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[Nicolas Lepage 0]

This log takes place during DJ's and Nick's LOA. Since both of us were out of town and without internet access most of the time it took a while to write this. Nevertheless, I apologize for posting such a long log so late.

 

There may be more logs to follow which will give some details on what DJ and Nick did back on Earth.

 

I think it goes without saying that this log is a joint effort of DJ McKinny and myself.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

Home! Nick thought as he stepped off the shuttle that had taken them from the ship to Montréal. He took a deep breath and was delighted to smell the scent flowers. How he had missed that aboard Aegis. Just as he moved out into the sunlight a familiar face caught his eye. His mother was waiting outside the landing pad, smiling and waving. Waiting to see where DJ was he resisted the urge to drop the bags he was carrying and run toward his mother. He hadn't seen her in almost five years!

 

DJ held back as Nick caught sight of his mom. Gilbert had other ideas. He was anxious to keep up with Nick and meet the family as soon as possible. Wrapping the leash around her wrist a bit tighter, DJ admonished the aging basset hound to allow Nick a moment alone with his mother.

 

When he was sure DJ was behind him he shot her a smile and quickly strode toward where his mother stood waiting. Reaching her, he discarded his load of luggage on the ground and threw his arms around her. "Ma! Tu m'as manqué!"

 

"Tu nous as manqué aussi, mon 'ti loup," she answered as she took a step back, held him at arms length and inspected him closely. She opened her mouth to say something but thought better of it and simply smiled. Then she looked at DJ who had stood back a little and watched the reunion of mother and son.

 

"You must be DJ," Mrs. Lepage said as she gave her a warm smile. Then she stepped forward around the luggage spread on the ground and kissed DJ on each cheek.

 

"Yes, I am," acknowledged DJ, stepping forward and nearly tripping over Gilbert as he hurried on ahead. "And this is Gilbert. I apologize in advance for his rude behavior. I think he's relieved to finally be on solid ground again."

 

"I'm Gwen," she added, her smile even wider.

 

Nick grinned. He had completely forgotten to warn DJ of this custom which was still practiced among the French families. Maybe Isabeau had mentioned it prior to their departure from Aegis.

 

As the two women said hello, Nick picked up the luggage he had dropped earlier. Then he walked over to them and stood beside DJ. "Welcome to the family," he said, still grinning. He would have liked to put an arm around DJ but he was so laden with bags that any attempt of that sort would inevitably have ended in him having to pick up everything again.

 

DJ smiled at Nick but opted not to tell him about the elephants stampeding through her stomach. So far, she'd only met his mother. That hardly constituted "the family." If she was already this nervous, she wondered how she would survive the introductions yet to come.

 

"Let's go, the others are dying to see you two." Mrs. Lepage said as she led the way.

 

Falling in behind Gwen Lepage, DJ kept a tight hold of Gilbert's leash. In spite of his age, the old dog could still muster considerable strength when he chose to. And this was the most excited she'd seen him in years what with all the people coming and going in the terminal.

 

Glancing to her left, she caught sight of Nick who loaded down like a pack mule. "Here," she insisted, grabbing one of the smaller bags from him. She grinned at him. "Let me help. It would be tragic if you passed out from exhaustion before we get to your house."

 

Twenty minutes later the three of them arrived at an old mansion situated in the West Island of Montreal. Three large trees grew on the front lawn and flowerbeds were sprinkled across the lawn. Between those flowerbeds were scattered various tricycles, bicycles and other toys. Nick couldn't help but grin.

 

The ride to the family homestead was pleasant enough. DJ found herself relaxing a bit. Gwen Lepage seemed to go out of the way to include her in the conversation. Even Gilbert settled down and actually fell asleep on the back seat. As they pulled into the long driveway, DJ couldn't help but lean forward and stare out the window as the magnificent house the Lepages called home. It dwarfed her family's house.

 

A small smile tugged on her lips as the vehicle stopped. The landscaping looked like something out of magazine. Ancient trees were complimented by several lush flowerbeds containing a wide variety of multi-colored blooms. As one who had always appreciated beautiful landscapes, this one took DJ's breath away. Her smile widened as she noticed the assortment of children's toys strewn about the lawn. It was obvious a lot of kids resided here.

 

As he got out of the car a bunch of kids and two dogs came running out of the house toward him. Before he could even turn around to face them, they had already tackled him so that he almost lost his balance. Managing only just to stay on his feet, he grinned at Carole-Anne, who was walking down the path toward him.

 

Gwen stepped around the car and put on a stern expression. However, the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her amusement. "Ca va faire! Allez-vous en!"

 

The kids reluctantly obeyed their mother and let go of their eldest brother. Nick was glad to have some breathing space and he turned back to the car to help DJ get out. Somehow she looked slightly intimidated and Nick couldn't blame her. When DJ and Gilbert had scrambled out of the car, the younger kids eagerly watching, Nick walked over to Carole-Anne and hugged her tightly.

 

Again, DJ hesitated, taking her time leashing up Gilbert and getting him out of the vehicle. She stared in mild amusement as her fiancé was swarmed by children and dogs and nearly knocked to the ground. He loved it! The smile on his face was as genuine as she'd ever seen. He was home....back with his family after a long separation. She doubted he could ever be this happy on Aegis....or anywhere else for that matter.

 

After a few moments they broke apart and Nick grinned stupidly at his sister. "I missed you little sis." He noticed his younger siblings were just about to discard what little restraint they had and tackle DJ with questions. Before that happened he intervened, making sure everyone could hear him. "Alright, folks I'd like you to meet DJ. Be nice to her!"

 

She'd seen the herd of children moving toward her and wasn't quite sure what to do. Gilbert had noticed as well....not only the children but the two canines that lived them. He knew exactly what he wanted to do and pulled on the leash with such force, DJ had no choice but to follow.

 

Nick came to her rescue just about the time she was able to reign in the eager basset hound. She smiled warmly and waved to the crowd from near the front of the vehicle when she heard Nick introduce her. "Hi everyone! Pleased to meet you all!"

 

Turning back to DJ, who had stood back a little he shrugged and grinned apologetically. "Let's go into the house. We can make introductions there. And don't feel bad if you can't remember all their names right away. We're used to that."

 

She was relieved to hear him say that. "I'm not sure I'll ever remember all their names," she whispered with a grin. "I don't know how your parents remember all their names."

 

Carole-Anne had come up behind Nick and smiled. He turned to look at her. "And this is my little sis Carole-Anne," he said to DJ as his sister stepped around him and kissed DJ on the cheeks like his mother had done earlier.

 

"I'm happy to finally meet you, DJ," Carole-Anne said, still smiling warmly. "You can call me Caro."

 

DJ was prepared for the welcome with a kiss. She returned the greeting more easily than she had with Gwen. "I've heard so much about you, Caro. I'm really glad to meet you. And Isabeau sends her best wishes."

 

Caro appeared to be close to DJ's age and close to her older brother as well. Isabeau had suggested Caro would be a perfect source of information on the young Nick Lepage. DJ couldn't wait to sit down with her for a long talk.

 

As they walked into the house, she, Nick and Caro chatted amicably. Nick's sister was warm and friendly and DJ found herself liking the woman almost immediately. So far, so good, she thought silently. But I've only met two of them. I still have a long way to go!

 

Having left the luggage in the car, Nick decided to stay close to DJ. He took her hand in his and smiled at her reassuringly. His younger siblings started bombarding him with questions. "Whoa, easy guys! We've only just arrived. You can ask your questions later." He was glad that his mother stepped in at that moment and told everyone to go help the others prepare dinner.

 

"Oh, yeah, I almost forgot, you haven't met all of them yet," Nick whispered in DJ's direction, smiling gently as he saw DJ's expression turn slightly desperate. "I love you," he added and squeezed her hand briefly.

 

"I love you too," she replied with a quiet chuckle. "And don't worry, you're siblings won't be enough to change that." DJ was still a little overwhelmed. Not so much by the kids. They were like children everywhere....full of energy and endlessly curious. What astonished DJ was how relaxed Gwen was in spite of the chronic chaos.

 

Gwen was leading the way into the house. At the stairs that lead to the second floor she turned around and looked at the two of them. "I'm sure you want to go upstairs and freshen up a bit. We're having a barbecue...old fashioned. We don't even have a replicator in the house." She was still smiling, genially.

 

Freshening up....a barbecue.....both sounded ideal. It had been a long trip....two weeks on one ship after another. There had been stopovers at a couple of starbases where they were able to relax in real rooms with real showers. Not that the accommodations on the ships were terrible. They were just awfully small.

 

There was nothing small about Nick's house. She could only imagine what the bedrooms would look like. She'd probably have enough room to actually open her luggage. But even better than that was the promise of real food....and barbecue at that! She smiled at Gwen and nodded enthusiastically. "I'd love to freshen up. And real food is always a treat!"

 

Gwen smiled and turned toward the back of the house where the kitchen was. "Alright, I'm sorry I have to check on what the kids are doing in the kitchen. But I'm sure Nick will show you to your room." She looked back over her shoulder at Nick. "I prepared your old bedroom, Nick. Dinner will be ready in about an hour, so you can take your time."

 

"Alright, Ma, I'll be there in a minute to help you," Nick called after her. Then he started walking up the stairs, making sure DJ was following him. As they arrived at the upper landing, Nick turned left and walked down the hall to his old room.

 

"If you want to we can have separate rooms," Nick said when they entered the room and he turned around to face DJ. He couldn't help but smile as he watched her take a good look around the room and then walk slowly toward the window and look outside into the backyard.

 

She heard the question but it didn't quite register. DJ was too mesmerized by the view from Nick's bedroom window. Below and beyond lay a huge tract of green with trees and flowers dappled here and there to give it a cultivated feel. "Good grief," murmured DJ. "All of this property is yours?" It was a rhetorical question. Of course it was all his....or his family's at least. She idly wondered how long it would take to walk the entire estate...and that's what it was....a bona fide estate. Looking down at Gilbert, she chuckled lightly. "You're gonna love this," she quipped before turning around to face Nick.

 

Her fiancé was standing in the middle of the room wearing a broad grin. "This must have been a great place to grow up," she acknowledged. "No wonder your parents had so many kids. They needed people to fill up all this space."

 

Nick walked over to stand behind DJ, put his arms around her, pulled her closer, and looked out the window too. "This is the best place to grow up and I missed it terribly. It's also the kind of place I'll want our kids to grow up in." The smile vanished from his face. "Sometimes I just want to quit and come back here, you know."

 

DJ believed him. Nick's family estate was a paradise, especially compared to Aegis. And that's where he'd spent most of his time for the past few years. There may have been a leave or two, but this was the first time in ages he'd been home. His contentment was obvious. "I can imagine how you feel," she whispered, gently stroking his back. "My home wasn't this grand but I feel the same way whenever I visit."

 

She quietly wondered if Nick's attitude would change after they'd been there for awhile. With so many siblings, there would be a lot going on. But it wouldn't be like Aegis. Was it possible Nick would miss the station with its routine and sudden emergencies? She also considered her own reactions. Would she fall in love with this large family and all it entailed? Or would she find it overpowering and long for the familiarity of her routine on Aegis?

 

From the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Gilbert, happily exploring the room. She had no doubt he'd love it here. No more dog walks....he'd have a real yard to play in....and a huge yard at that. She looked up at Nick who was still lost in thought as he serenely gazed out the window. "This would be a great place to raise a family," she continued softly, a grin tugging at her lips. "But do you think your parents would appreciate us moving in with them?"

 

"Are you kidding?" Nick asked with a smile. "They would love it. But I was thinking about something more...let's say quiet...just you and me..." He paused looking around at Gilbert who was just about to inspect the closet. "And Gilbert. At least for a while. So, how about the room? Would you prefer I sleep elsewhere? We still have enough guest rooms, so it wouldn't be a problem." Somehow Nick hoped DJ would say she didn't mind sharing a room and a bed with him. So far they had never spent a night together because DJ hadn't wanted to tempt fate. Personally, Nick wouldn't have minded but he respected DJ's wishes.

 

Why hadn't they discussed this before now, DJ silently chided herself. There hadn't been a lot of spare time before they left Aegis but the trip to Earth had taken almost two weeks. She hadn't really considered their sleeping arrangements until a couple of days before they arrived. Even then, she couldn't bring herself to broach the subject choosing instead to wait and see what accommodations would be offered to her. Now she knew.

 

DJ smiled gamely as her cheeks started burning. She was certain they were bright red. "I don't mind sharing a room with you," she replied cautiously. "But I'm not sure about sharing the same bed....at least...not yet. That's not to say I won't change my mind but...." She frowned as she listened to the jumble of words spilling out of her mouth. The answer to Nick's question was yes, she preferred he sleep elsewhere. She could only hope he would understand and not take offense.

 

Nick walked up to DJ, kissed her on the forehead and pulled her into an embrace. "No reason to be embarrassed," he muttered as he held her. "I'll go sleep in the guest room next door." Nick grinned as he pulled back a little to look DJ in the eyes. "Maybe I can sneak into your room at night," he added with a wink.

 

She knew all along he would understand and silently scolded herself for ever doubting that. DJ relaxed against him, taking comfort from his warmth and the scent of his cologne. "Are you sure the guest room is available?" she asked, her voice subdued. "You said a lot of relatives were coming in for the wedding. I'm sure we're not the only guests who will be staying here." She pulled away a bit and looked up into his eyes. "Maybe we could work out something where we both stay in the room. I don't want to inconvenience your parents and...." She hesitated before continuing. "I'm afraid they'll think I'm a prude or not committed to you or something like that?"

 

Nick leaned his forehead gently against DJ's and looked into her eyes as he spoke. "We'll do it whichever way makes you feel more comfortable. I can sleep on the sofa-bed over there or I can sleep in the guest room. If anyone asks we just tell them it's so we can actually get some sleep." He grinned widely as DJ slapped him.

 

Turning her back to him, she took a couple of steps toward the closet where Gilbert continued nosing around. A part of her wished she'd really slapped Nick.....hard....but another part of her couldn't help but laugh. She also found herself wondering if there was any truth to his smart remark then tucked that thought away for another day.

 

"We'll take turns on the sofa bed," she announced, whirling around to face him again. Try as she might, she couldn't wipe the silly grin off her face. Nor could he. "You sleep there tonight. Tomorrow will my turn," she added with shrug. She shook her head and started to walk away then abruptly stopped. Looking over her shoulder she drew an exasperated sigh and smiled. "What am I gonna do with you?"

 

Nick didn't even try to hide his grin. "Oh, DJ, you're stuck with me no matter what. And as for the sofa bed," he shrugged before going on. "You'll have to push me off it to sleep there. But we can fight over our sleeping arrangements later. We'd better get downstairs or the others will have eaten all the good stuff. C'mon Gilbert, we'll go hunt some savage hamburgers." With that he was almost out the door.

 

DJ remained motionless as Nick followed Gilbert out of the room. The basset hound had been in the house for no more than thirty minutes but he already acted like he owned the place. Nick, on the other hand, had grown up in this house. He may not have been the owner but he certainly had a claim to it. He also had a claim on her. She'd surrendered it slowly but willingly and there was no going back. She really was "stuck" with him.

 

He glanced over his shoulder with that waggish grin of his, nodding toward the hallway in a silent invitation for her to come along. She headed for the door, giving him another "look." But the smile on her face gave away her true feelings. DJ could think of far worse things to be "stuck" with.