Family Meeting - Part 1

Posted on 15 Mar 2020 @ 4:35am by Lieutenant Commander True Keading & Captain Jonathan Reynolds & Civilian Eddie Reynolds

Mission: Mission 3 - Whom gods destroy ...
Location: Reynolds quarters
Timeline: MD7 19:00
1463 words - 2.9 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

"Computer time," Jon barked again. He had been asking seemingly every 10 minutes.

"Dad you need to relax," Eddie informed his father. The chime went and Eddie opened it breathing a sigh of relief it was True here first not his mother. True would have a soothing effect on him.

"Hi Eddie," True smiled at him and glanced at Jon who looked like he was about to have a nervous breakdown. She felt guilty about all of this but she just needed the closure, otherwise things were only going to get worse the closer they got.

"Hey True," he smiled at her. "I got a coffee table picnic going on here if you want anything." He indicated the snacks. Eddie had his own way of coping.

Jon rose and walked over and gave her a big hug. "Do you want a cuppa?" he asked.

"Sure, that would be great." True nodded, turning to Eddie she said, "Thanks, I appreciate it but I Think just the tea will be fine."

"Tia offered to come, you know for moral support," Eddie tossed out casually as if testing the water. "Thats nice right True?"

"It is, very much. Especially since things did not go so well the last time Tia was in a meeting such as this." True left off saying that Tia must like him, she really didn't want to be accused of starting anything between them.

"Yeah dad if we could refrain from accusations of …. well you know in front of mum," Eddie said sharply. He could see how that would end. She would react just as badly as his dad had.

"Eddie," Jon stated handing True her tea. "I apologised. I still don't understand this "bond" and neither do you. That concerns me. Sorry but being a parent, you get concerned for your kids."

The chime rang again. Jons nose screwed up slightly which would have been adorable in different circumstances. He looked at the door and said "come in."

Charlotte walked in. "So you summoned me."

"MUM, "Eddie winced.

"Not summoned," Jon stated as calmly as he could. "We need to sit down and talk about a few things."

Her eyes fell on True. "If its a family meeting why is your new girlfriend here?"

"Because I have messed things up and should have done this earlier. And I asked True to come. I should have come and told you about developments I get that. That was me, so I need you to stop punishing her. Please sit down," he indicated the couch. "Charlotte please," he added softer.

"True," he nodded at the other couch as Charlotte eventually took the seat next to her son. He was a Starfleet captain for the goddesses sakes. He should be able to diplomatically work through any situation.

Holding her tea with both hands True sat where Jon's eyes had lingered for a moment after he'd said her name. This was going to be a bucket of laughs, she could see that. Suddenly she wished she wasn't here, she felt like a third wheel.

"Okay," Jon said. One of his fingers brushed her side as he leaned forward. "Trues more than just my girlfriend. Theres no easy way to say this but shes my imzadi …"

The other woman gasped.

"And shes not going anywhere. So for everyone's sake we need too …,"

"I need a drink," Charlotte said flatly.

Eddie immediately rose and ordered a glass of red wine in which the computer immediately identified him a minor and demanded parental authorization.

Jon leaned back and shut his eyes for a moment. Maybe that wasn't the best way to start. "Computer allow. Authority Reynolds, Jonathan Serra nine seven seven alpha.

"Here mum," Eddie trotted back with the glass. He offered True a lopsided smile.

He let her take a long sip and repeated, "She isn't going anywhere and as far as I am concerned is now part of the family. I need you to accept that. It'll take time right," he looked at True, "From a counselor perspective acceptance takes time and is a process. One we need to start."

That actually went better than she thought it would. So far no one was yelling. "It is a huge adjustment for everyone involved." True spoke quietly and unsurely. "But yes, we need to figure out how to all coexist on the same starship that we all call home."

Charlotte knocked the entire glass back. Eddie kind of sucked in his teeth and Jon had a look on his face that he had witnessed such behaviour before. She placed the empty glass down somewhat harder than necessary. "To do that I have to be in the loop. Jon I'm his mother not your new girlfriend. She shouldn't be in the know about things before I am … thats just disrespectful."

Jon winced inwardly at the spike of angry. More annoying was she was in some respect correct.

"Yes." he said simply. "But Trues not parenting Eddie. You and I are parenting Eddie. She was here the night this "bond" business landed thats all. I didn't tell you straight away. I wanted more information, to understand it before talking to you about it because otherwise what am I supposed to tell you? Then Eddie was pissed at me ….

"Still am …."

Jon looked at him. "Not helping …."

"She introduced them. This whole situation is her fault. Suggesting they be friends,"

True opened her mouth to respond. They'd already discussed this once but Eddie interrupted her so she closed it again.

"Mum actually no its not Trues fault. I would have made friends with Tia regardless. Theres not many kids on this ship my age. And besides what would you have me do? A son of the 11th house be rude to a student at school? The Captains son? I have to set an example. Like you always tell me, I have responsibilities," Eddie said calmly. "But …." he looked at True as if wondering if saying this out loud was a good idea.

"Thats half the problem isn't it? Your mad I might be bonded for life with another woman so that screws up the responsibilities that Grandma and the "House" want me to have and them bonding me to another woman. Dads worried that I'm bonded to another woman for life when hes tried to get me away from all this - I'm not stupid by the way I know when Grandma married that other bloke that presented an opportunity …. and anyway now your mad at yourself that this has happened regardless. So basically I'm screwed and someone's mad either way."

Jon had a feeling this conversation was going in a direction he hadn't counted on. He looked at True, "Perhaps I should have taken up your offer of a counselor."

It wasn't funny, not at all but she had to bite her tongue to keep from smiling. "We still could," she reminded him. "But honestly this is good, everyone needs to get their feelings out in the open in a productive way, which is what Eddie has just done." Being in counselor mode allowed her to separate herself from the scene a little bit.

Charlotte shot True a look.

"Or," Eddie said frankly and probably pushing his luck. "You could start listening to your kid and getting his input in matters about what's best for him. I think I'm old enough to be heard if not always agreed with. Its my life. I should get a say. Or do I need to park this for another time. Dad was working up to an apology and I know Mum wants … no needs that.

Then Mum I want you, no need you to apologise to True as your not exactly behaving like someone of the 11th house. This is how it is now, I like her even if you don't and you have to move forward.

Still productive?" he asked.

She tilted her hand as if to say 'so so'. "I don't think an apology to me is necessary but perhaps to Eddie, who is upset by this umm, turn of events and then I think we should probably get back on the topic of how to coexist without biting each other's heads off."

"Out of the mouths of babes," Jon chuckled.

"So we all have a lot of emotional baggage from things that have happened in the past and somehow we have to learn how to either let that go, or carry it with us in a way that isn't detrimental to the group or anyone one particular person in it."

TBC

●●●● Captain Jonathan Reynolds
Captain
USS Andromeda


●● Lieutenant True Keading
Chief Counselor
USS Andromeda