clothes. It felt odd wearing clothes that felt so big, knowing that they'd fit her on the day that she'd left. She slipped out of her shoes, leaving them by the sofa. Grabbing one of the soft blankets hanging on the back, she wrapped it around her shoulders before tucking up her feet and curling up.

Evelyn didn't bother her with idle chit chat. She knew Millie needed to re-adjust. After about twenty minutes everything was ready at the table. "Okay, chow time."

To be honest, Millie wasn't really hungry. She wasn't entirely sure how she felt right now, only that she was an intruder in her own home. Slowly, she got up and shuffled to the table, her blanket still wrapped around her shoulders.

Evelyn made a plate for her. "Now you eat it all or you eat none, but its there for you. I will tell you it's the best venison you've ever had in your life." She sat next to Millie after filling out her own plate. "If I get pushy you need to tell me, I don't have a filter on that sort of thing."

"I know." A smile tugged slightly at the corner of Millie's lips. "Your Starfleet review said as much."

"Did it mention that I'm a hell of a cook?"

Millie gestured with her head over to the oven and stove--a modification that had taken a decent amount of bribery to get aboard and installed. "I'm not half-bad myself. Though I need to get in the habit of cooking things that aren't reptiles--or if I do, I don't think they'll approve me having an open fire in my quarters."

"That sounds romantic....the fire not the lizards." Evelyn grinned, offering Millie a small cooked carrot on her fork.

Millie's cheeks flushed. "At least I know how to make one, now." She leaned forward, nibbling the carrot off the fork.

Evelyn took a drink of the red wine and set her glass down. "I hear the crew has been granted three weeks of leave once we reach Earth."

Millie nodded. "I'm sure I'll have lots of work to catch up on after so long away." She reached out for her glass, taking a slow sip of her wine.

"It so happens that when we get there, I hear there's a programming seminar in Port Grimaud on the Riviera. Have you ever been on those beaches?"

Millie shook her head. "I think the last time I went to a beach, it--didn't end well."

"The water is so beautiful, the people are tremendously nice and the weather is perfect for the sunbathing. Have I been able to convince you yet?" She smiled.

Millie could feel her neck and ears flush. "You...want me to come with you?"

Evelyn nodded. "While I'm in the seminar you could get caught up on your work while catching some sun. And then we could go sight seeing and all that...if you want."

Millie took a slow breath, and quietly took Evelyn's hand. Without speaking, she softly ran a callused thumb along her companion's skin.

"Why don't we go sit down and relax a little. We can always reheat this."

The words caught in Millie's throat, and she simply nodded. She gave Evelyn's hand a squeeze.

Evelyn guided her to the couch and sat lightly.

Millie pulled her knees up as she sat, pulling the blanket tightly around her shoulders and leaning against Evelyn. She didn't know how to express the whirlwind of thoughts and emotions going through her mind, and she reached up a hand to wipe at her eyes before tears came.

Evelyn leaned in and planted a soft kiss on the top of Millie's head before whispering "Welcome home."




Lieutenant JG Aemilia "Millie" Stepanova
Chief Counselor, USS Mercutio



Ensign Evelyn Moro
Computer Systems Specialist, USS Mercutio