Dinner For Two - Part 3

Posted on Fri Apr 22nd, 2016 @ 10:53pm by Lieutenant Commander Daniel Divaro & Lieutenant JG Élan Val
Edited on on Sat Apr 23rd, 2016 @ 12:04am

1,136 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Pathways
Location: Noceto Italy/USS Hyperion
Timeline: Current - Immediately after Dinner For Two (Part 2)

ON:

OLD:
“You know, good things do come to those who wait,” Élan said with a smile.

"I have heard that," Daniel answered. "But I've also heard that those who hesitate may be lost so I try to find a happy medium. I tend to take the initiative but I can be patient as well."

Élan smiled at the exchange of quotations. In a way, she found it refreshing. Giving Daniel a seductive smile, she took a sip of her wine as she thought of what they could discuss next. Work was definitely out of the question, she hated to bring something duty related to what was obviously an escape from work. Unable to decide for herself, she shrugged and decided to return to a topic that had already been brought up.

“So, how are you going to explain the shuttle usage when we get back?” she asked.

"The only way I CAN possibly explain it," Daniel said. "I won't lie. I'll tell the captain that I took it in order to take my date to dinner in Italy. What's the worst that can happen? I get confined to the ship? We're deploying for seven years so where would I go anyway? But I'm not going to worry about that right now. The die has already been cast and whatever is going to happen will happen. I'm in a very romantic place in the company of a gorgeous woman and I do not intend to waste one minute worrying about something that I cannot control."

“Well, if you insist,” Élan said with an understanding nod. She wasn’t sure on what to say next, so she sipped her wine, feeling Val’s unhappiness as she drank the alcohol. They would both regret it later, but for now they would try to enjoy it.

He refilled their wine glasses, then held his up to her. "To the most beautiful woman on the Hyperion and to whatever our future holds..."

“Danger, excitement, hopefully not being captured and tortured by some alien species for flying through their territory, and definitely I hope we never encounter the Borg,” Élan said as she took a carefully measured sip of her wine.

Just then, their server returned with their orders. As he placed them on the table, Daniel sniffed appreciatively. "That looks and smells wonderful..." he said, indicating Elan's order. "Perhaps I should have ordered that instead of my fish."

“I blame Val, since she was so insistent on me getting this. But it does look delicious,” Élan said as she studied her plate. Inwardly, she warned the symbiont that it had better be as good as it looked.

====== Later ======

When their dinner and desserts were finished, Daniel knew that the time was drawing near when they would have to go back to the ship. He wasn't ready for this date to end, but he knew it had to so he was ready to face up to whatever happened when he got back.

"Elan, I hate to say it, but I suppose we should be getting back to the Hyperion," Daniel said slowly. "The captain may have a reception committee waiting for me when we get back as it is," he added with a slight grin. "In fact, I'm a bit surprised that someone hasn't commed me about it already." As he said this, the sudden realization that no one HAD commed him gave him a ray of hope. "Maybe they haven't realized that a shuttle is missing..." he said slowly.

“Well, it is late and everyone has been busy getting the Hyperion ready for departure. You may luck out and get away with it this time,” Élan said, her eyes mirroring her amused smile.

He quickly scanned his card, using the reader at the table, to pay for their meals--plus a few extra credits for the server--then stood up and offered his hand to her.

Giving Daniel a warm smile, Élan accepted his hand and stood gracefully. The temperature was dropping slightly, and given that and the cool ocean breeze that was picking up, she was glad to be moving. Silently, she gave Val a sensation of thanks. The food had been every bit as delicious as the symbiont had insisted. The wine had been equally good, even though she would need to stop by sickbay and get something to counter the alcohol once they returned to the Hyperion. Walking through the streets back towards the shuttle, Élan smiled as she leaned her head to rest on Daniel’s shoulder.

“This has been a lovely evening, Daniel. Thank you,” she said.

"You're quite welcome Elan. I'm glad you've enjoyed it and I'd like to hope we have more evenings like this," he said, even though he knew this would be their last evening on Earth for a long time. Still, there would be other places and other times and who knew what else the future held. As she lay her head on his shoulder, he smiled and slipped his arm around her waist as they walked, enjoying the feeling of her being close.

====== Back aboard the Hyperion ======

There had been no one waiting and no summons from the captain when they had arrived back aboard the Hyperion and Daniel began to wonder if he might, in fact, get away with it. Upon leaving the shuttle, they walked hand-in-hand as he escorted her back to her quarters. Once there, he turned to face her. "This has been a wonderful evening..." he said slowly. "Thank you for agreeing to go with me." He desperately wanted to kiss her good night but he would wait and let her make the first move.

Élan smiled and stepped forward to give Daniel a long and passionate kiss. She held it for several moments before she backed away and gave him a warm smile.

“I look forward to many more such evenings,” Élan said before she smiled and backed into her quarters. She stood there for a moment before she moved out of the way and let the doors slide shut. Smiling, she turned around and hummed softly as she stepped towards her bedroom.

It had been an absolutely wonderful evening, Daniel thought as he approached the door to his quarters. He had spent an evening in a very romantic place with the woman he considered to be the most beautiful on the ship, and the good night kiss he had received from her had done nothing to dispel that thought. Their date, and the evening, had been perfect and Daniel was convinced that nothing could ever spoil that.

Then, as he entered his quarters, he saw that his computer terminal held a waiting message for him. "Oh boy..."

OFF:

Lieutenant Commander Daniel Divaro
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Hyperion

Lieutenant JG Elan Val
Science Officer
USS Hyperion

 

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