The twins were playing happily in the backyard with Joshan as William watched. He was grilling steaks and corn on the cob for dinner. The early evening was still warm and the family was enjoying a barbeque. Something Will and Karissa hadn't been able to do in awhile. Inside, Karissa's parents were sitting on the couch looking through pictures of the last five years of their daughter's life.
"This was when the Cole stopped at Ryvek II," Karissa said as she pointed to a photo of herself and another woman standing before a rather large statue of a man. "That's Kelly Masters. She was a nurse aboard the Cole. We were pretty good friends at the time. We're standing in front of Hemyan's Statue. He was a great philosopher of the people," she smiled. "There's another of Brandon Henshaw and myself at the fountains and this was when the Cole stopped at Visarea." The photo was of her and a group of people; three young men and two young women. They were standing beside some ruins. Another showed them in a museum."
"And whose this?" her mother asked, pointing to a photo of a young man, dressed in casual attire standing against a tree.
"Oh... uh... That's Marcus Matthews. He was a medic stationed on Visarea," she replied, a slight tint flushed her cheeks.
"Oh..." her mother replied knowingly.
They looked at a few more pictures when suddenly; they were going through the photos that had been taken aboard the Ronin-A. There were photos of her with Ciara Tierro, a young doctor that had been aboard. They had become fast friends. There were also photos of Tyran Nige and his now wife Dinara and even photos of their black cat Torasu who had a special fondness for Karissa much like she had for him. There were photos from the surprise birthday party Ciara had thrown for her in the holodeck of the Ronin-A. The theme had been a beach party from Earth, circa 1980s. Photos of her other friend A.J. Talsmin also filled the PADD. Then there were photos of her and Ryan, her, Will and Ryan and also of her and Ming. There was also photos of her tummy at it burgeoned out with her pregnancy... getting bigger and bigger with each progressive photo. Some with Ryan beside her. Some with William... Then there were photos of the twins, shortly after they were born.
"Luc and Maya were about 4 hours old," Karissa smiled, as she stared at a photo of herself holding the twins with Ryan and Will beside her. Ming had taken the shot.
Other photos of Ryan and the twins popped up, when some from right before the twins' first Christmas appeared. A sadness crossed into her brown eyes, as old pain resurfaced. She had lost Ryan right before Christmas. Luc and Maya hadn't even been two months old when they lost their father. Their other father, she reminded herself. But there was still a dull ache left as she thought of Ryan. She wasn't sure if she'd ever fully heal.
Her mother and father exchanged glances, not commenting, only seeing the look on their daughter's face and in her eyes. It had also not gone unnoticed by Will, who had come inside to get some hamburgers for the kids to grill as well. Seeing Karissa and what her parents were looking at, he knew instinctively what was on her mind. Quickly, he opened a bottle of chilled white Grenache, poured a glass and took it to her.
"Here, I thought you might like this," he smiled as Karissa turned to him and looked at the glass.
She smiled and took it, actually grateful for the distraction from her memories. "Thanks," she said softly as she sipped at it.
"Would either of you like a glass of wine?" he asked.
"I'll take one," Amalie said with a smile.
"I think I'll wait and have one with dinner," her father replied.
"All right, one glass of wine coming up," Will smiled.
"Let me go with you," Amalie replied.
Karissa knew her mother wanted to talk to him, but didn't say anything. She just sipped her wine.
"How are you, really?" her father asked suddenly.
She smiled gently. "I'm good," she replied. "Really. After all, I have the best treasures in the universe." Her gaze turned to the twins outside with Joshan and then to Will in the kitchen. "After all, dad, weren't you the one that told me all things happen for a reason? Like me being rescued from that fire as an infant... it was so you and mom could adopt me. So we could be a family. The family we were meant to be. Ryan was part of my life for a reason. He taught me about love and he gave me one of the greatest gifts of my life."
Her father smiled knowing she was speaking of Luc Ryan Evans, Ryan Evan's son, who at that very moment was having a wonderful time, running after his sister Maya. Both of them running faster than Joshan could ever hope to run.
"You are incredibly luck," he smiled as he took her hand. "Rich beyond anyone's wildest dreams."
"I know," she said softly as she took another sip of her wine.
Amalie had followed Will into the kitchen and then out into the backyard with her glass of wine. As Will continued to cook the steaks and burgers, Amalie watched the kids play.
"Thank you for distracting her," Amalie said softly, sipping her wine, laughing gently at the kids' antics.
"Well, I saw that look in her eyes..." he replied, flipping the burgers and steaks over, also turning the corn cobs as well.
"A look you're apparently very familiar with?" she asked, her own dark eyes assessing Will, though she had already decided upon their arrival that she liked him immensely.
"Well, I was there shortly after Ryan was killed. I saw what she went through," he replied. "It took her a long time to even get this far in dealing with her grief. At first, she wouldn't let anyone in. It was as if she had died the day Ryan had. I have to admit I felt pretty helpless. Mother of my daughter who I loved dearly and I couldn't help her."
"That must have been difficult for you as well. Loving from a distance?" Amalie asked.
Will was quiet. "Yes, it was," he replied softly. "And to be truthful, I never expected for us to end up together. I had hoped for it, but I couldn't see it happening. Then fate intervened." He smiled. "I suppose in some respects it was simply meant to be."
Amalie smiled as she gazed at him. "I believe you're right," she replied.
"I hungry!" Luc said as he came up to them.
"I thirsty!" Maya chimed in after him.
"When are we gonna eat?" Josh added.
Will and Amalie looked at each other and laughed.
"Trust me, that's one thing that doesn't ever change," Amalie smiled. "Come with me," she said to the kids, holding out her hands for two of them to take, "We'll get you something to drink. It'll be a couple of minutes yet for dinner."
As she led the kids inside, Karissa came out and stood beside Will as he began checking the food to see if it was done. She sipped at her wine and smiled softly. "Thanks," she said softly.
Will looked at her and smiled. "For what?" he replied, playing dumb, but unable to hide the twinkle in his warm brown eyes.
"For the distraction," she replied. "I needed it."
"I know," he replied gently as he stopped and caressed her face for a moment.
With that, she kissed him quickly, so he could pull everything off the grill before it burned.
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