Sweet Sixteen

{Chapter 1}

Today is my  16th birthday and Mom and Dad woke me with breakfast in bed.  They had also hinted at several surprises later in the day.  For now, though, Daddy had to get to work.  For as long as I can remember, Daddy had been Commandant of the Starfleet Academy and he loved it. I do too.  As a child, I lived on campus with Daddy before he had married.  Now, I often visit him on campus, and love speaking with all the cadets, especially the handsome boys that came through the Academy!

After finishing my breakfast of eggs and pancakes, I climbed out of bed, carriying my orange juice to the closet to drink while I picked out my clothes.  It was Saturday and I have plans with my best friend, a Betazoid named Tara.  I love her like a sister but really hate that she can read her mind so easily.  I wish that I had those kinds of abilities but no... I'm was just a plain old human.

After showering, I quickly dressed in the outfit I had picked; a dark purple long-sleeve shirt and jeans.  Some colorful socks and a pair of tennis shoes rounded out the outfit.  Picking up my juice and breakfast tray, I headed out of the room and up the stairs to the kitchen where Mom and my siblings were still eating breakfast..  

I look nothing like anyone else in the family.  I have blond hair and blue eyes, while Daddy hasdark hair and almost black eyes. Mom is also dark colored.  But that all made sense, because I was adoptbed by my Dad, Jason.  I have always known that, ever since I was a little kid but I don't know the whole story,  yet..  Daddy always says that I am too young but that one day he will tell me everything.

My oldest brother,  Jimmy looked up from his plate of waffles, a grin on his face.  "Happy Birthday, sis!  So are you OLD, now?"  He laughed as I blushed.  Jimmy had the pointy ears of his mother's Vulcan heritage but was very unlike their grandfather's serious nature.  He takes after Mom's Q side more.  

"Oh sure!"  I laughed as I replied back.  "Just remember, you aren't too far behind me."  I sat down beside him and stole one of  his strips of bacon, laughing more as he looked in mock horror.

Maria was the next to speak up.  "It's just another day, that just happens to be the anniversary of our birth.  I don't understand why we have to have a party.  It's so illogical."  She sighed and went back to reading over a data pad.  She was Jimmy's twin and 12 years old, shetried to act so much like our grandfather, it sometimes was humorous.

Mom came back to the table with cups of milk for the younger brats; Jeffery, who was 6 years old and Anna, who was three.  Rounding out the table was the youngest munchkin, Luke who was in a bouncy seat on the table.  He was born just a few months ago much to my horror.  Classmates often joke at me stating that he is my son.  He may as well be since I am his favorite person in the whole wide world, but no... he is my brother.  

He cooed at me as I moved him toward me.  He was just starting to get a personality and I loved watching him.  He often spent the afternoons in my room with me so Mom had a bit of time to relax while Anna took a nap.  Mom pushed the mushed up banana toward me.  "You mind feeding him?  He seems to like you more than me, especially when he eats."  She paused and smiled a bit at her.  "I don't know what I'd do without you at times."  She reached out and brushed my hair back from my face just like she did when I was a little girl.  "Oh, and your father wants you to come by his office sometime after lunch.  I know you're going out with Sandra this morning but ya might stop by after 2 or so.  He wants to talk to you alone, but I'm sure Tara can find something to do while you're speaking to him."