Honeymooners

Posted on Mon Jun 18th, 2018 @ 8:48am by Patricia Crow & Lieutenant JG Chance Crow

Mission: Shore Leave
Location: Risa
Timeline: MD 14, 1500 hours

Banks looked out at the beautiful beaches and water from their hotel balcony as the breeze blew past. She hadn't even unpacked yet, unable to tear her eyes away from the scenery. "Isn't it beautiful?"

Chance came up from behind, wrapping his hands around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder. "Gorgeous. And the scenery is nice too."

She grinned at his compliment, raising her hand to cup his cheek and the sunlight caught her ring. That was a sight she would never tire of. "What should we do first? This resort has everything to offer."

He inhaled whatever scent it was that she was wearing. His lips found her neck where they began nibbling at the soft skin there. "I don't think the resort...is offering...what I want...to do."

She pressed her back into him. "I like that idea."

He pulled her back toward the bed, still holding her against him. When his legs hit the edge of the mattress he turned her around to face him and cupped her face in his hands. "I love you," he said before kissing her fully.

She melted from his embrace and the kiss. When it ended she opened her eyes. "I can't believe after everything that's happened we're finally here and all this is real." She slipped her arms around his neck. "I was so afraid something would happen or I'd mess up and we'd never get to this point and now that we're here I'm so excited to wear this." She flashed the ring. "Have I mentioned how much I love this?"

"Only a few times," he teased.

"You know what I wanna do right now?"

He stopped, confused. "I thought we were doing it already."

"When I'm done with you....'doing it' will have an entirely new meaning."

He wasn't exactly sure how to take that, especially since she'd halted his advances. "What are you talking about?"

She jumped into him and with her arms still around his neck her momentum sent them both onto the large bed. Looking down at him she smiled. "No more talking."

He grinned. "I wasn't the one asking questions," he said before pressing his lips to hers.

That went on for some time, and then some time beyond that. Finally as the day was turning to evening she gave a sigh as she laid beside him with her head on his chest. "I don't know what time it is, I don't know what day it is, but I know I'm not going to walk right for a week."

Chance chuckled, his eyes closed. He trailed a finger slowly down her back. He was worn out himself, but he'd never been so glad to be. Still, he was feeling frisky. "You are welcome."

"How about we try out that huge shower and clean up a little and go out for dinner at one of those beachfront restaurants? I think we both worked up an appetite."

"You go ahead. I'll join you in a moment," he said, kissing the top of her head.

She slipped out of bed and sauntered to the bathroom, getting the shower going. The entire suite was impressive, enough so that she thought about maybe duplicating it with a holodeck program for some special date nights when they were away on missions.

In the other room, Chance stared out the window that overlooked the ocean as the past couple days ran through his head. They'd finally done it, tied the knot. The vision of her standing on the lawn in her far-from-extravagant gown that seemed to be made just for her, in her bare feet. He played the ceremony over again in his head, hoping the process would help keep it there.

They had three days here, just them. Tomorrow they'd find some of the activities around the resort to enjoy, but for now, he was going to enjoy it just being them. He got up and made his own way to towards the shower and called as he got near, "Where's my wife?"

She smiled as she stood under the water. "She's in here being very patient in waiting for her husband."

The explicit use of those terms gave him a feeling he hadn't had since they started their relationship...her in another wedding dress, ironically. He stepped into the shower behind her and wrapped her arms under hers. "I'm very thankful she's as patient as she is."

His embrace caused her to close her eyes, committing every detail to memory. It was so perfect, more than she could have ever dreamed of and nothing was going to ruin it.



A few hours later, following a wonderful dinner they strolled down a path bordering the beach until they came to a popular establishment with a large outdoor bar seating area. She turned to Chance. "If you grab some drinks I'll find some seats."

He nodded. "What do you want?"

"Surprise me." When he walked off to the busy bar she found a table which overlooked the ocean. A minute or two later a glass was held over her shoulder. The beverage inside was a bright green and sparkled. She was amazed. How did he know about that, she hadn't drank them in yea....

She stopped, and looked at the well manicured female hand which held the glass. As she turned her head to look behind her she caught the eyes of someone she hadn't seen in years.

"Jessa!"

"Hey sinner," replied the woman.

Banks shot up out of her chair and the two embraced. "What are you doing here?" As soon as the question was out of her mouth the possibilities crossed her mind. Jessa shook her head. "Nobody sent me. I wanted to tell you a belated congratulations."

Banks looked up at her oldest friend. "What about that deal on the ship?"

Jessa glanced away for a moment. "You know how he is, it was just work but you weren't gonna be harmed."

Banks accepted that, crazy as it sounded because she knew that life. "Did you track me?"

"It wasn't hard you put the reservations in his name."

Banks might as well have hit herself on the side of the head. She'd made a big mistake but it'd given a dividend.

Chance turned away from the bar with a mixed drink and a beer in his hands. He spent a few moments looking for Trisha, but didn't see her, because he was looking for one person sitting alone at a table. He finally recognized her talking to someone. How did she find someone she knew here? As he drew closer he realized the other woman looked familiar. And why did he have visions of knives flying when he looked at her?

He realized that was part of a memory when he also remembered Trisha sleeping in her bed was part of it, and that was enough to trigger who she was. He rushed back to his wife, the worry written all over his face. He'd wonder later why they were hugging, probably because Trisha didn't realize who she was. When he got close enough, he spoke up, "Trisha, step away from her!"

Banks looked over, seeing his expression and raised her hands. "It's okay, everything is fine." All the while the other woman regarded him with silence.

"No, it's not," he said, coming to stand between them. "This woman tried to kill you."

"This woman is one of my oldest friends and....."

"If I wanted her dead she would have been long before you came into the room that night." Jessa looked at him with complete security in what she'd said.

Banks hated to admit it but she nodded. "She's the one who trained me, she's telling the truth."

"Unless I came in when you weren't expecting me," he said to the stranger. Even if Trisha was vouching for her, he only remembered her standing over Trisha with a knife in hand. Whatever excuses she had, didn't believe her.

"Let's just all sit down." Banks took the drink he'd gotten for her and gave him a smile as she sat, hoping he'd follow suit.

"I'll sit down when she's gone, and even then, I can't make promises." He didn't understand how she could be so casual about this. Or maybe he could, but expecting him to be okay with it was ludicrous.

She looked at Jessa, then him. "Give us a minute." Jessa nodded paying more attention to her own drink and the scenery as Banks stood and gently took his arm leading him away. When they got out of earshot she turned and looked up at him. "I know you're mad and I can completely understand it but I haven't really seen her for years and she came all this way to tell us congratulations. Like she said, if she wanted to do something she could have done it when she came up behind me." Her eyes virtually begged him to play nice.

The look he gave her said she must be crazy. "Trisha, I entered your quarters that day to find her threatening your life. If telling yourself that she could have if she really wanted to makes you feel better, fine. I'm not convinced. Just because she didn't get you then or now doesn't mean that isn't her ultimate plan."

"That was different." She was so used to that style of life she hadn't realized how it looked from the outside. "Please?"

"Please, what? What is it you want me to do?"

"Give her an opportunity to get to know her. Just an hour or so."

He looked at her, and could see the pleading in her eyes. He didn't want to disappoint her, especially not now, but he didn't like the other woman, and saw no need to get to know her. In fact, he saw her as dangerous. "Then she's gone?"

Her smile exploded. She quickly leaned up and kissed him. "You're the best."

He sighed inwardly as she bounded back to the table, but when they got there he made sure to sit between them. He grabbed his beer, taking a long swig as he stared at the other woman.

Jessa gave him a momentary glance of the same nature before turning her eyes to Banks and forming a smile. "So tell me all about the wedding."

Banks did, down to the smallest detail, beaming as she described everything from how they met to tying the knot and everything inbetween. The girls finished their drinks at about the same time. "Refills!" Banks hopped up, going to the bar. While she was gone, Jessa turned to Chance. "Can I ask you something?"

Chance only raised a brow as he lifted the beer to his lips again.

"Does she still get ticklish when someone touches her thighs?"

He spit the beer that had made it to his mouth but not down his throat yet. It was some time before he could find the right thing to say. When he did, he leaned in close and kept his voice low. "I don't know what it is you want, but I don't want you anywhere near her...ever again. Starting now."

Jessa steeled her eyes. "Oh I'm not going anywhere. She was mine long before she ever knew you existed."

Banks chose this moment to come bouncing back putting several drinks on the table. "I couldn't decide so I got us a bit of everything." She sat down, smiling at them both. "When I was over there I saw that they have a big dance club a block away. We should all go down there, it'd be like that time on..uh..."

"Gelico III," Jessa finished.

"Yes!" Banks turned to Chance. "We had to go undercover in this huge club to find people who had a price on their heads. We danced so long waiting for them to show up I couldn't walk for two days."

Jessa took a new drink sipping with a grin. "The bed rest wasn't too bad though."

Banks cackled and blushed slightly as she sipped her new drink.

Chance stared at the table. His first instinct had been to walk away without a word, but that would leave Trisha alone with her. That was the last thing he wanted. So he was stuck where he was, listening to their stories. Working security for Nadall's daughter's faux concerts, various missions, random personalities from their past. Finally as the double moons began to rise and the city's nightlife bloomed, Jessa took Banks' hand. "How about that club?"

Several drinks in, Banks enthusiastically nodded and grabbed Chance's hand as she stood. Begrudgingly, he followed her lead. To say he didn't trust her old friend was a massive understatement, and he certainly wasn't going to leave them alone.

They neared a huge building with streams of people flowing in and out. Once inside, the dance floor was massive with neon lights littering the room, and the music was so loud it felt like your eardrums were on the verge on exploding.

Jessa led the way in, taking their hand holding chain to the center of the dance floor and then released her hand, turning Banks to face Chance. As the music thudded in their ears Banks cast a grin to her husband, trying to get him to dance with her. It was clear by his posture Chance didn't want to be here and didn't want to dance. But when she slipped her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss, it was hard to resist.

They danced together like that, chests pressed together, moving to the beat of the music. That's when Chance felt the hand rubbing his chest. The rational part of his brain did a quick count. Two arms around his neck...extra hands on his chest. Two guesses who they belonged to.

One of the extra hands turned so that he could feel the back of it rubbing along his chest. When he opened his eyes he was staring into cold jade eyes. Jessa didn't grin, didn't smirk, she just watched him as her hands divided their attention between the married couple.

Banks, too lost in her own thoughts and whatever was in those drinks, continued her kiss, enjoying the moment and the sensory overload. Jessa finally moved, leaning in behind Banks to appear to whisper something to her. But when Banks trembled, Chance recalled she was sensitive behind her ear when kissed.

He turned them, putting himself between his wife and her...friend. Undeterred, he felt the hands return as Jessa wrapped her arms around him from behind. Attempting to find out how sensitive he was, her lips found a spot just behind his ear as her hand slid down his torso to find something else.

He jumped, breaking the kiss and separating them from Jessa by a few feet of space. Banks was dazed, trying to focus on the sudden change.

Finally, he leaned closer to Trisha. "I'm done."

It took her a moment but her eyes cleared and read the look in his eyes. She looked past him at Jessa who simply nodded, walking over to Banks and hugging her as she and Chance stood. "You happy?"

Banks nodded. "Never been happier."

Jessa broke the hug and turned to Chance. "Keep her that way." She didn't have a threatening tone but it was obvious below the surface.

His only response was a dark glare in her direction. Its message was also obvious, though probably not much of a concern for its intended recipient.

Jessa gave Banks a wink and walked off, blending into the crowd. Banks was quiet for a few moments before looking at him. He kept his eye on the retreating figure for longer than she probably expected. "I'm going back to the room. Are you coming?"

She nodded, slipping her arm in his. As they walked she leaned her head on his arm.

His mood was evident in the way he walked, and his unusual silence. So he was surprised when he found her head on his shoulder as they walked, and he had to admit it took a bit of the edge off. But did she really have no idea how tense that had been? Perhaps she thought her asking would be enough to bring him off high alert. It might have normally been the case, but not this time.

And the things Jessa had said? Explicitly implied? Physically done? He looked down at her without a word and wondered now if they were even true, or just designed to get his hackles up. When they got to their room, he dislodged himself from her and headed to the bathroom to throw some water on his face. "I'll be back," were his only words.

Once in there, he looked himself over in the mirror. He turned the water on and brought it up to his face. Tonight had not gone how he thought at all, and he wondered where it would go now. He told himself that he had to realize Trisha probably hadn't known. So he couldn't be upset with her. That didn't mean he wasn't upset, though.

She went to the bed and sat on the edge. She'd seen more than she had let on that evening and his mood and silence, even now with them alone had her worried. She took a deep breath and prepared herself. If they were now intertwined for life this talk had to happen.

He walked out into the main room. Where their bed was and saw her sitting there, as if she were waiting for the worst. "I'm guessing neither of us was expecting that?"

She shook her head. "What did she say to you when I was away?"

He crossed the room to the balcony, and stared out before answering. "Should I even pay it any heed, or was she just trying to get a reaction out of me?" He figured she'd know whether Jessa played games or not.

"I'd guess she was trying to unnerve you with the truth, to make you doubt if you made a good decision."

He turned around to face her. "She hinted that there was once something between the two of you, demonstrated it, even."

She thought about how she wanted to answer that, and understood especially after the events of that evening that anything other than the straight on truth would only antagonize him. "Yes. She went from her being my trainer to something more personal and intimate. Then when James came into the picture we remained professional partners and she was my best friend."

His gaze went to the floor. That was something he hadn't seen coming. "You never said anything about anything like this before."

"It was a long time ago. You also didn't mention anything about an old girlfriend before we had Kieran arrive." Her tone was even, explanatory, not accusatory or argumentative.

"How long ago?"

"Over a decade."

"She seemed to think there was still something between you, or there could be."

"She was always more optimistic. Does my past mean I can't be a good wife or mother?"

He frowned at her. "Why would you ask me that?"

"You just seem very hung up on this. I had prior relationships, so did you. So why is this such a big deal?"

"Because she acted like there was still something between you two, after she tried to kill you! And don't tell me if she really wanted to she would have. I surprised her."

She groaned, falling back on the bed from her seated position. "I don't know what I'm expected to do or say here."

"I want some acknowledgment that I'm not crazy. I..." He knew she wasn't going to like this, but there was no getting around it. "I want you to tell me you won't go looking for her."

She sat up, looking at him with her head tilted to the side. "Romantically?"

He shook his head. "At all."

She slipped off the bed and walked to him, putting her hand on his cheek. "If you want her left in my past then that's where I'll leave her."

He felt a weight lifted off of him. "Really?"

"Of course, you're my future."

"I just expected some pushback. I hope you understand why, and that I'm not just being...a jerk." He looked down at her, much calmer now. "I don't want you to resent me for it later."

"And I don't want anything to ever come between us." She looked up at him. "I'm sorry I never told you about her and I."

He put his arms around her, and pressed his forehead to hers. "It just took me by surprise, especially coming from her." They stayed in that embrace for a few minutes before he continued. "I know you think you're indestructible, but I worry about you." He grinned.

"In a way its nice to have someone who does."

His grin turned into a full-fledged smile. "You should come over here and show me how nice it is," he whispered against her ear.

She did as he asked and then some.