629: Your Presence is Requested

by Zander Blakeslee and Keiran O'Sullivan
81031.13
During the Captain's Wedding Reception

-=County Cork, Ireland, Earth=-

Samthia worked her way around the crowd at the reception greeting people that she knew as well as those she did not with her typical charm and glowing demeanor. She was careful to avoid physical contact with any men she greeted. She was always on guard to prevent her Deltan pheromones from causing any unnecessary discomfort to the opposite sex.

Not that it prevented those who she passed near from turning to look, stare, and ogle. More then one Irishman had to be slapped back into the reality that their wife was standing next to them.

Samthia smiled warmly and hardly noticed those minor reactions from the lesser sexually developed races any more. She knew it was unavoidable.

Unlike most of her race who joined Starfleet she had chosen to put aside her vow of celibacy. She tossed that aside when she had fallen in love with a human and then married him; her husband, Zander.

Her smiled faded at the thought of him. She wished he could have come too, then she would have had someone to slow dance with. Not that she had not been asked when the slow music started to play; flattered as always she had politely declined. She knew that her husband would not mind her dancing with someone else. His trust in his wife was unending. It was Samthia who was uncomfortable with it. She preferred to dance with only the one she loved.

She finally made her way to the new husband and wife and smiled warmly at them both. She had not had the opportunity to meet Keiran previously but knew much about the man from Zander who, like the majority of the crew, liked him.

“My warmest and most sincere congratulations on your union.” Her voice was thick with the accent of her home world. She did not use the Universal Translator for social events feeling that it was not very personal. Plus, times like these were always a good opportunity to work on her English.

“I bring warm regards and blessings from my husband also.” She added.

"I'm so sorry that Zander got stuck minding the store." Zanh said, sincerely meaning it. "That's the problem when you're as good at what you do as he is. You prove you're indispensable and your social life goes out the airlock."

Samthia beamed. She was endlessly impressed with Zander and always had been, but hearing the Captain speak of him so highly only made her prouder.

"You are very kind. He is looking forward to congratulating you himself upon your return."

"Tell him to hold the thought a little while, no?" Keiran smiled. "I plan on keepin' the Captain all to mehself for the next two weeks. Nothin' for her to do but relax and know that if she tries to lift a finger, I'll be right there, standin' ready to prevent it."

"Sounds like heaven." Liis sighed. She'd done nothing but work, for years. She was looking forward to fully enjoying the first real vacation she'd ever taken.

"I don't want to keep you," Samthia smiled politely, "Especially with such lovely music playing. You must be anxious to get in a dance."

"Yes...enjoy the party...oh, and be sure to take a couple pieces of cake home for your boys." Keiran replied, stealthily changing the subject.

He did this intentionally, knowing how Liis felt about dancing in public.

To her, slow dancing -the only kind she would ever consider doing and even then only with him- was a very intimate thing.

So much so that she had told him in advance that though music at the reception was most certainly welcome by her as was dancing by their guests, that she wished to fore go the traditional 'bride and groom dance' in front of everyone.

"Thank you." Samthia smiled.

"Thank you for coming to our wedding. Be sure to take some flowers back from the tables too, if you'd like. I don't know what we'll do with them all." Liis added.

"'T'was'a pleasure to finally meet you properly, Lieutenant." Keiran concluded, "Your husband is a fine man, and I look forward to workin' with ya."

"Same here. Again, congratulations."

As she moved away, Liis sighed a different kind of sigh than she had the moment before.

"What'sa matter, darlin'?"

"My senior staff works entirely too hard." She thought a moment, fiddling with the chain of her earring. "Keiran, do you have your communicator on you?"

"Not on your life! 'Tis the day I finally got to marry Zanh Liis. The rest of the world can spin for all I care." He gave her the wink that made her heart race. "I'll go and fetch it. Right back."

He kissed her cheek and disappeared into the crowd. The first person he saw was a very forlorn Dane Cristiane.

"You look like you just lost your best friend, boy. Why the long face?"

"It's nothing, Sir." Dane said, not wanting to be a buzz kill in Keiran's time of joy and knowing that he definitely had the gift. What 'it' was, was watching Gira laughing, spinning around out on the dance floor with Keiran's son.

*Appropriate.* Dane thought, considering his research had told him that she was named for the word in Italian meaning 'spin'; inspired by a song that her mother liked, called "Gira con me questa notte".

*She's certainly put me into a spin cycle.*

Keiran followed his line of vision and nodded in understanding. "I see. Well, why don't you go and ask one of my nieces to dance? No, wait, what the hell am I sayin'? I don't want you anywhere near my nieces." He pushed Dane gently forward. "Go get another plate of food. I'll see you later."

Dane found, despite himself, he was laughing. "You're quite a man, Keiran O'Sullivan." He said softly, deciding that maybe checking out the dessert table wasn't the worst idea in the world.

Keiran returned to Liis a few moments later with his combadge in hand. "M'lady," He bowed gallantly.

"Thank you, sir knight. I'd curtsy for you, but in this thing the results would not be pretty." She tapped the badge. A lopsided grin curled the corner of her lip and she gazed deeply into Keiran's eyes as she spoke. "O'Sullivan to Blakeslee."

Keiran put his hand to his heart, raised his eyes to the ceiling and tilted backward, indicating that the sound of her calling herself by his name threatened to make him swoon.

[Captain?] Zander said, surprised to say the least to hear her voice. [Is everything all right?]

"Almost, but not quite. I have need of my Chief of Security down here, on the planet. I'm giving you a direct order to change into something appropriate and get down here immediately. Leave Samson in charge. All he has to do is keep the ship from running into the moon. Might be a stretch, but I think he can handle it."

[He says that he thanks you for the vote of confidence, Sir.] Zander laughed, relaying Micah's message.

Samson knew, of course, that Zanh was only teasing.

[He also says congratulations. But can I ask, what it is exactly that you need me for?] Zander wondered if perhaps too much Meade had been consumed and he might have to assist in reigning in some unruly, and likely very large, O'Sullivan relatives. [Should I bring back-up?]

"Not necessary. The problem is, there's a beautiful young woman down here who has no one to dance with. Tonight, that constitutes an emergency in my book." Liis responded. "You're the only man for the job. You have fifteen minutes to comply with my order, so you'd better move." Before he could respond, Liis concluded the conversation. "We'll save you some cake. Zanh out.]

Keiran shook his head. "You are quite somethin', Zanh Liis."

"And don't you forget it," she whispered, leaning in to steal a kiss.


-Fifteen minutes later –


Zander walked into the tent and looked around.

He was dressed in his dress whites having not been able to find anything more appropriate with in the time frame allotted. He suddenly noticed that he was, in fact, the only one there in any sort of uniform.

“Yikes.” He whispered to himself as several sets of eyes turned towards him.

He was going to turn and flee but his eyes fell on the newly married captains. He figured that would be a safe direction. He worked his way through the crowd to them.

“Commander Blakeslee reporting as ordered.” He saluted then held out his hand to Keiran. “Congratulations, sir.”

"Many thanks." Keiran gave him a firm handshake. "'Tis a mercy you're here. Been telling cousins and in-laws all night long that your fair wife is taken, but they don't seem to be takin' the hint. Best if you dance her around the room to show 'em the truth of it."

"I'm sure I don't have to make that an order." Zanh smiled as Zander next shook her hand. "I know that as you always do, you will perform this duty with thoroughness, honor, and dedication."

"Yes, Sir." Zander nodded. He scanned the crowd for Samthia, but the tent was packed.

"I think she was at Reece and Grace's table. Poor thing. Though she was able, I'm sure, to give February some advice on motherhood."

Zander’s head whipped around. “Really?” He smiled. “Good for her!”

"Motherhood?" Keiran's eyebrows shot upward. Somehow, with all that had been going on he had missed out on hearing that particular bit of news. "Little Bru, she's...in a family way?" Though Grace was in fact very tall, she was so thin that she seemed barely there at times, and many people referred to her as 'little'.

"That she is." Liis replied.

"Well, it is a day for good news." Keiran smiled.

Zander finally spotted his wife, seated, as the Captain had guessed, at the same table with Bru and Dabin.

“There she is.” He turned back to the two captains. "Congratulations again. Enjoy this whole evening. The only thing that tops it is the arrival of your first child.” He winked as he turned away and headed for his wife.

Liis stared at Keiran with wide eyes at hearing Blakeslee's remark. Her heart started to pound, and her hands suddenly felt clammy.

The woman who had faced constant danger and unthinkable obstacles in her life and work up until this point was rendered speechless and terrified by the very concept of motherhood.

She knew full well how important having another child had been to Keiran in the past timeline, and it was something they never got the chance to do.

She had honestly never given the idea of ever having a child of her own -with anyone-any serious thought. Her work had always been top priority, and since she felt she'd never marry it followed that she would never have children.

Keiran immediately took note of her changing expression, and grasped her hands in his.

"Liis, if ever the time comes when you're ready to think about that, you know me well enough to know how I feel. But," he kissed her forehead gently. "I couldn't ask for any more blessings than I've been given already. I'm the happiest man alive just standin' at your side. Mind that, no?"

She smiled and nodded. Her heart rate began to return to normal.

"Besides," his eyebrows elevated. "We've got to finish raisin' Dabin Reece before we even consider givin' him a sibling." He was pleased to find that his remark had the desired effect, making her laugh.

He looked up as he heard his name being called, rather impatiently at that.

"Looks like Molly's up to ninety over somethin'. I'd better go see what i'tis. Right back."

As she watched him patiently approach the one of his sisters closest to him in age but most unlike him in temperament, she marveled.

She was amazed how, just by being present in her life, he made anything that had seemed absolutely impossible in the past, suddenly very possible.

*Never allowed myself to imagine bringing a child into this life...* She thought, her eyes never leaving him. *But...*

A moment later he was back at her side, and she wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly.

"Problem?" she asked.

"Not for anyone but Molly." Keiran rumbled softly with laughter, shaking his head. "I talked her down, not to worry. Everything is," he squeezed her back, "...just grand."


---------------------------
LT. Commander Zander Blakeslee
Chief of Security/Tactical
USS Serendipity NCC-2012

and

Keiran O'Sullivan
USS Serendipity NCC-2012