Part I - Dinner

Posted on Wed Nov 20th, 2024 @ 1:03am by Lieutenant JG Zai & Lieutenant Adrianna Baciami

1,105 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well

ON:

Adrianna and Vance had spent all of the afternoon and evening together, talking until the small hours of the morning before falling asleep on the sofa. It had felt like old times, just being with each other. Thankfully, Adrianna had a day off the following day. She hoped Vance wasn't too tired for his orientation. She'd had breakfast with him and ensured that he had breakfast before he had left.

She'd sent Vance to work with an invitation for Sabastian and Zai to dinner. From the compliment she had received from the last meal she had cooked, she assumed it would be a yes. In traditional Italian fashion, she'd cooked for an army, more or less.

Adrianna hummed softly to herself as she worked in the kitchen, the comforting rhythm of her movements grounding her thoughts. The smell of simmering sauces and freshly baked bread filled the air as she prepared a traditional Italian meal for the evening. On the counter, a mound of flour and eggs slowly transformed into smooth, golden pasta dough under her skilled hands. Her mother had ensured that she could cook using traditional methods.

With practiced precision, she rolled out the dough, cutting it into long, even ribbons of tagliatelle. A light smear of flour dusted her cheek, unnoticed in her focus, giving her an endearing, rustic charm. She glanced at the clock, noting she had just enough time to finish before Vance, Sabastian, and Zai arrived.

The thought of them all gathered around the table brought a smile to her face. Tonight wasn’t just about good food; it was about bringing everyone together, creating a space where old friends and new connections could blend as seamlessly as her sauce and fresh herbs. Plus, she owed Zai a thanks and wanted to check in on him to ensure that she was feeling better.

Vance arrived first. Zai and Sabastian had gone home to change. He called out. "Adrianna?"

Adrianna stepped out from the kitchen, finishing laying the table by adding her homemade focaccia and a bowl of parmesan to the table. She looked over and smiled, "here, amore mio."

"Zai and Sabastian went to change. Sabastian was in Navigation all day and trapped in a room with Lieutenant Lee for a lot of time so he was in a bit of a mood and Zai's been in engineering since this morning double shift. Freshening up needed to happen." He laughed. "Come to think of it I should head to my quarters and shower and change."

Adrianna smiled and stepped over, "si, you probably should. If you want to stay shower and change, my room is just through there. Help yourself. Promise that I won't peek." She kissed him softly, enjoying the fact that not even the universe could stop them now.

He smiled. "Got to get my stuff in my quarters. I will be back." He paused. "Oh...I should give you a heads up."

"You're going to attempt to steal your shirt back?" She questioned with a smirk, "I wish you luck."

He laughed. "No. It's Zai." He sighed. "Don't say anything to him but he looks bad. He says he's fine but he's pale and I've had to compensate a lot for him today at work. He's off his game."

Adrianna nodded her understanding before nudging an itch on her cheek with her hand leaving another smear of flour in her cheek, "alright, thank you for warning me."

Vance walked towards her and smiled. "I wish I had a picture of this." He reached out and dusted the flour off her cheek. "I'll be back soon."

She blushed and couldn't help but smile up at him. "You have 15 minutes and then I am serving up, with or without you. Pendragon rules apply-- I am feeding a small army after all." Adrianna kissed him again, "andiamo."

Vance headed out promising to be back soon.

Several minutes later Zai and Sabastian stood outside Adrianna's Quarters and rang the chime. Zai held onto Sabastian's arm his forehead leaned against his shoulder. Sabastian could sense the energy it was taking for him to just stand and that worried him. He squeezed Zai's hand. "Alright Darling?"

Zai smiled. "Yeah."

He was pale and drawn and Sabastian hated it.

"Enter," Adrianna called out. After Vance had left, she had cleaned herself up a little and finished setting the table, beginning to dish up food. She took one look at Zai and shook her head, "Madonna, Zai, you know that I would not have been offended if you said 'not tonight'. Murdering you for using an explosive in my office would have just waited for another day."

Zai laughed. "I'm good. I brought Sabastian, the Stomach, Walker."

"Hey! I am not the Stomach."

Zai laughed, "aha."

Adrianna chuckled and gestured to the dining table before saying, "well, I have three take out boxes waiting so that whoever wants to, can take some home. Vance should be here in a minute." Adrianna stepped away and picked up two of the plates of pasta and placed them in front of the men before returning for her own and Vance's. "For the record, if Vance isn't here in five minutes, his share is also available to take home," she grinned, placing the plate down and taking a seat.

Just as if conjured by her words the door chimed. After she let him in Vance strolled to the table. "My apologies my roommate was hogging the shower. Us enlisted personnel have roommates."

Sabastian snorted. "I have a roommate too."

Vance snorted. "Aha." He looked at the table. "This looks amazing."

Adrianna couldn't help but look a little confused. Perhaps he thought he had overstepped before when Vance had let himself in earlier. She chose to drop it. She sat down and smiled, commenting, "seem to remember this being one of your favorites when I cooked on the Pendragon."

The woman felt a little guilty about not inviting him to move in. The truth of the matter was that the couple may have once been almost married, but they only shared a bed once and it wasn't like that. Things felt different now though, and she was tempted to offer. Her emotions seemed to be seeping through-- guilt, nerves but overarching was just pure love and joy at Vance merely entering the room.

Zai, who was barely containing his own emotions looked up at Adrianna. "What happened? Why do you feel so guilty and an nervous. Vance is back now...I don't understand." He looked at Vance. "Did you do something?"


To Be Continued...

 

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