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Laili Shen, three-in-a-month years old, trailed after her father as they weaved through the halls of the Enterprise. She didn’t completely understand what was happening, but the gist of it was that she would get to see her mother, and she was very excited.
The Enterprise was very big, and it felt like they were walking for hours , when finally, her father stopped and announced that they had arrived at their new quarters. He pressed a couple buttons, making fun beeping noises, then the door swished open. She charged forward, looking around.
“Where’s my room?” She asked. Her father laughed.
“This way, madame,” he said, taking her by the hand and leading her to a room that was only slightly smaller than her room on Starbase 1, where she lived previously. It had already been decorated, perfectly, by her mother. She looked around and then threw herself on the bed.
“It’s good,” she announced.
“Good,” her father agreed.
Liani was playing with her Klingon warrior figures when the door swished open, and her head snapped up.
“Mommy!!” She squealed, sprinting out to the main room. She was immediately scooped into a tight hug, a kiss planted on her forehead.
“Hi, Laili,” Adri smiled, setting her daughter down.
“What am I, chopped liver?” Hunter joked, walking into the room.
“No, you just didn’t run into the room fast enough,” Laili informed her father. He embraced Adri, gave her a quick peck on the cheek, then picked Laili up.
“How was work?” Hunter asked.
“Blue nearly killed himself again,” Adri sighed, guiding the family into the small living room/dining room.
“Ah, yes, the infamous Ensign Blue Grayson,” Hunter chuckled. “Can’t wait to meet him,”
“He’s actually going to be babysitting for Laili tomorrow night,” Adri informed him.
“I’m not a baby!” Laili said indignantly.
“I know,” Adri assured her.
“Hey, Adri!”
A new voice made Laili look up from her PADD, playing a holovid of a movie called The Little Mermaid that her father had put on for her. The new voice belonged to a man only slightly younger than her mother. He had a messy mop of blue hair and an expression that looked both anxious and enthusiastic.
“Blue! Come on in,” Adri smiled, letting the stranger into the house. Laili stared at him.
“Hi…” Blue waved awkwardly at her.
“This is Laili,” Adri told him.
“Hi, Laili, I’m Blue,” Blue said, crouching down in front of her.
“I know,” Laili said simply.
“Laili, be nice. Blue is going to take care of you while Daddy and I have some alone time,” Adri reprimanded.
“Fine,” she sighed, turning her PADD off.
“Have fun with the holovid,” Blue called as Adri and Hunter left. “So. What do you want to do?” Blue asked, turning to the little half-Trill.
“Dunno.” Laili replied, glaring-but-not-really at her caretaker. She didn’t trust this stranger.
“Well, do you like to draw?” He suggested. “I brought a PADD with a drawing program, or we could read…”
“Drawing?” Laili perked up. Blue laughed.
“Yep!” He nodded, taking out a small PADD and a stylus. “Do you want to draw?”
“Yes, please,” Laili nodded.
The door swished open two hours later, and Adri and Hunter walked in to find their daughter giggling as Blue read a book called ‘The Grumpy Doctor’ to her.
“Seems like you’ve got her approval,” Adri noted. Blue looked up.
“What can I say? I like kids.” He shrugged
“Mommy, I like Mr. Blue,” Laili announced.