Truly Grateful - Part 1

Posted on 23 Mar 2020 @ 4:00am by Captain Jonathan Reynolds & Lieutenant Commander True Keading
Edited on on 11 Apr 2020 @ 12:03pm

Mission: Mission 4 - Race against the machine
Location: Holodeck 2
Timeline: Pre new mission
1300 words - 2.6 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

True had been mulling the idea in her head of doing something really nice for Jon after all of the things he'd done for her lately, but she couldn't come up with anything that felt like it was the same level as giving her Atlas. Settling for a nice quiet few hours on the holodeck, she reserved one and created her own program then invited Jon and simply waited for him at the entrance.

Jon was quite surprised to get a message from True to meet her in the holodec. He was curious as to what it could be. Hopefully not more Austen zombies. He had stopped to change into some civilian wear, not entirely sure what to wear he had settled on jeans and shirt with trainers. When the doors opened his mouth dropped. It looked familiar … home familiar to so respect but not quite betazed.

"True?" he called out looking round the countryside. Immediately as he stepped through the doors, there was grasslands but in the distance it what looked very similar to Laguna bay.

"Hi," She said coming at him from the side of the program. She had on a knee length dress. It was light pink and had a small floral print. Her hair was pinned to the back of her head in a 1940's Earth style and she felt very comfortable in her fashion choices. Atlas zoomed past her legs, disappearing into the grass again, chasing what appeared to be a small mouse.

"Wow you look nice," Jon said a big smile washing over him. He pulled her into a kiss, inhaling her perfume. "What did I do to deserve this?" he asked.

"Lots of things." True replied, a little bit of a smirk on her face. "Come with me, I have a little picnic planned for us. It was one of the first things we did when we started dating. I hope you don't mind that I brought Atlas. I thought he would really love this program so I included a couple of mice. They shouldn't bother us."

"Well it'll let him run off some of that energy," Jon thought remembering back to finding one of his shoes scratched a couple of nights back. "I love picnics. And I love anything that involves you. And you in a dress …." he muttered. He really liked that dress.

True shook her head though she was slightly amused. She led him to an area where the grass was much shorter. There was a blanket on the grass, a basket full of food and some plates that had already been placed on the blanket. "So nothing fancy, just some finger foods and wine." She pulled out a bottle. "Chilled even, I tried to think of everything."

"Oh stop it," he chuckled. "Guys like looking at their attractive girlfriend in pretty clothes." Of course he was imagining what was under the dress too but he did really like "that" dress. "Its a compliment."

"You're right, I don't take compliments very well," in fact she had a bit of a blush on her face. "Thank you," she said pulling him to her and brushing her lips across his.

He deepened the kiss for awhile, before pulling back. "Get used to it. I give compliments," he grinned.

"I think you did a great job love. Thank you," he indicated the picnic and sat down.

"Are you having some wine?" he asked.

"Absolutely, this is a celebration . . . of us I guess. It's our . . . 90 day anniversary." True grinned.

"Wow. That long already. I am a lucky bloke. Aren't I supposed to mark it with something nice for you too?" He asked opening the wine and pouring both glasses.

"Nope, you already did that. You gave me a lovely birthday party and Atlas, so it's sort of a thank you as well. As you may have noticed, I'm not used to people going to such lengths to please me," she chuckled. "Usually I'm fixing everyone else and I'm really enjoying having someone take care of me for a change."

"Thats great," he took a sip of his wine. "And not going to stop. You know that right love?

Also," he stood up. "What you really need. What we really need right now is excitement. To much family strife and ship and mission drama. We need to blow off some steam, celebrate really in style. I love this programme, it looks a little like home actually ... but can I tweak it?

Do you trust me?" Jon said his eyes sparkling.

She cocked her head curiously at him. "Yes," she said without hesitation but she really wondered what he was up to.

Jon kissed her quickly sensing she did really trust him and he smiled very happily at that. He placed his glass down and stood up extending his hand out to her to help her up again.

"Computer in the area in the distance, the beachy part add in a rope swing and waterfall. Cross reference it with Laguna bay Reynolds programme Home 6 and move us to that location at the top of the drop," He grinned at her. "Also add in some inflatables and have the picnic at the bottom near the cave, with a step ladder to climb back up to the swing.

We are going to need less clothes," he grinned, "Or more wine. You True Keading are about to experience a Laguna right of passage."

"Am I going to regret trusting you?" True laughed as she let him pull her along. Atlas scampered after the pair as if he thought he was being left behind. But when they stopped walking he darted back into the high grass, his tail held high up in the air, the only orange thing in the landscape.

"Never," Jon said stopping at the swing and pulling his shirt off. "You are going to love this. Really get your heart beating." He shrugged off his jeans and shoes and grabbed the rope.

"We used to skinny dip in the summer time. My families home was about 3 miles away. We had a boat and stumbled across this place pretty quickly upon moving to Betazed. In fact this tree, we all carved our initials in." He grabbed her fingers and moved them towards the bark. "See Liam, Hannah, Me, Rawley, the Lias two …. 10th house. We had a lot of interaction with that family, a few more of the island kids."

A smile spread across True's lips. "What were you like as a kid? Now I really wish my family had stayed on Betazed, maybe we could have met earlier. Probably not though, I'm one of those people who believes people come into your life when you need them." Her fingers were still touching the bark as if it gave her an view of what had happened that day.

"Cocky, reckless. Drove that boat far too quickly. Crashed it twice," he grinned. "Worked all summer to replay back the repair amount. Mother insisted so I learnt responsibility. I was also dashing, exciting and easy on the eye you know," he grinned at her.

True giggled. "I would have rolled my eyes at you back then. I was shy. Curious about people but shyer than I am now. Animals and the outdoors were my friends. Glad I grew up, and I'm glad you did too. Although, I still see some of that in you." She grinned as put her arms on his shoulders and kissed him. "Go jump in."

Jon winked at her, let her go and made a run for it with the rope swinging out fearlessly. "Geronimo ……."

TBC

●●●● Captain Jonathan Reynolds
Captain
USS Andromeda


●● Lieutenant True Keading
Chief Counselor
USS Andromeda