Dinner for two

Posted on Sat Oct 9th, 2021 @ 6:19pm by Commander Jonathan Grayson & Lieutenant Commander Callie Raven-Grayson

Mission: Breen in Paradise
Location: Callie’s quarters
Timeline: Evening prior to away team departure

Callie had spent a busy day organising everything she had to do, now her quarters were finally sorted just in time for her dinner with Jon. She was planning on cooking but unfortunately she’d run out of time, so replicated it would have to be.

She had just finished laying up and replicating a small handful of complimentary dishes when the door chime rang.

Jon stood outside Callie's quarters, a bottle of wine in his hand and sighed deeply. After all these years, Callie was back in his life. He couldn't deny it was good to see her after getting over the shock she was the new Chief Counselor. He didn't know where they went from here being friends was a good place to start. He shook his head, and pressed the door chime.

Callie smiled as she looked towards the door, “The door is open, Come in Jon!” Right now she had butterflies, pretty massive ones given some news she’d received from a message she’d sent via subspace a couple of hours earlier. She stepped towards the door to greet him as he stepped inside. “Hey, you’re looking...handsome this evening.”

Hearing Callie's voice calling out for him to come in, Jon entered her quarters jus as she was coming to the door. "Hi Callie." He replied with a smile, "You're looking quite attractive as well." He held up the bottle of wine. "As promised, I brought the wine."

“Wonderful, and thank you” Callie smiled. “Dinner is all ready, feel free to sit and make yourself at home.” She walked over to the replicator to fetch the food. “Jon I was wondering, when we...divorced did you receive any notification from Starfleet regarding the filing of our papers?”

"Thanks Callie." Jon answered as he wandered over to the couch and sat down. Jon's senses immediately went on alert when Callie asked her question about papers and their divorce. "Now that you mention it no. Why?" He asked and immediately got a bad feeling as he waited for Callie's answer.

“Neither did I, and seeing you again...” Callie paused bringing out plates for a moment. “I didn’t know until earlier but it seems that we’re...still married.” She waited for Jon’s reaction.

Jon heard the words Callie said but they didn't register. He just sat there stunned as if this was a dream. Finally the words seeped into his brain and his mouth worked and out came the only word he could think of "What?"

Callie was expecting an explosion, she raised an eyebrow much like a curious Vulcan. “We are still married. I’m still your wife Jon.”

Jon looked at her, his eyes fixed and narrowing at Callie. "How is that possible Callie? I signed the papers, I'm assuming you did as well. So how are we still married? Answer me that."

Callie shook her head. “I don’t know Jon! I sighed the papers just like you did, it seems they were never filed.” She walked back to the replicator to get their food, bringing it back she placed the plates out before taking a seat. “I know what I did to you wasn’t fair, I blamed you for a stupid misunderstanding. It took me a long time to realise it, and by then it was too late.”

Jon shook his head, "God. I need a drink." He looked at the bottle of wine in his hand. "Have you got a corkscrew Callie? So what are you saying? You want us to stay married?" He stood up and began pacing. "I don't believe this, I can't believe this." He looked back at her, "Still married?"

Callie fetched a corkscrew, handing it to Jon. “I’m not saying anything Jon, you’ve moved on I’m not here to ruin that!” She paused. “I owe you an apology, I’m sorry! Back then I couldn’t face what happened, I lost our baby.” She hung her head before taking a deep breath and looking up again. “Anyway...the food is getting cold.”

"Fine you apologized now say something else! Do you want us to stay married? To give us another chance." He stuck the corkscrew into the bottle and yanked the cork out. Glasses and do you want some?"

Callie fetched a couple of glasses, putting them out on the table. “I’ll have a glass please” she gave him a worried look. “What do you want me to say? You have someone you love remember? What right do I have to come barging into your life?”

Jon poured her a glass. then poured one for himself and quickly downed it and refilled the glass. "I don't want you to say anything. Say what you feel Callie. As for what right. It seems you are my wife."

“What I feel...” Callie sipped her drink before upping the glass and downing it. “I..I’d like to give us another chance Jon, give this marriage a chance. If you want to?” She sat looking at him.

Jon nodded and downed his second glass and filled it again, "More?" He asked Callie. He sat down next to her. "If we do this no more jumping conclusions. No more arguments like the one that drove us apart. We talk like adults Callie."

Callie nodded as she held up her glass for another top up. “Like adults, starting with what happened.” She paused to eat some of the stew she’d put out on the table. “I couldn’t face the loss of our baby back then, the lack of answers it just...” She shook her head and wiped away a few tears.

Jon listened in silence. "So what changed your mind Callie?" As he waited for her reply he refilled her glass and then took a forkful of stew. "Yum. Very good. My compliments to the chef."

The two glasses of wine were working nicely to loosen up Callie’s inhibitions, she ate some more stew before looking back at Jon. “Nothing!” Her eyes met his. “Just because I left you it doesn’t mean that I stopped loving you!”

Jon smiled at Callie's admission. "And it took you all this time to finally tell me this? Come on Callie." As he took another bite of the stew.

Callie ate some more of her stew before nodding. “I couldn’t just walk back into your life and expect you to want me” She paused to eat a little more. “If I'd known we were still married then maybe I would have tried.”

It was clear that Callie felt bad over what had transpired years ago and Jon didn't want to pile on by saying she could have sent a subspace message saying all she was saying now. So, he simply nodded and ate some more stew.

Callie sat back in her seat, “So where do we go from here? I don’t just want to barge back into your life.” She offered a smile feeling a little more at ease now they’d cleared the air.

Jon didn't know what to say. Callie brought up a good point. They were still legally married but hadn't been together in years. He knew she should move in with him but he didn't want to rush things or some how make them worse. "I really don't know Callie, go slow? Maybe get back to dating." He suggested.

Callie nodded. “Maybe that would be a good idea, I don’t want to rush you into anything.” She almost sounded disappointed even though she knew going slow was the best way to go. “Anyway...would you like a roll?” She offered up some small bread rolls to go with the stew. “I would have cooked everything fresh rather than replicated it but I ran out of time.”

"I’m glad you understand Callie. Give us time to get to know each other again." Jon replied. "And yes, I would like a roll. Don't worry about it Callie. This is good. Next time I'll cook for you. A real home cook meal." He told her.

Callie smiled warmly. “I’d like that! You always were an amazing cook, it’s one of the reasons I fell in love with you.” She blushed as she found herself suddenly staring intently into his eyes. She looked away as she took a roll for herself. “I’ve missed doing this, having dinner alone just isn’t the same.”

Jon grinned, "Thanks Callie, I like cooking. I especially like cooking for people I care about." He added. "It is nice." He admitted. "No one should eat by themselves." He observed. "It's sad and as you said lonely."

Callie nodded. Using the bread to soak up the last of her stew Callie finished eating, she waited until Jon was done before getting up and taking the plates back to the replicator for disposal. Returning to the table she paused at Jon’s side to ask him about dessert. “Would you like some dessert? There’s also coffee, tea, me!” She grinned playfully, it was something she used to do when they were together before.

"Coffee please Callie." Jon replied before grinning at her suggestion/offer? "Boy, I haven't heard that in a long time." He admitted. "I missed it." He replied as he side stepped the question for now.

Callie nodded, she paused for a moment before going to fetch his coffee. When she returned she gently placed the mug of hot coffee down before suddenly leaning closer and kissing him. She let it linger for a moment before breaking it, simply standing there looking at him.

Jon didn't resist the kiss. Callie's kisses were always something he had looked forward to. They were warm and sweet and at the same time inviting and sexy. Just like Callie. "Callie..." He said quietly as he reached his hands up to have her come sit on his lap.

Callie accepted the invitation in an instant, she’d missed him so much. When she thought they were divorced it was too late, but knowing now they were still married it gave her a second chance to make up for what happened between them. “I’ve missed you so much!!”

Jon nodded, "What have you been doing since um we last saw each other Callie?” He asked , curious to know what she had been doing in the years they were apart.

“Not much” Callie shrugged her shoulders. “I carried on with my career, I buried myself in it!” She sighed. “It took a long time to face up to my miscarriage, after that I just kept my head down.” She looked up at Jon. “There was never anyone else for me Jon. I had a few dates but they never got very far.”

"I wasn't asking about that Callie." He pointed out but was secretly pleased to hear there was never anyone else. He continued to hold her lightly. "Well, you are a chief counselor so you not only excel at your duties but you impressed some people along the way."

Callie nodded. “I’ve worked my ass off Jon! You know how much I wanted to make Chief, now I’m finally here.” She smiled as she lay her head on his shoulder feeling happy to be in his embrace again. “Jon...how do you feel about us still being married?”

"I know Callie. I know." Jon readily agreed. "As for us still being married. I'm still wrapping my head around it. Not that it is bad in any way but just unexpected." He looked up at her. "You hurt me Callie, you hurt me deeply with your accusations. It took a long time for me to get past that."

Callie nodded. “I know...at the time I was angry, and I was bitter, and I took it out on you!” She gave him a truly sorry glance. “I am so sorry!! We both lost our baby, I should have been there to support you, as much as you tried to support me. Instead I blamed you for a silly misunderstanding and pushed you away.” She sighed. “Please forgive me.”

"I do forgive you Callie." Jon said sincerely. It was a bad, terrible time for both of us. We both hurt and yet we couldn't help each other. It's water under the bridge now."

Callie nodded and offered a happier smile. She spent a few quiet moments before taking the initiative, her lips meeting his again as she enjoyed the feeling of being in his arms.

Jon's kiss was more relaxed, more giving then before. He had loved Callie a great deal until their break up and now she was back again in his life was this a second chance for him?

Callie felt the difference, as their lips parted she offered a more relaxed smile. “Do you have to go tonight? Would you...like to stay?” She was hoping he’d say yes.

"Callie, are you sure you want me to and is this a good idea? We just found out we're still married." Jon pointed out trying not to put a damper on what had been a nice evening.

“That’s just it Jon, we’re still married.” She stood up from his lap moving slightly back. “I don’t want to ruin what we’ve got started here, so if you want to go I won’t stop you.” Her heart was pounding in the hope that Jon would choose to stay, to be with her again after so long.

Jon heard Callie's plea and sighed. "Callie..." He began. stopped and started again. "Callie, I'll stay. I'll sleep on the couch and in the morning I'll cook you breakfast.”

Callie nodded and smiled. “That’s acceptable. I’ll get you a pillow and a blanket for later.” She headed into the bedroom returning a couple of minutes later with his things. Putting them down on the sofa she gave Jon a smile as she walked back over to him. “Are you sure? There’s a perfectly good bed, with enough room for two.”

"Callie, I appreciate what you are saying and doing. Let me do this. The couch is fine as are the pillow and the blanket. Speaking of beds, are you going to want to keep these quarters or move into mine?" He asked.

Callie looked at Jon in surprise. “You...you’re asking me to move in with you?” Her smile said it all. “I want to but...you can’t spend forever on the couch.”

"Yes Callie. No, I can't and I don't want you coming to my quarters or me to yours every time we want to see each other. That makes no sense." Jon answered with a smile of his own.

“In that case...” Callie walked over taking Jon’s hand, she said nothing more but simply started leading him towards her bedroom.

"Callie...." Jon said but didn't resist as she led him towards the bedroom.

Pausing at the bedroom door Callie released Jon’s hand. “I said I wouldn’t force you, the choice is yours.” With that she stepped through the door hoping he’d choose to follow her.

"Darn you Callie." Jon whispered as he stopped at the entrance to her bedroom. He hesitated for a moment before he followed her in.

~ Sometime later ~

Callie smiled as she lay in Jon’s embrace, her hair damp with perspiration from their love making. “I’ve waited a very long time to do that, it was well worth the wait.”

Jon kissed her forehead gently. "You are most kind Callie. You weren't so bad yourself. Jon teased. "In fact you were amazing."

Callie grinned. “Then that definitely makes two of us! So when do you want me to move my things over to yours? I don’t want to push us too fast.” She grinned a wry grin. “Says she who just tempted you into making love!”

Jon chuckled and hugged Callie tighter. "Oh over the next several days." Jon replied. I need to do some rearranging and take care of some other things." Jon told her.

Callie nodded. “Sounds good to me, I'm glad I haven’t unpacked that much yet.” She moved her body a little getting more comfortable. “The doctor said something to me during my physical, she said she can investigate what might have caused my miscarriage, incase I want to have another baby.” She went silent for a moment. “I know we didn’t plan to have a baby before, but would you like to try again in the future?”

Jon was quiet as he thought on Callie's question. A baby would be nice but it added a whole set of problems and he didn't know if they were ready for that. "To be honest Callie, I don't know. We just found we're still married, lets concentrate on making that work and then we can talk about having a baby." Jon replied, knowing that probably wasn't want Callie wanted to hear but he wanted to be honest.

Callie nodded. “I wasn’t talking about right now, like you said we’ve only just got back together. We need some time to explore what being married really means, and to be honest...until I know what truly happened last time I’m afraid to get pregnant.”

Jon turned Callie's head so she was looking at him. "You are confusing wisdom with apprehension Callie. Nothing wrong in going slow and getting answers to very important questions."

Callie nodded. “That’s true. I hate to bring this up but...what about the woman you loved? If she recovers she’ll expect to come back to you. Not find you here with your wife.”

"I know Callie." Jon said softly. "I'm having nightmares over it. I don't want to hurt Essie but I have to do something." He said honestly. "I'll work something out." He assured her.

Callie nodded. “I’m sorry, I don’t want to make your life complicated. I didn’t even know you were onboard this ship.” She paused as she cuddled him a little tighter. “I love you Jon, I always have! I just didn’t want to drop into your life and ruin it.”

"Not your fault Callie. You haven't done anything wrong." Jon replied. "I could just marry Essie as well if she recovers, as the Federation allows a male to take two wives." He said teasingly.

Callie grinned as she propped herself up and playfully smacked his chest. “You dare! I’m not being part of a harem!” She giggled as she leant forward and planted a passionate kiss on his lips. “You’re all mine, I’m intending to enjoy it.”

Jon nodded and grinned. "That's my Callie. Fight for what you want. Even if you have to beat someone up." He finished, laughing uncontrollably.