=/\= Starbase Unity =/\=
Chloe stood in their bedroom back on the Unity. She was working on unpacking their bags from their time on the Padassa... she hadn't realized how much they had actually collected during their time there. Although, it seemed like she had been the one who had done most of it. Much of her belongings had leaked into his bags.
Dressed in a fitted t-shirt and levi shorts, she softly moved about putting their things away. Her stomach gave a soft growl... she couldn't remember the last time she actually ate something. After she got everything put away she decided she would get something from the replicator for Richard and her to eat.
Richard arrived back at their quarters, looking somewhat strained, but with a very happy expression on his face. He’d just had to endure a grueling debrief with Admiral Guzman, who had seen fit to tear him a new one for putting himself in danger. However, on the way back, he had received some mail, and he came bouncing into their quarters.
“Chloe! You here?”
"Bedroom." She called out to Richard, still having a few things to put away. She stoped to look at the doorway between the main living area and their room. Something odd was in his tone of voice.
Richard appeared in the doorway, a massive grin on his face. “Guess what?” He asked.
"What?" She asked curious, her face easily showing that. She had no idea what had gotten him into such a lively mood.
“I’ve gotten a reply from Sarah, she’s on her way here. In fact, she’ll be arriving in about 4 hours, considering the date of this letter.” He smiled.
Stopping, she set down the clothes she was about to put away back onto their bed. "Four hours?" She seemed surprised that it was so soon. She was more than a little nervous than meeting Richard's child for the first time. Moving to him, she kissed him on the cheek. "That's wonderful..."
“She’s dying to meet you.” He said, a broad smile on his face. “A little nervous about having a step mom who is only seven years older than she is though.”
"Im a bit nervous myself actually..." She said as she went back to putting their belongings away. "Im not so sure how she will like the idea of having a step mother at all..." She knew if she was Sarah, she might not like the idea of someone taking her mother's place, let alone taking some of her father's attention.
Richard walked over and took Chloe up into his arms. “You’ll do fine.” He said, smiling at her. “Sarah’s great.”
"Of course a father's going to say that." She said amused. "But how will she feel about some of your love being put on me?" She had no idea how Sarah would react to her, even if Richard said that it would be a good reaction.
“Well, we’ll find out.” He said. “Oh, and she might try and hit on you.” He said, warningly, as he let her go.
"That's one of my least concerns, Richard." Chloe said, rolling her eyes before she finished putting their things away. "I don't see any reason to get her guest quarters when she can just stay here in the spare bedroom..." Chloe said as she put their bags away.
Richard nodded. “I thought we could meet her at the airlock, show her round, etc.”
"Do you know what ship she's coming in on?" She said finishing up any last of the tidy up chores that she was working on before she stopped to look at Richard.
“The Westmoreland.” Richard said.
Going to Richard's desk, she activated the computer to find the ETA of the ships arrival. "They seem to be coming a little ahead..." She said with a glance to Richard. "The ship will be at docking port 4 in roughly an hour..." She had nerves growing in her stomach. She could fly a fighter and come inches from death, but this made her nervous.
“Well, we’d best get ready to meet her then.” He said, heading into the bathroom to have a shower and a shave.
"Do you want me to get you a clean uniform out or do you want something casual?" She asked, hoping to get a little insight of what she wanted to wear as well. They didn't have duty until the next morning so either would work.
“Well, she usually sees me in uniform.” He said. “I wonder if she’d freak if I turned up in casuals…”
"I will get you a clean uniform..." She said standing up from his desk, pushing him off toward the shower. "She has enough to 'freak' over at the moment with out adding more to it." She said, lightly shaking her head.
Richard had his hot shower, and a shave, tidied up his hair and left the bathroom wearing a towel. He made his way over to the bed where Chloe had laid out his grade A USMC style uniform. He smiled, as he got dressed.
While Richard had been in the bathroom, she had taken the time to change into a causal pilot's jumper. It was a one piece black outfit, having extra padding at her knees and elbows with a fabric that had a light shine to it. Currently she was sitting on the sofa, a book in her hands. Of course she could of tidied some, but that wasn't her nature.
=/\= To be continued… =/\=
MGen. Richard Sharpe
MEF CO
2Lt Chloe Merau
Pilot
