Good To Be Home
Posted on Sun Feb 9th, 2025 @ 2:27pm by Civilian Alexandra Winters & Civillian Sara Winters & Lieutenant Commander Nash Winters & Civilian Brunel Winters
1,674 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Gone, Without Ever Knowing the Way
Location: Winters quarters
Timeline: MD 0, After "The Crew Returns Home"
Nash was tired and hungry but couldn’t wait to see Sara and the kids. He was off ship for less than a week, but at times it felt like a month. He just wanted to be with his family.
It was late afternoon when Nash returned to Astrea and hoped find everyone home. He stepped through the door to his quarters to find his wife Sara in the living area, reading a book on the couch. He set down his bags on the floor and rushed over to her. “Sara…..”
Sara wasn't expecting Nash to be back on the ship anytime soon. She hadn't heard that the team was on there way back, and she had been so swept up in the novel that she was reading that she didn't hear the door opened when he came into their quarters. She jumped a bit at the sound of her name, initially startled. When she saw who it was she threw the book aside and got up quickly to greet him, jumping into his arms.
"Nash," she buried her face into his shoulder. "I'm so glad you're home. Is everything okay? How are you?" She asked.
“I missed you, sweetheart. Happy to be back,” Nash said as he breathed in the smell of her and held Sara tight. “I’ll be alright. It was a weird couple of days. Let me look at you,” Nash said as he touched her cheeks with both hands. “One thing this mission did is make me realize how much you mean to me. All of you. I love you. “. He kissed her sweetly.
“Let’s sit. I have to talk about this.” They moved to the smaller couch, holding each other’s hand . “Things could have gone better, to be honest. We came back with what we wanted, perhaps a bit less, perhaps more. I’m not sure. Probably have to debrief with Remy in a few hours. But… more than that…. I’m drowning in self doubt right now. Lieutenant Cyn gave me an earful when we got back and she might be right. I’m an engineer, not an intelligence operative. She thinks I blew our cover and may have blown the entire op out of the water. I told her she’s crazy, but we’ll see what the Captain has to say. I need to get back to work and do what I know. Are Brunel and Alex ok? Nope they’re taking care of each other.”
"The kids are great. I think they'll always take care of each other. They are late actually. They went to play basketball with some friends and were supposed to be getting home around now. I'm sure they will be getting in any minute," Sara said.
"I'm sure whatever happened isn't as bad as you think it was. Tensions have to be so high when you are on a mission like this. And you didn't even have Astrea to have your back at first. I'm sure you were all on edge," Sara said trying to comfort him.
“Yeah, you could say that. We had to be careful about what we did, what we said, where we went. Always in danger of being exposed as Starfleet. I was careful, at least I thought was. I convinced myself I was. Maybe I’m being too hard on myself, Sara.” Nash rubbed his eyes and yawned. “You know, we can talk more later. I need to take a shower and eat something. Thank you for listening. I, um….had T’Lenn to talk to, but that was it. Having you here makes me feel a little better. I’ll be back in a little while.”
The familiar swoosh of the doors interrupted Nash as Alexandra and Brunel finally made it home.
"Dad!" Alex yelled. She dropped their gym bag to the floor and ran over to Nash and leapt up into his arms wrapping her arms around his neck.
Nash smiled brightly when he was reunited with his daughter and son. “Hi, daughter! Come here, Brunel! Oh, man, oh, man!” He awkwardly held onto Alexandra as she literally hung from his neck and pulled Brunel in by his hip. He kissed them both on the cheek.
“So tell me….how are you two? School going alright? Brunel, I can’t believe it, but you look like you’ve grown a half a meter since I left. Must be that Ataran physiology.”
Brunel finished hugging Nash, then grinned, before signing his reply. "I didn't grow that much in a few days," then he paused, looking questioningly to both Alex and their mother. "Did I?"
“That was a joke, kiddo. I wasn’t gone that long, but it seemed like I was. It means I’m happy to see you, son,” Nash said lightly.
It took Brunel a couple seconds to compute what his father had said, then he grinned brightly. He then hugged Nash again.
Alex let go of Nash's neck and jumped back to the ground. "How was your trip?" She asked excitedly.
“It was …..interesting. Sometimes it was rough. But we all came home safe. Look, I’m done talking about work. I want to get cleaned up and spend as much time with you. I have to debrief with Captain Johansen at some point today, but until then, I’m all yours.”
"Okay," Alex said backing off and heading straight for the replicator. "Brunel, what do you want?" She asked.
He looked over at Alex and signed that he would like some of the fruit juice that she showed him earlier that day. He was still learning about the various foods and drinks that were available to him now.
Alexandra put in the order and brought Brunel the juice he had requested while carrying her own hot chocolate topped with extra whipped cream. After she passed off Brunel's drink she took her own and stuck out her tongue, poking it into the mound of whipped cream, giggling at herself as she lapped up the whipped cream like a cat drinking milk.
Brunel smiled and would've giggled, if he were physically able to. Alex could always make him smile, no matter how sad he felt. He was very glad that she was a part of his family.
"If you're going to be silly, take it to the table please," Sara said pointing to where they usually took their meals and trying to hide her amusement. "We don't need a mess of hot chocolate and whipped cream out here on the carpet, please."
Without missing a beat, Alexandra started walking over to the table before her mom had finished talking and sat down. With the last small bit of cream, Alex stuck her finger into her drink and mixed it into the cocoa before taking a proper sip.
"Brunel, what do you want to do after school tomorrow?" his sister asked.
The young boy pondered this question as he moved to sit next to her, drinking his fruit juice. Then, he signed, "How about we go on a picnic as a family?"
Nash appeared, fully dressed in uniform and overheard the conversation. “Did someone say something about a picnic? That’s a wonderful idea, Brunel. What do you think, Sara?”
"Sounds good to me. Maybe on the arboretum, near where Chrys put up that treehouse?" Sara suggested.
Hearing this. Brunel clapped excitedly. "Yes please!!", his amulet's voice sounded loudly.
Nash considered what Brunel said. “Hmmm….that’s definitely doable and your mom and I can make it happen. I do have an assignment for you and Alex. Come up with a menu-things you’d like to eat and bring along and we’ll go from there.” Nash tried to sound serious but found it difficult to hold back his grin.
“Consider that an order from your Chief Engineer….and Dad.”
Brunel looked over at his sister, and grinned broadly. "We should go and figure out what snacks to bring. Maybe those fruit-flavored licorice strings, and maybe the nectar you showed me last week?"
"Sure, but mom is going to make us pack real food too," Alexandra warned him. "Maybe calzones?"
Brunel considered this, then nodded, a warm smile on his face. He felt very lucky to have the family that he did now. They were opening his eyes to so many new things.
“Ooohh….calzones! Extra cheesy to be sure. Hey, Brunel, if you don’t know what they are, just ask Alex. It’s like an inside out pizza, sort of. I will join you all later, if we can plan this for tonight. I have to get to the bridge to talk to the Captain and Commander Spello. Kisses and hugs, come on,” Nash said as he opened his arms wide to envelope his son and daughter.
Nash “rapid fired” kisses on both Alexandra’s and Brunel’s cheeks. “I love you both very much. Makes me happy that you’re here for each other and all that. It’s important. I’ll see you tonight.”
He then made his way over to Sara. “As for you,” Nash said before embracing his wife and giving her a slow, passionate kiss. He thought he heard some giggling and grumbling from the children, but he did his best to ignore it.
“What would I do without you? Thank you for all you do and have done. Tell me we can set aside some time for just you and me. I love you more than ever. Gotta go, sweetheart.”
"Of course we can. I'll wait up," Sara said as she hung on to her husband for as long as she could get away with, before he pulled away.
"I'll see you tonight," she called to him as he walked out of the door.
[End]
Lt. Commander Nash Winters
Chief Engineer
USS Astrea
Sara & Alexandra Winters
Family Members
USS Astrea (NPCs of Remy)
Brunel Winters
Family Member
USS Astrea (NPC of Spello)
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