Babysitting - Part Three

Posted on Thu Mar 19th, 2020 @ 7:17am by Commander Tienn Iteela & Lieutenant JG Rachael "Ripcord" Yamaguchi-Cullen & Tienn Jaina & Almar Pettar

Mission: Mission 98: Building Our New Home
Location: Tienn Homestead - Utgarde IV
Timeline: 1835Hrs - July 19th, 2393

1st Lieutenant Rachael Yamaguchi-Cullen smiled as she regarded the Cardassian teenager who decided he wished to assist her with the matters of the two family shuttles which according to Yamaguchi-Cullen, both needed work and attention. Corat handed her the tricorder as she had requested. "Okay Corat, the starbase impulse regulator is damaged, it's in need of replacing," she commented evenly.

Corat nodded as he jotted it down on the PADD in his hands, he was serving as her aide and he found that the woman before him looked almost irresistible. Ezas had been way out of his league but this woman before him looked really attractive. What he didn't know was that she was telepathic and she could hear him thinking on the matter. Yamaguchi-Cullen tapped the display before her as she blinked, she caught a sudden thought as she turned a shade of dark chocolate brown, as she found herself missing her husband. "Tell me something Corat." Yamaguchi-Cullen smiled at him.

"Mmm." the Cardassian teenager responded blankly, suddenly thinking he had missed her saying something.

"Do you have a girlfriend, by any chance?" Yamaguchi-Cullen inquired with a gentle smile. "I ask... Because I'm telepathic, I can hear you thinking..." Yamaguchi-Cullen decided to come right out and tell him. "I feel somewhat flattered actually..."

"Ohh." Corat paused. "Well... I... I... Can I ask you something Ms. Yamaguchi-Cullen." as he mentally skidded to a halt on the subject.

"Fire away Corat. You can call me Rachael. I promise not to bite, yell or scream. I promise to be a good girl." as she gave him her most winning smile.

"How do you tell a woman that you like her." Corat inquired. "I mean, like if I was admiring you, for example, you have a hot body, the figure to die for and I.." he paused a second time.

"Its okay Corat. I don't mind you admiring me." Yamaguchi-Cullen as she gently touched his shoulder with her hand. "You are a teenager and this is perfectly normal for all people your age, both men and women. It was like this for me, and everyone else. Your hormones screaming in your ears, your blood boils because you have no outlet for it." she added in a quiet tone.

Corat regarded her, he was more massive then she was and larger then she was. He looked confused. "What do you mean Ms. Yamaguchi-Cullen?" he inquired in a curious tone of voice.

"While I was growing up, I was stranded on a planet that was uninhabited, myself and four Kurokuri, a Bolian female, a human female. Others would join us later and let's just say that I was pregnant at first, at age fifteen." she sighed softly. "While I matured, I didn't really have any guys around to bed so I was kinda limited in my options," Yamaguchi-Cullen explained gently. "You, however, have a planet of handsome girls to choose from," she added. "Besides, I get to watch my children go through it when their time comes. I suspect that my first child will give me grey hairs." Yamaguchi-Cullen commented as she regarded him.

"Hey, Corat. mom sent me to find you." Tienn Iteela suddenly entered the garage space. "Dinner is ready."

"Yeah." he paused a moment as he turned back to face Yamaguchi-Cullen. "Thanks, Ms. Yamaguchi-Cullen, you have given me much to think about, thank you for the wisdom." as he smiled warmly at the younger woman before him. "It was good to work with you." and with that, the Cardassian teen handed her the PADD in his hands, then he turned and departed in silence.

Tienn regarded Yamaguchi-Cullen in silence for a moment. "What was all that about?" she inquired.

"Corat asked me for my perspective on a few things that were on his mind, he's a young man who is figuring out his path in life and he asked for my input and I gave it to him," Yamaguchi-Cullen answered in a breezy tone of voice. "I think he has a thing for older women..." she added.

Tienn raised an eyebrow. "At least you didn't humiliate him as his sibling did."

"Oh great, No wonder why he was so hesitant to ask me." Yamaguchi-Cullen facepalmed with a loud sigh. "Save us from overly eager siblings."

"Hows things going?" Tienn inquired evenly.

"Its quite a shopping list that these shuttles need but its nothing overly serious," Yamaguchi-Cullen responded evenly. "I'll submit the request tonight and the parts will be delivered more or less tomorrow afternoon," she explained as she placed the PADD down onto the crate before her. "That shuttle is in good shape but its this one that needs some real loving care and attention."

"Why?" Tienn inquired in a quiet tone of voice.

"Why... What?" Yamaguchi-Cullen answered evenly as she turned to face the other woman before her.

"Why do you care, honestly." Tienn inquired. "I don't get it."

Yamaguchi-Cullen regarded the other woman before her. "Because you think of our issues between us Tienn. Yeah, I can understand why you'd say that but these people do not need to know that there is an issue between us which really came up because of Nebris failing to commit and you not understanding where he was coming from." the human regarded Tienn with a gentle look. "Your dogs were also a large factor of why your relationship failed. I'd also bet that the end of your relationship with Gyce had a hand on everything too, or rather... You two split up suddenly, it was swift and dramatic... and you lost something in the process." Yamaguchi-Cullen smiled gently. "How'm I doin' so far?."

"I didn't think about it..." Tienn paused. "I didn't consider that the dogs were the issue. I mean they got along with Gyce.."

"They got along with Gyce because she was always there, she was always present and she was able to help you with your concerns and troubles..." she raised an eyebrow. "Also, Gyce was consistent and they knew what to expect from her," Yamaguchi-Cullen explained. "It's not a bad thing Tienn. But you two didn't build your relationship, neither of you had a foundation to work from. You quickly ended up being pregnant and he decided to make the effort because of the kids." she sighed. "It was a lot like that with Ennis and me, except I didn't become pregnant, not right away... It was Saki who brought us together as Saki bonded with him as Ennis respected her on a level that she could understand and appreciate."

Tienn regarded Yamaguchi-Cullen in silence for a moment. "But you had the extra help from your family, they did try," Tienn explained

"I did, yes," Yamaguchi-Cullen responded. "Mom was not prepared, she had three needy and demanding children of her own and while Gyce did her best, neither of them were truly able to deal with Saki who needed a rather specific method of letting out her urges and energy in a constructive manner," Yamaguchi-Cullen explained. "At least you only have infants, how would you handle Saki?" Yamaguchi-Cullen regarded Tienn as she asked.

"I would try enrolling her in solo sports activities, like swimming and martial arts. Both would teach her a great deal." Tienn answered. "But you already did both of those," she added.

Yamaguchi-Cullen nodded her head. "I did because I wanted Saki to have those outlets, she's starting to understand focus and commitment. I felt it important for her to have a space that's hers, alone. She is learning archery and she's teaching Ennis. Saki calls Ennis her father and he does remind her that he's not her father, she dismisses his statement as and I quote 'meaningless semantics.' Unquote." Yamaguchi-Cullen raised an eyebrow. "Another one she threw at me was 'a distinction without a difference. Also Unquote."

Tienn raised an eyebrow. "I had no idea."

"I know. We don't move in the same social circles Iteela. There is no reason for you to know any of this. I assisted you with the twins because I knew what was being asked of me and I had the time and energy to devote to it. But they deserve a more stable home then I can provide, I'm glad you made that adjustment for them and for yourself." Yamaguchi-Cullen regarded the taller female before her. "Fate has been unkind to you and Nebris over the last year or so. I understand that but you had the guts to make the hard choice. Nebris lost his mind and walked away from the matter." the shorter female let out a soft sigh while she shook her head. "Whereas you didn't. You at least, were able to make that choice for the twins, to give them the best chance in life that they could get and while I don't envy you the choice, I do respect it."

Tienn regarded Yamaguchi-Cullen in silence a moment. "That doesn't mean I need to like it."

"I didn't say that Tienn. If you did like it then I'd be most displeased with you but like I said, I respect your decision, you are still in their lives and they will come to know you as their mother, if not now then later in life. In time they may even understand your choice." she paused. "You have a new assignment taking effect and this was honestly the best move you could have made."

"I couldn't ask you and I wouldn't ask you to raise them, you have enough children as it is," Tienn answered. "In any event, dinner is ready and I was sent to collect you as well as Corat. So, you hungry?"

"Yeah, thanks for letting me eat at the table."

"You are family now. Even though we have our issues and disagreements."

Yamaguchi-Cullen smiled. "Thank you, let's go eat so the rest of your family doesn't worry that we've disappeared into the astral winds of space." and with that, the two women turned and left the garage together.