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Pleasantly surprised, Doc just smiled at the sight of his old friend.
"Well I'll be damned," he said, shaking Alaric's hand, "It truly is good to see you again." He grinned a bit, "I won't ask where you disappeared to."
He then motioned to the table, "Please, pull up a chair and join us." Before he could turn away, Doc continued, "Oh, by the way, I'd like you to meet my friend, Christian Naggar. We were doing some catching up. It seems to be in the air tonight."
With that, Doc motioned the waitress over, "this man is on my tab as well."
"Any friend of Doc's has got to be a good person. Pleased to meet you"
Alaric sits down and runs his hand through his hair, and motions to the waitress for another ale.
"Well life was rough there for a bit, but OSI gave me a leg up and got me back into the saddle. So here I am once more making my way about in the sector. Running a Border Worlds Transport at the moment, trying to rebuild my capital. After that, well I think it will be back into the guard service. I also am trying to tack down my old crew. We worked well together and after chasing down Sam's killers we saw a lot. By the way we got the guys who did it. Took a long while since they went underground once they learned we were looking for them, but they are all space trash now."
Taking the last sip of his ale, Alaric waits for the waitress to bring another.
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"I'm glad you found the assassins, Alaric," replied Doc to the tale of Sam, "we lost a good man that day and we all mourned. Having some closure and justice makes it all the better." He then raised his glass, "To Sam! May he rest peacefully." All drank to the toast.
Christian told his story to Alaric of how he came to Lividia. "Life in Rheinland has never been easy," he explained, "when you're an unemployed shipwright, well, there isn't much to do."
He told of how he was fooled by a Hessian, how he was caught in a lie and subsequently tried and convicted of crimes against the government, exiled from Rheinland with his family and how he was brought to Lividia to put his talents to good use. He told of how he felt indebted to the Zoners.
"If John hadn't shown up when he did, I would be serving a very long time on Vierlande Prison in Hamburg, my daughter would be dead as would be the rest of my family," he explained.
"Well, a good shipwright is hard to find," responded Doc, "Besides, we all make bad decisions from time to time. Mistakes and failure aren't bad things if you learn from them."
As they talked over dinner, news flashes came up on hostilities again escalating around Freeport 9. They all listened but knew their was little they could do. Christian was nervous, "I'm not a fighting man and never was."
"Christian, you should be OK here," responded Doc, "there are enough platforms to drop a battleship cold." He then paused a moment, "And if it does get out of hand, I will come get you myself.....for Doreen's sake."
They finished their meals and Doc received a page on his datapad, "my ship is ready to go so I must bid you gentlemen adue."
He shook hands with each man and headed for his ship, making flight for Munich. Christian returned to his quarters for the evening.
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It had been almost two weeks since Doc had been home, having spent a good deal of time back on Shasta getting some much needed work done there. What made it bearable was that Midori had spend much of it with him, bringing Emiko with her. They had returned to Tombstone only a day before Doc himself finally did. He walked in his front door and found Midori feeding a squealing Emiko.
"Feeding time, I see," he said as he walked in, leaning over to kiss his wife as she fed a messy faced Emiko some soft foods.
"That it is," she said with a chuckle, "She like bananas now we try some rice."
"Well, she does seem to be eating it so that's good," he answered, "I'm going to put my bag upstairs. I'll be back down shortly."
"Hai," she replied with a smile.
It took him awhile but he packed the contents of his bag. He hung up his robes and got into some sweat pants and a bath robe. He returned downstairs to find Midori playing with Emiko.
"My turn," he said as he sat next to his wife and took Emiko, placing her on his lap, gently bouncing and tickling her a bit.
"She so loves you, John Henry," she said with a laugh.
"That she does, Dahlin', he answered with a smile.
As time went on, both would enjoy time together with their daughter as she went between the two before letting out a big yawn and finally falling asleep.
"I got it," whispered Doc as he picked her up and carried her to her bed where he lay her down and covered her up. As he did, Midori brought a bottle of Gallic Wine and two glasses to their room.
"Out like a light," he said softly as he entered the room. He then smiled as he saw his wife standing before him in her Kibuki gown, pouring two glasses of wine. He just smiled at the site and accepted the wine glass she offered.
"It has been awhile since we have time alone," she said.
"Yes, it has," he answered softly.
He raised his glass to hers, "To you."
She just smiled and toasted, "To us."
They klinked glasses and sipped. He then put his glass down half-full.
He gently placed his hands on her gown where it began to split, "May I help you with this?"
"Hai," she whispered, putting her glass down as well, allowing him to reveal her to him, her doing the same to him. Tonight was there night as the light was extinguished.
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The celebration was private at Tombstone, the Estate staff gathering to usher in the New Year. The Hollidays, Grady McCue, Miguel and Mijana and others of their staff were all present. On a big view screen, they watched a live broadcast from Planet Manhattan as the celebration began about a minute before than change of year.
"Quickly, People, make sure your glasses are filled," said Grady as he made his rounds with a champagne bottle. Finally, filling his own, he joined all in the countdown.
"10...9....8....7....6....5.....4....3....2....1...Happy New Year!" all present shouted. The crowds of Manhattan cheered as they did.
Finally, Doc took the floor, "Everyone, I wish to make a toast. With a new year upon us, we all have much to be thankful for and to look forward to. I toast all of you, my staff, whom I don't think get near enough praise. Grady, you're here when I'm not, helping Midori with Emiko, keeping after my stables and such."
He then turned to Miguel and Mijana, the latter now about 8 months pregnant, "You two have done much to keep the grounds up. You have much to look forward to with a child so near."
He then addressed his security guards, "You all keep the undesirables out with that brute warrior instinct you live with. I have no doubt that it would be different if you weren't here."
He raised his glass, "To another year!"
"To another year," all chorused and all sipped their drinks.
Gradually, the crowd dispersed, leaving the Hollidays to their own. Doc poured another round for them.
"To another year, Dahlin'" he said to his wife.
"Hai, to another year," she replied and they both took their drink.
They then put their glasses down, embraced and gave a New Year's kiss.
With that, they retired for the evening.
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Popess Concordia was just leaving after a meeting with Doc as Midori came in from tending her gardens. She was alarmed at the extra security around the Estate and was frightened. She put Emiko down on the floor and let her walk about even if she fell down several times on her newfound legs. It was then that she noticed her husband coming out of his West Room and she knew right away, something was wrong.
With a look of concern and fear, she walked up to him. Putting her hands on his waiste, she just looked up,
"What matter, John Henry?"
He just shook his head and sighed, "Dahlin', I have to go to Yukon. It's Alvin."
"Alvin? Yukon?" she asked confused, "What going on? What wrong with Alvin?"
"He's dying, Dahlin'," he answered somberly, "I have to go help him. I owe him that."
Midori just nodded and sobbed a bit. She knew he was right.
"Dahlin', there's more," he explained, "there's been a coup within the Coalition. I'm not sure what's going on but I've increased the guard here for your safety. If you need to, take Emiko and go to my lab. No one....and I mean no one will find you there. Do NOT take your ship as it will be a target."
He continued with the story of the day's events, the escape he had to make from Omega 52, the Coalition Volkung. He told her everything even though it was very little in the grand scheme of things.
"And while I have yet to hear back from the Liberty Government, I hope they understand why Alvin cannot die," he said softly as he pulled away and turned to face a window, his head hung.
She came around him, again standing before him, "Will Liberty not kill you?" Her eyes began to drop tears.
"No," he answered, "that's not the Liberty government. They know that someone is worth more alive than dead. They may keep me for awhile but kill me? No."
They again put each other's hands around each other's waists, leaning back to talk. The skin of her chest showed from her kimono and for a moment, it was soothing.
"Listen," he said to her, looking into her eyes, "when I get home, I'm taking some time off.....for us. Of all the people I don't make time for, the one I love most is the one who get's so little of me."
She forced a smile through her wet face, "Hai. That would be wonderful. But, I do have a request."
"And that is?" he asked
She just looked over at Emiko, smiled and then looked into her husband's face, "another child. A sibling for Emiko."
Doc said nothing, only gently nodding.
For the time being, as Doc waited for word from Liberty, they spent some time together over a simple lunch.
It was a pleasant day at the small Honshu village. Midori sat in a chair on the shore of the ocean that the small fishing village of her parents bordered. In her swimsuit, she watched and played with her daughter, passing the time as they awaited a chance to return home. Pleasant days though kept her mindset away from current events back home.
She was clueless as to the wherabouts of her husband. It had been over two weeks since she so much as heard from him. She cried at night wondering if he was dead or alive, if he had been taken by the murderous Volkhan that she had heard about or some other pirate group out for a quick ransom. In any case, she did her best to be the strength of the family, if not for her, for Emiko.
She would spend time with old childhood friends as they reminisced about growing up as children. It was at one point when an old girl friend of hers expressed how lucky she was to have married a man like John Holliday. After she left Midori and while Midori watched her daughter, she sighed as she staired at the rings on her left finger. She smiled, fighting off the negative feelings that tried to overwhelm her. Still, some of those feelings managed to find her.
"Please come home, John Henry," she said in a sigh. She then took a drink of her fruit juice.
"So much time you make for others," she thought aloud, "it is time you make time for us."
Again, she looked at the rings on her left hand. Still, she smiled. She knew that it was her who chose to marry a diplomat. It was her that chose to marry a man who was a man of peace and a humanitarian. These facts weighed on her mind everyday and those facts that she defended when someone questioned her.
She again looked at Emiko who was playing with a small toy spaceship that sung a song. She watched as she played, gradually succumbing to the soft music and eventually sleeping in a small bassenette beside her. Midori could only smile as she watched. She truly loved motherhood and wanted more children. Each time she enterained that thought though, the thoughts of a very busy husband crossed her mind. Still, it was in the front of her mind.
She sat back, drinking her fruitjuice, looking out over the calm waters of the Honshu Sea from her chair beneath the beach umbrella that shaded her and Emiko.
Married to Ambassador John Henry "Doc" Holliday
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Some Adult Content
Midori had arrived home from Honshu in the morning to a waiting husband. It had been 3 weeks since they last saw one another. She was tired from her long trip home and Doc gave her some time to rest, time he used to spend much of a day with Emiko. It was a day that he greatly enjoyed.
A fine dinner, prepared by Midori, was enjoyed. The busy day would finally get to Emiko as she fell asleep while John himself cleaned up the kitchen. With the night upon them, John and Midori finally had time for each other as they retired to their room.
She was dressed in a fine kibuki gown. It was thinly sewn and revealed the woman inside it. Doc himself was in his own evening attire, a simple bath robe. He poured them both a glass of Gallic Wine. It was her favorite. With her hair down and her smile lighting up the dimly lit room, she accepted the glass with a simple bow. They toasted each other.
"Is Alvin OK?" she asked him.
"Hai," he answered with a nod, "he is. He has much recovery in front of him but he will be fine."
She finished her glass and put it down. John's was still half-full but he too put his down as she put her arms around his waist, leaned back a bit and looked into his face. Doc smiled himself as he looked down upon her smiling face, placing his hands at her sides as he admired the skin of her cleavage.
"John Henry, do you remember what we talk about before you left?" she asked him softly.
He just nodded, "Hai."
He remembered her almost tearful request of wanting to be a mother again. It was burned into his mind.
For a moment, he thought about his absences, always needed by so many. Could he be a father again? It was struggle enough to Emiko but his good day with her erased those doubts.
"Is something wrong, John Henry?" she asked him as he seemed to stare into space for a moment.
He just shook his head, "nothing, Dahlin'"
Knowing what she wanted, his hands came around the front of her gown and opened it. She released her grip of him as he slid the kibuki over off of her shoulders and let it fall to the floor. There she stood before him. She only smiled at him, knowing that he would try to give her what she wanted. Before he place his hands on her bare skin, she released his robe as well.
For a few minutes, his hands felt her body. She just closed her eyes as she enjoyed the sensation as his hands explored her. With her facing him, he just began to kiss her. He lifted her onto the bed and under the very dim light, he began trying to give his wife her wish, to be a mother again.
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It was a pleasant morning at Tombstone. The sun was rising, cutting through the mist in the trees and reflecting off of the dew in the fields. John sat at his deck table as Midori brought out coffee for each of them. She was still in her evening dress and hadn't begun to put herself together for the day. Still, it was those times he admired her most. With their coffee she brought out some breakfast pastries and a carafe.
She looked out where the sunlight was coming through the trees, both her hands clutching her cup as she smiled, "it is beautiful morning."
Doc smiled as he looked at her, "it is."
"Stop it," she demanded, "I still have bed head."
He just kept looking. There was a moment of silence as they both worked on their morning caffeine intake.
"John Henry, I concerned," she said still clutching her coffee, "how do you feel about this Kusari thing with Gas Miners?"
He thought a moment, sipping his coffee. The first thing of the morning wasn't usually when he took up politics.
"Well, the miners are mad at Kusari and Kusari is mad at the miners and if it stays that way, we'll all end up with no h-fuel or plutonium."
She sighed, realizing he was trying to be indirect, "No, John Henry, I mean who do you think is right?"
He sighed himself, "I'm not sure. I only have hearsay in which to work with. On one hand, I hear that the Miners have taken Kurile and shoot passing ships while I hear that Kusari is pushing into the Sigmas." He paused a moment, "I just don't know what to think."
It was obvious she was prodding for an answer of allegiance.
"I afraid, John. I do not want my heritage to affect your decision."
He was a bit taken aback, "Why Miss Sato, how can you say such a thing?"
She sat back, upset at herself and sighed, "nevermind. I should not say such things as I am not politician."
Doc could see she was upset and concerned about things back home. He got up and took a seat next to her and pulled her tight as he tried explaining things to her.
"Listen, I know you love your family and don't want to be denied seeing them again and I know how you worked for the Miners." He smiled a bit, "Remember the rides I gave you home from Naha when I was courting you?"
She just smiled and dropped her head on his shoulder, "Hai. I remember."
"Dahlin, this is one of the hardest decisions I've had to make. My frienship with Kusari goes back before we met and we have an alliance with the Miners. I've offered to mediate something to Emperor Kogen but I've heard nothing. For now, there's little I can do. With a good reserve of plutonium and H-fuel, we're fine for the short term."
"And the long term?" she asked, her head still on his shoulder, looking out into the trees.
"I have no idea," he answered, taking a sip of his coffee.
He took the carafe and warmed both cups up. They would enjoy their breakfast until Emiko would began crying to get out of her crib.
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He had returned home from a trade run. The repairs on the estate were going well as he entered his home, repairs on damage caused by some heavy storms. Roof damage and some some side damage to the house but nothing to make it unlivable. It was a good thing too considering Midori had been hit in the head with flying debris and was resting after receiving a goose egg on the back of her head and a mild concussion.
After spending a few minutes with Emiko, he carried her to her play room where she began playing amongst the many toys she had. He quietly snuck away to tend to Midori. Upon entering their room, he found her fast asleep. He walked quietly to her and, trying not to wake her, slowly started to turn her head to check the bump on the back of it beneath her hair. Try as he may, she woke. Barely, but she did.
"John Henry," she softly said.
"Dahlin'" he replied softly, "I just wanted to check you. How's your head?"
"Only a bit sore but OK," she answered softly, "I am just tired....and a little nauseous."
He laid her back down, "nauseous? Odd. When is the last time you ate something?"
"I have light lunch," she answered, looking to a dish on the stand next to her side of the bed.
"Were you nauseous before that or after?" he asked.
"Both," she answered.
He then reached under the blanket and under her gown and began pressing on points of her stomach.
"Does anything hurt when I push?" he asked.
"No," she answered. With that, he covered her back up.
"Dahlin', try to sleep some more. If you still feel ill then I'll check you over."
He kissed her and right on cue, she fell back to sleep. Quietly, he left the room, scooped up Emiko and headed off for some father/daughter time.
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