You step onto the metroo platform from the tube. It had been a few jaros since you rode on one. You used to take them all the time, from city to city and posteno to posteno. You only packed a few items in an overnight bag. Helm grabs your hand as you look on your minividi to make sure you are headed to the right house. There is an armed soldato who asks for your identification before he lets you into the housing area. He checks your names against the guest roster. “Ms. Nancy Johnson and Mr. Mattew Holmes. Yes, both of you are expected.” He points to the map on your minividi. “Follow the directions. If you have any problems, contact the station.” He says as he transfers a link to you.
You nod “Thank you. We will.”
Earlier you sent a message to your parents confirming your arrival time. Your father was very insistent that both of you show up together. They way your parents sounded, you are surprised they didn’t have a terauto waiting at the gate to pick you up. Your father has one with an assigned driver, but they are for official use. This is a family affair.
As you walk through the housing area, you remember how all of these houses looked the same. You aren’t sure if your parents are in the same house they were in when you went to the Academy or if they have moved houses as per “needs of the floto”.
A few minutes later, you see his name on the front plaque. You squeeze Helm’s hand and kiss him. “Are you ready?”
“Let’s do this.” He responds as you walk up the sidewalk.
As you ring the buzzer, the door opens and your mother is there, hugging you and kissing you. “Oh, my baby girl. I am so happy to see you.” Still hugging you she pulls you into the house. Helm follows and closes the front door behind him.
She releases you and looks at Helm. “And you must be Mattew. The young man who my daughter loves so much.” Her tone is warm but there is a bit if a strain on her voice.
He extends his hand. “Yes, Ma’am. Navs, I mean Nancy, means the world to me. You should be proud of her and everything she has done out on the Rim.”
“And just what have she done out on the Rim?” A booming voice comes in before you see the man. The Komandanto walks into the foyer from what you think is the kitchen.
“Daddy” you scream and throw your arms around him. Instead of wearing his uniform, he is wearing exercise clothing. You hug him tightly.
He wraps his arms around you, and you can almost feel the smile on his face. “Awww there’s my katido.”
“Daddy, I have missed you and Mommy so much.” Even though you are in your 20’s and have been living a life away from them, the warmth of his embrace makes you feel like a little girl again.
“You are home now. How long can you stay?” He asks.
“Sir, we have to return to our ship tomorrow.” Helm says extending his hand.
While still holding you, you feel your father shake his hand.
“Why don’t we all sit at the table?” your mother says. “Are you hungry? We haven’t made tagmango, yet. I was going to do so after your father returned from working out.”
“I’ll skip my workout today.” He says as he guides you to the dining room table.
“Cookie made a good matenmango for us, but we could probably eat again.” Helm says politely.
“So who is this ‘Cookie’ and what have you been doing out on the rim?” your father asks.
The next couple of hours is spent telling about the various crew members and then your adventures. You explain to your father why Helm is wearing the bright red jumpsuit, and how you picked it out for him. Then Helm almost beams with pride when he explains how you identified and plotted the nav course to a planet almost covered with asteroids and wrecked ships, allowing the crew to safely land and deliver your cargo.
“All of that danger for livestock?” You mother comments as she sips a glass of iced tea.
You quickly respond, “On some of these newly terraformed planets, there isn’t any native livestock that survived the terraforming process, so we have to transport new animals for the colonists.”
Your father leans back in his chair and thinks for a moment. “I thought you were against forced removal and relocation of indigenous lifeforms. Isn’t that why you quit the service?”
“Daddy, I might not agree with changing planets, but once it is done, the people moving in need supplies. We are contracted to do some of that.”
Helm speaks up, “Sir, that is different than having the floto, come in and forcibly remove the early colonists and other native species so the UGA can send in who it deems as approved and appropriate.”
You can see the defensive look on your father’s face. “Well we don’t do that anymore. When we did it, it was all in the name of “Unification and Civilization”. It made the Core stronger and better for all.”
“I’m sure it did, sir.” Helm responds as he takes a drink of iced tea.
“Don’t either of you regret leaving the militservo? You both could have had fine careers.” Your father says going back to long discussed topics.
You place your hand on Helm’s. “Daddy, we are both happy. The Libereco does good work out on the Rim. You can’t change our minds, and hopefully you can be happy for us.”
You mother places her hand on your father’s in a similar gesture. “We are happy for you. Now, when can we start planning the wedding?”
The rest of the day is spent catching up with your parents. Helm takes your bags and sets them up in what will be your room for the night.
Your father isn’t happy about both of you sharing a bed, but you ask him what he would have done at your age. He laughs, hugs you, and then in a very military tone asks “Do you have proper contraception? Do you require use of the base pharmacy?”
You hug him tightly. “We are good on all of that, Daddy. Kurgio keeps us up to date on our shots. Both Helm, I mean Mattew, and I are taking birth control. I use it to regulate my cycles, as mom taught me. And he does it because he isn’t ready for children, yet.”
You help your mother make vespermango, and then everyone goes to bed early. Your father has to check in at his ship tomorrow, and you have to return to yours.
That night as you lie in Helm’s arms, you listen to his heartbeat. “Are you glad you met my parents?”
He kisses the top of your head and strokes your hair. “Yes. I’m glad we could talk about a few things and prevent any misunderstandings.”
You tighten your grip around his chest. “Good.” Then you pause for a moment. “So, when do you want me to meet your parents?”
He sighs. “Probably when I am back speaking with them.”
“Oh.” You quietly say. “I’m sorry about Mom’s talk of weddings.”
“It’s okay. Out on the Rim, I think of you already as my wife and mate.” He says and then pauses. “But if we spend more time in the Core, we should probably make it legal and official.”
You raise up your head and look at him in the darkness. “Do you really mean it? You want us to be married?”
He smiles up at you. “Of course. Don’t you?”
You snuggle back down on his chest. “Of course.” You say, though in reality you had never really thought about getting married to him, in a ceremony, with family and guests. It seems so old fashioned and traditional. “Let’s talk more about it in the morning.” You say and close your eyes.
You feel his hand stroking your hair again. “Of course my love. Whatever you want.”
(We will stop the Adventures of the Crew of the Libereco, here for now. Maybe when I have some new ideas, I will return to them. I hope you have enjoyed it. If you did, leave me a comment. If you enjoy my writings, follow and subscribe. On Friday I will have a new story. We will be back to my smutty little stories. I have a new Couple’s take to start things. See you then.)
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