Corvin Estate, New Thessalonica, Planet Yuma, Coronado
after midnight of 12-13 Sept. 824 A.S.
Her suggestion for a drink made Erik nod in understanding, after which he snickered and glanced outwards, away from the house. "I think we've had plenty to drink as it is anyway..." He felt her smooth hands embrace his neck once more.
"When can we do this again?" she asked. He grinned back at her, then placed his hands on her waist firmly and rose her upwards, giving her a quick, jovial spin in the air. As he slowed her back down, he replied "As soon as our schedules allow, I hope." Erik then gently took a step towards the door and began opening it.
"Uhm... I'll go and bring Ben. Hopefully I'll manage not to wake him."
Unknown to either Erik or Doreen... the boys, however, weren't in bed. Having found a new way to have fun by remote controlling a cleaning drone, the two were still awake in the living room, silently tinkering about.
Corvin Estate, New Thessalonica, Planet Yuma, Coronado
She gave a light squeal as he spun her. She was laughing when she landed. "Well, we'll just have to make time now won't we!" she answered touching his nose with her finger.
She quietly followed, assuming the kids to be sleeping. When they got in, she just looked at what was going on and reacted with a "what the heck....."
She just said to Erik, "I think there are two little boys who are in trouble!" She started looking for Ben....and found him. Rather than face getting tickled, he jumped up and hugged his Mom. He then leaned back, looking at how she was dressed.
"Mom, I thought you and Erik were working," he inquired. He smelt the wine on her breath, "You don't drink at work." She could only give a "we've been caught" look to Erik. She wanted to explain things to Ben but wasn't sure that she should at such an hour or with everyone present. She found herself unsure and by the look on her face, Erik knew she was.
Corvin Estate, New Thessalonica, Planet Yuma, Coronado
after midnight of 12-13 Sept. 824 A.S.
Peter had followed Ben close behind when the parents arrived. He didn't give much thought to the scene at first, but became confused once Ben made delivered his comments. He leaned on a wall and kept looking up at his father.
Noticing Doreen's state of mind, Erik tried to interfere politely. "My... don't you have a keen nose, Ben?" - Erik chuckled for a second, before looking at the boy with a friendly smile. "Well, your mother and I had a... breakthrough today. We felt it was a reason to celebrate a bit. I'm sorry we didn't tell you... but we thought you'd be in bed by now." - he paused for a second and turned his eyes to Peter, but maintaining the same smile - "Which you should be... it's past midnight."
On the inside, he was just as unsure as Doreen about the situation, but he was hoping what he said was enough. He wanted to have at least until morning, if not longer, before explaining things to the children.
Corvin Estate, New Thessalonica, Planet Yuma, Coronado
Ben was only slightly satisfied by the Erik's explanation but it was late and he was tired. He just hugged his mother who promptly returned it.
'Let's get home," she said sweetly to him, "we both have places to be in the morning. Have you got everything?"
"Yes, Mom," he answered.
She then turned her attention to Peter, smiling nicely to him, "Thank you, Peter. I hope you both had a great time together."
Finally, she turned to Erik. She didn't want to say too much with the kids out-of-the-know so she simply thanked him for a wonderful evening with a smile that only he would understand. She did, however, managed to "sneak" in a kiss on the side of his cheek as she passed him on the way out. She also shot him a gesture by the door, her pinky at her mouth and her thumb at her ear to say, "Call me." With that, she and Ben left for the evening.
Naggar Residence, New Thessalonica, Planet Yuma, Coronado
Still in her evening dress, Doreen put Benjen to bed. As she tucked him in, he asked questions. She just sat next to him in what would turn out to be a confessional.
"Mom," he asked, "what did you and Mr. Corvin celebrate?"
"Well," she began only to sigh. She always told him to tell the truth no matter what and he always did. He was old enough to understand but wanted him to keep it under wraps from Peter who might not. "Remember the other night when you asked me if I loved Erik?"
"Yes," he replied, "and it was last night."
"Yes," she answered with a smile, "last night. Well, I told him that I did tonight. I thought it would be hard. I thought he would reject it but....he didn't."
"What did he say?" asked Ben.
With a nod, she returned with, "He feels the same way so we celebrated it. We had some dinner and I danced with him."
"You dance, Mom?" he asked in surprise.
"Not well," she answered with a laught, "but yes. We didn't want to say anything but I think you caught me last night so I figured I should tell you the truth. After all, you always tell me the truth."
There was a brief moment of silence. Ben was processing what he had just heard while Doreen was feeling like another brick was being lifted from her. His next statement caught her by surprise.
"Mom, you deserve to be happy," he said, "You do so much for so many and it's just us."
She was a bit stunned. It made him sound wise beyond his years but somewhat saddened. Overall, she was happy of his acceptance. With her eyes a bit welled up, she smiled, "Thank you for that, Son, but never say "just us." Coming home to you each day makes me a happy Mom."
He then sat up and hugged her to which she hugged him back. "I love you, Mom." She returned the sentiment.
"Now, get some sleep," she told him as she re-tucked him back in. As she left the room, she blew him a kiss to which he returned, she shut the light off and closed his door.
In her own room, she got ready for bed herself. Standing naked in the mirror, she noticed the scars that Erik had noticed. For years, she forgot about them even if she kept them as reminders. She thought about getting them removed via Rejuvenator but opted not too. Now, she didn't need to as Erik accepted them and the story of how she got them. In the process of running her fingers over them, she realized of herself of how pretty she was. Erik made her feel that way. So while they couldn't have a nightcap together, she had one alone as she stood in the window with a glass of Gallic White Wine, "Here's to you, Erik.....to us."
Corvin Estate, New Thessalonica, Planet Yuma, Coronado
after midnight of 12-13 Sept. 824 A.S.
With Doreen and Benjen just out the door, Erik was still blushing a bit. He turned back to his son and motioned him to get ready for bed, so they both went upstairs in silence - Erik had no idea what to say, while Peter was just tired.
As soon as he was set, Peter jumped in his bed and allowed his father to tuck him in. He offered a sweet "good night" and rolled on a side, already part asleep. Erik on the other hand wasn't sleepy at all - tired, yes... but just not ready to sleep... He just sled off the side of Peter's bed. He sat down, his back against the boy's bed... his head leaned back into the blanket.
Although he knew Peter was asleep already, Erik felt like talking, so he started to do so in whispers, with a smile on his face. "Not so long ago you said you miss having a mom... how seeing Ben with his mother brought that back..." - he sighed - "What if... what if she could give you that feeling back?" The boy didn't properly hear his father's comments, but the sound of a familiar voice made him snuggle around in the blanket for a second. Erik spent quite a bit more time just lying there, gathering his thoughts, after which he went to sleep as well.
Planet Yuma, Coronado
13 Sept. 824 A.S.
Naturally, as days come and go... so does the daily work of any Crayterian, and most of all on the ever-developing Yuma. The next morning, Erik found himself called to help with the repair of an energy Relay on New Dalphin. While the construction for the new power-grid for the Rejuvenator was almost at its end, sometimes nature's will just can't be helped. A larger storm brought about unforeseen damage for which repair drones were best.
10:30 - While on-board a shuttle towards the hospital island, he figured he could leave Doreen a message. "Good morning... sweet doctor"
He wanted to say "beautiful", but thought it'd be best to keep this kind of compliments for when he's right in front of her. "How's your day going?
I'm currently on my way to New Dalphin to oversee some repairs, but I'll probably be by the lab later this afternoon. Valders left me a note saying prototype 7 is ready so today we'll probably test it. If you're not busy at the hospital, you could drop by to (see me) help with the medical side of the procedure...
Doreen's Office, New Thessalonica Hospital, Planet Yuma13 Sept. 824 A.S.
For being so tired, she was a bit giddy. Smiling wasn't uncommon for her but she was trying to "knock down" the one that really was coming through. She was happy. Helping that along was the note from Erik of, "Good Morning.....sweet Doctor" Just looking at it made her snicker. Appropriately, she sent a response: "Good Morning, Handsome. I have a surgery scheduled shortly but if I don't have any emergencies come in then I think I'll be able to swing by. I'd like to see this procedure. Do have yourself a great day as well and I'll see you soon."
She took a deep sigh and then a sip of coffee before a nurse entered her office. Doreen and Anna had become good friends in a short time and Anna noticed she was unusually happy.
"Why Dr. Naggar, you appear happier then normal this morning."
Doreen just shrugged and tried to hide behind her coffee cup. Anna wasn't buying it. She wagged her finger at Doreen.
"I know that look," she smiled, "you have a man in your life now. You aren't fooling me."
Doreen stayed hidden behind her coffee cup and simply answered, "Yes." Taking a sip, she lowered the cup, still in her hands and continued, "It's new so I would appreciate the silence for now."
Anna smiled, "I knew it! Who is he? Do I know him."
"In time you will find out," replied Doreen almost immediately.
Anna was having fun with it and the two wound up talking over coffee. After about an hour, Dr. Naggar reported for surgery.
Corvin Estate, New Thessalonica, Planet Yuma, Coronado
morning of 9 Jan. 825 A.S.
In times of war, the preparation of the youth is important. Within the Republic, schools function - perhaps oddly - at all times and the concept of "summer/winter break" is non-existent. Students begin school whenever their parents see fit and keep at it while taking breaks whenever it's required for one reason or another. So it was that a week after Peter's birthday... he was finally about to go through his first day of school. "Excited?" - Erik asked his son, while helping the boy buckle his backpack. He was genuinely happy about all this, even though this was a new phase in his life - and so shortly after he finally let another woman in his life... "YES! And i can't wait to see Ben today!" - Peter exclaimed, to which Erik chuckled in understanding. "I'm pretty sure he hasn't left home yet. We can go pick him up too if you want to ride with him to school." - the father added before standing up and gently pulling the door open for Peter.
Naggar residence. New Thessalonica, Planet Yuma, Coronado
Both Doreen and Benjen were in good moods. After all, why shouldn't they be? Benjen was enjoying his newest, bestest buddy on almost a daily basis, she was well established now as a doctor and surgeon and she had a budding relationship. Add to that her recent success in trial runs of her newly commissioned medical cruiser, the =CR=Nightingale, she had a lot to smile about.
Everyone at the hospital knew that she had a man in her life but she still kept it largely personal. She did well to not let personal and professional life intermix too much even if she threw on a little extra perfume nowadays.
She was ready for the day, dressed in a white blouse and slacks. She had two surgeries planned for the day and of course, she never knew from one minute to the next what else may be thrown at her.
Benjen was ready for school, enjoying a dish of cereal that he served himself and some fruit. Together, they enjoyed breakfast although her choice was fresh fruit, oatmeal and coffee.
"Ready for the day, Sweetie?" she asked him smiling.
"Ready, Mom." he answered, obviously busy with his meal.
After several minutes, he cleared his dishes and grabbed his book bag. In response, she grabbed her purse and put an arm around her son, "Let's go get the day!"
Heading outside, they met up with Erik and Peter. She greeted Erik with a smile and a kiss. The kids knew at this point so she didn't hide it like she used to.
"Morning, Sweetie," she said to Erik.
Meanwhile, Ben began carrying on with Peter as they always did.
During the last few months, Peter had been taken through quite an odd set of emotions. After finding out about - and understanding - his father's relationship with Doreen, he was taken aback by the situation. Although confusing at first, he did appreciate Erik's happiness and eventually found that it made him happy too. He liked having her around, both because she was a pleasant presence and because it gave him an excuse to spend time with Benjen.
"Good morning, darling!" - he replied just after the kiss, while taking her by the waist and pulling her close, their noses rubbing together for a brief moment. "Quite the big day ahead of us, isn't it? Peter's first day of school... our final prototype test-run for the nanite project..." There was obvious excitement in Erik's voice - even if dashed with some concern. After all, he had every reason to.
After that one first prototype test that went so well, the entire team forced themselves to exceed expectations. After weeks of work and four failed versions of the nanites (related to the concept schema), they finally had a working version that should - in theory - do all it's supposed to: replicate the DNA (obtained from any kind of sample, not just bone-marrow) and cellular structure of missing limbs or organs within a patient, fully recovering the lost body-parts (through the use of stem-cell creation and programming) at an amazingly fast rate. All the while the nanites would maintain integrity and ensure nothing infects the newly created tissues. Simulations had given this final version a 97% efficiency rate and 0% failure chances, so everyone in the team was sure it's ready to be tested on a real (willing) patient. With plenty of people in hospitals, especially military pilots, that wasn't going to be an issue.
New Thessalonica, Planet Yuma, Coronado9 Jan. 825 A.S.
Her smile was ear to ear when he pulled her close. His confidence only made him that much more attractive to her. She gave a chuckle of approval.
"You deserve this success. You have worked so hard to get to this point."
In truth, she had no idea how this day would prove to be a vital contribution.
Together, they brought the boys to school. As they rode, the boys were carrying on in the back, talking about the day to come and planning things between them for the next upcoming days. It was typical of them and both parents got a good laugh about it and would often shake their heads. Ben did well to keep the many conversations with his mother to himself, the ones that they shared feelings about her and Erik and himself and Peter, even himself and Erik. Having someone to see everyday that made him laugh, made him happy and someone with whom he never grew board was perfect. Seeing his Mom happy again made him feel relieved.....she deserved some happiness as much as he did in her life.
Arriving at school, all exited the vehicle. She gave each boy a hug and kissed each on the head. To an observer, no one would know that Peter wasn't her son. They would see her as the mother of two and in her subconscious, she felt that way.
"Peter, Ben, have a great day and stay out of trouble," she told them as they scurried away. She sighed with a smile as she watched.
"They're so good together," she said.
About this time, her com went off. It was from the hospital, the com that only went off for emergencies.
"Dr. Naggar," spoke the voice, "we have an inbound fighter group with mass casualties, exact amount still unknown but we need you on the double. One fighter is coming in hot and the pilot is in bad shape."
"On my way," is all Doreen answered.
She then turned to Erik and smiled, "Well, looks like today is off to a fast start." She then held her arm out for Erik to take. "A lift to the hospital, Professor?"