Visitors

III

Mac'hla looked in the mirror and flattened out her gray tunic. Today they had replaced their fatigue uniform with the more formal option.
They traced their fingers over the roses on their left forearm nervously before pulling the sleeves down. It had been over two years since Mac'hla had seen Kirk and Spock in person, and a lot had changed since them.
Though they kept in contact through brief audio messages, these messages were few and far between– maybe only two with each of them in the past two years. It wasn't that Mac'hla didn't want to talk to them, of course– they were like fathers to her (though she'd never admit it). But between all of their duties and personal lives it was nearly impossible to find the time to talk.
Mac'hla suddenly realized that her former commanding officers were unaware of her children... one of which being named S'chn, after S'chn T'Gai Spock. That would certainly be an interesting conversation.
"You look fine, Mac'hla." T'Ve said as she entered the bedroom.
            "I would like my appearance to be pleasant."
"It always is, but normally such a thing would not cross your mind, my wife." T'Ve observed, running a brush through Mac'hla's long white curls, "Are you nervous?"
"To be nervous is illogical." Mac'hla muttered.
"Be that as it may, if you are then you are. There is no changing what is reality."
"'Nervous' would not exactly be the word I would use." Mac'hla sighed, "Perhaps... anxious."
"Those are synonymous."
"Not always." Mac'hla mumbled, "I have not communicated with either of them for months, save for the transmission about Minerva VII, and I have realized that they are not even aware of our children."
"I am surprised." T'Ve admitted, "How do they not know?"
"As I said, we have only communicated a few times and the topic of said communications has always revolved around starfleet. Personal life was never brought into things... They hardly know me as I am now, and it is as if we are strangers to each other once more."
"Once you have let someone into your heart, they can never truly be strangers." T'Ve assured her softly.
T'Ve picked up two decorative pins from the dresser and parted Mac'hla's hair down the center. She pinned each half back to frame their face. Mac'hla's dyspraxia made it difficult to do their hair at times, but their wife would graciously help them with more intricate styles.
"That statement sounds... awfully human." Mac'hla observed, turning to face T'Ve.
"Sometimes that is the only way I can get through to you." she whispered and stared at Mac'hla's lips.
Mac'hla smirked, "Oh, well now you are just teasing..."
Mac'hla leaned forward to kiss her, and–
"Ensign Tissa to Captain Tirok."
Mac'hla sighed, "This is Tirok."
"We're approaching the base, we require your presence on the bridge, sir."
Mac'hla nodded, "Understood. I will be right there."
T'Ve raised an eyebrow, "They always have immaculate timing."
"Come now, my wife, do not be illogical." Mac'hla said sweetly. They pressed a gentle kiss to T'Ve's emerald lips and caressed her cheek before turning and exiting the room.
T'Ve watched her leave, lovestruck. It seemed that every time she saw her darling bondmate she fell even more in love.
She pulled her long auburn hair over her shoulder and sighed, wondering when Mac'hla would be back... they'd been overworking themself again.
Mac'hla was always able to keep a good balance between duty and family time, but it seemed that lately they had absolutely no time for themself.
T'Ve knew Mac'hla felt like she didn't spend enough time with their children, but as a starship Captain that was given– and realistically, she spent as much time, if not more, than any other parent would with them.
Now, it was duty, and then immediate attention to T'Ve and the children, then up all night working on reports reading through the details of missions. T'Ve was becoming worried for her wife's health, and now that they were pregnant, things would be even more difficult.
T'Ve knew that this discussion would have to wait, and maybe for quite some time. With the new guests boarding The Revival, Mac'hla was going to be very busy.
T'Ve fell back and curled up in Mac'hla's side of the bed, inhaling her scent from her pillow. She too had been overworking, and before she knew it, she was dozing off in the warm blankets, dreaming of her wife's arms around her.