Extending the Family

Ryan and Amalie Bentara with their son Joshan waited in the banquet room in Troy’s Greek restaurant. The table of food was already prepared and the other table set. They were looking forward to seeing their daughters . . . Tonight, they would be welcoming Karissa’s twin sister Rahel and her brother into their fold and they were very excited.

After having spent years wanting children and being unable to conceive, they had adopted Karissa . . . Then Joshan, their miracle boy was born . . . Their family had been small, but they relished every moment of it. Then as Karissa had found her sister Shara, she had her twins; their family had grown larger . . . It was wonderful for them. And now, though they had only known Rahel and her brother only days, they wanted to welcome them as part of their family as well. Family was life to Ryan and Amalie Bentara.

The walls of the banquet hall shimmered with a breathtaking view atop a Greek island. The water was a brilliant blue matching elegantly the white columns around them . . . along with the white marble floor. If there was any place to have a celebration, it was here.

Soon, Karissa and Will arrived with the twins, followed shortly by Shara. Everyone hugged each other in greeting as the kids began running around the place, laughing and giggling.

As Will, Shara and Amalie began to talk; Ryan pulled his daughter to the side, out of earshot. He took her in his arms and held her tightly against him.

“Honey . . . I am so glad you’re all right . . . I know I’ve said this so many times since you and your sister woke up, but you had us so worried.” He looked into her eyes and tenderly caressed her face.

As she leaned into his hand, she smiled. “I know . . .”

“Are you sure you and Rahel are all right ?” He asked with concern. “No ill effects since waking?” He asked, looking her over carefully.

She took his hands in his. “We’re all right,” she said. “I promise . . .”

But as he looked into her eyes, he knew something was wrong. He could feel it. His daughter had never been able to keep her feelings from him for long.

“You’re not all right !. ” He replied gently. “Something’s upsetting you.”

She sighed and turned toward the beautiful view. She didn’t want to think about it . . .

“You can’t run from this.” He replied. “You know it.”

She nodded to herself. “I just can’t think about it right now.”

“He saved you...” Her father said putting his hand on her shoulder. “....and for that I will always be grateful to him.”

She nodded, tears misting her eyes. “I never had the chance to know him . . .” She said. “I sense that he’s family and yet . . . now I’ll never know. None of is will know . . . He shouldn’t have died.”

“But you know there are things that you can’t prevent.....” He said. “....we’ve been down this road before . . . You can’t save everyone . . . And in this case, someone had to save you.”

“And he should have died for it ?” She said as she faced him once again, the pain etched in her face.

The rest of the family sensing the heightened emotions turned toward her. Immediately she smiled. “It’s okay . . . I’m all right . . .”

They weren’t convinced but returned to their previous conversations.

“You’re not all right....” Her father said. “....I know when my little girl is struggling . . .”

“But I will be all right eventually . . .” She said. Her deep brown eyes met his for a moment before he pulled her back into his arms.

Just outside the restaurant Ash stood with Rahel as she took a breath.

“It’s not like you didn’t just see these people a couple of days ago, sis.” Ash said with a smile.

“I know . . . I just . . .”

“You’re still feeling off about everything, right ?” He said.

She nodded. Immediately he pulled her into his arms and embraced her warmly. “It’s okay, you know . . . its okay to feel the way you feel . . . You knew Zack.”

She nodded. “Karissa is struggling with this too . . . We’re suppose to be the ones' helping people...” She said. “...no one should be dying for us.”

He caressed her face as he looked into her green eyes. “Rahel, sometimes it has to be that way . . . I know it’s not what you want to hear, but it’s how it is . . .”

“I know.....” She replied. “.........I really do . . .”

“But ?” He could already hear it in her voice.

“No one should die for me.” She said. “No one !”

“Why ?” He asked. “Because you think you’re expendable ? You know you’re not ! Too many people rely on you. You have the love of your life wanting to marry you . . . You have more family that you could have ever hoped for.” He smiled.

“That’s just it . . . Zack was family . . .” She said softly, tears misted her eyes.

He caressed her cheek once more. “Rahel . . . its all the more reason he was willing to help you . . .”

Reluctantly she nodded.

“All right, now let’s go in and have a nice dinner with our new family members.” He smiled as he put his arm around her giving her a side squeeze.

Finally she smiled and allowed him to lead her inside. As they walked into the back of the banquet hall, they saw the adults talking, a couple of them laughing and the children playing together with echoes of giggling.

As soon as Ryan saw them, he and Amalie walked to them.

“We are so glad you were able to make it tonight.” Amalie said as she embraced first Rahel and then Ash. “We really want this to be a family celebration.”

“Thanks for including me.” Ash replied with a smile.

“You’re Rahel’s brother and therefore that makes you part of our family as well.” Ryan said with a smile and embrace.

Ryan then took Rahel’s hands in his own. “I hope that you’ll welcome being part of our family . . .”

Rahel smiled. “I do . . . really!” She said as she embraced him. The warmth she felt from this family was so genuine and real. Just like with her own parents.

“And we’re so looking forward to meeting your parents as well,” Amalie smiled.

“They should be her in another week and half or so . . .” Rahel replied.

“And you, Ash, are you planning to stay on Serenity?” Ryan asked as the others came up and joined them.

“That’s the plan.” He smiled.

Karissa went to Ash and embraced him. “He’s put in a transfer to the Lake Town science department with Starfleet.” She said. “I think he’ll get the position . . . It’ll allow a lot of research time.” She smiled as she kissed his cheek. “Welcome to the family.”

“Yeah, you know, this isn’t much different than mine.” He laughed. “Everyone knows what the other is doing!”

With that the adults laughed.

“What’s so funny ?” Joshan asked, walking up with the twins at his sides.

“Oh, nothing really,” Amalie said as she leaned over and kissed her son on the forehead. “Come on, let’s eat . . . There’s some wonderful Avgolemono soup waiting for us along with Greek chicken!”

“Chicken!!” The twins cried happily.

Karissa laughed softly.

“All right, come here you little trouble makers,” Will said with a smile, scooping them up. “I’ll get you something to eat.”

Karissa was ready to follow, but for a moment her eyes met Rahel’s. So much was expressed without a word being said.

“Come on, girls,” Amalie called. “Grab some food before the men get it all !”

There were laughs throughout the room.

“Hey, now I don’t eat THAT much!” Ash laughed.

Rahel went to him a jibe him playfully in the gut, “On your light days . . .”

“I’m going to get you for that!” he said with smirk.

With that she stuck her tongue out at him. Immediately he started chasing her like the children had played earlier. Ryan and Amalie smiled as she watched them. It was so good to have family, they thought.