Christmas Morning: Meeting the Parents, Part 1

Posted on Fri Jan 31st, 2025 @ 11:35pm by Lieutenant Commander Eirly Andersen & Lieutenant JG Malcolm Beckett M.D.

1,589 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Happy Holidays
Location: Eirly's Quarters
Timeline: Christmas morning

"Are you sure? Like absolutely sure you want to be officially introduced to the same crazy family that Kasper comes from?" She raised an eyebrow to further accentuate the question.

"I've been to your house before and met your mother. It's whether or not you want them to know you are associating with me," he said. He leaned down and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

"My father will be happy," She closed her eyes at the kiss. By the Gods, did she love this man. Taking a breath in and out through her nose she added, "Shall we do this then?"

"Sure. Just point me where you want me."

"Alright then," Eirly crossed over to where the video screen was, entering a few commands including a call code to bring up her parents. Truth be told, even though he had already met her mother, Eirly was nervous to officially say hey, he's my boyfriend.

The screen remained blank while it called, until a younger looking man with dirty blonde hair, green eyes and the same smile as Eirly answered. "Eirly! Hi!" It was her youngest brother Leif and he was absolutely overjoyed to see his sister. He then shouted to off the screen, "Ma! It's Eirly! She's the one calling!" Then turning back to her, "I haven't seen you in ages! I miss you."

"Oh! Give me a second, I'll be right there!" Came the reply of Ingrid from off the screen and Eirly smiled because she knew her mother would bring her father too. A few seconds later, Leif was pushed out of the way and Ingrid was on the screen, smiling, "Hi baby girl, Merry Christmas."

"Hi ma, Merry Christmas to you too," It was pretty obvious where Eirly got her whole personality from, just by looking at her mother, "Is father around? I've got some news I'd like to share." As if on cue, her father appeared, all 6'3 of him as he crouched down to see her, "Merry Christmas, Eirly. What news have you got?"

"Hi sis," came the strung-out drawl of her other brother Gunnar in the background as he walked off, not bothering to see her at that moment.

"I just wanted to say I miss you guys, all of you." Eirly replied as she fidgeted, "Kas will be calling you later, but I wanted to officially introduce you to someone," she motioned for Malcolm to come over into view, "I know you've met him before, thanks to Kas, but this is Malcolm Beckett, my, um, boyfriend."

Malcolm grinned at the screen. "Merry Christmas everyone," he chimed, trying to exude as much cheerfulness as one could over subspace. As he was saying it he realized that having this meeting in person probably would have been much easier. He felt more personable when there wasn't a screen and a few hundred light years in the way.

"I knew something was up when I spoke to you a few days ago," Ingrid replied with a smile, "Did she like what you ended up getting her?"

"I'm sorry about that, Mrs. Andersen," Malcolm said graciously. "I was taken a wee bit by surprise. I know Kasper was trying to help, but I also knew Eirly hadn't been able to call home much, and I didn't think it would be very right of me to be the one to tell you that we were dating. The two of us were actually on a special assignment and couldn't be on subspace right as Kasper came on board. I'm sure he didn't even think of it."

"Mal, this is my father Patrick, and the brother you just saw is Leif. He's the youngest and probably my favourite," Eirly watched as Leifs eyes lit up at the compliment. "I know it's a bit odd meeting like this, but I figured it would be better now than to reveal we've been dating for over a year when we next get shoreleave near home,"

Patrick looked from his daughter to her boyfriend, "It's good to meet you, Malcolm. I've heard that you're a doctor as well?" He had approval in his voice, "What's your specialisation? And how on Earth do you put up with my son all day?" He smiled wide and laughed.

"I'm an interspecies internist for now, sir," Malcolm replied. "First mission we encountered here was a First Contact with a race that had been in cryostasis, so the field is growing everyday. I suppose the work keeps me busy enough. I honestly don't see Kasper too much at work. Just in passing. It's only when he's trying to bug Eirly that he's a bother to me."

"He's been bugging her since the day they were born, so that's nothing new, unfortunately," Patrick said with a nod. He saw how Eirly looked at Malcolm when he was talking and realised she was happy. "A race that had been in cryostatis? Fascinating, you'll need to tell me more about it." Catching his wife's eye, "Another time though."

"Right, well it's been busy for medical. It's nice that they added a few more doctors. Kasper included," Malcolm stated. "How are things back home for everyone? Did you have a nice Christmas?"

"That's my cue to leave, im trying a roast at the moment, but it's been nice to meet you, Malcolm." Patrick stood up and walked off but could be heard off screen, "Look after my daughter for me!"

Why is he making a roast? Eirly mouthed in confusion: her father never liked cooking and it was her mother who did it all. "Christmas was lovely, took a little trip to somewhere warm for a few days before Leif came home yesterday with his girlfriend, and Gunnar came back a couple of days ago with his fiance," Ingrid said as she sat down, looking tired. "All we needed her were you two and Kasper, and Christmas would've been complete again. Maybe next year?"

"Sorry ma," Eirly said, looking sad. She didn't know about her brothers girlfriend or fiance. "We simply couldn't get the time off even though it would've been amazing. Next year for sure!"

"So, how did you two start dating? It wasn't Kasper was it?" Ingrid asked as she settled into her seat.

"We, uh, met at the First Contact Day party just after I came aboard," Eirly said with an affectionate smile towards Malcolm, "Our friend Charlotte introduced us, we danced, we talked, we started officially dating a little while after that."

"So you found a gentleman who will take you dancing and he's a doctor," Ingrid said approvingly. "What else do I need to know about you, Malcolm?" She asked.

"Well, I'm from Scotland if ya couldn't tell. My father is also a doctor, surgical ophthalmologist, and my mother is a social sciences teacher. I have a sister Camden; she's in Starfleet's diplomatic corps teaching advanced courses at an Academy prep school on Wichi IV. What else?" Malcolm looked at Eirly for guidance.

Eirly thought for a moment and shook her head, not being able to think of anything, "I don't know, but you're definitely one of the most caring, loving and honorable people I know, but I think that's just my opinion. You know how to handle Kas being an idiot, so that's something, right?"

The voice of Gunnar came floating through the screen from the background behind where Ingrid was sitting even though he couldn't be seen, "Really? He's a doctor too? How many more do we need in this family?!" It was followed by the sound of someone being smacked and an audible "Ow!" which meant it was probably Gunnar getting smacked by his brother.

All three of them laughed and Eirly said, "That's what happens when you go into Engineering and not Security or Medicine like the rest of us, Gun." She looked to Malcolm, "He's not normally like this, he's usually the friendly one."

"What kind of engineering do you do?" Malcolm asked eager to get the attention off of himself.

"You really don't like the attention on you, do you?" Eirly said quietly with a laugh to Malcolm.

Gunnar slid into their view next to his mother and took a seat. He looked similar to Kasper, but he had a more bored look on his face, "Damage Control Specialist over on the California. I've been there for about three years now, and it's definitely been an interesting ride, but I've got a good team with me so it's all good."

He paused for a moment, thinking how to ask his next question. "Do you think you'll be around for a long time, or are you going to take what you want from my sister and leave like the last one did?"

This question earned another smack, this time from Ingrid, and it was hard, "How dare you say something like that!" she said, her voice full of shock.

Eirly was shocked at the question and her jaw dropped open. Is that what he really thought? It deflated her happiness, and she sank back into the seat, "Gunnar, that was uncalled for." she said quietly, not knowing what else to say.

"I do not have any plans of leaving Eirly. If anything, I worry it will be the other way around when she realizes that she's way out of my league," Malcolm replied. He was earnest, but also hoping to break some of the tension.

She interlaced her fingers through his and squeezed, "Never."

~tbc~

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