A Proposal

[Cmdr Ridire 0]

Aidan steps through the doors into the holodeck and steps onto a white sandy beach. As the ocean water laps against the shore a few feet away, the warm breeze brings the scent of tropical flowers to him. He sweeps his gaze along the horizon, appreciating the colors of the sky and the water in the light of the just set sun. Above him the stars are starting to show. And behind him rises a bluff with the jungle just beyond. He spends a few seconds letting the sounds, sights and smells wash over him, relaxing him and leeching some of the nervousness and tension from him.

 

He turns and walks along the beach for a few minutes. He had asked Deb to join him here when she gets off duty which means she should be arriving within a few minutes. The only thing he had let her know was that a summer dress would do for appropriate attire, the rest of the details he kept to himself for the same reason he came here early, the same reason that was causing him more then a little anxiety.

 

Presently he finds himself at a chaise lounge set up on the beach. Taking one look around, he stretches out on the lounge and closes his eyes. Hopefully, it would only be a few minutes, but what happens after that may seem an eternity.

 

Debbie approached the holodeck with mixed emotions. Aidan was behaving strangely and had been for the last two or three days. He seemed distracted and a little on edge. At first, she thought it was her imagination but at dinner two nights ago , he barely spoke at all. When she asked what was bothering him, he insisted everything was fine. She hadn't spent more than ten minutes with him since then. She was a little concerned he was avoiding her. Then again, she'd been swamped with paperwork and he was up to his neck with the repairs to the ship.

 

His invitation to join him in the holodeck took Debbie by surprise. He'd stopped by her office a couple of hours earlier. He seemed perfectly fine....just like his old self. Aidan refused to tell her what to expect once she arrived at the holodeck but he did suggest she wear a summer dress. That narrowed her options considerably as she owned exactly one "summer dress" and he'd already seen it at his birthday party.

 

So Debbie left her office an hour early and managed to purchase another "summer dress." It was the same basic style as the one she already owned but it was a different color....a pink flower pattern.....and her one pair of "summer shoes" would go perfectly with it.

 

She stood outside the holodeck for only a moment before opening the doors and finding herself on a tropical beach at sunset. Debbie remained where she was, slowly scanning the venue. The vibrant colors....the lush fragrances....the sounds of the night creatures awakening from their all day rest....it was absolutely breathtaking. She wasn't sure how long she stood there. She might have stayed even longer if she hadn't noticed Aidan sitting in a chaise lounge near the waters edge. She couldn't help but smile as she moved in his direction wondering all the while what he was up to.

 

As she drew closer to him, she became more convinced than ever that something was wrong with the man. Aidan Ridire could usually hear the grass grow. Yet, he didn't seem to hear her approaching. She came to a stop directly behind him and he seemed oblivious to her presence. Talk about distracted! She decided to remain quiet just to see how long it would take for him to notice her standing there.

 

Aidan slowly becomes aware of her standing over him though for the life of him, he can't tell exactly how long she was there. He had been absorbed in his own mind, in his own thoughts and feelings, enough so that he hadn't even noticed the sky darken towards night. Under ordinary circumstances this setting along with her presence would be very relaxing. He closes his eyes for a moment as he lets out a slow breath before saying "Apologies for the sudden invite..." As he says that he angles up on his side a bit and scoots over to the edge of the lounge furthest from her, giving her a place on the lounge if she chose.

 

Debbie studied him curiously as she moved to sit down on the edge of the chaise. She positioned herself toward the foot of the lounge chair and looked directly at him, her concern growing with each passing moment. "Aidan," she asked, not bothering to hide her anxiety. "What's with you? It isn't like you to let somebody walk up behind you like that, especially after everything that's happened these past couple of weeks." She shook her head slightly. "You've seemed more than distracted lately. And this proves it. What's going on? Please tell me what's bothering you?"

 

He opens his mouth to deny that he's been distracted the last few days but the protestation dies as he realizes she is right and any such protestation on his part would be a lie, and that's something he's not going to do. He sits up and moves closer to her, close enough so he can kiss her gently. Breaking it off, he breathes "My apologies, my love. I didn't mean to make you worry like that. Just...just needed to decide something for myself and I guess it got me wrapped up in my own thoughts."

 

The kiss came as a great relief to Debbie. She'd refused to consider the possibility that Aidan's change in attitude might reflect a change in his feelings toward her. Still, the idea had been there, haunting her from her subconscious. Aidan's one, gentle kiss put that concern to rest. But what was it he needed to decide?

 

"Whatever decision you have to make," she said cautiously, trying to figure out what this was all about. "It must be awfully important to have consumed you the way this has." She studied him for a moment, looking for any hint at what might be bothering him. "Is there anything I can do to help you?"

 

"Perhaps it's a bit sooner then originally planned but recent events have taught me that I need to reach for what I want when I can, lest fate step in. I know what I want, I know who I want it with and I don't wish to wait. Deb, I love you more then I can begin to put into words. So please..." As he says that, he retrieves a small package and reaching for her hands, he places it in them and closes his hands around her hands. After a few seconds he withdraws his hands.

 

Debbie listened carefully to his words but he spoke so quickly, she had a little trouble keeping up. It wasn't until he released her hands that she put it all together....or at least she thought she had. That was when she suddenly found it difficult to breathe.

 

She stared at him for what must have seemed like hours but couldn't have been more than a few seconds. She finally looked down at the box he'd placed in her hands, struggling to keep them from shaking. If she was right about this, she was about to make a life time commitment. If she was wrong, there would be no words to describe her disappointment.

 

Debbie glanced up at Aidan and smiled weakly. He looked even more nervous than she felt and her heart went out to him. Without another word, she opened the box and that was when her heart stopped beating.

 

The box contained a simple and yet elegantly crafted gold ring. The ring itself was set with three round cut diamonds laid within an intricate trinity knot design. The trinity knot itself was crafted out of white gold which contrasted with the yellow gold of the rest of the ring.

 

It occurs to him that he hasn't been this nervous since the academy finals his senior year. Though of course then the most important thing, outside of family, in his life had been Starfleet and he thought it would always remain that way. He wonders what his younger self would have said in response if he had told his younger self that he was completely wrong with regards to that. He reaches to brush a hand against the side of her face as he murmurs, "You are more important to me then anything else, more important then my very life. There's nothing I want more then to spend it with you. So please..." He can't quite keep his nervousness out of his voice as he says that....

 

Debbie forced herself to breathe as she tried desperately to maintain her composure. Her thoughts and emotions ran the gamut from euphoria to sheer terror. After all they'd been through during the past few months, especially this last mission, she'd come to understand just how badly she wanted this. There were risks involved but she had quietly decided a future with Aidan was well worth the gamble. At the same time, she couldn't figure out how Aidan had been able to blind side her like this. She was usually very perceptive about things. Why didn't she see this coming?

 

It was moot question. No matter how it came to be, the fact remained, she was now holding the loveliest diamond engagement ring she'd ever seen. She'd often wondered if she would ever experience a moment like this and if so, what it would be like. But she never dreamed it would come as such a surprise or that it would leave her feeling so loved and so very special.

 

Debbie kept glancing from Aidan to the ring and then back to Aidan. As the moments passed, the loose grip she had on her composure began to slip away. She very carefully closed the box and looked into Aidan's eyes. He was scared to death so she smiled hoping that would relax him a bit. "Are you sure about this?" she asked quietly. "This isn't just a reaction to all that's happened lately?"

 

He closes his eyes for a few seconds before replying to her. He frames her face with his hands before letting them slip down to her waist. He murmurs, "No, it is not a reaction to all that's happened lately. I will admit that what has happened lately has made me very aware that something could happen to one or both of us. I have been thinking of how to and when to ask this certain question for a while now, the only question was the matter of timing. If I ask it now or if I wait to ask it, it's not going to change things. Deb, I live and breathe for you, this is....you are what I want most. I don't want to imagine my life without you, I can't imagine it without you. So unless you ever send me away this is what I'm sure I want."

 

"I feel the same way," she whispered as the tears eased down her cheeks. "I'm willing to admit I'm a little scared, but I'm also very sure this is what I want." She pulled back a little and again opened the small box. Looking up at him, she smiled warmly. She glanced at the glistening diamond ring and then offered the box and its precious contents to Aidan. "Will you please slip this on my finger?" she asked softly.

 

Taking a moment to quiet his own nerves he takes the ring from the box and slips it onto her left hand ring finger. He spends a moment staring at the ring on her finger before lifting his head to kiss her gently.

 

She tucked her head under his chin and leaned against his chest. She paused and allowed herself to take in the evening sounds and feel the gentle breeze washing over them. "In case I haven't mentioned it today," she breathed. "I love you...right now and forever."

 

He smiles and purrs "I know, the words aren't even necessary for me to know that. And I love you as well." He closes his eyes and relaxes against her. "At some point here we'll need to start making decisions I suppose, but I think for right now I'd rather prefer to stay here like this." He tightens his arms around her and purrs "I definitely will like getting use to this."

 

"I think we've both made enough decisions for one day," replied Debbie, snuggling a bit closer to him. "There's plenty of time to ponder our next step." It was dark now. The sky above was awash in twinkling star light. The only sounds were those of the waves lapping gently at the shoreline a few feet away and the rustling of the leaves in the soft, tropical breeze. The nocturnal creatures greeted the new evening with their various songs and for a moment, Debbie imagined they were singing to her and Aidan....offering congratulations and best wishes for a long and happy life.

 

Debbie breathed deeply and closed her eyes. It was the most perfect moment in her life. Yet, she had a feeling the best was yet to come. But for now, she found herself in full agreement with her new fiance. She was really looking forward to getting used to moments like this.