Engagement [Backpost]
Posted on Wed Oct 27th, 2021 @ 6:47pm by Lieutenant Commander Hiro Sommers-Yoshida & Lieutenant Commander Melanie D’BrooNi- Haistro & Commander Peter Horn & Commander Iy'dan Brell
2,005 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Episode 4 - The Fires Of Hades
Location: Runabout - Approaching Briar Patch
Timeline: Mission Day 4 @ 1400 Hours
ON:
"Buddy," Liam said clapping Hiro on his shoulder. "You ready?"
Iy'dan heard the exclamation from Liam, his interest caught as he continued to prepare the ships sensor grid for the battering it would get from the Briar Patch. "Ready for what... we re still a few hours away from the edge of the Briar patch!"
Hiro didn't see this coming. Startled he looked over his right shoulder, up towards Liam. "Now!?? ..Here!??" he said with a low voice, hoping no one would hear what he said. His whole body tensed as his nerves got the better of him. "You promised to wait with this!"
"Ok I won't marry you if you don't want to yet," Liam said.
"Wait.." Hiro said, still keeping his voice down. "It's not that. I, eh,..I haven't, you know, asked her yet." He felt ever more awkward, because he knew Liam assumed they were already engaged by now. And he had good reason to after their last talk. "We're..not engaged..yet."
“Oh....OHH.... I really put my foot In things there,” Liam said comprehending things suddenly.
"Yeah...." His friend looked at him like he was that kid that got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "But, I do have the ring with me. It just never feels like there's a right time, if you know what I mean."
"Is there ever a right time to propose?" Tyrion offered as he leaned closer, "just do it... can't really go wrong now, can you? And who would ever think of doing it on a runabout? Surely, that alone is a unique setting?"
Iy'dan had returned to his console trying to make it appear as if he wasn't watching the drama unfold before him by rerouting power back and forth from one system to the sensors in a continual loop. He loved weddings but in the same wrinkle they needed to feel natural and comfortable and right. He continued his work but his full attention directed on what was being said.
“Worst she can do is say no,” Liam mused. “But I doubt she will.”
"Can we please not use the No word?" Hiro looked at Liam with pleading eyes. "Man...this feels even worse than going into a fight. How did you two do it?" He looked at both Tyrion and Liam.
Tyrion held up his hands. "I'm the wrong guy to ask mate, sorry. I got pressured into it...both times. First time my husband was suffering under some kind of bond and we went to Betazed and mom said the only way to fix it was to get married. We weren't ready for that, and obviously it didn't last. And this time..." He glanced back to where Teena was with all the group's children, "well I guess I was pressured into it too...to a degree... But I agreed so she'd have her family again, and I'd have mom off of my back."
"Don't look at me for guidance. Five lifetimes of marrages, one host having had six Husbands... I can't keep it all straight anymore!"
The Trill jested from his console feeling he needed to add to the ongoing conversation.
"This all doesn't really make me feel better." Hiro mumbled while staring at the computer console before him. "I guess Tyrion is right then, just do it..and see what happens."
"Does it feel right buddy?" Liam said after a moment. "With Kaylee I just knew. I knew that she was something bigger and better than myself and I just wanted to spend my entire life making her happy because I was so dam lucky to have her pop up in my life and make me happy. Actually in my life earlier too but I was too immature and stupid to understand what happened then.
There was a sense of she connected everything and just fits completely with me and it still feels that way. In fact it gets stronger every single day. Its me and her against everything the universe wants to throw at us and I don't want it any other way. Ever.
The question is .... Can you see yourself happy with Mel. Long term. Is it right? I think you already know but ..... Don't hesitate. Just got with the first word that pops into your head or the first emotion your feel and then you will know."
Kaylee looked towards Liam with a smile upon her face, knowing full well that she did feel that connection with Liam, that they belonged together.
Hiro thought about the time Melinda and him had spent together, all the while listening to Liam. It had been over a year now and a big part of it they had been living together as a family. To him it felt right. He felt a strong connection with Melinda. He really did love her. And he loved Rowan and Miri as were they his own children.
He mustered his courage and stood up. He smiled at his friend, and there was a sparkle in his eyes. "She's the one."
"Well you have three hours before we enter the Briar Patch region... If this is going to happen then you'd best get a wiggle on Lieutenant!" Iy'dan interjected from the science console of the runabout. A playful little grin tugging at the corners of his mouth as the man was visibly working up the courage. "Go get her tiger!"
Liam nodded. "She's the one," he winked at Hiro.
Then he turned to Kaylee. "I may need you help with wording on this wedding. I've never married anyone before."
Kaylee nodded, "I think can help you out, Liam. Giving him a smile of encouragement.
Aft Compartment
Hiro stepped through the entrance that lead to the aft compartment and saw Melinda with the children. He felt his heart pounding at a higher rate than normal and wondered if she would notice. Strange that proposing to her felt more of a challenge than confronting an opponent in a fight. Then again, maybe not. He had experience in fighting and using a Katana, but not when it comes to asking a woman for marriage.
He stepped over to where his duffel bag was and crouched down. The ring he'd acquired was safely tucked away in a side pocket. He took the little black box and opened it. The ring glittered in the light with the three little diamonds from Casperia Prime on top.
He closed the black box and stood back up, intending to turn around and face Melinda, ready to ask the big question.
Melinda had just settled the children for a nap, or hopefully a little longer than a nap when she saw Hiro walk up. She didn't need to be a telepath to know that something was up, she could tell just by looking at his face. Still, she just smiled at him, pretending she hadn't noticed. "Come give them a hug Hiro," she said, beckoning him over. "Miri wants a big hug, she just said."
"I can't say no to that." Hiro replied and smiled back. He casually put the little black box containing the ring in his right pocket, hoping Melinda would not notice. He crouched down besides Miri's bed. "Hey little princess. How are you? Are you warm enough?"
The little girl nodded, stretching up her small hands. "I want a hug," she said, staring up at him with dark eyes that were distinct to those of Betazoid heritage. "I don't want to sleep..."
Hiro gave the little girl a warm hug and after that gently planted a kiss on her forehead. He didn't notice that the little black box fell out of his pocket and landed on the floor next to his leg. "I know. But you've been up the whole day, and I can see you're tired. There will be a whole new day tomorrow."
The little girl nodded, refusing to let him go for a moment. "Will we be at our destination tomorrow? Can we get off this tiny ship?" she asked, stiffling a huge yawn.
Meanwhile, Melinda stood to the side, watching the scene unfold. She did notice the little box dropping to the deck with a soft thud but, since the sleeping area was poorly lit to allow for the children to sleep, she didn't quite notice the shape, nor the importance of it.
"I don't know for sure, sweetheart, but I hope we won't have to stay much longer on this ship." Hiro said to Miri. "Now, time for you to sleep. Even a princess needs sleep."
"Yes daddy," the little girl whispered, almost sleepily, "you go to mommy..." She settled back and closed her eyes, an odd smile playing around her lips.
Hiro smiled at her and waited a little time until he saw she was really sleeping. He then gently stood up, careful not to disturb the little girl. But the silence was rudely shattered by sharp noises of something breaking into pieces due to pressure. Hiro froze into place, instinctively knowing what he'd done.
"Shi..!" He muttered but managed to prevent himself from fully uttering the not so nice word. Dropping on one knee he searched for the ring among the pieces of the now broken black box. He found it at last. Standing up again he inspected the ring closely and was relieved that it still was in one piece.
"You alright there Hiro?" Melinda called from just a few paces away, having heard the shattering sound. It was a miracle however, that the little girl didn't seem to wake up. She did see Hiro kneeling, but still wasn't connecting any dots because she was making a constant effort not to just read her partner.
There was a pause. "Yes,..and no." The Asian man walked into a spot of the room where the light was brightest. He held up the ring so that Melinda could see it. The three small diamonds sparkled in the little light that was there. "Actually...I want to ask you something..." He slowly got down to one knee before the woman he loved. "Melinda Sommers..." he began.
Melinda was stunned. Of all the things she had been sensing, she had honestly not expected this! Her eyes traveled from the man kneeling before her, to the ring, and back to the man. How long had he been preparing this? she wondered. It took barely a second to process it all though, before she pulled him up to his feet and wrapped her arms around him. "Yes," she whispered to him. Now, she felt, it was a proper time. A new heading, a new life. One she did want to share with the man she loved.
It felt like a heavy weight lifted off his shoulders. Asking Melinda to marry him had been one of the more difficult things in a long time. He held her in his arms, careful not to drop the ring. It was a perfect moment, one that he wished could last for hours and hours. "You want to tell the others?" he whispered in her ear while smiling.
"I think the majority already knows, considering they're telepaths," Melinda chuckled happily, "and if not....why not let them guess for a little bit?" She took his hand and led him out of the children's sleeping area. "Let's see who says something first," she grinned at him.
Liam grinned as he walked past. "About time. So then does this mean I get to marry you two lovebirds?"
Kaylee smiled as well and then remarked. "You may end up doing so, love." grinning at Liam. Then she turned to Hiro, "Congratulations"
Vincent had turned his gaze to his husband, giving a smile, then looked back at Hiro. "The best of luck and you two are good together."
"Thank you." Hiro said, sporting a big smile as he looked at them all. "I feel.. No, I am the happiest person alive right now."
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