Birthday Blues

[Maria Zier 0]

Maria had quietly gotten up from her desk in her room. She had just finished a letter to home. Walking over to the replicator, she removed a cup of hot green tea from it.

 

Alex paced the corridor in front of Maria's quarters. He held a neatly wrapped package in his hands. Was this the wrong thing to do? Would she think he was, "overly obsessed" with her? He sighed, and rang the door to her quarters.

 

She was a bit startled, not expecting any visitors. Setting the tea down, and straightening her casual clothes, Maria went to the door and opened it. "Oh, hello Alex."

 

He smiled. "Hello Maria." Smiling, he handed her the package. "Happy Birthday."

 

She was surprised. "But...I didn't tell anyone it was my birthday." She took the package. "Thank you. Please come in." Maria walked back into her quarters. It was very neatly kept. Placing the package down next to the cooling tea, she looked up at Alex. "Would you like something to drink?"

 

He smiled. "That would be great. I think I'll have what you’re having."

 

She nodded, walking over to the replicator. Moments later, with tea in hand she gave it to Alex before taking a seat. She grabbed her tea and took a sip, taking a slight glance at the package. The doctor was being polite not to instantly dig into the beautifully wrapped gift. Her eyes fell back to Alex, giving him a shy smile. "Do you go through this with all of the crew?"

 

He sipped his tea, and grinned. "You’re the first crewman to have a birthday since I arrived. I suppose I should continue doing it though, talk about crew morale."

 

"Well, I feel honored then," she smiled at him.

 

He looked at her. "Why haven't you told anyone about your birthday?"

 

Maria brought her legs up into her chair, sitting Indian Style, letting her hands rest on her ankles. "I...don't really know. Maybe it's because this is really my first birthday without being in contact with my family." She glanced over at her desk where her finished letter is, then bringing her gaze back to the counselor. "I guess it's just a little hard to think about."

 

"Ah, I see. I felt like that too while I was away from home during the Academy, and Starfleet Medical."

 

"I'm glad you understand," she grinned. "Of course that's your job."

 

He grinned as well. "No matter how hard I try, work always seems to sneak back into leisure."

 

She smiled before her eyes fell upon the package once again. "I guess it would be rude if I didn't open this, wouldn't it?" Maria placed the gift in her lap.

 

He winked. "I hope you like it."

 

Maria began to open it as she spoke. "I'm sure I......." She became quickly silent as she pulled the silky blue fabric from the box. It was the same dress she was looking at days before, on Camelot.

 

Alex watched her eyes and expressions as she saw the dress. He could feel that she was swimming in a sea of emotions at the moment.

 

She tried to say something discernable, but found it difficult. "I...I...I...thank you. I don't know what to say." Her eyes welled up with tears. "It's beautiful. You didn't have to do this."

 

He smiled. "Well, I know how much you liked it, and my arm wouldn’t let me forget it the way you pulled me into that store."

 

Maria neatly folded the dress back into the box. Unexpectedly, she found herself out of her seat and embracing Alex in a gentle hug. "Thank you so much." Small tears of joy managed to escape.

 

He hadn’t expected her to show her thanks like this, but he enjoyed it nonetheless. "You're Welcome, Maria."

 

A small kiss found its mark on Alex's cheek as she pulled away. Wiping the tears away, the young doctor smiled. "You'll have to tell me when your birthday is now."

 

Now it was Alex's time to try and get something discernable to come out of his throat. "I..uh...." He smiled and looked at her.

 

She giggled at him. It was funny watching a guy not be able to find the right words, but a counselor was even funnier.

 

He grinned. "Sometimes even counselors can't find the right words."

 

"I noticed," shyly smiling to him. "It's not a bad thing though."

 

"It's not?"

 

Maria shook her head. "No, it just shows you how human...Uh I mean...well you know..." She blushed at her little blunder.

 

He chuckled. "Don't worry about it. As for my problem, actions speak louder than words, don't they?" He wrapped his arm around her.

 

She was feeling incredibly warm. Was it still from her embarrassment, or was it the gentle embrace of Alex? "I..." She was completely speechless.

 

He pulled back his arm. "I'm sorry, I'm making you uncomfortable."

 

Maria touched his arm in reassurance. "No...you're not."

 

He put his arm back. "So, I guess Martin was half right....?"

 

She looked up at him. "You know, children can sometimes pick up on things that adults don't see as clearly..." She leaned up, giving him a small kiss to test him. "It might make a great topic for a paper sometime."

 

He turned to her, and whispered in her ear. "It just might...." He kissed her forehead, and then gently moved her head to find her lips.

 

Maria’s kiss was more passionate the second time around. Her hands found his strong shoulders and the worked their way to the back of his neck. Backing her head away as she stared into his eyes, she smiled. "This is turning out to be a good birthday after all."

Edited March 5, 2007 by Maria Kassem