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Part II - Family Affair

Posted on Thu Nov 21st, 2024 @ 2:48pm by Lieutenant JG Zai & Lieutenant Adrianna Baciami

1,026 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well
Location: Various Communications
Timeline: Just Before Entering Dead Zone

ON:

"Mamma!" Adrianna exclaimed.

Tanina waved her off, amused, "a man like him-- he's worth a million lifetimes, cara mia. We only get one soulmate in every lifetime and you are lucky to have somehow found him twice. This is a man that loves you and will not intentionally leave you. If you even consider letting him go, I will add to your tallies and I will tear off that tattoo you got for him on you rib cage, that you think I didn't know about, and make you choke on it."

Adrianna blushed, but couldn't help but smile, "I love you too, mamma." She looked back at Vance, her eyes dancing across his face as if memorising it. She looked back at the screen.

"Vance," Tanina smiled, "I will tell you all of the stories about Adrianna when we meet. But there is one that you deserve to hear now: A few weeks into her mission, she told me of a man that took care of her whilst she was recovering from a glitter bomb related injury. I didn't know it at the time, but I know now that it was you. She told me that she couldn't wait to bring you home-- but in another lifetime. I told her that if it is meant to be, this lifetime will work out. She knew then and there that you were It for her. She said 'Mamma, it took me two weeks to fall in love-- I've never fallen in love so quickly. He's it for me and I will do whatever it takes to keep him and to provide everything that he wants and needs in life'. When you 'died', she told me that she would never love again. She was right. She never did love again. I suppose a soul knows what the heart and head doesn't. It knew you were alive. I look forward to having you part of the family when you are ready. But I demand grandchildren within a year."

"Mamma!"

"Well I've never had a family it was my sister and me since we were very young so I want a big one." He looked at the screen. "Can I tell you a secret Miss Baciami?"

"Of course, handsome," she replied.

He removed the cuff from his right hand, the one that covered his wrist all the time. He held it up to the camera and it showed a little cupid with his bow drawn. "I got him the day after I met Adrianna. I swear I didn't believe in any God but Cupid is the one I prayed to cause I swear he hit me with that arrow and it will stick for ten thousand lifetimes." He shrugged. "I have held a shrine to him since that day and this tattoo is a way I thank him daily for Adrianna."

Adrianna looked back at him, her jaw slack again. Was he telling the truth? If he was she could feel herself falling deeper in love, as if it were possible.

Tanina smiled at the screen, internally squealing, "get her tallies right. She will not be jinxing this. She cannot lose you."

Adrianna chimed in, "that is why he came over tonight, mamma. That and a drink. Are you done embarrassing me?"

Tanina grinned, "Vance, you may not be blood, but if you need something-- anything-- Adrianna related or not, our family is yours."

This chocked Vance up. He was silent for a long time. "May I ask a favour?" He spoke so quietly it barely came out.

"Name it, it is yours," Tanina smiled.

"You're on Earth Right?"

She nodded, "never left."

"It has been...a long time since I was there. There is a Village not far from Nagano City in Japan. It's called Togakushi Village. Just outside it is a bit of land with an old wood cottage, it's where my sister and I were abandoned by our parents. I still own the land...or rather Adrianna does since it was in my will and she got it all. My sister's grave is there at the local cemetery about five minutes walk from the cottage. It has been years since I visited. Would you be able to perhaps visit before you came to the station? I used to place a purple orchid on her grave every year...it's been a while."

Tanina was silent for a while and looked back at Adrianna. Adrianna nodded, she knew the question, "si, the place I had to put in your maiden name, mamma. The address is in the red binder."

Tanina nodded and looked back at Vance, "do you know how many years?"

He sighed. "Since I lost my memory."

"Two," Adrianna replied.

Tanina nodded, "I will go early next week. I will take a picture for you. This is an easy ask."

He used the back of his hand to wipe his eyes. "Thank you. For me and for Aribelle."

"Of course," Tanina smiled, "you are almost family. Now go and make sure my daughter doesn't jinx your life. We need you."

Adrianna reached out and ended the call before wrapping her arms around him. She remained silent, letting him process what he needed to.


He let her hold him. "I never told you much about Ari did I?"

"No," she replied softly, "just so you know, I marked a grave next to her when I thought you'd died. I thought that is where you may have wanted--" Adrianna cleared her throat, "I know she was killed because of Starfleet. I know that you live in seconds because of it. I know that you loved her dearly. You never shared much. Because of it though, I had leverage with Starfleet. They were going to pull me out, but when you told me about your sister-- when we did a diamond heist together-- I used It to keep me by your side." She sighed, before returning to topic, "tell me about my sister in law to be. My tattoo can wait."

He smiled. "I think it's time I told you the whole story."


To Be Continued...

 

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